《This World Needs a Hero》 Prologue Prologue ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The Prologue. The Hero died. But the victory celebration continued, because no one knew the truth. ¡°The triumph of the Human Alliance!¡± ¡°The Demon Lord fled without a fight?¡± ¡°What a time for peace! Raise your sses!¡± ¡°Hero! Congrattions on the great victory.¡± Admiring gazes directed at me. From the highest position, observing the scene, I closed my eyes. A sudden wave of fatigue hit me. ¡°You.¡± The sharp and firm voice pierced my ears at that moment. ¡°To appear here, what is your motive?¡± Cold, sunken golden eyes stared at me. Euphemia Cecilia. That was her name. The ruler of this vast empire and, as of today, the only one who shared a ¡®secret¡¯ with me. I shrugged my shoulders. ¡°Motive? It¡¯s exactly as it appears.¡± ¡°How dare you show up here¡­?¡± But the conversation couldn¡¯t continue. Ted! Ted! Ted Redeemer! The savior of humanity! The banquet hall erupted with thunderous cheers. As the sound of people searching for the Hero filled the air, the Empress bit down on her lip skeptically. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll y along with this farce for now¡­ but you¡¯ll need to give me an exnation.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She quickly rose from her seat with a surprisingly formal smile. With that single movement, the bustling banquet hall fell into an instant silence. In front of the aristocrats with shining eyes, she shouted loudly. ¡°Raise your sses, everyone! Today is the day humanity is liberated from long-standing suffering! The victory of the Great Human-Demon War belongs unequivocally to us humans!¡± A massive cheer echoed in my ears. The Empress, who downed her drink in one gulp, turned to look at me. Her cheeks and eye sockets were flushed. ¡°Yeah, we can¡¯t have the protagonist missing from an event like this.¡± From somewhere in her slender arm, an unexpected strength emerged. I couldn¡¯t resist the Empress¡¯s handshake. When I regained my senses, I found myself in front of the balcony. Hundreds of pairs of eyes stared at me intensely. The size of the cheers was iparable to before. ¡°Whoah!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Hero! Ted Redeemer!¡± ¡°The savior of humanity!¡± ¡°Look over here just once!¡± ¡°Ted! Ted!¡± Dizziness overcame me. But separate from that, my lips moved on their own, delivering a rehearsed line. ¡°¡­We will ultimately prevail.¡± . . . Everyone was joyous. It was expected. The Human-Demon War. It was a victory report from the war that decided the fate of the races. Toasts overflowed, lively songs were sung, and people hugged each other tightly. On their faces, there sparkled expectations and hope for a brilliant future. I stood at the centre without moving. Except for the tightly clenched fist, I would have looked like one of them. * * * Jedo Kyros. A nearby hiding ce. I deactivated numerous security devices and entered. Passing through a narrow and long corridor, a square-shaped room came into view. It had been a space I had lived in for the past few years, but today it felt unfamiliar. ¡­I bowed deeply. ¡°I¡¯vee.¡± In the centre of the room, there was afortable chair. He was sitting there as usual, rxed, as if looking into a mirror. Same face. Same height. Same attire. I released the polymorph. Sshhh! A strange sensation pierced through from my toes to the top of my head. The sounds of bones crackling filled the hiding ce. The Hero Ted Redeemer disappeared, and the doppelganger ¡®me¡¯ took his ce. I stood before him, tidying up my appearance. When I looked at him in the mirror, the face reflected back, straightened and rigid like iron, was chilling and cold. I proceeded with the customary report after performing my role. ¡°I went through the banquet party sessfully and there was no suspicion about my identity. Although the Empress seemed a little tired, she still handled it well.¡± However, there was no response. The Hero still sat in that same position. I continued. ¡°I know you do not like these gatherings, but it would have been good for you to attend today in person. Everyone was joyous. I¡¯m sure you would have felt proud.¡± There was no change in his expression. No hint of annoyance or even a forced smile. Suddenly, a wave of intense, warm emotions welled up my throat. ¡°¡­It still doesn¡¯t feel real.¡± I reached out my hand. The face it touched felt hard and cold, as if it was made of metal. ¡°But it still needs to be done.¡± Thud. The Hero¡¯s head fell, as if he nodded in agreement. However, there was no will behind that movement. A sudden surge of emotions flooded in. Despair, disappointment, loss. And fear. Perhaps the reason I couldn¡¯t run away was what he had taught me over the years. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± His teachings. The legacy he left behind. They would guide me. Toward the unfinished mission he left behind. ¡°I will be the Hero in your ce.¡± I closed the Hero¡¯s eyes. It was the first day since the Hero¡¯s death. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 1 Chapter 1 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª My oldest memory was of the moment I first replicated a human. ¡°Wh-what is that? A Mo-monster!¡± ¡°Kill it!¡± Polymorphed into a human, I gained the ability to think intelligently. But was it actually a blessing, one might ask? ¡®Well, it¡¯splicated.¡¯ I acquired the identity of a human. Naturally, the desire to live among them, to blend in with humans, arose from within. But, in the end, I was a shapeshifter. A bizarre race with the ability to replicate any being, be it human or demon. Humans could not tolerate such a presence. It was a downright miserable situation. ¡®That¡¯s when my living hell began.¡¯ Settling down was a distant dream. Polymorphism is not all-powerful. Eventually, I would be exposed. People whoughed and talked with me would turn into a mob wielding weapons overnight. Nowhere to call home. A life like an outcast, unable to form any connections, akin to a nomad. ¡­That¡¯s why, when the Hero found me one day, without asking questions, I followed him. ¡°I never thought such a being truly existed. Well, this works out nicely.¡± No matter what future awaits, it has to be better than now. In the end, it was the right choice. ¡°From now on, you are my double.¡± He often left his post for various reasons, and each time, I attended formal events on his behalf. In the process of being his double. I learned a lot. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can perform my role properly just by imitating the appearance. There¡¯s more to being my double than meets the eye.¡± Swordsmanship, etiquette, history, culture, politics, military tactics, and more. I learned deeply and extensively. The process was harsh and painful, but¡­ ¡°Heh, heh, is it really necessary to go this far?¡± ¡°You have to reach the extreme to progress.¡± ¡°¡­The extreme?¡± ¡°Rise. To truly mimic me, you still have a long way to go.¡± Looking back, that time was like a gift. How could I not be grateful to him? Our rtionship was never defined in words, and I couldn¡¯t know how he perceived me. To me, the Hero was like a father who gave me a new life and a mentor who taught me how to live. So, I hoped his goal would be achieved. Killing the Demon King and liberating humanity. It was a challenging mission, but I considered it manageable for someone inherently capable and talented. A few days ago, when the victory report arrived from the front lines, I even thought achieving that distant goal wouldn¡¯t be far off. ¡°The Hero achieved a great victory against the Demon King!¡± ¡°The Demon King is said to be seriously injured and needs care in the Demon Realm.¡± ¡°What about the Hero?¡± ¡°Hey, did you see the Hero injured? He came back in perfect condition.¡± ¡°Wow, the end of the Great War is near.¡± The unexpected good news stirred the entire Empire. Naturally, I was ecstatic, perhaps more than anyone else. ¡°You finally did it!¡± Until the pale-faced Hero staggered into the hideout. ¡°¡­Hero?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The moment I saw him, no exnation was needed. I ran to him, holding his crumbling body. He spoke calmly, ¡°There was a traitor among us.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°The Demon King attacked in the worst possible situation. If it weren¡¯t for this, everyone would have died.¡± ¡­But was there a need to cling to life even in such dire circumstances? I swallowed the words I wanted to say. That¡¯s how I used to be. ¡°¡­It¡¯s a bit cold.¡± The Hero increasingly relied on me. As the blood flowing from his mouth touched my body, it quickly chilled. I tried hard to find words, but my mind went nk like a fool. ¡°Can I ask you for one thing?¡± The Hero suddenly said such words before the stillness could set in. A request? He had never uttered such words before. I raised my head in confusion. He looked as if he could copse at any moment, yet his gaze was clearer than ever. ¡°¡­Yes, anything.¡± The Hero, hearing my response, smiled faintly. A smile that seemed ordinary at first nce. But within it, various emotions were vividly felt¡ªregret, sorrow, apology. We had spent many years together as shadows. Even looking back, the Hero wasn¡¯t someone who easily revealed such emotions. On the day after a cherishedrade died, he had gone to the battlefield with a nonchnt demeanor. Yet now, for the first time, he was exposing his true feelings. I couldn¡¯t dare to imagine what that meant. I silently gazed at him with sadness. ¡°That¡¯s a good expression.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª A good expression? Outwardly, I showed no emotions. Following his teachings, a ¡®Hero¡¯ needed to conceal their true feelings, regardless of the situation. It was the first thing I learned to live as the Hero¡¯s counterpart, and I maintained it every moment. However, for some reason, he spoke again abruptly. ¡°I didn¡¯t teach you in vain.¡± For some reason, his face seemed slightly proud. ¡®Ah¡­¡¯ At that moment, I finally understood what he wanted. It was thanks to the memories of the time we spent together. The Hero¡¯s swordsmanship, the Hero¡¯s strategies, the Hero¡¯s politics, and the Hero¡¯s mindset¡­ Looking back, it was strange. Why did he teach me all those things if I was just meant to be a mere counterpart? Even in his busy schedule, he took the time to enlighten me about the things I needed to have as a Hero. Initially, I thought it was his facet of hedonism or perfectionisming into y, but it wasn¡¯t. What the Hero wanted¡­ I finally broke the silence. ¡°People¡­ hope that you don¡¯t die.¡± He remained silent, just looking at me. It was his habit to stay silent when affirming something positive. I couldn¡¯t maintain the stoic expression he used to praise anymore. ¡°I¡¯ll do it. I¡¯ll live as you, as a Hero.¡± As a mentor, a family member, and the man I respected the most, I would inherit his will. It was inevitable. During the long time we spent together, my goal had be aligned with his¡ªto provide hope for people to move forward. This world needed a Hero. ¡°Heh, haha.¡± The Heroughed. After a while of alternating betweenughter and coughing, he spoke with a much more rxed expression. ¡°It won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s always brave to touch upon sensitive topics.¡± The Hero spoke firmly, ¡°I won¡¯t deny that you¡¯ve been doing well as a counterpart so far.¡± Silence followed. ¡°But that¡¯s just being a counterpart. If you act as the real Hero, getting caught is just a matter of time.¡± It was a valid point. Being a Hero was not just about mimicking appearances. If a situation requiring force arose, I would be exposed sooner orter. ¡°I can buy some time¡­¡± The Hero interrupted me with a gesture and pulled something out of his pocket. It was a worn-out sses case with stained fingerprints. Inside was an equally old pair of sses. ¡°But with this, you might not just mimic but truly be a Hero.¡± I stared at the sses on his palm. I knew this item. ¡°The Iris of Lace.¡± I heard about it during the time he taught me. In his early days, he credited this artifact for helping him start out as a Hero. Although he mentioned that it became uncontroble at some point, so he stopped using it. ¡°Try using it.¡± I slowly brought the sses to my left eye and blinked. ¡°Huh¡­?¡± At first, I thought I was seeing things. Blink. But I wasn¡¯t. The characters inscribed in the air didn¡¯t disappear. ¨‹ Activating the Iris of Lace. This artifact, ¡®Iris of Lace,¡¯ automatically generatesments based on the information stored by previous users. The user¡¯s death has not been confirmed. Normal operation is not possible¡­ ¡ø ¡°¡­Comments?¡± Suddenly bombarded with many exnations, I couldn¡¯t grasp it all in one breath. However, there was something intuitively apparent. Ever since I put on the sses, my vision had transformed like an illusion. I gazed silently at the overflowing information. This could be a decisive aid in living as a Hero. ¡°Comments guide you in the right direction. Information, advice on growth¡­ you¡¯ll understand once you try it,¡± the Hero spoke, coughing slightly. ¡°But that function is quite limited. Once you reach a certain level, the Iris of Lace will undergo changes.¡± ¡°Changes?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s difficult to exin now. Just keep it in mind,¡± the Hero said, stopping abruptly. His breath became uneven and shallow. In his weakened state, he simply chuckled. ¡°Now, everything is ready,¡± he stated with a small smile, reaching out to pat my shoulder. Something hung on my neck with that gentle pat. I couldn¡¯t find words as I stared at him. ¡°I request this, Ted Redeemer,¡± he whispered. Yet, his eyes held warmth for a moment. ¡°Bring a future to humanity.¡± I couldn¡¯t continue speaking, and just stared at him. The lump in my throat grew as his weak breaths filled the air. Ted Redeemer, the Hero, had quietly taken hisst breath. I looked at him in a daze, feeling a heavy sadness. Emotions surged, reaching up to my throat. Yet, that was the end. ¡®Think.¡¯ I shouldn¡¯t get lost in contemtion. It¡¯s not what the Hero wanted, and now it¡¯s not something I¡¯m allowed to do. ¡®Never get caught.¡¯ The Hero is the ¡®unique¡¯ means to confront the Demon King. If news of his death leaks, the wounded Demon King, who had retreated, will resume the invasion of demons, even if it means breaking their forces apart. The demise of humanity is the natural course that would follow. ¡®ns, I need ns.¡¯ I clenched my fist. The Doppelganger, who had been living aimlessly, was now dead. What the Hero longed for, what I now crave as well¨Cto defeat the Demon King and bring salvation to humanity. I embraced the Hero¡¯s aspirations, my mentor and my father. ¡®I will do what I can.¡¯ A faint vibration echoed in the Iris of Lace. ¨‹ The death of the previous user, ¡®Ted Redeemer¡¯, has been confirmed. Following the emergency sequence, assigning a new user. Rebooting¡­ ¡ø Countless characters emerged before my eyes. ¨‹ Message from the previous user, ¡®Ted Redeemer¡¯: ¡°-Before you leave, find the Empress. I¡¯ve left information about your existence and the current situation. She¡¯ll be of help to you in many ways. Persuasion will be necessary, but if it¡¯s you, you can pull it off. Good luck.¡± ¡ø . . . This is the story leading up to the banquet. Beep-beep-beep! A sharp sound jolted me from my thoughts. ¡®An alert?¡¯ The Hero¡¯smunication bead was ringing. It was the early morning, well past midnight. Not many people would seek the Hero at this hour. As expected, the sender was¡­ ¡°Empress Euphemia Cecilia.¡± Perfect timing. My n required her assistance; without her, executing them would be impossible. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 2 Chapter 2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The path to the Empress¡¯s Star Pce was exceptionally quiet. Except for the necessary guards, no one was in sight. The shadows on the street belonged solely to me. In stark contrast to the bustling central part of the imperial pce, it felt even more deste. ¡°People have been silenced.¡± It was a wise choice. The uing conversation was not for anyone else to hear. I headed to the location I was informed of. ¡°I¡¯m going in.¡± The most secluded bedroom in the Star Pce. There was no response, but a presence could be felt. I pushed the heavy door with subdued force. Creak! As soon as it opened, a pungent scent hit me. Shards of a wine bottle were scattered on the mat. ¡°¡­..¡± A dirty and dark room. The Empress was staring at this side. ¡°Is this the second time you¡¯ve seen me, Doppelganger?¡± ¡°In fact, it¡¯s the tenth time, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°What?¡± The Empress¡¯s face twisted slightly. ¡°Do not say ¡®Your Majesty¡¯ with that face.¡± She got up and approached. Broken ss fragmentsy under her bare feet, but she seemed indifferent to the wounds. In her hand, a blood-stained longsword was held. ¡°Did you want to see me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Swish. As soon as the answer was finished, the tip of a sword was pointed at me. It was a warning. If there was any hint of suspicion in the uing conversation, it will be difficult to survive in the pce. A warning that if any ws are revealed, leaving the pce alive will be challenging. The Empress spoke. ¡°I was nning to announce Ted¡¯s death at the banquet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°I know. Something must have happened. But I didn¡¯t want to hide it after everything was over. The death of my friend has the right to be known by everyone.¡± Her yellow eyes glowed fiercely like a beast¡¯s. ¡°However, an imposter suddenly appeared¡­ disgustingly imitating Ted.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this? Why are you still lingering in the role of the Doppelganger?¡± The Empress must have heard stories about me from the Hero. But it seemed like she didn¡¯t anticipate my decision to continue his legacy, or perhaps she knew and denied it. Anyway, at this moment, Doppelganger was an unusual entity in this era. It would not be easy for people to rte to a monster they saw for the first time, especially one trying to follow in the footsteps of their friend. ¡°I am¡­¡± I took a deep breath. A single word from me could change the future about to follow. ¡°I have no intention of quitting the role.¡± The Empress narrowed her eyebrows. The response didn¡¯te right away. What on earth was she thinking? The intention to seize the opportunity of Ted¡¯s death was probably expected. As someone who anticipated me, not knowing the subject, I was a bit surprised. ¡°¡­..¡± Just a very deliberate scrutiny up and down. After a long exploration, the words that came out were only one syble. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because humanity still needs a Hero.¡± ¡°¡­Ha.¡± The Empress chuckled. ¡°Yeah. Of course, we need a Hero. But how?¡± How could a Doppelganger continue ying the role of the Hero without being exposed? It was a valid point. Certainly, she must know that my performance is wless. Even if she hadn¡¯t noticed, I never raised suspicions on countless formal asions. But vowing to live as a Hero was different from performing the role. ¡°Does it seem like a position you can handle just by changing the outer shell?¡± The Empress¡¯s expression gradually became colder. The hand holding the sword twitched. Now was the time. I spoke up first. ¡°Your Majesty¡¯s most worrying aspect is probably theck of military force.¡± I cannot fight like a Hero. Although I gained skills not inferior to an ordinary knight after receiving training from him,pared to a Hero, I was like a fledgling. ¡°If you give me some time, I have confidence in gradually getting closer to him.¡± ¡°What?¡± The Empress¡¯s eyes narrowed sharply. I took out the monocle from my pocket. ¡°The Iris of Lace¡­!¡± Without waiting, she took another step closer. ss pierced her barefoot, but she showed no signs of caring. ¡°Ted entrusted this to you¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure Your Majesty knows what this artifact can do.¡± Even if others didn¡¯t know, the Empress would have been aware of Iris of Lace. After all, she had been associated with the Hero since her undergraduate days. She would also know that those who used it could be stronger. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen this. I thought it had been destroyed.¡± ¡°He left it for me.¡± ¡°Heirloom¡­ Hmm, yes, an heirloom.¡± The Empress finally reacted to being pricked by ss. Faint murmurs followed. ¡°¡­But how do you n to buy time?¡± ¡°I will go to the Academy.¡± ¡°The Academy?¡± There was a subtle change in the Empress¡¯s expression. A spoonful of interest added to full skepticism. ¡°That must be Rosenstark. Correct?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Rosenstark Academy. The continent¡¯s top institution for nurturing the brightest talents. It had produced countless Heroes over the years and was also the ce where the Empress and the Hero first met. ¡°If Your Majesty helps, I am considering bing a professor there.¡± After careful consideration, going to Rosenstark seemed to be the best option in the current situation. ¡®I can¡¯t go back to the front line, and staying inside the system is not an option.¡¯ Using force on the front line is naturally impossible. The system is also in a situation where unknown betrayers are lurking. Moreover, there is a high probability of being entangled in political fights. ¡®But Rosenstark, located in the far west, is rtively safe and would be easy to operate in.¡¯ ¡®The obvious goal is to get to the safest ce with minimal attention.¡¯ ¡®Of course, going to the academy is not just for my safety.¡¯ ¡°I have three reasons for deciding to go to the academy.¡± ¡°Firstly, it¡¯s about legitimacy. Now that the demonic invasion has reached a state of subjugation, it¡¯s not strange for a Hero to head to Rosenstark to nurture sessors.¡± ¡°People will be reassured, seeing a Hero willing to shoulder the future of humanity in a different way.¡± ¡°¡­That makes sense.¡± ¡°Now, for the second reason.¡± The Empress slightly leaned forward. A sign of interest. ¡°I n to catch the traitors at the academy.¡± ¡°¡­Traitors.¡± The Empress muttered in disbelief. ¡°If I go to the academy, the traitors will have toe along. After all, they¡¯re people aiming for the Hero.¡± ¡°I see what you mean.¡± ¡°A less crowded academy will be much more advantageous for tracking them. I¡¯ll gather clues there and coborate with Your Majesty.¡± The Empress nodded slowly. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± ¡°¡­Thest reason.¡± It could be considered the most important goal of going to the academy. ¡°I n to find other talents to seed the Hero.¡± The Demon King will return. However, humanity, having lost the Hero, had no way to resist him. Even though I would strive to act as a Hero, there needed to be a contingency n in case my growth fell short. A second Hero to rece Ted Redeemer. The disciples of the academy would be the foundation for that. Rosenstark was a ce where talents from across the continent gathered. ¡°¡­..¡± The exnation was over. After a short silence, the Empress spoke again. The sword in her hand was now pointed toward the floor. ¡°¡­Yet, I can¡¯t just let you go.¡± ¡°I hope Your Majesty won¡¯t give up either.¡± ¡°¡­Huh.¡± The Empress bit her lower lip delicately. A suppressed moan that seemed to have been desperately held back emerged. The heaviness in the golden eyes. But the precarious atmosphere disappeared faster than it appeared. The Empress, who quickly regained her dignity, looked at me. ¡°Yes, fine.¡± ¡°Does that mean¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying I¡¯ll join in on this charade of yours. What can I help with?¡± ¡­It¡¯s done. A tingling sensation ran down my spine. I realized I had just gained the mostpetent aplice in the world. ¡°First, Your Majesty¡­¡± That way, a colossal and white lie to prevent the destruction of humanity began. ¡ª [Continent Far West.] [Rosenstark Academy.] There was an unusualmotion in the professor¡¯s quarters. ¡°Be careful when moving it! It¡¯s an item given by Her Majesty. If it gets scratched, I¡¯ll have to sell both kidneys topensate!¡± ¡°Hey, you blockhead! I told you to be careful. When did I ever say to move as slow as a snail? Hurry up!¡± Considering there was still a long time until the start of the semester, it was an exceptional disturbance. The maids lined up in a row watched the workers exchanging loud shouts. ¡°If these are decorations that Her Majesty personally sent to arrange the Hero¡¯s residence¡­¡± ¡°How strange¡­ It seems like there¡¯s some truth to the rumors that something is off between the two.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not strange at all. They¡¯ve been close since their undergraduate days.¡± A few weeks ago, a decree from the empire¡¯s absolute ruler arrived at the academy. [Rosenstark Academy, with all due respect, prepare to wee the newly appointed professor, Ted Redeemer. Any hint of negligence will be met with severe punishment.] The newly appointed professor, Ted Redeemer. The sudden news of a Hero bing a professor at the academy caused a great stir at Rosenstark. No one expected the next move of the one who defeated the Demon King to be joining the academy. ¡°Hush!¡± The elderly head maid sharply whispered to the maids. ¡°Shut your mouths now. She passed through the main gate, and she¡¯ll be arriving soon.¡± About ten minutes until the arrival. The faces of the maids gradually began to regainposure. It was unusual for them, even for those who dealt with high-ranking nobles, to treat them with such indifference. However, professors who knew a bit more about the Hero couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy. They whispered among themselves. ¡°The Hero is leaving the military anding to Rosenstark. I never imagined this.¡± ¡°Well, fighting on the front lines can get tiresome, I suppose.¡± ¡°¡­Actually, I¡¯m a bit worried.¡± ¡°What about?¡± ¡°Everyone knows, but why pretend not to¡­?¡± A chilly silence lingered among the professors. ¡°Kukuku¡­¡± Even though Ted Redeemer would be seen as a perfect Hero by the public, tirelessly striving for the salvation of humanity, possessing noble sacrifice and character, there was an aspect that didn¡¯t quite fit. ¡°Let¡¯s think positively. Regardless, Rosenstark¡¯s status will rise even higher. It¡¯s not necessarily a loss¡­¡± As the conversation was about to conclude, a lively voice suddenly interjected. ¡°What interesting stories are you all whispering about so secretly?¡± It was a tall woman. Her neatly cut short blue hair swayed from side to side when she tilted her head. The professors coughed and turned their gaze away. ¡°Ahem. We weren¡¯t talking about anything special. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± ¡°¡­Hahaha, it seems the president is already here. I¡¯m looking forward to the Hero¡¯s arrival.¡± The woman¡¯s name was Yussi Glendor. The 15th president of Rosenstark Academy and the owner of the prominent target group ¡®Glendor.¡¯ In the past, she was a member of the Dawn Knights who fought alongside the Hero on the battlefield. Academy staff secretly referred to her as ¡®that crazy woman.¡¯ Yussi¡¯s sparkling eyes behind her sses shone. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve seen each other.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Furthermore, she was a devoted fan of the Hero. Not showing any enthusiasm for the Hero in front of her was equivalent to dering to quit working at Rosenstark. It was when all the professors decided to keep their mouths tightly shut. Closer and closer. Arge carriage appeared confidently at the end of the road. On its side, the imperial emblem was prominently disyed. ¡°Oh my!¡± While Yussi was adjusting her clothes with a girlish expression, the carriage, drawing everyone¡¯s attention, stopped in front of the professor¡¯s quarters. The sound of horse hooves echoed ominously. Thud. Finally, amidst the noise, a subdued footstep made its way through themotion. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 3 Chapter 3 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª As soon as someone got off the carriage, it was confirmed. ¡°Professor Ted Redeemer!¡± ¡°Wee to Rosenstark Academy!¡± All the servants immediately bowed their heads and roared loudly. The professors were no exception. A brief silence passed. A pleasant voice responded to the greetings. ¡°Yeah, nice to see you all.¡± Those who couldn¡¯t dare to look at him finally lifted their heads slightly. A young man with ash-colored hair stood motionless, gazing up at the professor¡¯s building. ¡®¡­Is that the Hero?¡¯ Those who had never met him all had the same thought. ¡®Surprising, isn¡¯t he?¡¯ A well-groomed, handsome face. With round sses on top, he seemed more like a young and capable schr belonging to some society rather than a reversal Hero. The giant greatsword behind him felt awkward. But because of the Hero¡¯s physique, the impression given by his face quickly reversed. ¡°What a physique¡­¡± One of the maids unintentionally murmured. Well-defined muscles, like well-fitted armor, enveloped his body seamlessly. Due to near-perfect proportions, his body looked stic and beautiful like that of a wild animal. However, it was still too early to be surprised. ¡°¡­Are those scars?¡± People sighed quietly. It was because of what they saw beyond the half-rolled-up sleeves of the Hero. Numerous scars, like fish scales, covered his forearms as they intertwined like the tail of a fish. ¡®No, does he have so many wounds on his arms?¡¯ The professors who handled swords couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. The arms were a critical area that needed to be protected along with the internal organs. Because nerves and tendons were intricately entangled, any injury could immediately hinderbat. ¡®If there are so many scars on his arms, how many more on his torso?¡¯ People once again realized. The man before them, a swordmaster who had traversed a battlefield unimaginable to them. Tada! A cheerful footstep shattered the silence. ¡°Hero! How long has it been!¡± It was Yussi. She wore high heels that exceeded a palm¡¯s width and trotted skillfully. Yussi¡¯s cheeks, which arrived in front of the Hero in no time, turned red. ¡°Long time no see, Yussi.¡± ¡°Have you been well? Wasn¡¯t it ufortableing here? What about meals? Oh, those sses you used to wear! They still suit you well.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still as noisy as ever.¡± ¡°This is also for your reference.¡± The academy servants doubted both their eyes and ears at the same time. But the Hero¡¯s subsequent reaction was even more peculiar. ¡°I prepared a modest wee party¡­¡± ¡°Next time.¡± ¡°Oh, then how about a tour? The structure has changed a lot since you used to attend¡­¡± ¡°That, too, we¡¯ll postpone toter.¡± ¡°Hero!¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡± The Hero walked past the neatly arranged maids and professors, entering the main building of the professor¡¯s quarters. Even among them was a senior professor who had taught him in the past, but a brief nod was the extent of their interaction. People watched in bewilderment as the Hero¡¯s broad entrance disappeared into the building. Alone, Yussi smiled subtly. ¡°Disperse.¡± People hurriedly scattered in all directions. * * * The lodgings were arranged on the top floor of the professor¡¯s quarters. It was a space so dazzling and luxurious that it was astonishing. As soon as I entered the room, I locked the door and drew the curtains. ¡®¡­Much better.¡¯ Unlike the institute, there are too many new figures here. I had done as much preliminary research as possible, but contacting others could be postponed until a thorough n was in ce. ¡°¡­Rosenstark.¡± I looked down through the curtains at the vast academy grounds spread out endlessly. Suddenly, the words of the Hero from the past came to mind. ¡°Humans die too easily, and talent is endlessly needed. If it weren¡¯t for Rosenstark, we would have been defeated by the demons long ago.¡± ¡°Even from a functional perspective, it¡¯s undeniably a gem-like ce.¡± He, who rarely had any change in expression, would often smile when talking about Rosenstark. It was probably because he had met most of his preciousrades here. ¡®Certainly an extraordinary ce.¡¯ One of Doppleganger¡¯s habits is ¡®observation.¡¯ Understanding the target was necessary for polymorphing, so it was only natural. I briefly observed the faces of the professors who had just passed by. Most of them seemed more intense than expected. If it had been before training with the Hero, I might have felt considerable pressure. ¡®¡­There were quite a few who looked at me with subtly hostile eyes.¡¯ ¡°Human rtionships can gradually improve.¡± I was once a wanderer who traveled across the continent. With the insights and adaptability derived from those numerous experiences, handling oneself in a group was quite effortless. Actually, there are urgent matters to attend to. ¡°There are things to prepare for before the start of the term¡­ Let¡¯s see.¡± From now on, I am unquestionably a ¡®professor.¡¯ I have to teach students as soon as the term begins. The level of students entering Rosenstark is on a different dimension from an ordinary academy. Especially this year¡¯s freshmen, boasting the highest level ever, thanks to the news of the Hero¡¯s appointment. To take on the role of teaching these monsters, thorough preparation was essential. Tock! I adjusted my sses. ¨‹ ¡®Operation the Iris of Lace¡¯ ¡ø The story goes back to before I became acquainted with the Emperor. After the Hero left the world. The Iris of Lace operated normally. Further exnations were added to confirm the proper transfer of authority from the Hero. ¨‹ The previous user, ¡®Ted Redeemer,¡¯ has been confirmed as ¡®deceased¡¯. ording to the emergency sequence, a new user is designated. Rebooting¡­ ¡ø Some kind of guidance. They continued to scroll down, irrelevant to my understanding. ¨‹ ¨C The artifact, ¡®the Iris of Lace,¡¯ automatically disysments based on the information set saved by previous users. ¨C In addition toments directly written by previous users, ¨C It is also informed that the current user can learn and grow based on interactions with phenomena or situations. ¨C Some functions and information are currently locked. ¨C The automatic bind-summon function is executed. ¡ø ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª I read the exnations slowly. The experience of reading letters floating in the air was quite unfamiliar. Wearing it alone, a magic that interferes with the user¡¯s vision to show virtual objects. It was a highly advanced level of magic not easily found. I waited eagerly for the next guidance. Its content was quite simple. ¡®Rmendedpletion of the tutorial.¡¯ The tutorial introducing the functions of the artifact was short. However, I couldn¡¯t leave that spot for a while. ¡°¡­What exactly is this artifact?¡± * * * Now back to the present. I, wearing the Iris of Lace, looked at myself in the mirror. Now, even this extraordinary performance has be quite familiar. As I focused my mind,ments began to fill up above my face. Now back to the present. Wearing the Iris of Lace, I looked into the mirror. Now, even this extraordinary functionality has be quite familiar. As I focused my mind,ments began to fill up above my face. ¨‹ Doppelganger Hardworking Adaptable Skilled in improvisation Powerful acting ¡ø And so on. Thements continued endlessly. Through thesements, I could clearly see how the previous user, the Hero, had ¡®perceived me.¡¯ It was one of the functions of the Iris of Lace. A function that disys ments¡¯ based on the information the previous user stored in the artifact¡¯s ¡®information set.¡¯ In simple terms, This artifact, just by using it, grants the ¡®perspective¡¯ and ¡®knowledge¡¯ of the previous user. ¡®Getting the eyes of a Hero.¡¯ This was why I confidently volunteered for a position as an academy professor. But the functionality didn¡¯t end there. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s start gradually.¡± Activating the Iris of Lace wasn¡¯t just to see simplements. ¡°¡­It might also be helpful for direct training.¡± Holding the Hero¡¯s greatsword, I walked to the center of the living room. The structure was such that one floor was entirely dedicated to the living space, and the ceiling was so high that even raising the sword wouldn¡¯t touch it. The space was ample. Taking a deep breath, I thrust the greatsword diagonally forward. ¡°Hup!¡± Throwing my weight forward, I stabbed. I incorporated rear shes, parries, downward strikes, punches, and kicks during the recovery. Imagining a virtual opponent, I moved my body vigorously. It was the basic swordsmanship the Hero had taught me. The swordy continued until my shoulders became stiff. I straightened my waist, breathing heavily. ¡°Hoo, hoo. Is it done?¡± Text quickly appeared in the empty space. The amount was too much to read at once. ¨‹ 1 Second Stance ¨C Excessive force on the front paw 3 Second Stance ¨C Imbnce in the right pelvis Overall ¨C Unstable posture during directional changes Overall ¨C Improvement needed in bnce sense and muscr strength Overall ¨C Insufficient abdominal pressure Currently conducting aprehensive evaluation¡­ Searching for appropriate training methods in the information set¡­ Comprehensive Evaluation: Appears perfect at a nce, butcking substance ¡ø The Iris of Lace was said to generatements based on the information, thoughts, and knowledge of the ¡®previous user¡¯ stored in the information set. Therefore, this artifact seemed to be reproducing criticisms simr to those I received from the Hero. ¡°Even thements¡­ are harsh.¡± This too was quite simr. The Hero was a very strict person when it came to swordsmanship. Thanks to years of effort, I could perfectly replicate the basics to the point where it was difficult to distinguish him, but receiving satisfactory praise from him was not easy. ¡­Anyway, this is the essence. Wearing this allows me to borrow the vast knowledge and keen insight of the Hero. ¡®Truly a specialized item for teaching students.¡¯ Just wear it and observe; the guidance on how to teach will flow effortlessly. No matter how genius the kids might be, in the eyes of the Hero, their level would likely be far from sufficient. Teaching them should pose no challenge. Moreover, this artifact has many additional functions. ¨‹ Searched for training methods suitable for the user ¨C Would you like to initiate ¡®Avatar Sparring¡¯? ¨C Set ¡®High-Level Demon, Agni¡¯ as the sparring avatar ¡ø It was equipped with various functions necessary for getting stronger. ¡®All right, let¡¯s give it a try.¡¯ Of course, I also know. No matter how much I train, it will be difficult to match the extraordinary strength the Hero possessed. However, the stronger I be, the lower the probability of this fake Hero role being exposed. Recalling one of thements that appeared above my face, I continued to wield the sword. ¨‹ Trustworthy. ¡ø The feeling of fatigue quickly faded away. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 4 Chapter 4 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª A few days passed like that. Since there was nothing specific to do before the academic schedule started, I poured all my time into training, aside from eating and sleeping. Thud! I looked at my torn grip, then cast Polymorph. In an instant, wless skin covered the mangled flesh. Restoring the wounds consumed a considerable amount of mental strength, but there was no other choice. Training had to continue. ¡°To keep using this weapon, I¡¯ll have to get used to this pain.¡± I looked down at the greatsword in my hand. It was the Hero¡¯s most cherished possession, the ¡°ck Hope.¡± Due to the copious amount of dark blood of demons sshed on it, the greatsword had turned pitch ck. The Hero, who used to constantly sharpen his weapons due to the unique style of his swordsmanship, could finally put his foot down in the forge after obtaining this sword. Crafted from a fragment of a giant star, it was a monstrous item that even seasoned cksmiths couldn¡¯t handle. The sturdiest and heaviest sword, the Hero imed that once he could showcase basic swordsmanship with this sword, he could make a living as a swordsman anywhere. Although he had already reached that stage¡­ ¡°¡­It¡¯s not enough.¡± Even against the advanced demon, Agni, appearing in avatar training, it was still challenging to withstand for 30 seconds. ¨‹ Recorded Artifact: ck Hope (Sealed) ¨C The unique ability, ¡®Domain,¡¯ is currently locked ¡ø Furthermore, the essential function of this greatsword, which could be considered its unique ability, was sealed. There was a long way to go. It was the moment when I lifted the sword again for training. Beep! Beep! Beep! Themunication bead, stored in the table drawer, was emitting an alert sound. ¡°The sender is¡­.¡± When I took out themunication bead and received the call, a sharp-looking woman appeared beyond the transparent crystal. I respectfully bowed my head. ¡°¡­Your Majesty.¡± [I heard the news that you arrived safely. I¡¯ve been busy with the Empire¡¯s affairs, and now I have a moment to contact you. Is everything okay?] ¡°Yes, I¡¯m adapting. But may I ask the reason for thismunication?¡± [I have a testimony to provide¡­] The Empress paused, staring at me intently. Her forehead slightly furrowed, indicating some displeasure. [First, fix your tone. Make it like Ted¡¯s. You¡¯ll have to continue like that from now on.] ¡°How dare I¡­¡± [Will youmit the disrespect of making me speak twice?] ¡°¡­¡± I took a deep breath and replied. ¡°Understood, Your Majesty. I will do as you say.¡± [¡­] She made a subtle expression and then nodded slowly. [Anyway, now I will discuss the matter.] ¡°All right.¡± [I n to dispatch personnel to assist you. However, since they need to infiltrate perfectly, it might take some time.] Assistants. A wee sound I had heard before. I nodded. At that moment, the golden eyes of the Empress sank coolly. [You should know that just because it¡¯s the Rosenstark doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s entirely safe.] ¡°¡­.¡± [The demons will start moving. Now that you¡¯re here.] [Don¡¯t act recklessly. There¡¯s no need to chase after them immediately.] [Above all, your life should be the top priority. Understood?] With a very serious tone, I responded like a true warrior. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it well, so don¡¯t worry.¡± She briefly widened her eyes and then smirked. [¡­Not bad, quite a convincing imitation.] ¡°Well, I was already nning to observe quietly for a while. I¡¯m stillcking in many aspects to be active in full swing.¡± [Got it.] After finishing speaking, the Empress rubbed her temples and leaned her head back. She seemed extremely tired. [Alright, then.] Themunication ended like that. I was about to resume training but decided to stop. The faint sunlight was now streaming in through the curtains. It was already morning. ¡°¡­I¡¯ve been training until this hour.¡± I reflected on the recentmunication. In the crystal, the background was an office. The hand that rubbed the temples had ink stains spread on it. ¡°It¡¯s not easy to gain the people¡¯s support even with the rule of iron.¡± Stretching, I stood up. Hunger, which I hadn¡¯t noticed, began to crawl in my stomach. Doppelgangers, although not as frequently as humans, also felt hunger when expending energy. ¡°Well, first, let¡¯s eat.¡± I headed to the staff canteen on the first floor. * * * One of the advantages of Rosenstark. The quality of facilities and services was no less than that of the Pce. The staff canteen was no exception. Various types of food were avable, and regardless of the dish requested, a first-ss chef was ready to cook it immediately. ¡­That¡¯s why I thought today¡¯s meal would be enjoyable. ¡°How does it taste? In anticipation of the arrival of the Hero, we¡¯ve brought in our hotel chefs. Did we do well?¡± During the meal, she suddenly appeared in front of me. Yussi Glendor. The head of the Glendor family, a prominent figure in the continental association, and the newly appointed Headmaster of Rosenstark. And, a formerrade of the Hero. ¡®¡­She mentioned she was my junior at the academy.¡¯ Having retired before engaging in full-scale public activities, I hadn¡¯t personally met her, but she was one of therades frequently mentioned by the Hero. I looked at thements sparkling above her head. ¨‹ Alchemy Master Innate business acumen Academy junior Battle enthusiast Fire affinity ¡ø And so on. Unusualments continued for quite a while. Wiping my mouth with a napkin, I asked her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy preparing for the new term? What brings you here?¡± ¡°What brings me here! I came to guide you around the academy before it gets anyter.¡± ¡°¡­Guide.¡± ¡°When we attended here, Rosenstark was quite different. It would be good for you to take a look around.¡± Yussi replied with a natural smile. In the past few days, she had been very friendly towards me. No, it was more than just friendly; it was a level of respect. Even now, when I initiated the conversation, she immediately put down her utensils and looked at me. ¡°Alright then, please.¡± After a moment of contemtion, I nodded. A few days ago, due to some circumstances, I had declined, but a visit to the academy was necessary. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Although I had done thorough research, seeing it with my own eyes would be different. ¡°Hehe.¡± Her smile deepened. ¡°Great! Shall we leave right away?¡± ¡°Wait a moment.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°If there are any avable staff members, they should join us.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Yussii tilted her head. ¡°Well, it might be a good opportunity to introduce everyone. I¡¯ll get them ready for that! I¡¯ll contact you.¡± ¡°Alright. Let me know.¡± ¡°Yep! Look forward to it!¡± Yussii¡¯s eyes sparkled as she left the canteen first. She handled high heels quite well. ¡°¡­She acts like a spoiled rich girl, but in the end, she¡¯s just a street-smart troublemaker.¡± I also returned to my lodging. The message from Yussi indicating that everything was ready came a short whileter. * * * Since the beginning of the Second Era, if people were asked who the greatest mage was, they would unanimously answer Zero Lilheim. He was an unparalleled genius, even from centuries ago, and no one had matched his achievements until now. Among the many titles attached to him, one was ¡°Founder of Rosenstark.¡± [We need a ce to systematically cultivate talents to resist against the demons. If we don¡¯t continuously replenish personnel with such expertise, humanity will perish at the hands of the increasingly powerful demons.] Those were his words left to posterity. Zero used a lifetime¡¯s worth of wealth and connections to establish Rosenstark. The royal family also provided full support. The academy, born after such a grand process, was nothing like the existing academies; it was the establishment of a fully-fledged Hero academy. ¡°It¡¯s like being in the future, several decades ahead.¡± It felt like a magic-infused giant nned city. There was likely no ce on the entire continent with a higher density of magic. I wanted to admire it without any reservations, but unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t afford to do so. I was now a graduate of Rosenstark, a Hero. Rather than admiration, it was more appropriate for me to recall memories of the past. I gazed out of the window, seemingly lost in thought. ¡°Haha, Professor Redymer must be feeling nostalgic as well.¡± [PR/N: After discussing with the TL, we¡¯ve decided to go with ¡°Redymer¡± instead of ¡°Redeemer¡± since the correct tl would be Redymer. Going further, Mc¡¯s name will be ¡°Ted Redymer.¡±] ¡°Indeed. In a way, Rosenstark¡¯s excellent educationid the groundwork for you to aplish your feats, Professor.¡± ¡°Yes, of course. One could say that the foundation for the sess of the professor here is the excellent education provided by Rosenstark, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± ¡°We, too, as members of the faculty who have produced professors, take pride in teaching and guiding students at this academy.¡± The faculty members on the magic train chatted incessantly. If the ¡®real deal¡¯ were present, I might not have bothered responding at all, given my aversion to such draining conversations. Nevertheless, I provided a measured response. ¡°¡­Indeed, returning as a professor brings a fresh perspective.¡± ¡°The curriculum at Rosenstark is quite practical.¡± The gazes directed at me gradually softened. Of course, there were still some sending looks of scrutiny and exploration. ¡°Haha, it seems the younger folks really admire Professor Redeemer.¡± ¡°Well, he¡¯s quite famous, you know.¡± ¡°And Professor Lavein mentioned that she taught Professor Redeemer when he was an undergraduate¡­¡± There was no issue with the words spoken aloud. However, there was a subtle nuance in their expressions and gazes. It was clear that they weren¡¯t particrly pleased with my presence. As apetitive institution, Rosenstark pursued excellence, and the performance of professors, like students¡¯ grades, was regrly evaluated. The oue determined the allocation of funds and facilities, making my appearance less than wee. Moreover, professors who had taught me directly seemed to harbor a certain aversion. ¡®¡­Didn¡¯t I lead a rather exemry student life here?¡¯ Beyond that, there was no shortage of reasons why they wouldn¡¯t hold a warrior in high regard. It was inevitable that envy would follow admiration. Push and pull. The magic train came to a halt. Yussii smiled and pointed to something. ¡°This is thest stop¡­ Do you happen to remember, Hero?¡± At her fingertips was a massive dome-shaped building. ¡®The Iris of Lace¡¯ responded, generatingments. ¨‹ Recorded Location: Retrieving information about the ¡®Rosenstark Comprehensive Research Institute of Monsters¡¯ ¨C Facility for securing and researching various monsters inhabiting the magical realm ¨C Confirmed an approximately 50% increase in sizepared to previously recorded dimensions ¡ø Suchments appeared promptly, allowing me to smoothly pretend to be a graduate. I nodded. ¡°It seems like it has grown quite a bitpared to before.¡± ¡°It should. How much money do you think they invested in the research facility?¡± She knocked on the carriage door. ¡°Well then, shall we go? Everyone?¡± That¡¯s when it happened. The faculty members, who had been chattering non-stop, suddenly fell silent. One of them cautiously asked. ¡°Um¡­ Headmaster, was it really intended for an internal tour?¡± ¡°Well, well. Wouldn¡¯t it be tiring for Professor Redymer to tour the internal facilities as well?¡± All of them wore reluctant expressions. ¡°Why are you all like this?¡± ¡°Ah, no, it¡¯s just that¡­¡± Yussi responded on their behalf. ¡°The capture team brought in some rather ominous creatures this time.¡± ¡°¡­Ominous creatures?¡± ¡°The capture team almost got wiped out bringing them in¡­ What are you all doing? Why aren¡¯t you getting off?¡± At Yussi¡¯s insistence, the faculty reluctantly disembarked from the magic train. The senior professors had already descended earlier, and their mutteredints reached my ears. ¡°¡­They say that there hasn¡¯t been much progress in taming them.¡± ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. They¡¯ll be in the quarantine zone anyway.¡± I raised my brow for a moment. Rosenstark¡¯s professors were generally formidable individuals. That they found these creatures unsettling intrigued me. ¡®What could they be¡­?¡¯ Even more diforting was their demeanor as we entered the research facility. Only Yussi seemed excited, presenting them like cherished toys. ¡°From here on, it¡¯s allboratories. If you ever need magical creatures for your sses or experiments, feel free to visit. We even have some rare ones.¡± I nodded, surveying the surroundings. The interior of the research facility had high ceilings, and thick ss walls surrounded us on all sides. Beyond those, enough creatures roamed that the destruction of an entire vige seemed possible if just one were released. ¡®¡­They¡¯re conducting experiments.¡¯ White-d researchers busily roamed the corridors, subjecting the creatures to various tests¡ªshocks, magical attributes, and potions¡ªall seemingly aimed at finding weaknesses. The roars of the creatures reverberated in my ears. ¡®¡­It¡¯s quite unsettling.¡¯ Despite my casual observation, my heart raced. Encountering high-level creatures like this was unfamiliar territory, even for someone who had been a warrior for a long time. The scope of a warrior¡¯s duties was usually limited to the vicinity of the academy. Though I had asionally encountered creatures during my travels before meeting Yussi, they paled inparison to the specimens here. ¡®They said they directly procured them from within the magical realm.¡¯ Most of these creatures were likely ones warriors had faced before, andments from ¡®The Iris of Lace¡¯ incessantly streamed in. Yussi spoke to me with a proud expression. ¡°Due to the rarity and strength of these experimental subjects, a considerable effort has been invested in security. Very safe¡­¡± Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! A ring rm echoed through the corridor at that moment. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 5 Chapter 5 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Until the first rm echoed and people began to move busily, I couldn¡¯t help but be bewildered. However, Yussi¡¯s reaction was lukewarm. She had been talking to one of the researchers who had hurriedly approached, and let out an irritated sigh. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Number 223¡­ I mean, the creature we mentioned we captured this time? It¡¯s causing trouble again.¡± The incident started like this. For the safety of the researchers and the smooth progress of the experiments, it was necessary to break the aggressiveness and will of the creatures to some extent. This was called ¡®neutralization.¡¯ The mostmon method of neutralization was repetitive suppression. Creatures fundamentally followed the logic of power. If a stronger opponent continuously exerted violence, it would eventually break their spirit. However, the neutralization process for the creature they had recently captured didn¡¯t seem to be going well. Yussi¡¯s expression twisted in frustration. ¡°Hah, it fails every time, every time! We might as well rece the suppression team now.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hey there! Bring up the video from Istion Room 223! Deploy the rescue team!¡± At Yussi¡¯s gesture, a researcher who had been waiting, hastily brought arge crystal panel. On the screen was the footage of the creature referred to as Number 223. Professors also gathered around quietly, curious about the situation. Thanks to the clear image quality, we could observe the creature as if it were right in front of us. ¡°¡­¡± I was momentarily speechless. One word was enough for the impression. ¡®Hideous.¡¯ Would throwing a giant lump of flesh onto the floor result in such a form? The body, appearing in a state between liquid and solid, was squished along the istion room¡¯s ss surface. ¡®¡­Why are there so many pupils in the eyes again?¡¯ The pupils clinging to the flesh were countless, blinking sequentially and staring in all directions. Of course, monsters rarely had a likable appearance¡­ Well, it was somewhat distinctive. I squinted my eyes and looked at the footage. ¡°The suppression team?¡± Several armed personnel were moving inside the istion room. Something was off. ¡®Why aren¡¯t they fighting properly?¡¯ Most of them stood still, only swaying their bodies. No, they were acrobats. Some were even throwing martial arts moves, running around inside the istion room like madmen. Even though Number 223 was attacking with tentacles, there was no significant reaction. ¡®It looks weak¡­.¡¯ The speed of the tentacles was slow, and the trajectory was simple. If I were to categorize, it would probably be intermediate level. It was a level I could easily suppress. Wondering if I had missed something, I looked at the screen again. That¡¯s when it happened. Swoosh! The eyes of Number 223 all turned in unison, gazing at this side, that is, at the artifact of the istion room¡¯s footage. ¡°¡­Ugh.¡± ¡°Kuk!¡± Simultaneously, stifled sounds erupted from all directions. The only ones who didn¡¯t take their eyes off the monitor were me and Yussi. Both researchers and faculty, their faces turning pale, averted their gazes. Yussi nced at me with a slightly wrinkled face, expressing some admiration. ¡°As expected of the hero. You can endure the mental attacks of Number 223 without any difficulty.¡± ¡­Mental attacks? Yussi continued. ¡°Number 223¡­ or more precisely, called ¡®Magoren.¡¯ It¡¯s so rare that we¡¯ve never captured one before, but we managed to get our hands on it for the first time this time. Haven¡¯t you seen it before, Hero?¡± ¡®¡­No.¡¯ Perhaps the hero had encountered this creature before. When I reactivated the eye of Lace, which had been turned off to watch the video,ments poured into the air. ¨‹ Recorded Creature: Magoren ¨C Catalog Grade: Grade external ¨C Inhabits the 20th sector of the magical realm ¨C While its physical abilities are nothing special, the illusionary shockwave emitted through numerous pupils is extremely lethal to the mental barriers of humans ¨C Possesses strong immunity to magic and drugs ¨C Resistance to illusions depends on the target¡¯s mental strength ¡ø ¡­Thanks to this, I understood why I was unaffected. It was obvious. A creature like a Doppelganger, with a mental structure different from any other organism, wouldn¡¯t be affected by illusionary shockwaves targeting humans. I had experimented with the ¡®real¡¯ many times and knew that I was immune to any attack that interfered with the target¡¯s mind. Yussiined. ¡°Originally, we would have just used sleep magic or drugs to start the experiment, but that creature has an incredible resistance in that area.¡± ¡°Is there no one who can resist its mental attacks?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s why we are looking for someone with an exceptionally strong mental barrier, but there aren¡¯t many.¡± The mental barrier is the total sum of an individual¡¯s innate willpower, mental strength, determination, and other factors. It can be stronger or weaker based on the experiences one undergoes. It also serves as a measure of how well one can resist the attacks of magical beings, like Magoren or nightmares, who specialize in mental assaults. I looked back at the monitor. The illusions emitted by that creature were overwhelming even for experienced professors who had been through numerous challenges. The suppression team was at a loss. Moreover, the goal wasn¡¯t to kill but to subdue, making the situation even more challenging. Yussi wore a somewhat troubled expression. ¡°Well, we finally captured a rare magical creature, but when can we start the research¡­¡± Someone interjected into our conversation. ¡°Professor Redymer, you should be able to subdue Magoren easily, shouldn¡¯t you?¡± It was the older professor who seemed most ufortable throughout our tour today. After a moment of silence, another professor spoke up with a cheeky tone, ¡°Haha, Professor Gic. Professor Redymer hasn¡¯t fully recovered from the toxicity yet. It¡¯s a bit much to make such a request, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Oh my, what request did I make? I just mentioned it. If it¡¯s too much, he doesn¡¯t have to do it.¡± ¡°Haha. Professor Redymer is being quite troublesome.¡± They exchanged banter among themselves, subtly ncing at me. ¡­The intention was clear, and it was amusing enough to bring a smile. Yussi stiffened her face and muttered under her breath. ¡°Are those old geezers crazy?¡± I spoke up. ¡°Indeed. It might be a good warm-up.¡± ¡°Huh, Hero?¡± Yussi looked at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. ¡°Hero? You don¡¯t have to respond to such absurd provocations. I¡¯ll take care of these clueless fools who can¡¯t grasp the situation¡­¡± ¡°No need to worry.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°If you want to start the research quickly.¡± Perhaps they didn¡¯t expect me to actually agree, as the older professors looked at me with puzzled expressions. If I let them know that subtle ttery won¡¯t work, it should get the message across. ¡°Then maybe some defensive artifacts¡­¡± When I rejected even protective gear, their expressions became even more perplexed. I walked towards the entrance of the quarantine zone. All I needed was a handful of ck ropes. * * * I entered the istion chamber. The square-shaped room was white and quiet. The suppression team seemed to have left already. Unwiped bloodstains were scattered here and there. And Magoren, crouched in one corner of the room, was staring in my direction as if sizing me up. Dealing with him must be quite challenging for humans. His eyes, the conduits for environmental illusions, were scattered all around, and upon entering his line of sight, one would be affected by those illusions. Even long-range weapons like arrows were useless against his squishy body, and magic was ineffective due to his resistance. The only solution was closebat, but fighting him while enduring the illusions was nearly impossible even for skilled individuals. ¡°Perhaps he has some intelligence¡­¡± Although not yet officially cataloged in the Monster Encyclopedia, he might be ssified as a top-tier creature once the research isplete. At my current level, I probably couldn¡¯t defeat a top-tier monster even if I died and revived, but this one might be an exception. As I took a step forward, Magoren¡¯s eyes glowed simultaneously, all focused on me. The ordinary human would likely foam at the mouth and copse right now. ¡°¡­,¡± I stood still, and perhaps thinking the attack hadnded, the tentacles hidden within the fleshy mass extended sneakily. Its overall movements were as agile as seen in the video. ¡°Its physical abilities are at least intermediate level.¡± It wouldn¡¯t be a significant problem for him. It would have been enough to kill defenseless prey in its vulnerable state so far. Unfortunately for him, today was not one of those days. ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve brandished a sword in front of someone as the Hero.¡± I felt a bit tense, but there was no problem. It was a sword honed countless times under the guidance of the Hero. It looked remarkably simr on the outside, as the individual himself admitted. Whoosh¡ª I raised the sword. Whether the creature was surprised or not, the tentacle that had been sluggish elerated and lunged at me. Swish! Turning to the side, I swung the tentacle diagonally. A sturdy sensation reverberated through my hand. Thud! The tentacle, as thick as a human torso, flopped on the ground. Despite the dark, viscous blood sttering in all directions, I was already gone from that spot. I swiftly took my position again, ready to strike. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The basic swordsmanship of a hero is simple¡ªa technique designed to confront beings muchrger and more powerful than humans. Each strike carries a significant weight and force, inevitably creating openings, but hepensated for it with lightning reflexes and spatial awareness honed in and out of the human realm. I visualized his movements in my mind and swung the sword again. The shy and challenging maneuvers were omitted. ¡°¡­I need to stage a convincingly overwhelming beating.¡± Once, twice, until the grip became stiff. The giant sword struck Magoren¡¯s torso directly. This was the fundamental skill repeated tens of thousands of times over several years, precisely mirroring the memories of the hero within the sword. While the destructive power might differ, it didn¡¯t matter in the current situation. The goal was not to kill but to neutralize. The de struck with a solid thud. Since I was using the t side of the sword rather than the edge, the creature couldn¡¯t die, only enduring continuous agony. asionally, its tentacles retaliated, but avoiding them was not difficult. Compared to the higher-level monster babies I had faced during avatar training in the past few days, their movements were child¡¯s y. I wondered how much time had passed. The numerous eyes of the creature blinked simultaneously, and soon its massive body shrank like a deting balloon, disappearing into the wall, leaving behind a much smaller, less threatening Magoren. The once imposing figure now looked pitiful, drained of its venomous energy. Its once enormous body, enough to cover one side of the wall, quickly shrank like a deting balloon. The menacing posture it had maintained was reced by a pitiful Magoren. ¡®¡­It¡¯s done.¡¯ Once I confirmed the creature finding a corner to slump into, I turned towards the istion room door. With a creak, the door opened. In the corridor, the team was waiting. The professor who had taunted me with a challenge to subdue Magoren had eyes that squinted in assessment, scanning me from head to toe. It seemed like an attempt to find any traces of the mental attack¡¯s wear and tear. It was a futile effort, of course. I nonchntly brushed off the dried bodily fluids from the resilient sword and remarked. ¡°Hope you¡¯d at least provide me with some pants.¡± The professors, btedly regainingposure, hastily apuded. ¡°Uh, there¡¯s no way. We knew you¡¯d subdue it easily from the beginning.¡± Pursing their lips, the professors, now red-faced, denied any involvement in a provocation. I continued to stare at their now crumbling expressions until their hastily pping hands fell silent. Testing a hero like this was a rather foolish act, suitable only for those who had never faced him before. I probably won¡¯t entertain such attempts in the future. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yes! Let¡¯s go!¡± With an excited expression, Yussi pressed close to my side. * * * With that, the tour came to an end. After sessfully leaving a strong impression on my colleagues, I could return to my daily routine. Well, not entirely the same as before, as an unexpected guest had inserted itself into the scene. ¡°Hero! No, Professor Redymer! Dining alone again?¡± Setting down my fork, I looked at the charming blond youth twirling in front of me. His name was Kasim Pierre, a professor ofbat arts and a prominent figure in the Rosenstark faculty. Despite looking around thirty, he was a well-deserved professor in the Combat Arts Department, known for being a promising swordsman before his appointment. ¡®We only casually interacted during the tour. He didn¡¯t seem this friendly back then.¡¯ Among the young professors, he stood out as one who somewhat distantly observed from afar. However, something must have changed in his mindset after the tour, as Kasim now approached me with a bright smile. ¡°¡­It¡¯s you again.¡± ¡°Haha, one can¡¯t just pass by a professor. May I sit? I¡¯m still hungry.¡± Before waiting for an answer, Kasim smiled brightly and took the seat in front of me. He consistently wore an expression as if he could only smile, no matter the circumstance. ¡°Oh-ho, sorry, sorry.¡± Without even waiting for a response, Kasim swiftly took up the fork and knife. Despite appearingid-back, he showed no deviation from proper table manners, swiftly devouring the food with precision. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve been busytely. They say you even toured the training grounds yesterday.¡± ¡°¡­Rosenstark seems to have many eyes and mouths.¡± ¡°Haha, my apologies. I have a wide range of interests. There¡¯s a lot to hear even when I¡¯m standing still.¡± Whether it was his amiability or sociability, Kasim had an easygoing nature. Since expressing his favorable opinion of me, he had been visiting me without reservation. ¡°¡­It¡¯s quite a harvest.¡± In truth, forming a connection with Kasim was not a bad thing for me. No matter how diligently I conducted pre-research, information directly from an insider was invaluable. Through him, I could hear various stories or make educated guesses. Right now, for instance. ¡°It was quite an interesting tour.¡± ¡°¡­An interesting tour?¡± ¡°Oh, well. I made a slip of the tongue due to my excitement.¡± Kasim¡¯s hand lightly covered his mouth¡ªa gesture that seemed more theatrical than genuinely surprised. He maintained exaggerated gestures and expressions. It wasn¡¯t so much that he was genuinely surprised, but more like he was acting out a scene of astonishment, all the while not losing the smile he had been wearing since earlier. It wasn¡¯t far-fetched to assume that my earlier guess was correct. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s about the tour we had.¡± ¡°Are you talking about the research facility?¡± Kasim¡¯s eyes widened slightly. His green eyes moved as if to gauge my reaction. ¡°Aren¡¯t you surprised? To shut the mouths of those entric professors in one go. I, Kasim, were truly impressed.¡± ¡­It seemed that the rtionship between the young professors and the senior faculty wasn¡¯t particrly amicable. It could be troublesome to get involved in such matters without understanding the dynamics. I replied with an indifferent expression. ¡°¡­Hmm.¡± He quickly withdrew his statement. ¡°Please consider it as a light jest.¡± As the atmosphere seemed to settle, Kasim swiftly changed the subject. ¡°By the way, have you heard that there will be a pre-briefing soon?¡± The conversation shifted to uing academic events. ¡°Quite a concern. Professor, how are you preparing for it?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 6 Chapter 6 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The Pre-Orientation Meeting. It was an event where professors exined the courses they would be teaching during the semester in front of the students. It was not an exaggeration to say that for professors, this was one of the most crucial events of the year. Messing up the pre-orientation meeting meant seeing an empty course registration form. All professors were dedicated to securing outstanding students. The quantity and quality of students, enrollment capacity, and course evaluations¡ªthese were all evaluation criteria that no professor could afford to overlook. The era when a professor¡¯spetence could be assessed solely based on research and papers had passed. However, even for veteran professors, preparing for a good orientation was an incredibly challenging task. ¡°Oh, I still have nightmares about the first pre-orientation meeting.¡± Kasim shuddered as if recalling something dreadful. He mentioned that due to nervousness, he had messed up the meeting, leading to empty ssrooms and reduced research funds on disy. ¡°In truth, if professors like you took a nap on the pre-orientation stage, the lecture hall might copse, but¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°People have high expectations. Ah, if it were me, I would have felt burdened and run away.¡± Kasim¡¯s words were true. It was, after all, a pre-orientation meeting for a Hero. The students and professors were keenly interested in what kind of ss I had prepared and how I would introduce it. ¡°May I ask what kind of stage you¡¯ve prepared for?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t decided on the specifics yet.¡± Kasim seemed disappointed but resumed with a smile, ¡°Whether it¡¯s the pre-orientation meeting or anything else, feel free to let me know if you need any help. I¡¯ll assist as much as I can.¡± ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Typically, professors in the Combat Department would present a safe swordsmanship demonstration. However, for me, whose basic skills were only simr to those of a Hero, that was not a viable option. ¡°If a real Hero were in this position, they wouldn¡¯t have demonstrated swordsmanship.¡± I had thought about what kind of stage a real Hero would have presented. Although I hadn¡¯t explicitly told Kasim, I had some idea of the answer. As the only disciple of the Hero, I knew better than anyone what kind of ss he would have wanted. Meanwhile, in the administration office of Rosenstark, unprecedented chaos was unfolding. ¡°What! Why are there so many admission applications? Since when did people be so interested in demon extermination!¡± Eve, the head of the administration office, was tearing at her hair. ¡°Just study at home, you brats!¡± She looked at the pile of admission applications in front of her with a distressed expression. The subordinate employees were nowhere to be seen, but Eve was sure they wore the same expression. Rosenstark had three departments in total: 1. Combat (Martial Arts) 2. Magic (Mystic) 3. Support (Crafting) As the professor in the Combat Department, I had taken up the role, and as a result, 15,351 admission documents had arrived for the Combat Department with a freshmen capacity of 300. Considering that typically around two thousand students applied, one could imagine the workload the administration office was currently handling. Thinking about how typically around two thousand students apply, one can imagine the workload the administration office is currently handling. Eve eximed. ¡°From the Self-Defense Force in Juen Vige? Experience in subduing low-level demon ¡®Voight¡¯? Why on earth did this one apply¡­? Does he actually think he¡¯ll get selected?¡± In the midst of this, even students on leave sent in applications to return. ¡°Uh, ugh. Save me. No, kill me!¡± Eve¡¯s task was to review applicants¡¯ resumes, sift through them, and then send selected ones for interviews. This was a job that must never be handled carelessly. If an unqualified candidate went for an interview, the administration office, particrly Eve as a senior member, would be in deep trouble. ¡®Ah, I want to go home.¡¯ Anyway, the candidates filtered through the first round had to pass several talent and aptitude tests beforepleting the interview. Only then could they proudly wear Rosenstark¡¯s student badge. The process, befitting Rosenstark¡¯s reputation, was extremely meticulous, and as a result, the 300 freshmen slots were rarely filled to capacity. ¡°This time, it¡¯s not just full; it¡¯s going to burst. And with the highest level of students ever¡­¡± Eve nced at a separate pile of documents. Naturally, it wasn¡¯t just unqualified applicants. ¡®Wow, these are like characters from a novel¡­¡¯ Descendant of a famous sword lineage. Heiress of a renowned swordsmanship family. Descendant of a tribal chief, and so on. Looking at them, there were many neers with backgrounds that seemed unbelievable. Eve¡¯s subordinate, Jace, muttered from the other side of the documents. ¡°Eve, are these people for real? Is someone ying a prank? There are too many applicants, and we couldn¡¯t review them all.¡± ¡°They probably are. Unless they want to die, they wouldn¡¯t fabricate information.¡± The Empress Euphemia Cecilia I, directly emphasized that messing with Rosenstark¡¯s affairs would not be amusing. Even looking at their backgrounds, there were many new students with unbelievable stories. There must be a fool wanting a momentary thrill to tour the royal underground torture chamber. ¡°Then the list is really absurd. It¡¯s unprecedented for candidates of this level to apply in such numbers since the academy was founded.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true. Normally, such individuals would negotiate with their mentors one-on-one.¡± ¡°So, this time¡­¡± ¡°What are you asking?¡± Eveughed contentedly. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s thanks to Professor Hero. Whether they¡¯re tribal chiefs or swordsmanship heirs, just stick them all together. They¡¯re like fireflies in front of the sunpared to the Hero. They probably would havee themselves if it weren¡¯t for the age limit.¡± Despite being a workce that often makes you want to run away, Eve, in any case, took pride in being a part of Rosenstark. The appointment of the Hero as a professor was a matter of considerable pride for her. Even her acquaintances were going crazy. When they meet him in person, they¡¯d want an autograph. ¡°Oh, right. Jace!¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Her fatigued subordinate answered. ¡°Haven¡¯t you received anymunication?¡± ¡°Communication? From whom?¡± ¡°From the Hero. The preliminary briefing is already next week. It¡¯s time for them to contact us.¡± Usually, as the preliminary briefing approached, professors would pester the administration office staff. Requests to change demonstration materials or alter the sequence weremon. Some even interfered with the positioning of lights on the stage. However, in the case of the Hero, there had been no contact, not even a single message. He hadn¡¯t sent a simple n. The organizers from the administration office were understandably worried. ¡°Oh, a note dide from the professor¡¯s building just now.¡± ¡°Why speak in such an anxious manner? Did he ask for extraordinary materials?¡± Eve tensely waited for Jace¡¯s response. It was the Hero¡¯s request, and even if it was an unreasonable demand, they had toply. ¡°He said he doesn¡¯t need anything.¡± ¡°¡­Huh? Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s all he conveyed.¡± Eve plucked the note from Jace¡¯s hand. The handwriting was straightforward. Her head tilted. [Lecture Title: Extreme] The paper contained only those six characters. * * * ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª On the day of the preliminary briefing. Main Auditorium. Although there was still some time before the start of the briefing, the auditorium was already full. Not only students and faculty but also journalists and prominent figures who had received permission to enter crowded the space, making it a bustling scene. Their attention was focused 90% on one person ¨C Eve. She felt the warm gazes and faced them directly. Even before the start of the briefing, the auditorium was packed. * * * The host said, ¡°Now, let¡¯s begin the preliminary briefing.¡± Surprisingly, the host for the preliminary briefing was Kasim. Despite his usually casual attitude, he now appeared surprisingly solemn. Once the brief introduction was over, he bowed, and the audience responded with thunderous apuse. ¡®Seems like those seats over there are for new students.¡¯ It was quite diverse, to say the least. Usually, academies impose restrictions on admission, especially for pure-blooded humans, and even more so if they aren¡¯t nobility. However, Rosenstark was different. Established exclusively to exclude demons, as long as one had the skills, anyone could enroll. As a result, the student seats were filled with an unusualbination that didn¡¯t quite fit together. Nobles andmoners sharing the same space is an odd sight. There were even some individuals with mixed appearances, belonging to different races, scattered here and there. The subtle difort extended to the professor¡¯s seats. The onlymonality among them was the intensely sparkling eyes fixed on me. ¡®¡­And there are a few monsters among them.¡¯ Though it felt apologetic tobel the fluffy kids as monsters, there was no other way to describe them. Apart from those, there were somements praising them entirely. It was a moment of scrutinizing their faces. ¡°Um¡­ It¡¯s been a while, Hero. Have you been well?¡± A cautious voice reached me, and I turned my head. A young professor had approached, pretending to be familiar. An unfamiliar face in my memory. However, thanks to the Iris of Lace, I could discern his identity. ¨‹ Recorded Individual: Jeremy Eitrobin ¨C Descendant of a family that rapidly amassed wealth through iron mining ¨C Made significant donations to Rosenstark. ¡ø A recorded individual. Someone who had an encounter with the Hero. I nced at him over my sses and nodded slowly. Despite thements, Eitrobin was a well-known family to me. It had been mentioned frequently in social circles for a few years now. Stories of a jackpot from the family-owned mine or their extravagant attire and essories were circting. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Professor Eitrobin.¡± ¡°Haha, it¡¯s an honor that you remember.¡± Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he looked around. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since the auditorium was this crowded. Fortunately, we expanded it with the donation a while ago.¡± He spoke in a somewhat boastful tone. ¡°By the way, have you found any students you like?¡± ¡°A few.¡± ¡°Haha, there are too many for me to worry about. Other professors also really like them. All thanks to you, Hero.¡± It wasn¡¯t untrue that the eyes of the surrounding professors looking at the student seats were peculiar. Rosenstark conducts course registration through an interview process. In other words, the pre-exnation meeting was an opportunity for professors to observe individuals who could be their disciples. ¡°Indeed, who will be fortunate enough to be your disciple¡­ Well, if I were ten years younger, I might have tried challenging it myself.¡± Professor Eitrobin continued good-naturedly. ¡°¡­.¡± A tant tterer. Typically, in such situations, the Hero would disengage from the conversation. However, I had no intention of matching every detail precisely. There was no need to push away the peopleing in. On the contrary, it was advisable to mingle adequately, as one never knew when or where assistance might be needed. ¡°Thanks. Is your family business doing well? It was iron mining, I believe.¡± Professor Eitrobin opened his mouth slightly. As if taken aback, he blinked his eyes rapidly. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Oh, no, it¡¯s not that. It¡¯s so unexpected that you have an interest in our family affairs¡­ No, it¡¯s an honor.¡± Professor Eitrobin, who had been stumbling over his words, suddenly fell silent. His gaze was now fixed straight ahead. ¡°¡­Pr-President.¡± Yussi clenched his fist and silently stared at him. ¡°Ha.¡± A chilly sigh followed. ¡°Next time, why don¡¯t you socialize with more suitable people, Professor Eitrobin.¡± ¡°Yes, yes. I will keep that in mind. Please continue your conversation. I¡¯ll excuse myself now.¡± Professor Eitrobin tactfully withdrew without waiting for further instructions. His retreating figure quickly disappeared from sight. Yussi frowned and watched his receding back. ¡°He¡¯s too different to keep close.¡± ¡°I thought you¡¯d say that. Anyway, I¡¯ll stick close for now.¡± Without waiting for a response, Yussi took a seat beside him. A lingering scent of medicine permeated the air. ¡°I¡¯ve been wrestling with reporters all along, so my back is aching.¡± Thud¡ª As Yussi twisted her head left and right, the sound of bones cracking echoed. Then, she pulled out a square object from his pocket. It was a ck brick-like thing, about as thick as a thin book. It had a rectangr frame as a background, with changing pictures inside. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Oh, Hero, you¡¯re probably seeing it for the first time. It¡¯s called a ¡®Connector.¡¯¡± Connector. ording to Yussi, it was a magical device made using magic stones. It was given to students and staff, serving as an invention to check various schedules and academy information. It waspatible only within the Rosenstark main system, limiting its use to the academy premises. However, it received praise for its various functions, includingmunity features, among students and staff. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been around for long. However, it has be quite popr due to the increased convenience in various aspects after its distribution.¡± ¡°¡­Does it have functions other than checking information about sses?¡± ¡°Well, it serves various purposes to some extent.¡± Yussi tapped the Connector as she spoke. After a few movements of her hand, Eitrobin¡¯s face appeared on it. Below, there were evaluations about Eitrobin. ¨‹ ¨C ¡®History of Demons¡¯ Professor ¨C Rating: ¡ï 2.1 / 5.0 ©¸ Seems to live for showing off. ©¸ Don¡¯t understand why he keeps boasting about his wealth during ss. ©¸ Let¡¯s shorten Professor Eitrobin to three letters: Inferiorityplex. ©¸ Still, he seems to have deep knowledge about demons. ©¸ Professor Eitrobin, are you here? ¡ø [PR/N- Inferiority Complex in Kr is only 3 letters, hence thement] Whether because it was anonymous or not, the evaluations were written without reservation, enough to make the person in question feel quite embarrassed. ¡°Have you heard about the ¡®Professor Evaluations,¡¯ Hero?¡± ¡°Yeah, I heard that students can evaluate each lecture after it ends.¡± ¡°Just leaving it entirely to the discretion of professors and neglecting it can lead to a decline in the quality of teaching. That¡¯s why we proceed this way, to create awareness.¡± I asked quietly, ¡°Are my sses also evaluated like this?¡± ¡°Yes, but Hero, you don¡¯t need to worry. Would there be anyone here with such ack of insight to qualify for criticizing you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± I pondered on what response to give. Meanwhile, a professor stepped onto the stage with a tense atmosphere. ¡°It¡¯s about to start. Would you like to watch?¡± Yussi smiled with her eyes shaped like crescent moons. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 7 Chapter 7 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Rosenstark¡¯s sses were divided into two types, major courses called ¡®Unir¡¯ and liberal arts courses named ¡®Finement.¡¯ You could enroll in several Finement courses each semester without any issue. However, when it came to Unir, students were required to choose only one. This led to a significant difference in the allocated credits, ss hours, and importance between the two. Typically, the authority to open Unir courses was given to seasoned professors whose abilities had been proven. Naturally, there was much more support for Unir than Finement. Yussi assigned me as the instructor for Unir, precisely because I requested it. It was more advantageous to handle Unir courses than Finement for cultivating talents more closely. As the pre-briefing proceeded with Finement, my turn was yet toe. ¡°Hmm, everyone seems more promising than expected this year. It¡¯s rewarding to have a generous budget allocation,¡± Yussi chuckled with satisfaction. As she spoke, professors were giving their all to the briefing, bringing their expertise to the stage. ¡°By structuring the initiation ceremony like this¡­ we can operate magic more efficiently and precisely by concentrating mana!¡± The professor from the Department of Mysticism, who had just stepped onto the stage, was intricately sculpting arge ice lump with wind magic. The sleeves of his robe fluttered, indicating the concentration of mana he had drawn. Amidst the various performances unfolding on the stage, Yussi whispered quietly in my ear, ¡°It¡¯s about time to make an impression, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°¡­What do you mean?¡± ¡°Would you enlighten us about the sses, or, in other words, the briefings you¡¯ve prepared?¡± I looked at her. The indigo eyes sparkled with curiosity. ¡°You imed not to have made any demands on the administration. I¡¯ve been curious sincest week, nearly going insane.¡± Others, including the professors, also nced at us with curious eyes. Understandable. Since I haven¡¯tmunicated any requirements or requested materials for the demonstration, they must all be wondering and expecting something. I simply replied. ¡°I n to show it as it is.¡± ¡°As it is¡­?¡± Yussi tilted her head with a puzzled expression. ¡°I have no idea.¡± With a perplexed look, Yussi yfully tilted her head. The other professors, who were preparing to go on the briefing stage, stated that the purpose of standing on the briefing stage was to attract morepetent students. However, my goal was different. ¡°¡­Rather, I need to filter them out.¡± Chasing after a glittering reputation, I prepared a stage to dismiss the beggars who aspired to be the disciple of a Hero in pursuit of only fleeting fame. I nced back at the tform. ¡°Next is the briefing for Professor Laveen Hawk¡¯s lecture, ¡®Understanding the Battlefield.''¡± It was my turn next. There was no more time to waste on conversation. Ignoring the countless gazes, I headed toward the backstage waiting room. * * * The empty waiting room was quiet, a space detached from the outside noise. The atmosphere reminded me of the hideouts where I had spent the past few years. ¡°Fuu¡­.¡± The ¡®fake¡¯ took a deep breath, closing his eyes. In the dim darkness, everything surrounding him quickly became faint. The professor¡¯s voice echoing from the podium, the asional cheers from the audience, and the sensation of sweat running down his back all blurred away. That¡¯s when the contemtion began. ¡®Why did I choose to follow the Hero?¡¯ Initially, it was a necessity. But soon, it became more than that. If not, he would have gone his own way after the Hero¡¯s death. Not risking his life on a dangerous tightrope like this. ¡°¡­.¡± He recalled memories with the ¡®real.¡¯ Ted Redymer, the man behind the persona that people didn¡¯t know about. He had heard and seen it firsthand. What thoughts ran through the mind of the human Ted Redymer as he crossed hundreds of battlefields and faced thousands of snipers? What despair did he confront? These were truths that couldn¡¯t be found in a bard¡¯s bad or a storybook. They were the trials that were too harsh for one human to bear, and the process through which he was forged into the savior of humanity. Knowing all of this, admiration was the only response. The desire to follow in his footsteps and share this experience with the ¡®Hero candidates¡¯ naturally arose. To achieve that, immersion was crucial. Intense, unwavering immersion. ¡°¡­.¡± Past memories and the emotions derived from them slowly etched and permeated into the fake. A moment that felt fleeting passed. The fake, or rather ¡®Ted Redymer,¡¯ opened his eyes with a strong sense of unity. ¡°Fuu¡­.¡± It seemed he had kept his eyes closed longer than expected. As the curtain rose, the stage lights that streamed in felt exceptionally bright. The resonant voice of Kasim echoed. [Thank you for waiting so long!] [The Hero who will be the savior of humanity and ascend as a legend! The pride of Rosenstark, Professor Ted Redymer!] [We present the lecture ¡®Extreme¡¯ by Professor Ted Redymer!] Everything was ready. Perhaps the audience¡¯s expectations for him weren¡¯t about showcasing divine swordsmanship or anything beyond his abilities. But in one aspect, he could confidently present himself. ¡®Show them the Hero.¡¯ He walked toward the stage. Everyone was waiting for him. * * * As the pre-event progressed, the enthusiasm continued to rise. Both new and current students were extremely excited. ¡®Wow, is this Rosenstark? Truly living up to its reputation.¡¯ ¡®Will we be learning under such people for the next four years? We can grow a lot.¡¯ ¡®Oh¡­ Our professor ispletely on fire.¡¯ They were undoubtedly among the continent¡¯s top schrs. However, when professors who had dedicated decades to a single field showcased their work, it was overwhelming. When the students¡¯ expectations and excitement reached their peak, the event pamphlet had only one page left. An entire page dedicated to just one person. All eyes lingered on it for quite some time. ¨‹ ¨C Ted Redymer ss: Unir ¡ø ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª A in name. An unimaginable lecture title, with no expectation of what it would teach. Compared to other subjects with rough outlines or detailed course ns attached, it seemed arrogantly unprepared. But no one raised any objections. There was only a sense of anticipation. ¡®¡­Ted Redymer is the assigned professor. Is this a dream or reality?¡¯ The Hero who defeated the demon king jumping into teaching the next generation¡ªexcept for himself, no one could have known. The expectation of being able to learn from a Hero who defeated the demon king filled the vast auditorium without any room to spare. Even geniuses who hadn¡¯t considered enrollment due to Rosenstark¡¯s unimpressive professors were rushing in. ¡®It¡¯s even a Unir ss.¡¯ The rumor was that not only could you take the course, but you could continue learning from the Hero beyond a single semester. ¡®This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.¡¯ Starting as an ordinary soldier and ending up as the savior of humanity. For anyone trained to fight with a sword, bow, staff, or any weapon to dream of reaching such a position wasmon. And now, that opportunity has opened up. Ambitious geniuses eagerly seized it. ¡®If I can be his disciple¡­¡¯ Bing not only a member of the Dawn Knights, humanity¡¯s savior, but also being considered as the next Hero was no longer just a dream. ¡®If only I could be his disciple¡­¡¯ Of course, in the past, it might have been a risky career choice. However, having defeated the Demon King once and brought humanity¡¯s victory within reach, the potential glory seemed much greater than the risks. To achieve that, one first had to ovee the immensepetition. ¡®Isn¡¯t a total enrollment of around thirty too much!¡¯ The usual Unir ss capacity was well over a hundred. With an unusually low number this time, students were anxious. ¡°I can¡¯t evenpete with ordinary skills.¡± ¡°How do they choose based on criteria?¡± ¡°Shh, just wait quietly. Professor Redymer will exin soon.¡± The darkened stage was as dark as the night sea. Students stared beyond it, their expectations like waves. Even those using magic to enhance their vision were present. At a certain moment, with each person¡¯s anticipation rising like waves, a sound echoed. Thud! Bright light illuminated the stage. Students shouted in excitement, ¡®He¡¯s here!¡¯ Thump! The heavy footsteps came first. The Hero slowly ascended the stage. Surprisingly, it was an ordinary entrance. Ordinary footsteps. An ordinary expression. His gaze was unwaveringly directed at the center of the stage. Breaking the oppressive silence and cutting through the pouring gaze, he stood there. In front of the audio amplifier. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Ted Redymer, in charge of ¡®Extreme.''¡± The audience realized btedly. That nothing was prepared on the stage for the demonstration. ¡®What¡¯s this? Why is he barehanded?¡¯ His appearance was in stark contrast to the massive ice blocks, demonstration monsters, or even the ckboard brought by other professors. The only thing the Hero had was on his back. A greatsword. The audience¡¯s attention naturally shifted in that direction. ¡®ck Hope¡­¡¯ As famous as its owner, a sword that had turned ck from countless demon blood. Hence, the Hero¡¯s treasured weapon earned the nickname ck Hope. The Hero made a deliberate gesture and drew the sword. ¡®Surely not, right? Is he going to demonstrate swordsmanship?¡¯ The audience blinked, watching the powerful sword creating a spectacle. The swordsmanship of the Hero, known as the strongest swordsman, was legendary. Even the contemporary sword masters had been unable to surpass him. While it was a pity that there was no target to showcase its destructive power, it was sure to be worth watching. ¡°Uh¡­¡± But, betraying everyone¡¯s expectations, the ck Hope remained sheathed. ¡°Wait, what¡­.¡± The massive sword plunged reversed into the stage floor. The Hero, without holding the sword, simply looked at the audience. It was a perplexing action. The audience couldn¡¯t stir, waiting for his next words with puzzled expressions. The Hero¡¯s mouth slowly opened. ¡°I don¡¯t have anything specific to show you.¡± People were audibly questioning. What does that mean? He doesn¡¯t want to showcase anything in the presentation? However, the shock was not over yet. ¡°I only have the truth to offer.¡± The Hero discarded his cloak. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 8 Chapter 8 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°I only have the truth to offer.¡± The auditorium froze in an unexpected turn of events. The audience, who had been looking at the stage with puzzled expressions, fell silent for a moment. It was because of the Hero¡¯s body, clearly visible under the bright lights. ¡°Oh my¡­¡± ¡°What is that¡­?¡± It was a body covered in scars, excessively severed, torn, and mangled, a lifeless form. What truly astonished them, however, wasn¡¯t the scars. ¡°Tattoos?¡± Characters smaller than grains of rice covered the Hero¡¯s broad body without a single gap. When seen from a distance, it looked as if someone had spilled pitch-ck ink over him, the characters so densely packed. People squint their eyes. ¡°Can you see what it says?¡± ¡°Looks like letters¡­¡± Most of the people in this ce were adept at handling magic, so having heightened senses wasmon. Despite the distance between the stage and the seats, deciphering the identity of the characters was not too difficult. Someone spoke up first. ¡°It¡¯s a name.¡± Simultaneously, sighs echoed from various ces. Themotion spread like ripples on ake. In the midst of the chaos, the Hero slowly nodded. ¡°¡­Yes. The names of my fallenrades.¡± Forgetfulness. For swordsmen, indeed for those living in these brutal times, it was a necessary function. The dead must be forgotten. Trying not to forget those who cannot return is the cruelest act one can do to oneself. Because the human psyche has a clear end, a limit. If someone tries to remember every death that passed by, they would soon find themselves unable to wield a sword. It was the fate and duty of a warrior to drink and make noise even if theirrades who sharedughter and sorrow with them died yesterday. Even if they were children, they vaguely understood this fact. However, there was a man who willingly bore all of that burden. One student muttered absentmindedly. ¡°This is insane¡­¡± Remembering fallenrades eternally inscribed on one¡¯s body. One could understand it intellectually. It was about grasping oneself with a sense of loss and anger every time they faced their own body. To keep the fire of vengeance against demons alive. But was that something a person should do? Amidst the shocking silence, the warrior¡¯s low and calm voice continued. ¡°People rarely inquire about what lies beyond glory.¡± ¡°There, there is death.¡± The audience listened in hushed silence. ¡°There are weeping widows and mothers. There are crows that devour the eyes of fallenrades. There are hands that pull out the stench of nameless corpses and brush off the dust from their entrails before putting them in.¡± The experiences of an ordinary soldier who had borne the weight of humanity¡¯s salvation on his shoulders. Students who had dreamt naively were suddenly confronted with a cold reality. The professors, too, wore serious expressions, except for President Yussi, who observed him with a profound gaze. With a bow, the Hero slowly walked towards the front of the stage. The entire auditorium stared at him as if under a spell. ¡°Our adversaries are monsters.¡± ¡°Soon, you will face them. The Demon King, demons, and countless monsters. Terrifying entities lurking in the magical realm, nameless horrors.¡± ¡°¡­Monsters that threaten our peace and take away what is most precious to us.¡± For a moment, the warrior wondered if the ¡®real¡¯ one might dislike this presentation. He wasn¡¯t someone who enjoyed drawing attention to himself, and perhaps he would have preferred not to make a spectacle of it. He might have received a stern rebuke for acting out of line. But he wanted to convey it. How he fought, protected, and died. He had an obligation to share that. They, too, had an obligation to know. ¡°I want someone who desires to witness the end of those creatures as my disciple. For that, I am willing to offer anything to those who-¡± He took a deep breath. His breath seemed to absorb the attention of the auditorium more than the air itself. ¡°¡®Extreme¡¯ is a lecture prepared for such individuals. So, I hope you consider it carefully before applying.¡± With those words, the warrior exited the stage. Until the lights on the stage went out, no one spoke. Someone started pping, and it continued for a very long time. * * * ¡°Huu¡­¡± I slipped backstage and took a deep breath. The apuse, like an ear-shattering thunder, was still echoing from the other side. The speech was satisfying. I never thought it would fail from the beginning. I¡¯ve lived my whole life performing. Life itself was a stage¡ªa stage where a wrong move could cost you your life, an unforgiving stage. ¡°¡­It went well.¡± The message I intended seemed to have effectively reached everyone. ¡®Don¡¯t apply for my ss with half-hearted determination.¡¯ In the process, I even paid my respects to the Hero, so the purpose of the performance had been sufficiently achieved. However¡­ ¡°Why am I not calming down?¡± Thump! Thump! My heart was fluctuating at an irregr pace. I soon realized the cause. ¡®¡­It¡¯s the first time.¡¯ I¡¯ve stood in a simr position on stage many times. The Hero didn¡¯t particrly like standing on official tforms. Once familiar with the stage, I had done countless speeches like this. But today was different. No scenario, no guide. My first step was taken entirely by myself. ¡®¡­.¡¯ Closing my eyes and recalling the memory, my chest was neither tired nor uneasy. Throughout my life, including the time on stage, I had never felt such fulfillment. ¡°Hoo. Anyway, I¡¯ve taken a step forward.¡± Satisfied, I was about to return to the auditorium. However, just as I stopped the performance before stepping onto the stage, ¡®The Iris of Lace¡¯ that I had deactivated began to interfere with my vision on its own. Beep! Beep! Beep! ¨‹ The first condition was fulfilled. ¡ø The view distorted rapidly. An invisible giant seemed to be warping the clock wildly. In the sudden dizziness that came rushing in, I tried not to stagger and opened my eyes. ¡®What is this¡­?¡¯ In front of me, neat and solid, writing was being inscribed. ¨‹ The debtor is dead. O strange one from a forgotten era, O one living in falsehood, Are you prepared to bear The glory and trials of the debtor entirely? ¡ø At that moment when the meaning was not quite understood. ¡®When you reach a certain level, there will be changes in the Iris of Lace.¡¯ Suddenly, that statement came to mind. I chuckled wryly. ¡®¡­Are you prepared to bear the glory and trials of the debtor?¡¯ I made that determination a long time ago. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°I am.¡± As if waiting, the Iris of Lace wrote the next characters. ¨‹ The beginning of redemption. Be the firewood for the winter humanity will face. Memory ¨C ¡®Zero Requiem¡¯s Treasure Map¡¯ has been restored. The coordinates will be stored in the information collective. ess permissions for the indicated location have been renewed. ¡ø Numerous notification windows. However, the gaze was irresistibly drawn to one word. Zero Requiem¡¯s Treasure Map. A shiver ran down my spine. A few centuries ago, the founding chancellor who suddenly disappeared and established the Rosenstark Academy, a great sorcerer named Zero. Why wouldments rted to Zero appear in the Iris of Lace now? I read and reread the notifications. ¡°The beginning of redemption, like firewood for winter¡­.¡± An unstoppable, enormous something. Like fate starting to roll down a slope. * * * Numerousments followed. ¨‹ Current location is a terrainpatible area Confirmed to be ¡®Rosenstark Academy¡¯ ¨C ¡®Exploration Mode¡¯ is automatically initiated ¨C Loading saved coordinates Searching for a route¡­ ¨C Beginning route guidance ¡ø One of the functions of the Iris of Lace, exploration, was automatically activated. I quickly pulled aside the curtain in the waiting room. In my field of view was the expansive central garden and¡­ Thuhuhuhud! Distinct lines of light resembling fireflies gathered together. Rays cutting across the dark night sky of the academy. Stretching straight as if guiding towards something. ¡°¡­¡± I removed the monocle and ced it in my front pocket. Simultaneously, the bright guidelines that emitted light disappeared like illusions. ¡®¡­What exactly is this artifact?¡¯ I didn¡¯t have detailed information about the Iris of Lace. I only knew of its existence because the warrior mentioned it asionally. In fact, the Hero didn¡¯t seem to know the detailed origins either. ¡®What¡¯s the connection between the Iris of Lace and Zero Requiem? Could the warrior be the creator?¡¯ In the center of the central garden. I gazed at the towering statue. It was the statue of Zero Requiem. Between deep wrinkles resembling ravines, wise eyes stared back at me. I recalled every piece of information I knew about him. The only sorcerer who survived the destruction of the First Era. The greatest achievements in history were left by this great sorcerer. The resurgence of humans, who were expelled to the western continent by demons, was solely due to him. If Ted Redymer was a legendary figure among martial artists, Zero Requiem was a simr figure among magicians. ¡®If he hadn¡¯t suddenly disappeared, history might have been rewritten.¡¯ However, Zero vanished shortly after founding Rosenstark. It was precisely two centuries ago. He disappeared with a depleted strength, entering a state of half-transcendence, leaving the mortal realm. There were rumors but no one knew the truth. Yet, even long after his disappearance, Zero¡¯s name was asionally mentioned. It was because of his final achievement, the ¡®Gaho.¡¯ ¡­Gaho. An unknown ability created by Zero. Except for two facts¡ªthat it could be obtained through a medium and that it was hidden in Rosenstark¡ªalmost all information about it was veiled in mystery. However, one thing was clear: it made the owner extremely powerful. ¡®A powerful force without a cost.¡¯ That phrase was undoubtedly appealing, and it didn¡¯t need further exnation. ording to records, Zero left a total of eight Gahos. People spent the past two centuries fervently searching Rosenstark¡¯s vast grounds for these Gahos, as they became obsessed with them. However, only seven were discovered, no matter how many searches were conducted. Even using underwater magic to thoroughly explore the bottoms ofkes and rivers yielded no trace of the eighth Gaho. Eventually, people dismissed thest one as a fantasy and gave up the search. Some spected that since it couldn¡¯t be found easily, the eighth might be the strongest Gaho, but there was no way to confirm it. ¡­That was the situation until now. I gazed at the pocket containing the Iris of Lace. ¡®It seems like I¡¯ve obtained a clue about the eighth Gaho¡­.¡¯ ¨‹ Memory: ¨C ¡®Zero Requiem¡¯s Treasure Map¡¯ has been restored. It¡¯s ¡®Zero Requiem¡¯s treasure hidden in Rosenstark.¡¯ You can expect whatever its identity might be. ¡ø Images of those who once possessed the seven Gahos briefly shed in my mind. They all had one thing inmon¡ªthey had achieved immense fame, leaving a mark in history. That¡¯s how powerful the abilities were. ¡®For someone like me, precariously walking the tightrope, this desperate need for power couldn¡¯t be more relevant.¡¯ Regardless of who it belonged to, I needed to obtain it as soon as possible. However, sadly, it seemed like I couldn¡¯t go searching immediately. ¡°Heavens¡­.¡± The beam of light from the guidelines was extending unexpectedly to an unforeseen ce. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 9 Chapter 9 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª I returned to the main auditorium for now. The desire to leave and search for the Gaho was burning within me like a chimney, but realistically, going straight there was impossible. ¡®The location is one thing¡­.¡¯ Right now, there were too many eyes watching. Not an exaggeration¨Ceveryone in the auditorium was observing my every move. ¡®Moreover, the academy is currently filled with outsiders¡­¡¯ I decided to sit down, maintaining a calm expression, hoping that no one would notice the stroke of luck that hade my way. ¡®¡­Well, it¡¯s not like anyone found the Gaho for over 200 years anyway.¡¯ There was no need to rush just because it was dyed by a few more days. After finishing the current academic schedule, it would be wise to thoroughly prepare before embarking on the search. ¡®I wonder when would be a good time.¡¯ As I contemted, a moment arrived. ¡°Sir Knight, a button.¡± A chilly hand lingered briefly on my neck, and that was when I noticed the faint scent of theboratory, a scent I had overlooked until then. ¡°Yussi.¡± ¡°I never expected you to prepare for such a pre-exnation session.¡± Her expression was somewhat different from usual. Her blue eyes gazed at me with an indiscernible shadow. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d be preparing something like this. It makes me miss the old times a bit.¡± Yussi¡¯sposed voice seemed as if she were trying to evoke precious memories shared between the two of us. However, being a fake, I had no knowledge of the true content. For a brief moment, a fleeting sense of guilt crept in. Yussi, as if questioning when he was ever serious, smiled again. ¡°Anyway, it was truly amazing! A stage like this can only be handled by Sir Knight.¡± ¡°Thanks for saying that.¡± ¡°Of course, you¡¯re the best.¡± ¡°The best?¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± Yussi yfully nudged my arm, eyes sparkling. ¡°I prepared a simple event this time. Nothing special¡­ just a poprity vote.¡± Then, she continued with a slightly cautious tone. ¡°By the way, it¡¯s time for Q&A. Will you take questions?¡± I turned my head for a moment, meeting the fiery gaze of the audience. Descending to the Q&A booth promised some interesting developments. ¡°No.¡± ¡°A wise decision.¡± Yussi grinned. ¡°Well then, Professor Redymer, please exit through the back door!¡± That was my cue. * * * Rosenstark Academy¡¯s iing students usually had two main reasons for enrolling. First, skill improvement. The professors at Rosenstark were exceptionally talented, and the curriculum was top-notchpared to other academies. The achievements of the graduates alone set them apart from the rest. Naturally, those who believed they possessed outstanding talents gathered here. Secondly, it¡¯s about connections. Rosenstark has an unusually high number of nobles¡¯ offspring, even in the central institution, making it a hub for influential connections. The royal family grants benefits to the families that send their heirs to Rosenstark while imposing significant disadvantages on those who do not. In other words, formoners and minor nobles alike, this ce is nothing short of an opportunity stage. It serves as a unique social hub where one can mingle with influential figures they might never encounter in their lifetime. Even the current Emperor, Euphemia Cecilia I, spent her school days here. ©¤There are 30 minutes left for the Q&A session. Students, please hurry. The auditorium buzzed with the energetic movement of iing students, and Evergreen was among them. The small daughter of the Solintail family in the northeast of the Empire, Evergreen Solintail, enrolled for both reasons mentioned earlier. ¡®After making lots of cool friends and developing the strength to protect my territory, I¡¯ll go back!¡¯ As Solintail¡¯s territory was secluded in the countryside, she had practically no experience interacting with noble peers. Thus, she felt quite nervous. ¡®As a country girl, I have to be confident.¡¯ If she could make friends here, it would undoubtedly make her academy life morefortable and provide assistance in the challenging situation back home. After taking a deep breath, she confidently walked towards the temporary lecture booths. For the next four years, she would be surrounded by fellow students and professors gathered in one ce. ¡°Hello, Professor! Can you tell me about the practical exercises and assignments in your lectures?¡± ¡°Hi! Nice to meet you! I¡¯m Evergreen. Are you a new student too?¡± ¡°Wow, there are so many types of lectures. Have you decided what to take? These sses have good reviews.¡± Fortunately, everyone was kind to Evergreen. It was even more challenging to reject the girl with a refreshing charm, reminiscent of a rural pasture. She made a few friends, and with a sessful introduction to the professors, she felt at ease. ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s not a big deal.¡± Evergreen grinned, thinking of her parents worrying about city folks being difficult. At that moment, she noticed the empty booth at the center. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve already made a round.¡± It was the booth for the ¡°Extreme¡± ss. ¡°Too bad,¡± Evergreen said with a disappointed expression. ¡°They said they won¡¯t be taking questions.¡± Initially, Evergreen and almost all the students stood in line, waiting eagerly. However, it had been a long time since they dispersed after being told the Hero wouldn¡¯t show up. ¡°If you¡¯re not prepared, don¡¯t even think about applying,¡± The event organizer had mentioned. Evergreen stood in front of the booth, lost in thought, recalling the hero¡¯s speech. The stage was different from the others, with an air of dismissal. The other professors tried to encourage students to register for their sses, but this one was apletely different scene. Some professors seemed indifferent, suggesting students should leave. However, the students were enthusiastic, their spirits ignited. Some passing remarks caught Evergreen¡¯s ears. ¡°Are you going to apply?¡± ¡°Of course. What about you?¡± ¡°If I didn¡¯t n to, whye here?¡± ¡°Yeah. If I pass, my life is set. Let¡¯s give it a shot.¡± Some discussed whether or not to apply. ¡°Wow, I got the chills.¡± ¡°Uh, I wonder what experiences he¡¯s been through.¡± ¡°Look at his body. We probably can¡¯t even imagine.¡± Theirmonality was a deep fascination with the Hero, and Evergreen was no exception. Whenever she closed her eyes, his image, adorned with tattoos and scars like medals, came to mind. Despite growing up tough and resilient in the outskirts, she had never encountered someone like him before. ¡®I hope I can attend the sses. It will be extremelypetitive, but¡­¡¯ Sighing, Evergreen moved her feet again. It was then that she noticed a girl wandering nearby. ¡°That girl¡­¡± The girl was staring at the ¡°Extreme¡± booth with an indiscernible expression. Evergreen held her breath. ¡®Wow¡­ How can she be so adorable?¡¯ Long, red hair, and eyes that blinkedzily, resembling jewels. Her skin, whiter than the snow that constantly fell in her hometown, sparkled under the hall¡¯s lights. She was so beautiful that even a hint of jealousy didn¡¯t arise. ¡®Huh? That ck thing¡­¡¯ Soon, Evergreen noticed the sword hanging at the girl¡¯s waist, and she could identify the girl. A silver longsword with no scabbard. The weapon ¡®Shape Shifter¡¯ of the ¡®ck Sword¡¯ style. Evergreen gathered her courage and approached the famous figure who had stirred up the academy with just news of her enrollment. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Evergreen. Evergreen Solintail. Well, you probably won¡¯t understand even if I say it¡­ Haha.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª However, there was no response. The red eyes briefly nced at Evergreen before returning to the front. Evergreen was frozen. ¡®Embarrassing!¡¯ She had to make a quick decision. Would it be more embarrassing to keep talking here, or to quietly step back? Evergreen made her choice. ¡°Ahaha, you¡¯re Lesiel, right? The granddaughter of the ck Sword!! I¡¯ve heard a lot about you. You¡¯re really amazing.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°But anyway, are you also here to take the Warrior¡¯s ss? Ah~ I envy you. Honestly, it seems challenging for me. You¡¯ll probably get in easily, though.¡± Evergreen, surprised, babbled, and her earlobe color almost matched the girl¡¯s hair color by the time the girl, ¡®Lesiel,¡¯ spoke. ¡°Could you not talk to me?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Evergreen quickly stepped back. * * * ¡°The pre-exnation session has concluded. Guests, please exit orderly following the guidance of the ushers.¡± The bustling and lively ¡®pre-exnation session¡¯ came to an end. Just before it ended, as per Yussi¡¯s words, there was a small event. The blond handsome host, with a bright smile, stood in front of the sound amplifier. ¡°Ah, before you leave¡­ our president has prepared a very simple event.¡± ¡°There is a voting box prepared at the back of the auditorium! Please vote for your professors! Professors in the top ranks will receive a special activity fee from the Glendor Foundation!¡± The overflowing ballot papers ended up not only in the box but also spilled outside. Who the box belonged to was unnecessary to mention. Thus, the ¡®special activity fee¡¯ prepared by the loyalrade of the Hero and the daughter of a hero was directly injected into the Warrior¡¯s wallet. It was more than enough to cover the teaching expenses for the new semester. * * * Time passed quickly, and the day of the teaching interview arrived. I had to admit that the purpose of the pre-exnation session, ¡®to filter out the unenthusiastic,¡¯ had miserably failed. [Course Title: Extreme ¨C Instructor: Ted Redymer ¨C ssification: Unir ¨C Target: All Grades ¨C ss Size: 30 + 1 ¨C Applicants: 822] ¡°The number of applicants is 822¡­ considering that most other courses have iplete or barely filled capacities, this is an enormous figure.¡± ¡°Assuming all freshmen applied wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration.¡± Thanks to this, arge auditorium was provided as the interview venue. It was scheduled separately to avoid ovepping with other courses. ¡°¡­And after checking the enrollment list, I had no choice but to immerse myself in interview preparation for days.¡± ¡°I anticipated it, but it¡¯s still surprising.¡± The granddaughter of the ck Sword, a member of a prestigious swordsmanship family, the heir of a major tribe leader, and a disciple of the Mercenary King, among others. The sessors of famous ns were too numerous to count. I turned my attention to the connector on my desk, a gift from Yussi to my room. A cute package with a note that read, ¡®Be careful of addiction!¡¯ Inside was a device that allowed me to ess information. Anyway, after a few touches, I became familiar with the operation. I entered ¡°Extreme¡± as the keyword and searched for information. Although the interview hadn¡¯t started yet, numerous posts were already on the anonymous bulletin board. ¨C Should I just apply for Extreme? I feel like I¡¯m going to fail anyway. ©¸ Even if I fail, I¡¯ll try putting my name in. ©¸ Warrior! Disciple! Me! I want to! ©¸ Would it be a loss to put my name in? I came here to take this. Since the start of the course registration, discussions about ¡°Extreme¡± had been a constant topic on the connector. It indicated a significant level of interest in people¡¯s extremes. I shook my head, ¡°I never expected to have contact with these people throughout my life.¡± What remarkable applicants. If I hadn¡¯t met the warrior, a few yearster, I might hear a bard singing a bad about them in some tavern. While reading the applications, lost in such thoughts, a spirited voice reached me. ¡°Professor, the interviews will start in 10 minutes.¡± A gentle gaze, pale gray hair slightly disheveled¡ªsomehow resembling a puppy, she was the temporary assistant assigned to me by Yussi. Her name was¡­ ¡°Thanks for letting me know, Pia.¡± ¡°Shall I start bringing in the students soon?¡± ¡°Not yet. Bring them in right on time.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Pia nodded and stepped back. ¡®It¡¯s hard to be close with her.¡¯ Are all graduate students like that? Despite her friendly appearance, her personality was quite rigid. During the past few days together, there had been no conversation beyond official matters. ¡®Well, as long as she does her job well.¡¯ Pia waspetent and diligent. It became apparent why professors insisted on having assistants. Without her, the preparation for interviews for 822 applicants wouldn¡¯t have been close topletion. I observed her back as she continued to organize documents without taking a break. ¡®Anyway, I won¡¯t see her for long.¡¯ She¡¯s a temporary assistant. Once the official assistant is chosen, I won¡¯t see her face again. Ding! The chime announcing the hour echoed in the distance. I nced at the waiting room on one side of the auditorium. The foreign sses I had in my front pocket had already been worn. ¡°Now let¡¯s begin.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Pia opened the door to the waiting room. ¡°The interviews will begin in 10 minutes. Pleasee in, starting with applicant number 1.¡± The interviews for ¡®Extreme¡¯ had begun. Pia efficiently managed the flow of students into the interview room. Each student was given a brief moment to introduce themselves before I asked a few questions rted to their motivation for taking the course. As the interviews progressed, I observed a diverse array of students, each with their unique background and reasons for applying. Some were drawn by the prestige of the instructor, others by the challenge of the course itself. Each interview provided a glimpse into the varied perspectives and aspirations of the applicants. Pia¡¯s efficient assistance allowed the interviews to proceed smoothly, and by the time we reached thest candidate, I couldn¡¯t help but reflect on the incredible diversity and potential within the student body. As the day came to a close, I found myself eager to start this new academic journey with such a dynamic group of students. The challenges and opportunities ahead seemed promising, and I looked forward to what the semester had in store. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 10 Chapter 10 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª To start with the conclusion, the interviews went smoothly. A total of 822 applicants, not only freshmen but also current students who were willing to abandon their existing Unir courses and apply. There was no intention to ept current studentscking in rtive talent. While they were excellent individuals, the world needed not just ordinary heroes but a ¡®second Hero.¡¯ However, due to the overwhelming dissatisfaction, there was a decision to provide an opportunity for interviews. This led to the creation of slots specifically for current students. In reality, the chosen individuals were already roughly decided. In the week between the pre-exnation session and the start of interviews, efforts were invested in investigating the students. Using polymorph, infiltrating the freshman dorms and training grounds in the form of animals. While it consumed more mental energy than taking on a human form, the information gathered was invaluable. ¡°The harvest was abundant.¡± The period just before the start of the semester was a time when students naturally became interested in each other. In their respective groups, they had grown up as the most talented prodigies, drawing all kinds of attention and focus. The existence of equally or more exceptionalpetitors was unfamiliar and often irritating. ¡°Origin, status, and even race were different, making it perfect for conflict.¡± Rosenstark originally encouragedpetition, so there was no one to stop those who wanted to fight. Exploration through friendships happened everywhere, and some even shed swords in the training grounds. Rumors spread quickly, making it easy to assess the students¡¯ abilities. With the core talents¡¯ capabilities fully understood, the interviews proceeded smoothly. ¡°Number 611, you may leave now.¡± I looked at the frozen 611. With her striking golden hair and curly emerald green eyes, she was quite an impressive girl. Her name was Evergreen Solintale, and beads of sweat were forming on her forehead. ¡°I-I haven¡¯t done anything yet¡­ I couldn¡¯t say anything, not even about my motivation for applying!¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. Seems like there¡¯s nothing more to see.¡± ¡°Yes, yes? Ah¡­ I see.¡± She stood up with a disappointed expression, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°R-Really, I have to leave?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± There was nothing more to see. Her talents were already confirmed in the dormitory training grounds. Despiteing from a rural area, she disyed exceptionally remarkable talents. Looking at her with the Iris of Lace, this impression became even more certain. ¡°Hng.¡± Evergreen deeply bowed to me, her stepscking vigor, and left the auditorium. Unintentionally, a hint ofughter appeared in the eyes of the applicants who were sitting. Some seemed pleased with the elimination of apetitor. I spoke to one of them. ¡°Gerald Bryce. Your main weapon is a spear, right?¡± ¡°Yes! That¡¯s correct! Our Bryce family has been inventing spear techniques for generations to deal with demonic beings¡­¡± ¡°No need for chatter. Assume you¡¯re facing an enemy muchrger than yourself and demonstrate your most confident spear techniques.¡± ¡°¡­Yes!¡± On the other hand, for students with somewhat ambiguous skills, I instructed them to showcase various talents. Depending on thements from the Iris of Lace, they would either pass or be put on hold. ¡°About one minute per person on average.¡± While it felt like I had put effort into the process, the candidates probably had different thoughts. Like a grader in an excessively easy exam, I marked O or X above the names of the students in this group. Of course, X was overwhelmingly dominant. ¡°You may all leave now.¡± Candidates from number 611 to 620 exited the auditorium. Some wore confident expressions, while others sighed deeply, scratching their heads. The reactions varied. I silently watched their departing figures. ¡°This group, like the others, seems to have no surprises.¡± ¡­Every group was like that. Detailed resumes. Information gathered by infiltrating the dormitories separately. Afterpiling these two, it was inevitable that the outlines of who would pass were revealed. Thus, the interview for ¡®Extreme¡¯ proceeded without a hitch, just as expected. ¡­Except for one person. About an hour ago, I recalled the group I interviewed. Originally, there shouldn¡¯t have been any sessful applicants in that group. ¡®Her name was Nyhill, right?¡¯ A girl with ck hair and ck eyes, with no remarkable features other than a petite stature, passed. Her background and resume were both ordinary. However, she, who was entirely out of my interest, elicited a response from the Iris of Lace. ¡®Her evaluation is quite good¡­¡¯ Until now, only three students received high praise from the Iris of Lace. The daughter of the tribal chief, the disciple of the Mercenary King, and the heir of the Swordsmanship n. While Nyhill¡¯s evaluation didn¡¯t reach their level, it was definitely outstandingpared to the other kids. ¡®Wait a minute. Could it be?¡¯ When I was pondering this sudden thought, the temporary assistant Pia approached. ¡°Professor, I will announce the next group.¡± ¡°Please go ahead.¡± Numbers 621 to 630. ¡®Certainly¡­¡¯ I shifted my gaze to the desk. The spread-out application forms. In the midst of it, one conspicuous portrait was peeking out. ¡®Right. She was here.¡¯ A girl with fiery, almost burning, hair¨Ca clich¨¦ expression, but there was no other way to describe it. She had the same-colored eyes, looking expressionlessly in my direction. The intense color surrounding her features contrasted sharply with her pale skin, shining even more vividly. I rolled her name in my mouth. ¡®Leciel Hyasin¡­¡¯ In recent days, her story could be heard anywhere in the academy. Before the appearance of the Hero. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The granddaughter of the sword master who was once the strongest in swordsmanship, and the top candidate to be raised to confront the Demon King. She was in the next group. ¡°Extreme¡¯s¡± interview waiting room. Because there were so many applicants, the kids were divided into waiting areas ording to their numbers. Surprisingly, the waiting room for the important interview was quite noisy. Precisely, only the area around one girl was particrly bustling. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m so nervous. Aren¡¯t you nervous?¡± ¡°Would she be nervous? She¡¯s bound to pass. Right, Leciel?¡± ¡°Look at her fair skin. Tell me what cosmetics she usester.¡± ¡°She moved into the dormst week, right? Why didn¡¯t I see her once¡­ Let¡¯s greet each other next time!¡± All attention was focused on her. It was Leciel, who could be considered the most famous among her peers. But she had never set foot in social circles until now. ¡®Wow, why didn¡¯t she appear at the debutante ball when she¡¯s so pretty?¡¯ ¡®They say she¡¯s so powerful? She doesn¡¯t look like that at all.¡¯ The hidden lineage of the sword master and the next-generation strongest (beautiful immortal). Since these titles surpassed even the glory of most major nobles, the kids tried their best to say at least one word to Leciel. For those of lower status, it was an enthusiasm that was enough to be pushed away. ¡°¡­.¡± However, no one noticed that Leciel¡¯s expression was gradually turning colder. The one who mentioned her grandmother was the one who broke the silence. ¡°But I heard you¡¯re acquainted with the Sword Master and the Hero. So, are you close to the Hero too?¡± Thest question finally snapped Leciel¡¯s thin patience. ¡°¡­Shut up.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°Just shut up.¡± ¡­Shut up. The noble words that he thought he would never hear in his lifetime echoed in the ears of the young aristocrat. He doubted his ears for a moment. ¡®Did I hear it wrong?¡¯ But it was real. The follow-up continued. ¡°Can¡¯t you hear?¡± ¡°No, I¡­¡± ¡°I said shut up.¡± However, the voice saying so was incredibly dry, unlike its content. Perhaps that¡¯s why it sounded even more contemptuous. A bubbling sound followed. Then, a chilly silence enveloped the waiting room. ¡°¡­.¡± The kids around Leciel retreated, wearing expressions mixed with bewilderment and anger, turning their goodwill into hostility and their interest into indifference. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her?¡± ¡°Wow. Looks like her personality is rotten.¡± If there was a thought, it couldn¡¯t be like this. These are the heirs who are likely to control the empire in the future. They will be ssmates and seniors to spend the next few years together. But to show such drastic behavior¡­ ¡°¡­.¡± Whether they murmured or remained silent, Leciel rested her chin thoughtfully. Of course, she knew very well what people expected from the granddaughter of the Sword Master. There were times when she lived quite entangled with such expectations. But not anymore. She won¡¯t be like that in the future. ¡®¡­For what should I please?¡¯ Alone again, Leciel turned away from the kids entirely. Instead, she stared at the firmly closed door and thought of the man behind it ¨C Ted Redymer. ¡®I came to meet you.¡¯ Her emotions towards the Hero were different from those of others. Certainly, there was admiration. It was impossible for a swordswoman not to admire him. However, behind that admiration lurked emotions that were hard to describe. He was a constant presence from her childhood, like a shadow. ¡°Leciel, you were born with great talent. You should be able to reach Ted with your skills.¡± ¡°I know. Achieving this much at your age is rare. But it¡¯s still not enough. It¡¯s too insufficient.¡± ¡°Something went wrong. Is this the limit of Hiyashin?¡± Leciel¡¯s grandmother, Zion Hiyashin, was not just a great swordswoman; she was also a harsh teacher. Having experienced the overwhelming genius of Ted Redymer, the Sword Master was not satisfied with the size of her granddaughter¡¯s talent. The constantparisons and rigorous training never ceased. Still, Leciel was okay with it. ¡®Because there were expectations. Because there was attention.¡¯ So, at a young age, she continued to hold onto it. Instead of a doll, she held a wooden sword. Instead of daily life, she embraced training. She held on without giving up, using all her strength. ¡°Enough. It¡¯s all meaningless.¡± ¡°As long as he¡¯s around, the title of Sword Master won¡¯t return to Hiyashin.¡± She didn¡¯t expect her grandmother to let go first. Interest and expectations quickly faded away. Even the swordsmanship guidance withered. Leciel gritted her teeth unconsciously. ¡®This is myst chance.¡¯ She thought of her grandmother, who seemed to havepletely abandoned her, who had allowed her to go to Rosenstark. It was thest time she pinned her hopes. ¡®Ted Redymer, breaking him with a sword, reiming the title of Sword Master for Hiyashin.¡¯ Certainly, it would be difficult immediately. But receiving his teachings, she believed that someday she might surpass him. Leciel held onto that belief firmly. ¡°Applicants numbered 621 to 630, please enter.¡± ¡­But soon, Leciel realized that she was harboring a significant misconception. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 11 Chapter 11 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª In silence, he looked at Leciel. Well, it would be more urate to say he looked only at Leciel than other applicants. Thements by Iris of Lace were far more generouspared to the nine applicants who entered together. ¨‹ -Well-trained physique -Exceptional potential -Inherent talent ¡ø ¡­and so on. ¡®Ipetent,¡¯ ¡®Worthless,¡¯ ¡®Barely a fistful.¡¯ When considering how many times he had seen such evaluations, it was quite a positivement. ¡®The best among the applicants I¡¯ve seen so far.¡¯ If not for the situation that required a poker face, he might have praised her with a heartyugh. However, the Sword Master, the Hero was never one to be generous withpliments. Even the previous Sword Master, Leciel¡¯s grandmother, received harsh evaluations bordering on verbal abuse. Hero¡¯s bitingments still lingered vividly. ¡°Sword Master, the star of the sword. As expected, it was just a reputation.¡± ¡°Is she weak?¡± ¡°Shecked innate talent. Her aplishments are the result of an excessive amount of effort topensate for the deficiency.¡± In his youth, the Hero was thirstier for strength than anyone else. He traveled the continent, engaging in various martial art battles with formidable opponents. The previous Sword Master, Zion Hiyashin, was one of them. The above was an evaluation that emerged after several martial arts encounters. Leciel¡¯s mention was also part of the conversation. ¡°Rather, the granddaughter¡¯s aptitude surpasses that of the Sword Master.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she still young?¡± ¡°To exhibit such prowess at that young age, her talent alone could be considered exceptional.¡± I have a vivid memory of being greatly surprised by those words. ¡®Jeolgi.¡¯ This term refers to a powerful technique that bes enhanced through visualization¡ªa secret move possessed by martial artists. It¡¯s the reason they can contend with formidable creatures armed with just a single weapon. Jeolgi transforms differently based on an individual¡¯sbat style and physical abilities. It¡¯s a blessing granted only to the truly talented. Even dedicating one¡¯s entire life to the sword might not lead to obtaining it without inherent talent. ¡®It must have been when she was around ten years old.¡¯ This passage reveals just how extraordinary Leciel¡¯s talent is. ¡®He mentioned Simgeom. If it¡¯spleted, it seems quite useful.¡¯ I remember the Hero praising something quite unfamiliar, prompting me to ask various questions. ¡®Simgeom, the sword of the mind.¡¯ It¡¯s unimaginable. After all, I haven¡¯t yet experienced the transformation of Jeolgi. ¡®I¡¯m d you came to Rosenstark.¡¯ A talent with a high probability of bing the next Hero. Perhaps, if I can¡¯t fulfill my role as the Hero, she might be able to take on that responsibility. With such thoughts, I looked at Leciel again. ¡°¡­What¡¯s going on?¡± Something was off about her. * * * Leciel was struggling to recover from the shock. It wasn¡¯t the first time she had been surprised by the imposing presence of a Hero. She had experienced it when she was young. ¡°¡­What¡¯s going on?¡± It happened the moment she took her seat in front of the Hero. When the ashy eyes behind foreign sses turned towards her, she felt a strange sensation she had never experienced before. A feeling of beingid bare. No, it was even more than that. It was like being disassembled piece by piece, akin to the feeling of meat hanging on a butcher¡¯s hook. It was as if the existence of ¡®Leciel Hiyashin¡¯ was being schematically revealed. The process was so discreet that if concentration wavered even slightly, it would be difficult to notice. Leciel bit her lips so hard that blood almost oozed out. ¡®¡­How much of a difference in level is needed for it to be so transparent?¡¯ ¡®It might have been better to feel overwhelmed by a strong presence.¡¯ She never expected to feel such a clear disparity in abilities. Leciel finally realised why there was no specific format for the ¡°Extreme¡± interview. With the ability to see through people so effortlessly, what was the need to ask applicants to do anything? Merely being in front of them wouldy everything bare. ¡®¡­Such an indifferent expression.¡¯ After scanning through the applicants in one go, the Hero silently scribbled something on a piece of paper. Consistent with the expressionless demeanour and gaze. ¡®¡­Even with such scrutiny, that¡¯s the expression.¡¯ She couldn¡¯t believe that the interviewer would remain so indifferent after thoroughly seeing through. Leciel tightly clenched her fist on her knee. Not yet. There was still something to show. Her pride wouldn¡¯t allow her to crumple like this. Leciel made up her mind to use the martial technique. Years of honing a powerful skill. [Simgeom ¨C Heart de.] [TL/N: Heart de or mind¡¯s sword are interchangeable depending on the context on where it¡¯s used. Mind and Heart Will] The will bes a de. Obtaining a sword in the mind. Forging one¡¯s will into a well-sharpened sword, creating a peerless technique against opponents. This power, developed through countless training sessions, was highly effective against swordsmen above a certain level. ¡®An exclusive technique for the strongest.¡¯ A formless de that delved between developed senses, no one could be casual about it. Even her grandmother, in an unprotected state, couldn¡¯t move when faced with the Heart de. While there was a drawback ¨C it did not affect those who hadn¡¯t reached the stage of aligning their mind and sword. However, it wasn¡¯t an issue in the current situation. The target was the most powerful swordsman in this world. ¡°Here goes.¡± Leciel looked at the Hero again. Although her martial technique was iplete, she hoped it would at least unsettle that indifferent face. She fervently wished for it. * * * ¡®¡­Is there something wrong?¡¯ Leciel wasn¡¯t just looking at me; she was staring intensely. Her gaze gained more strength, and her tightly sealed lips and her clenched fist twitched. ¡®Is she unexpectedly nervous?¡¯ Observing the beads of sweat trickling down, it seemed like a usible guess. It was understandable. Expectations often brought increased pressure. ¡®There¡¯s no need to hold on any longer. After all, she will be epted.¡¯ As she was the most anticipated student, I wanted to engage in more conversation, but her condition didn¡¯t seem suitable. I briefly pondered what words to use to conclude the interview. ¡®I should relieve the tension and leave a good impression.¡¯ Coincidentally, I remembered a topic we could discuss. ¡°Leciel.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± A clue obtained from the conversation with the Hero. ¡°Is the Heart de still iplete?¡± It seemed like a good attempt. It conveyed that I remembered her and anticipated her growth. However, her unexpected reaction followed. ¡°Ah¡­¡± For a moment, the tension in her eyes, which had been intense, was released. What happened next was unexpected. She slumped on the chair, looking profoundly deted. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡®What did I say wrong? I only mentioned that I¡¯m looking forward to yourplete Heart de¡­¡¯ Her reaction was far from what I anticipated. Perplexed, I added, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean anything else. I just want to see the fullypleted Heart de.¡± ¡°I know, I¡¯m not there yet.¡± Her response indicated a mix of exhaustion and disappointment, leaving me puzzled about what went wrong. ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t fullypleted.¡± However, the conversation was spiraling into confusion. As I looked at her with confusion, Leciel bowed her head as if her pride had been brutally trampled. ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll show you an improved Heart de¡­ in honor of my grandmother.¡± A crawling voice. I pondered the meaning of her words. Next time, she would show me an improved Heart de. When did she show it before? I revisited the context of the conversation and froze. ¡®Just now¡­?¡¯ I hadn¡¯t felt anything at that moment. Btedly, cold sweat trickled down my neck. ¡®Was it made by her willpower, or is it because the Iris of Lace¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t detect it?¡¯ ¡®Clearly, she¡¯s stronger than me.¡¯ I didn¡¯t expect such a skill gap. Regardless, something bothered me. Using a martial art during an interview with a professor was an unconventional move. ¡®Is she crazy?¡¯ She, for some reason, stared at his shoe tip with a sullen expression. Trying to maintain a neutral expression, I issued the dismissal. ¡°Alright, everyone can leave now.¡± Fortunately or unfortunately, no student after Leciel left a significant impression. As the interview neared its end, the sessful candidates were selected. Around the time the interviews were concluded, the selected candidates were finalized. Reviewing their resumes one by one, I reflected on the interviews. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± Four neers received high praise from the Iris of Lace. Twenty-six neers received decent reviews. One current academy student. Thus, thirty-one students were selected for the ¡°Extreme¡± ss. * * * From the moment the interview results were announced, the Connector¡¯s anonymous bulletin board erupted with activity. ¨C Oh, I thought for sure I would pass. ©¸ Why did you think so? ©¸ He gave me a slight smile. ©¸ Maybe heughed because it was pathetic? * This post has been deleted for viting regtions. ¨C But seriously, looking at the ones who failed, they really chose well. All the mediocre ones got rejected. Of course, I passed. ©¸ I was feeling down, but now I¡¯m angry. Thank you. ¨C Hero, I love you. ¨C Weaklings. Come back stronger. ¨C And how can I still not believe that I can take Hero¡¯s ss? Is this some kind of error, or am I dreaming? ¨C I want to fight the hero. If I listen well, will there be a chance for practice? ©¸ A new method of suicide? I was concerned about potential dissatisfaction with the selection process, but it seems the responses on the anonymous board were generally positive. The students chosen must have had exceptional qualities. There were a few posts expressing concern about whether a strange student was selected, but that could be determined by seeing them in person. ¡°Phew.¡± The selected students must have had remarkable qualities. While there were posts expressing concerns about selecting someone strange, that could be rified by seeing them in person. With that, the academic schedule for the time being concluded. I put down the Connector with a light thud. Now it was time to go in search of the treasure. After a while, in the lobby of the professor¡¯s building. The duty maid bowed deeply. ¡°Are you going out?¡± It was an ambiguous hour, close to dawn, so my decision to go out seemed a bit odd. ¡°I¡¯ll get some fresh air and be back.¡± ¡°Have a pleasant outing.¡± Leaving behind the professor¡¯s building, I pretended to go for a walk, heading towards my lodgings. With about three weeks until the start of sses, most of the major events like orientation and ss interviews had concluded. There were a few minor events left, but now was the time for¡­ ¡°Free time.¡± I nced around and saw that fortunately, there weren¡¯t many people around. Passing through the entrance of the professor¡¯s building and the main gate, I tapped my sses discreetly. ¨‹ Activate the Iris of Lace¡¯s. Retrieve the coordinates stored in the information database. Searching for the path¡­ Lace¡¯s eyes activate. Initiating guidance. ¡ø A light aura, visible only to me, shot up into the air. It was a guide leading to the ¡®hidden treasure.¡¯ Suppressing my impatient feelings, I followed the light aura leisurely. ¡°¡­This is it.¡± How long had I walked? Only after passing through the outer edges of the estate¡¯s forest did the guidancee to an end. If it were summer, it wouldn¡¯t be strange for the sun to still be up. I stopped walking. Through the sparse branches, a giantke shimmered. ¡°To hide it in a ce like this¡­ quite entric.¡± To inherit, one must find the mediators. Zero had hidden the remaining seven mediators in absurdly arbitrary ces. From the dormitory bathroom to the practice room, even a dungeon full of traps. But regardless of the difficulty level, the mediators were always in ¡®reachable ces.¡¯ ¡°Heavens¡­ no wonder people have been aimlessly searching for centuries.¡± I raised my head to the point it hurt. The beam of light continued into the dark sky above theke. Even skilled Heros with exceptional physical abilities couldn¡¯t reach this ce. Even with the aid of magical powers, it seemed nearly impossible. Flight magic consumed an extreme amount of magical power. The end of the guidance wasn¡¯t in sight. Even if I knew the exact coordinates, traversing such heights without depleting magical power would be close to impossible. ¡°Even if I had the coordinates, reaching such a height wouldn¡¯t be easy.¡± The state of hovering in the high airspace without precise coordinates and depleting magical power to the point of death would not be possible for anyone other than Zero Requiem Borningenheim, whose magical power wasparable to that of an ancient being. In other words, it was an unreachable location for anyone else. ¡­But for me, it was possible. Taking a step towards the designated location, I prepared to cast Polymorph. ¡°¡­Quite a fascinating coincidence.¡± I started by discarding my clothes. Despite the chilling sensation on my skin, I didn¡¯t lose focus; rather, I sharpened it even more. What came to mind was the essence of a certain life form. I replicated and mimicked its structure¡ªskeleton, muscles, blood vessels¡ªdown to thest detail. I vividly recalled its principles. Wood-duduk! A sensation indescribable from the toe to the top of my head prated, apanied by the sound of bones breaking that filled my ears. Then, the wind, which had felt chilling on my skin, no longer carried that cold sensation. I opened my mouth, or rather, my beak, and let out a triumphant cheer. ¡°Kkirururuk!¡± I cheered triumphantly, the sound echoing through the air. The handsome falcon reflected in the water seemed to share in the joy. As a transformed falcon, I spread my wings, feeling the freedom of the skies. The wind beneath my feathers, the panoramic view of the world below¡ªall of it was exhrating. I pped my wings, rising higher into the sky, guided by the invisible thread of the hidden treasure. The journey to uncover the treasure in this mystical location had just begun. With the ability to traverse the skies as a falcon, I felt a renewed sense of determination. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 12 Chapter 12 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Swoosh! I soared upward at a steep incline. The once vastke now appeared diminutive at a nce, and the Rosenstark buildings became tiny dots below. I gauged the distance to my destination. ¡®Fortunately, I should be able to arrive before the duration runs out.¡¯ While Polymorph seemed like a versatile ability, it had several constraints. One of them was the understanding of the target. A deep understanding was essential for the longevity and stability of Polymorph. On the other hand, if the understanding wascking, the transformation was severely limited. ¡®So, I had a bit of a struggle back in the day.¡¯ In my early days, when I wasn¡¯t familiar with human society, I often found myself unexpectedly reverting due to insufficient understanding. I reminisced about the times when my polymorphed formsted less than a minute. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Recalling the process I went through to understand the target¡ªespecially a falcon¡ªI felt a moment of mncholy. Despite the constraints, Polymorph was a useful ability. With sufficient understanding of the target, I could maintain the transformed state almost indefinitely. ¡®It¡¯s a shame that I can only replicate the appearance.¡¯ If only I could replicate not only the outer shell but also the abilities of the target. Imagine how much more effective I could be at filling the void of the ¡®real¡¯ in various situations. ¡®No, that¡¯s just wishful thinking.¡¯ It seemed like I was still processing the impact of the recent interview. A sense of crisis set in. It was because the level of the students he had to teach was higher than he expected. There were also many variables. ¡®¡­I need to cultivate the ability to cope with variables.¡¯ The moment something unfamiliar entered his field of vision was back then. ¡®¡­That ce.¡¯ The guidelines had disappeared without a trace. Dark sky. There was a swirling vortex of blue magic power. ¡®A portal?¡¯ I realised that I had found it correctly. Spatial movement magic, Portal. This was nothing short of a symbol of the First Era, a high-level magic. In the present era, most magicians, except for a few, couldn¡¯t cast spatial magic. It¡¯s not for nothing that transportation systems have developed. As far as I know, only Zero could maintain a high-level magic of spatial movement in the vast sky for hundreds of years. Swooosh! I briefly reconsidered the portal and observed its surroundings. The entrance was so narrow that only one person could barely pass through. ¡®I can¡¯t see anything.¡¯ Only pitch-ck darkness was churning. ¡°¡­Kik!¡± What kind of protection did this guardian have that it was hidden so carefullypared to others? A strong sense of anticipation tingled in my stomach. There was no more hesitation. I flew into the portal. ¡®Whatever it is, I just need to get stronger.¡¯ Woo! Taking a deep breath, the moment the portal emitted a bright light, I threw myself into the light. A dizzying sensation of falling followed. * * * The inside of the portal had a different air. The cold and sharp wind was nowhere to be found. A dry and warm atmosphere seeped through the feathers. It felt like arriving in a cave. But there was no time to linger leisurely. Woodduk! Quickly, I cast the second polymorph. In an instant, the feathers disappeared, and sticky skin took their ce. A smaller body. A much lower viewpoint. Unbearable tingling in the throat. I croaked. ¡°Croak, croak.¡± The smallest creature I could take the form of. I¡¯ll spare you the details of what I did to understand frogs. I hopped into the damp space between the rocks. It was a precaution in case there was a trap. Even if there was a trap, it would surely be prepared and set up with humans in mind. Only a few inches in size. There wouldn¡¯t be a trap that reacted to a frog of a muted, mottled color, even if there was one. It was the ultimate trick that had allowed me to escape from numerous perilous situations. ¡°¡­¡±. It was quiet. I cautiously peeked my head out between the rocks. The cave was as bright as daylight. Expensive light stones were densely embedded all around, resembling the starry sky on a clear night. ¡®Not as many features as I thought¡­.¡¯ More than anything, it was narrow. It seemed so small that there didn¡¯t even seem to be space to install traps. From a frog¡¯s perspective, it looked spacious like a pce, but with human steps, it was an area that could be traversed back and forth in just a few steps. ¡®Where is the conduit for the guardian?¡¯ I scanned the cave from the edge to where I was, lighting up with my eyes. The search was quickly over. ¡®An altar¡­?¡¯ There was an altar that looked suspicious even from a distance. And in front of it, a white skeleton, covered in dust, stretched its arms toward the altar as if worshipping. ¡®Could it be Zero?¡¯ Although it was hard to see from a distance, the demeanor seemed exactly like that of a wizard. Carefully, I hopped toward the skeleton. I had my doubts about whether this pitiful pile of bones could be of a grand wizard, but when I thought about it, there was no one else who coulde here. ¡®¡­Could it be that a missing grand wizard met his end in this secluded ce?¡¯ The situation was iprehensible. I stared at the skeleton in bewilderment. Thanks to having the eyes of a frog, the empty eye sockets of the skeleton looked like the entrance of some cave. ¡®Doesn¡¯t seem particrly dangerous.¡¯ Since the duration of polymorph had also almost run out, I transformed back into the appearance of a warrior. ¡°Summon.¡± As the summon function was activated, the Iris of Lace that was on the ground returned to its ce in front of my left eye. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª I carefully surveyed the inside of the cave again. ¡®¡­This shouldn¡¯t be happening, right?¡¯ No object looked like the conduit for the guardian. Despite suppressing a strange sense of unease, I decided to explore the cave by moving around myself. However, closely embedded light stones, an old and empty altar, and a single skeleton were all thatprised this ce. In that case, there was only one remaining possibility. I reached out my hand slowly. ¡°Excuse me for a moment.¡± The dusty robe-d skeleton shattered into pieces, and as fine particles scattered in the air, the robe he had been wearing tumbled to the ground. Ting! At the same time, something fell. It was a metal namete. ¡®Depikio Lugo¡­?¡¯ Even as someone exploring modern history, it was a name I had never heard before. ¡®Could it be someone other than Zero?¡¯ I examined the namete from various angles, but there were no distinctive features other than the engraved name. The fact that the conduit for the guardian was not visible added to the mystery. ¡°This is strange¡­.¡± I searched the cave once again, but found nothing. A growing sense of unease took hold. Could this be some kind of trick¡­? ¡°¡­No, it can¡¯t be.¡± I picked up the robe and namete and examined them closely. Despite touching them all over, there was no session urring, confirming that they were not conduits. Even though they didn¡¯t show any signs of being conduits, it didn¡¯t mean they were worthless. I put the namete in my pocket and looked at the robe. Despite the time that had passed since human bones should have decayed, there wasn¡¯t a single worn-out corner on the robe. ¡°Seems like an artifact¡­.¡± Could this be what the treasure was referring to? While it was certainly not an ordinary artifact, given its connection to the archmage, it couldn¡¯tpare to the vitality of the conduit. I let out a deep sigh. For now, I thought about returning to the academy to find an appraiser. An unexpected notification appeared in front of me, asking if I wanted to execute the emotion mode to evaluate the discovered artifact recorded in the information database. Without further thought, I nodded my head. Anotherment was quickly written. ¨‹ Emotionally evaluating the artifact seen in the field of view. Currently documenting the performance of the artifact¡­ ¡ø In an instant, unrecognizable symbols and numbers blurred my vision. ¡®Is it reacting because it¡¯s an artifact rted to Zero Requiem?¡¯ It seemed like the creator of the Iris of Lace was now clear. ¡®I wonder if he knew about the real thing.¡¯ Anotherment quickly appeared. ¨‹ Artifact: Robe of Zero Requiem ¨C Crafted by the great archmage Zero Requiem, adorned with 128 magical inscriptions. ¨C Enchantments: Master-level spells including ¡°Magic Nullification ¨C 64 inscriptions,¡± ¡°Shape Transformation ¨C 12 inscriptions,¡± ¡°Comfort Enhancement ¨C 4 inscriptions,¡± ¡°Mana Absorption ¡¤ Storage ¨C 48 inscriptions.¡± ¨C Special Ability: It can release stored mana for external magical effects. ¨C Caution: If all mana is depleted, the embedded magic won¡¯t function. ¡ø In summary, I wasn¡¯t sure if the skull belonged to Zero, but the robe was undoubtedly his. This robe was an artifact with high-level dispelling and various convenience magic, even capable of external magical emission using stored mana. I was momentarily stunned. ¡°How can an artifact like this exist¡­?¡± How many mages above Master rank could wield such high-level offensive magic? Currently, beyond Master-rank mages include ¡®Rudwick Bosman¡¯ of the Maetop Order and the Heropanion ¡®Larze Gion.¡¯ In reality, even if the true Hero were present, this artifact would be cause for celebration. It practically freed the wearer from magical attacks. ¡®For someone born with magic resistance, it might not be necessary, but for me¡­¡¯ I needed it. With an improved mood, I put on the robe. The fabric smoothly enveloped me as if alive. ¡°Truly worthy of being called a treasure.¡± As I thought of an elegantly sophisticated suit, the robe instantly transformed its shape. The dust and bone residue that had umted in every crease vanished as if it were a bonus. It seemed like the enhancements of Comfort and Shape Transformation had manifested. ¡°¡­Alright, where is this?¡± It was regrettable that it wasn¡¯t the eighth blessing, but obtaining such a high-performance artifact without a fight was fortunate enough. After a final nce at the altar with a bit of regret, I headed back towards the portal entrance. ¡®¡­Oh?¡¯ I stopped in my tracks, feeling a strange unfamiliarity. Tilting my head, I nced back, precisely towards the altar. ¡°Huh?¡± However, upon closer inspection, my gaze had subtly shifted away from the center of the altar. ¡®This is strange.¡¯ I tried to force my eyes to move again. Useless. My gaze slipped left and right as if my body refused to look at the altar. I removed the Iris of Lace and tried again. This time, it was looking at a different spot without even sensing difort. A slow shiver crawled up my spine. ¡­Come to think of it, why didn¡¯t I think of breaking or searching the altar? It was as if someone unnatural prevented that thought. ¡°Magic?¡± As I realized this, the difort intensified. My eyes felt irritated and stiff as if there were some foreign substance in them. ¡®Is it a disguise spell? Quite an impressive level.¡¯ Even with the Iris of Lace, it was barely noticeable. I might not have even realized that there was magic in this ce even if I died and woke up again. ¡°He¡¯s really a bizarre character.¡± Realizing this fact, I chuckled in dismay. This robe, or rather, it was not a reward but a kind of key. A key leading to the ¡®real treasure.¡¯ My heart raced uncontrobly. Was this extraordinary artifact merely a ¡®process¡¯ and not the result? It was evident that something more significant was hidden. I stood right in front of the altar. ¡°Dispel.¡± Starting from the edge of the robe, light quickly illuminated the entire cave. The radiance was so intense that it could be likened to a sh. Amidst the brilliant light, a sharp sound echoed. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 13 Chapter 13 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Dean of Rosenstark¡¯s office. Yussi firmly locked the door and stood in front of the bookshelf. It was Rosenstark¡¯s sleeping hours, but her work was just beginning. As soon as Yussi entered the room, the first thing she did was activate the microphone next to the bookshelf. Kwaaang-! The sound of something exploding. Kuuung-!!!! The noise of the ground copsing and extinguishing. A loud noise that shook the dean¡¯s office. Yussi¡¯s tense expression finally rxed after that. ¡°Haah¡­.¡± The chaos settled. Someone suffers a lifetime from the aftermath the moment they step onto the battlefield. Except for instinct, finding peace in the midst of the tumultuous roar of the battlefield, the deafening noise that tears eardrums apart, and the whirlwind of intense emotions was a way for some mutants to seek tranquillity. After taking a few deep breaths, Yussi stood in front of the bookshelf. In line with her celebrated intelligence, the bookshelf was filled with seemingly difficult books. Yussi picked out the thickest and most stained book among them with her slender fingers. Then, she headed towards the spacious sofa, plopped down with her buttocks firmly settled. While looking down, she examined her own white arm and leg. More precisely, it was the left arm and the right leg. Inhuman, white, transparent skin reflected the moonlight. ¡°¡­Disgustingly awkward.¡± Before the words could finish, her arm and leg, mere conduits of blood and flesh, began to melt away. Yussi stared disdainfully at the empty space left by the disintegration. ¡°To think my best is this defective product that can¡¯t even withstand intermediate alchemy.¡± Despite being hailed as an alchemist ahead of her time, she was dissatisfied with the performance of the prosthetic limbs she had created. It seemed almost lifelike, to the point where people doubted whether she had sustained any injuries. But that was not her concern. She couldn¡¯t return to the battlefield with this level of ability. She couldn¡¯t fight by his side. ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t refine alchemy to death to just to smell the stench of these kids.¡± Yussi muttered, clenching the edge of the table with her remaining hand. Crack! The wooden table, which was crafted from solid wood, caved in. That¡¯s why she needed to find the eighth one quickly. Only then could she return. She exerted force into her small fist as if making a determination. The reason she came to the academy instead of retiring quietly was her aversion to dying. ¡°I will soon have a decisive clue in my hands,¡± she vowed silently. Her deep blue eyes focused on the intricate book in front of her. It was filled with cryptic expressions, numbers, tables, codes, and various schrly annotations that were difficult to discern at a nce. At first nce, they seemed like meaningless scribbles, but they were collected using Glendor¡¯s financial and informational resources. Information on the eighth Gaho, which was once considered a fantasy. Yussi had stumbled upon a crucial lead quite by chance. Soon, the exact details of its capabilities and its hiding ce would be revealed. Of course, she already had a rough idea of its content. ¡°Evolution¡­¡± Yussi¡¯s fingers rhythmically tapped the partially broken table. After considering all the clues so far, the identity of Zero Borningenheim¡¯s final Gaho was presumed to be ¡®evolution.¡¯ ¡°Apletely unexpected ability.¡± Evolution. It was a somewhat unfamiliar concept, not an enchantment or a buff. In its literal sense, one might specte that it could elevate the performance of the target item to another level or provide a tremendously powerful permanent buff. Yussi briefly let her imagination run wild. ¡°If the application extends not only to objects but also to abilities or techniques¡­¡± For instance, elevating swordsmanship to a higher level. She soon smirked. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m going too far.¡± Unless one was a deity, leaving such an extraordinary power behind seemed impossible. Even for Zero Requiem Borningenheim, Founder of Rosenstark, it was imusible. Well, it didn¡¯t matter either way. It seemed toplement alchemy well. If used wisely, she could not only escape the tedious current situation but also return to the frontline with a power much stronger than in its prime. A faint smile spread over her pale face. ¡°Sir Hero. You came alone, but you will leave with me.¡± Yussi turned her gaze beyond the bright moonlight outside the window. * * * Crash! With the sound of breaking ss, the illusion magic was dispelled. At the same time, a spherical object, the size of a human head, emerged on the altar. Uuuuuung! An abyssal sphere that absorbed all surrounding light. White characters twirled around its surface in a dizzying manner. I stared at ¡®it,¡¯ pulsating like a heartbeat, resembling something¡¯s core. ¡°¡­Whatnguage is that?¡± Even as someone who once roamed the entire continent, it was anguage I couldn¡¯t recognize at all. At first nce, it seemed like haphazard scribbles, but I suspected it to be anguage due to some semnce of a system. Yet, one thing was certain. That¡­ ¡®It is the conduit for the eighth invocation.¡¯ There¡¯s no reason to hesitate now. I reached out slowly. Tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu! My fingertips were sucked into the ck sphere without any resistance. Instinctively, I withdrew my hand. ¡°¡­What!!¡± Unidentified characters wriggled and were swiftly taking over my body. In an instant, from the hand and forearm to eventually the shoulders. Tiny, unsightly insects seemed to climb up my body. Even shaking my hand vigorously couldn¡¯t dislodge them; it felt as if they were stuck. ¡°Ugh.¡± There was no time to attempt anything else. The cluster of characters smoothly prated even my chest, simultaneously with a massive force piercing through my forehead. A sensation of my body rapidly expanding from the inside. Before I could scream, my waist contorted. Btedly, agony set in. ¡®Kraaaah!¡¯ Unable to scream, I doubled over in pain, the agony growing and darkness engulfing my vision. I tightly shut my eyes and clutched the cave floor. How long did I writhe in pain? When I regained my senses, the first thing I saw was thements left by the Iris of Lace. ¨‹ Zero Borningenheim¡¯s Invocation: We rmend linking this artifact to get information about ¡®evolution.¡¯ ¡ø ¡­Linking? Suddenly, the initial guidance message came to mind. ¡®It was mentioned that the artifact can learn and grow based on the phenomena or situations the current user interacts with.¡¯ Is this what they meant by learning and growing? I nodded my head with a perplexed feeling. ¨‹ Initiating linkage. ¨C Remaining evolution count: 1 ¨C Would you like to retrieve the rmended evolution list? Evolution Rmendation List: ¨C Zero Borningenheim¡¯s Robe ¨C ck Hope (The target is currently far away) ¨C Species Ability: Polymorph ¡ø Simultaneously, all information rted to Zero Borningenheim¡¯s final invocation flooded into my mind. What kind of power ¡®evolution¡¯ was. How to utilize it. Everything. Evolution, a power that propels the target to a higher dimension, was a capability thatpletely transformed the being into something different from before. For a moment, I was speechless. ¡®Can a mere human create such a conceptual power?¡¯ Evolution was a consumable power that could only be manifested once the allotted number of uses was depleted. Only one time. And there was no need to ponder what to evolve; the most rational choice was conveniently listed in the evolution rmendation. ¡®Polymorph.¡¯ While enhancing the robe or the sword would undoubtedly be helpful, my most crucial task at the moment was to continue ying the role of a hero without being discovered. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡®Well, how will it change?¡¯ Even though I understood what the power of evolution was, it was impossible to anticipate how ¡®Polymorph¡¯ would be stronger. ¡®Durability? Or perhaps improved stability¡­ Maybe even better mental resilience, allowing me to maintain Polymorph for a longer duration even when mentally fatigued. That would be nice.¡¯ In reality, even now, I could maintain Polymorph reliably as the Hero. However, transforming into other targets was not easy. Many rtionships ended before umting enough understanding, and the inherent instability of Polymorph made it challenging. ¡®Well, anything better than now would be appreciated.¡¯ So, with such a modest wish in mind, I faced results that far surpassed my expectations. . . . After inheriting the invocation. I safely returned to my lodging. Fortunately, I didn¡¯t encounter anyone on the way back, but the tension kept me on edge, and my entire body felt fatigued. It had been a long day. Originally, regardless of the ability of the invocation, my n was to lie down and rest for a while. However, instead of lying on the bed, I had no choice but to run to the private training ground that Yussi had arranged for me. Thunk! A spacious training ground made of special material ore with solid surroundings. ¡°Phew.¡± I took a deep breath and focused my mind. What I wanted to do was the same as usual. Refine my form and mould myself as the Hero. And, as taught by him. Swing the sword as practised. The same basic swordsmanship unfolding in the air. ¡­ But the crucial difference was in the destructive power. Pa-a-a-ang! As soon as I swung the sword, I could feel it. A force several times greater than before. A speed that was difficult to follow with the eyes. What I just disyed, if it were me just a few hours ago, would have been an unstoppable blow. ¡°What is this¡­?¡± It was a remarkable phenomenon. The senses I had imitated until now were vividly awakening in my body. I couldn¡¯t possibly let go of the sword. Something was guiding me. The image of the Hero vividly drawn in my mind. The muscles of my body contracted one by one, faithfully following it. It was called Embodiment. Hoo-oo-oo-ong! I swung the ck Hope held in my hand through the air in a grid pattern. Basic skills that I had practiced diligently every day for several years. Yet, it felt strange. Incredibly unfamiliar. The sense that the sword and the body had be one organic entity. The ck trail drawn by the sword was vivid, as if it could be grasped before my eyes. ¡­Has the Hero always held his sword with this feeling? It was a feeling I had never known in my entire life. But now, I was experiencing a part of that talent. I was getting a step closer to him. As part of the legacy of the greatest wizard in history. I was approaching a step closer to the footsteps of the greatest warrior in history. The overwhelming excitement that seemed to burst when I realized this spread from one corner of my chest to my entire body. It was a moment full of excitement and awe. ¡°Is this really¡­?¡± I cleared my throat. ¡°Is it not a dream?¡± I pinched my skin in disbelief. Achieving decades worth in just a moment. No, perhaps achieving a feat that I might not obtain even after decades. ¡°The growth in strength was my biggest concern.¡± My current skill level far surpassed the talent I possessed. ¡°Ha, hahaha.¡± Evolution. That truly matched the literal meaning of the word. My Polymorph had evolved. It was not just replicating the outer shell of the target but a new ability that could replicate the core as well. ¡®Somethingpletely different.¡¯ Tock! I tapped my sses. Rather than swinging the sword through the air, there was a much more intuitive way to test the evolved Polymorph¡¯s performance. ¨‹ Would you like to initiate the ¡®Avatar Training¡¯? ¡ø ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 14 Chapter 14 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Avatar Training. Since obtaining the Iris of Lace, I have been favouring this training, rapidly improving my skills with a realistic progression simr to actualbat. It creates a simtion of the battlefield and enemies stored in the information collective, making the training feel like realbat. The principles are simr to illusion magic. One should not underestimate it as just an illusion; the sensations felt during training are genuine. Moreover, facing death during the training results in an unpleasant experience of temporary loss of consciousness. ¨‹ Would you like to set ¡®Advanced Monster, Agini,¡¯ as the training avatar? ¡ø Nodding, my field of vision changed. The expansive training ground was enveloped in darkness, and the silhouette of the monster I had been facing wearily emerged in the distance. Agini. A monstermonly found near the seaside, resembling a crab. It had a tough outer shell and arge, powerful w capable of crushing small boats in a single blow. Its main weapon was a massive w, wielding it like a fist with substantial mass. For a knight of reasonable skill, it was a threatening monster, easily eliminating them in an instant. In the past few days, the record of my battles against Agini was roughly as follows: 21 victories, 11 defeats. If I fought three times, I would lose once. The difficultyy in the creature¡¯s intricate and robust outer shell, making it challenging tond urate hits. On the other hand, the colossal w punch was deadly even with a mere graze. If I had fought using a standard weapon instead of the ck sword, the win rate would have been even lower. However, the current state of battle presented a significant change. Pa-ah-! A single w came flying at the upper body. It was slow enough to induce a yawn. I raised the ck hope diagonally, redirecting the attack upwards. Previously, I would have dodged the attack by flying my body, but now, the defense happened almost instinctively. Thunk! The w smoothly bounced upward. I thrust the sword into the exposed space. That was the end of it. Kwajijijik! The once imprable outer shell crumbled inward, shattering into pieces. Fresh flesh fell to the ground with a crisp sound. ¨‹ Avatar training concludes. Training evaluation: S ¡ø ¡­It¡¯s genius. It was a genius swordsmanship. Of course, this might still be considered limited in some circles. ¡°What I¡¯ve been doing so far was just surface level.¡± Despite my efforts as an ordinary talent, I could only imitate the form. However, now I fully understand the content. How to move muscles and manipte magic to maximize power. It vividly came to me as if I had be a real Hero. ¨‹ If the evaluation result is A or above, It is rmended to practice against a stronger avatar. Would you like to summon a stronger avatar? ¡ø I nodded. ¨‹ Setting ¡®Lesser Demon, Azimuth¡¯ as the training avatar. ¡ø Azimuth. A demon named Azimuth. His name was mentioned without fail in the epic of the Hero. The first lesser demon he had subjugated. His inexperienced battle had be a legend. My heart began to pound. ¡°I¡¯ll be facing a demon directly.¡± These beings were entirely different from simple monsters. The deepest part of the Demon Realm. Powerful beings projecting the will to exterminate humans from the very origin of all evil, manifesting in different dimensions. No matter how low-ranking, one needed the skill to handle ki to confront them. Calling a human capable of defeating demons alone an ¡°Hero¡± was not an exaggeration. Even if Polymorph evolved, could I defeat a Lesser demon? ¡­The answer would soone. Woooooong! The silhouette that was faintly visible at the edge of my sight changed. ¨‹ ¨C The battlefield is assigned randomly ¨C Summoning ¡®Amora¡¯s Desert¡¯ (No. 79) ¡ø I gripped my sword, staring ahead. Azimuth silently appeared and red at me. The figure beyond the gritty sand grains was a mixture of spider and human, not fitting entirely into either category. ¡­It didn¡¯t belong to either category in terms of size. With a stature exceeding three meters, eight log-like legs adorned with thorns that seemed like they could tear flesh on contact. Above all, the horrific torso of a human attached loosely to its monstrous body was unsettling. An rming appearance. ¡°Better than Magon, but¡­¡± The intimidation was different. A feeling of being overshadowed. It truly seemed like a creature designed as a predator of humans. Suddenly, a bitterugh escaped me. ¡°Am I supposed to fight these creatures casually?¡± The Hero must have been fourteen when he killed Azimuth. ¡°Sigh.¡± I readjusted the grip on the ck Hope. The greatsword felt as light as a twig. Azimuth¡¯s pale lips slowly parted. ¡°Determination¡­ the prey doesn¡¯t understand its purpose.¡± Kwoong! Without warning, it leaped. A body springing up stically in an instant. The field was engulfed in a dark shadow. One leg shot out like a spear. ¡®Dodge? Counterattack? Evade?¡¯ Alright, dodge. A leg shot out like a spear. Thud! I slightly twisted my body to the sidestep. The pir-like leg grazed dangerously close. The precision of its movement was surprisingly sophisticated, effortlessly avoiding the sinking sand floor. ¡°Ugh!¡± Then, reversing the greatsword, I spun around and struck the joint of its leg. Its skin, akin to metal, split like pudding. Despite the strong rebound, my body moved automatically, dispersing the impact. Kraaaah! The legs snapped off lifelessly. Azimuth swung and kicked the remaining leg fiercely, attempting tosh out and push me away. None of those limbs touched me. After losing half of its legs, it kicked and lifted its body, retreating out of range. ¡°Shred into pieces¡­!¡± Its twisted eyes flickered. ¡°Whew¡­¡± Perhaps Polymorph¡¯s ability gave me the Hero¡¯s calmness. Even in the face of this ominous aura, my heart remained calm. ¡°¡­Yes, like the Hero.¡± I could do this. With confidence, I raised the sword. The contours of the objects around me blurred, and an unfamiliar strength surged from the hand gripping the sword. The preparation to unleash a fierce blow wasplete. And as soon as I realized it, my body moved on its own. ¡°Die!¡± Magic burst out like fireworks. Azimuth also charged aggressively at the right moment. And then. Saaaaah! A sharp sh cut through everything in front of me in a single stroke. Among all the attacks I had encountered so far, it was the one that most resembled him. . . . ¨‹ Virtual training ends Training evaluation: A ¡ø I won. Even after one avatar training session ended, the training continued. ¡°This can¡¯t be¡­ ¡± I realized something truly astonishing. There was still hope for humanity. * * * ¡°¡­ It was already duplicated?¡± After Polymorph evolved. Once I broke through the boundary, I could finally ess my inner thoughts. And there, in the midst of it all, I discovered something emitting an immense presence. At first, I couldn¡¯t believe its identity. ¡­ It was the ¡®core¡¯ of the Hero. What else could I call it besides a core? Everything about him was contained within it. ¡°I couldn¡¯t replicate it because I didn¡¯t realize how to do it until now¡­ ¡± In addition, all the ¡®cores¡¯ of the many humans I had replicated over the years were also present around it. However,pared to the hero¡¯s, their size was like fireflies in front of the sun. ¡®¡­How many of Hero¡¯s abilities could I replicate? 10%?¡¯ Not even 10%, maybe not even a 1%. If the evolved Polymorph had a limit of 100 for the abilities it could draw upon, the Hero¡¯s core seemed to be more than just tenfold ¡­much more stronger. Seeing other cores numbering around 10, it was evident how extraordinary that power was. A deep joy surged through me. ¡®¡­ I can be even stronger than I am now. Growth is within reach.¡¯ Above all, it was motivation. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª If my capacity expanded, instead of a hundred abilities, I could contain two hundred, three hundred, and perhaps even more! It might be something in the distant future, but I could truly approach the ¡®real.¡¯ And the method was already presented. Immediately after finishing the avatar training, I looked at the new clue revealed by the Iris of Lace. ¨‹ I made an old man sigh, A genius received a punishment he fears Now everyoneughs and cries at me Can you find me hidden where ignorance loses its strength? ¡ø It was right after observing the imaginary world. A mysteriousment. The hero clearly mentioned that there would be a ¡®change¡¯ in the Iris of Lace. If that was true, just like during the guardian period, thisment might also be part of the change the Hero spoke about. ¡®If that¡¯s the case¡­.¡¯ One pleasant fact would be proven. The Iris of Lace seemed to be guiding me with ¡®signposts¡¯ and would continue in the future. ¡®I still don¡¯t know the meaning of this riddle, but one thing is certain.¡¯ The fact that a reward is waiting. ¡°Yes, I can be stronger.¡± I achieved unexpected growth. By gradually aplishing things that can be done, even the ¡®lies¡¯ that feel turbulent can be a bit smoother. Iughed heartily for the first time in a long while. No, I tried tough. ¡°Haha¡­ cough. Ah.¡± Compared to the achievements, it was a trivial problem. ¡°¡­This clumsy body can¡¯t keep up.¡± Even if I replicate the core, ultimately, my body bears the output. My physique is still somewhat weak to handle the Hero¡¯s insights and movements. Yesterday, due to themotion in the training ground, I suffered all day, but¡­ ¡°As long as I don¡¯t push myself too hard, it should be fine.¡± It was probably okay. Though my whole body felt like it had been beaten,ughter continued to escape. * * * At the same moment, in the central part of Rosenstark. The monthly meeting of professors was underway at the top floor of the ¡®Phileas Hall.¡¯ The blue-haired head, seated at the top, got straight to the point without any greetings or introductions. ¡°Let¡¯s skip the greetings and introductions since everyone is busy.¡± Principal Yussi had an unusually serious expression. Her calm voice continued. ¡°The current situation of the Empire is more ominous than expected. Do any of you know?¡± Some professors nodded, but the rest looked at Yussi with puzzled faces. She spoke with a slight sneer. ¡°It seems that the suppression of the remnants of the Demon King¡¯s forces is not going as smoothly as expected.¡± An alert came from the royal pce. Some remnants of the Demon King¡¯s forces, instead of retreating from the magical realm, were fervently rampaging. It was a situation opposite to the predictions. The problem was that some of them had set foot on imperial territory. Reports of damage started toe in from areas adjacent to the front lines. ¡°Well, the probability of their antics affecting the distant west is low, but everyone, please be extra cautious.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Especially, pay attention to the safety of the students. We don¡¯t want to repeat Rosenstark¡¯s sad past, do we?¡± ¡­Sad past. A short sigh escaped from the mouths of some older professors. In fact, Rosenstark had been one of the main targets of the demons for a long time. Given the founding principle of ¡®nurturing talents for the annihtion of great demon race,¡¯ it was inevitable. During the peak of the demon realm¡¯s power. There were betrayers and minions coborating with demons who hid in the academy, harming students. Not only that, they had been invaded and even fought a battle at Suseongjeon. ¡°Well, with the Hero present, they won¡¯t easily set foot here, but let¡¯s not be careless.¡± As the atmosphere darkened rapidly, Yussi pped her hands as if trying to freshen the mood. ¡°We¡¯ve roughly finished the main discussion. There are some minor matters remaining. Can anyone guess what they are?¡± It was at that moment that some professors expressions turned pallid. Yussi¡¯s voice, which had be cold, echoed in the hall. ¡°¡­It¡¯s me. It seems that I¡¯ve increased the research support funds almost tenfoldpared to previous years. Why haven¡¯t you produced the expected results?¡± It was the time for scrutiny. The main targets were former deans (who were highly corrupt) and those who had been diligently taking advantage of the situation. From Yussi¡¯s perspective, they were thorns that she wanted to cut off immediately. ¡°I¡¯ve said it before. If you don¡¯t have confidence in achieving results, reject the money. You dly epted it at that time, and now what is this situation?¡± ¡°¡­Hoho, calling it research that is almost a failure. Our principal, you¡¯re too hasty.¡± These professors had spent more years at Rosenstark than she had lived. ¡®¡­They gather together, with their only efforts in protecting their own interests.¡¯ Despite Yussi¡¯s high position in Glendor, she couldn¡¯t confront these old professors head-on. For decades, they had served as professors at the continent¡¯s top education institution. The connections they had built were formidable, with many of their students holding various positions in the empire, and their families were mostly from prestigious backgrounds. ¡®I need to get rid of those pests for things to start working properly.¡¯ She hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the internal affairs of the academy until now. But with the Hero at Rosenstark, she needed to deal with them for his pleasant school life. ¡®Of course, if I act recklessly, I might be ousted first.¡¯ If there were significant conflicts with them, it would cause trouble for Yussi¡¯s family. The head of the Glendor family despised disturbances. If she lost points for causing such trouble, she might be prey to the Hirigaya brothers, who eagerly eyed her position. So, she engaged in subtle conflicts and power struggles, trying not to cause amotion. And recently, they were pressuring her on one particr topic. ¡°Assigning arge-scale project to a mere graduate student was the problem from the beginning.¡± ¡°In the field of alchemy, my friend is more outstanding than me. Haven¡¯t I told you several times that it¡¯s worth waiting for?¡± ¡°Hehe, the dean generously favors only that graduate student. Don¡¯t you think it seriously vites fairness?¡± ¡­Fairness is nonsense. Yussi scoffed at this. ¡°Hoho, well, you see. Since the expected value of the oue is on a different level, we give more opportunities. If it seeds, it will be recorded as the greatest research in Rosenstark¡¯s history.¡± ¡°Well, hasn¡¯t there been significant damage already, as the principal generously supported them?¡± ¡°¡­Ugh.¡± Upon taking office, she had provided full support for alchemical research that showed potential. Confident in her expertise in the field, she had invested not only the academy¡¯s budget, foundation support, and various investments but also her personal funds. ¡®If it seeds, it will change history.¡¯ However, the project, despite its smooth start, was facing considerable challenges. It has been a year already. The situation was bing increasingly difficult, to be honest. ¡°So, what is the outstanding research director doing now? I heard they¡¯vepletely abandoned the research for some time.¡± ¡°I told them to take a break and focus on something else.¡± ¡°¡­Something else?¡± Yussi nodded silently. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 15 Chapter 15 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter15 Several days passed like that. With the start of the semester approaching, I found myself immersed in theboratory all day after recovering. All I could think about was the uing lectures. ¡®¡­What kind of content should I prepare for the ss?¡¯ The conditions were demanding. A lecture that would provide practical help to geniuses while concealing my ownck of expertise. Designing such a lecture was far from easy. Even the temporary assistant, Pia, was going through a tough time. I watched her with sharp eyes as she worked on the documents. Despite the tired look, her hands moved at an unwavering speed. It was appreciable to see her silently assisting with the workload, despite the high intensity of tasks. ¡®Come to think of it, we¡¯ll be parting ways in a few days.¡¯ The resumes of official assistant candidates had already arrived. At least before the start of the semester, I had to select an official assistant. I rummaged through neatly organized documents on one side of the desk. ¡®Hmm, there doesn¡¯t seem to be anyone who stands out.¡¯ Choosing an assistant was an extremely crucial task. In some ways, they would spend the longest time together. They needed discernment and reliability, enough not to turn various happenings during support into gossip. ¡®¡­It¡¯s impossible to prepare and conduct the lectures alone.¡¯ I had to choose someone somehow. With a sigh, I looked at the pile of applications in front of me. All the applicants were excellent individuals. However, the criteria I considered important couldn¡¯t be discerned on paper. Maybe I would only know if I lived closely with them for a few days. ¡®In that context, Pia seems suitable.¡¯ Her personality is quiet and unassuming. She¡¯s not the type to unnecessarily shift words. Her most important job skills were admirable. I really liked her, but¡­ ¡®She already declined.¡¯ It was a clean rejection, embarrassing enough to make further proposals. I nced at Pia discreetly. ¡®What could be the reason for the rejection?¡¯ I didn¡¯t know the details, but I heard she was a graduate student. The position of the Hero¡¯s assistant, which should be the best option for a graduate student¡­ It was disappointing, but forcing someone who didn¡¯t want it wasn¡¯t an option. As I reluctantly turned my gaze back to the candidate applications, Pia approached. ¡°Um¡­ Professor?¡± Pia, holding documents, came closer. Her light gray hair was scattered in a messy manner. ¡°The Glendor Foundation has deposited a special activity fund. Should I proceed with ordering the items you mentioned before? There are many rare items, so we might need to act quickly.¡± ¡°Please go ahead.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll organize separately any items that are sold out or need additional orders due to insufficient quantities, and I¡¯ll pass them on to the sessor.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you.¡± She was indeedpetent. I rubbed my stiff neck. Through one side of theboratory window, I could see the Rosenstark sky where fireworks, or rather, tuition fees, were exploding. It was already well into the evening. ¡®It¡¯s about time to make a move.¡¯ I turned around and called Pia. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you going to the party?¡± Today was the day of a party for Rosenstark officials to promote camaraderie. It was like a weing ceremony for the new semester. Held at the grand and morous Phileas Hall, this party was a crucial event symbolizing the beginning of the semester. It was a massive event held in a separate venue for students, professors, and even servants. ¡®It¡¯s practically a festival for the entire Rosenstark.¡¯ Thanks to that, everyone I met since yesterday seemed excited. However, Pia, with a peculiarly awkward expression, just waved her hand without Enthusiasm. ¡°You¡¯re here, Professor. How can I enjoy the party?¡± ¡°I, in general, don¡¯t like noisy ces.¡± This was true. Neither the Hero nor I were the party type. ¡°But I can¡¯t stand seeing you stuck in theb wrestling with paperwork during the peak time.¡± ¡°Huh? What is that¡­?¡± ¡°Go and enjoy the party. I¡¯ll take care of the rest of the work.¡± ¡°Yes¡­?¡± Pia¡¯s expression became more puzzled. Well, she didn¡¯t seem to be the party type either. But it didn¡¯t matter. For now, it was urgent to get her out of thisb. I forcibly nudged Pia away. ¡°P-Professor?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an order. If you don¡¯t enjoy yourself now, when will you? Youth is shorter than you think.¡± ¡°An, an order¡­?¡± Bang! Pia¡¯s dismayed face was visible through the closing door. After some time, the sound of footsteps faded weakly. ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s time to get ready.¡± Today, even graduate students would attend the party, meaning most of my teaching assistant candidates would be there. It was a perfect opportunity to secretly observe what kind of people they were. ¡°As for the outfit¡­ something like this.¡± Beforeunching the operation, I changed the appearance of the robe. The luxurious material of the suit transformed into the ordinary uniform that servants usually wore. Since a few days ago, I had been carefully examining the design and material, so there was no apparent difference. The ¡®shape-shifting¡¯ magic seemed to work properly, even the name tag was attached. ¡°By now, it should be just right.¡± About two hours had passed since the party started. It was around the time when people¡¯s guards would be down due to the effects of the intoxication. Wooduk! With a quiet bone-cracking sound, my body contorted. It wasn¡¯t as drastic a transformation as when turning into an animal. I recalled the image I had stored in my mind and reconstructed my body ordingly. The evolved polymorph worked in an instant and ended smoothly. The view lowered dramatically. Arms and legs like dry branches swayed on one side of the field of vision. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª I looked at myself in the mirror with a cloudy and dim gaze. ¡°Hehe.¡± Living a wandering life for a long time, I met countless people. Among them were those who wouldn¡¯t stand out no matter where you went. One of them was Buck, the pickpocket I had met in the back alley gambling den. Unremarkable brown hair, short and unassuming features, a medium height, and a somewhat tannedplexion that blended into the average of the southern empire¡¯s poption. It was a face you could encounter every ten seconds on the streets of the Southern Empire. In the bustling party venue, his face was one you might forget before turning your head. ¡°Good, perfect.¡± I carried the hiddenundry from one side of theb and stepped out of the door. Suddenly, I realized something. ¡°My steps¡­¡± Unconsciously, I was walking with a stealthy movement, like someone who had spent a lifetime hiding. Just like a thief. ¡°Indeed, the essence of different subjects can be replicated.¡± Even Buck¡¯s ability was much easier to copy than that of the Hero. Perhaps because the ¡°essence¡± was inherently unremarkable. I could use his ability almost perfectly, having be Buck himself. As an example, when I looked at a clothespin pinned to theundry, I knew how to bend it in a way that would open a locked door, as if I had known it all along. The knowledge of subtly picking pockets and skillfully cutting jewelry was also there. ¡°¡­It¡¯s apletely new world.¡± Although it was a hereditary ability I had possessed all my life, it now felt brand new. It seemed like I would need to thoroughly examine it soon, perhaps by fully polymorphing. ¡°For now, let¡¯s focus on the task at hand.¡± I headed towards the ground floor where the entrance was located. While I did encounter some of the building¡¯s servants on asion, none of them suspected the person carrying the Hero¡¯sundry. The building had arge number of resident servants, and most of them were in a hurry to attend the party, their minds preupied. Thud! As I stepped out of the research building¡¯s main gate and walked a considerable distance, the outdoor garden of the Phileas Hall, where the party was in full swing, came into view. Lights flickered in the darkness, apanied byughter. I proceeded toward that lively scene. * * * It wasn¡¯t particrly difficult to hide in the open garden. The external boundaries of Rosenstark were quite strict, but inside, where only those with verified status were present, the security was not overly strict. ¡°It¡¯s not too crowded yet.¡± In a secluded spot, I adjusted my appearance while surveying the surroundings. I then picked up a tray from a nearby empty table and followed behind other servants. A measured and inconspicuous walk, avoiding eye contact with anyone. As expected, no one showed interest in an ordinary servant, and asional nces quickly slipped away. ¡°It¡¯s really spacious. Where are the candidates?¡± ncing around, I studied theyout of Phileas Hall. The central garden was for undergraduate and graduate students, with the sides reserved for faculty and sponsors. There was likely an area for servants at the back, but that wasn¡¯t my destination today. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the central garden for now.¡± Since I didn¡¯t see any assistant candidates, I decided to take a stroll among the students during the remaining time. Carrying the tray with food and drinks, I made my way toward the undergraduate area. Soon, I spotted groups of students gathered, chatting andughing. Among them, there was a conspicuous group¡ªthe sessful candidates of the ¡°Extreme¡± program. ¡®Familiar faces.¡¯ Already recognized among the new students, many were attempting to strike up a conversation with them. I casually slipped into the midst. ¡°I¡¯ll be happy to refill your drinks and provide more food.¡± Thud! Before the dishes even settled, my hands instinctively reached out to grab them. A ttering sound followed. ¡°Wow, I never knew continental food could be this delicious. I should have tried it earlier.¡± Long, pale hair swayed in front of me. Between the locks peeked out a horn about the size of a finger. The enthusiastic girl tearing into the meat wasn¡¯t an imperial citizen. No, to be precise, she wasn¡¯t even human. Her name was Cuculli Evans, a member of the Frost Dragon n¡ªone of the most powerful dragon tribes. She was also the daughter of the great tribal chief Dorempa, who unified the various tribes beyond the northern border. ¡®The Iris of Lace praised her ice magic and one-handed sword skills.¡¯ As I recalled thements she received, Cuculli, with her sharp fang-like teeth, voraciously tore into the meat again. The sizable T-bone steak was devoured in seconds. ¡°Hmm, it looks like I might have to ask the chefs back to make a lot when I return.¡± Cuculli swept her gaze around. Despite her lively demeanor, there were no enthusiastic responses orughter from the others. Most found the dragons unfamiliar and distant, and it seemed unlikely they¡¯d react differently. But Cuculli didn¡¯t seem to mind. Her mischievous eyes were fixated on one spot. ¡°Hey, friend.¡± ¡°Huh, me?¡± ¡°Yeah, you.¡± The brown-haired boy sitting across from her was startled, raising his head. His gently curved eyes blinked in a docile manner. ¡°If you nibble on such delicious food, does it taste better? Eat up! Or should I feed you?¡± ¡°Uh, sorry. My stomach isn¡¯t feeling well¡­.¡± ¡°Oh? Just a moment.¡± Cuculli grabbed the table and leaned her head toward the boy. His ears turned as red as if they were on fire. ¡°Dark brown hair, brown eyes. Despite your big build, you look pretty gentle. You¡¯re Ban Dietrich, right?¡± ¡°Uh, well¡­ Do you know me?¡± I was dumbfounded, almost dropping the dishes I was holding. ¡®He doesn¡¯t recognize his name?¡¯ It was one of the most absurd questions I had heard recently. Could there be any student who doesn¡¯t know Ban Dietrich? He was the sessor of the swordsmanship family ¡°Dietrich,¡± and the illegitimate son of ¡°Felson Dietrich,¡± a member of the Dawn Knights. Among the new students, he received praise second only to Leciell for his sword skills. Cuculliughed yfully. ¡°Let¡¯s have a match, Ban.¡± Ssh. Ban spat the drink in his mouth directly onto Cuculli¡¯s face. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 16 Chapter 16 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª A white liquid spilled over Cuculli¡¯s face. The liquid dripped down her cheek and fell to the floor, causing Ban¡¯s face to turn pale. ¡°Sorry! I¡¯ll get something to wipe it off quickly!¡± ¡°Why are you so surprised? It¡¯s not a big deal.¡± Ban hadn¡¯t even stood up yet when Cuculli tore a piece from the tablecloth with her nails and wiped her face. While Ban stared at her, surprised, even I, who was about to offer a napkin, halted. Cuculli tilted her head and looked at Ban. ¡°So?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ so what?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to take up my offer for a fight?¡± ¡°If I get a chanceter¡­¡± ¡°Tch.¡± Thick lips protruded into a pout. ¡°Let me know if you change your mind.¡± After that, Cuculli seemed to lose interest in Ban. As she focused on her food again, the conversation came to an abrupt end. I sighed quietly to myself. ¡®Are there any normal kids around here?¡¯ Are all geniuses this entric? By the way, there was still no news about the teaching assistant candidates. It seemed like it might be a good idea to listen to the children¡¯s stories a bit more here. ¡­Especially since an interesting conversation seemed to be starting in the adjacent seat. ¡°Have you seen Luke? Did he note to the party at all?¡± ¡°¡­Luke? You mean that guy? The fierce-looking one. Are you friends?¡± ¡°No, not at all. We¡¯ve never exchanged a word.¡± ¡°I thought we were friends. But why is he looking for me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious about what kind of person he is. He¡¯s not close to anyone.¡± I listened attentively. Luke Selsood. Heir to the Mercenary King, praised as one of the five sessors by the Iris of Lace. I listened attentively. ¡°I don¡¯t know. He¡¯s always holed up in the training grounds. Probably doing the same today.¡± ¡°Yeah. If we had to rank people you¡¯d never expect to see at a party, he¡¯d be third.¡± ¡°Why third? Who¡¯s first and second?¡± ¡°First is our professor.¡± The kids murmured in agreement. Ted Redymer¡¯s image was just like that. ¡°I can¡¯t deny that. But he probably won¡¯te today either, right?¡± ¡°¡­Doesn¡¯t seem likely. Imagine the professor dancing at the party. Can you?¡± ¡°Impossible. So who¡¯s second?¡± ¡°He¡¯s here. Didn¡¯t you see him earlier?¡± The moment when the curiosity about who the second was grew. Cuculli, who was wandering around looking for something to eat, suddenly joined the conversation. ¡°Heh, I really hope the professor shows up. I¡¯ll pretend to be drunk and challenge him. I¡¯ve been itching for a match since the interview.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Oh, um¡­ well¡­.¡± Her boldness for wanting to fight the Hero left the kids unsure of how to respond. ¡°He probably wouldn¡¯t have a match.¡± Someone spoke up to counter that awkward statement. I looked at the shaking red hair in front of me. ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Cuculli seemed more intrigued than displeased. Red and blue eyes met for a moment. ¡°So, what about me and you?¡± ¡°Looks like you enjoy hearing the same answer.¡± As Cuculli smirked, Leciel turned around. It was then that she addressed me directly. ¡°I apologize.¡± A white hand reached for the champagne on the tray. Correction. Champagnes, plural. Between her fingers, she held not one but four champagne sses. With a casual turn, Leciel, walked towards a corner, leaving the perplexed children behind. Her cheeks, seen briefly, were as red as her own hair. ¡°¡­That¡¯s Leciel.¡± ¡°Should I go talk to her?¡± ¡°Asera, didn¡¯t you see earlier? The seniors were humiliated.¡± After that, the conversationcked substance. I slowly left the ce. What was thought to be a light conversation turned out to be a bit headache-inducing. ¡®¡­It would be fortunate if there¡¯s at least one normal person.¡¯ Each one had a strong personality. There needed to be a way to harmonize them. While developing individuals¡¯ abilities was crucial, fostering cooperation and achieving synergy were equally important. Regardless, these would be my future colleagues to stand against the Demon King. ¡®Finally, they¡¯re here.¡¯ I stopped my thoughts and straightened up. A group was entering the party venue ¨C my assistant candidates. ** * ** Graduate students at Rosenstark. In reality, they were a very rare presence. ¡®In the first ce, not many students apply for assistant positions.¡¯ The reason was the insane workload. Nicknamed the graveyard for undergraduates, it was an extreme profession where they had to bnce personal research and professors¡¯ requests. While there were advantages such as gaining extensive connections in the academic world and receiving generous research funding¡­ ¡®Usually not a ce where one applies without determination.¡¯ As a result, Rosenstark¡¯s graduate school naturally ended up with graduates who had tremendous academic passion, and they often presented surprising research to the world. ¡®The continent¡¯s top minds.¡¯ Even my gruff temporary assistant, would undoubtedly be a talent to be sought after, wooed, and respected by guilds once she graduated. ¡®The same goes for them.¡¯ I observed the chattering group of graduate students. Portraits attached to their resumes ovepped in my mind. ¡®An assembly of elites, perhaps.¡¯ Most surprisingly, most of those who applied for my assistant position were gathered in one ce. It seemed like my spection was correct. Other graduate students didn¡¯t approach them as if there were invisible walls. Their attire was more extravagant than others. Amidst the shimmering outfits, there was something unexpected. ¡®Why is she there?¡¯ Pia was with them. More precisely, she was surrounded by them. In the midst of shy attires, her in dress stood out. Pia¡¯s expression was as usual, but for some reason, she seemed quite ufortable. ¡®They don¡¯t seem to be close.¡¯ I approached to observe more closely. ¡°Hey, you there!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª One of them gestured to me. He was a very skinny young man. I approached with measured steps and nodded. ¡°Do you need something?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you see the empty sses here? Bring more drinks, quickly.¡± ¡°What type of beverage¡­¡± ¡°Champagne! Do I look like I¡¯m going to drink beer?¡± Sometimes a single word and its tone were enough to gauge a person. I smiled. ¡°I apologize. I¡¯ll bring it right away.¡± Conveniently, the nearby champagne had also run out, so I had to go quite far to get more. ¡®Tsk, there¡¯s no luck.¡¯ I met the gaze of a slender-eyed young man. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°Problem? You¡¯re quite bold. Hurry up and bring it.¡± ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Coincidentally, there was an empty spot next to Pia. I took a seat, facing her and the group. ¡°Here you go!¡± I handed the champagne to the skinny young man, who barely acknowledged me and resumed chatting with others. ¡®Interesting.¡¯ I observed Pia, who still seemed out of ce among them. ¡®Momont Andrea¡­¡¯ His face matched one of the portraits on the resumes. Notparable to Glendor, but impressive nheless. He was from the ¡®Andrea¡¯ family, known for significant revenue in the manufacturing sector, including alchemy and forging. ¡®Pia mentioned him while going through applications.¡¯ His research achievements were also top-notch. He seemed to have written in his application about admiring my footsteps as the Hero. ¡®A typical heir from a prestigious family.¡¯ Certainly not a type I favored. Well, to be precise, it was closer to a type I despised. The friends chuckling beside him were no different. I was contemting whether I should go without an assistant for a moment when sparks flew. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your mediocre skills, you would be here serving drinks as well. Isn¡¯t that right, Pia?¡± I looked back and forth between them in surprise. It was a very rude remark. ¡®What is this?¡¯ However, the other graduate students just turned away with ufortable expressions. It was absurd. ¡®¡­Is this bullying?¡¯ At that age? Then an unexpected attack came. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your mediocre skills, you too, having been pushed to second ce, would be wiping tables here if it weren¡¯t for your family.¡± Theughter abruptly stopped. It was quite a remarkable counterattack. ¡®¡­He was the second?¡¯ No wonder they said he excelled in his work. On the other hand, when Pia didn¡¯t back down and retorted, Momont¡¯s face turned red. ¡°How dare you mention Andrea with that lowly mouth?¡± ¡°¡­What¡¯s so hard to mention?¡± ¡°Well, a woman who screwed up her research can only survive by her mouth.¡± ¡­Research? Pia¡¯s expression, once firm, now stiffened dramatically. Momont shouted, asserting his correctness. ¡°If I had failed such arge project, I would be too ashamed to even lift my head. I knew she would fail from the moment she imed to create such a drug.¡± ¡°Unnecessary worries, Momont. Even if you wake up from the dead, you wouldn¡¯t be capable of handling this kind of research.¡± ¡°¡­Be careful with your words. I hit women too, as you well know.¡± ¡°I know. You only hit women.¡± Eventually, Momont mmed his chair and stood up. His face was as red asva. The thunderous noise drew all nearby gazes toward them. ¡°This insolentmoner! who knows nothing about the subject!¡± Pia, who had been facing him defiantly, was startled as she tightly gripped the chair¡¯s armrest. Her knuckles were white. ¡®Tsk!¡¯ I clicked my tongue. That¡¯s a learned fear. It seemed to be more messed up than I thought. The situation was about to explode. However, no one stepped forward. It was probably because of Momont¡¯s family. Andrea family wielded considerable influence in various manufacturing fields. Most of the people here were graduate students from the support undergraduate program. They would need to be cautious as they sought entry into rted fields after graduation. ¡°But it¡¯s still unpleasant.¡± Numerous spectators, most ironically, the only ones suffering from the harassment, the victims themselves, were those who ignored Momont. Their conversation continued. ¡°Our family has also invested in you¡­ It seems you¡¯ve forgotten that fact. How long do you think you can behave so arrogantly?¡± ¡°Our research is still ongoing. Don¡¯t rush to judge it as a failure.¡± Momont¡¯s lips twisted. ¡°Hah, making fun of me while not even solving the side effects. Don¡¯t you remember about the investors meeting?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If there are no results by the end of this month, feel free to expect the consequences. I¡¯ll make you understand what it means to be in dire straits.¡± Pia¡¯s head bowed toward the ground. It was too difficult to watch this drama any longer. I quickly left the scene. ¡®Is there a quiet ce anywhere?¡¯ Looking around, I headed into the building. Since the outdoor party was in full swing, the inside seemed quieter. After confirming that there was no one nearby, I found the most secluded room. As I took a deep breath, the familiar image quickly came to mind. ©¤ Polymorph The echoing sound of bones resounded on the wall, spreading through the bathroom. From my fingertips to my body, a surge of energy enveloped me. The slim servant uniform I was wearing transformed into the form of an exquisite suit. Shaking my head for a moment, I adapted to the heightened eye level. ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡± It was time to see if the spoiled rich kid could impress everyone with his impressive background. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 17 Chapter 17 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Pia Joyce gripped the armrest of her chair tightly, then slowly released it. She knew. Showing emotional vulnerability here would only bring pleasure, nothing more. But enduring humiliation in front of so many people was never easy, no matter how ustomed one was to it. ¡®¡­Just hurry up and finish.¡¯ Among them were people she once considered friends. However, none of them came to her aid. Their cowardice was despicable, and she felt pathetic for being hurt by it. But above all, what was most distressing was the undeniable fact that she couldn¡¯t refute Momont¡¯s words. It had been a long-standing persecution. She had endured the taunts, thinking it was just jealousy from those who were intellectually inferior. Now, her once confident attitude had be tattered. ¡®¡­It¡¯s unfair.¡¯ Perhaps it was a mistake to stand out in the first ce. Entering as the top student among themoners might have been the initial problem. She should have crawled quietly behind the nobles like those mediocre foolsughing in the back. ¡°Poor girl.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°In the end, all that¡¯s left is a seat next to the Hero obtained through the principal¡¯s connections. Temporary at that. Your future is truly pathetic.¡± Just as tears were about to fall, Pia lowered her head. She regretted feeling an odd sensation. When she raised her head again, there was noughter that was supposed to follow. Only a strange silence. ¡®¡­What is it?¡¯ Someone from the crowd was urgently pulling at Momont¡¯s clothes. ¡°Hey, hey¡­.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Momont turned his head with a puzzled expression. Naturally, Pia¡¯s gaze followed. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Pia¡¯s ashen pupils widened. ¡®¡­Professor?¡¯ When did he arrive? Btedly, gasps erupted from all around. The Hero looked at Momont with an indifferent expression. Of course, the most bewildered was Momont. She shook her head as if she had seen a ghost. A leisurely voice followed, ¡°I didn¡¯t know my assistant was such a pathetic person.¡± ¡°Oh, oh, it¡¯s a misunderstanding, Hero. I mean, Professor.¡± ¡°What?¡± Momont¡¯s eyes blinked rapidly. ¡°It absolutely wasn¡¯t meant that way. Lately, due to Pia Joyce¡¯s arrogance, attributing it to your influence¡­¡± It was an absurd insult. Pia was so angry that her vision blurred. ¡°When did I¡­¡± ¡°Trying to lie again?! Guys, isn¡¯t what I¡¯m saying true?¡± Momont¡¯s friends panicked and fled before he could catch them. The Hero spoke, ¡°Momont Andrea.¡± Everyone fell silent as if on cue. A calm voice. For a moment, Pia wondered if the Hero might not be upset. ¡°You are trash.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Trash. The appearance of a word he had never thought applied to herself made Momont doubt his ears. But the Hero¡¯s cold expression injected a level of reality into this unbelievable situation. Not just Momont but everyone watching froze in confusion. Breaking the silence, the Hero approached Momont. ¡°W-what are you saying right now¡­?¡± ¡°Just what you heard.¡± ¡°Surely, you don¡¯t mean it¡­!¡± Smack! Suddenly, the Hero pped Momont¡¯s cheek. Given their significant height difference, it created quite a spectacle. Momo¡¯s body floated in the air for a moment before thudding down, a few dislodged teeth rolling in front of her wide-eyed gaze. ¡°Shut up! I dislike people like you.¡± ¡°My tooth, my tooth!¡± ¡°Lucky scum born with a golden spoon. Instead of being grateful, why mock those who worked harder?¡± The voice delivering these words was dry to the point of alienation, making it sound even more contemptuous. The simmering noise was followed by a chilly silence that enveloped the hall. ¡­Just like before, there was no one to intervene. The hero turned Momont¡¯s battered body with a flick of their toe. ¡°Pathetic.¡± ¡°Just a handful of teeth. Howughable.¡± Mocking, the Hero indirectly ridiculed, but no one present misunderstood the meaning. Both Momont and the prestigious Andrea family had just suffered a severe insult. It was a provocatively high-handed challenge, one that left no room for a response. However, Momont could do nothing. He could only swallow the bitter taste of blood, wrapping her dizzy head with his hands. ¡®¡­Treating Momont like this?¡¯ It felt like a dream to Pia. The once dominant figure in the supporting department had been reduced to this humiliating state. His best option was to offer feeble resistance with just the sound of the wind. ¡®¡­.¡¯ Pia¡¯s pupils trembled thinly. Momont, copsed on the floor, overwhelmed by helplessness and disgrace. Originally, it should have been Pia in that position¡ªno one else. Despite this, for some reason, Pia stepped forward. ¡°Pr-Professor, please stop¡­¡± And immediately regretted it. ¡®¡­Am I crazy?¡¯ How dare she step forward. The reactions around her were the same. Eyes that seemed to wish for Pia¡¯s teeth to fly away. Sure enough, the Hero turned to her indifferently. ¡°You seem quite idle. In the midst of all this, you¡¯re enjoying a party.¡± For some reason, it was more of a reproach than a scolding. Pia momentarily doubted her ears. ¡°What do you mean¡­¡± Was he going to scold me foring to the party? Before that, he was telling me to go to the party because it¡¯s the time for youth¡­ The hero spoke with a deep voice, ¡°me yourpetence. Things aren¡¯t progressing because you¡¯re not there.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I suppose it¡¯s a call to return to theb immediately. There¡¯s a mountain of work waiting.¡± Pia blinked at the Hero¡¯s expressionless face. If she were foolish enough not to understand the hidden meaning of the Hero¡¯s words, she wouldn¡¯t have be the top student of Rosenstark. ¡®Is he saying this to save my face?¡¯ It was hard to believe, but it was the truth. Otherwise, there would be no need for him to say lie like that in front of everyone. Thanks to this, the way people looked at her was changing in real-time. Sympathy turned into admiration. Disdain turned into surprise. ¡°Temporary assistant, they said.¡± ¡°Wow, when did she be so close to the hero?¡± ¡°I heard the hero isn¡¯t very friendly with other professors.¡± Whispers like these echoed around. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡®¡­Why exactly?¡¯ ¡­Well, the reason wasn¡¯t particrly important. Kindness. The warmth emanating from it was something she hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. It felt like the damp shadow that had covered her was lifting a little. ¡°How long are you going to stand there stupidly?¡± ¡°Ah¡­.¡± Without giving her a chance to respond, the Hero walked away. A subtle smile spread across his lips. Perhaps because his imposing heroic figure didn¡¯t quite fit the extravagant party setting. ¡°¡­I¡¯min¡¯ now!¡± With lightened steps, Pia followed the hero¡¯s broad back. * * * As expected, ¡®Andrea¡¯ showed no signs of revenge toward me. It wasn¡¯t surprising. No matter how prestigious the family, they wouldn¡¯t want to provoke the Hero over the second son. ¡®¡­They might be concerned about Euphemia¡¯s reaction.¡¯ It was clear why I was appointed to the academy. From Andrea¡¯s perspective, my actions might be rted to her intentions. If they had any brain, they wouldn¡¯t dwell on a few lost teeth of the second son. Anyway, since then, Andrea hasn¡¯t made any trouble for Pia. I remembered Pia¡¯s visibly brightened attitude. Whether there was any crack in the wall of her heart or if the conversation within the formal bounds had developed. Thanks to that, I got to know quite a lot about her. That she came from a vige of battle mages in the western part of the Empire. She entered the academy based on her alchemical talent, finished all the educational courses as the top student, and entered graduate school. Even there, she demonstrated her genius. Some even went so far as to buzz about a new alchemy prodigy following in the footsteps of ¡®Yussi Glendor.¡¯ ¡®¡­But there¡¯s one more thing to mention.¡¯ She single-handedly ran a massive project that had attracted substantial investment both inside and outside the school which currently isn¡¯t going well. However, oddly enough, it turned out to be a boon for me. ¡°Hmm.¡± I raised my head and looked at the ss bottle in front of me. A highly viscous dark green liquid was sloshing inside. ¡°So, is this an intermediate result of that research?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± The name of this concoction was ¡®Awaken.¡¯ It was a kind of awakening agent, but it was in a different leaguepared to themon awakening agents on the market. ¡®Awakening effectssting permanently? Is that even possible?¡¯ But that wasn¡¯t the only unique aspect. Even after multiple administrations, the effects were said to ovep to a certain extent. When the initial research proposal was submitted, it was treated as absurd nonsense in the academicmunity. However, Yussi, who recognized the potential, generously supported her, and Pia gradually brought this fantastical efficacy into reality. Significant results were achieved, and as clinical trials began, an enormous amount of investment poured in. Even seasoned practitioners, who couldn¡¯t dramatically enhance their physical abilities in a short period, experienced rapid growth. If the clinical trials had sessfully concluded, Awaken would undoubtedly have solidified its ce as a groundbreaking invention in history. ¡®Assuming no side effects appeared, of course.¡¯ It was a concoction of unidentified toxicity created by blending numerous elixirs. Awaken was found to contain a toxic substance that burdened internal organs and muscles while disturbing magical power, leading to insanity. ¡®It¡¯s a dangerous item.¡¯ But at the same time, it harbored endless possibilities. I gazed at the roiling green liquid inside the ss bottle. Ever since I first heard this story, a thought had lingered in my mind. ¡®¡­If I can somehow manage the poison, it would be the ultimate potion for me.¡¯ It could offer a powerful physique, allowing me to fully utilize the abilities of the evolved polymorph into the Hero. I pondered for a moment. ¡®There is a way.¡¯ There was indeed a way¡ªa gamble that only I could take. If it worked,pleting Awaken would be possible. ¡®But¡­ before that, I need to hear more of the story.¡¯ I was curious about why she undertook such a risky project. Pia, the top student of Rosenstark, held a prestigious position. Even without engaging in such dangerous research, she could have easily gained wealth and honor. ¡°With so many safer research projects to build your career, why did you take on such a project? You knew the risks involved.¡± I wasn¡¯t just talking about the minor issues of failing and losing investment or reputation declining. A product like Awaken wasn¡¯t finished simply because the research seeded. There was no guarantee that it would be used for the right purpose. ¡®In simpler terms, if it falls into the wrong hands and is misused, it could be a target of hatred.¡¯ It was a project that imposed a significant ethical obligation. It couldn¡¯t have been started without careful consideration. With that question in mind, I looked at Pia. She hesitated for a long time before opening her mouth. ¡°Revenge¡­ is the word, I suppose.¡± It was amon story. A genius girl who grew up receiving support from her family, burdened with the disgrace of her hometown while studying diligently at Rosenstark. ¡°I¡¯m well aware that it¡¯s an item with the potential for misuse. I maye to regret not tearing up the form.¡± The tremor in her voice subsided. ¡°But seeing people helpless, dying without the power to fight back¡­ I hate that even more.¡± ¡°While there are heroes like you, there are also people who fear a single monster and wield old spears.¡± ¡°The reason I tried to create Awaken was to help those people. That¡¯s all.¡± Her gray eyes stared directly at me. Despite deliberately maintaining an air of mystery, Pia never averted her gaze. Perhaps this seemingly innocent answer was sincere. The decision was made. ¡°I¡¯ll help.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Pia looked at me with surprised eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll help you find a solution to the side effects of Awaken.¡± ¡°N-no, how¡­?¡± I observed Pia¡¯s skeptical expression. ¡°But, if we manage to find a solution, consider positively bing my official assistant.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Given the circumstances, it seems my rtionship with the other candidates might be awkward.¡± Pia awkwardly smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to do that.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 18 Chapter 18 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The method was simple: Just drink it. Doppelgangers have an incredibly sensitive reaction to external substances entering their bodies. Our strongest instinct is to analyze and understand the elements that make up our bodies. Toxicity was not a concern for me, thanks to my ability ¡°Polymorph,¡± which allows me to reconstruct my body from head to toe. The main reason Pia¡¯s research was facing difficulties was theck of urate information about toxic substances. It was challenging to pinpoint how certain drugs interacted to create toxins, the exact structure of the poison, and so on. Thus, my conclusion was to consume Awaken myself, understand and grasp the toxic substances, and then ry that information to Pia. [PR/N: Awaken is the potion/research that Pia has been working on] With this, we could undoubtedly find a solution to the side effects. ¡°Pia.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m letting you know in advance because you might be surprised, but I can handle a small amount of poison.¡± ¡°What do you mean¡­?¡± Without waiting for a response, I opened the lid of the ss bottle. Pop! Unexpectedly cheerful sounds apanied the bluish smoke that rose. Despite the seemingly foul appearance, there was no distinct odor. ¡°Professor?¡± Subsequently, as Pia approached with her mouth open, ready to snatch the bottle from my hand, I reassured her. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± There was no need to stop Pia. Given her significantly smaller stature, even if she tried to stop me, she could only reach my chin. I took a sip. As I closed my eyes to savor the taste, Pia let out a subdued sigh. The analysis continued. ¡°¡­It¡¯s a very peculiar type of poison.¡± Firstly, the absorption is unusually rapid. The moment it passes through the throat, it spreads throughout the entire body in an instant. The process is incredibly discreet and swift, making it challenging even for those with sensitive perceptions to detect easily. ¡°So that¡¯s why detoxification has repeatedly failed.¡± In essence, once the poison spreads, dealing with it bes nearly impossible. I began to consume Awaken more deliberately. How much had I ingested? A searing sensation struck my esophagus, apanied by a peculiar feeling that prated my entire body. ¡°Alright¡­¡± A sensation of grasping a clue about some unknown substance that I had never been aware of before. The awaited moment had arrived. I opened my eyes abruptly. Pia was looking at me with a worried expression. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Despite a slight headache, there was nothing to worry about. Surprisingly, I had grasped the information more easily than anticipated. ¡°I¡¯m fine. And¡­¡± Perhaps it was thanks to the evolution of the polymorph. ¡°Listen carefully to what I¡¯m about to say.¡± In any case, thepletion of Awaken seemed more manageable than I thought. ¡ª The hero¡¯s words cut to the core. Pia, who had been struggling toprehend theplex alchemical concepts, found her obstacles naturally lifting as her understanding of toxic substances grew. Pia, who had been moving her hands almost as if possessed, paused for a moment, then looked at the Hero with a gaze of awe. Approaching the situation this way was something beyond the capabilities of any alchemical expert or genius in experimentation. It was a miracle achievable only by a Doppelganger with the unique ability of polymorph. To Pia, who waspletely unaware of this fact, the entire process seemed like a manifestation of the Hero¡¯s mysterious genius. Is a hero capable of such things effortlessly? There was no sign of Pia¡¯s jaw closing. ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± the paper was now densely filled. ¡°Can I conduct the experiment right now?¡± ¡°Feel free to do so.¡± Pia, trembling with excitement, managed to calm herself and nodded. ¡°Then¡­ I will inform you as soon as the results are out.¡± Already, her mind had departed for her private researchboratory filled with beakers and sks. However, at that moment, the Hero turned and called her back. ¡°Pia.¡± His expression was surprisingly calm, given the tremendous analysis he had justpleted. ¡°Is this all the remaining quantity of Awaken?¡± ¡°Um, well, there are about thirty vials awaiting disposal.¡± ¡°Good. I¡¯ll use those.¡± ¡°What?¡± Pia momentarily forgot her embarrassment and tilted her head. The hero, seemingly unwilling to entertain any objections, gazed at her in silence. ¡°I¡¯ve developed an academic interest, and I want to explore alternative methods. Who knows, we might find better clues.¡± ¡°Oh, yes!¡± Pia had no intention of refusing. After all, those were items ted for disposal anyway. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for someone to deliver them all.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± The following day, thirty containers of Awaykin arrived at the professor¡¯s quarters. ¡ª * * * The fallen genius. Rumors that Pia Joyce had resolved the side effects of Awaken spread through the academy the next day. Appearing with the antidote, she expressed her intention to hold an investment briefing a weekter. Officials were skeptical. ¡°She suddenly resolved such serious side effects? Does that make sense?¡± ¡°Maybe she just did whatever came to her out of fear?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I heard that most clinical trial participants improved after taking the antidote.¡± ¡°Hmm. Could it be true?¡± Expectation, Envy, Suspicion. Officials harbored different thoughts as they eagerly awaited the investment briefing. Even those who had been holding back investments hurriedly attended upon hearing the news. ¡°Finally!¡± Principal Yussi Glendor graciously offered an entire hall as the venue for the briefing. She, too, was scheduled to sit there as the principal and an investor. The hall amodated approximately 500 people. ¡®¡­ I can do this.¡¯ Pia Joyce looked at the bustling hall and slowly exhaled. ¡°¡­Phew.¡± Ten minutes until the presentation. She, who had memorized the script long ago, suddenly stood up and approached the window. Through the drawn curtains, the view of the hall came into sight. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Investors sent letters mixed with curses and threats every day. Academia officials consistently scoffed. Momont and his thugs who fervently hoped for the briefing to fail. Leaving them all behind, her gaze was drawn maically to one ce. ¡°¡­Hmm.¡± Seeing a man with a headrger than others awkwardly squeezing into a hall chair, an inappropriateughter burst out. Easing her tension. And a strange courage filled her. ¡°Now, let¡¯s begin the 7th investment briefing for the ¡®Awaken Project.''¡± The cheerful voice of the blonde-haired professor serving as the host resonated throughout the hall. Taang! The stage lights lit up simultaneously. Pia walked slowly into that light. ¡°Thank you for your patience. I am Pia Joyce, the Chief Researcher.¡± * * * The briefing proceeded smoothly. ¡°I won¡¯t lie and say that we canplete Awaken immediately. There is a lot to consider, from the mixing order to maturation time, ingredients, and parts that need to be modified.¡± I nced at Pia on the stage. Perhaps I was wrong, but her eyes seemed to be directed this way. Her voice, now more confident, continued. ¡°But I can confidently say that it is possible to perfectly fix the persistent ws in Awaken.¡± The materials she prepared appeared before the audience through magical projection. The effects of the antidote and cases that prove its efficacy. Outlook on the intermediate results with removed toxicity. There were also endorsements from schrs she had previously sought cooperation from. The clues I provided were well-utilized, and there werepelling materials. Investors are usually more versed in theory than researchers. Anyone in the audience would understand the significance of these materials. The atmosphere in the hall surged. Simultaneously, Pia smiled confidently. ¡®¡­She¡¯s doing well.¡¯ The lethargy and self-loathing that had weighed on Pia seemed to have disappeared. In their ce were vitality, confidence, and the assurance that she were on the right path could be seen. It was the aura of someone who had lived a lifetime as a prodigy. ¡°Now, I will conclude the 7th investment briefing for the ¡®Awaken Project.¡¯ I will take questions¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, hands shot up one after another. Mostly investors. ¡°When do you expect thepletion date?¡± ¡°The effects are stated to be inferior to the previous version; how do you n to address this, especially in terms of stability? What about cost issues?¡± Pia sincerely and skillfully handled the questions. The atmosphere in the auditorium changed noticeably to a more favorable one. ¡®Well, I guess there¡¯s no need to see more of this.¡¯ Prepared to leave the auditorium, it was bing irritatingly cramped with chairs close together. Then it happened. ¡°I have a question!¡± A question from an academic journal reporter echoed through the hall. ¡°Yes, please go ahead.¡± ¡°What are your ns for the future?¡± The auditorium fell silent in an instant. It was a relevant question. In fact, for someone on the brink of sess with such arge project, there was no need to stay in graduate school. Rather than choosing the path of hardship, it was moremon to join a promisingpany or guild, receive support, and dedicate time topleting the research. Simultaneously, a murmur of coughing sounds spread through the hall. ¡°Well, our guild also boasts impressive facilities.¡± ¡°Come on, are you suggesting we only stick to alchemy in our guild?¡± The situation had changed. Pia was currently the golden goose. Even Yussi was spinning around, loud enough to be heard. ¡°If you¡¯re going to build a nest, it¡¯s better to aim for the best, right?¡± Pia seemed slightly taken aback by the pouring suggestions, but she quickly nced around and thenposed herself calmly. Transparent irises sparkled under the spotlight. She paused for a moment, looked at me, and this time, our eyes definitely met. ¡°For future ns.¡± Pia¡¯s lips drew a gentle curve. ¡°I n to bury my bones in Rosenstark.¡± Satisfied, I smiled and walked out of the auditorium. It seemed that the recruitment of my assistant had been sessful. * * * The sunlight in March was clear and warm. Adequate warmth poured through the ss window on one side of the living room. Not long ago, the weather seemed terribly cold, but time really flies. ¡°I¡¯ve been here for almost three months now.¡± Knock, knock! Beyond the closed door, along with the sound of knocking, a voice that had be quite familiar by now could be heard. ¡°Professor, it¡¯s time.¡± It was a punctual arrival, not tolerating even a one-minute dy. ¡°Well, it¡¯s an important day.¡± How much preparation had been done for today? ¡°Professor, are you not here? Are you still sleeping?¡± Instead of answering the worried voice, I opened the door with a creak. ¡°Oops.¡± The first thing that caught my eye was Pia, carrying a handful of things. Her gray hair seemed a bit disheveled today. She smiled and said, ¡°Good morning, Professor.¡± ¡°Good morning. The items¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve prepared everything here! The ssroom is all set up too.¡± The materials needed for the ss were well organized. ¡°Then shall we go?¡± Pia stood behind me. With the cheerful sound of her shoes, we walked to the assigned ssroom. It was the first day of ss. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 19 Chapter 19 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª A group of students walked the campus bathed in a vibrant green hue. They were ¡®Extreme¡¯ students, on the path leading to the announced ssroom. On their excited faces, tension and anticipation were mixed in equal parts. ¡°How do you think the ss will be?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Well, why didn¡¯t they tell us anything until the day before the ss, except for the location?¡± ¡°Today is the orientation. They¡¯ll tell us now.¡± Evergreen Solintail was among them. With rosy cheeks, she followed her ssmates briskly. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I made it!¡± It still felt unbelievable. After a nerve-wracking interview, she thought she had failed miserably, but here she was. She had passed. The moment she shared the news of her sess with her hometown was still vivid. ¡°Hey! Our child became the disciple of the hero! I¡¯m so happy!¡± ¡°Calm down a bit, dear¡­ Sniff, calm down, sniff¡­ So proud of our daughter.¡± Recalling her tearful parents, Evergreen clenched her fists. ¡®I have to do well for real.¡¯ They were now in front of the ssroom, and the door was wide open. ¡°The professor hasn¡¯t arrived yet.¡± Evergreen let out an exmation, resisting the urge to look silly. Seeing the empty podium, her tension eased a bit. ¡°Wow¡­ Huh.¡± Evergreen eximed but bit her lip, worried that it might seem cheesy. ¡®As expected of Rosenstark¡­.¡¯ The ssroom was exceptionally neat, elegant, and impressively spacious. Luxurious wooden flooring. Immacte, ivory-coloured walls. Long desks arranged in a tiered fashion, providing ample space even if used as a militarymand post. Every disyed item seemed as refined as a work of art. Evergreen cautiously walked through the rows of desks. Names were attached to the backrests, indicating assigned seats. ¡®Jerome¡­ ire¡­ Ban¡­ Where¡¯s my seat¡­ Ah, there it is.¡¯ Evergreen put down her bag and looked at the adjacent seat. A girl with red hair was looking at her with jewel-like eyes. ¡°Oh, hi¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, hi.¡± ¡­Finding joy in a simple greeting felt a bit pathetic. But she had thought of just ignoring her! Evergreen hesitated on how to react but ended up smiling. ¡­Meanwhile. Other students in the ssroom were looking at the bottles ced on the desks with suspicion. A transparent liquid shimmered inside the ss bottles. ¡°What¡¯s this potion?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Is it from the previous ss?¡± The only second-year student among the attendees, Daindart, pointed at the ckboard on the podium. It was then that the others noticed. ¡°It seems like they want us to drink it.¡± Clear instructions were written in an elegant font. Divide and drink with your partner. A moment of silence. ¡°¡­Why would we blindly drink this without knowing what it is?¡± The first to voice opposition was a blond boy sitting at the back. ¡®He¡¯s¡­¡¯ Evergreen also knew the student. His name was Gerald Bryce. His specialty was spear techniques. As the son of the Whitefang defending the southeastern part of the empire, he was a belligerent guy, engaging in spars in the dormitories even before the start of the semester. He was also the boy she had given the interview with. The ssroom had been quietly divided into two halves. ¡°Still, the professor told us to drink it. What if we get scolded for not drinking it?¡± ¡°Are you sure the professor wrote that? What if someone yed a prank?¡± ¡°Oh,e on¡­¡± ¡°Even by the way it¡¯s written, it doesn¡¯t seem like the professor.¡± Thunk! Someone forcefully tapped the desk, marking the moment when the debate became heated. All eyes turned to the source of the sound. ¡°If you¡¯re going to doubt, just doubt. Why talk so much?¡± A tall and well-built boy tilted his head with a mocking smile, gazing at them. A thick and handsome face. Several sharp scars adorned his face, giving him a rugged appearance. Evergreen widened her eyes, looking at him. Unusually, he wore a ck leather glove only on his right hand. ¡®¡­Scary!!¡¯ The sessor to the Mercenary King. He was a veteran who had already excelled in various battlefields, unlike the other kids. An intimidating presence that didn¡¯t seem at all like someone of the same age. The children who would have normally resisted aggressive speech fell silent. ¡°If a superiormands, you follow. This is basic.¡± The boy with a fierce presence made everyone close their mouths. ¡°Let¡¯s trust Professor¡¯s words. It¡¯s just a drink anyway.¡± Luke, who was about to grab the ss bottle, hesitated for a moment and then looked at the adjacent seat. Gulp, gulp. A petite girl, barely reaching his chest, had already emptied half of the bottle and was extending the remaining one toward him. With ck hair and ck eyes; besides that, she had no distinctive features. The namete on her chair simply read ¡®Nyhill.¡¯ Cuculli, who had been watching the situation with interest from the front row, apuded. ¡°Hahaha, that¡¯s the way! Actions speak louder than words! Wow, impressive!¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I should drink before that idiot!¡± Snick! Cuculli, using her fangs, effortlessly opened the bottle and gulped down the potion. She was the one who initiated it. With a slightly uneasy expression, the other students gradually raised their ss bottles. Evergreen cautiously looked at the girl beside her. ¡°Should I go first?¡± ¡°¡­Just don¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± As each student emptied their bottles, they watched each other nervously, anticipating what would happen. ¡°What¡¯s this? Nothing happened.¡± ¡°Do you feel anything different?¡± ¡°Not at all¡­ It just tastes awfully bad.¡± Only a very small fraction of them, with sensitive senses, furrowed their brows. But before they could voice their thoughts, the ssroom door swung open. Themotion settled surprisingly quickly. Thunk! A tall figure, making the podium look smaller, entered. Following closely was a petite assistant, making the podium seem even more diminutive. The Hero standing silently at the center of the podium slowly scanned the ssroom. His stern gaze, visible beyond the foreign sses, scrutinized the students. ¡°Greetings. I am Ted Redymer, the professor who will be in charge of this course.¡± The brief introduction concluded, but the apuse that should have followed was stifled. The atmosphere seemed to dictate that nobody moved too hastily. Thunk! Btedly, Cuculli, the only one to p, smiled awkwardly and discreetly hid her hands beneath the desk. ¡°You all followed the instructions well.¡± ¡°¡­Keh!¡± ¡°Gerald Bryce. What¡¯s the matter?¡± The boy, who had btedly consumed the potion, hastily bowed his head. The Hero continued, seemingly indifferent to it. ¡°Most of you probably can¡¯t yet anticipate how my ss will proceed, correct?¡± The students cautiously nodded, a silent agreement. ¡°Here, the first thing you will learn is how to survive.¡± The Hero slowly surveyed the audience. ¡°What do you think ensures survival on the battlefield?¡± Considering it an easy question, murmurs of various answers echoed throughout the room. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The mostmon responses were rted to ¡®strength¡¯ or ¡®power.¡¯ The Hero nodded. ¡°Strength. Of course, it¡¯s crucial. However, it alone is not enough. What determines life and death in a critical moment is¡­¡± His ashen eyes shed. ¡°Whether you¡¯ve experienced a simr situation, the presence or absence of real-life experience.¡± ¡°Therefore, the purpose of my ss is, as the name suggests, to push you to the extreme.¡± The Hero¡¯s rugged hand pointed at the empty bottles on the desks. ¡°The potion you just drank is a part of that process.¡± In an instant, the ssroom became somewhat chaotic. Amon question lingered in their minds. ¡®What is this?¡¯ ¡®What is in this potion that¡¯s supposed to push us to the extreme?¡¯ The answer was promptly provided. ¡°The potion you just drank contains a toxic substance that scatters magic power. For the next hour, you won¡¯t be able to use magic.¡± ¡°Of course, some of you might forcibly bring back a bit of magic. However¡­¡± The Hero¡¯s cool and solemn gaze passed over several students, including Rysel and Luke. ¡°I rmend not doing so. Since it¡¯s an action that goes against the intention of the ss, immediate consequences are to be expected.¡± The students, wearing perplexed expressions, blinked their eyes and exchanged whispers. ¡°A potion that prevents us from raising magic power? Is there such a thing in reality?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s traded in ces like the ck market.¡± Most of the students disyed signs of confusion. Understandably so, as among them, those not from magical backgrounds were rare. Magic had been a natural part of their lives since early childhood, nearly as mundane as the air they breathed. ¡­And now it was suddenly gone? However, it didn¡¯t take long for the bewildered expressions to turn into shock as the rming realization spread through the ssroom. ¡°What, what is this? My magic power isn¡¯t working for real.¡± ¡°Wow, this can¡¯t be¡­ the feeling is really strange!¡± The students looked at each other with faces paling. For them, mana was as familiar as the air. The sudden absence of it felt almost like going back to a time when they first grasped a sword. Magic was also used for physical enhancement. And suddenly losing it was an unpleasant experience. ¡°¡­Feels like going back to when I first gripped a sword.¡± Once a certain mana level was reached, without doing specific physical training, one could surpass human limits in strength, senses, stamina, and more through training mana alone. They could move swiftly like beasts, handle heavy weapons like twigs, and possess enduring stamina, do all as long as mana allowed. Almost a lifetime together, but the sudden disappearance of this power left the students psychologically shaken. However, the Hero continued speaking, seemingly indifferent to their internal struggles. ¡°Now, pair up with someone you resonate with. It¡¯s both a spar and practical exercise. Your scores will be reflected, so give it your best.¡± The tense students slowly made their way to the center of the ssroom. ¡ª Gerald Bryce was a born spearman. Among his peers and even among adults in the neighboring territories, finding someone who could match him was rare. But Gerald Bryce, unable to use magic¡­ ¡®¡­Damn!¡¯ Gerald swung a practice spear with anger boiling from the tip of his head. Whether there was an iron core inside or not, it was disgustingly heavy. Huung! The groaning tip of the spear barely grazed past his opponent¡¯s shoulder. ¡®Ah,e on! Hit me already!¡¯ Despite several more exchanges in the training, he didn¡¯t seem to consider winning. ¡®Even though I overwhelmingly won in a sparring match back at the dormitory.¡¯ It was the first ss. His peers, as well as the Hero instructor, were watching him. ¡­Even though he had overwhelmingly won against his opponent in a sparring match at the dormitory. So did the granddaughter of the Sword Saint. So did the disciple of the Mercenary King. Being on equal footing with the children of tribal chiefs in terms of ss enrollment, without the distinctions, gave Gerald an uneasy feeling, as he unconsciously considered himself above their level. ¡®¡­The spear is heavy.¡¯ To wield polearms like a spear effectively, strong physical strength is necessary. However, like everyone else, Gerald neglected physical training since gaining the ability to use mana. It was inefficient. Systematic training involves damaging muscles, then allowing them to recover through ample rest and nutrition. The long and tedious process is repeated countless times until strength significantly increases. Gerald believed that using that time to practice mana control or study spear techniques would be more worthwhile. As a result, his physical strength and staminagged behindpared to his growth in mana. The years of dedicated practice in the Rising Spear Technique seemed pale inparison. As the sparring continued, Gerald found himself limited to basic thrusts, swings, and blocks. ¡°Heuk, heuk.¡± His heart thumped ufortably, and sweat obscured his vision. It was a sensation he had long forgotten. The helplessness, the absurdity of his situation, and the real-time realization of his diminishing self-worth became unbearable. As the opponent¡¯s sword tip grazed Gerald¡¯s chest several times¡­ Puk! He couldn¡¯t withstand the humiliation of being defeated by a younger opponent in real-time. Unable to hide his frustration, Gerald mmed his practice spear onto the floor. Puk! Ddaenggrang! ¡°Gerald Bryce.¡± Amidst the noisy ssroom filled with energy and the sound of breaking, a low voice echoed. ¡°What are you doing right now?¡± Gerald snapped back to attention, lifting his head. The quiet gray eyes were fixed on him, a gaze that had neither thoughts nor emotions. Oh no. ¡°I-I¡­¡± ¡°Are you dering defeat?¡± ¡°No, absolutely not!¡± Gerald hastily gestured, picking up his spear again. He swore it wasn¡¯t his intention. He was just extremely irritated by the current situation. ¡°Then, what is it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Why did you throw the spear, Gerald Bryce?¡± Silence fell in the ssroom. The curious gazes of his peers were directed at Gerald. Perhaps it was an illusion, but some seemed to be mocking him. What should I do? The boy¡¯s sweaty hands tightly gripped the spear shaft. In this situation, he needed to say something, anything, as an exnation. Maybe being honest was the right choice. Summoning a courage he hadn¡¯t felt in his entire life, Gerald spoke up. ¡°¡­I couldn¡¯t understand why we are practicing in this condition.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± Well, why indeed. How could he know? Not being able to use mana. Unable to enhance the body. ¡­What meaning could there be in practicing and being evaluated in such a rare condition? The boy, with an unjust expression, was silently observed by the Hero. Adding to his calm tone, the Hero said, ¡°Would I get angry at a reasonable objection? If you have an opinion, speak up.¡± ¡°¡­I understand that the purpose of the ss is to experience extreme situations. However,pletely sealing off mana is almost like asking us to fight with our limbs tied.¡± ¡°Being evaluated in an environment where I can¡¯t express even 10% of my abilities, I¡¯m not sure what meaning there is in that.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Gerald noticed that several of his peers were nodding in agreement. ¡®Right! It¡¯s not just me who thinks this is strange.¡¯ Mana increases recovery as its absolute value increases. At their level, there was almost no risk of them running out of energy even in a fierce battle. So, the conditions and circumstances given to them were somewhat forced. That was Gerald¡¯s thought. ¡°¡­I see.¡± The Hero twisted his lips, looking at the bold boy in front of him. ¡°Some things you can¡¯t understand until you experience them yourself.¡± With these words, the Hero gestured to the assistant. ¡°Pia, bring a detoxification potion and five mana suppression potions.¡± Gerald felt an eerie foreboding. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 20 Chapter 20 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Gulp. The children stared at the Hero, tirelessly drinking. It was already the fourth bottle. ¡°Professor, if you consume more, it might strain your mana core¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Despite his assistant¡¯s dissuasion, he diligently emptied the fifth bottle. Then, without any signs of disarray, he approached Gerald and handed him the detoxification potion. ¡°Drink. The effect will kick in within a minute. Once mana starts circting, we begin.¡± ¡°W-What is this?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who wanted to be properly evaluated?¡± Gerald¡¯s eyes narrowed. The Hero¡¯s intentions were clear. ¡®¡­W-Wait, is he really going to face me directly?¡¯ It seemed likely. Gerald¡¯s eyes alternated between the detoxification potion and the Hero, then he hastily swallowed it. ¡°Is this for real¡­.¡± ¡°No, If I knew it would be like this, I would¡¯ve bluffed like that guy.¡± The normally quiet ssroom began to buzz. Gerald¡¯s heart pounded against his ribs as he saw envy in the children¡¯s eyes. ¡®¡­A sparring match against the Hero. Naturally, victory is out of the question.¡¯ It was an incredible feat even with his mana sealed. Gerald wasn¡¯t stupid enough to hope for something ridiculous like victory. ¡®But, at least I won¡¯t embarrass myself.¡¯ The Hero was human too. If he ingested this terrifying potion, there was no way he could use mana. ¡®Just show an impressive appearance.¡¯ For the futurepetitors watching. Above all, for the Hero. Demonstrating his true abilities was possible. That was enough. ¡°Are you ready?¡± Gerald nodded with determination brimming in his eyes. The mana that couldn¡¯t be felt earlier in the mana core began to circte slowly within him. A powerful vitality surged. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± ¡°Use the weapon you brought.¡± He had no intention of facing the Hero with a practice spear or the like. Gripping the sturdy spear, Gerald wore a resolute expression. The dense blue mana brightly colored its tip. Wooong! The Hero also drew his sword. At the sight of that dark de, Gerald¡¯s tension reached its limit in the blink of an eye. ¡°Just know, I will never tolerate you giving up on the duel¡± Give up? There was no way that would happen. ¡®I¡¯ll show everyone who I am.¡¯ Determined, Gerald shot forward fiercely. * * * He would demonstrate his true capabilities to the arrogant student who dared to disrupt his ss. Most students misunderstood the Hero¡¯s motivation for wielding his sword in that manner. As a result, they anticipated a chaotic scene. ng! ¡°He¡¯s holding on his own quite well?¡± ng! ng! ¡°Isn¡¯t Gerald pushing back?¡± ¡°Was he this skilled?¡± The students watched the intense duel with puzzled expressions. ng! ng! ng! The duel didn¡¯t end quickly. No, it seemed the Hero had no intention of bringing it to a close. He simply deflected and repelled Gerald¡¯s attacks with unwavering eyes. ng! ng! ng! ng! The standoff continued. ¡°¡­Why is he dragging it out like this?¡± Someone finally spoke with an impatient tone, addressing the students¡¯ perplexity. ¡°Why drag it on? Can¡¯t you tell just by looking?¡± Luke looked at the students with a disdainful expression. Though they all shrank under his gaze, one person with emerald eyes sparkling with curiosity asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ Can you tell me?¡± ¡°Even if I did, you won¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Look at their tempos. They¡¯repletely synchronized.¡± ¡°Tempo?¡± In music, tempo defines the speed of a piece. Inbat, tempo epassed not only speed but also breathing, timing, gaps, and more. ording to Luke¡¯s perception, the Hero was perfectly following Gerald¡¯s tempo. Evergreen widened her eyes in admiration. ¡°Wow, you can tell just by looking? You¡¯re really amazing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s basic.¡± ¡°So, what happens if their tempos are exactly the same?¡± ¡°If the tempos arepletely the same¡­ well.¡± In a fight, victory or defeat usually hinged on disrupting the opponent¡¯s tempo. Pull them into your own tempo, force inefficient movements, and exploit the vulnerabilities exposed. That was the essence ofbat. However, if someone with overwhelming skillpletely dominated the opponent¡¯s tempo¡­ ¡°¡­The fight won¡¯t end in the climax.¡± Evergreen seemed to have realized something. ¡°Wow, Gerald must be struggling!¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s like ying rock-paper-scissors with a mirror.¡± The fight that should have ended long ago continued. As Gerald¡¯s exhausted spear slowed and became less precise, the Hero¡¯s sword also slowed and became less urate. The timing of their breaths, the extension of their legs for propulsion, the power infused into their weapons, and even the gaps between their attacks were all identical. ¡°Perfect bnce consumes far more energy than overwhelming dominance because it does not tolerate either side¡¯s superiority.¡± Probably, the Hero intends to test Gerald¡¯s limits in this manner.¡± In truth, Luke, who was exining it, also doubted if such a thing was possible. It wasn¡¯t as if they had been sparring for years; this was their first encounter. No matter how skilled one was, could they maintain such precise analysis in real time? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡®Ridiculous.¡¯ Rescuing Luke from these thoughts was a lively voice. Evergreen, with a smirk on her face, was thanking him, ¡°Thanks for exining! I thought you were really gruff, but you¡¯re kind.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ng! The sound of Gerald¡¯s spear soaring high into the air grabbed her attention as she missed Luke¡¯s ridiculing look. * * * Initially, Gerald felt the Hero was giving him an opportunity. Ample time was given to pour out all his capabilities. ¡®Actually, the professor wanted to see my full strength.¡¯ But he realized something was amiss right after his magic ran out. ¡®When is this going to end?¡¯ In his hazy and long-forgotten view, the Hero swung the sword again. The swordsmanship was unbelievably poor, but Gerald¡¯snce wasn¡¯t much different. ng! ¡°Just know, I will never tolerate you giving up on the duel¡± The Hero¡¯s previously closed mouth opened. Gerald finally realized why the Hero said that. ¡®I thought I could show off a bit.¡¯ Slowly being devoured, he didn¡¯t even consider recovering the exhausted magic. However, the hero¡¯s subtle control dyed the end of the match. The pain and heat, almost unbelievable, felt like an eternity. ¡®It feels like a sprint to the finish line, but the finish line is running away.¡¯ Gerald, unable to continue, was about to shout his surrender. The Hero¡¯s mouth, closed throughout the spar, finally opened. ¡°Mana is never infinite.¡± It was a voice without any hint of wavering. To Gerald, he felt like a monster that defiedmon sense. How was this possible? Wasn¡¯t his magic sealed? ¡°But, monsters rushing like a pack on the battlefield are close to infinite.¡± Again, his sword flew at a slow pace. Gerald barely parried it, but that alone drained his remaining stamina. ¡°You should be able to fight freely for about 10 minutes. As you be more proficient with mana, you can probably fight for 30 minutes.¡± Gerald felt like his heart was about to burst. He thrust the spear desperately, a stab so crude it was hard to believe it was his own. ¡°But what about half a day? Or a whole day?¡± ng! The spear was lightly deflected. It bounced off like a fish and rolled on the ground, escaping its owner¡¯s grip. ¡®Now, it¡¯s over.¡¯ Gerald paid no attention to the gazes of his peers. It was finally over. He copsed, clutching his swollen hand, and gasped for breath. ¡°¡­Huuk, huuk.¡± The Hero approached. Startled, Gerald recoiled. ¡°It¡¯s not over.¡± ¡°When your innards are pulled out by a monster that could have been killed with a single sh, only then will it finally be over.¡± The sword was raised. ¡°How does it feel to face the consequences ofcency and arrogance?¡± He swung the sword down towards Gerald¡¯s forehead as the low, ominous words ended. Even if this was the Hero¡¯s first time holding the sword seriously, the strike appeared to be routine. Whoosh! Gerald¡¯s eyes widened, following the slow and rugged trajectory. If he had even a small amount of stamina left, he could have easily dodged the attack. However, he couldn¡¯t move a single finger, staring at the metal lump aiming for his forehead. He was engulfed in an intense emotion he didn¡¯t know existed within himself. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The sword was poised right above his forehead. Gerald naturally knew he wouldn¡¯t be killed. But at the moment the greatsword descended to strike, the suffocating feeling squeezing his heart was real. Fear froze his mind. It was a raw brutality he felt for the first time since birth. ¡°Perfect,plete, critical. Such words are nothing but illusions on the battlefield. You will fight surprisingly fast, frequently, and at the edge of your limits.¡± The Hero¡¯s gaze shifted from Gerald to the students he had been observing. ¡°¡­So, use it, but don¡¯t depend on it.¡± Whether it was mana or any other force, the words applied equally. The students seemed to have grasped a bit more of what this lecture was trying to convey. ¡°No pitiful deaths will be allowed for you.¡± With that, more intense training resumed, even fiercer than before. However, no studentined this time. * * * Rysel, covered in dirt and sweat all over,y on the bed curled up. ¡°Exhausted¡­¡± She repeated aloud. ¡°It¡¯s tough.¡± Rysel looked at her hands. The fingers, soaked in water, were trembling. The ¡®Extreme¡¯ orientation that began in the ssroom eventually moved to the training ground. Sparring and more sparring. Once the sparring was roughly concluded, the next step was endurance training. Even if they copsed, there was no sympathy. Remembering the Hero pouring detox potion into their exhausted mouths, Rysel shook her head. ¡°When magic starts circting, stamina will recover. Then take the magic-nullifying potion again.¡± A stern voice. Devoid of any sympathy for the exhausted students rolling on the floor like return slips. ¡°Does this person train like this every day?¡± Even Rysel, who prided herself on not neglecting physical training, couldn¡¯t help but be overwhelmed by the intensity. Since she tried not to show signs of exertion as much as possible, she ended up rolling even more. ¡°Phew.¡± Rysel slowly rose. The feeling of wanting to just fall asleep right there was too much, but there was still work to be done. The room, dizzyingly reflected in herrge pupils, was filled with discarded clothes like rubble, textbooks from various sses, and misceneous snack wrappers. Ignoring the room¡¯s disastrous state, Rysel focused on the desk. Inside a locked drawer was arge wooden box, also secured with a lock. Click! Creak! Inside were about a dozen diaries, heavily stained, and a set of fairly old-looking brushes. Various small odds and ends were also revealed. There was nothing expensive, but warmth rarely seen in Rysel¡¯s eyes was evident as she looked at them. ¡°¡­¡± Rysel¡¯s hand, originally heading towards the diary that looked the newest, hesitated and turned towards the deep recesses of the box. ¡°Eczo.¡± Ignoring the scent of old dust, Rysel cautiously extended her head. ¡°Today, Grandma praised me for improving with the sword, I have to work even harder from now on.¡± ¡°I won first ce in the swordsmanshippetition, even though the other person was older and bigger than me.¡± ¡°Grandma really liked it, she pretended not to, but I saw her smiling.¡± ¡°I have to prepare for the nextpetition right away.¡± Flipping through quickly. ¡°Grandma¡¯s expression hasn¡¯t been good for several days. Is it because of my older brother?¡± Today, even though she didn¡¯t ask, I practiced from morning till dawn. If it were usual, she would have surely patted my head.¡± The hand flipping the diary slowed down. ¡°Grandma didn¡¯te to the training ground, but I kept practicing.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think too deeply, if I do better, if I work hard, she¡¯ll teach me again.¡± The next few pages were stained. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°They called me a prodigy who could summon spirits just by looking at me.¡± ¡°Disappointing someone, seems really scary.¡± Rysel closed the old diary. She didn¡¯t feel particrly sad or angry. Just a bit nd. ¡°It was good.¡± Like any ordinary grandmother and granddaughter, choosing stuffed animals at the market or reading fairy tales until falling asleep at night. Such tender moments did not exist for them. But it didn¡¯t matter. Late at night, swinging the sword on the training ground, Grandma¡¯s passionate eyes reflected on the de were good enough for her. The rough, wrinkled hands that applied soothing ointment between blisters were also good. As long as those empty eyes devoid of anticipation weren¡¯t there, everything was fine. ¡°Is the sword still good?¡± When she said she would go to the Rosenstark, it was what her grandma said to her. It was a question that she hadn¡¯t answered yet. Rysel closed the old diary. Quite an eventful day. But, Rysel had no one to share her thoughts with. For this reason, as always, the diary became her friend again. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 21 Chapter 21 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Within the expansive grounds of Rosenstark, various buildings served diverse purposes. Among them, the ¡°Creoa Lounge¡±, centrally located in the faculty building, was an opulent rxation space exclusively for the staff. The first weekend after the start of the semester, fatigued professors gathered at the Creoa Lounge for a social event. ¡°Oh! Professor Eitrobin, isn¡¯t it? How was the orientation this time?¡± ¡°Haha, the students¡¯ level is so outstanding that it worries me. As a professor, I still have much to improve.¡± ¡°Despite your sess in elevating your family¡¯s status, you continue to be humble.¡± The gathering was boisterous from the start. Arriving not toote, Kasim found a corner for himself. He leisurely sipped wine and observed the scene. Professors moved swiftly across the floor, resembling bees transporting honey. ¡®I can¡¯t escape the feeling of irritation. No matter how you look at it, it¡¯s no different from the social circles of the nobility,¡¯ Kasim thought. Frequent factional fights, checks and bnces, interference, and ttery ¨C even in Rosenstark, considered the continent¡¯s premier educational institution, one couldn¡¯t seem to escape the messy by-products of human gathering. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t particrly dislike it.¡± For Kasim, this social hall was a morefortable ce than a cradle. He redirected his steps to a ce where enriching conversations were taking ce. The destination was soon determined ¨C a round table where senior professors, including elders, had gathered. ¡°Hmm. Professor Redymer seems to be absent again today.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect him. He hasn¡¯t attended a gathering like this even once since his appointment.¡± ¡°By the way, did you hear about Professor Redymer during the ¡®Extreme¡¯ orientation?¡± ¡°Oh, Professor Pierre!¡± A middle-aged female professor weed Kasim with surprise. Kasim, with his characteristic benevolent smile, naturally pulled out the chair next to her and took a seat. In contrast to the majority of younger professors who were brusque and standoffish, the amiable Kasim was quite popr among the senior faculty. ¡­Though the affection wasn¡¯t necessarily reciprocated. ¡°You¡¯ve gathered here. What interesting discussions are going on?¡± Naturally, he knew what topic was being discussed. Currently, the hottest potato among the professors was undoubtedly Ted Redymer. He had purposely inquired, aiming to provide the pleasure of talking to the elderlydy who enjoyed gossiping. ¡°Hoho, it¡¯s not much of a story. It¡¯s just that Professor Redymer raised his sword against a student¡­.¡± Kasim widened his eyes in feigned ignorance. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Professor Pierre seemed surprised too. Whether it was interfering with Andreas at the Phileas Hall or raising his hand against a student, he has a more aggressive temperament than one might think.¡± ¡°Humph, he¡¯s always been an impulsive fellow. I told you so.¡± It was precisely at that moment that an unexpected old professor intervened in their conversation. Hispletely bald head showed no traces of hair, and his stubbornly closed lips hinted at the erosion of the once sturdy physique. The bald elder¡¯s name was Labin Hawk, a senior professor at the academy with a tenure of 25 years. He was also one of the three instructors in the Combat Department at Unir when the Hero was a student. Kasim sighed quietly. ¡®That gentleman is the most stubborn and inflexible professor I know.¡¯ What¡¯s worse is that he seems to be quite drunk, as evidenced by the reddish tint on his cheeks. ¡°He¡¯s not someone suitable for academia. What does he think he¡¯s teaching with that much rawness when he hasn¡¯t even matured?¡± ¡°Professor Labin, isn¡¯t yournguage a bit too aggressive? Haha¡­¡± ¡°Did I say anything wrong?¡± The surrounding attention focused on the raised voices. ¡®Hmm, I shouldn¡¯t havee for nothing.¡¯ Kasim subtly timed his departure. Professor Labin, ignoring the difort evident even in other professors due to his overly direct criticism, continued speaking. ¡°Being good at fighting doesn¡¯t necessarily mean you¡¯re good at teaching. The rich experience in front of the ss makes a good professor. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Kasim silently ridiculed him. The reason for his strong resentment was obvious. ¡®He¡¯s probably upset because he got pushed back by his own student.¡¯ In Unir, you couldn¡¯t take the same course twice. In other words, students taking the Hero¡¯s lectures couldn¡¯t take Labin¡¯s. The exceptionally talented neers, and among them, the top 30, were all taken by the Hero. For Labin, who chased after reputation and achievements, it was a terrible situation. ¡®If it weren¡¯t for the Hero, those talents wouldn¡¯t havee in the first ce.¡¯ Kasim thought Labin seemed to have forgotten that. Kasim was about to leave when the sound of wine sses being cleared and new ones being ced caught his attention. ¡®Is it a new maid?¡¯ Though he didn¡¯t boast about it, Kasim had memorized the faces of all the maids working in the faculty building. The maid currently serving was new. Like other maids, she had a neat and beautiful appearance. Her elegant and friendly smile was captivating. ¡®Is she from a noble family? They¡¯ve replenished the staff in the faculty building since the semester started; it¡¯s quite unusual.¡¯ Kasim, who was about to casually strike up a conversation, was unfortunately interrupted by Labin¡¯s drunken ranting. ¡°He¡¯s probably luring young kids like a herd to take them to hellish battlefields again¡­!¡± It was the same repertoire that came up every time. Other professors had already run away, leaving Kasim to grasp the arm of a passing young professor for an emergency escape. ¡°Oh, Professor Eitrobin! You came at just the right time. I¡¯ve be interested in the investment proposal you mentionedst time.¡± ¡°Professor Pierre? Didn¡¯t you say you had no interest at all?¡± ¡°Well, thoughts change ten times a day. Now, let¡¯s go over there and talk.¡± After that, Kasim became the busiest bee, buzzing around the banquet hall. By the time the party ended, he had gathered as much useful information as the emptied wine sses. ¡°Alright, this should be enough.¡± There was someone who needed such information, and proving its usefulness was crucial for his teaching career, something he knew he wouldn¡¯t get another chance at. ¡°You must know how to be satisfied with what you have.¡± Mediocre status, mediocre wealth. It was the advice that his father, living a mediocre life, had always given him. Kasim was well aware that taking another path wasn¡¯t an option for him. ¡ª A ghost resides in the Imperial Pce. As one strolls through the pce, one might asionally hear a mournful sound. Visitors with weak constitutions often believed the rumors. Since the current emperor¡¯s ascension, an unknown and long-standing rumor has gained even more traction. ¡­Of course, the reality was a bit different. Ah-ah-ah-ah! Ugh! In the underground prison, the sounds of echoing screams and cries made the jailers shudder. ¡°Ho-how many hours has it been?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know, maybe one or two hours? It¡¯s better to die than endure this.¡± ¡°But seriously, what crime could they havemitted for Her Majesty to personally intervene?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know. Even if we did, we shouldn¡¯t¡­ haa.¡± Thud! As the footsteps echoed through the long corridor of the prison, the cautious chatter of the jailers came to an abrupt halt. Thud! When the elegantdy with silver hair, exuding an air of authority and scent of blood, revealed herself, the jailers prostrated themselves on the ground to wee their emperor. ¡°Yo-Your Majesty!¡± ¡°Summon the healer. We need to keep them barely alive.¡± The emperor¡¯s sharp eyes scanned the corridor they had just traversed. ¡°However, once they¡¯re healed, hang them upside down. These wretches don¡¯t deserve the privilege of sleep.¡± ¡°We will obey!¡± After finishing her words, Emperor Euphemia, her tired body in tow, headed toward the special pce. In reality, she didn¡¯t need to personally torment the ¡®traitors.¡¯ The imperial pce was filled with skilled torturers. This was more of a venting session. However, the anger hadn¡¯tpletely subsided. ¡®No, it only became more intricate.¡¯ No matter how many times she had nearly killed them through torture or otherwise, those moments where her rationality was hanging by a thread were frequent. Euphemia¡¯s hand still twitched as if holding a torture tool. ¡°¡­.¡± The emperor halted in front of one of the numerous special pces. Slowly, she took measured steps. An eerie garden devoid of any signs of life weed her, with dry branches rustling in the wind as the only sound. As the emperor spoke, the sensation in her hand began to fade. ¡°So, are these all of them?¡± ¡°I apologize, but we haven¡¯t confirmed that yet.¡± A silhouette with a flipped hood suddenly emerged behind the emperor. A white mask covering half of the face glimmered eerily in the moonlight. With an unimpressive height and a contoured figure, the attire revealed her femininity, but nothing else. ¡°They appear to be mere pawns. There¡¯s no one here worth obtaining useful information from.¡± The emperor¡¯s dry eyes turned towards the enigmatic figure standing behind. Even she who feared nothing, stiffened under the emperor¡¯s gaze. ¡°Or maybe I should melt them with my own hands? Would the oue be different if you were the one doing it?¡± ¡°¡­I apologize again, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°I was hoping for a different answer.¡± After the fake Hero left for Rosenstark, the emperor relentlessly pursued the identification of traitors within the empire, utilizing all avable resources, including the intelligence department¡¯s personnel. ¡°One thing, there were no significant results.¡± They were operating as a well-organized covert organization. Despite capturing a few pawns, tracing their connections proved impossible. They were adept at cutting ties. The divisions were so well established that even the foot soldiers were often unaware of their involvement in treason. Therefore, if they couldn¡¯t directly hit the higher-ups, the investigation would be meaningless. ¡°I am diligently focusing on tracking the upper echelons connected to the demons, but since the defeat of the Demon King, their activities have sharply decreased¡­¡± Mother Ghost, the head of the Emperor¡¯s secret department responsible for identifying traitors, once again lowered her head deeply. ¡°Observe with caution and take action as soon as any suspicious activity is detected¡­¡± ¡®Silence.¡¯ The Emperor¡¯s eyes gradually became stern. For a long time, humans had coborated with demons. It was inevitable. Humans were vulnerable to desires, and demons knew how to cleverly exploit that weakness. Betrayers sold things that should never be sold, indulging in their desires. Once, she thought she had uprooted them. But they had slowly crawled out somewhere, like insects, and eventually devoured the most precious thing she had. Ted. Remembering that loss, something intensely hot seared her throat. It was not just hot; it was hard and sharp, causing severe pain. ¡°Allocate all avable personnel to the task of identifying traitors for the time being.¡± ¡°¡­I will carry out Your Majesty¡¯smand.¡± ¡°If many points are marked, they will connect in lines. If you can¡¯t connect them, pull each one out individually.¡± The Emperor continued speaking. ¡°Has there been any contact from the ghost sent to Rosenstark?¡± ¡°Yes. The disguised agents have sessfully infiltrated, and they have reported sessful contact with the Hero.¡± The elite agents of the secret department, also known as ghosts, had been sent to Rosenstark. The Emperor referred to them as ¡°fake heroes.¡± Suddenly, the Emperor recalled Ted and his face. Her expression furrowed. ¡°I mentioned sending number 3. The child with puppetry as ¡®Ability,¡¯ wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. We sent the highest-ranking ghost avable.¡± It was at that moment, beneath the white mask, that lips subtly formed a curve, marking the only sign of a smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t know Your Majesty would remember a child seen only once until now.¡± ¡°He had a unique ability.¡± ¡°Now he is in a fully optimized state. There should be no hindrance to mission execution. Please do not worry.¡± Euphemia nodded. ¡°Very well, withdraw for now.¡± ¡°Yes, I will withdraw. Have a peaceful night, Your Majesty.¡± Mother Ghost slowly retreated and melded into the surroundings, leaving silence to settle in the garden. Even though herpanion had vanished, the Emperor did not immediately leave. She stood there for a while with an inexplicable expression, then slowly moved to sit against a tree on one side of the garden. Her golden eyes reflected the ruined pce. The pce where she had stayed since her princess days. The memory of that time pierced her like fragments. ¡°Living alone in such arge pce. Isn¡¯t it lonely?¡± It was during vacation. As soon as they became friends, she invited him to the pce. Looking back, it was somewhat amusing. Perhaps she wanted to boast about her background to a friend she had finally made. She hoped that her aristocratic status would, as usual, be a lubricant for their rtionship. ¡°Staying alone in a ce like this makes you look like that.¡± She hadn¡¯t expected such a reaction. Experiencing a past that felt so distant, Euphemia took a deep breath. ¡°An extraordinary fellow.¡± After that, he stayed for three days. Pretending to practice swordsmanship, he even cut down all the trees in the garden. Thump! Euphemia reached out her frozen hands and swept the rough underside of the tree she was sitting on. Once. Twice. The pce was as quiet as it was then. In the profound silence, the Emperor whispered softly. ¡°¡­An extraordinary fellow.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 22 Chapter 22 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The temporary training ground that Yussi had newly prepared. For the past few days, I¡¯ve been diligently reviewing the previous lecture here. It was worthwhile to push the kids to their limits. There were many advantages to develop and many shorings to address. It took quite some time just to organize the feedback. ¡°It¡¯s not something that can be achieved just by scribbling with a pen.¡± The growth of the kids, the candidates for future Hero, was one of the main reasons I came to Rosenstark. I even researched their martial skills separately to provide more valuable feedback. The various martial arts spread across the training ground were evidence of that effort. ¡°It¡¯s a more challenging profession than I thought.¡± A professor of Rosenstark. It was a position that everyone desired. With honor, money, and the satisfaction of simultaneously gaining respect, without standing on the dangerous battlefield, responsible for educating talented individuals who would take on the future of humanity. However, as the benefits were tremendous, so were the demands. Professors had to undergo a rigorous appointment process, and even after that, they had to endure constant evaluation. The evaluation Yussi mentionedst time was a representative example. ¡°At the end of each quarter, professors in the bottom 30% of ratings undergo individual assessments. If they continue to rank in the lower tier consecutively, they will be dismissed.¡± Conversely, professors who scored high were rewarded with expanded support funds, among other things. It was a system that could be somewhat disadvantageous for me. With high expectations, the scrutiny would be intense, and to meet those standards, I had to deliver lectures at a higher level. Of course, even if I received low ratings, Yussi wouldn¡¯t dismiss me. However, as the Hero by name, low ratings could lead to unnecessary suspicion. It might provide some ammunition for certain senior professors who hold me high in high regard. [PR/N: Senior professors who have taught the Hero before do respect him as the Hero, knight, a warrior but they doubt his capabilities as a professor.] To avoid that, I had to create lectures that were both interesting and informative. ¡°¡­It would be nice to hear the students¡¯ opinions.¡± Just checking the connectors discreetly wasn¡¯t enough. I didn¡¯t have enough time to infiltrate among the students through polymorph either. During the interview or before the start of sses, I could have used my resourcefulness, but now it was impossible. ¡°I could use a helping hand.¡± With that thought in mind, I tidied up the training ground. Despite that, the lecture was sessful, and I felt somewhat relieved. My overall understanding of the students¡¯ abilities had increased significantly. During the process, there were some modest additional earnings. ¨‹ [Activating ¡®Iris of Lace¡¯] [Implementing ¡®Gerald Bryce¡¯ as an ¡®Avatar¡¯] Avatar creation in progress¡­ Evaluating thebat power andpleteness of the Avatar¡­ ¡ø After sparring with Gerald, newments about him were added to the Iris of Lace. Implementing Gerald as a training Avatar became possible. Gerald was undoubtedly an outstanding spearman. Virtual sparring with him not only enhanced the understanding of spear techniques but also greatly helped in honing my own skills. It was a bit disappointing that implementing Avatars for other students was still impossible. ¨‹ [Unable to implement ¡®Leciel Hiyashin¡¯ as an ¡®Avatar¡¯] More information is needed. [Unable to implement ¡®Cuculli Evans¡¯ as an ¡®Avatar¡¯] More information is needed. [Unable to implement ¡®Ban Dietrich¡¯¡­] ¡­ ¡ø It seemed that simply observing the training wasn¡¯t enough to gather the necessary information for Avatar implementation. ¡°I guess I should spar with the kids in rotation.¡± ¡­ Especially Leciel. Her sword shed in my mind again. In fact, half of the time spent in the training ground could be considered as recalling that sword. Leciel was truly gifted. It might sound clich¨¦, but there was no other way to describe it. Like breathing and walking since humans are born, swordsmanship seemed to be an instinctive realm for her. ¡°She exceeded my expectations for sure.¡± Other promising students who received ¡®high praise¡¯ from the Iris of Lace were equally impressive. Cuculli fought with a unique savagery based on her wild instincts. Luke, with rich practical experience and talent, was also remarkable. Except for one, all were satisfying. I recalled the face of a boy who acted timidly to the point that it belied his strong skills. ¡°Ban, the eldest son of the Dietrich family.¡± Certainly, his skills were excellent. However, the way he umted those skills was quite puzzling. He habitually retreated at the crucial moment when he shouldnd a decisive blow. Excessive tension and anxiety transmitted even to me as an observer. ¡°Is he inherently fragile?¡± It was aplete contrast to his father, who had faced countless battlefields with warriors. ¡°I¡¯ll have to keep a close eye on him.¡± With these thoughts in mind, I was leaving the training ground, holding the exit door handle when a strange sensation crept over me. ¡°¡­?¡± The moonlight gently illuminating the shaking grass, the faint hum of insects, and the cool breeze carryingst year¡¯s fallen leaves¡ªeverything in the surroundings seemed normal. ¡°But¡­?¡± As I held the exit door, I slowly rolled my eyes. ¡°The atmosphere is strange.¡± A cold wind sent shivers down my spine. ¡°Is someone there?¡± A mysterious energy flowed through the air. There was no mistaking it. Since taking Awaken and activating the Hero¡¯s Essence to withstand potential threats, I had been living with the Hero¡¯s Essence active, especially when anticipating any pseudo-sightings. Even at thiste hour, as I was about to return alone to my lodging, this heightened state remained and I hadn¡¯t let my guard down. Between heightened senses, a faint presence registered. I turned my head slowly toward the direction of the sensed presence. ¡°¡­!¡± In the darkness, someone was ring at me. The moonlight revealed the outlines of the observer. * * * ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª In a brief moment of vignce, I refrained from immediately rushing in and striking the individual¡¯s forehead with the sword. It was a cautious stance. I slowly observed the approaching figure. Though I could see her with my eyes, her presence was entirely imperceptible. It was an incredibly discreet stealth technique, almost unbelievably elusive. The hazy silhouette soon sharpened as if it were about to be grasped in my hand. ¡°It¡¯s you.¡± The clouds obscuring the moon dispersed with a timely gust of wind. Beneath the pale moonlight, the girl¡¯s petite face was revealed. The features, shadowed deeply, resembled a wax doll. ¨‹ Would you like to retrieve information about the recorded character ¡®Nyhill¡¯? ¡ø ¡­Nyhill. An exceptional student. During the interview, amoner girl received a favorable evaluation from the Iris of Lace. Her main weapons were a longsword and a buckler. Various pieces of information about her flooded my mind at once. I stood a certain distance away, gazing at her with lowered eyes. ¡®This is astonishing.¡¯ The first time I saw her, it felt strange. Mostmoners entering Rosenstark Academy were either from middle-tier academies or other educational institutions, individuals who had already showcased their talents. ¡®But Nyhill didn¡¯t belong to any of those categories.¡¯ While talented individuals from the outskirts asionally knocked on Rosenstark¡¯s door, at that time, I didn¡¯t think much about it and simply overlooked her. ¡®At the time, she seemed too ordinary, without any outstanding features.¡¯ But now, things are different. ¡®Too ordinary, without any outstanding features.¡¯ But now, looking at this intruder staring at me with emotionless eyes, how many could recall that ordinary girl from back then? The face was the same, but the aura exuded was entirely different. ¡­Perhaps this is her true self. ¡°Nyhill.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Nyhill replied, standing before me. The ck attire, enveloping her petite figure, seemed to have been worn since the day she was born. ¡®I n to dispatch assistance for you, but since they need to infiltrate perfectly, it might take some time.¡¯ Recalling the conversation I had with the Emperor at the beginning of the semester, I spoke. ¡°So, you were an agent of the Imperial Family.¡± As if affirming, Nyhill slowly bowed her head. Her jet-ck hair flowed down her pale and dry cheek as if it had been there since birth. ¡°I will greet you. I am the third ghost of the Secret Department.¡± Ghost. I¡¯ve heard that term before. Loyal secret agents who greatly contributed to the ascension and maintenance of the current Emperor, Euphemia Cecilia. ¡®Their known exploits are so inhuman and terrifying that they are problematic.¡¯ Nyhill¡¯s ck eyes turned towards me again. ¡°Then, following the manual, I will first exin my capabilities.¡± Like a cksmith exining the weapons on a stand, the girl began to describe her ¡®capabilities.¡¯ Stealth, disguise, throwing, swordsmanship, and even basic magic. Nyhill imed to possess most of these at an advanced level. It was an expected part since these were abilitiesmonly required of agents. However, her final words made me doubt my ears. ¡°And I have an ability called ¡°Puppetry.¡± ¡°An ability? You have a supernatural ability?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± Nyhill cautiously suggested, ¡°I currently have a few puppets in operation. Would you like to see them?¡± ¡ª Puppetry, a superpower awakened only by an extremely small number of humans. Those with this ability gain extraordinary powers that cannot be obtained through training. Little is known about Puppetry, except for the spection that its capabilities are rted to the owner¡¯s desires. In a way, it resembled a kind of guardian spirit with simr characteristics. For example, the current Emperor survived a gruesome war thanks to the Puppetry called ¡®Ultimate Physique.¡¯ ¡®To think that a mere agent possesses such power¡­.¡¯ She briefly exined her Puppetry, and it could be summarized as follows: First, it is indistinguishable from a human at first nce. Second, it autonomously judges and acts ording to the rules set by the owner. Third, it conveys all seen and heard information faithfully to the owner. It was an incredibly convenient ability, almost too good to be true, but the term ¡®Puppetry¡¯ made it somewhat believable. ¡°I¡¯ve encountered people with abilities three times now, counting this one.¡± Following Euphemia, the face of a man came to mind. I shook my head immediately. Fortunately, I wouldn¡¯t have business with that particr individual for a while. Clunk, clunk! The carriage passed by the stop in front of the professor¡¯s quarters. Despite thete hour, there were few people around. Guards were patrolling, and duty maids were bustling about for various errands. In the midst of it all, someone unexpected was present. ¡®¡­Kasim?¡¯ There was no mistaking it. A tall figure with radiant blond hair, even in the darkness. The sociable voice that permeated through the carriage window was not of amon kind. ¡®Are you busy this weekend?¡¯ It was directed at a walking maid. ¡®¡­Working diligently, I see.¡¯ Politely, I was about to turn my head when the unexpected happened. ¡°My apologies. It¡¯s my doll.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The maid in front of Professor Kasim Pierre.¡± That¡¯s what Nyhill said. Surprised, I turned my gaze back out the window. ¡®Hmm, it seems I need to check my schedule.¡¯ Well-maintained ck hair. Elegantly folded eyelids and sparkling lips. A well-groomed voice. A person, and an exceptionally beautiful one at that. ¡°Is that maid supposed to be a doll?¡¯¡± I skeptically asked, and Nyhill flicked her fingers without saying a word. Then, the maid did something that a properlyposed maid would never do in front of a professor. Thud! A brief scream echoed from outside. It was Kasim¡¯s. ¡®Wh-why the sudden confession?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m sorry! Your forehead looked so pretty that I couldn¡¯t resist. Oh, what should I do to make amends for this?¡¯ ¡®Haha, I¡¯ll ept Sta¡¯s weekend dinner aspensation.¡¯ It was truly a pathetic conversation. After staring at me for a moment, Nyhill spoke. ¡®Doll 1, Sta, the new maid in the professor¡¯s building.¡¯ The carriage sped up, distancing Sta and Kasim. Theirughter echoed, loud and joyous. I realized why Nyhill showed the dolls without detailed exnations. No matter how well she described them, conveying their incredible vitality would be challenging. ¡®This is the ability I need right now.¡¯ A long-term piece that can prate human society without causing difort. For me, who is short-handed, it was the best move I could make. ¡±Shall we go see the next doll?¡¯ I nodded. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 23 Chapter 23 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The second doll was an employee at the garbage incineration facility. A servant tasked with collecting and disposing of the garbage umted in guest lodgings, faculty residences, dormitories, and the like. As the carriage passed near the garbage dump, Nyhill pointed to the silhouette that was moving the mountain-like heaps of trash. ¡°The custodian of the garbage dump, Sergei.¡± There was no need to ask why it was a garbage dump. Nyhill momentarily lost in thought, continued, ¡°Professor Labin Hawk seems to have a strong preference for walnut pastries. ording to the receipts, he¡¯s been buying walnut pastries from the same bakery for several weeks.¡± ¡°I found a torn receipt in Professor Ryse Parun¡¯s room¡¯s trash bin. Upon recovery, it turned out to be from a suspiciously named bar. ¡®Happy Hour¡¯¡­? A name that doesn¡¯t suit a married person.¡± Despite appearances, this was not just a garbage dump but a ce for gathering information. Bypiling the information obtained here, one could learn the secrets of the Rosenstark people¡ªwhat they liked, where and when they went, and even their weaknesses. ¡°It¡¯s not an easy job for a human to do.¡± Working around the clock, digging through smelly piles of garbage for small clues would be too harsh for a human. Nevertheless, with these pieces of informationing together, understanding the personnel within Rosenstark and obtaining clues about potential traitors would be easier. ¡°The next doll is disguised as a vige merchant near the academy¡­.¡± ¡°We probably won¡¯t have time to look into that friend. I¡¯ve already understood enough about Sea and Sergei regarding your wishes.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The carriage stopped in a secluded area, and I listened to the rest of the exnation. ¡°There are a total of four dolls, right?¡± ¡°Yes, if I may exin them in order¡­.¡± A rookie maid working in the faculty building. A cleaner at the incineration facility. A merchant settled in a nearby vige. Finally, a doll with the same appearance as the ¡®main body.¡¯ Since four was Nyhill¡¯s limit, they were initially ced in crucial locations deemed necessary. ¡°If you want to change their cements, please let me know. It may take some time as we need the cooperation from higher-ups, but we will create new identities and infiltrate them.¡± ¡°Got it. What about theirbat abilities?¡± ¡°Except for the doll made to resemble me, they have none.¡± Afterward, additional features, such as being able to directly control the doll when she fell into a sleep state, were introduced. Nyhill looked at me with eyes that sparkled like ss beads. ¡°We may look like humans, but we are tools without human hearts. Please use us as you see fit.¡± ¡°¡­All right.¡± I nodded. Given the shortage of manpower, it would be good to take some time to think of useful applications of these dolls. * * * A few dayster. Boom! The sound of explosions echoed over the training ground, which has now be a noisy corner of the academy. A ck-haired girl was crouched down. At a nce, it seemed like she was resting peacefully. However, that was not the case as her ck eyes were relentlessly following her peers who were fully focused on their training. ¡°¡­.¡± Ghost No. 3¡­ no, it was Nyhill. The training ground was bustling with a considerable number of students. However, none of them showed any interest in her. Jet-ck hair, gloomy eyes. Average height and physique. Ordinary clothing. Disguised as amoner for better concealment. Her presence was inevitably faint. Thanks to these conditions, she could easily carry out her missions in the blind spots of attention. The three main tasks of the spy were as follows: ¡®Firstly, observation and protection.¡¯ The main targets were children and the ¡®Extreme¡¯ instructor, Pia Joyce. ¡°While I might be the main target for traitors, with the Demon King in power and the traitors being cautious, it doesn¡¯t seem like I would be the first one they target recklessly.¡± Promising children. Teachers conducting important research. Even if they were not Heroes, there were many potential targets, and she seemed to be concerned about that. ¡°Secondly, if the children mention anything about ¡®lectures,¡¯ report it to me. If there are any lectures they think would be good or bad, or any details about such lectures, it would be helpful to understand the children¡¯s wants so I can teach them efficiently.¡± This could be seen as an extension of the first mission. Observing the children closely would naturally reveal information. Even now, there were children in front of her talking about the Extremes. ¡°How¡¯s your ss? I feel a bit overwhelmed.¡± ¡°Talking about intensity? Stop it. I fell off the bed because of muscle pain.¡± ¡°But how long are we going to stick to the basics?¡± Nyhill remembered their words. Upon returning to the dormitory, she nned to create a report. ¡°Lastly, gather as much information as possible about the founder of Rosenstark, Zero. Whether it¡¯s rumors or facts, even absurd content is fine, gather everything.¡± Although this mission had an inexplicable reason, Nyhill nodded silently. Sangmyeong Habok. When the superiormands, the subordinate obeys. In this process, noint is tolerated. Nyhill learned and practiced it that way. ¡°Please.¡± However, it was inevitable that she felt a bit strange when she heard that unfamiliar word. Swish! Nyhill doodled on the dirt floor with the tip of her shoe, recalling the face of the Hero who spoke those words. ¡°¡­.¡± Of course, whether the superior¡¯s demeanor was gentle or harsh had no impact on thepleteness of the mission. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Nyhill turned her gaze back to the bustling center of the training ground. There, her peers were tirelessly training, sweating profusely in their efforts. Rosenstark¡¯s new students experienced their busiest time during the year they enrolled, with a barrage of major academic events. Various small exams, party arenas, Unirpetitions, academic exchange fairs, and more¡ªall of these academy events were conducted rigorously through peer evaluation. The reason for their diligence was clear. For those who had been considered the most outstanding talent within their groups throughout their lives,petition with their peers was something that should never be overlooked. ¡°Competitiveness, the desire to win.¡± What would it feel like to live with such emotions? Nyhill quietly recorded the bustling training ground using a miniature video recording device. * * * Kasim manipted the buttons on the connector. [Anonymous Bulletin Board] [Operatedpletely anonymously in the name of the Chief Developer, Yussi Glendor.] [Feel free to share the ins and outs of academy life without worries.] Chrrr! The list of posts appeared. As usual, there were many users today. The number of new posts exceeded dozens, and it was increasing in real-time. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± Kasim quickly found the type of post he was looking for. ¨C By the way, how¡¯s the Extreme ss? Even though they ept it, you can¡¯t get in. I¡¯m a fourth-year, old-timer, but curious¡­ How is it? ©¸ Still just grinding the basics. The lectures are mainly focused on that, so it feels a bit boring. ©¸ ¡®Just grinding,¡¯ ¡®a bit boring¡¯? Are they really Extreme ss students? ©¸ Yeah, they are. Envying them? ¨C Still just working on the basics, that¡¯s true. Still, the lectures are good. If you¡¯re curious about something strange or want to learn more, they tell you right away. ©¸ This one seems fake too. They¡¯re elite with around thirty members from the start; do you think they¡¯re wasting time here at this hour? ¡°Hmm, the reaction is more than I expected¡­.¡± Kasim scrolled down the screen further. ¨C Seems like the lectures aren¡¯t that great. I made the right decision not to apply. ¨C It¡¯s not bad, justcking in originality. ©¸ That¡¯s pretty bad. Why bother taking sses if they¡¯re just going to focus on the basics? ©¸ That grape is a new grape~ ©¸ Yeah, whyin about theck of originality after only a few lectures? ©¸ It¡¯s because the expectations were high. There were simr posts below, continuing the heated arguments. One caught Kasim¡¯s attention, causing a slight grimace. ¨C I said it, didn¡¯t I? No matter how strong the power of the Hero is, it has nothing to do with catching the attention of the students. ©¸ Professor, what are you doing here? ¨C Deleted post. Kasim chuckled, tapping the screen. ¡°Hmm¡­.¡± Kasim took his fatigued eyes away from the connector. His gaze shifted to someone quietly focused on work, seemingly unrted to all themotion. ¡°You know, Professor Redymer. For a while, don¡¯t look at the connector¡­.¡± ¡°I already saw it.¡± ¡°What?¡± Kasim¡¯s eyes widened slightly, scrutinizing the Hero¡¯s expression. Despite the negative opinions, there was no hint of hesitation on his face. ¡°Well, this is not just something that can be ignored. If public opinion goes south, it¡¯ll be a headache.¡± In fact, for Kasim, it was a situation he had feared. A genius finds it challenging to be a distinguished professor. He agreed with this proposition to some extent. There had been a few cases where Heroes, already famous before bing professors, came to the academy and struggled to take control of the sses. Some failed as professors, while others seeded, but all had difficulty in adapting. Difference in perspective. No matter how talented the students were, they seemed dull in the eyes of geniuses. ¡®Darn it, I can¡¯t understand why they can¡¯t do such a simple thing.¡¯ ¡®How am I supposed to exin it more simply here!¡¯ It was likely that such a situation would unfold as Kasim imagined. The Hero consecutively teaching only basic skills might be due to that reason¡ªstill trying to understand the students. ¡®As the ratings and public opinion worsen, only the senior professors seem to be having fun.¡¯ The rtively high ratings for the Hero¡¯s lectures were gradually decreasing. If it continued like this, the Hero¡¯s position would naturally narrow. ¡®Did I make a mistake?¡¯ As Kasim¡¯s contemtion deepened, a voice interrupted. ¡°By the way, what are you doing in my researchb at thiste hour?¡± ¡°Haha¡­ I¡¯m just a helper for Professor Redymer to have a smooth life at Rosenstark. I¡¯m doing my original duties.¡± ¡°Your original duty is to be a professor.¡± Tuck! Before Kasim could finish speaking, something flew towards him. It was a thick book. Reflexively catching it, Kasim squinted his eyes. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Lecture material for tomorrow.¡± Whether freshly printed or not, it had a stiff texture and smelled of paper. ¡°Read it. It¡¯ll ease the helper¡¯s mind a bit.¡± Swoosh! Kasim flipped through the pages. ¡°Huh?¡± The expression that had been skeptical gradually turned into astonishment. The content written in the book was something he had never imagined. What was even more surprising was that it exined thepletely new theory he had never seen before in a way that could be easily understood. For students, it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult to grasp. ¡°Huh, huh.¡± Kasim was dumbfounded by the absurdity. He had seen many professors here, but there was no one like the Hero. Isn¡¯t it so? What kind of professorpiles apletely new concept that doesn¡¯t even exist in academia into a book for a lecture? It was a theory of such a high level that it could be presented at the end-of-year private research presentation. ¡®The experiences that the Hero went through on the front lines are fully integrated.¡¯ As a professor, Kasim looked at the Hero with admiration and respect. The theory was at such a level that he could confidently present it at an end-of-year personal research presentation. The worries on Kasim¡¯s face disappearedpletely as he scanned through the early part. He looked at the Hero with confidence and eximed, ¡°Well then, Professor Redymer! Have a good night!''¡± Exiting theb, Kasim smiled to himself. He wasn¡¯t worried about the Hero anymore. ¡°Hehe.¡± With the thought of public opinion turning 180 degrees and the senior professors taking a hit, Kasim¡¯s steps felt light. Early the next morning, an announcement appeared on the Extreme notice board. ¡°4th Lecture Title: Monster Anatomy.¡± The title was enough to make the readers raise their eyebrows in intrigue. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 24 Chapter 24 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Unlike other lectures, ¡®Extreme¡¯ did not provide detailed lesson ns in the announcements. At most, only the location of the lecture was mentioned. Consequently, the students couldn¡¯t guess what they would learn today until the lecture began. In the past few sses, they had focused solely on building their fundamentals, so they expected the same this time. But¡­ Question marks appeared on the faces of the students. ¡°Is it something different today?¡± ¡°It¡¯s strange that it¡¯s a ssroom, not the training ground.¡± ¡°Today, we will learn about anatomy,¡± said the Hero. Anatomy. In reality, it wasn¡¯t an unfamiliar subject. It was a discipline that healers, often referred to as partners of martial artists, must learn. As the First Era came to a close, Gods disappeared, and humanity lost the divine power that protected them. As a result, the treatment and emergency care of the wounded relied entirely on surgical procedures. Of course, potions were used too. In the case of ordinary patients, they often refrained from using them due to their high cost. Therefore, not only healers but also martial artists mostly familiarized themselves with basic anatomy. However, what the Hero disyed on the hologram was not the anatomy of a human. The children tilted their heads as they looked at bizarre cross-sections of bones and muscles. ¡°From today, you will be experts in ¡®Monster Anatomy.¡¯ Be prepared for relevant exams and practical exercises each quarter.¡± The expressions of the students became peculiar. Monster Anatomy? Why would we need that? ¡°We¡¯re not going to treat monsters, so why is Monster Anatomy necessary?¡± The Hero¡¯s lips twisted. ¡°¡­I sincerely hope you¡¯re not harboring such foolish thoughts.¡± Ignoring the children¡¯s puzzled faces, the exnation continued. ¡°Anatomy is not only used for healing. Does anyone want to exin why the study of Monster Anatomy is necessary for you?¡± The children collectively avoided eye contact. Surprisingly, one hand went up immediately. The Hero remained silent for a moment, then nodded decisively. ¡°Yes, Cuculli Evans.¡± ¡°On the battlefield, it¡¯s challenging to find food! If you learn Monster Anatomy, you can butcher their meat more easily!¡± Cuculli confidently concluded his statement. Some children looked at her with expressions that seemed to question the authenticity of her im. The Hero sighed and looked at Cuculli. The horns on Cuculli¡¯s head wiggled proudly. ¡°Wrong. The blood and flesh of monsters are contaminated with toxins, making them inedible. Not only do they taste awful, but they can also be the cause of various diseases.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯ve eaten it back in my hometown!¡± ¡°You¡¯re a dragon, right? Your internal organs function much better than humans, so you¡¯re probably fine.¡± ¡°Hehe, I see.¡± To think someone would consider eating that again even after trying it once is impressive. The Hero continued, swallowing the afterthoughts. ¡°Anybody else willing to answer the question?¡± Since no one raised their hand, the Hero had to choose someone. To save time, he pointed to someone who seemed likely to provide the correct answer. ¡°Ban Dietrich.¡± ¡°Ye-Yes!¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Therge boy suddenly looked as if he were taken aback by the sudden attention. With a face buried in his massive shoulders, he spoke. ¡°Well¡­ I think it might be for efficient attacks. If you are knowledgeable about the anatomical structure and functions, it could be easier to inflict fatal injuries.¡± As he finished speaking, the Hero nodded slowly toward Ban in approval. It seemed that Nyhill¡¯s report about Ban spending a considerable amount of time in the library was not inurate. ¡°Correct. One extra point for you.¡± ¡°Th-thank you.¡± The excited exmations of the children had barely subsided when the Hero descended from the podium. His destination was the front row. ¡°Higek!¡± [Fatal injury possible!] In parentheses, underlined. Evergreen, who had been diligently taking notes on the Hero¡¯s words, was startled, dropping her pen. ¡°Can I borrow it?¡± ¡°Huh? What, what do you need?¡± The Hero¡¯s hand pointed at the quiver filled with tightly packed arrows. ¡°Oh, yes! Please, use them all!¡± With everyone¡¯s gaze concentrated, he, as if trying to assess the bnce between the shaft and the tip, rolled the arrow on the palm of his hand and recited, ¡°Even with just a small arrowhead prating the body, a person is incapacitated in a matter of seconds, short or infinitely long.¡± The Hero¡¯s movements were swift and precise. The children swallowed their saliva, watching the sharp tip glide across the skin. ¡°So, with your level of skill, you don¡¯t necessarily need anatomical knowledge to kill a human with a cold weapon. Whether the tip catches a rib or grazes an artery, you can still kill your opponent. It¡¯s a matter of efficiency.¡± Slow andposed. A voice that stimted the imagination of the listeners echoed in the ssroom. The children swallowed hard. ¡°But they are different.¡± It was at that moment that the assistant activated the mechanical device inside the ssroom. Chreeeeek! The wall behind the podium slowly opened from left to right. The strange odor that had been lingering in the ssroom intensified, and soon the screams of the children echoed. ¡°Wh-what is that?¡± Behind the wall. There were numerous stuffed monsters hanging there. Twisted wings and torso. Pale skin with veins visible. Spiral horns and bent ws. Even in their lifeless state, the eerie forms overwhelmed the children. With an arrow in hand, the Hero walked towards one of the monsters. In the silent ssroom, only the sound of his footsteps reverberated. ¡°Their bones, skin, muscles, tendons, and blood vessels are thick. Strong and tough¡­ above all,plex.¡± There was no warning. As soon as the Hero finished speaking, he swung the arrow in his hand towards the abdomen of the frontmost monster. The children took a deep breath, preparing for the gruesome scene that would unfold. Thud! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª However, the arrow, expected to prate deeply, only reverberated near the creature¡¯s tough outeryer. Thud! The sound of bones scratching echoed once again, surprising all of them. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡­It was a position where you could never expect bones to be. No creature would have bones in the middle of the abdomen. The Hero calmly continued speaking, ¡°This is why you need to be experts in Monster Anatomy.¡± The children understood instantly. ¡ª The reason the bodies of monsters distinctly differed from other creatures was the presence of a body organ called the ¡®core.¡¯ Core. An organ that absorbs mana from the atmosphere and converts it into magic. These creatures received magic by just breathing, leading to endless mutations. The anatomical structure of monsters was fundamentally different from that of natural fauna. ¡°Because they are entities that directly defy the order of nature.¡± I continued speaking to the frozen children. ¡°When fighting monsters, the opportunity cost of an attack is much higher than in humanbat.¡± They don¡¯t flinch just because their skin gets scratched like humans do. If an attack that consumes an opportunity doesn¡¯t result in a valid hit¡­ The oue was almost predetermined. ¡°A weapon is not just what you hold in your hands. If you learn Monster Anatomy properly, at least you won¡¯t die foolishly staring at a less effective weapon. Understand?¡± That is the importance of theory. The children nodded silently. Now that motivation seemed to have been somewhat achieved¡­ ¡°Pia, distribute the textbooks.¡± Thud! The expressions of the children looking at the books on the desk changed, not much different from when they first saw the monsters. ¡ºComprehensive Study of Monster Anatomy¡» ¨C Author: Ted Redymer It was a textbook I synthesized from the information collected in the Iris of Lace and existing research data from theboratory. It was a thick book, characteristic of most legal texts. ¡°At precisely 2 PM, we¡¯ll have a test on Chapter 1. After a brief written test, we¡¯ll proceed with the practical session, so be prepared.¡± The children hurriedly opened the book, and soon their faces turned as if they were about to vomit at theplex diagrams that awaited them. ¡°For lower-level monsters, the post-mutation symptoms are simr, making it easy to memorize. See you in four hours.¡± Ignoring the students who questioned the logic with various gestures, I smoothly exited the ssroom. Pia muttered to herself with a sense of resignation, ¡°They¡¯ll adapt well once they go to graduate school.¡± ¡ª Squish! Squish! Leciel lifted her head and looked at the ssroom¡¯s scene. The only sounds were the rustling of pens and sighs. Her ssmates were practically burying their noses in the books, vigorously taking notes. Leciel tried to refocus her gaze on the book again. It was an attempt she had made countless times. ¡ºThe hind legs of the lower-level monster ¡®Kaborg¡¯ are abnormally developed. Based on the femur simr to that of amphibians, 16 bones are arranged¡­¡» Strictly speaking, the ¡®Comprehensive Study of Monster Anatomy¡¯ wasn¡¯t a book with a particrly high reading difficulty. Unlike other academic books, itcked borate exnations, and the attached materials were intuitive. ¡­But Leciel was experiencing significant difficulty. ¡®Why can¡¯t I concentrate?¡¯ Her grandmother used to say something like this in the past. ¡°Theory? That¡¯s something needed only by people without talent. Leciel, it won¡¯t be of any use to you.¡± The theories created by ordinary people were useless to geniuses. It wasn¡¯t entirely untrue. ¡®Theories created by ordinary people are useless to geniuses. That¡¯s not entirely wrong.¡¯ Inparison to her talents and intuition, those theories were consistently inefficient. Under her grandmother¡¯s educational philosophy, Leciel was living a life far from studying¡ª body-on collision, learning, breaking through limits, the ways of a martial artist. Naturally, she expected the Extreme Lecture to be conducted in a simr manner. Didn¡¯t even the orientation give off that vibe? Yet, now she unexpectedly faced this obstacle. ¡®¡­I should¡¯ve tried studying.¡¯ Both the densely packed book and the situation requiring her to study for the exam felt unfamiliar. But more than anything, what felt strange was the emotion gradually surfacing in her heart. It was impatience. ¡®¡­This is annoying.¡¯ Whenever she saw her ssmates flipping through the pages of their books, she felt a sense of falling behind for the first time in her life. Impatience intensified. Despite staring at the book, the content didn¡¯t register in her mind. It was a vicious cycle. ¡­If this continued, she would mess up both the exam and the practical session. ¡®Grades should be fine, but¡­¡¯ She really didn¡¯t want to leave acking impression on the Hero. Leciel bit her lip so hard that blood oozed out. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°What?¡± Her colder-than-usual response to the boy who approached her was inevitable under the circumstances. Surprised by the unexpected harshness in her voice, even she was taken aback. But it was toote to correct it. ¡°Uh, well, I¡­.¡± ¡­Ban Dietrich. The boy who hadn¡¯t properly uttered words before was hesitatingly looking at her. ¡°H-Here.¡± ¡°Ugh, why do you care so much!¡± ¡°Just because you seem incredibly frustrated.¡± Ban discreetly offered his notes and textbooks to her. ¡°If it¡¯s okay with you, would you like to take a look?¡± Surprised by his act of unexpected kindness, Leciel looked at Ban¡¯s notes. Neatly organized, it was apparent that he had a strong foundation in his studies. Leciel¡¯s eyes trembled slightly. ¡®He already used all of this?¡¯ Recalling Ban¡¯s consistent habit of carrying books wherever he went, whether in the dormitory or on the battlefield, Leciel hesitated before perusing the content. ¡°¡­¡± It was truly perfect note-taking. Categorizing monster types based on simr mutation oues, highlightingmonalities and differences within categories, and even color-codingplicated anatomical details. ¡°Uh¡­¡± While she was curious about the reason behind his kindness, there was no time to ask. With only half the time left until 2 PM, the start of the exam, Leciel tentatively grabbed the edge of his notebook. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. I¡¯ll borrow it for a moment.¡± Someone behind them urgently whispered at that moment. ¡°Me too!¡± Suddenly, Cuculli slid in between Leciel and Ban. In her hands, she held a ¡®Monster Anatomy Comprehensive Theory ¨C Dragon Species Trantion,¡¯ looking just as pristine as the others. ¡°Sigh, even someone who has tasted how monster meat tastes, needs to study. Give it up, give it up! Show me your notes!¡± ¡°Yeah, go ahead and take a look.¡± ¡°This favor will be repaid, Ban!¡± With her fangs revealed in a grin, Cuculli nced at Leciel. ¡°By the way, Leciel, you¡¯ve also been building up your studies. No wonder, it seemed like you would.¡± ¡°¡­¡± It was a strange sense of relief to have arade even if being tied together was ufortable. With a mildly irritated sigh, Leciel raised her hips and gave up her seat. It was two hours before the start of the exam. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 25 Chapter 25 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡­Going back a bit in time to the orientation day. Facing a group of anxious students, the Hero had said something like this: ¡°I hope you don¡¯t actcent just because you¡¯ve be Extreme Students.¡± ¡°The Extreme Course is designed to cultivate the vanguard of humanity. If you show any signs of inadequacy, immediate deductions will be applied¡­¡± These words, like a thunderbolt, struck the already tense students. ¡°umte deductions, and you¡¯ll be expelled.¡± ¡°So give your best at every moment without regrets.¡± The atmosphere, once chaotic, changed with the mention of expulsion. How proud they had been to be the disciples of the Hero throughout the neighbourhood? Expulsion was an unthinkable fate for these students. Of course, the Hero didn¡¯t only wield the whip. ¡°On the contrary, for students who earnestly engage in the ss and achieve meaningful results, bonus points will be given.¡± The Hero¡¯s dangling carrot in front of the students was truly tempting. The cumtive bonus points would bring them significant benefits: Private tutoring, artifact gifts, experiential learning, and more. Indeed, these were tremendous privileges. ¡­Anyway, after such statements, the first evaluation took ce. The students tackled the exam with all their might. ¡°If you fail the written exam, you¡¯re excluded from the practical session.¡± ¡°If you fall behind already, what¡¯s the point!¡± And so, the limited time came to an end. ¡°As for the sessful candidates¡­¡± Out of the total thirty-one students, only thirteen passed. It was a moment of mixed emotions. Ban, confirming his name on the list, let out a relieved sigh, while Leciel clenched her fist under the desk. Unfortunately, Cuculli didn¡¯t make it. ¡°No, no! We studied together! Why only me!¡± Watching Cuculli, tearing at her hair with a face full of injustice, Leciel thought, ¡®I seem to have a talent for studying.¡¯ It seemed quite certain when looking at that fool. ¡°The rest will go through a retest and proceed to the practical sessionter. For now, observe what the sessful candidates do.¡± As the Hero finished speaking and gestured, mechanical devices activated, revealing the preserved specimens once again. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± At that moment, Leciel realized that the preserved specimens weren¡¯t just hanging for disy. Sturdy steel wires were tightly connected to the joints of the specimens, much like puppet strings used in puppet shows. WIll those things move as if they were alive? She wondered. ¡°Pia.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m ready.¡± Wooooong! A much louder mechanical sound resonated as the wires swayed once. The preserved specimens twitched. The students were momentarily frozen. It was quite a grotesque sight. ¡°To practice dissection on still-living creatures, you are inadequate.¡± The Hero walked towards one of the specimens as before. However, what he held in his hand was not an arrow but a sword. ¡°Therefore, today¡¯s practical session will proceed in this manner.¡± ¡­ The Hero demonstrated directly. The students focused their attention squarely, forgetting to breathe. Leciel was no exception. Kugugugu! It was as Leciel had expected. When the ceiling mechanism started working, the preserved specimen that had been hanging still quickly moved and attacked the Hero. Applying anatomical theory to a stationary specimen is easy. But these specimens were special devices modified overnight by Pia to move ording toplex patterns. Their movements were much more vivid than expected. Kyaak! The students let out short screams, anticipating the splendid swordsmanship the Hero would disy. Srrung! He started moving just as the preserved specimen approached him. The sword was drawn. ¡°Huh?¡± However, the anticipated admiration didn¡¯te. Instead, a puzzled sound spread first. ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯ The Hero¡¯s swordsmanship was rugged and simple. Thrust and withdraw. He rapidly moved around the swiftly moving specimen, piercing it with the sword using simple steps. That was it. Moreover, he didn¡¯t even raise his mana. Thud! Thud, thud! A strange sense of disappointment filled the silence. Only the mechanical hum echoed in the ssroom. They began to realize something a littleter. Leciel was the first. ¡°Ha!¡± Her red eyes trembled slightly. Starting with her, admiring remarks slowly escaped the students¡¯ lips. ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°No way, is that even possible?¡± Every attack encountered no resistance. The sword effortlessly prated the monster, as if piercing through pudding. There seemed to be some kind of suction force between the monster¡¯s body and the Hero¡¯s sword. ¡®That monster has over 400 bones¡­¡¯ Because they had just struggled with simply studying horrifyinglyplex dissections, their amazement was even greater. Unless one had eyes that could see beyond the physical body, how could they be so precise without a single error? Every strike was effective. All struck vital points and organs. If that monster wasn¡¯t a specimen but a live one, it would have died over 30 times by now. ¡­As different types of specimens began to move towards the Hero one by one, the students were simply left speechless by what came after. The Hero effortlessly ¡®dissected¡¯ over 10 different specimens in an instant. It was like watching the butchering process in a ughterhouse. Cruel. Infinitely indifferent. It was a demonstration that made them wonder what kind of battlefields he had traversed. The students were overwhelmed. ¡°¡­¡± The Hero turned towards them. He had a calm expression. ¡°This is how it¡¯s done.¡± The thin frame of his sses glinted uniquely. * * * The students took turns in the practical session. The Hero, closely observing the process, offered a brief evaluation. ¡°Pierced a total of thirty-three times, fifteen times blocked or missed. In a real battle, you would have died at least three times.¡± The male student who had just finished the practical session, named Lucas Wellington, shook his head. He was the second son of the Wellington Marquis and the boy who had embarrassed himself by approaching Leciel in the waiting room for interviews in the past. ¡®No, why is this so difficult?¡¯ When he saw the Hero¡¯s demonstration, it seemed so easy. But now. Once he actually raised the sword and stood in front of the specimen, his hands and feet got tangled randomly. ¡®Did I see the difficulty wrong?¡¯ Yeah, something is strange. Logically, how could someone memorize thatplex dissection perfectly within four hours? ¡®And the target is ridiculously fast.¡¯ The boy bit his lip tightly, waiting for the Hero¡¯s continued evaluation. ¡°Lucas Wellington. Your score is a C.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­!¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t make sense?¡± ¡°No, sir. I¡¯ll give a better performance next time.¡± Lucas forced a smile, his lips twitching. C. A ¡®C¡¯. The students who had justpleted the practical session received simr scores, but it provided nofort whatsoever. Being on the same level as those losers was disgusting. ¡®Damn it, damn it!¡¯ Returning to his seat with his pride thoroughly wounded, Lucas noticed the next person waiting behind him and paused. ¡®¡­Of course, it¡¯s Leciel.¡¯ Like most male students, Lucas was conscious of Leciel. Especially after being ignored during theirst encounter. ¡®Is she looking this way?¡¯ ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª However, contrary to expectations, Leciel¡¯s gaze merely passed by him. A nce that slid to the side like looking at an inanimate object. A handsome face, tall stature, a well-maintained physique ¨C despite possessing an excellent background, he received harsh treatment from this girl that he had never experienced before. At that moment, Lucas was convinced that she must have forgotten the fact that he had spoken to her in the waiting room. ¡®Damn it¡­.¡¯ Seeing Leciel engage in conversation with the boy behind him, Lucas¡¯s mood became even more unpleasant. ¡°How does the structure of the Kaborg¡¯s left side bones look?¡± ¡°Are you talking about the bone number 8? It spreads out in the shape of a trident. The spacing varies by individual, but it¡¯s roughly about 4 to 6 cm.¡± ¡°Oh, right. Go¡­ on.¡± As Leciel¡¯s words trailed off, Ban yfully tilted his head. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I¡­ passed. Thanks to you.¡± ¡°Good for you. You¡¯ll do well.¡± Lucas, watching their interaction, couldn¡¯t help but snicker. ¡®This timid guy acts all high and mighty.¡¯ Lucas disliked Ban. Although they had known each other since childhood, he had never liked him. Even though their families¡¯ rtions were great, there was just something about Ban that didn¡¯t sit well with him. ¡®For someone with talent and noble blood, he doesn¡¯t know how to use it properly, just a half-baked guy.¡¯ It was Lucas¡¯sprehensive assessment of Ban. He found it irritating that someone like Ban, who walked the path of a warrior just like him and garnered attention in noble society, was receiving more attention than him even though their paths were simr. ¡®Well, he¡¯s taking care of his own downfall.¡¯ Tsk. As Lucas was clicking his tongue, the Hero called Leciel. ¡°Leciel Hiyashin. Step forward.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The buzzing ssroom fell silent. All eyes focused on her. Leciel calmly walked up and stood in front of the Hero. ¡°Monsters are randomly assigned from the seven species. Tell me when you¡¯re ready.¡± She, the prodigy who had stirred up the academy long before enrollment, was now facing the moment of validation. Swoosh! In the tense silence. Leciel¡¯s slender, pale, yet strong hand gripped the sword. The sword of the swordmaster, ¡®Shape Shifter.¡¯ ¡­At that very moment. The students felt a sensation as if the chilling edge of that sword had touched their throats. Half of the ssroom instinctively brought their hands to their necks. ¡°Wow, amazing¡­.¡± ¡°She¡¯s insane.¡± It was different. Something was definitely different. The vague sense of anticipation suddenly became concrete and intensified, pouring towards Leciel. Even though the expectations could be a burden, there was not a single change in her expression. ¡­From the beginning, the only thing that mattered to her was the ¡®expectation of just one person.¡¯ Her crimson eyes briefly nced at the Hero. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± ¡°¡­Begin.¡± ng, ng, ng, ng! Before the words were finished, the stuffed monster hanging in the room rushed forward. A peculiar smell of chemicals that pricked the nose. But Leciel took a deep breath. Yes, she couldn¡¯t handle theory, she admitted. But she was confident that in this type of practical exercise, she was more skilled than anyone in this ssroom. The anatomy diagrams in her mind, the stuffed monsters in front of her, and the sword in her hand ¨C there is no need to separate them. Now, it was time for the things she was born with to shine. Leciel thrust the sword. ¡¤ ¡¤ ¡¤ The theories created by ordinary people are useless to geniuses. Then, what about theories created by geniuses? Are they also useless to geniuses? The answer was just demonstrated by the genius. ¡°There were a total of fifty-six sword strikes, and all of them hit. A+, Leciel.¡± Although the tone was no different from when giving a C, Leciel was satisfied. She could read the ¡®expectation¡¯ in the indifferent eyes of the Hero. Meeting the expectation, she gained ¡®future expectations.¡¯ That was enough for her. Feeling a sense of fulfillment after a long time, she looked at the stuffed monsters that had be a beehive. ¡®¡­Monster Anatomy.¡¯ It started from the first sword strike. Leciel realized that this theory was created for those with innate talents, those who could enter the extremes. Ordinary people, even if they mastered this discipline perfectly, couldn¡¯t use it inbat. Memorizing the positions of bones and organs wouldn¡¯t help an ordinary person if they couldn¡¯t chase a fast-moving monster and urately strike its precise location. ¡®When did the Hero prepare for a ss like this?¡¯ ¡­It was interesting. And beneficial. In these two aspects, it couldn¡¯t even bepared to other sses. ¡°Uh, I could have done as well if I just passed the test! It¡¯s unfair!¡± Chasing after the pathetic outcry from one side of the ssroom, Leciel turned her head. Soon, she could see Cuculli, who was feeling very disappointed. Unlike the majority of students who felt the difference in talent and were overwhelmed, Cuculli¡¯s eyes were filled with a sense of superiority. ¡­It was pitiful. ¡°¡­Hmph.¡± ¡°Why are you, why are you¡­ Why are youughing! Hey, you red punk!¡± It was truly fortunate. If it weren¡¯t for her ssmate¡¯s help, she might have been standing there like that blue fool, just watching the practical exercise. ¡®Come to think of it, the one right after is¡­ .¡¯ It was Ban¡¯s turn. Leciel suddenly became curious about how Ban, who was proficient in theory, would apply it to this practical exercise. She looked at him standing in front of the stuffed monster. ¡®¡­What¡¯s going on?¡¯ It was apletely unexpected scene. Ban, with a pale face, was trembling. ¡®Is he nervous or something?¡¯ Leciel wasn¡¯t the only one who noticed the change. ¡°Ban Dietrich. Is there a problem?¡± The Hero¡¯s words shifted the attention from Leciel to Ban. Unfortunately, he had no chance to exin his condition. ¡°Uh¡­¡± The boy staggered for a moment before copsing to the ground. Thunk! The Hero looked at Ban with a perplexed expression as he foamed at the mouth and fainted. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 26 Chapter 26 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The ¡°Monster Anatomy¡± ss by the Hero was a tremendous sess. The criticism he received initially was not about the quality of the lectures. Even with just the basics, his lectures were denser than any other ss. However, what the students wanted was beyond that ¨C they wanted teachings that only the Hero could provide. In that regard, ¡°Monster Anatomy¡± was the perfect lecture that precisely touched on what the students desired. It introduced a theory that had never existed before, and after being verified in the academy, it could be practically applied on the battlefield. It was an innovative theory devised directly by the Hero, utilizing a vast amount of information stored in the Iris of Lace. ¨C Hey, those who were talking about uniqueness and originality in yesterday¡¯s lecture,e out. ©¸ What happened? Is something going on? ©¸ Today was extreme and historic. ©¸ What? What was the content!? ©¸Monster Anatomy. ©¸Monster Anatomy? What¡¯s that? ©¸I¡¯ve never heard of it. Even the reactions of the senior students were enthusiastic. ¨C If you look at the popr posts, there¡¯s a rough summary of the content. By the way, I¡¯m really jealous. If we had learned something like that during our freshman year, going to the military wouldn¡¯t have been so intimidating. We only have less than a year left now¡­ ©¸ Cheer up, seniors. You will survive. (Laughs) ©¸ Go to the library. They¡¯ve stocked books for students who didn¡¯t take the ss to read. ©¸ Did he just distribute those materials? ©¸ But you might need to hurry. When I went there, there were only four copies left. ©¸Ted Redymer is a god¡­ ¨CJust checked the materials from the fourth-year student. Honestly, it¡¯s on a different level than the theories we¡¯ve been learning so far. We envy you, juniors. ©¸Have you been watching the professors teaching the same content for years? A lecture that elicited such a positive response from students was truly a rare urrence. With content full of unique features, coupled with the Hero¡¯s demonstration and creative practical exercises, the students showed enthusiastic support. Despite a few individuals attempting to belittle the lecture, their opinions were immediately dismissed. ¨C What¡¯s with all this fuss? Honestly, I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s that amazing. ©¸ Came back after failing the interview. ©¸ If you¡¯re not a failure, it might be even more of a problem. ©¸ Why does your speech sound so old? ¡°These ignorant fools!¡± In one of the professor¡¯s dorms, someone struggling with a connector wrote ament, causing a minormotion, but it wasn¡¯t that important. The evaluation scores for the lecture also sharply increased. This ss seemed to resolve the students¡¯ dissatisfaction all at once, as the evaluations were overwhelmingly positive. A majority of the students who attended the ss gave it a perfect score. If not for an incident that urred towards the end of the ss, this lecture would have been hailed as a perfect example of excellence. ¨C Just a side note, but today, someone fainted during our ss. Kids of this age were generally interested in these kinds of stories. ¨C They seemed to have been taken to the infirmary right away. I don¡¯t know what happened after that. ©¸ Isn¡¯t it inappropriate to spread this kind of information? ©¸ Seriously, what caused the copse? ©¸ Just fainted? Maybe from overwork? ©¸ Overwork? No way. Absolutely not. ©¸ What do you know? ©¸ I know. I won¡¯t tell you, though. The content was about a student who suddenly copsed during ss. * * * In the world of swordsmanship, each school had its unique characteristics. Take the Dieterich family, for example. The experiences of those who faced them inbat were consistent. ¡®Perfect.¡¯ A sword devoted to the essence of swordsmanship. Pierce and Bend without getting hurt. To achieve such perfection, Dietrich¡¯s Vision Sensing Technique was specialized in detecting the flow of surrounding mana. It could read the opponent¡¯s internal mana, allowing a quick understanding of where they aimed. Even the smallest gaps could be identified before being seen with the eyes. From the perspective of the opponent, it might feel like fighting against someone who could foresee the future. Every trick with the sword was countered, and even the slightest opening was exploited. A much faster brain rotation than ordinary people, a broad and profound understanding of various martial arts, intense concentration, and a meticulous view¡ªthese were the characteristics of the Dieterich. The current head, ¡°The Perfect¡± Felson Dieterich, was the figure who most perfectly fulfilled these conditions since the founding of the family. His ability to block all elements threatening him right next to the Hero became amon theme in narratives. Such an outstanding father and born between two exceptional swordsmen¡ªan extraordinary boy. The boy asked himself, ¡®But why am I like this?¡¯ * * * Ban Dieterich. His sudden copse caught me off guard. It bothered me a bit. My task isn¡¯t just about organizing a good lecture; That¡¯s just the process. The ultimate goal is to nurture the ¡®next Hero¡¯ who can truly take this position. I went to the Medical office for that reason. If there¡¯s a problem with Ban, one of the candidates, I need to know. Click- I approached Ban, who was bowing his head like a sinner. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take you to the dormitory.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I can go alone.¡± ¡°Taking care of a sick student is also a professor¡¯s duty.¡± As I walked ahead, Ban followed me quietly. Listening to the hesitant footsteps behind me, I recalled the conversation I had with the senior healer earlier. ¡°Why did he suddenly copse?¡± ¡°It¡¯s still unknown. He ims it¡¯s due to overwork and stress¡­¡± Overwork and stress? That¡¯s unbelievable. He¡¯s a well-trained warrior, with a physique stronger than the average person. For such a person, fainting due to ordinary reasons is nearly impossible. ¡®At least until the theory exam, he was fine, wasn¡¯t he?¡¯ No, more than fine; He recorded the highest score among the students. The symptoms began when he stood in front of the stuffed monster. At first, I thought it might be some kind of addiction. Difficulty breathing, convulsions. Symptoms that seemed to resemble a copse at the moment. Feeling suspicious, I exined the situation to the healer, and after a moment of contemtion, he said this: ¡°Well, in that case, there could be a possibility of trauma manifesting.¡± ¡°Trauma¡­huh.¡± Trauma. The aftereffects that ur after facing life-threatening situations, severe physical or mental distress, or shocking events. Although it has only recently be the subject of serious medical research, I was well aware of it. Retired mercenaries, war-torn soldiers. In the ce I once stayed, it was amon symptom. Their trembling figures, cowering at the slightest noise, shed through my mind. Acting as if they were reliving some horrific moment from the past, the agonized expressions on their faces. ¡°So, is it rted to trauma from dealing with monsters¡­¡± Strange. How could a noble, raised with utmost care, have experiences rted to monsters? ¡°I can¡¯t guarantee that it¡¯s specifically monster-rted trauma. Shocking events can undoubtedly ur in everyday life, and once the mind is wounded, it responds to even minor stimuli.¡± As I recalled those words, I couldn¡¯t help but sigh. What I thought was just a bit of shyness turned out to be a clear manifestation of a syndrome. It was quite a troublesome situation. ¡®Pity. With such exceptional talent¡­¡¯ Just then, Ban approached with a voice that seemed to crawl. ¡°Professor.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± He didn¡¯t respond immediately, stopping in his tracks without acknowledging my call. I turned around to look at him. Ban stood there, wearing a deeply distressed expression. ¡°I¡­¡± He struggled to continue, ¡°Am I getting expelled now?¡± It was a question with an already decided answer. Ban wouldn¡¯t be expelled. No, he shouldn¡¯t be expelled. Despite his condition, the current situation demanded that we keep him going as much as possible. He was one of the ¡®Hero candidates¡¯ with brilliant talent. I silently observed Ban. An obvious question raised its head. ¡®Why did he apply while experiencing such symptoms?¡¯ Admission to Rosenstark was highly prestigious but required significant determination. With a rigorous training curriculumparable to military service for four years, it demanded substantialmitment. Ban applied for the challenging Hero¡¯s course with an undeniable determination, likely driven by the desire to ovee challenges. A student seeking change with courage. Even as a seemingly hypocritical person, I didn¡¯t want to turn a blind eye to that. I, too, had a mentor who nted such changes in me. After organizing my thoughts, I spoke. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Do you want to stay on the edge?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Ban looked up. While he didn¡¯t give a direct answer, his eyes spoke of determination. ¡°Then stay.¡± Ban¡¯s eyes widened. Unexpectedly, his legs wobbled at the response. ¡°Uh, gasp.¡± I supported Ban and continued speaking. ¡°Remember why you started.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Ban¡¯s expression became puzzled at the sudden remark. I exined. ¡°It¡¯s something my mentor used to say every time I felt like giving up.¡± Words from the ¡®real¡¯ mentor. ¡°Sounds strange, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°A bit, yes.¡± ¡°Still, at that time, it resonated deeply. Amid the pain tormenting me, those words illuminated whaty beyond.¡± The words surfaced every time I wanted to give up. It made me realize what I was trying to abandon, what I was turning my back on. Like a mirror reflecting my intentions. ¡°Didn¡¯t you start this because you wanted to live ¡®humanely¡¯? So, if you want to stay on the edge, there will undoubtedlye a moment when you want to give up.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°When that timees, think carefully about why you came to Rosenstark and what you wanted to achieve.¡± He showed courage that happens once in a lifetime. I hoped Ban wouldn¡¯t easily give up on it. ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± Ban stood there with a slightly different expression than before. I started walking again. Soon, I heard the footsteps following. ¡®Summon your courage.¡¯ Courage isn¡¯t the absence of fear; It¡¯s the ability to face and ovee it. I don¡¯t know the details, but Ban¡¯s fear seemedrger than that of his peers. ¡®Then the courage gained from oveing it must be significant.¡¯ Hoping for that, I bid him farewell. The boy, now with lighter steps, disappeared briskly into the well-lit dormitory on this pleasantly cool day with open windows. I turned around, hearing theughter of children flowing through the windows. ¡®Certainly, I need to assess the situations of other kids, not just Ban.¡¯ Each person has their own struggles in life. I momentarily forgot the truth learned through encounters and separations with countless people as a doppelganger. ¡®Thanks to this, I have a chance to reconsider my thoughts.¡¯ I am a professor, but prioritizing only the transfer of knowledge is not enough. I must also fulfill the role of a ¡®mentor¡¯ to truly guide the children towards genuine growth. ¡®¡­I should offer counseling.¡¯ Ding-! However, there was oneforting fact. ¨C ¡®Extreme¡¯ Professor ¨C Rating: ¡ï 4.1 / 5.0 ¨C Really enjoyed it so much, I didn¡¯t realize the time was passing. ¨C Learned not only academic knowledge but also practical skills applicable in real situations! ¨C A challenging but inspiring lecture that makes me want to work hard! The fact that the kids liked me as a ¡®professor¡¯ was somewhat consoling. * * * Next morning. I gazed at the flickeringmunication orb. [Sorry, but the master is currently unavable. Please leave a message, and I¡¯ll ry it¡­] ¡°It¡¯s fine; I¡¯ll contact him directlyter.¡± The Dietrich family¡¯s servant bowed apologetically with a troubled expression. Felson Dietrich. As there was no response on the personalmunication orb, I tried contacting the family, but he was also unavable there. ¡®¡­I wanted to inquire about Ban.¡¯ For now, I had asked Nyhill to do some background research. In the case of those with a noble background like Ban, there was a high probability that they had attended primary and secondary academies before Rosenstark. Checking the records from that time might help pinpoint the exact nature of the problem. However, considering Nyhill¡¯s numerous responsibilities, I expected the results to take some time. ¡®¡­It¡¯s not urgent.¡¯ I sighed and put themunication orb into a drawer. Ban¡¯s copse was unexpected, but my concerns about the evaluation seemed to have lessened a bit. ¡®Rating, 4.1.¡¯ It should be considered a satisfactory oue as it¡¯s impossible to satisfy every student. The evaluations for other lectures were averaging in the early 3s, so there shouldn¡¯t be much concern about reputation. ¡®Now, the remaining task is the research project.¡¯ Each professor needed to choose a research topic by the end of the first semester and present the results at the end of the year. ¡®Fortunately, there¡¯s still some time.¡¯ I had thought about potential topics. I wouldn¡¯t need to worry about it for a while. ¡®Rather, the problem here is¡­.¡¯ I nced at thements disyed in front of me. ¨‹ I made an old man sigh, and a genius received a punishment he fears. Now everyone looks at me Andughs, and cries again. You, can you find me Hidden where ignorance loses strength? ¡ø After gaining ¡®evolution¡¯ in the cave, this riddle was thrown by the Iris of Lace. Now, I n to solve this mysterious riddle. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 27 Chapter 27 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Hmm¡­.¡± I don¡¯t know. It wasn¡¯t originally my area of expertise. I never had the luxury to try something like this in my lifetime. ¡®Just tell me straightforwardly with some intuition.¡¯ What could be the intention of giving clues in such a convoluted way? As I sighed at the problem that refused to be solved, Pia suddenly thrust her face forward. ¡°Do you have any concerns, Professor?¡± After finding a solution to the Awaken case, Pia became surprisingly bright. The shadow in her mind must have lifted at the thought that she could save people with her own hands. I chuckled and replied. ¡°Well, it seems like you have a lot on your mind.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Huh, huhuh.¡± Pia¡¯sughter was not mere words. Dark circles under her tired eyes. Messy hair. The slightly downturned eyes were directed even lower than usual. ¡°Phew, the research on Awaken is progressing slower than I thought.¡± Her workload exceeded imagination, raising concerns about overwork. Lecture preparations, personal research, investor meetings, and even additional assistant tasks. It surpassed the boundaries of personal space. I even asked if she wanted to hire a temporary assistant, but the answer was a firm rejection. ¡°No, thank you. I can handle it on my own.¡± With a resolute refusal, the appointment of a temporary assistant was inevitably postponed. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Pia¡¯s eyes lingered on the paper I had scribbled on. ¡°The ce where ignorance loses its strength, making the elderly sigh¡­ Oh, Professor, do you like mysteries?¡± I instinctively tried to hide the paper but stopped. ¡°Do you like mysteries too?¡± I asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m bad at them. Can I take a look?¡± she inquired. ¡°Of course. If anythinges to mind after looking at it, feel free to let me know.¡± Pia, inherently quirky, sighed with anticipation. I looked at her with anticipation. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s challenging.¡± So when she sighed with a wrinkled brow, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit disappointed. ¡°It¡¯s really difficult¡­¡± ¡°But I understand at least one phrase?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The line about the punishment that even a genius fears.¡± Pia, with a proud smile, began to unravel the tangled story. ¡°It seems like a riddle rted to Zero Requiem¡­¡± Zero, a genius who will always be remembered in history. Not just in magic but in various fields such as art, invention, engineering, and technology. A prodigy who yed a significant role in humans quickly starting the Second Age upon migrating to the Western continent. As a result, Zero¡¯s close friend, the former emperor, allegedly publicly joked that if Zero died, he would preserve his brain for research purposes. ¡°It was to the extent that he might leave it in his will, so it might not have been just a joke. There are even rumors that Zero deliberately hid his tracks because of this.¡± Pia exined. ¡°So, the answer to that phrase is punishment.¡± ¡°Yes, coincidentally, it¡¯s rted to our previous lesson, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡­I looked at the riddle again. I made the elderly sigh, and I was punished. Now, everyone is looking at me,ughing and perhaps shedding tears. ¡°Oh, could you find the hidden me in the ce where ignorance loses its strength?¡± ¡®The location the riddle points to¡­ is probably within Rosenstark,¡¯ I thought. Zero Requiem probably wouldn¡¯t have ced his most significant connection elsewhere. ¡°The ce where ignorance loses its strength,¡± I mused, seeming to recall something. Feeling frustrated, I shifted my gaze to the Rosenstark map hanging on the wall. A rtively small area, with various facilities tightly packed¡ªresearchbs, practical rooms, dormitories, dining halls, libraries, and more. ¡°¡­Library?¡± Muttering unintentionally, I received a p from Pia next to me. ¡°Oh, right! The ce where ignorance loses its strength!¡± ¡­It makes sense. I approached the wall, staring intently at the map. In this academy, there are dozens of libraries¡ªtactical, alchemical, magical, staff, and the forbidden library. And¡­ Library of Memories. ¡°Oh.¡± On the outskirts of the map, seeing the name of the library located in a secluded area, I couldn¡¯t help but burst into hollowughter. ¡®¡­So it¡¯s here.¡¯ I immediately grabbed my coat. Pia widened her eyes, looking at me. ¡°Are you leaving?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll leave work to you today.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the answer¡­ No, don¡¯t tell me! I¡¯ll figure it out.¡± ¡°How about focusing on your work for now?¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Ignoring Pia¡¯s exmation as she returned to her pile of tasks, I left the researchb. The ¡®mysterious ce¡¯ indicated by the riddle is a location with strict ess control. Only one person has the key. ¡®I¡¯ll pay a visit to Yussi after a long time.¡¯ * * * ¡°¡­Ha, amazing.¡± The ¡®traitor¡¯ reclined on the sofa, savoring the finest wine that most nobles wouldn¡¯t dream of. Subsequently, a delicate aroma of white sage filled the room. Equally exquisite. ¡°It¡¯s like paradise.¡± He found this ce exceptionally pleasing. Here, even the emperor would envy him. Everything he desired was provided. A secret ce where no one would ever discover his secrets. ¡®Who would have imagined negotiations taking ce in such a ce?¡¯ But soon, the man who had been lying leisurely in the world had to abruptly rise. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª It was because an eerie silhouette rose from the floor. ¡°Long time no see.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been a while.¡± The figure in front was too bizarre to be called human. A height that seemed to exceed 3 meters. The body seemed to be made of smoke, with the surface constantly undting. As the demon slowly exhaled, a pungent terror pressed down on the room. ¡°Report on how the n is progressing.¡± ¡­No, he¡¯s getting straight to the point like this? The traitor blinked with a perplexed expression. ¡°You¡¯ve bezy. What happened to the initial enthusiasm?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not easy to find his weaknesses yet. If we move recklessly, there¡¯s a risk of exposing our identity.¡± ¡°Is your ability toe up with more usible reasonscking?¡± A low tone that made the bones vibrate. The ¡®traitor¡¯ shivered. Demon. The instinctual fear these creatures instilled did not diminish even after facing it multiple times. No, it seemed to intensify as it stubbornly seeped into the approximation of the heart over time. The reprimands continued. ¡°Did we ask too much of you?¡± ¡°No, not at all.¡± ¡°We asked you to shake him enough to ensure he doesn¡¯t pay any attention to the outside. It¡¯s a pity that even that is difficult for you.¡± The traitor¡¯splexion turned pale. ¡°H-however, with my humble abilities, can I shake the Hero¡¯s attention..?¡± ¡°It might have been impossible in the past.¡± For the first time, the demon¡¯s tail curled up. ¡°But he has weakened.¡± ¡°What? What does that mean¡­?¡± ¡°Think about it.¡± It was a straightforward story with just a little thought. The demon recalled the st major battle.¡¯ ¡®Can a mere humane out of such a fight unscathed?¡¯ On that day, the hero fought on the worst battlefield imaginable. The heroes of the Dawn Knights were either dead or incapacitated, and the Hero himself was exhausted, breaking through a long encirclement. All that was left to him were the pathetic human soldiers. It was an inescapable trap crafted by the betrayers¡¯ long-standing schemes. In such dire conditions, the hero confronted the ¡®Demon King¡¯ alone. ¡®¡­But the Hero lost.¡¯ Contrary to everyone¡¯s expectations, the Demon King retreated with a terrible aftermath, and humans survived unharmed. However, the demon was certain. The Hero couldn¡¯t havee outpletely unscathed. Physically, he couldn¡¯t be in perfect condition. ¡®For a war fanatic to suddenly choose the path to Rosenstark¡­¡¯ Therefore, before he recovered, they had to somehow deal with him or at least inflict some damage. ¡®¡­The unfortunate part is that the preparations are insufficient, because of which I have to deal with this trash.¡¯ If only he could take action himself! The demon nced disapprovingly at the traitor, concluding his words. ¡°Before finding another sessor, you should hurry and take action.¡± ¡°Y-yes, I will keep that in mind!¡± As the conversation concluded, the demon rose from his seat. The traitor secretly breathed a sigh of relief. However, the demon didn¡¯t leave immediately. Bringing his massive head close to the traitor¡¯s face, he took a deep breath. The sensation felt as if a part of the soul was being drawn in, and the traitor shivered. ¡°We¡¯ve given you what you¡¯ve longed for all your life. I hope this time there will be results worthy of that.¡± ¡°W-would that be possible?¡± Snap! The demon left abruptly, just as unexpectedly as when he appeared. ¡°¡­¡± The traitor, who had been observing his departure for a moment, blinked his eyelids a few times. In one corner of his vision, the lingering image of the blue haze emanating from the demon¡¯s eyes vanished. Instead, bright afternoon sunlight greeted him. ¡®¡­Damn.¡¯ He wiped the sweat from his forehead, drank water vigorously, and looked through the ss window on the other side. A well-organized view of the academy. It was Rosenstark. * * * In front of the principal¡¯s office, a crowd of people was buzzing with activity. ¡®Why are the maids and assistants gathered?¡¯ They seemed to be concentrating on something, oblivious to my arrival. Among them, I spotted familiar ck hair. Nyhill¡¯s first doll, Sea. Whispers were circting among them with lowered voices. ¡°How many days has it been since she locked himself in? What on earth is she doing there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s so frustrating. Hey, youngest! You did the cleaning yesterday, right? What did she say?¡± The youngest maid, Sea, looked upset. ¡°I couldn¡¯t even go in. She told me not to disturb her by knocking.¡± ¡°Wow, this is insane.¡± A sudden disappearance of Yussi. For the past few days, she hadn¡¯t taken a single step outside the office. The reason was unknown, and even the professors were left waiting outside. ¡°Should we just open the door?¡± ¡°Opening the principal¡¯s mind along with the door. That¡¯s the senior¡¯s early retirement life for you.¡± ¡°But should we just leave it like this? The professors are going crazy!¡± ¡­It seemed like the dissatisfaction of the professors was causing trouble for the subordinates. ¡®What¡¯s going on? It didn¡¯t seem like they had a n to deal with this.¡¯ Anyway, her seclusion muste to an end now that I¡¯ve arrived. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± ¡°If you open the door again and say something stupid, you might get kicked in the butt¡­ Oh my!¡± Starting with a surprised assistant, everyone stared at me with wide eyes. The silence didn¡¯tst long. ¡°P-Professor Redymer, nice to meet you!¡± ¡°I beg your pardon.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°Because we might have to use a stupid method.¡± But there was no need to pull the door handle. Creak! The door opened first. Before the door could smack me in the nose, I sidestepped. The person who appeared was, of course, Yussi. ¡®Yussi? Why does she look like that?¡¯ She looked quite disheveled. Untidy hair, wrinkled clothes. The usually sparkling sses were dirty with dust and fingerprints. ¡°¡­Professor?¡± She looked at me with surprise for a moment, then smiled. ¡°Ha¡­¡± Brushing through her greasy hair with her fingers, she casually disappeared into the office. I immediately followed. ¡°Don¡¯te in!¡± Ignoring her plea, I stepped into the office behind her. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 28 Chapter 28 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Seeing me in this unclean state¡­,¡± she mumbled. ¡°I¡¯ve seen worse on the battlefield.¡± ¡°At that time, everything was messy¡­ Can I at least wash up?¡± ¡°Sorry, but we¡¯re short on time.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± I looked at her wrapped in a nket, grumbling. I asked, ¡°By the way, you¡¯ve been hiding for a few days. What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± As her embarrassed expression surfaced, I naturally began to ¡®observe.¡¯ Piles of papers on the desk filled withplex equations. And in Yussi¡¯s gaze at them, there was a faint excitement, as if looking at a treasure. ¡°You¡¯re not the type to randomly neglect your work without a reason.¡± ¡°Well¡­ I got a chance to get the item I¡¯ve been looking for a long time.¡± It was an even more ambiguous answer. I narrowed my eyebrows. ¡°¡­An item you¡¯ve been looking for?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Yussi hesitated and then spoke. ¡°Can I tell youter when it¡¯s certain? I don¡¯t want to jinx it.¡± I slowly nodded. I was curious, but prying into personal matters too much felt strange. ¡°Sure, let me know when you¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°Thank you. I was nning to tell you first once everything is resolved.¡± Yussi smiled morefortably. ¡°Anyway, what brings you here without notice?¡± ¡°I needed a key.¡± ¡°¡­A key?¡± The academy map was spread out on the desk. I pointed to a specific location. ¡°I came to get the key to the Library of Memories.¡± The academy map spread across the desk as I pointed to a specific location. * * * ¨‹ Rosenstark¡¯s Mystery Library of Memories ¡ø I recalled the information I had gathered. The library was enchanted with a spell called Memorize, a magical process that extracted and stored memories in books. Visitors could shape their desired memories into books for safekeeping, a ce to revisit and reminisce about those memories. However, not just anyone could leave their memories there. Entrance was restricted unless you were a graduating fourth-year student or had special permission from the principal. ¡®Usually, freshmen are oblivious to its existence.¡¯ I only discovered it recently. Besides memory storage, the library didn¡¯t have any distinctive features, and the stored memories were generally only essible by the owner. Compared to other mysteries at Rosenstark, it had rtively low visits. ¡®¡­Are the Original¡¯s memories stored there?¡¯ [TL/N: Og Hero.] If so, it was reason enough to visit. Seeing memories of the original could enhance my understanding of the Hero, making Polymphe¡¯s performance even stronger. nk! Yussi handed me an old bronze key. ¡°By the way, it¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I remember you used to visit every year. You stopped for the past few years, though.¡± I paused for a moment. ¡®Every year?¡¯ Original never shared every detail of his schedule with me. Some aspects remained undisclosed, and it seemed the Library of Memories was one of them. ¡®¡­He used to visit every year without saying a word about it.¡¯ The distance from the central region to the west was not negligible. If the busy Hero deliberately took time to visit, it must have been an important matter. What memories did the Hero seek every year? What could it be? Intense curiosity welled up within me. * * * Sitting by the window of the magic train, I felt the cool breeze, and before I knew it, we were near the destination. [¡­Next station is the main entrance of the Library of Memories, Library of Memories Main Entrance Station. If you¡¯re getting off¡­] I was the only one getting off. ¡®Strange¡¯ It wasn¡¯t the usual time for graduating students to visit, and although graduates asionally came to revisit memories, today, surprisingly, no one was around. I stood in front of the main entrance of the library. The familiar dizziness hit me. ¨‹ The Mystery is Unveiled This is a ce of rewinding The mourner has arrived Recorded Location: A ce that stores memories of individuals who passed through Rosenstark¡­ ¡ø I clenched my fist. I had truly found it. The kind exnation continued. ¨‹ The enchantment on Memorize in the Library of Memories is a bit special. It not only allows experiencing memories from the individual¡¯s perspective, but also can be directed from the perspective of a third party, and you can freely move between them based on the creator¡¯s intent. Please note that blind spots such as visual or auditory experiences that the owner didn¡¯t experience are magically supplemented. The first viewing password of the previous user, ¡®Ted Redymer,¡¯ is ¡®Do not forget.¡¯ ¡ø The first viewing password? ¡®It seems like there are multiple memories.¡¯ My gaze turned toward the library. ¡®It looks even bigger up close.¡¯ The structure, bathed in the twilight, pressed down on visitors with an unknown oppression. It felt like I had entered a historic ruin, facing overwhelming time and history. Beyond the great mountain range. Suddenly, memories of wandering through the ruins of the First Era came to mind. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª It felt just like this. Click! I inserted the key into the keyhole of the main entrance. The old key unexpectedly smoothly slid into the hole¡ª Clunk! The door opened on its own, even without me touching it. A musty smell wafted through the air. I instinctively peered through the crack in the door to see the interior. ¡®What is this?¡¯ At first, I saw nothing. The sudden burst of radiant light in the pitch-ck darkness startled me. A dazzling light that I couldn¡¯t even bring myself to look at directly. After about a second, ¡®Here is¡­¡¯ I found myself standing in an entirely different space. The massive building that loomed over me was nowhere to be seen. The serene academyndscape had vanished. Instead, what greeted me were endlessly stretching bookshelves. A long, narrow corridor. I took a few steps inside. The dusty scent surrounded me. The warmth of sunlight. The mountain breeze was felt simultaneously. ¡®Space teleportation, huh.¡¯ A manifestation of advanced magic that existed in the First Era but has not been used practically for a long time in the present. ¡®It¡¯s the same as the portal that led to the Cave of Protection.¡¯ Walking through the quiet corridor, I observed my surroundings. Everywhere I saw there were books, books, and books. The bookshelves filled with books looked like waves. After a while, I could see a talldder among them. And on top of it, a graceful silhouette moving back and forth. Our eyes met. ¡®¡­¡¯ ¡®¡­¡¯ While she descended thedder as if sliding, the Iris of Lace quickly wrote ament. ¨‹ Recorded Individual: Rosalyn Requiem ¨C A magical being created by Zero Requiem, bearing his surname. ¨C The main magic of the Library of memories, the intermediary of ¡®Memorize,¡¯ and the librarian managing ¡®memories.¡¯ ¨C Awkward to deal with. ¡ø One of thements added a bit of tension. ¡®Magical being, huh.¡¯ Rosalyn Requiem approached with unaffected white hair, brows, face, and white eyes. Taking on the appearance of a human but not being entirely human. However, there was no unpleasant sense of the typical difort of artificial entities. What else can I say? It felt like cing a thick and worn ancient tome in front of me. I slowly looked at Rosalyn¡¯s pursed lips. ¡®It¡¯s been a while, Ted. Wee back to the library.¡¯ Her voice, calm and without highs and lows, resonated in my ears. * * * I didn¡¯t respond immediately. ¡®Ted,¡¯ or ¡®Professor.¡¯ The unfamiliarity of being addressed by a name rather than the familiar titles held my tongue. As if she didn¡¯t care, continued speaking. ¡°Are you here to create a book?¡± ¡°No, I came to read.¡± ¡°I see.¡± After finishing her sentence, Rosalyn stared at me intently. Blink. Blink. As if performing some procedure, she concealed her appearance at a regr tempo and reappeared, her eyes pure white. As the dark shadow created by the tall bookshelves descended over her artificial gaze, a strange tension gripped my body. ¡®It¡¯s okay.¡¯ Polymorph can¡¯t be seen through by any magical means. It was a fact proven in numerous experiments conducted with the Hero. I casually faced Rosalyn again. She spoke again. ¡°To which memory would you like to be guided to?¡± ¡°The first one.¡± ¡°Always looking for that one.¡± I looked at her outstretched white hand. ¡°As you know, the paths areplicated. You wouldn¡¯t want to be lost in memories, right?¡± Her hand was unexpectedly warm. To the point where the illusion of feeling a pulse was felt. ¡°Treating me like a child.¡± ¡°When you¡¯ve existed for 300 years, the depth of wrinkles bes irrelevant.¡± ¡­300 years. ¡°Must have been boring.¡± ¡°Well, I can¡¯t say if it was boring.¡± ¡°¡¯Do you read stored memories?¡± Though I was only looking at the back of her white head, somehow it seemed like Rosalyn was smiling. ¡°Only those of the deceased.¡± ¡°¡­Why only those of the deceased?¡± ¡°¡¯Because that¡¯s what they would prefer.¡± Thud! As we walked through thebyrinth of intertwined bookshelves, the conversation continued. Rosalyn spoke with a rhythm, as if she were reciting psalms. Even without concentrating, the content flowed into my ears. ¡°Isn¡¯t it magnificent?¡± ¡°¡¯What?¡± ¡°These bookshelves. When choosing a book, I stand before numerous lives. Before the moments they wanted to preserve till the end. It¡¯s never boring.¡± Moments they wanted to preserve till the end. I became increasingly curious. What kind of memories did ¡®real¡¯ leave behind? ¡®If it¡¯s memories before graduation, I have no idea about the content.¡¯ He had drawn a line, saying that even I didn¡¯t need to know beyond that point. The opportunity to know about the young Ted Redymer from his early days as a Hero filled me with a strange excitement. By the way, there was never any piece of media that talked about the young Hero. ¡°Here we are.¡± The rhythmic shaking of the silver hair, emitting a subtle scent of wood, gradually subsided. She grinned. ¡°It¡¯s time for a time reversal.¡± With those words, Rosalyn reached towards the top of the bookshelf. A wave of magic was felt as a book at the very top floated through the air. A worn-out and tattered book. Rosalyn extended it to me. ¡°What kind of memory is it that Ted visits it like an annual event¡­ I¡¯ve been curious for a long time.¡± I ept the book and responded, ¡°So?¡± ¡°Hehe, did it make you ufortable? I apologize. Curiosity is one of the few emotions allowed by my master.¡± Rosalyn turned around, now wearing a more human-like smile than before. ¡°Then I hope it will be an enjoyable reminiscence.¡± She quickly hid her appearance. I explored the cover with my fingertips, repeating the password. ¡®(Do not forget).¡¯ ¡­do not forget. As I continue to ponder its meaning, something seems to pull at me. At the same time, my view began to slowly ripple. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 29 Chapter 29 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª When I came to my senses, I found myself standing in the ruins where the scorching sun was beating down. Broken wooden nks and piles of stones were scattered all around. I could feel the warmth of the sun and the uneven texture of the ground. ¡°So, this is how they allow you to experience memories.¡± It felt like dreaming. Moving my body ording to my will was impossible, but I shared the sensations with the ¡®Young Hero¡¯ in my memories. The senses were vivid as if I were there. ¡®The Boyhood of the Hero¡­.¡¯ By the way, where is this ce? The hometown of the Hero? Just as I was adjusting to the lowered perspective and trying to survey the surroundings for a moment¡­. Thud! The Hero started walking. His figure was faintly reflected on the ground, apanied by the iron sword lying down. Although his face is still visible, it is anything but ordinary. ¡®Around ten years old.¡¯ The skinny body caught my eye first. The curiosity and liveliness of childhood were evident, hidden beneath a tough expression. The Hero continued walking in the same direction as if he had a destination in mind. Like a doll in a toy shop, he moved silently, without any change in expression. ¡°¡­.¡± So thirsty, it felt like my throat was burning. The warmth between the calloused skin. The sensation of stones between the toenails. Above all, the most unbearable thing was the stench. ¡®Truly a field of corpses.¡¯ The corpses that began to appear one by one soon became numerous enough to step on. The blood and excrement flowing from them, now congealed, were disturbing the path. ¡®Just an ordinary rural vige, what could have happened here?¡¯ It wasn¡¯t the result of a human army invasion. There were no traces of military horses, only deformed footprints were distinct. Decisively¡­ ¡®Not a single intact corpse. Must be demons.¡¯ Torn and mutted corpses were scattered everywhere like grotesque sculptures. Thud! The Hero stopped in the middle of the vige. Then, he began to drag and move the corpses one by one. Every time the boy touched them, swarms of flies that had clung to them buzzed away. ¡®¡­A grim task.¡¯ It was midsummer. The limp bodies and their smells. Even someone like me, who boasted of being ustomed to various cmities, wanted to turn away. But the young Hero didn¡¯t stop. Even when he stumbled and fell over a stone, or his fingers were torn, he continued to move the grotesque bodies. ¡­It was an extraordinary mental strength. The destination was arge pit on the outskirts of the vige. Broken shovels were scattered nearby. It was only then that I realized why my palms had been sweating profusely since earlier. Thump! The Hero, who threw the corpses into the pit, didn¡¯t rest and continued to move. ¡®¡­.¡¯ In this way, he moved all the corpses. Even the ones that couldn¡¯t maintain their intact forms were collected as scraps. From sunset to sunrise and again until sunset. His expression remained unchanged. Only when he transported two corpses that resembled him did the muscles around his jaw tense. ¡®¡­.¡¯ Again, in the night, he stood numbly in front of the huge mes consuming the corpses. As if he wanted to suffocate in the pungent smoke and odor. At that moment, it happened. Drrrrrr! The small vibration suddenly intensified. The sharp sound of hooves with the horseshoe made the boy raise his head. ¡°Damn, a step toote!¡± ¡°Find survivors! Commence the search¡± A group of mercenaries was entering the vige. They were from quite a reputable mercenary group, judging from the g and the high-quality armor and equipment. ¡®¡­.¡¯ Until they noticed him and surrounded him in a circle, the Hero didn¡¯t make any moves. He just stared at the reflections of the blinding light painfully. ¡°Here¡¯s a survivor!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a child! Captain! Come here! There¡¯s a survivor!¡± ¡°We are the Karas Mercenary Corps.¡± The scene transitioned to a new memory: ¨‹ A campfire was ready. ¡ø * * * Once again, my surroundings gradually brightened. The next memory was unfolding. This ce¡­ a stream? The glow of the sunset illuminated the clear and transparent water. Tiny ripples sparkled as they collided with the stones, creating small bubbles. A pleasant coolness pierced through my back. ¡°Hey, Ted!¡± When I raised my head, a sizable tent came into view, along with a g nted next to it¡ª The camp of the Karas Mercenary Corps. ¡®I ended up following them.¡¯ A hearty voice continued. ¡°Still practicing? How many times do I have to tell you, you¡¯re at an age where you should loosen up a bit, you diligent kid!¡± The one who spoke was the leader of the mercenary group, now without his helmet, but easily recognizable. There weren¡¯t many with such kind eyes. However, the wrinkles around his eyes were deeper. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°It¡¯s fun.¡± The Hero unexpectedly replied quietly. I noticed the weight of a substantial longsword in ¡®my¡¯ hand. It seemed a bit challenging for the less experienced boy to handle. Nevertheless, the Hero expertly wielded the sword, creating a harmonious blend of powerful wind sounds with the gentle flow of the water. * * * The well-maintained de reflected the face of the boy, now slightly more matured. ¡®It¡¯s been about 2 or 3 years¡¯ I spected. Amidst the joyful banter, a loud and cheerful voice caught my attention. It was their fellow mercenaries. Though rough in appearance, they seemed kind and cheerful, teasing the Hero in a friendly manner. As they yfully pushed him into the water, he epted it with ease. The atmosphere was filled withughter and yful banter as the water sshed around. I couldn¡¯t help but be surprised at the strong bond and the Hero¡¯s apparent enjoyment of these pranks. However, my attention was diverted when the Hero¡¯s gaze shifted towards a girl sitting by the stream. ¡®¡­Huh?¡¯ A girl with brown hair and eyes resembling the leader of the mercenaries. Her face,posed of soft curves, was incredibly charming. When her eyes met the Hero¡¯s, she blushed and quickly averted her gaze. ¡®How adorable.¡¯ Surprisingly, the boy¡¯s face reflected on the water¡¯s surface also had a warm glow. I immediately realized: this is the girl. The one who gave meaning to the boy¡¯s life. Their gaze met only briefly, but the affection conveyed within was deep and palpable. Shy smiles and brightughter. In that moment, the expressions of the boy and the girl, who had wandered somewhere in the vastness of time, converged. ¡°¡­.¡± A facial expression I had never witnessed during the long years. It was a moment that made me realize how precious this time by the glowing riverbank was for the true couple. ¡°It¡¯s hot, so hot! Leader! Can we just leave them be?¡± ¡°Ted has decided to take the thorny path. I¡¯m sure I warned him.¡± ¡°Dad!¡± Under the starry night sky, surrounded byughter and trivial jokes, their figures were thest memories I retained. The Hero, bathed in starlight and warmth, looked remarkably peaceful. And once again, darkness enveloped everything. * * * ¨‹ The firewood is neatly stacked. ¡ø * * * The surroundings were pitch dark. The moon and stars were nowhere to be seen on this thick night. The only source of light was the flickering torch, barely holding on as ity on the dirt floor. Late droplets of rain gently kissed the shoulders. Unlike the previous memory, this one unfolded from the perspective of a third party from the beginning. ¡®What¡¯s happening?¡¯ The atmosphere was drastically different from recent memories, causing a momentary confusion. A peculiar sound echoed from very close by, reminiscent of an animal¡¯s howl. ¡°¡­Please. Please.¡± It was a human voice. The moment I recognized the owner, a chill ran down my spine. ¡°No. Give it back¡­.¡± Begging. Words I couldn¡¯t have imagined woulde out of his mouth. Later, the hazy eyes blinked. The first thing visible was a set of enormous fangs, resembling a dagger. Above them, moonlight, blood, and a stench mingled chaotically. ¡°Uh, uh.¡± The boy gasped for breath, desperately pulling at something caught between them. ¡®Ah.¡¯ Brown hair entangled with blood on his fingers. Memories of a time when she gleamed with brilliance under the sunset shed back, and I wanted to avert my eyes. ¡°No. Please!¡± The boy couldn¡¯t let go, even as a monstrous mouth with gaping jaws rushed towards him. A powerful impact on the body was felt at that moment. ¡°Ted! You bastard! Snap out of it!¡± In the shaking vision, a sword plunged deep into the creature¡¯s mouth. It was the leader. Covered in blood, the leader urgently grabbed the shoulders of the Hero with a desperate expression. ¡°This damn bastard. Are you going to make a man who lost his daughter lose his prospective son-inw too?¡± ¡°Lead¡­ er. Leader. What should I do?¡± ¡°What should you do?! Get up already! We¡¯re almost at Bernshire! You can survive if you make it there! Don¡¯t you have a reason to live too!¡± Amidst the incessant ngor and screams, the man who would have been more devastated than anyone reminded him of hope. From the blind spot, another monster emerged, about to swallow him whole. ¡°Ah¡­.¡± The Hero wasn¡¯t paralyzed. Before the leader¡¯s blood could stter on the ground, he rushed at the monster and thrust his sword deep into its jaw joint. Once, twice. The leader¡¯s corpse, torn into pieces, slid down, dripping with blood, while another monster sprang forth until it swallowed him whole. ¡°Te¡­d! I beg you! Please live!¡± ¡°Ah, no. I have to go back to Mom¡­ Why¡­¡± ¡°It hurts, it hurts!! Just kill me! Please!¡± As the monsters flooded in like a tidal wave,rades fell. On the puddle mixed with blood and rain, the boy, wielding his sword incessantly, screamed. ¡°Hoo, hoo.¡± He too, was covered in wounds. But the physical pain seemed long overridden by the mental agony that overwhelmed him. Even though his body was in no condition to move, the Hero, as if in a seizure, screamed and swung his sword. ¡°Everyone, run! Run away!!¡± It was a desperate struggle. But it was futile. The endless horde of monsters was beyond what he, who had not fully developed his talents, could handle. Under their feet, gs and armor marked with the emblem of the mercenary group were trampled. ¡°Haha¡­.¡± Death approached at every moment. The trembling eyes of the Hero looked at the remains of hisrades, or rather, the wreckage. Whether to lose consciousness or try to regain it, the boy didn¡¯t know. There were only two things he could grasp at that moment. The fact that he would never bepletely happy again and the sad prediction that he would scrape through the debris of this memory until he died. Fate was leading him back to the mes of the burning corpses. Thud! It happened when the monster¡¯s horn broke the Hero¡¯s sword, prating his side. The boy flew for a long time, crashing into a window reeking of decay. Even though he had suffered severe injuries, including a pierced side, he justy there dazed. ¡°Run away. All of you.¡± And he rose again. ¡®I am lost for words.¡¯ A broken sword. A wobbling body. Despite knowing that the Hero would not die here, the sense of impending doom sent shivers down my spine. But he couldn¡¯t fight any longer. Woong! It was because of the faint silhouette that suddenly appeared before him. The Hero instinctively thrust his sword, but the figure easily avoided it and cast a surface magic with a wave of his hand. ¡®¡­Who is it?¡¯ The Hero had a powerful resistance to magic. There were stories that even a mage of Beyond Grade would find it difficult to sessfully cast magic on him. A mage who could break through such magic resistance with a single gesture. Only one name came to my mind. ¡®¡­Zero?¡¯ The white skeleton lying in the cave of the guardian. Was that really not Zero? The namete with the name ¡®Depikio Lugo¡¯ shed in his mind. ¡®Then where did Zero go?¡¯ In the midst of suchplicated thoughts, the Hero¡¯s vision flickered. The Hero, as if desperately trying to ascertain the identity of the silhouette, looked up at him even as he fell. But that was the end. Creaking- A rapidly crumbling scene. It feltpletely different from the previous two fades, and I realized that this wasn¡¯t the process of transitioning to the next memory but rather reaching the end of the memory. ¡°¡­¡± Instead of the dimly lit space, a patterned wooden bookshelf appeared before me. The scent of books permeated the air. It was also at this moment that I noticed a change in ¡®the Iris of Lace¡¯ for the first time. * * * ¨‹ [Thus, the mes ignited.] ¡ø ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 30 Chapter 30 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¨‹ The memories of fallen enemies fattened the sessor¡¯s spiritual flesh. * Progress has been unlocked. * Understanding has been unlocked. ¨C The ¡®Forge, Firewood, mes¡¯ category has been unlocked. ¨C Previous user: Deepened understanding of ¡®Ted Redymer.¡¯ ¨C User¡¯s racial ability: Completed learning ¡®Evolutionary Polymorph.¡¯ Linking rted information with the artifact. ¨C The limit of Evolutionary Polymorph has increased. ¨C Redemption Ritual: ¡®Halo of the First Form¡¯ has been unlocked. ¨C Some lost memories have been recovered. ¡ø ¡­.. Various changes to the Iris of Lace, simr to when I first acquired it, naturally entered my mind. But at the moment, those things didn¡¯t immediately catch my eye. ¡°¡­¡± I looked at the book in my hand, covered with dusty fingerprints, at a loss for words. Its aged and worn-out appearance carried a different meaning now. ¡®Coming back every year to reflect on such memories.¡¯ I thought it would contain good memories. I had no idea it would reveal the density of tragedy during his childhood that was suffocating enough to choke me. ¡®I understand the intention, but¡­.¡¯ It¡¯s in the same context as the names of the dead covering my body. A device to grasp oneself. To perpetually ignite remorse, it thoroughly contemtes the most horrifying memories. ¡­A self-examination. ¡®¡­The Iris of Lace mentioned that there are multiple memories.¡¯ I wonder if everything else was in a simr situation. I sighed and opened my mouth. ¡°Surreptitiously watching people is not a good habit, Rosalyn.¡± Rosalyn, who had been observing me intently through the gaps in the bookshelves, grinned mischievously. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. You seemed to be making such a painful expression.¡± ¡°A habit of misunderstanding people is not good either.¡± ¡°Should I consider it a misunderstanding?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Please give me the book. I¡¯ll organize it for you.¡± I handed her the book. She gently swept her finger over the cover once before returning it to its original ce. Humm! Memories flowed through the air, scattering light and dust. ¡°Does that mean you¡¯ve finished all your business today with this?¡± I nodded. There was one more important matter. It¡¯s an unconfirmed record, but ording to it, Zero Requiem, the owner of the library of memories, has his memories stored here as well. It was information I received from Nyhill. ¡°Rosalyn, I have one more question.¡± ¡°If I can answer, feel free to ask.¡± ¡°Are the memories left by your master also in this library?¡± If anyone knows the answer to this question, it would be her, who shares the same origin with this library. With that expectation, I looked at her. But she, who had been speaking so confidently, suddenly fell silent as if she had be dumbfounded. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ I sensed a strange change. Her expression was gradually disappearing. The humanity and liveliness I felt in her gestures and speech were rapidly evaporating. It was eerie. After a few more seconds, Rosalyn transformed into an entirely different being. Droplets ¨C like rolling ss eyes. I noticed her gaze shifting towards the Iris of Lace and my robe, which had stopped its transformation and took on the appearance of Zero¡¯s robe. ¡°I have confirmed it.¡± I raised an eyebrow in confusion. Rosalyn slowly lowered her head. I realized her ¡®true identity.¡¯ ¡°I will greet you again. I am Rosalyn Requiem, the librarian responsible for this library, and¡­¡± ¡®Memorize¡¯ is a magic that stores the memories of the subject in a specific form. ¡°I am the vessel containing the memories of the owner.¡± That form didn¡¯t necessarily have to be a book. Recorded magical entity: Linked with Rosalyn Requiem. ¨‹ Regarding the changes in this artifact, I rmend seeking assistance from her. ¡ø I said, ¡°I will ess you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not possible.¡± I opened my mouth again. ¡°I will ess you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not possible.¡± A prompt response. * * * ¡°Not possible?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be impatient. You¡¯ll see when the timees.¡± The Hero, who was looking into her eyes devoid of any emotion, realized that she had no intention of exining further about Zero¡¯s memories. ¡®For now, I should be satisfied with obtaining a clue.¡¯ As for Zero¡¯s memories, just like before, he didn¡¯t know what conditions needed to be satisfied for them to be unlocked. The Hero decided to step back. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s get to the main point.¡± ¡°Good idea.¡± ¡°The Iris of Lace is asking for your assistance regarding the changes.¡± ¡°What specific aspect are you curious about?¡± Among thements that appeared, there was one item that he couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Progress has been unlocked.¡± The understanding was undoubtedly referring to ¡®Polymorph Understanding.¡¯ It should indicate the understanding of the subject for which Polymorph is to be performed. But what does ¡®Progress¡¯ mean? ¡°I¡¯m curious about what ¡®Progress¡¯ means.¡± Rosalyn paused for a moment. The library fell into temporary silence. ¡°By now, you might have guessed why my owner created the Iris of Lace and for what purpose.¡± The Hero nodded without insisting on the changed title. Rosalyn had already concluded the artifact¡¯s role. ¡°For the salvation of humanity, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct. As the inheritor of my owner¡¯s legacy, you are the savior who must navigate through that great path.¡± Rosalyn¡¯s slender finger touched the eyepiece. ¡°A series of instructions rted to this is embedded inside.¡± He felt vibrations in the sses, andments started appearing before his eyes. ¡°Check the progress.¡± ¡°The hearth cannot withstand even a slight increase in heat.¡± ¡°Damp logs and faded ashes are umted.¡± ¡°As a result, the embers are weak.¡± ¡°The end of winter is still far away.¡± When he looked at Rosalyn with questioning eyes, she exined. ¡°The hearth represents your ¡®strength.''¡± ¡°My strength?¡± ¡°The sentence will change as you grow. Rewards will follow.¡± Ways to increase the progress of the hearth were exined: ¨C Increase understanding of Polymorph. ¨C Obtain powerful equipment. ¨C Acquire unique abilities like Gaia¡¯s. ¨C Transcend through training, among others. [PR/N: These arements shown in the artifact, or through it, and not a system message] ¡°These are the paths for you to be stronger.¡± ¡°Logs represent allies.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Children orrades, like Pia, were part of the logs. Their conditions, indicating the growth of their bodies or minds, were evaluated. Unity and bonds were considered factors. ¡°Finally, the me¡­¡± Rosalyn quietly recited and raised her hand. WOONG! As the illusionary magic activated, thendscape of the ruined eastern continent passed before his eyes. On the ancient human grounds, various grotesque creatures were howling. ¡°The me¡¯s sentence represents ¡®humanity.''¡± Simply put, it indicated how much had been reimed from the demons. The subjugation of high-ranking demons, reiming of territory, and cleansing of the demon realm could elerate progress. Hearth, logs, me. By diligently working towards changes in these three sentences, the Iris of Lace would provide corresponding rewards. Understood. ¡°These are things that need to be done anyway. But¡­¡± There was something I was curious about ¡°There must have been a more intuitive way to indicate progress than these sentences. Like a numerical value.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll consider that as per your preference.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Do you have any additional questions?¡± Shaking my head in refusal, I watched as she reached her hand toward the void. ¡°I¡¯ll conclude here.¡± WUUUUUNG- A portal appeared in the rear. It was a summoning spell. * * * Ban walked, recalling the events of a few days ago. ¡­The day he had fainted during the Demonology ss. ¡°Ban, are you okay?¡± ¡°But why did you faint?¡± ¡°ording to Lucas, you often do that.¡± ¡°He fainted even in primary and middle academies. Is it still not better?¡± As soon as they returned to the dormitory, the barrage of questions from the kids continued. ¡®Ah.¡¯ Ban, though timid, was not foolish. He well understood that the purpose of those seemingly concerned words was merely to satisfy curiosity. ¡­Who might have ignited that curiosity could be easily guessed. ¡®Lucas.¡¯ The son of the Duke of Wellington. An ¡°evil friend¡± he had known since childhood, whether in the social circle or the primary and middle academies. Throughout history, the guy has spread quite meaningful rumors about him. ¡°¡­Huh.¡± If Cuculli hadn¡¯t suddenly intervened this time, it would have been quite embarrassing. ¡°Oh, are all the weaklings gathered here? Anyone wants to spar?!¡± As the kids dispersed in a rush, Cuculli chuckled and went on her way. ¡®Even though it passed over so smoothly this time¡­¡¯ The kids¡¯ interest would not die down quickly. Ban sighed deeply. ¡®Can I break free from this symptom?¡¯ Wielding a sword was fine. As long as it didn¡¯t escte beyond the level of controlled sparring, he could manage somehow. But the moment he thought about piercing and bending something with his own hands, his body stiffened involuntarily. From the perspective of a swordsman, it could be a fatal disqualification. ¡®¡­Still, I won¡¯t give up.¡¯ Ban remembered the words of the Hero. ¡®When you want to give up, remember why you started.¡¯ A Hero. He, a person of an entirely different kind than himself, would probably find it challenging to understand vulnerability and humility. Yet, for some reason, Ban felt that this man understood him more deeply than anyone else, providing him with the courage to endure even at the brink. Perhaps, there might be a small hope that this situation could improve. ¡°¡­¡± Ban raised his head and looked at the moonlight reflecting softly on the nearby buildings. Due to theck of other facilities nearby, only the sound of chirping crickets filled the silence. The Library of Memories was one of the reasons he came to Rosenstark. ¡®¡­This is the only ce.¡¯ The only space where he could pursue his vanished mother, erased from the family without leaving a trace. The problem was that he couldn¡¯t ess this ce until he reached the graduation year. He had to endure somehow for four years. Even if he faced any adversity, he became aughingstock. He couldn¡¯t give up on this. At that moment, the bell rang. Dang! Dang! It was the signal for curfew. To avoid getting demerits, he had to return now. Ban swallowed his disappointment and turned his head. What he didn¡¯t know was that, just like him, a small-horned Frost Dragon girl was also in front of the Library of Memories. * * * In the researchb. The dimly lit space covered in shadows seemed even quieter today. ¡®I wonder if Pia left work early.¡¯ Fortunately, it seemed so. The Hero didn¡¯t feel like talking with anyone at the moment, so he was grateful. So, he let the two guys who were lingering around the Library of Memories go first without saying anything. ¡°Phew¡­.¡± First, it seemed like he needed to check his gains. He activated the Iris of Lace. ¡®The limit of the Evolution Polymorph has increased. Understanding of the Hero has elevated, causing further growth in the Polymorph.¡¯ The growth rate was beyond his expectations. The detailed changes in his abilities would only be apparent by directly wielding the sword in training, but roughly speaking, he felt like he had be twice as powerfulpared to before. Perhaps, he wouldn¡¯t be far behind even against the intermediate demons. And¡­ Salvation Ritual ¨C ¡®Halo Type 1¡¯ has been unlocked. The Hero stared at thement. ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t expect to be able to use the Salvation Ritual so quickly.¡± The Salvation Ritual was a crucial technique for a Hero. It was a powerful finishing move that allowed a human to confront transcendent beings by embodying their skills into a ¡®ritual.¡¯ ¡®Halo¡¯ represented the first type. It significantly enhanced the power of the sword, allowing the wielder to freely transform the properties and form of the sword for a certain period after activation. The Halo Type 1 would allow him to unleash a vastly more powerful sword energy. Although he could probably only cast it once with his current skill level, it was potent enough to save his life in a critical situation. ¡®With my current skills, I can swing the sword a bit more like a warrior and fight a bit more.¡¯ ¡°¡­This should be enough for gains.¡± The Hero ced the Iris of Lace on the table. The visit to the Library of Memories had brought him a significant advancement. I¡¯ve be stronger. My goals have be clearer. The worries I had beforeing to the academy seem trivial now, given the smooth situation. ¡°¡­.¡± However, the reason my heart is unsettled is probably because of the memories I saw earlier. The zing mes. Beside the river at sunset. And the boy¡¯s scream. ¡®That¡¯s all in the past.¡¯ Humans are said to be beings that go through continuous cycles of growth. There are no naturally strong humans from birth. It was a straightforward story. But why is it different for the Hero? The hero was considered an exception. Everyone thought of him as someone who had an iron-like heart and transcendent mental strength from the beginning. A transcendent being chosen by the gods as the savior. No one tried to imagine him as anything less. ¡­The face of the boy standing alone on the rain-soaked battlefieldes to mind. An inexperienced boy who didn¡¯t know what to do in the face of overwhelming despair. He became an indomitable Hero. I wonder what more that boy went through during the time I don¡¯t know. ¡°¡­.¡± Creak! The shaking ss. The hero with an unfamiliar expression reflected and disappeared repeatedly. ¡°Can I be like you?¡± In reality, an answer wasn¡¯t necessary. I knew what he would say. ¡°Judging the possibility of something you have to do is foolish. Just do it.¡± A calm voice seemed to resonate, and I clenched my fist tightly. What do I have to do? The task that only I can do. The path I chose. ¡°Sigh¡­.¡± The cool and clear breeze of a spring night tickled my forehead. With a clearer mind, I closed my eyelids. Yes, now it was my mission. * * * ng! A sharp sound of metal. I pushed with force, shifting my weight, and looked at the face beyond the entangled des. The eyes that were always full of mischief were now burning seriously. ¡°Professor! It¡¯s time for you to pay attention!¡± Kasim shouted, full of determination. ¡­How did things end up like this? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 31 Chapter 31 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª It was a usual morning, Pia was busy with paperwork in one corner of theb, and I was contemting how to conduct next week¡¯s sses. The intrusion of an unexpected guest happened about thirty minutes ago. ¡°Come to think of it, Miss Joyce looks quite simr to the professor, doesn¡¯t she? The hair and eye color are simr.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s avoid making inappropriatements about the professor.¡± ¡°Why? What¡¯s inappropriate about it?¡± ¡°The professor is unusually handsome.¡± ¡°Miss Joyce is beautiful too, haha!¡± ¡°¡­Really annoying.¡± Leaning against the desk partition, Kasim continued with trivial stories. Before Pia¡¯s sigh could deepen, I spoke up. ¡°What¡¯s with the serious face early in the morning? Such a face full of concerns.¡± ¡°¡­Oh, you noticed right away.¡± Doppelgangers are observant. Sometimes you see things you don¡¯t want to see, like Kasim¡¯s sinking expression every time he makes a joke. ¡°Even down to the details, the Professor is perfect.¡± Approaching with a coaxing smile, as if he had been waiting. I regretted pretending to know him and looked at him. ¡°That¡¯s what I wanted to say¡­¡± ¡°Keep it simple.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± I thought it would be a trivial matter like a girl¡¯s problem. However, contrary to my expectations, Kasim¡¯s concern was quite substantial. ¡°My swordsmanship skills have hit a teau.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been a year already.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Kasim got frustrated at my expression. ¡°Just now, you thought it was because of my femalepanionship, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s more strange not to think so.¡± ¡°You might not believe it, but it¡¯s really not like that!¡± It was an unjust expression. ¡°I¡¯ve never been negligent in practice. Rather, I¡¯ve increased my training recently, but there¡¯s no progress as if hitting a wall. It¡¯s frustrating.¡± It was then that I noticed his palms spread out in front of him. The calluses on his worn-out skin were revealed. His talent in swordsmanship was something I had heard before. To secure the position of a professor at Rosenstark at such a young age, he must have had remarkable talent. I remembered admiringly watching him train a few times by chance. Talent and effort. Even though he possessed both, there was one reason he faced a wall. ¡°When were you appointed?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been four years this year. Why¡­?¡± ¡°You were appointed right after graduating from graduate school. Have you fulfilled your mandatory service?¡± ¡°Well, due to certain circumstances¡­¡± Kasim blurred the end of his sentence, avoiding eye contact. There are few cases where a healthy noble avoids military service. Without further probing, I spoke. ¡°Seems obvious. Theck of practical experience is probably hindering you.¡± ¡°Even though I train as close to realbat as possible with my colleagues every time.¡± ¡°As close to realbat as possible?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Kasim¡¯s gaze naturally went to the scars on my forearm, visible beyond the shirt sleeves. ¡°I¡­ I said something stupid.¡± I teased the disheartened him. ¡°In any case, immediately leaving the professorship and heading to the battlefield isn¡¯t feasible, is it?¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°Then, how about traveling around during the vacation and engaging in some sparring?¡± ¡°Sparring?¡± ¡°If you meet opponents who are significantly stronger than you and not familiar with their patterns, you might realize something.¡± In simpler terms, it was a suggestion to change training partners. Preferably, someone stronger. ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t leave for realbat without reason.¡± Talented individuals gain a lot even in battles against overwhelmingly skilled opponents through martial arts, unlike in regr training. Thest martial arts opponent for the Hero was the legendary swordsman ¡®Zion Hiyashin.¡¯ Initially, facing such a powerhouse would have been impossible, but through martial arts, he became stronger and eventually defeated the era¡¯s strongest swordsman. ¡°If you face overwhelming opponents, you might see what lies beyond your current limits.¡± The moment I finished speaking, our eyes met under the sparkling lights. ¡°¡­ ¡­ ¡­¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­ ¡­¡± ¡°Sparring with overwhelming experts¡­¡± ¡°I refuse.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do better from now on!¡± And thus, the sparring arrangement was settled. * * * Wow! As we arrived at the faculty training ground, enthusiastic cheers erupted as if they had been waiting for us. I looked at Kasim with a sense of unease. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect there would be spectators.¡± ¡°I only told one person¡­ Sorry. Should I shoo them away?¡± The crowd was quite small. Faces filled with deep admiration and eagerness to learn were visible. Most of them were young professors, associate professors, and contract lecturers, not much older than Kasim. Their gaze toward me was more friendlypared to the veteran professors. If I were to needlessly provoke them, the goodwill might turn into resentment. Probably, there would be a few posts on Connector about this. ¨C I went to watch the sparring between the Hero and Kasim, but they said it was private. Why kick us out? ©¸ ¡°What¡¯s the big deal if it¡¯s open to the public? They show off their upper bodies well, but why not the sparring?¡± ©¸ ¡°They charge a ridiculous amount for admission.¡± ©¸ ¡°Why not have sparring when you¡¯re going to show off the upper body so well?¡± It was a dizzying imagination. ¡°Leave them alone.¡± ¡°Yeah, as expected. Your influence is broad.¡± ¡°Enough of that. Let¡¯s get started.¡± I slowly drew the ck Hope. In reality, sparring with Kasim wasn¡¯t a losing proposition for me either. It was an opportunity for me to directly experience the growth of the Polymorph. Before visiting the Library of Memories, I couldn¡¯t guarantee victory. Even disregarding how much stronger I became, it was difficult to predict a defeat given the potent effects of the modified Salvation Ritual. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get started.¡± As the sparring began, I thought, ¡®Even if Kasim is highly regarded among the young professors, it doesn¡¯t seem likely that he¡¯ll win, however, he¡¯s not a pushover either.¡¯ While observing Kasim on the opposite side, I couldn¡¯t help but think. ¡®It might be a good idea to make Kasim indebted to me now. He¡¯s already favorably disposed towards me. If I continue building rapport, he might bepletely supportive.¡¯ Without realizing it, I had moved to the opposite side, closely watching Kasim as he adjusted his stance. His weapon of choice was a rapier. With one hand holding the sword in a forward position and the other poised for a follow-up attack, he seemed to have no visible openings. ¡®¡­ How strong is he?¡¯ The goals of this sparring match were twofold: To assist Kasim in his improvement and to gauge and internalize my growth. The n was to engage in a bnced exchange of attacks and defenses. ¡°Here Ie!¡± Kasim forcefully struck the ground and rushed towards me. Thud! The silhouette that had been in the distance suddenly loomedrge. A thrust. ng! ng! I used the wide surface of the ck Hope like a shield to deflect his rapid attacks. The grip of my hand holding the polymel transmitted a strong rebound. ¡­He was faster and stronger than I expected. Swish! Through the rising dust and dirt, something sparkled. In an instant, the tip of his sword approached me. I turned my body halfway to evade the follow-up attack, using my heel to strike Kasim¡¯s thigh from behind. Crack! It was an unarmed blow, but there was an undeniable difference in our ranks. A considerably loud groan echoed through the air. I waited patiently as I watched Kasim limping, as he created distance between us. ¡®Certainly, my movements are much lighter than before. Am I reaching the level of a true undergraduate student now?¡¯ But that wasn¡¯t the only change. If the previous growth had focused on overallbat strength enhancement, this time, my detection abilities had also improved. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡®¡­ I can read his movements.¡¯ I lowered my head. Swish! The tip of the sword grazed past my throat narrowly. I easily avoided the subsequent attacks. Wooooong! Kasim solemnly raised his magic power. The sensation of rapidly increasing mana with one-second intervals. Whether he thought I wouldn¡¯t be hurt or if he intended to give it his all, his determination was evident. ¡®Now, it begins.¡¯ I gripped the sword firmly. I nned to fight in a somewhat different manner. ¡°Waaaah!¡± ¡°Kasim, you can do it!¡± ¡°Show us!¡± Kasim charged towards me. * * * The rapier is trash. ¡®It has more than one or two drawbacks.¡¯ The low destructive power is due to its lightweight. This inevitably leads torger movements. High risk, low return, so to speak. Although the quick thrusting motion is powerful, encountering someone in armor was a sure defeat. Unless you are lucky enough to strike through the gaps in the armor, you won¡¯t be able to deal any significant damage. And yet, against tougher foes d in even sturdier leather, the rapier was practically useless. Generally, rapiers weren¡¯t used in major battles against formidable creatures. They were mainly reserved for personal defense in urban settings. ¡­But the moment people gained the ability to use mana, all these weaknesses disappeared. The piercing power, once confined to a single point, transformed into an area-of-effect spell capable of pulverizing a certain area, just like now. Swoosh! Quaaaa! The sound of air being torn preceded the attack. What followed was a hefty thrust, with Kasim swiftly shifting his center of gravity up and down, assaulting me with various stabs. Neck, thigh, nk, shoulder¡ªtarget points changed several times in a single second. ¡°¡­¡± However, the Hero¡¯s response was simple. Kuung! The ck hope delved into the floor of the training ground. The massive sword nted on the ground formed a shield-like posture. Kkigigigik-! The thrusts flowed through the inclined sword face without much impact. The decreasing force was evident. The spectators marveled at this creative defense. Kwajik! The Hero, leveraging his weight on the polymel, lifted the floor. Stones, gravel, and earth on the sword¡¯s face were tossed upwards. ¡®Using the sword as a lever!?¡¯ Kasim eximed in surprise. The Hero swung the de, hurling the debris away. It was an unexpected, unorthodox, and creative attack. ¡°Kreuk!¡± Kasim hastily covered his eyes and retreated. The Hero¡¯s elbow, charged with magic this time, struck Kasim¡¯s side, sending him rolling several times through the air. ¡°¡­Kkuk.¡± ¡°Not bad, Kasim,¡± The Hero said with a raised corner of his mouth, watching Kasim rise. In that brief moment, he had raised his knee to deflect the attack, defending himself. ¡°Heuk, heuk.¡± Kasim shook his head as if trying to shake off the shock. Beyond his swaying vision, motionless gray pupils could be seen. This was not the ¡®Simtionbat¡¯ you have experienced so far. Those eyes seemed to say that. Even for a moment, it was a gaze that seemed to oppress him. For a while, the sense of helplessness dominated¡­ ¡°¡­Interesting.¡± Kasim burst intoughter. This wasn¡¯t the usual exchange of sword blows but a training full of various abnormalities. It was like the wall that poured out everything you had on but you still couldn¡¯t ovee it. Kasim felt the joy of breaking free from the constraints of conventional swordsmanship. He grabbed his sword, and a wide grin spread across his face. Of course, the Hero was also thoroughly enjoying the sparring. ¡®If I hadn¡¯t grown stronger this time, it would have been a bit much, but¡­¡¯ Now, he could y with ease. ¨‹ Targeting the sternocleidomastoid muscle¡­ Piercing targeting the pectoral muscle¡­ ¡ø Moreover, with thements from the Iris of Lace¡ª The Hero, as if possessing foresight, avoided all of Kasim¡¯s attacks as if there were only a paper-thin difference between them. Perfect evasion. And perfect evasion movements turned into excellent attack preparation. ¡°Chit!¡± It was the moment after Kasim made a big thrust and retracted the sword. From the Hero¡¯s twisted waist for evasion, a tremendous rotational force erupted. *Kaga-ga-kang!* Kasim¡¯s rapier, which barely blocked the counterattack, shook as if it were about to break. If it weren¡¯t for the full magical power, the de would have shattered immediately. With a wobble, Kasim dropped one knee, but without yielding, he hit the ground with the opposite palm and stood up. The eyes, once full of mischief, now burned with intense seriousness. The Hero¡¯s eyes showed a hint of satisfaction. ¡®Even thought this attack was supposed to end the spar, he still reacted to it.¡¯ He was growing in real-time. ¡°¡­¡± The onlookers fell silent. They had expected an entertaining spectacle due to the overwhelming difference in skill, but what unfolded before them was a lesson about growth. ¡°You should use short and concise thrusts.¡± ¡°Your fastest weapon doesn¡¯t reach, why do you keep mixing in big attacks?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rush. Forcingplexity into your patterns will only reduce your effectiveness.¡± *Ching-!* ¡°Yes, just like that. When pushed into a corner, relying on tricks will only hasten your downfall.¡± Heaving breaths. ¡°Being hasty. Forcingplexity into your patterns reduces your power, you know.¡± *Ching-!* A subdued voice. A sharp clinking sound echoed in the training ground. The spectators looked at Kasim with eyes mixed with envy and admiration. ¡°If only I were there instead of Kasim!¡± The desire for learning that had been forgotten wriggled within them. At that moment, Kasim dered. ¡°Professor! It¡¯s time to end this!¡± The Hero chuckled in response. It was about time, anyway. There was no need to show a bnced performance until the end. ¡°¡­I need an impressive finish.¡± For the first time since the sparring began, the Hero took a step back. Kasim, about to pursue, stopped abruptly, feeling an inexplicable sense of crisis. The two stood facing each other, about thirty meters apart at the ends of the training ground. Srrung- The greatsword was lifted parallel to the ground. Underneath the tunic, taut muscles and veins became prominent, and simultaneously, the massive and pitch-ck lump of iron began to vibrate. ¡­Everything darkened. The indoor lighting remained the same, but the spectators felt as if an inky darkness enveloped them. Woo-woo-woo-woo! ¡°What, what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°I-is that possible?¡± From the origin of the darkness¡­ A ring of light gradually revealed itself. A halo. ¡°Is that, by any chance!¡± Its appearance resembled the radiant circle that surrounds the sun and moon, hence the name. One of the spectators unconsciously spoke up. ¡°The Salvation Sigil¡­ It¡¯s the Salvation Sigil.¡± Soon, simultaneous cheers erupted. ¡°Oh my goodness¡­¡± ¡°Halo, it¡¯s a total eclipse!¡± The Hero took a deep breath, then, with a small but clear voice, he said, ¡°Do not block it, evade.¡± With that, the greatsword swung. Red, blue, white, and yellow hues swept around, creating a dazzling disy. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 32 Chapter 32 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Death. Certainly, he was going to die. Kasim thought so, looking at the bright light before him. Intense tension burned his mind white. He had forgotten where he stood, that it was an arena, the eyes of hisrades watching him, and even the identity of the opponent he faced. A swirling darkness. The approaching radiance resembling dawn was the only clear thing. ¡®What is this¡­¡¯ It felt like waking up in the middle of the night sea. Was the light from a lighthouse? Or perhaps the jaws of a sea monster trying to devour him? ¡°Do not block it, evade.¡± ¡­Kasim raised his sword. Tsutsutsu! tsutsutsu! shes were nearing. Clumps of mana shot in all directions from the tip of the sword, like a spider web. It was the shape of the sword energy that he had never sessfully manifested before. ¡°Aaaah!!¡± Surrounded by a faint halo, he leaped forward with all his might. Kwaaaa! As Kasim extended his sword, fragments of light exploded, covering everything with a roar. ©¤©¤!! Vibrations followed. The entire spacious arena trembled, shaking so violently that the onlookers felt it in their bones. Hwiuuuuu! Then, a strong wind tousled the hair of everyone standing there, gazing beyond the rising dust. They stared as if forgetting to breathe when the immense force shook the entire arena. Ping! Amidst the lingering smoke, Kasim¡¯s rapier, enveloped in a faint glow, fell to the floor. It was an incongruous clear sound. A suppressed groan followed. ¡°Huuk, kuh.¡± In the cleared center of the dusty arena, Kasim forced himself to stand immediately. His trembling pupils didn¡¯t settle on the fallen rapier or the shattered hilt. Halo. Kasim, his mouth slightly agape, stared at the fading halo. Beyond it, as usual, the Hero calmly retrieved his sword. Kasim staggered, sinking to his knees. It was inevitable. Even though he had exerted all his strength, he couldn¡¯t block it. If the Hero hadn¡¯t retrieved his sword in the middle, the Halo would have pierced through his sword energy, splitting him in half. It was aplete defeat. ¡°Haha, uhaha.¡± But Kasimughed. How could he not? If you were a swordsman. If you had ever held a sword. There was no way not to feel the overwhelming sense of power and victory at this moment. It was irresistible. ¡°Halo¡­¡± Kasim looked at the awestruck audience. They, too, felt the same sense of transcendence, having lived their lives with a sword as their constantpanion. The grand journey of humanity¡¯s salvation. The first act is decorated by the sword. The aesthetics and essence contained in the sr eclipse led them to distant thrills. Awe. In thatmotion, the Hero calmly moved towards Kasim. They stared at each other in silence for a moment. ¡°How about that?¡± ¡°Ah, um.¡± *** Silence lingered as they looked at each other for a moment. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± ¡°Ah, well.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Haha, I thought I was pretty eloquent, but I still have a long way to go.¡± Kasim chuckled softly. It wasn¡¯t the usual refined smile he often put on, but a bright, boyish one. ¡°Discovering an amazingly beautiful ideal type¡­?¡± ¡°A rather peculiar sentiment.¡± The blue scrutinizing eyes of the Hero. ¡°Professor.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°People who stood on the battlefield with you, they must have experienced something like this at least once, right?¡± A question with an unknown feeling behind it followed. Nodding, the Hero felt, for the first time, that he was looking deep into Kasim¡¯s soul. ¡°Thank you.¡± And so, the curtain of their sparring fell. ¨‹ The firewood was stacked, But the hearth was still cold and dark. ¡ø * * * ¨C Summary of the Report {¡°Western Coastal City: About the Lord of Astoar, House Pierre.¡±} Author: No. 3 ¡®Large-scale territory.¡¯ ¡®Current Lord, Argon Pierre.¡¯ ¡®He has two sons below him.¡¯ ¡®Three years ago, the previous lord, Tia Pierre,mitted suicide.¡¯ ¡®Seven years ago, eldest son Baron Pierre, fell in the Battle of Maeton ins.¡¯ ¡®Youngest son, Kasim Pierre, currently serves as a professor in the Academy of Combat Arts.¡¯ ¨C Draft of the Report {¡°About Kasim Pierre.¡±} Author: No. 3 ¡®Regr prescription and consumption of sleeping pills.¡¯ ¡®Not returning home for an extended period.¡¯ ¡®Confirmed secret meetings with three maids in the professor¡¯s quarters and one in the dormitory.¡¯ ¡®Continued expression of interest in Sta (awkward).¡¯ ¨C Report to be supplemented and submitted promptly. . . . Before submitting the report, a new notification appeared in front of the Hero who had read the report. ¨‹ Understanding of Kasim Pierre deepens. Understanding Level: 5/100 ¨C 8/100 Comments from Kasim Pierre will be added. ¨C Remaining Record ¡ø * * * Several days passed without any notable events after the sparring with Kasim. One peculiar note was that, after that day, there seemed to be an increase in young professors subtly asking for lessons. ¡°Professor, could you perhaps show me a move-¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not too much trouble, could you assess my swordsmanship once-¡± ¡°¡­Make it quick.¡± ¡°Wow! Understood!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do my best!¡± It was a bit bothersome, but it was desirable that their skills were improving. ¡®Considering it, it¡¯s all part of humanity¡¯s efforts.¡¯ Gaining the trust of the young professors rtively easily was also a positive development. Kasim looked somewhat fed up with the constant requests. ¡°The constant whining about wanting to meet the professor, it¡¯s like dealing with teenage girls¡­ ¡± ¡­ Other than that, things were simr. Training and preparing for sses. And asionally, gathering information. However, with the announcement of next week¡¯s schedule, I sensed that I would soon be very busy. [Student Counseling] ¡®Counselling¡­ I¡¯ve been thinking that I should do it at least once.¡¯ The story went like this. There had been students at Rosenstark who had been expressing feelings of depression for quite some time. It was understandable. Stress due to life in a foreignnd, rigorous course curriculum, strict performance evaluations, friction arising from living with strangers, and various other factors could act as significant stressors for the students in their prime. ¡®I remember hearing that the number of dropouts has been increasing statistically.¡¯ Considering the tremendous merits that Rosenstark¡¯s graduation certificate offered, it was quite surprising. In any case, due to these reasons, Principal Yussi took exceptional measures. The long-neglected counselling system was making a fulleback. ¡°Unir professors must counsel students monthly, and submit the results to me.¡± ¡­ Honestly, up to this point, it was quite favorable for me. I recalled what Rosalyn had said. ¡®Finding capable allies is important, but equally crucial is how sincerely they pursue the same goals as you. Elicit their favor, loyalty, and trust. If you build a genuine rtionship, the dynamics will undoubtedly change.¡¯ Even without this system, some of the students among the extreme ones with shadowy faces had caught my attention. ¡®¡­Especially in the Bend.¡¯ By utilizing such a system, I could more easily converse with the kids, understanding the issues they were facing. ¡®But that¡¯s not the only thing.¡¯ Among the extreme students, there were talented individuals whom I had been closely watching as potential future candidates for Heros. Ban Dietrich, Leciel Hiyashin, Cuculli Evans, and Luke Selsood. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª It was a great opportunity to build closer rtionships with them. ¡®The problem lies in the direction of counselling if there is any issue¡­¡¯ So far, I have imitated the ¡®real¡¯ while living my academy life. Therefore, in counselling too, I should follow suit. I briefly imagined the ¡®real¡¯ sitting in the counselling room. ¡°Endure.¡± ¡°Ovee.¡± ¡°What changes byining?¡± ¡°Stress is nourishment. Think about how to use it instead of whining.¡± In terms of mindset, he pursued diligence to an extent that could be considered harsh. Dealing with kids in this way was an arduous task. ¡®What would be the right way to conduct counselling? Should I be intimate even if it causes some difort?¡¯ As my contemtion deepened, my appetite waned. I put down the fork. ¡°Do you have any worries?¡± It was Kasim, who had be a regr member of our fixed meals, who spoke to me. Pia¡¯s gaze was also fixed on me. The ce was the researchb. It was before evening training, and we were eating takeout in the dining hall. I shook my head lightly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just finish your meal without worrying about it.¡± ¡°Is it because of the counselling next week?¡± ¡­He¡¯s quick-witted. Kasim, confident that his guess was correct based on my reaction, nodded energetically. ¡°Counselling is not easy, especially for someone like Professor. It¡¯s even more difficult.¡± ¡°Yourment makes me curious about your sincerity, Professor Pierre.¡± ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s not that¡­¡± Kasim hastily nodded his head. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s not easy because you¡¯re too good.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about your legendary existence.¡± I immediately grasped the meaning of Kasim¡¯s words. ¡°It¡¯s possible that counselling may not even take ce.¡± ¡°Yes. From the students¡¯ perspective, it might not seem right to confess their own worries to you, Professor.¡± He probably thought there might not even be a hint of interest. ¡°Moreover, you¡¯ve been¡­ rather strict instead of scary. It¡¯s a bit off for the basics of counselling¡± ¡°Make the client talk about their story.¡± ¡­This makes some sense. It was a w I hadn¡¯t considered. I¡¯ve been pondering only on this side of the stance, not thinking about the students¡¯ perspective. ¡°Hmm.¡± Kasim smiled proudly. ¡°This time, I think I can help the Professor a bit.¡± ¡°¡­If you have any suggestions, go ahead.¡± ¡°To open the students¡¯ mouths, first, you need to build internal intimacy.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± ¡°Then, when do you build the most internal intimacy?¡± Kasim passionately exined. Somehow, he seemed like an expert. ¡°When the counselor shows an empathetic attitude.¡± ¡°¡­Empathetic attitude?¡± ¡°Let me give you a simple example, Miss Joyce.¡± Pia, who was listening quietly, looked at Kasim in surprise. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ no need to be nervous. It¡¯s a simple question. Professor, please think about the answer as well.¡± Kasim, who had been speaking, suddenly put on a serious expression. ¡°Oh~! I bought a new dress because I was so depressed.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Whates to mind?¡± Pia was the first thing that came to mind. ¡®Why did you buy a new dress when you¡¯re depressed?¡¯ But I shook my head. That¡¯s an overly analytical perspective. Kasim mentioned an empathetic attitude. Focusing on emotions should be the answer. ¡®Why are you depressed¡¯ would be the answer¡­ ¡°Hmm, did the speaker buy a new dress because of an old one? Maybe they¡¯re the type with vanity.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± I looked at Kasim. Kasim looked at me. Pia¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Wait¡­ Pia, would you like to answer this question too? If we share our sadness?¡± Kasim continued with a different question instead of giving the answer. Pia, looking puzzled, answered dutifully, ¡°Two people be sad together.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Pia, who had been observing our reactions, quietly changed her answer. It was a voice that seemed a bit uncertain. ¡°¡­Sadness and joy?¡± ¡°Oh my goodness.¡± Kasim looked at her with an expression of disbelief. I stopped him from continuing with the next question as I understood what she wanted to say. ¡°Geniuses are naturally extraordinary! Haha!¡± Pia nced at both of us. It didn¡¯t feel good to be treated like Kasim. ¡°Anyway¡­¡± Pia said with a flushed face. ¡°¡­Professor, you¡¯ll do well in counseling, for sure.¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a very kind person, after all.¡± Heh, Kasim blocked her words. It felt a bit ticklish. ¡°So, you¡¯ll be good at taking care of the kids¡­ um, was that a bit off-topic just now?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Pia mimicked Kasim, covering her mouth yfully with the hem of her robe. ¡®¡­¡¯ Suddenly, I remembered her from a few months ago, dark and mncholic. Pia Joyce. The first connection I forged, not as a hero but on a personal level. The positive impact of such a presence¡­ I just realized it¡¯s more significant than I thought. I smiled at Pia. ¡°For someone who gave such an extraordinary answer like ¡®sadness and joy,¡¯ you surprisingly know how to speak warmly.¡± ¡°¡­Well, it¡¯s a kind of a paradox.¡± Right. As they say, when the path is blocked by obstacles, you should look for a path that isn¡¯t an obstacle. Let¡¯s think about the goal. The kids are the future of humanity. If they have any problems, or if they already do, the first person who should know and deal with it is none other than me. Therefore, counseling must be sessful. If I keep pondering over stances and concerns in a trivial way, I will never achieve that goal. I resolved to approach counseling with all my might. ¡®Let¡¯s show how skilled a changeling is in melting human hearts.¡¯ Counseling. In reality, it was a very familiar task for me, just with a slightly different name. Getting close to someone, delving into their inner self, building understanding. It was a process I had repeated countless times. ¡­Five days passed until the counseling. * * * ¡°Ah.¡± Descending the hill after parting with the hero and heading back to the dormitory. Pia suddenly turned around. A vast courtyard covered in darkness. Buildings lit up like stars scattered above it. Memories of when I first entered the school came to mind. It felt like I had turned into dust. There were so many people who made those with a bit of talent in alchemy from a poor background feel insignificant. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± The recollection continued. The feeling of desperately immersing myself in studies as the presence faded away. The tragedy of my hometown that I heard in my second year. The time I spent being tormented by Momont. ¡­Rosenstark. In this massive academy where over a thousand freshmen enrolled each year. Was there anyone who treated the seemingly insignificant individual called ¡®Pia Joyce¡¯ seriously? If. If back then¡­ ¡°¡­¡± Recalling the furrowed face of the hero who was struggling for a good counselling session. Pia now gazed at the hero who appeared only as a dot. At his side, her petite figure passed by like a mirage. ¡®Ah¡­ the kids are fortunate.¡¯ Pia stretched herself with a smile tinged with a strange envy. ¡°Now, shall I go to work?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 33 Chapter 33 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¨C Soon there will be counselling. Am I the only one looking forward to how the Hero counselling will go? ©¸ Is it throwing a halo if youin? ©¸ It¡¯s really extreme ughter). ©¸ Honestly, it seems like you won¡¯t be able to counsel. It seems like emotional numbness has been going on for a long time. ©¸ Logically, would the worries of freshmen in the Hero¡¯s position enter his ears? ©¸ Hero: Is swordsmanship difficult? Why? ©¸ Alright then. If you just sit in front with that heroic posture, a lot of worries will probably disappear. ©¸ Yeah. That¡¯s welfare, and counselling. [PR/N: Since this is a student post, some grammar mistakes and errors are intentional, as we all do, please keep this in mind for future chapters ??.] ¡­ Three more days until counselling. The children¡¯s expectations were gradually rising. * * * If you¡¯re well prepared, you¡¯ll win a hundred battles. The children¡¯s counselling preparations were progressing under such a philosophy. Recently, a metric obtained from the library of memories was a great help. The understanding level category has been opened. ¨‹ * Numerical values are presented as per the user¡¯s request. * The subjects are differentiated based on the user¡¯s request. [Affiliation: Rosenstark] Ted Redymer: 50/100 Pia Joyce: 25/100 Cuculli Evans: 20/100 Yussi Glendor: 17/100 Gerald Bryce: 13/100 Kasim Pierre: 11/100 Ban Dietrich: 8/100 Evergreen Solintail: 7/100 ¡ø ¡­ The understanding level regarding subjects that can be polymorphed into was indicated ording to their affiliation. Not only the ¡®Original¡¯ and students but also beings like Bugs, with whom connections were formed in the past, were included. I realized immediately upon reading thements. Although progress and understanding seem like separate categories, in fact, they are deeply intertwined. ¡®A simple principle.¡¯ The rise in understanding directly leads to an increase in progress in elements like ¡®me¡¯ and ¡®firewood.¡¯ The increase in understanding benefits both individual growth, represented by ¡®me,¡¯ and ally growth, represented by ¡®firewood.¡¯ ¡®¡­This counseling seems more important than I thought.¡¯ Unlike the cave of the guardian or the library of memories before, the Iris of Lace was not providing a clear goal to me. There were no guides or riddles. ¡®If I raise the progress more, the Iris of Lace will give me clues; that¡¯s the deal.¡¯ Therefore, it was necessary to increase the understanding of the children as much as possible during this counselling to obtain new clues. Obtaining clues through the Iris of Lace and growing¡ªcurrently, it was the fastest shortcut to fulfill the misZion of a Hero. ¡®By the way, why does Cuculli have such a high understanding?¡¯ ¡­Perhaps because of her straightforward nature. Crackle- I gazed at the white ice crystals lingering on my fingertips. ¡®¡­Interesting.¡¯ Through experimentation, it was found that polymorphing was possible when the understanding level exceeded 20. In other words, the ability could be replicated. However, the ¡®essence of Cuculli¡¯ pulled in with residual strength while polymorphing into the Hero wasn¡¯t particrly remarkable. It was not helpful inbat to a significant extent. ¡®Anyway, it¡¯s not like I can use this appearance.¡¯ Swoosh! I shifted my gaze back to thement section from the ice that melted away. ¡­ There were beings with higher scores than expected, and there were also those with lower scores. Leciel Hiyashin: 1/100 ¡­ Truly gruesome. As the one with the highest expectations, I felt the need to be acquainted through this counselling. ¡®Gerald, Nyhill, Evergreen, Luke¡­.¡¯ The same applied to them. While higher than Leciel, the scores were not satisfactory. I should take advantage of this opportunity to raise the understanding level. I was contemting ways to increase understanding. Finally, my gaze stopped at the top. ¡®¡­ 50.¡¯ Exactly halfway. It was a number that evoked many thoughts. It seemed high, but upon closer inspection, it appeared low. ¡®The road ahead is indeed long.¡¯ The growth curve of understanding would probably be more gradual. The Hero, who had been together for years, had a score of 50, and Pia was already at 25. How long would it take to approach 100? ¡­ The remaining five redemption symbols and the release of the unique ability of ck hope. Obtaining them would be the minimum preparation against the demon king. ¡°¡­Sigh.¡± Therefore, the conclusion returned like a punctuation mark. Let¡¯s prepare for the counseling diligently. Fortunately, a good idea came to mind. A groundbreaking method to significantly raise their understanding. Crackle! I clenched the wallet filled with money. * * * For various reasons, the Rosenstark management department does not allow students to possess personalmunication crystals. Therefore, they had only two ways to contact the outside world: Use themunal magic transmission book or use themunication crystals avable in the munication room.¡¯ Leciel chose thetter to contact her grandmother. ¡°Just go to Room 23. The usual time limit is one hour, but¡­ I¡¯ll let you use it a bit longer.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Just because? Use itfortably ande out.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± No response. The 3rd-year work-study student in charge of themunication room pretended to take out the key as he sneakily nced at Leciel. ¡®¡­He looks ridiculous.¡¯ ¡°Can I have the key?¡± He realized he was gaping after opening his mouth. ¡°Oh, here. Room 23 is straight ahead on the right.¡± Leciel, with a slightly crumpled face, grabbed the key and moved on. ¡®Room 23¡­ Where is it?¡¯ The corridor was quite bustling with people waiting. Most of them were freshmen. Anothermon was that all of them had red eyes. ¡°¡­I haven¡¯t even startedmunicating, but tears are alreadying.¡± ¡°You said you wouldn¡¯t cry, idiot. If you do, I¡¯ll post it right on the connector.¡± ¡°You should wipe your runny nose. Someone might think it¡¯s an icicle.¡± Such reactions were to be expected. Rosenstark¡¯s curriculum wasparable to the military. After relentlessly rigorous training, one tends to miss their family. ¡®¡­.¡¯ Among those consistently emotional students, she seemed to be the only expressionless one. Leciel passed by her ssmates with slightly quickened steps. As she turned the corner, the assigned room came into view. Leciel quickly reached for the doorknob. No, she tried to. Suddenly, the door opened before she could grab it. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± The person revealed was a boy dressed conspicuously in vibrant clothing. ¡°Hey, Leciel. Isn¡¯t it even more delightful to see me outside the ssroom?¡± Leciel, who had been staring nkly at the fair and smooth face, realized the boy¡¯s identity a bitte. He was a ssmate who took the extreme course with her. ¡­The name didn¡¯te to mind. However, the memory of him constantly making noise with a group and shooting cold, authoritative nces in all directions remained. ¡°Yeah.¡± As Leciel was about to pass by him and enter themunication room, the boy leaned slightly to block the entrance. Leciel¡¯s eyebrows twitched. ¡°It¡¯s a bit chilly. Do you have a lover waiting for you? Why are you in such a hurry.¡± A tacky voice. Tacky content. The difort made her recall one memory. ¡°I heard you¡¯re on good terms with the Sword Saint and the Hero. Are you also close to the Hero?¡± ¡­Right, the name came to mind. Lucas Wellington. ¡°Move aside.¡± ¡°Uh, uh!?¡± She grabbed the hem of Lucas, who was leaning against the door at an angle, and pushed him away. It was a speed and strength that didn¡¯t give him a chance to react. Lucas stumbled and spun around in the middle of the corridor. ¡°Cough, cough!¡± When he turned his bewildered gaze, only the tightly closed door awaited him. The surrounding noise drowned out the boy¡¯s face with a wrinkle. ¡°Stop staring. Bastards.¡± Lucas, nervously brushing off the dust, quickly left. ¡­ Leciel forgot about Lucas as soon as she opened the door. Taking a deep breath, she faced a neatly arranged desk with a suspendedmunication crystal. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡®Grandmother¡¯s number¡­¡¯ As she entered the serial number, the crystal began to glow blue and vibrate. Leciel pressed her lips together, waiting for the connection. Hoping it wouldn¡¯t end as a missed call likest time. Beep- Beep-! As themunication sound extended, she tightly closed her eyes. At that moment, the vibration of themunication crystal abruptly stopped. [Is it Leciel?] Leciel hastily adjusted her posture and sat up. * * * Hiyashin, be forever red. This was a phrase personally left by the first emperor of the empire to the Hiyashin family. From humanity¡¯s victory over the demons to establishing themselves in this harsh western region, the remarkable feats of Hiyashin during this arduous journey were truly dazzling, to the point where words were insufficient to describe it. Inspectors who pacified all sorts of threats in the untamed wilderness with a single sword. Considering that Hiyashin¡¯s ancestor was honored as the first national hero, it was evident how significant their role was at the time. Of course, now that many heroes were active, their presence seemed to fade somewhat. However, the sun-like crimson hair, evidence of Hiyashin¡¯s lineage, remained a symbol of respect and gratitude among the people of the empire. At the pinnacle of inspectors, the Hiyashin family of Swordmasters. They did not involve themselves in politics, cared not for the umtion of wealth, and sought only the extreme of the sword. Whether the gods acknowledged this determination or not, the descendants of Hiyashin often showed exceptional talent. Throughout the ages, regardless of the era, Hiyashin never passed the title of ¡®Sword Master¡¯ to anyone else. ¡­ Except for one era. ¡®Zion Hiyashin.¡¯ The family lost its pride, which had endured for centuries, by losing to the Hero. After the first defeat, Zion¡¯s life underwent numerous changes. Naturally, the life of her granddaughter, who had always looked up to her, was also affected. * * * [Is it Leciel?] Zion was seatedfortably on a sofa, flipping through a newspaper. Despite being well past her sixtieth year, her hair was strikingly crimson, making her age almost inconspicuous. Leciel tilted her head and looked at themunication crystal. The background of the video seemed somewhat unfamiliar¡ªa neat study bathed in sunlight. It looked more like the estate on the Isle rather than their ancestral home. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me. How have you been?¡± [Well, it¡¯s been a while.] Rustle¡ª The newspaper changed hands. Leciel continued, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were staying on the Isle.¡± [I moved recently. The ancestral home was too old, didn¡¯t I mention it?] ¡°No, you didn¡¯t.¡± [Anyway, how¡¯s life at the academy?] ¡­Is she really curious? Leciel responded while thinking about it. ¡°It¡¯s fine. The sses are more interesting than I expected, and the facilities arefortable.¡± [I¡¯m d to hear that.] Rustle¡ª The newspaper changed hands again. Static came faster than expected. Leciel realized at that moment that her grandmother hadn¡¯t looked at her even once. And then. [Um¡­] Zion seemed to be about to say something but hesitated. Leciel quickly responded, ¡°Yes, please go ahead.¡± As Zion¡¯s eyes left the newspaper and focused on her, Leciel¡¯s expression brightened even more. [Well¡­] Carefully choosing her words, Zion slowly began. [By now, you must have had a few lessons with Ted.] ¡°Ah¡± Leciel nodded, lips slightly smiling. ¡°Yes.¡± [How was it?] ¡­There might be a bit more to everyday conversation that Zion, as a grandmother, could share. ¡°¡­¡± [Leciel?] ¡°Yes.¡± [How is the hero doing?] There¡¯s much to say. He puts effort into his sses, shows interest in the children, and seems more sincere in his teaching duties than expected. But Leciel understood that Zion wasn¡¯t looking for that kind of answer. ¡°¡­He¡¯s strong. More than you mentioned.¡± [Tell me more.] ¡°I exerted all my power to unfold the Heart de, but it ended up disappointing. He keeps asking when I¡¯ll show him thepleted Heart de¡­¡± [Ha! the Heart de? Well¡­ he doesn¡¯t have the right to talk.] A strangely excited voice. It was a reaction never seen before from her. Leciel impulsively blurted out ¡°Still, I think I can reach him.¡± [¡­What?] ¡°Not immediately, but someday, for sure. I believe I can defeat the hero.¡± Someday, she would reim the title of ¡®Swordmaster¡¯ for Hiyashin. It was a statement filled with bold aspirations. It also carried Leciel¡¯s hope for Zion to hold onto expectations. However¡­ [It¡¯s an impossible feat.] ¡°¡­What?¡± Zion lowered her head, wearing an excessively cynical expression. She denied her granddaughter. [Leciel, did you really feel you could reach him?] ¡°Grandmother!¡± Zion showed an unreadable expression briefly in response to Leciel¡¯s strong reaction. Eventually, she rose from the sofa¡¯s armrest, exhaling deeply. [Well, if you think about it, it was my mistake for blowing hot air in the first ce.] ¡°Mistake¡­ you say?¡± [Anyway, since many talented students have gone to Rosenstark, don¡¯t be fixated solely on swordsmanship. Even now, try various experiences.] ¡­Various experiences? Leciel¡¯s fingernails dug into her palm. Zion, who had been observing her ufortable expression, turned her face away. ¡°Ha, ha¡­.¡± That expression. Those eyes. Rather than a grandmother treating her granddaughter, it was closer to a cksmith looking at a failed creation. Fluttering- Grandmother¡¯s gaze returned to the newspaper. ¡°¡­Time.¡± [Huh?] ¡°The usage time is over. They only give a short time. I¡¯ll contact you again. Take care of yourself.¡± [Sure, you take care too.] As Zion bid farewell casually, Leciel smiled bitterly. Her mouth, which had moved for the first time in a while, drew an awkward curve. Pak! The light of themunication bead disappeared. In the dim room, Leciel sat silently. And she pondered thescivious face of her grandmother, which lingered like a scar. ¡°Ha¡­ What am I doing?¡± Too many noisy thoughts in her mind. She felt like taking her brain out and throwing it into some static somewhere. Tudeltudel! Returning to her private room, Leciel¡¯s eyes caught the connector ced in one corner of the room. It was a coincidence. During this time, she avoided using the item for purposes other than study and training, thinking it might interfere. Leciel stared at the device emitting a sparkling light for a moment. ¡®¡­Did they call it an anonymous bulletin board?¡¯ Even if she didn¡¯t engage in conversations with her peers, she wasn¡¯t entirely closed off. In their conversations, there was the often-mentioned anonymous bulletin board. ¡®Is it really that fun to talk to strangers?¡¯ Her hand subtly reached towards the connector. It took a moment for another post to be added to the anonymous bulletin board. ¨C I¡¯m feeling depressed (first post) Leciel swallowed her saliva, waiting for someone anonymous tofort her. ©¸ What do you want me to do? ¡­It wasn¡¯t easy. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 34 Chapter 34 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Gaudium Hall. The consultation room in the so-called multipurpose hall. Pia, who was waiting outside, witnessed a familiar face. A girl, fidgeting at the end of the corridor. ¡°Evergreen Solintail, over here.¡± ¡°Oh, yes! Assistant Professor, you¡¯re here too¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a day off from research, so don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t be going in with you.¡± ¡°¡­It would be nice if you did.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Oh, no, nothing!¡± Pia looked at the blushing Evergreen. Among the students who were like monsters in Extreme, she was the only one who showed a rare novice-like appearance. She was the first in line for this counseling session. ¡°Just go in through this door.¡± ¡°Ah, yes!¡± Nervously, Evergreen clenched her hands, looking at the door Pia pointed to. A small sign hung there. [Consultation Room] Beyond the tightly closed door, there was no sound or any indication of movement. Evergreen swallowed hard. A counselling session with the professor. One-on-one! Since the day the date was announced, her heart had been pounding so much that she couldn¡¯t sleep. ¡®Why do I have to be the first¡­?¡¯ Fear, difort, excitement? A mix of emotions that she couldn¡¯t quite define, squirming in her stomach. The only thing certain was that a few months ago, this was something she couldn¡¯t even imagine. ¡°¡­What could someone like me have to talk to the professor about?¡± Evergreen, unable to easily take a step, absentmindedly fidgeted with the carefully chosen shirt sleeves. ¡°Ms. Solintail? If you¡¯re not emotionally prepared yet, you can ask the professor to postpone the counseling a bit¡­¡± ¡°I-I¡¯ll go in now! You don¡¯t have to postpone it!¡± She couldn¡¯t cause such trouble. Evergreen pulled the door handle hastily and stepped inside. But soon, she could only stop in her tracks. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Her mouth slightly agape, as if she couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing. Evergreen looked around the counseling room. Tears began to well up in her emerald eyes that were trembling. ¡°Why, why?!¡± * * * A little back in time. A few days ago. Yussi stared unevenly at the Hero sitting across from her. Without a call, he unexpectedly came at ate hour¡­ Moreover, it was a truly pathetic thing to not be able to hate a man who made such unexpected demands. ¡°So¡­ You want to use ¡®Dreamscape¡¯ for counselling the kids?¡± The Hero nodded leisurely, sipping his tea. ¡°Is it not possible?¡± ¡°No, of course, it¡¯s possible¡­ Truly an innovative idea.¡± ¡°It seems more efficient for counselling. I will bear all the necessary costs.¡± With those words, he pulled out a thick wallet and ced it on the table. Yussi sighed deeply, pushing the wallet back to the Hero. ¡°¡­Enough. What does that even mean to someone whose only possession is money?¡± ¡®He really cares about the kids.¡¯ To use the ¡®Enigma of Rosenstark¡¯ just for counselling kids, there was no such thing as excessive investment. But she knew well that once he made up his mind, there was no way to stop him. If there were such a way, the Demon King would have wanted to know it first. ¡°The usage is simple, so I won¡¯t exin separately. I will just hand it over to Joyce by tomorrow.¡± ¡°Sure, I appreciate it. Then¡­¡± ¡°Are you leaving already?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll drop by again soon.¡± Watching the satisfied Hero stand up, Yussi suddenly recalled memories from the past. ¡®Help me, please? Just say something.¡¯ It seemed like that rough touch from back then was also reaching out to the kids now. Despite the passage of time and numerous events, this man¡¯s nature remained unchanged. The fact was both pleasing and bitter, and she couldn¡¯t help making a sarcastic remark. ¡°You always say you¡¯ll drop by, but you onlye when there¡¯s a favor to ask!¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ I apologize.¡± As the cost of operating the ¡®Dreamscape,¡¯ which could amount to hundreds of gold, left a trace of awkwardness lingering on his lips. * * * It happens sometimes. For some reason, she didn¡¯t know why she was sad, but tears burst forth unexpectedly. It was a strange case where tears popped out first. ¡®Even though it¡¯s difficult now¡­!¡¯ Unfortunately, Evergreen was having this awkward experience in front of the most difficult person in the world. ¡°¡­H-huh, sorry. Why do tears keep, sniff, flowing? Was I, sniff, missing this ce more than I thought? Look.¡± Instead of an answer, a handkerchief approached. ¡­Oh, pitiful Evergreen. She never imagined that tears would burst out without any resistance like this. Wiping away tears, Evergreen raised her head slightly. Whooooosh- The wind blew at that moment. The grass on the meadow was long and soft. White clouds floated in the dazzling sunlight, and below them, sheep roamed in flocks. The refreshing wind carried the scent of herbs. Shifting her gaze, a deepke with clear ripples came into view. The serene yet incredibly beautiful view of the meadow¡­ ¡®I missed it.¡¯ It was something Evergreen had always seen since she was young. ¡®¡­I used to think it was boring.¡¯ The vast buildings and bustling atmosphere. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª In the busy days of Rosenstark, where the air was always filled with a sense of urgency, the longing that she asionally lifted her head to was this. Evergreen took a deep breath and looked to the side. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The Hero was sitting against a tree, flipping through a book casually. Not in his usual sophisticated suit, but in a simple tunic. The imposing impression that usually made everyone tense dispersed, leaving only a calm and gentle atmosphere. ¡®Woah¡­¡¯ Evergreen stared nkly at the figure that matched the meadow background so well. If the Hero hadn¡¯t been swept away by all sorts of hardships and had grown up like her, what kind of appearance would he have had? It felt like catching a glimpse of that. ¡®So, born in Solintail¡­ Hmm, is this too presumptuous of an imagination?!¡¯ Thump- With a pleasant sound, the book the Hero was holding closed. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s a ce that would make you miss it if you were away for a long time.¡± ¡°I-I-Is this some kind of magical thing?¡± After speaking, Evergreen wanted to smack her head. ¡®¡­Of course, it must be magic. What a silly thing to say.¡¯ But instead of mocking, the Hero calmly exined to her about this ¡®enchantment.¡¯ ¨‹ Summoning information about Rosenstark¡¯s enchantment, ¡®Dreamscape.¡¯ ¨C An artifact created based on the motif of the ability of a Dreamer, covering a certain space with the desired fantasy. ¨C When the fantasy is created based on real memories, it can produce an extremely realistic experience. ¨C However, it requires a considerable amount of magical power to operate, and the created fantasy is based on the desires of the Dreamer. ¨C Except for living beings existing in that space, other living beings cannot appear in the fantasy. ¡ø It was said that ¡®Dreamscape¡¯ was created to provide aforting end to patients for whom there was no hope left. The reason this rtively simple illusion magic artifact was referred to as ¡®enchantment¡¯ was simple. ¡®The highest quality without an upper limit.¡¯ In reality, Evergreen was truly enjoying the feeling of being back in her hometown. Without realizing it, she started shedding tears of longing instead of tears of sorrow. Looking at her, the Hero spoke. ¡°I¡¯ve visited the vicinity of Solintail a few times before.¡± ¡°Wha, really!? Why would the professore to such a remote ce? There wouldn¡¯t have been anything specific to do here.¡± Evergreen, eyes wide in surprise, cautiously asked. ¡°H-how was it?¡± ¡°Good. Asking the obvious, aren¡¯t you.¡± In an instant, the wind ruffled the ashen hair of the closed-eyed Hero. In the calm expression, Evergreen felt a strange sensation in her stomach. ¡®He liked it. That¡¯s a relief.¡¯ Looking at the panoramic view of the homnd with the Hero, in this experience where the extraordinary and the ordinary were strangely intertwined, Evergreen paradoxically felt a sense offort. She realized that the tension that had gripped her chest just an hour ago had washed away. ¡°Shall we start the counseling then?¡± After that, everything went smoothly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing particrly difficult. The sses are a bit challenging, but still very enjoyable! We, well, extreme ones are the most fun! I¡¯m not just saying that, it¡¯s true!¡± ¡°How are your rtionships with your peers!? Um, I think I¡¯m just okay¡­ Has anyone talked about me¡­ Oh, right, I¡¯m the first. Haha, anyway, everyone¡¯s great! Some I haven¡¯t gotten close to yet, but¡­¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t have any concerns you want to discuss in counseling, how about talking about your future aspirations¡­?¡± The response to the smoothly flowing questions was blocked for the first time. After hesitating for a moment, Evergreen spoke with a firm expression. ¡°I¡¯ll learn from you, Professor, and be as strong as possible! Then, I¡¯ll go back and reduce the casualties in the territories!¡± Casualties. When those words came out of the cheerful girl¡¯s mouth, the Hero paused for a moment. The territories in the northeast, adjacent to the great mountain range, were subject to annual invasions by the demons. A cursed era. The fact that it was rare for a child to grow up without shadows of war was amentable reality. ¨‹ Deepening Understanding of Evergreen Solintail. Understanding Level: 7/100 -> 12/100 ¡ø * * * Some timeter, a strange rumor began circting among the students. ¡°Professor Redymer is sincere in student counseling?¡± ¡°¡­Counseling? Wasn¡¯t that just for show?¡± ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t. ording to what I heard from fellow students, it¡¯s genuine.¡± The amazement of students who had experienced counseling with other professors before was even greater. Those who had talked one-on-one in the tightly sealed counseling room weren¡¯t alone in pushing away nonexistent mncholy. Testimonies about counselling on the Connector¡­ Or rather ¡®affirmations¡¯ added more credibility. ¨C It was like a dream¡­ ©¸ Is it some kind of medicine? ©¸ What is it, tell me! ©¸ You have to try it yourself to understand, hehe. ©¸ Thank you, I was curious, but now I¡¯m upset. ©¸ Will you give me something tasty too? ©¸Ahh!! I want counselling too! Of course, it couldn¡¯t be confirmed whether the writings were from students who had actually received counselling. However, as the posts increased one by one over time, students couldn¡¯t help but harbor more expectations. ¡°Wait, the Hero is so sincere about students¡¯ concerns? I can¡¯t imagine that.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m curious about what kind of counselling it is.¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you go and see? Jake won¡¯t even look at me when ites to counselling topics¡­.¡± ¡°Do you want to die?¡± ¡­Such conversations leaked through the open window of the counselling room. The Hero organized the results of the previous counselling sessions and filled the marble with ¡®Illusion.¡¯ It seemed like he had finished counselling with Deindart, the sole returning student on the edge, and Karen, who hailed from the southern Great Forest. [PR/N: Deindart is the only ¡®current¡¯ student, while others were new applicants, as in, the one who left his current unir course and applied for Hero¡¯s unir course ¡®Extreme¡¯] ¡®About half of it is done now.¡¯ Observing the faces of the students leaving the counselling room, most seemed satisfied with the counselling. Initially hesitant, the kids easily opened up once they shared the illusionary fantasies. Topics ranged from love, career, academics to various interests. The primary subjects of the previous counselling sessions. Deindart worried about abandoning his existing Unir credits, fearing that graduation might be dyed. Karen, on the other hand, was concerned about her seemingly messy skin, finding it too noticeable. There was even a request for advice from Gerald, who wanted to engage in A.C. (Academy Couple) before the end of the semester but didn¡¯t know how to approach a girl. Most of the concerns were trivial and didn¡¯t necessarily require clear solutions. Listening alone seemed to be helpful. Fortunately, there were no students burdened with overwhelming worries. The illusions presented by the Hero were mostly ordinary. ¡®Of course, they won¡¯t reveal their deepest concerns in the first counselling, so I shouldn¡¯t let my guard down yet¡­¡¯ Regardless, the positive reactions were quite encouraging. As evidence, the Iris of Lace were also responding. ¨‹ Deepen Understanding of Deindart! Deepen Understanding of Karen! Deepen Understanding of Gerald¡­ ¡ø The children seemed to gain muchfort just knowing that an incredible figure like the ¡®Hero¡¯ genuinely listened to their stories and empathized. Remembering the smiling faces of the kids who grinned after feeling relief, the Hero couldn¡¯t help but disy a faint smile. ¡°¡­¡­¡± He quickly handed over the documents. The next sessions required a more cautious approach. Ban, Leciel, Cuculli, and Luke¡ªfour candidates for the next Hero. Their counselling sessions remained. Luke¡¯s guardian had urgent matters that required Luke¡¯s presence, so he had been sent out. He was expected to return sometime next week. That left three. Information about them had been researched, and the Hero had roughly thought about what topics to discuss during the counselling sessions. If he continued building rapport with them as nned¡­ ¡°¡­¡­¡± That¡¯s when it happened. A distant voice echoed in the corridor, a grumbling voice filled with curses. ¡°¡­This bastard!¡± Surprisingly, it was Ban¡¯s voice. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 35 Chapter 35 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª As a dedicated student Ban Dietrich, arrived at the Gaudium Hall 15 minutes before his scheduled counselling session. Tension and curiosity alternately appeared on the face of the boy who was quietly waiting on a chair in the hallway. ¡®¡­It¡¯s a dream.¡¯ Although he couldn¡¯t anticipate the fantasy he was about to experience, the fact that he could encounter one of Rosenstark¡¯s mysteries alone made Dietrich¡¯s heart flutter slightly. It was a moment when he was staring at the clock that seemed to never pass. A bright red light shed through the corridor. ¡°Leciel?¡± The name slipped out of his mouth unintentionally. Leciel¡¯s head turned towards him. ¡®Ah, I¡¯m pretending to be close, but this is¡­¡¯ Ban bit his lip, feeling embarrassed for no apparent reason. Contrary to the expectation that she would just ignore and pass by, her tightly sealed lips slowly opened. ¡°Hello, Ban.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ hello! Is it because of counselling?¡± ¡­It was quite a foolish question just now, considering he was the next in line for counselling. Leciel tilted her head and gave a short answer. ¡°For practice.¡± Dietrich blinked in confusion. ¡°Huh? The training ground is in the opposite direction.¡± ¡°Different practice.¡± Come to think of it, Leciel wasn¡¯t carrying a sword. Instead, in her slender and delicate hand, there was a small box with a lock. The contents were not visible. Although curiosity surged, Dietrich deliberately averted his gaze from the box, thinking it would be impolite to ask before she spoke. Then, Leciel¡¯s eyes softened slightly. ¡°Are you here for counselling?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah. It¡¯s a bit nerve-wracking, though.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to do it either.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Leciel left those words behind and, after staring at the closed door of the counselling room for a moment, quickly moved away to the other end of the corridor. Dietrich observed her with an awkward posture. ¡®By the way, she looks incredibly tired. Wonder what¡¯s going on?¡¯ At that moment, a deep voice calling for Dietrich echoed through the corridor. ¡°Ban Dietrich,e in.¡± ¡°Yes, yes! I¡¯lle in¡­ huh?¡± As Dietrich reflexively responded, he realized that the voice didn¡¯t sound anything like the Hero. ¡°Kukuku~ scared, huh?¡± Turning around, behind him, Lucas with a mischievous expression leaned against the wall, looking at him. Aughing mouth, but as always, the gaze was sharp. Dietrich felt the good mood he had just experienced plummet in an instant. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Wow, isn¡¯t that an exaggerated expression as soon as you see me?¡± ¡°I need to go to counselling. I don¡¯t have time to talk to you.¡± ¡°Until just now, we were just chatting away. ¡®I like my new friend more than my old friend¡¯, is this it?¡± ¡­Who¡¯s the friend here? Frowning, Ban turned away. Dietrich turned around, his expression furrowed. In response to his clear displeasure, Lucas smirked and casually passed by him. ¡°Ah, I am curious.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°After all, even if you don¡¯t care, I wonder if your new friend will get along with you after knowing what kind of guy you are.¡± Ban stood firm in his ce. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t take it seriously. It¡¯s just a joke. No matter what, do you think I¡¯ll go around bbering about ¡®that thing¡¯?¡± ¡°You.¡± ¡°Anyway, receive counselling well! I don¡¯t know how much you can change by receiving it, but who knows.¡± Lucas, pretending to faint, tilted his head, wetting his forehead with exaggerated gestures. The final mocking remark tested Dietrich¡¯s patience. ¡°This little¡­¡± Not even a minute left until the counselling begins. The fact that there¡¯s the Hero beyond the wall wentpletely out of his mind. Thud! Chasing after Lucas, Ban forcefully pinned him against the wall. Holding Lucas by the neck with his elbow. ¡°Cough, ack! Hey!¡± Due to Ban¡¯s considerable height, Lucas¡¯s body waspletely buried in his shadow. No escape. At that overwhelming force, Lucas¡¯s nonchnt expression froze suddenly. Drumroll! The closed door of the counselling room opened. ¡°¡­Ah.¡± Dietrich froze in his position, entangled with Lucas. It was excessively bad timing. Unsanctioned physical shes among students were the most seriously punished matters within the academy. There was a possibility of facing the Discipline Committee and even being confined to ¡®Catena.¡¯ In more severe cases, expulsion was also on the table. Of course, Lucas¡¯s unteral provocation preceded the altercation, but given the circumstances, facing disciplinary action wouldn¡¯t be surprising. ¡®I should at least offer some exnation.¡¯ However, before he could utter a word, a low and solemn voice echoed through the corridor. Dietrich tightly closed his eyes. ¡°Lucas Wellington.¡± ¡°Haha, You¡¯re toast¡­?! M-me?¡± ¡°Just now, your statement seemed to disparage the efficacy of the counselling conducted by the professor.¡± Lucas, who had believed the Hero would scold Dietrich, felt his pupils shake as if there were an earthquake. ¡°Y-yes!? N-no, not at all.¡± Nheless, the Hero casually continued. ¡°You have three days of toilet cleaning duty in the dormitory.¡± Lucas turned into a statue on the spot. Toilet cleaning duty! Cleaning the restroom shared by a thousand others! He shouted in protest. ¡°Wait, no! What about Dietrich! Can¡¯t you see what this guy is doing right now!¡± The Hero, still watching the entangled duo, tilted his head with a smirk. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just a ¡®joke¡¯?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Frustration surged, but Lucas, knowing Momont¡¯s precedent, bit back his words. He left with a distorted face, unable to retort. To the bewildered Ban, the Hero said, ¡°Ban Dietrich. To the counselling room.¡± The boy followed the Hero with a dazed expression. And so, the counseling proceeded as nned. *** A soft light enveloped the interior of the mansion. The overall atmosphere was warm andfortable, as if delicate hands had touched every corner. Ban looked around with a puzzled expression. ¡°Where is this?¡± ¡°Seems like you know.¡± Ban cautiously nodded. ¡°It looks like our house.¡± ¡°¡­your house?¡± ¡°Something seems different.¡± It certainly seemed to be the Dietrich mansion. However, Ban mumbled, swaying as if he were a visitor in an unfamiliar space. ¡°It¡¯s not usually like this.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s usually darker and more¡­ venerable? It doesn¡¯t feel lively. It¡¯s a ce you wouldn¡¯t want to stay for even a moment.¡± ¡­No consideration for his own house. ¡°Let¡¯s find out why Dreamscape portrayed your house like this. Let¡¯s explore more.¡± ¡°Yeah! First, I¡¯ll lead you to the reception room.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The boy began to move. With his cautious steps, Ban toured the Dietrich mansion. It was a cozy space that made one feel better just by being there. ¡°Over here is the¡­ huh?¡± Suddenly, Dietrich stopped at the very beginning of a spacious corridor. The wall was adorned with luxurious wallpaper, and numerous picture frames were neatly hung in a row. Ban, looking perplexed, scrutinized the scene. ¡°This is strange. The reception room should be here¡­ We don¡¯t have a corridor like this in our house.¡± ¡°Then this must be it.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°The core of this fantasy.¡± Ban, about to respond, held his breath. The boy¡¯s gentle night-colored eyes fixated on the nearest frame. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ ¡± It was a portrait of a woman. A woman with soft brown hair, gazing down at a child in her arms with a happy face. A gentle demeanor and a warm atmosphere. Although Dietrich had never seen her before, she seemed incredibly familiar, probably because he could detect traces of her in himself. ¡°¡­Mother.¡± Jenny Dietrich. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The missing mistress. Ban¡¯s footsteps quickened as he moved forward. The corridor was long, and there were many framed pictures. The protagonists of the paintings were mainly Ban and his mother. Some frames also featured familiar faces. Felson Dietrich and Lucas¡¯ father¡­ Their ordinary daily lives unfolded¡ªBan¡¯s mother fixing his messy napkin, anxiously watching over him as he energetically yed in the garden, and dozing off next to him with a serene expression. In reality, those were ordinary moments that they might not have bothered to capture in paintings. ¡°¡­.¡± Ban, seemingly forgetting that he was guiding the Hero, asionally stopped in front of such paintings, reaching out to touch them and offering a faint smile. His expression conveyed such happiness that it didn¡¯t feel right to rush him. As I observed his back, memories from a few days ago shed through my mind. *** It was well past midnight. Themunication bead loudly chimed. [Sorry for calling you at thiste hour. I heard you contacted the mansion.] A figure of a man appeared on the screen, who could hardly be called an elder. Although his hair was as white as snow, his well-built body and face devoid of wrinkles made him look like someone in his thirties. Felson Dietrich. An exceptional investigator known as ¡°The Perfect¡± and a former member of the Dawn Knights who fought alongside the ¡°Original¡± in the past. And, he was Dietrich¡¯s father. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Felson.¡± I sat down and faced him. The aristocratic and sharp aura emanating from his well-trained body indicated that Felson was an entirely different kind of personpared to his son. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± After a moment of silent eye contact, Felson spoke first. [It seems it¡¯s about my son, am I correct?] I nodded. ¡°I thought it was necessary to get in touch with you as a concerned parent.¡± [In a situation that a concerned parent needs to know¡­ ] His lips twitched ever so slightly. Felson already knew what I was going to say. Beneath the cold and stern eyes, a hint of paternal sentiment surfaced. [It seems those symptoms have appeared again. Is Ban¡­ alright?] ¡°I was right. It¡¯s hard to imagine someone as thorough as you wouldn¡¯t be aware of your son¡¯s condition.¡± [It¡¯s a chronic ailment.] Felson said that and then sighed with a somewhat tired expression. [So, what are you¡­] Sizzle! The sound of something burning echoed. After lighting his pipe, Felson closed his eyes. The slightly subdued voice continued a littleter. [I guess you n to send Dietrich away.] I replied immediately. ¡°No.¡± A moment of silence followed. Felson slowly opened his eyes, then put down the pipe in his hand. There was a slight hint of surprise in his expression. [What? Why?] ¡°I want to do everything I can to help him ovee the ailment.¡± [¡­No, just a moment.] Felson looked puzzled. Felson¡¯s reaction was as anticipated. [Why? You¡¯ve always been strict in such matters.] ¡°Things are different on the battlefield and in the academy. I am not amander here, but rather a professor. Your son is a student, not a soldier.¡± Recalling the conversation with Ban, I continued, ¡°And Ban wants to change. A professor shouldn¡¯t give up on a student before they do.¡± [You¡­] ¡°Of course, there¡¯s also the fact that his talent shouldn¡¯t go to waste.¡± Thest statement held the key. Felson¡¯s cheek subtly twitched. Normally, there¡¯s nothing better than praising one¡¯s children. [If you say that, I can only be grateful. Certainly, if he learns a lot by being by your side, it may help him.] Felson, known as ¡®The Perfect,¡¯ gained that title due to his mechanical judgement. He could be extremely cold and calcted as needed. However, he was still human. As a father, he had to soften his expression. ¡°The atmosphere has eased a bit, and it¡¯s time to bring up the main topic.¡± I adjusted my posture. ¡°If the introduction was too long. The real reason I contacted you is¡­¡± [To hear about the cause of his ailment, isn¡¯t it?] I nodded. ¡°So?¡± [¡­ I¡¯ll tell you. There¡¯s no need to hide it from you. I apologize for not telling you in advance.] The air surrounding Felson changed in an instant. Quivering eyes filled with agony. There was no change in his expression, but the focus of his eyes trembled intensely. Several deep breaths were taken before Felson spoke. [Ban was at the scene of that ¡®tragedy.¡¯] ¡°Tragedy?¡± [Jenny. The incident where I lost her¡­ the ¡®Nubes Salon Incident¡¯ to be exact.] Over ten years ago, the gloom that covered the Dietrich family resurfaced from his mouth. . . . ¨‹ Deepening understanding of Ban Dietrich. Understanding Level: 8/100 -> 20/100 Ban Dietrich¡¯smentary will be added: ¨C Parricide ¡ø ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 36 Chapter 36 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª After the operation of the dreamscape ended. Ban returned to the dormitory without saying anything about it. There was a short conversation just before returning. ¡°¡­Why are you not asking anything?¡± It was inevitable to be puzzled by that. Even after seeing all the fantasies, the Hero did not say anything. There were no questions at all. Just like someone who hadn¡¯t seen anything. He only handed over a teacup emitting a white and hot steam. ¡­The Hero did have something he wanted to say. The Nubes Salon incident. If we talk about that incident, counselling time alone won¡¯t be enough. However, the Hero decided to keep his mouth shut. ¡®¡­Is delving into it really what he wants?¡¯ Facing pain is the best way to ovee it. But forcing someone unprepared to relive a bad memory is no different from stirring up a not-yet-healed wound. So, the Hero asked in return. ¡°Do you want me to ask something?¡± Ban looked into the eyes of the Hero. It was a calm gaze as usual. It was different from those hook-like eyes that always dug into and tried to solve his problems. The boy faced a dilemma. ¡­Does he really want someone to delve into his problems? It was difficult to answer right away. ¡°If you¡¯re not ready now, that¡¯s fine. In that state, any help, advice, or counselling would be meaningless.¡± Ban chuckled. The Hero, who had set down the teacup, spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s just touch on this for now. It doesn¡¯t have to be immediate. If you need help, speak up. I¡¯ll do my best to assist.¡± ¡°Why go to such lengths¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m your assigned professor.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And before being a professor, as a fellow investigator, I believe in your potential.¡± At the mention of that, he felt something hot piercing his throat, Ban bit his lips tightly. ¡°You know, Ban, deep valleys are usually found in high mountains.¡± Reflecting on the mentor¡¯s final words, the boy left the counselling room. It didn¡¯t feel much different, yet a sense of gentlefort lingered. * * * So, after twists and turns, thest day of counselling arrived. Only three students remained. Luke, Cuculli, and Leciel. In reality, it was effectively two. Thinking about their personalities as contrasting as their hair colors, I began the corrections. ¡®¡­ Why is it so quiet?¡¯ Today was a weekend without sses. Although the corridors should have been bustling with students chatting and moving around, every path to the Gaudium Hall was eerily empty. It was only after seeing the carriages lined up in front of the dormitory that I could figure out what was going on. ¡®Ah, it starts today.¡¯ With the start of the new month, it was the day when students could visit the vige outside the campus. Of course, the Rosenstark campus had all sorts of facilities, but students would go crazy for such outings. Moreover, more than half of Rosenstark¡¯s students were nobles. In the vige created by merchants who smelled money, there was everything from taverns, race courses, and auction houses to dressing rooms. ¡°Hey! Stop dawdling! It¡¯s time to leave for the tour!¡± ¡°Sorry, sorry! I was fixing my makeup! I¡¯ll be there in a moment!¡± ¡­Only the freshmen looked at the seniors with eyes full of envy. Freshmen were not allowed to go on external tours during their first month. ¡®Good timing.¡¯ Passing by the excited group of students, I entered the Gaudium Hall. It was the moment I stepped onto the third floor where the counselling room was located. A sharp voice echoed in my ears. ¡°Cu-Cuculli! Stop it now! Stop it, I said!¡± ¡°Hehe, just a moment, just a moment. Ugh, okay, fine!¡± Twopletely mismatched individuals were intertwined. It reminded me of yesterday¡¯s scene with Ban and Lucas, albeit with a slightly different atmosphere. ¡°Enough.¡± I grabbed the back of Cuculli¡¯s cor, who was vigorously sniffling Pia¡¯s chest. ¡°Hehe!¡± She extended both hands and feet towards Pia with a disappointed expression, but I lifted her first. As she met my eyes, sheughed, ¡°Haha.¡± Exining the situation seemed bettering from the victim. ¡°Can you please exin what¡¯s going on?¡± A blushing Pia stammered in response, ¡°Uh, I used a lot of Calera root powder in the morning experiment! I forgot that Ice Dragons are sensitive to that smell!¡± I turned my gaze away. Cuculli, with a face like a cat drunk on catnip, was making noises in the air. ¡°¡­Cuculli Evans.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°It¡¯s a splendid evening, Professor! I came for counselling!¡± ¡°It¡¯s morning right now.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Where I lived, I couldn¡¯t really distinguish between the two.¡± She spoke with a mischievous voice, I sighed and put Cuculli down. Pia, who was checking her appearance, trembled in surprise. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± For someone like Cuculli, resisting the allure of Calera root powder was a breeze. In other words, she just got drunk because she wanted to. Sure enough, when I shook her head a few times, her eyes refocused. ¡°Hehe!¡± A mischievous grin circled around on her face. Her white face, surrounded by sky-blue hair, gleamed like eyes reflecting sunlight. I pointed to the clock in the corridor. ¡°I¡¯d like to ask why you came 30 minutes earlier than the scheduled time.¡± ¡°No one wants to y with me in the dorm. Sob~ please counsel me.¡± ¡­Well. It¡¯s better than having only serious individuals like Ban. I tried to think positively and dragged him into the counselling room. ¡°You may leave now. There are only two counselling sessions today, no need to take up unnecessary time.¡± ¡°Congrattions on the early finish, Assistant!¡± Click! The door closed. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Pia¡¯s voice, sounding drained, faintly reached me from the other side. * * * ¡°Ugh! Grilled squid, tornado potatoes,mb skewers, fruit snacks, and ice cream-loaded coffee! Hey, where did they all go!¡± Cuculli seemed quite disappointed with the delicacies left behind in the dream world. She waved her hands through the disappearing illusion in frustration. Then, urgently, she asked me, ¡°When is the next counseling session?¡± ¡°Probably around this time next month.¡± ¡°Next month¡­.¡± She muttered with a very serious expression. ¡°What¡¯s next month?¡± ¡°¡­Get out.¡± ¡°¡­Even if it¡¯ste, I¡¯ll be here next month! I promise! Definitely! Pinky swear!¡± Thud! As I listened to the cheerful footsteps receding behind the closed door, I let out a deep sigh. The counselling with Cuculli went almost exactly as expected. The Great Snow Sea. A sea that has never melted once in recorded history. The dream took us to her pristine white homnd. In that untouchedndscape devoid of human traces, we¡­ Snowball fights (with snowballs the size of one meter in diameter) erupted. Sledding down steep cliffs. We even finished a campfire with various spices that would never exist in the Great Snowy Sea and dishes from Rosenstark¡¯s restaurants. Even when asked if there were any concerns, she only had one response. ¡°Those are things for weaklings!¡± It was indeed a response befitting the Ice Dragons. If there was one thing that deviated from expectations in the counselling with Cuculli, it was one thing. There was no improvement in understanding. ¡®I thought she would grasp it the fastest.¡¯ Unfortunately, the counselling session was more about enjoying rather than sharing inner thoughts. ¡®I should try to lead it into a more serious atmosphere next time.¡¯ After organizing Cuculli¡¯s counselling record, I realized that the sun was already at its zenith. ¡®Finally, only one person left.¡¯ Leciel Hiyashin. Now, the only students left without a crossed-out name on the list were her and Luke. The long counselling schedule wasing to an end. There was a 10-minute break before the next counselling session. I recalled my memories of Leciel. The first thing that came to mind was the sense of decadence and sharp atmosphere around her. It felt like she intentionally kept her distance from everything around her. Her dryness, which was not typical for her age, was somewhat concerning. However, she seemed to be doing better in academy life than expected. ording to Kasim, other professors also praised her. ¡°She¡¯s perfect. I¡¯ve never seen such an excellent student during my teaching career.¡± ¡°When ites to swordsmanship, she seems to be naturally gifted.¡± ¡°Her theoretical knowledge seems a bitcking, though. Hahaha!¡± ¡°Friendship? Well, I¡¯m not sure, but everyone seems to want to be friends with that girl anyway.¡± She was diligent even in extreme conditions. Surprisingly, she was somewhat of a model student. Her outstanding talent and effortbined, she was growing smoothly. ¡®Another impressive thing was¡­¡¯ It was the gaze she directed towards me. The reactions people usually show when facing the Hero are quite simr. Admiration, awe, affection, longing, goodwill, admiration¡­ or envy. Well, those kinds of simr emotions. But in her eyes, there was a clear sense ofpetitiveness. A boldness that saw me as a target to surpass beyond not viewing me as just the Hero. Even if we set aside her exceptional talent, I saw her as the one most likely to fill the ¡®Original¡¯s¡¯ vacancy. ¡­ For this reason, this counselling session was extremely important. Leciel: 1/100 Above all, she was someone who boasted the lowest level of understanding. Perhaps she had no concerns at all. Furthermore, it was a perfect chance to get closer to her. ¡®Alright, let¡¯s do this well.¡¯ With such determination, I waited for Leciel to open the counselling room door ande in. ¡­ For a very long time. Until sunset, and even when the students who went out returned, bustling around the corrections, Leciel did not show her face. Around the time when the fireflies began to light up. It was unbelievable, but I had to admit it. ¡®¡­What on earth?¡¯ I nkly stared out the window. One lingering question subtly raised itself. ¡­Why. Why were there no normal people in the Extreme? * * * ¡°Uhh!¡± Leciel stretched her hands straight, waking up from a deep sleep. Her body felt stiff as if made of wood due to sleeping without moving. ¡°Where is this¡­?¡± She looked around absentmindedly. A dark space. The lingering drowsiness that hadn¡¯tpletely disappeared yet robbed her of a sense of reality. It took some more time for her toe to her senses. ¡°¡­Art room?¡± She looked around absentmindedly. After discovering the easel with an almost-finished painting, Leciel could finally grasp the situation. The counselling session was scheduled around noon. She must have stayed upte browsing the anonymous bulletin board. Rather than sleeping awkwardly, it seemed better toe to the art room in the same building and draw a picture. And then¡­ And then¡­? ¡°¡­¡­¡± Sighing deeply, Leciel rubbed her eyes. ¡°¡­I messed up.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 37 Chapter 37 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Back in the consultation room from the researchb. I was lost in thought for a moment, looking at the consultation journals to be submitted to Yussi tomorrow. Knock-knock- ¡­Someone tapped on the window of this 15th-floor location. ¡°Come in.¡± I released the rm and defense spells, unlocking the door. A silhouette entered the room, swiftly crossing the window sill as if it had been waiting. A chilly breeze followed behind. ¡°Excuse me.¡± A calm voice reached my ears. I looked at Nyhill, dressed in expedition gear with special equipment that seemed to assist in climbing the building, hanging all over her limbs. ¡°¡­.¡± Despite ascending to the 15th floor, she showed no signs of breathlessness. I gazed at theposed woman who began her report on the things I had asked for. Of course, the first thing was the whereabouts of Leciel. ¡°¡­She was in the art studio?¡± ¡°Yes. I confirmed her leaving the Gaudium Gallery¡¯s studio and returning to the dormitory just now.¡± I was momentarily stunned by the unexpected revtion. Art, huh? I never expected her to be absent without permission and be in the art studio. ¡°I thought she only knew swordsmanship, but she seems to have a different hobby.¡± This was information not found in the investigation conducted before the counselling. It was indeed surprising, considering that martial artists usually disdain the field of art. In times like these, the treatment of art is particrly harsh. Naturally, I assumed that she, being the granddaughter of Zion, who was dedicated to swordsmanship, would have no interest in that area. Understanding Leciel Hiyashin deepens: Understanding Level: 1/100 -> 2/100 I found myself deeply immersed in thought. ¡®¡­How should I approach this counselling? It feels like I¡¯ve gained a hint.¡¯ Generally, people who share rare hobbies tend to be close rapidly. And when ites to art, I have some expertise in that area, having memories of a painter with whom I built a friendship. ¡®If I utilize that experience¡­ I might get closer to her more quickly than I initially thought.¡¯ Unexpectedly, her unauthorized absence might turn out to be a favorable circumstance. Considering Leciel¡¯s hobby, if I n the counselling scenario ordingly, the oue would likely be better than if I proceeded with the counselling today. ¡®I should involve Luke in the next session.¡¯ Feeling somewhat relieved, I directed the next question to Nyhill. ¡°Alright. How did the kids react to the counselling?¡± ¡°Better than I expected¡­¡± Nyhill seemed to choose her words carefully for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s bing a topic of discussion.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°A topic?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the Connector?¡± ¡°Well, I was going to.¡± Certainly, the Connector was a meaningful indicator. However, relying solely on such anonymous posts was ambiguous. There were cases where even students who did not take extreme sses wrote fabricated articles to get attention. ¡®In the first ce, writing posts is a minority activity.¡¯ As if understanding my thoughts, Nyhill continued with her exnation. ¡°It became a trend to share the experiences of one¡¯s dreams. That includes sharing the professor¡¯s reactions to those experiences.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Additionally, rumors are circting that the counselling with you is on a different level from other professors, causing other students to feel a sense of deprivation. It seems to have be quite a topic among the professors as well.¡± It was fortunate that the students¡¯ reactions were positive. I had some suspicions, but¡­¡¯The sentence from ¡®firewood¡¯ has changed.¡¯ It seemed that the Iris of Lace, perceiving this counselling as quite effective progress, made such ament. ¨‹ A handful of warmth touched the wet firewood. But the fire still couldn¡¯t catch¡­ ¡ø As expected, a new clue I had been waiting for appeared. ¨‹ Find the warehouse keeper¡­ ¡ø Again, it wasn¡¯t very intuitive this time either. ¡®If you¡¯re going to tell me, why not tell me who it is and where they live?¡¯ The warehouse keeper. With the information I currently have, I couldn¡¯t even guess their identity. ¡®A warehouse keeper¡­ would they give me some artifact if I found them?¡¯ Frankly, it was surprising. I already possessed many artifacts. A Master-grade robe enchanted with dispel magic, the Iris of Lace can be called omnipotent, ck hope that held its ground against any weapon, although I hadn¡¯t unlocked its unique ability yet. I also had the financial means to instantly buy most artifacts avable in the market. ¡®¡­So far, all the clues the Iris of Lace provided led to clear power-ups.¡¯ Thinking about whether there was an artifact that would instantly grant me a tremendous power boost, it wasn¡¯t easy to guess. I sighed in disappointment. ¡®It would have been nice if it was a reward like the unsealing of ck Hope.¡¯ Anyway, since there might be additional clues, I nned to continue aiming for progress. ¡°¡­.¡± The girl stood on one side of the researchb, looking at me with curiosity. ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot dealing with all the chaotic tasks.¡± ¡°No, if there are no further orders, I will return now.¡± A peculiar appearance. She, with a stoic expression contrasting sharply with her petite appearance, turned towards the window again. ¡®Hmm?¡¯ ¡­Casually following her gaze, I noticed a faint mist on the window, right then. Unexpectedly, a sense of apology welled up. ¡°Eat some tea and snacks.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Mid-April. It was still chilly at this time of day outdoors. I gestured to Nyhill, who stood tall. ¡°Even the picky ones seem to like it.¡± There were still plenty of snacks brought from the counselling room. The ck eyes turned towards me. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Is it an order?¡± I nodded to her, I felt that if I refused, she might just leave. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s an order.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Only then did Nyhill approach and sit down, carefully picking up one snack after another in a somewhat mechanical motion. Delicately, she settled in the front seat of the sofa and mechanically indulged in the snacks. Sip, sip. Her actions somehow seemed amusingly absurd. Pssss-! Right on cue, the magical teapot released steam. Handing her a warm teacup, I observed her. Despite likely being overwhelmed with a massive amount of work since arriving at Rosenstark, she didn¡¯t show a hint of exhaustion. At times like this, it was hard to believe that she was the same age as those inexperienced kids. ¡®¡­Seems like it tastes good.¡¯ Still, it was fortunate that my body, which had been tense, seemed to have rxed a bit. ¨‹ Understanding Nyhill more deeply: Understanding Level: 3/100 -> 4/100 ¡ø ¡­It seemed like she enjoyed the snacks after all. * * * Meanwhile¡­ ¡°Damn!¡± Luke groaned as he tore apart the jaw of a demon by twisting his forearm 180 degrees. mes burst in front of him. Right now, he couldn¡¯t think about the peaceful time at Rosenstark. ¡°Die!¡± Continuing, he plunged a dagger deep into the neck of the oing demon. Beyond the sttering ck blood, a bizarre, unseen structure appeared as if it belonged to another world. Luke gritted his teeth. Yeah, this was the world he had lived in for a long time. ¡­He had briefly forgotten about it due to his childish academy life. * * * Pile. A magic used by demons to ¡®demonize¡¯ naturalnd, its form resembling a giant pile, giving it that name. The area where the pile is driven bes an environment where humans can no longer dwell. It happens because all the ambient mana is converted into demonic energy. Livestock gives birth to demons, and humans are corroded by demonic energy, and driven insane. The Eastern Continent, which once boasted a brilliant civilization, fell into the clutches of demons like this. Of course, there were many piles in the west as well. Thanks to the hero defeating the Demon King, the Demon King¡¯s main force retreated to the east, but the already driven piles didn¡¯t disappear. ¡­It was called post-war recovery. The Imperial Union Army under the emperor and the Dawn Knights dealt with high-grade piles. Various mercenary groups and self-defense forces in cities and towns tackled low-grade piles. Leaving the piles as they were would inevitably lead to uncontroble damage, so it was a natural course of action. The ¡®Aureum Mercenary Corps,¡¯ where Luke belonged, and which had the symbolic figure of the ¡®Mercenary King¡¯ as its leader, was no exception. ¡°Is the camp still far!?¡± ¡°Soon!¡± Riding together with his horse, Luke tilted his body sideways, avoiding the attack of a bat-like demon that was flying straight towards him. Normally, he would have cut it down with a single stroke, but due to numerous skirmishes, both his mana and stamina were at their limits. ¡°Duck!¡± Following him, a mercenary shot the creature with a crossbow. He was one of the subordinates sent by the Mercenary King to assist Luke. ¡°Uwaa, agh!¡± But that wasn¡¯t the end. A mole-shaped demon hidden on the ground suddenly surged up, biting into the legs of the subordinate and pulling him down. Despite striking the demon with the reins in one hand and hitting it with his weapon in the other, he couldn¡¯t break free. ¡®¡­Latito!¡¯ Luke¡¯s eyes gleamed. Coincidentally, it was the same creature he had practiced on during thest demonology ss. It had a tough exoskeleton and resilient skin. With depleted mana and a mace as his main weapon, it was a challenging demon to deal with. But¡­ ¡®It has a weakness!¡¯ Without a second thought, Luke¡¯s hand reached out. The hefty Pignon¡¯s head traced an eerie trajectory, hitting the left side of the demon¡¯s nk. Keiii! With a burst of dust, Latito fell to the ground. ¡°Th-thank you, Captain.¡± Turning away from the battered ankle of the subordinate expressing gratitude, Luke muttered curses under his breath. ¡­Damn. One more time. Damn!! ¡®¡­This road is damn tough.¡¯ Three days on horseback from Rosenstark. The Aureum Mercenary Corps was tasked with dismantling the piles there. Since demonization had progressed significantly, the atmosphere around was closer to demon territory than human territory. And tainted with ash. The crimson clouds in the sky swiftly moved due to the strong wind blowing. Luke spat, urging the horse forward. ¡°Camp ahead!¡± ¡°Raise the g!¡¯ Before they could raise the g, the guards shot down their crossbows, recognizing Luke at a nce. His flowing long ck hair, tall and sturdy figure, and vivid red eyes that shone even in the darkness were umon. ¡°Captain of the 11th is back!¡± Luke entered the camp, weed by the guards. * * * The first time it descended and struck. It was genuinely a horrifying impact. A feeling of reality stepping aside, making way for something alien. ¡­A sinister thought crossed my mind: Perhaps I¡¯m witnessing the end of humanity unfold. ¨C Eastern Continent, District 13. ¨C An expert from an unknown record found in an evacuee shelter. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 38 Chapter 38 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The Mercenary King said he was having a private audience with the Imperial Chancellor. So, in front of the Mercenary King¡¯s tent, Luke met his old men. They were part of the 11th unit he hadmanded in the past. The boy looked at them withplicated eyes, then spoke. ¡°How have you been, boys?¡± Blood and sweat dried on their faces. Tousled and dirty. It was a tough life that couldn¡¯t be described even with empty words. However, as they faced Luke, their former leader, their faces brightened. ¡°Oh, the captain is here.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s always the same. Instead, let¡¯s talk about academy matters.¡± ¡°After being with the old folks, it feels refreshing to be with peers, right?¡± ¡°Is it because of your personality that you couldn¡¯t make a single friend?¡± ¡°Have you met any pretty girls?¡± ¡°Hahaha, does our fearless leader even think about such things?¡± Even with their light banter, Luke¡¯s stern expression remained unchanged. After a while of sitting in silence, the boy suddenly spoke. ¡°Why did it happen?¡± The atmosphere instantly grew heavy with those words. While some subordinates were about to say something, a close aide of the Mercenary King approached, patting the boy¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Father is looking for you.¡± ¡­Father. Certainly, he wasn¡¯t his biological father with whom he shared blood. Firstly, the Mercenary King desired his subordinates to address him with such a title, and in the ¡®Aureum Mercenary Corps,¡¯ his words were akin tow. Consequently, all members came to refer to the Mercenary King as their father. In reality, to Luke, who had been an orphan, the Mercenary King was practically the person who took him in and raised him as a father figure. ¡°I understand.¡± Luke nodded and headed towards the Mercenary King¡¯s tent. ¡­Until he entered it, the boy didn¡¯t turn his gaze back to his former subordinates behind the bars. ¡°I¡¯vee, Father.¡± A somewhat chilly atmosphere filled the tent. Luke met the Mercenary King after several months. ¡°You¡¯vee, my son.¡± The Mercenary King, ¡®Ravias Selsood,¡¯ greeted the boy with a smile. He was a middle-aged man with an appearance quite different from the rough image people typically associated with the Mercenary King. He had a somewhat refined physique, and in his white shirt and perfectly fitted suit pants, he exuded a metropolitan charm. In short, he looked like a schr rather than the ruler of thousands of mercenaries. However, those who truly knew Ravias would secretly acknowledge how unfitting this exterior was and would often scoff. The boy, meeting eyes with Ravias, quickly lowered his head. ¡°Luke, you must be busy with your studies. I apologize for calling you.¡± ¡°Oh, no. If Father calls, I wille anytime.¡± ¡°Haha, saying that makes me feel secure. So, how¡¯s life at Rosenstark? Nothing too difficult?¡± After that, a brief casual conversation ensued. They talked about the academy, whether there were any promising ssmates, what the young warriors were learning in their sses, and so on. Of course, Luke¡¯s mind was not fully engaged in the conversation, as he thought about his subordinates outside. Luke bit his lip, perspiring, and patiently waited for the main topic. ¡°I suppose, you understand why I summoned you here..¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°Well, unfortunately, there are those who have vited thew.¡± Mercenaries, by nature, tend to be unruly and rough. To control them, ¡®Mercenary Corps Laws¡¯ were established. While the specifics may vary among different mercenary groups, they all share onemonality¡ªthe consequences for breaking thew are exceedingly harsh. ¡°Dared to.¡± Ravias¡¯s usually soft andnguid voice changed. Simultaneously, the feigned warmth andposure he exuded shattered into pieces. In its ce emerged a sense of cruelty. ¡°Yes, dared to disobey orders during an operation and leave the designated area.¡± Luke met Ravias with trembling eyes. ¡°Our mercenaries¡­¡± the Mercenary King paused for a moment, reaching under the desk for something. At the familiar sound of metal, Luke tightly shut his eyes. ¡°People who ce gold coins and their lives on opposite ends of the scale.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Disregarding the obligation even after receiving a cost equivalent to their lives is not the behavior of a mercenary but of trash. Trash that needs to be disposed of.¡± Ravias rose from his seat. He walked towards Luke, step by step. In his hand, filled with calluses and scars, he held a massive axe. ¡°Luke, did you say that the academic appointment you missed toe here was a counselling session?¡± ¡°¡­Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be pleased. Your today¡¯s experience will be far more valuable than some mundane academic affairs.¡± Ravias handed the axe to Luke, who stood still. It was the same executioner¡¯s axe that had been in his hands since he was twelve. ¡°Understand, my son. It won¡¯t be easy, considering the time you¡¯ve spent with them. But hesitating to cut out the rotten ones is not an option. And above all¡­¡± Ravias smiled brightly, revealing his gums. ¡°How precious of an experience it is. Today is the day you be a man more fitting for this iron-blooded position.¡± Luke couldn¡¯t utter a word. No¡­ more precisely, he knew that any words would be futile. As always, he quietly epted the axe. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª He and the Mercenary King exited the tent, followed by members with various expressions. The path led towards the iron bars. As the execution approached, the boy suddenly looked up at the sky. ¡°¡­¡± Everything here was bathed in crimson. The clear weather, the warm breeze, and the neatly arranged buildings. Memories of the academy, filled with cheerful students, felt almost like a lie. Luke closed his eyes and raised the axe. It was a familiar task. Even if he didn¡¯t see, there would be no mistake. ¡°Open your eyes.¡± Ravias, erasing his smile, spoke. * * * Professor¡¯s Quarter, Creoa Hall. On the top floor of this splendid leisure space, there was a very ¡®private¡¯ meeting room that young professors wouldn¡¯t even get a chance to nce at. It was their of senior professors with a minimum of 10 years of service. Around the fifth week of the semester, despite the ambitious time, old voices were bustling in this ce. ¡°¡­Have you all checked the course evaluations?¡± ¡°Well, I tried not to, but it seems to keep catching my eye. It dropped by 0.3 pointspared tost year.¡± ¡°We teach the same way, why does it keep declining¡­ it¡¯s frustrating.¡± ¡°Why indeed. We¡¯re constantlypared to that damn ¡®Extreme.''¡± The senior professors discussed it heatedly. When the Hero first assumed the role of a professor at Rosenstark, their concern was about the ¡®influence as the Hero.¡¯ They worried that if the Hero showed interest in campus politics or social activities, the small castle they had painstakingly built over many years, consisting of customs, rules, honor, and privileges, would immediately crumble. ¡°Especially with everything already in chaos because of the current Principal.¡± However, surprisingly, the Hero didn¡¯t seem interested in exercising such influence. What had threatened the professors was something they hadn¡¯t considered¡ªthe fundamental of their expertise, their teaching ability. ¡°How can someone who has never stood in front of a ssroom be so proficient in teaching?¡± ¡°No, not proficient. From the start, with the Principal¡¯s favoritism and the scale of his sses, how can we possiblypete? If we also receive such support, we can create lectures no less than ¡®Extreme.''¡± ¡­The problemy in the connectors. If you have something to boast about, you want to share it. The psychology of wanting to show off what you have is ingrained in human nature. The ¡®Extreme¡¯ lecture students thrived on an anonymous bulletin board. After each warrior¡¯s lecture, they shared the content, impressions, and their achievements, consistently. ¨C Extreme is the future. ¨C At the beginning of the semester, I think I can take down at least three people. ©¸ Strange. Don¡¯t geniuses usually teach poorly? ©¸ Not at all. Every time ss ends, each student gets five pages of feedback from the Hero. ©¸ Five pages per student? Seriously? Doesn¡¯t the Hero sleep? ¡­Five pages of personal feedback after every lecture. Professors were trembling. ¨C I¡¯m just a student from another department who gathers shared materials, but the lecture is truly focused on real-world applications from start to finish. The mana suppression potion was shocking. ©¸ Isn¡¯t it called ¡®real-world running¡¯? If you haven¡¯t tried it, shut up. While running, suddenly there¡¯s a pile of civilians in the middle of the course. You have to carry and run. ©¸ Projectile targets alsoe flying. If you hit the pile, you have to start running again from the beginning ughs). ©¸Isn¡¯t it hard? Don¡¯t you hate it? ©¸Is it hard now or will it be hard when you go to war? The Hero¡¯s shared training methods and lecture materials only heightened the thirst of those who couldn¡¯t attend the sses. The evaluations of the existing courses naturally dropped. ¡°At this rate, our reputation will bepletely ruined.¡± If they finished the semester with a rating of less than 2 points, they would automatically be subjects of investigation. Substantial disadvantages such as research fund cuts, reduced support, and closure of lectures awaited them. It was a critical situation. The reason they gathered today was to take extraordinary measures as a solution. ¡°Well, shall we start?¡± The senior professors nced at each other and began unpacking the baggage they had brought. ¡°Haha, I didn¡¯t know I would be sharing these materials with you.¡± ¡°In times like these, we must support each other.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Thick bundles of paper took over the table. Academic exchange. Under the guise of being rivals, they were sharing ¡®advanced know-how¡¯ that they had hesitated to share before. ¡°Oh, this is¡­¡± ¡°Wow, this is¡­¡± The corners of the professors¡¯ mouths turned upward. The volume and depth of the materials were substantial. Even if the fields were different, they could easily apply them to their lectures. One of them spoke with a confident voice. ¡°Yes. If we put our heads together, we can certainly catch up to those hastily prepared lectures.¡± Bellum, the professor in charge of the ¡°Monsters in the Field¡± course, confidently spoke up. ¡°Yes, I agree that demon anatomy is a good course. I¡¯ve read his book, and it seems like he has made quite the preparation. However, no matter how much of an amazing Hero he is, it¡¯s impossible to create such unique lectures every time.¡± [TL/N: Changing Monster Anatomy to Demon Anatomy.] ¡°Of course, not long from now, the foundation will be revealed. Then our evaluations will return to normal.¡± The professorsughed amiably. One of them pulled out a bottle of wine from the conference room. ¡°All right, our esteemed professors. From today, our ratings are going up!¡± ¡°Haha, the warrior probably doesn¡¯t even know, right?¡± ¡­ Of course, contrary to their expectations, the Hero had no idea that they were having such discussions. However, if there was one thing different from their thoughts, it was that if the Hero knew they were nning this, he wouldn¡¯t be upset. Instead, he might have expressed gratitude for the fact that humanity¡¯s overall strength was increasing. ¡°Pia, are the preparations for the lectureplete?¡± And, there was another fact that the senior professors didn¡¯t anticipate. ¡°Everything¡¯s ready. After inspecting the ¡®items,¡¯ I¡¯ve moved them to the ssroom.¡± ¡°Good.¡± There were plenty of innovative materials in his mind for an exceptional lecture. ¡°The kids will love it.¡± As he pulled out one of them, the warrior¡¯s lips curved into a subtle smile. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 39 Chapter 39 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª On the way to the ssroom, the Hero suddenly spoke, ¡°By the way, has Luke returned safely?¡± ¡°Yes, I confirmed his return yesterday. I¡¯ll rearrange today¡¯s counselling session. Nevertheless, Professor, your uing schedule appears quite packed¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take care of the counselling schedule gradually for now,¡± Pia¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°But about this invention. Did you reallye up with it yourself? It seems like advanced technology.¡± ¡°It¡¯s easy toe up with ideas. If you hadn¡¯t molded it so well, it would have been just a daydream.¡± ¡°Oh, I just followed the design, that¡¯s all.¡± This invention had been on his mind since before he joined Rosenstark. He designed it, incorporating various ingenious features for use in sses. ¡°It¡¯s over technology itself,¡±mented Pia. It was not only the knowledge of Zero Requiem in the Iris of Lace but also Pia¡¯s knowledge of over-technology that made the design possible. The Hero looked at Pia with pride. ¡®If it weren¡¯t for her, it wouldn¡¯t have beenpleted.¡¯ While herbat skills might not be good, he once again was reminded about how Yussi imed that she might surpass her in the manufacturing aspect. ¡°Well, a lot of money was spent, but considering the performance of this invention, it was well worth it.¡± ¡°If you patent it, you might end up sitting on a money cushion.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already sitting on it. So, Professor, this invention is yours.¡± ¡°Thank you. But¡­¡± ¡°Yes. You¡¯re going to donate it to the academy, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re cutting me off now.¡± ¡°¡­Ugh.¡± The Hero chuckled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go in now.¡± They were already in front of the ssroom. As the door creaked open, the livelyughter of the children immediately ceased. Facing dozens of fixed pairs of eyes, the Hero stepped onto the tform. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± The children, who had been smiling happily, avoided eye contact and looked uneasy. The warm demeanor seen during counselling was nowhere to be found. Instead, there was the usual expressionless and intimidating atmosphere. Some sighed with disappointment. ¡°Well, before we start the lecture, let me introduce the item we¡¯ll be using today.¡± All eyes turned towards one side of the ssroom at that moment. * * * Kwaaaaang! Before the thunderous noise that shook the ground could fade away, a terrifying shockwave was added on top of it. A magical creature rose into the air, floating in the void. The children desperately swung their swords. ng! However, they couldn¡¯t touch it. The magical creature effortlessly prated the loosely formed defense. The frontline, not sturdy enough to withstand a solid attack, allowed the magical creature to break through easily. As a result, the rear guard, supposed to concentrate firepower to suppress the creature, quickly becamebat ineffective. ¡­A total disaster. In the end, total annihtion was inevitable. ¡°Argh.¡± ¡°Aaaahh!!¡± ¡°Ahhh!¡± Children were caught by the ws and fangs of the magical creatures. Tsstststst- But what scattered into the air instead of blood was sparkling particles. The fierce roars of the magical creatures soon dissipated like smoke and disappeared. Above that, the Hero¡¯s monotone voice ovepped. ¡°This is the result when set to default.¡± The students who had been writhing on the ground were immediately engulfed in a white light, transforming back into models. The battlefield, once a swamp, instantly returned to a colorless stone wall. Everyone in the ssroom stared at the podium, or more precisely, at the ¡®peculiar item¡¯ in front of the Hero, as they recalled the events from ten minutes ago,pletely spellbound. ¡°This item is called ¡®Simcrum.''¡± Gathered around a rectangr box as long as the ssroom¡¯s width, they listened to the Hero. The Hero opened the lid of the box. ¡°Can you see the dolls inside?¡± Inside the box, dozens of dolls were arranged in military formation on an empty battlefield. The precision, as if real-life objects were reduced in size, elicited admiration from the children. Their awe turned to confusion as they gazed at the dolls. ¡°Is-isn¡¯t that me?¡± Evergreen pointed at a doll standing somewhat awkwardly with a perplexed expression. Other children soon discovered dolls with familiar features. The Hero continued the exnation. ¡°These dolls are a kind of avatar created based on your abilities and characteristics. Their strength has been uniformly adjusted, and they can be controlled very precisely with voicemands. You can also pre-enter a series ofmands.¡± As soon as the Hero finished speaking, the avatars opened their eyes simultaneously, as if understanding the spoken words, and stared at the children. A mixture of screams and cheers erupted. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª It was a bizarre yet mystical scene. ¡°Simcrum recreates a total of 30 magical districts and the magical creatures that appear in each district as realistically as possible.¡± ¡°In a randomly presented environment, your task for today¡¯s practical training is to use your avatars to win battles.¡± The children were highly intrigued by thispletely new teaching method. ¡°Wow, this sounds really fun!¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s ¡®extreme¡¯ indeed. It¡¯s on a different level from other sses, right?¡± As Pia, who had been waiting, began writing examples on the ckboard, the Hero continued. [Today¡¯s Mission List] The examples were diverse and specific, ranging from basic extermination missions to missions rescuing stranded party members. There were missions involving looting resources or items and even missions defending or capturing bases while fending off attacks from magical creatures. Various types of battlefields, the number of avatars that could be summoned, and the types of magical creatures were all different. The children¡¯s excited eyes began to waver. ¡°Huh? This¡­?¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s not just about what we learned in the ¡®Extreme¡¯ ss?¡± ¡°Even themon curriculum is included?¡± In other words, if they hadn¡¯t diligently followed Rosenstark¡¯s curriculum for advanced magical creature education, achieving a high score would be challenging. The Hero stood in front of the chalkboard filled with writing. ¡°One of these examples will appear randomly. The maximum score is 10 points.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And¡­¡± At this point, the Hero slightly smiled, as if implying something. Wielding only a whip wouldn¡¯t be enough for better achievements. For the children, he had prepared a special incentive. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of taking students who score 8 or higher on an outing to a nearby vige this weekend.¡± ¡­An outing? The children exchanged surprised nces for a moment. Was he referring to the outing that usually takes more than two months for freshmen to participate in? And with the Hero? The ssroom buzzed with excitement at this unexpected announcement. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s start in 10 minutes.¡± Before the practical exercise on examples, there was a short break. During this break, one child spoke after swallowing his saliva. ¡°Hey, this weekend is the day of the Artisan Expo. I¡¯m definitely going.¡± ¡°¡­Artisan Expo? What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it before¡­¡± Deindart, the only second-year student in the Extreme ss, spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s a massive event where various guilds and clubs gather to exhibit their products and services. It¡¯s hosted by none other than the Glendor Association.¡± The expo featured a wide range of guilds and clubs, including themon crafting fields like alchemy and enchanting. It also included support categories like taming, cooking, exploration, information, and even art fields like painting and music. Booths of all kinds were set up. Although it wasn¡¯t as big in the past, it gained poprity after Yussi took over, bing an event that attracted external visitors. Of course, there was a variety of delicious food and entertainment. ¡°Wait, what kind of food is there?!¡± ¡°Rather than the types, you should first ask who¡¯s doing the cooking. Last year, a former royal chef came! The guy who tasted his cooking didn¡¯t touch the cafeteria food for a week, and that story became quite famous.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°As for entertainment¡­ Let¡¯s see. There was a diator arena, and a team of adventurers came and sold the treasures they excavated. Oh! There was even a magical creature racingpetition.¡± Deindart, who had already attended the expo once, spoke with excitement drawn from his experience. Even the children who were listening with mild interest were captivated by his vivid descriptions. ¡­For example, Leciel¡¯s eyes sparkled during the part about the art booths. By the way, when the former royal chef was mentioned, Cuculli¡¯s horn had already skyrocketed to the sky. ¡°They¡¯ll probably like it. After all, they can¡¯t go out during their usual time.¡± Enjoying the reactions of his juniors, Deindart whispered, lowering his voice. ¡°By the way, it only opens twice a year¡ªonce in the first half and once in the second half. If you miss this expo, you¡¯ll have to wait for about six months.¡± As he finished hisst sentence, most of the children¡¯s eyes were burning with enthusiasm to score above 8 points. ¡­That was until the first participant, Leciel Hiyashin, suffered a brutal failure. ¡°Leciel Hiyashin, 1 point.¡± The ssroom buzzed for a moment. Leciel, who always excelled not only in the extreme ss but also in other sses, had received only 1 point. Even she seemed shaken, and her usuallyposed expression showed a subtle distortion. ¡°¡­¡± Evergreen, feeling sympathy, swayed back and forth on her two legs. ¡®What should I do¡­ Leciel seemed really eager to go out.¡¯ When Senior Deindart talked about the expo, she was the only one who hadn¡¯t shown much interest. However, she could immediately tell from observing (because she was too cute) Leciel¡¯s reactions that she liked the idea of going out to the expo. Evergreen looked at Leciel¡¯s pursed lips with a pitiful expression. ¡®¡­But, the assignment is really difficult. What if I also get 1 point?¡¯ Seeing the simtion that had just started, Evergreen could instantly grasp the shocking difficulty of this assignment. She looked at the doll resembling herself with tense eyes. It wasn¡¯t just an external resemnce, as Professor had mentioned. ¡®He replicated ourbat characteristics faithfully.¡¯ For example, Cuculli¡¯s doll was extremely aggressive. Even when assigned to a safe position, it ultimately emerged as the most fierce frontline. ¡®But, in return, its performance on the front lines surpasses the other dolls significantly.¡¯ Taking into ount Cuculli¡¯s background from a rugged snowy region, the doll showed a rtively freer movement on the battlefield. It wasn¡¯t only Cuculli. Gerald¡¯s spear techniques, which were powerful but had a longer cooldown, were faithfully replicated. Even Evergreen¡¯s archery traits were urately represented. It was an incredible level of realism born from meticulous observation. The ¡®Simcrum¡¯ quietly contemting a tactical manual on the desk seemed far more helpful than expected. However, the issuey in the difficulty, as mentioned before. Evergreen, like Leciel, had no idea how to lead this task to victory. With a limit of 8 participants, a swampy terrain where one¡¯s feet sank deep, and a time constraint, not to mention the advanced-level monster poption that needed to be subjugated¡ªit came with tremendous challenges. Evergreen pondered how to turn the tide in a task that Leciel had just failed. The difficult conditions were reminiscent of the defensive battles she had experienced several times in her hometown. ¡°Next turn¡­¡± ¡°I just can¡¯tprehend receiving 1 point.¡± shouted Leciel in a low voice A dispassionate voice immediately silenced the buzzing ssroom. A brief silence followed. Then, the murmurs of the students erupted. ¡°Wow¡­ this is crazy.¡± ¡°Is this the time to appeal?¡± ¡°If I get 1 point, I might as well turn into a ghost.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t you think it¡¯s better to yield here¡­?¡± Despite the hostile reactions, Leciel, with her crimson eyes more vivid than ever today, simply gazed at the instructor. The instructor, ignoring the students¡¯ unrest, passed by Leciel and stood in front of the ¡®Simcrum.¡¯ ¡°It seems there¡¯s a need for more understanding.¡± Passing by Leciel, who stood still, the instructor stood in front of the ¡®Simcrum.¡¯ ¡°I guess, you all will understand better if I give you an example.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 40 Chapter 40 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Leciel Hyashin, 1 point.¡± She already knew she wouldn¡¯t do well. She was good at objectification of herself. To score high on this assignment, understanding the rtivews of each demon, tactics based on terrain features, and understanding of her other party members were required. All of these werecking in her. ¡®¡­Still, I didn¡¯t expect to get such a dismal score.¡¯ Well, it didn¡¯t matter much. She didn¡¯t have any lingering feelings about grades. The reason she had diligently participated in sses so far was one. In case her grandmother looked back at her¡­ she wanted to show a slightly better side of herself. Now that the probability of that happening had be slim, Leciel¡¯s overall motivation for learning was at an all-time low. ¡®It¡¯s a shame I can¡¯t go to the exhibition, but there¡¯s nothing I can do.¡¯ With that thought, Leciel raised her stiff neck. The buzzing ssroom¡­ next, the eyes of the Hero caught her attention. She looked into indifferent ashy eyes. ¡®Huh?¡¯ Suddenly, her heart sank without her realising it. After blinking in surprise for a moment, Leciel soon realised the reason. ¡®Disappointment¡­ is it?¡¯ The ¡®expectation¡¯ that had always been visible in the eyes of the Hero throughout the past lessons seemed a bit faint. Dry eyes that ovepped with those of her grandmother. Eyes without any expectation or interest. ¡®No.¡¯ Just before the Hero¡¯s gaze shifted away. Leciel spoke almost involuntarily. ¡°Well, the next turn¡­.¡± ¡°I just can¡¯tprehend receiving 1 point.¡± And immediately regretted it. ¡®What was that¡­.¡¯ As mentioned earlier, Leciel is adept at self-objectification. Therefore, she could look at her own actions objectively. She disliked losing expectations, so she behaved rebelliously. What kind of impulsive behaviour was that? ¡®Ah¡­ really.¡¯ Leciel found herself disliking herself a bit more. * * * ¡°Back to the previous setting.¡± As the trigger resounded, Simcrum began to shine. The t floor turned into a squishy swamp. Dark green vines hung on the ashy walls. And¡­. Kraaaaaaa-! In the midst of it all, A monster with a shape that seemed like a mix of a crocodile and a human was created. Overall, it resembled a crocodile, but the legs seemed to be a mix of human and crocodile. The actual size was approximately 6-7 meters. A high-level demon, ¡®Germic.¡¯ Even though it was reduced to a fraction of its size, the disgust was immense. Hiss-! At the same time, only the dolls that Leciel had organised into a party remained in the box. ¡°Well then.¡± The Hero stood with a calm expression. Originally, he didn¡¯t n to give a demonstration himself, but seeing Leciel struggling to survive changed his mind. ¡°I guess, you all will understand better if I show you an example.¡± The children gulped nervously. Just now. Leciel was annihted in less than 5 minutes. So, there was a clear difference in power between the demons and dolls. As the demons and dolls slowly started to move, cautious whispers followed. ¡°Well¡­ the party formation is the same. Just themander changes, will the results be that different?¡± ¡°Yeah, even if it¡¯s the professor, what¡¯s different¡­ huh?¡± It didn¡¯t take long for confusion to appear in the eyes that were watching. It was after the Hero gave various instructions. ¡°No, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t quite right.¡± The children chattered. Even if most of them weren¡¯t deeply knowledgeable about tactics, it seemed like there was a problem with the Hero¡¯s arrangement. The empty center of the party. Sparse, sprawling wings. Rear units ying separately. Somehow, it looked poorly coordinated. In contrast to Germic charging at the party with a formidable force, it looked more precarious. Evergreen involuntarily closed her eyes. ¡®Oh, no! Where¡­ where is my doll going!¡¯ Evergreen¡¯s expression turned into a frown as she saw her doll half-submerged in the swamp. Cuculli was also in a state of surprise. Her doll was boldly taking the forefront and charging towards the demons. ¡°Wow, impressive! Little Cuculli!¡± Doubtful nces were cast at Simcrum and the Hero. Those nces all changed at once, right after the confrontation between Germic and Cuculli. ¡°Cuculli, full-speed sprint to the right.¡± Cuculli¡¯s doll narrowly turned its direction in front of Germic¡¯s nose. It was a close call. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The creature¡¯s mouth fiercely tore through the air. Kuuuuung-! The one who missed the target rolled on the ground. However, the creature quickly regained bnce with a sturdy tail and turned to chase the doll. The distance narrowed in an instant. ¡°Oh, caught!¡± ¡°No way!!¡± The children screamed. The sinking ground. Even with Cuculli¡¯s excellent physical abilities, it was an impossible task to outrun the demon in such a swamp. The unexpectedmand from the Hero came at that moment. ¡°Cuculli, grab the vines and move onto the trees. Keep the direction the same.¡± ¡­Wow, there was such a method. Quiet admirations echoed. Simple but the most efficient method in the current situation. ¡°Main team, get ready and stick close. Cuculli, intercept the left front leg with ice magic every 30 seconds.¡± A bluish light shot from the doll¡¯s hand in the air, hitting Germic¡¯s front leg. The creature¡¯s speed gradually slowed. ¡°Main team, prepare! We¡¯re about to meet!¡± In the main team, including Gerald, five children were spread out like a fortress. It was when Cuculli passed through the central ambush they had set up. ¡°Now! Focus on the left front leg, strike, and retreat! Give just enough force to keep it following Cuculli!¡± The dolls swiftly moved ording to themand. After that, it was a repetition. Cuculli, with her good stamina and nimble body, deprived Germic of its mobility, lured it, and in that opening, Gerald and the others umted hits. The Hero skillfully spun Cuculli in the same spot. Thanks to that, the main team could easily keep up with the demon. ¡°Oh¡­.¡± The children sighed in admiration. ¡°A bait in the swamp. I never thought of that.¡± ¡°Well, Cuculli is fast.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why the formation seemed strange.¡± ¡°But why hasn¡¯t anyone died? There were so many dangerous situations.¡± The seemingly miraculous survival of everyone was tactically expected. Understanding the characteristics of the battlefield, and being aware of the strengths and weaknesses of both the opponent and allies ¨C under such conditions, if the party could move smoothly like a single organic entity, individual damage could only be minimised. The Hero wanted to demonstrate such coordination. ¡®¡­Shall we finish this now?¡¯ The ashy eyes quickly scanned the situation. Germic was getting closer to the nned position. The shallowest part of the swamp. It was right after its left foot touched that spot. ¡°Now, Cuculli! Freeze the swamp! Full power!¡± Chrrrrrr! The part touched by the creature¡¯s leg rapidly froze. The doll Cuculli, giving its all, fell backward. Germic, umting damage on its left leg, momentarily slipped and wobbled. Kieeek-! Seemingly surprised, the creature twisted its body. The Hero continued to give orders without a break. ¡°All the members of the main team, charge Germic with full force!¡± ¡°sh weapons and scream to create chaos!¡± The creature¡¯s tail, which was wriggling to regain bnce, shot up into the sky. Perfect. The Hero chuckled. ¡°Now, Luke!¡± Silently following, Luke¡¯s doll threw a chain and tied up the tail. A swift, freezing chain. As Luke pulled with all his strength and jumped backward, the bulky body turned half a circle, exposing the vulnerable belly. The chronic weakness of the crocodile-shaped demon. Evergreen¡¯s doll, hidden in the swamp, was already standing alert. A sharply bent bowstring. The magical power gathered at the arrowhead from the beginning of the battle was released, creating a strong current, and the arrow pierced Germic¡¯s fragile abdomen. Kwaaaang-! The incapacitated creature was battered, and the simtion ended. ¡°Reset.¡± ¡­Simcrum returned to its original state. The children stared nkly at the Hero. It was like a script yed out perfectly. ¡°Wow¡­.¡± ¡°This is insane.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Leciel get wiped out in just 5 minutes?¡± The battlefield. The demons to be subjugated. The party members. Everything was the same, but the results were so contrasting. They truly felt the necessity of tactics. The Hero shifted his gaze to Leciel. ¡°I think we might not have fully utilized the characteristics of the battlefield and the weaknesses of the demons yet. However¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°We need to understand each other to some extent.¡± There was enough time for the children to understand each other. They had trained together in the same training ground for over a month, and they always practiced and sparred together. But¡­ ¡°Do you think there was an understanding of your teammates¡¯ motivations in your maneuvers before?¡± ¡°No.¡± That was the reason the Hero gave Leciel a score of 1. She fundamentallycked interest in others. Consequently, she knows nothing about her teammates¡¯ weapon skills, their characteristics, strengths, or weaknesses. ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡± Even if they don¡¯t be close friends personally, at the very least, they need to know how their teammates fight. At least as much as thebat styles and characteristics. ¡°Because they¡¯ll be yourrades fighting alongside you in the future.¡± The Hero wanted to convey this to her. ¡°I believe you¡¯ll do better next time.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Leciel lifted her head with a rare, slightly puzzled expression. ¡°After my example, you¡¯ll do better. There might be deductions due to the retake. Still, you should be able to score higher than 1.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± It¡¯s what they call fairness. Her ssmates all got to watch his demonstration and get hints before taking the exam. Deepening understanding of Leciel: Understanding Level: 2/100 -> 3/100 As expected, Leciel¡¯sprehension level has increased I smiled slightly. ¡°Well then, the next¡­¡± The next students were called one by one. He had to hold the grading sheets in his hands for four hours. Before the expectant eyes of the children, he slowly opened his mouth. ¡°The person I¡¯m thinking of taking to the outing this weekend is¡­¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 41 Chapter 41 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª A retest. Four students with a score of 0. Fourteen students from 1 to 4. Nine students from 5 to 7. One student each for 8 points, 9 points, and 10 points. I tapped the grading sheets with my fingers. ¡®Better than I expected?¡¯ Originally, I set the grading criteria quite strictly, so I didn¡¯t anticipate anyone scoring above 8. However, having perfect scores was beyond my expectations. I started with the grading sheet with 8 points. ¡­Evergreen Solintail. Scenario: Safely escort and evacuate injured party members to the safety zone. Limit: 5 participants Time Limit: 8 minutes Appearing Demons: 20 Kabogs, 3 Gomos. Evergreen¡¯s tactics were smooth and conventional. As mentioned in ¡®Dreamscape¡¯ before, she has a lot of experience in localized battles in the domain. It was a simted battle imbued with that experience. Although the task of ¡°escorting and evacuating¡± was rtively straightforward, her execution was wless. It was much better than other children who had a lot to point out. ¡°Effect of early education, perhaps.¡± ¨‹ Understanding of Evergreen Solintail deepens: Understanding Level: 12/100 -> 13/100 ¡ø It was an unexpected talent. Next, I turned my attention to the grading sheets with 9 and 10 points. ¡°¡­Of course, Evergreen did well, but these two are definitely on a different level.¡± The protagonist of the 9-point sheet was Ban Dietrich. The mission he received was the simplest example of ¡°Subjugation.¡± However, since the target of subjugation was a high-level demon, even a small mistake could result in a fatal deduction, requiring a cautious approach. But Ban¡­ He approached the task in a Ban-like manner. ¡°Form a defensive circle and hold on!¡± ¡°The front line rotates clockwise!¡± ¡°If there¡¯s an injured party, retreat to the designated area and then regroup to maintain the formation!¡± It was an extreme safety-oriented approach. He greatly emphasized minimizing power loss. A method of umting damage while minimizing risks. Originally, the battle might have dragged on, failing to meet the time limit, but¡­ ¡°After Groven breathes out, the strength of his scales weakens. Target the part turning blue!¡± ¡°It takes about 5 seconds after the serpent twitches for it to breathe out. Until then, focus on all-out attacks rather than defense!¡± Ban¡¯s ¡°Demon Ecology¡± went far beyond what is taught to freshmen at Rosenstark. [PR/N: Ecology is the study of the rtionships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment] His expertise significantly shortened the time. ¡°He spends a lot of time in the library; he¡¯s well-versed in theory.¡± ¨‹ Understanding of Ban Dietrich deepens: Understanding Level: 20/100 -> 21/100 ¡ø Even the children who had only seen Ban¡¯s timid side were astonished to the point of apuse. That¡¯s how he earned 9 points. ¡­And finally. The perfect scorer was Luke Selsood. The mission involved rescuing individuals surrounded in the ruined city. Limit of 8 people. Time limit: 5 minutes. It was the most challenging mission among the examples. ¡­However, Luke approached the practical exercise as if he already knew the answer, with apletely indifferent gaze. I realized that he had already experienced this type of mission. ¡®There is absolutely no hesitation. It¡¯s different from children.¡¯ The strategies of those who hadn¡¯t experienced realbat were mostly simr. Defensive¡­ everyone in a safe formation. So, missions often ended in failure, with total annihtion or exceeding the time limit. That¡¯s why I thought this mission would be the most difficult for the kids. Because it required considering ¡®sacrifice.¡¯ But Luke¡­ ¡®He¡¯s already perfected this aspect. No emotions inmand.¡¯ It was as if he were handling chess pieces. ¡°Hold on. Hold on more.¡± ¡°If Cuculli dies, Nyhill takes over, and if Nyhill dies, Veorn takes the front.¡± Rather than everyone sharing the danger burden, some took on the responsibility. There was no hesitation in his instructions. Judgment based on intuition and analysis, with only the goal in mind. ¡°The bait in the rear is Evergreen and Leciel. They¡¯ll disperse to attract attention, and the rest will escort the factors to safety.¡± As Cuculli and Leciel¡¯s decoys broke apart, the factors safely escaped to the safety zone. ¡®I thought at least four would die.¡¯ It was much faster than expected, and the casualties were minimal. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Based on the grading criteria, it was a perfect score. However¡­. If we only consider the grading criteria, it¡¯s a perfect score. ¡­I hesitated a bit in front of the feedback section. If themand target were actual humans, this method had a high probability of causing resistance unless it was a group with exceptionally high loyalty. ¡®Certainly, a certain level of ruthlessness is necessary.¡¯ However, if it¡¯s excessive, long-term teamwork bes impossible. ¡®He¡¯s quite the pragmatist¡­.¡¯ ¨‹ Understanding of Luke Selsood deepens Understanding: 3/100 -> 5/100 ¡ø I felt the need to find out if he used this type ofmand even when he was a member of the mercenary group. ¡°¡­¡± ¡­Anyway. Three people were chosen to go on the outing. ¡°The members going on the outing this weekend are Evergreen, Ban, and Luke.¡± Evergreen was about to shout but covered her mouth, ncing around cautiously. Ban smiled quietly, seeming to enjoy his own happiness. A clenched fist under the desk was visible. And Luke¡­ With a thoughtful expression as if lost in thought, he stared nkly into space. Knowing his preference for attention, it was strange. Perhaps he lost interest in outings after recently returning from one. I looked at him, then turned my gaze away. It was almost time to finish the ss. ¡°That¡¯s it for today. The assistant will distribute new examples along with the graded papers, so use the feedback until the next ss. Organizing your thoughts in writing will be very helpful.¡± ¡°Ugh, more assignments.¡± The students groaned with difficulty. I chuckled at their reaction. Although they were grumbling, it was nice to see them diligently reviewing the examples. * * * 7 a.m. in the research building. This time should have been as quiet as a dead mouse. However, since the beginning of this semester, the staff had to adapt to new changes. Thud! Sharp footsteps. The intervals between each step seemed precisely calcted, perfectly consistent. The staff, who were diligently cleaning with sleepy eyes, couldn¡¯t help but swallow their saliva again at the firm sound. Ted Redymer. The Hero, impably dressed, was passing through the corridor on his way to work. It was said that even the night owls rarely missed his departure. Yet, he arrived at work earlier than any professor every day. ¡®Is he not sleeping at all¡­?¡¯ No one could know for sure if this vague spection was correct. The Hero entered his researchb located on the top floor of the research building. Dororong- Dorororong- However, an unexpected sound stopped his steps from the entrance. A faint snoring sound could be heard. Carefully opening the door, his eyes fell on the tousled hair of Pia, who was lying face down on the desk. ¡®¡­Did she not go home?¡¯ Originally, the day after practical training was like a holiday for assistants. There was no immediate busy work after the ss, and there was plenty of time until the next ss. But unfortunately, Pia was the project manager for arge project called ¡®Awaken.¡¯ Judging by the various herbs scattered on the table, it seemed she had been experimentingte into the night and fainted. ¡°Ugh, Mom¡­ let me sleep a little more.¡± Charruk! The Hero closed the curtain of the ss window. It seemed better to block out the sunlight before it came in too much. ¡®¡­Just leaving her might be better.¡¯ With the light blocked, Pia fell more deeply into sleep. In fact, there were a few minor errands to ask her. Office supplies were slowly running out, and the condition of the martial arts equipment used by the students for training was deteriorating, so they needed to be repaired in the workshop. ¡°Uh, where did everyone go¡­?¡± What are you dreaming about? The Hero, who was watching her with a happy face, picked up his coat again. ¡®It¡¯s been a while since I did an inspection; I should go myself.¡¯ There was an appointment the evening, but he should be back before that. * * * I pondered over the endless list of Possible ¡®Polymorph Targets.¡¯ ¨‹ Buck (Pickpocket) Michael (Priest) Cornelia (Martial Artist) Percival (Mercenary) Archibald (Bard) Reginald (cksmith) Ezekiel (Schr) Gideon (Frence Knight) Sophie (General Store Employee) ¡ø ¡­. Conducting inspections in the appearance of a Hero was meaningless since it drew attention wherever you went, making it impossible to gauge the true atmosphere or circumstances. On the other hand, masquerading as a servant was quite beneficial. It allowed you to hear and see various aspects of the academy that you wouldn¡¯t normally know about. Because of this, he had gone on several inspections at the beginning of the semester, but due to being busy, he hadn¡¯t been able to go outtely. ¡®Well, as long as I don¡¯t go near restricted areas, there¡¯s no chance of getting caught.¡¯ Rosenstark¡¯s premises had a strict overall security system. A powerful gravitational field was constantly activated to prevent unauthorized ess through the sky, and armed guards stationed at ground entrances. Thorough identity verification is essential. They even inspected their belongings and luggage with artifacts equipped with magic such as dispel and irvoyance. In other words, it was nearly impossible for a suspect to enter and leave without being detected. ¡®Once you¡¯re inside, you can move freely.¡¯ With so many staff, students, and servants around, unfamiliar faces were not suspicious. If you were dressed as a janitor, you wouldn¡¯t attract any attention at all. I transformed into the form of a robe and made up my mind. ¡®I should go as Archibald.¡¯ Archibald. A cheerful and witty troubadour who I had be friends with during my wandering. His lively smile and humorous and satirical bads even made the stern transformation peopleugh. ¡®Let¡¯s deal with the martial arts equipment first.¡¯ Drrrrrrrr! The poorly-maintained martial arts equipment was neatly arranged in a carriage on one side of the training ground. I pulled it and headed to the shopping district. ¡°Today, all ¡®Honey Breeze¡¯ desserts are 30% off?¡± ¡°Wow, insane. Run before it¡¯s posted on the Connector!¡± Shops lined on both sides of the street. In between,borers and students were bustling about. I observed the thick sweat dripping down theborers¡¯ cheeks. It seemed quite inconvenient to be carrying so much baggage while moving around with the nobles. ¡®Equality at Rosenstark applies only to the students.¡¯ asionally, you could spot nobles, born with bad habits, behaving recklessly. I left them behind and headed to the campus cksmith, ¡®Power Forge.¡¯ The inside of the shop appeared busier than usual, withborers waiting and chatting. ¡°Damn, we¡¯re falling behind again. Those nobles are probably causing trouble.¡± ¡°Ugh, there¡¯s just too much work these days. Where are we delivering this stuff?¡± ¡°The School of Mysticism.¡± (Department of Mysteries) ¡°¡­You¡¯re quite unlucky too.¡± The School of Mysticism, one of the three departments that made up Rosenstark, along with Manufacturing and Combat. Known for the immense pride following the achievements of Zero Requiem, the greatest magician in history, it also boasted substantial skills. ¡®Anyway, quite entric.¡¯ Magicians tend to be that way, where skill and personality are inversely proportional. ¡®I¡¯m a bit worried about the second semester.¡¯ If the first semester was focused on adapting to lectures and building foundational skills, the n was to concentrate on developing real abilities from the second semester onwards. ¡®I¡¯ve already sent cooperation letters for joint sses with the School of Mysticism.¡¯ nning for the significant battle against demons in the second semester required magicians. However, the potential shes between the unique personalities of extreme fighters and the touchy aspiring magicians were a cause for concern. At that moment, the conversation among theborers shifted to the next topic. ¡°Anyway, why is there such a dy in work?¡± At that point, I tuned in more attentively. The fact that people flocked to a ce where iron was handled was a sign that something was happening. ¡®Has something happened that I don¡¯t know about?¡¯ However, the response that followed was somewhat perplexing. ¡°It¡¯s because of the Hero, you know.¡± ¡°The Hero?¡± ¡°He¡¯s creating unheard-of items for his sses. The principal is so impressed that his creations take top priority. Thanks to that, even the reserve members are being mobilized.¡± ¡­It was because of me. I had delegated the production of equipment for the sses, as the existing gear was insufficient for the nned lessons. The inexperienced cksmiths seemed to be struggling. ¡®I should find some additional personnel who can handle the production independently.¡¯ I felt like I needed to think a little more about it. While I was lost in thought for a moment. Before I knew it, the cksmith shop was immersed in silence. In that quiet, the atmosphere in the forge changed. ¡°¡­?¡± Suddenly, the smithy was filled with silence, only interrupted by the sound of hammers striking metal. I turned my head in disbelief. ¡®Leciel?¡¯ Power Forge was a workshop that dealt exclusively in the repair of training equipment. Which meant she had no reason to be here, even if she had a top-of-the-line artifact, a Shape Shifter. I looked at her in disbelief. All at once, in that moment. To my surprise, she started walking towards me. ¡°Do you mind if I take a look at these?¡± It was an unexpected encounter. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 42 Chapter 42 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Focused expression. With strands of hair cascading down, the Hero sweeped through the items in the cart meticulously, down to the smallest details. He recalled the conversation from a minute ago. ¡°Excuse me. Can I take a look at these?¡± Despite the abrupt request, I responded without hesitation, wearing Archbold¡¯s characteristic friendly smile. ¡°Oh, student, these are the items that need repairing.¡± ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I wanted to see them.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°¡­Is that not okay?¡± ¡°Haha, there¡¯s nothing that can¡¯t be done. Feel free to take a look.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± I nodded slightly, acknowledging her gratitude. Surprisingly, it was a very courteous attitude. Suddenly I remembered yesterday. ¡°I can¡¯t understand why I got a score of 1.¡± ¡­Well, you were only being blunt with me. ¡®¡­Well, she was asking me for a favor quite insistently.¡¯ I realized. The Hero, who seemed a bit upset for a moment, could quickly understand her intention foring here. Probably because of the words I uttered after yesterday¡¯s ss. ¡°Understanding the power, habits, equipment, strengths, and weaknesses of fellowrades, even the smallest details, is a prerequisite for good party y.¡± Her purpose was to examine what kind of equipment other students used for training. With Leciel¡¯s level of skill, just by looking at the traces left on weapons or armor, she could gather meaningful information about the owner. ¡®Admirable.¡¯ A faint smile spread across the Hero¡¯s lips. Witnessing a student taking advice and guidance to move in a better direction was a very satisfying experience. ¡°Oh, by the way, the Hero must be pleased. Even after the lecture, you¡¯re working so diligently.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± A stiff expression. Her murmured words with an awkward expression were heard clearly. ¡°Whether he likes it or not¡­¡± ¡­The Hero became a bit more disheartened. * * * The next destination was the ¡°Garden of Letters.¡± It was a shop that sold various high-quality office supplies and also used one side of the store as a caf¨¦. The interior was quite luxurious, but due to theck of customers, it was rtively quiet. ¡°Here you go.¡± I ordered necessities such as parchment, sealing stamps, ink, quills, and more. I didn¡¯t realize it when using them in the researchb, but ordering all these items at once amounted to a considerable quantity. Moreover, the amount of paperwork that Pia and I handled in a day was enormous. ¡°Is this for the Hero?¡± ¡°Oh, yes. That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been working hard. The other assistant always looks tired. Still, it¡¯s fortunate that a young man who seems to put in some effort hase this time.¡± ¡­Is it notorious in this ce too? I suddenly felt sorry for Pia. Even if other assistants were strict about their requirements, having at least one temporary assistant would be beneficial in many ways. While pondering these thoughts, a familiar voice from the corner of the caf¨¦ caught my attention. ¡°Get yourself together, Evergreen! You need to receive the outstanding academic schrship!¡± ¡°We¡¯re nning to go out for some fun this weekend! Other kids will be studying, you know!¡± It was a familiar face¡ªEvergreen Solintail. She was always diligent in ss. We were scheduled to go out together for an expedition this time. Judging by her strained expression, it seemed like she was going through a tough time. ¡­ However, I think it would be better not to mumble to yourself. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Even the moaning sound from her mouth seemed to indicate that she had reached her limit. I nced at the book she was holding in her struggling hands. It was easy to recognize from a distance¡ªit was a book I had written. ¡°Ugh.¡± Evergreen, who struggled with demonology, eventually copsed. The coffee cup on the table was empty. The owner, who had quietly approached with the ordered items piled up like a mountain, muttered disapprovingly, ¡°Why are you taking so long with just one cup? Sigh. It¡¯s already tough running this business, and you¡¯re not helping.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a myth that only the rich enroll. It¡¯s just an old saying. I should close this business quickly and go somewhere else.¡± It seemed that dissatisfaction wasn¡¯t limited to just the assistants. There were people struggling with the rudeness of the nobles, and unexpectedly, there were also merchants who felt resentment towards poverty. ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡± I didn¡¯t say much. I had no intention of causing unnecessary trouble in this polymorph state. While leaving with my belongings, I nced at Evergreen. It didn¡¯t seem like she would easily get up. The problem was the owner, who was staring sharply around with a cutting gaze. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª He seemed ready to give a rebuke. ¡°¡­.¡± After leaving my belongings in the office, I returned to the Garden of Letters. ¡°Hero?¡± The owner greeted me with a beaming smile that made me wonder if he wasn¡¯t the same person I¡¯d just met. ¡°What have you brought to my shop¡­ the honour of a lifetime, nay, of a family.¡± I didn¡¯t answer, but looked around. Evergreen was nowhere in sight. ¡°Thank you for your hospitality. By the way, I¡¯d like to help with some refreshments for the children.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a list of students from . I want you to give them anything when theye into the shop. Writing utensils, drinks. As much as you want.¡± The shopkeeper had a dumbfounded look on his face and couldn¡¯t answer. He hadn¡¯t expected the Hero toe in and say such a thing. He looked at me in disbelief. ¡°¡­.¡± I didn¡¯t say anything more. The owner seemed unable to grasp why the Hero would suddenly make such a request. After a while, he asked with a puzzled expression, ¡°Wh-Why all of a sudden¡­¡± I responded without showing any emotion. ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone to say that the students don¡¯t have money.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t bring himself to answer and just nodded slightly. I had no intention of a lengthy conversation. I dropped a gold coin in front of him. ¡°It¡¯s the tuition for the first semester. Is it not enough?¡± ¡°Th-that can¡¯t be, right?¡± ¡°Alright, stop the nonsense.¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± He trembled as he picked up the gold coin. At least this time, I got the reaction I wanted. ¡°As per your orders, I will do it!¡± Without any further response, I left the store. In the distance, a silhouette carrying a heavy backpack was walking briskly. ¡°¡­Evergreen Solintail.¡± If we use ¡®Extreme¡¯ as a benchmark, her talent would be about average. However, she was an incredibly hard worker. Always focused during ss and never hesitated to ask when she didn¡¯t understand. It was uneptable that such a student faced academic hindrance due to ack of money. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, but I hope it helps.¡± I posted a message on the ¡®Garden of Letters in ¡®Extreme,¡¯ encouraging everyone to use it freely, and headed to the next destination. * * * ¡°What, what is all this?¡± Pia eximed, her mouth agape, looking at the items filling one side of the researchb. The Hero casually replied, ¡°It¡¯s a gift.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± She couldn¡¯t hold back herughter. The ¡®Hero¡¯s gift¡¯ included a premium bedding set, scented candles, magically enchanted sleep mask, ckout curtains, and more. All the items for a good night¡¯s sleep were gathered together. ¡°Sleeping on a desk is ufortable, right?¡± ¡°Wow, is today my birthday? You even took care of my tasks, what should I do in gratitude?¡± The Hero, looking at Pia¡¯s blushing face, responded briefly, ¡°I guess it¡¯s me who is thankful.¡± ¡°¡­Professor.¡± At the sincerity of the words, Pia couldn¡¯t help but smile awkwardly. A small chuckle escaped her lightly parted lips. The Hero spoke casually, ¡°If the workload gets tough, how about hiring an office assistant?¡± ¡°¡­An office assistant?¡± ¡°I thought it would be a good idea to ask Extreme children to do assistant work.¡± If you participate in at least part of the process of creating a lecture, you will learn a lot. Understanding the meaning behind his words, Pia nodded slowly. ¡°That sounds good.¡± ¡°Well, when the opportunity arises, I¡¯ll suggest it to the students.¡± After their conversation, they both returned to their work. With approximately an hour until the ¡®appointment,¡¯ the Hero¡¯s hand naturally reached for the connector. ¨C ¡®Extreme¡¯ Professor ¨C Rating: ¡ï 4.2 / 5.0 The lectures utilizing Simcrum received positive responses. The overall rating increased by 0.1 point to 4.2. Moreover, right after the lecture, he shared the design of Simcra with the academy workshop. (Seeing how busy he is today, I feel a bit sorry.) ¡°The dean approved, so make a few and ce them in themon practice room.¡± Of course, they wouldn¡¯t match the quality of Pia¡¯s personally synthesized originals. Individual characteristics of each student couldn¡¯t be applied. Nevertheless, it was sufficient for strategic practice. For other students who had been envious, it was like a wee relief. ¨C I just tried it, and it¡¯s on apletely different level from reading tactical books and solving examples. ¨C Wasn¡¯t there already a mock battle machine? What¡¯s the difference? ©¸ That¡¯s for you alone. This one allows practice for party y. ©¸ Oh. Thanks to this, even students not enrolled in ¡®Extreme¡¯ were showing a very favorable response. Negative posts that asionally appeared were buried to the point of being hard to find. -Thank you foring before I graduate, Hero. Sniffle. -Ted Redymer, my light, my inspiration, my me¡­ me. A smile lingered on my lips for a bit. If they appreciated it this much, preparing the lecture was truly worthwhile. ¡®¡­This is enjoyable.¡¯ The emotions I felt watching Leciel and Evergreen today resurfaced. Teaching children turned out to be more rewarding than expected. I prepare the lessons with care. As the children grow and progress with each lesson, it¡¯s a strangely heartwarming feeling. ¡®Was the true goal for me to reap the rewards of this?¡¯ Of course, with the fate of humanity at stake, I shouldn¡¯t let excessive attachment grow. Yet, the satisfaction and affection for my disciples became one of the driving forces faithfully fulfilling the main purpose. ¡®As long as I guard against excessive attachment.¡¯ One peculiar post caught my eye at that moment. -Wow, just ate 100 bread in the Garden of Letters. ©¸Gotta lie convincingly. ©¸No, it¡¯s true. I stacked them up and ate them like a tower. -It¡¯s not a lie. I saw it too. ©¸The owner must be happy there. ¡­Happy? A small grin formed on the Hero¡¯s lips. ¡®That can¡¯t be.¡¯ A gold coin. It would be more than enough as tuition for a semester; in fact, it would be considered excessive. However, this story was for someone who didn¡¯t have to eat a farm every morning. ¡°Um, Professor?¡± The Hero covered the connector and looked directly at Pia, who had finished packing. ¡°I was about to go in. Aren¡¯t you leaving work? Today is unusually light, so you should take a break¡­.¡± ¡°Ah, you go ahead. I-¡± The Hero¡¯s gaze lingered briefly on the bottom drawer of the table. ¡°I have an important appointmentter, you see.¡± At 8:00 PM. Euphemia convened an emergency meeting of the Dawn Knights. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 43 Chapter 43 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª While ordinary people may not be aware, there exists a magic called ¡®multimunication.¡¯ It consumes an extraordinary amount of magical power, making it an advanced spell that can never bemercialized. As a result, this magic is only used in very limited cases. For gatherings of people where the time and cost of gathering in person would be far more expensive than the cost of multimunication magic. ¡­For example, the Knights of the Dawn. (The Dawn Knights) Yussi slowly opened her eyes. The dim principal¡¯s office faded away, reced by a brilliantly crafted meeting room created by illusion magic, filling her vision. ¡­No one was here yet. ¡®It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve been here.¡¯ An interior filled with precious decorations. In this space resembling the real pce meeting room, a meeting of the Dawn Knights convened by Emperor Cecilia was scheduled. It had been a long time since Yussi retired, and she attended this meeting at the request of the Hero. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you could summarize the contents of tomorrow¡¯s meeting and pass them on.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you attend the meeting in person?¡± ¡°If you think about it, you probably have a good idea of the reason.¡± ¡°¡­Indeed.¡± ¡­The Hero¡¯s words were urate. Several months ago, during the great battle, Yussi was convinced that there had been ¡®betrayal among the human leadership¡¯ on that battlefield where the fate of humanity was at stake. ¡®I guess that¡¯s why the Hero gave up everything and came to Rosenstark.¡¯ Otherwise, the war that had been slowly winding down would not have ended so abruptly. The information had leaked, exposing key operations and the Hero¡¯s location. So they suffered an unexpected attack from the Demon Lord. ¡®If the Hero had fallen to the Demon Lord at that time, humanity would have perished.¡¯ Reading the context like that, Yussi understood why the Hero kept a distance from hisrades. Of course, the Hero¡¯s arrival in Rosenstark wasn¡¯t solely for that reason, but it was a reasonably urate interpretation. ¡°¡­¡± As colleagues began to appear one by one in the meeting room, Yussi¡¯s gaze, observing their weing gestures, seemed less cheerful. It was then that a man in excessively mboyant attire spotted her and greeted Yussi with a friendly handshake. ¡°Hey! Yussi! The newly attached artificial limb looks quite impressive. Heard you¡¯re attending in ce of the Hero!¡± ¡°¡­Shut up, Dante.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while, but at least act a bit d to see me¡­.¡± With the man¡¯s appearance as a starting point, the meeting room began to buzz. They were all giants renowned throughout the continent. Dante, the delusional painter who yfully incited Yussi¡¯s anger with his outrageousnguage. Felson, the head of the Dieterich family. Varun, the lowest-ranked saint. Guardian of the Great Forest, Iira. The Miracle, Larze. Survivors of the great battle, thest members of the Dawn Knights, gathered together. They were all Heroes with immense fame across the continent. Their eyes held deep trust and affection for each other. Yussi¡¯s eyebrows slightly furrowed. ¡°Why isn¡¯t that big guy here? Haven¡¯t heard anything about him being dead.¡± The giant, Ivar, was absent. Despite the promised time almost being up, there was no sign of Ivar and his tremendous presence. Other knights looked around with puzzled expressions. The answer to the question came from the podium at that moment. ¡°Ivar is currently en route to Stagnum under mymand.¡± ¡°¡­Your Majesty.¡± The members of the Dawn Knights greeted the Emperor quietly, each disying proper decorum. Euphemia sat with crossed legs on the elevated seat, looking down at the members. Her gaze was as sharp as the edge of a de. Sensing an ufortable atmosphere, Yussi inquired. ¡°Your Majesty, why is Ivar heading to Stagnum under your orders?¡± Stagnum. It was a prison where only heinous criminals with confirmed death sentences were incarcerated. With even ck-grade dangerous inmates, it boasted the highest level of security. Unless there was an extraordinary situation, there was no reason to send Ivar there. In response to their puzzled expressions, the Emperor provided a brief exnation. ¡°Two days ago, a force suspected to be affiliated with the Demon Lord attacked Stagnum. As a result, several high-ranking Demon Lord subordinates and Red- and Green-grade prisoners sessfully escaped. To prevent additional damage and as a security measure, I sent Ivar for investigation and reinforcement.¡± A hushed tone permeated the meeting room. The members of the Dawn Knights expressed various degrees of surprise. ¡°The Demon Lord¡¯s followers are still active.¡± ¡°¡­Do they have the capability to attack stagnum?¡± ¡°We thought they scattered after the death of their leader¡­¡± Among them, Yussi¡¯s expression was the most serious. She gritted her teeth, the veins in her neck standing out. The abruptly severed section of her limb appeared to twitch. The Emperor continued her exnation, and the solemn tone filled the meeting room. Demonism, the literal worship, and exaltation of demons as gods, was a tumor that had gued the Empire since time immemorial. The atrocities they practiced in the name of their doctrine were so horrific that every few years, direct decrees of extermination were issued by the Emperor. It is also different from the so-called ¡®traitors.¡¯ The worst of all, who haspletely cut off contact with human society. The emperor waved her hand towards the noisy people. ¡°¡­Anyway, since the issue has been delegated to the Intelligence Unit and Ivar, you don¡¯t need to worry too much. I called you here for a different matter.¡± The members waited silently for her next words. ¡°¡­,¡± The Emperor remained silent for a moment, tapping the armrest of her chair with her fingers. The tapping¡¯s intensity and frequency rapidly increased and decreased. In the climax of this rhythmic pattern, the Emperor spoke as if spitting out the words. ¡°It¡¯s a stake. The demons areying their im.¡± The Emperor¡¯s nostrils red like a hunting dog catching the scent of a rabbit. * * * ¡°Look.¡± At the Emperor¡¯s gesture, arge map of the continent appeared before the members. Like a malignant skin disease, red spots dotted various parts of the map. ¡°This is the recently updated ¡®Stake Distribution¡¯ that the Intelligence Unit renewed yesterday. As you can see, the number has increased dramatically recently.¡± Numerous eyes scanned the map. ¡°At present, they¡¯re indiscriminately nting stakes wherever there¡¯s emptynd. I believe you, as Knights, can guess the reason behind it.¡± The heads of the members nodded in unison. There was only one reason why demons nted stakes. To expand the territory where demonic energy was produced. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª In other words, to obtain more demonic energy. When Yussi, who had been listening, slightly furrowed her brow, it was at that moment. ¡®¡­Even though the war has reached aplete ceasefire, why do they need more demonic energy? The quantity generated from the East should be sufficient.¡¯ nting stakes was not a free endeavor. Only high-ranking demons could cast the spell, and it required a significant amount of sacrifices and intricate procedures. If they haphazardly nted stakes and the stakes were eradicated before they could recover the investment, it would be a loss for the demon side. ¡®Why are they in such a rush to procure demonic energy? What on earth¡­¡¯ What could be the reason? Oh. Yussi had an epiphany and raised her head. The exact answer she hade up with was voiced by the Emperor at that moment. ¡°Yes, it seems the damage Ted inflicted on the Demon Lord during the Great Battle is more severe than anticipated.¡± The faces of the members of the Dawn Knights brightened. It was expected since most demonic energy was being used for the Demon Lord¡¯s recovery. Consequently, the restoration of lower-ranking entities who suffered losses during the previous war would be dyed. In other words, peace would likely persist for a while. ¡°¡­As expected of the Hero!¡± Yussi was sharing the joy when she noticed a fleeting trace of bitterness on the Emperor¡¯s face for a brief moment. However, she quickly returned to her usual expression and continued speaking. ¡°Now is the opportune time. If the eradication of stakes is dyed, the demon¡¯s demonic energy supply will grow rapidly, potentially returning as a much stronger force in the end. However¡­¡± ck! The Emperor¡¯s hand dug into the armrest of her chair. ¡°If we can eradicate the stakes faster than the demons anticipate!¡± She looked at each of them with an intense gaze. ¡°¡­They will suffer a devastating blow. Perhaps, for the first time since the beginning of the Second Era, human forces may cross the Great Mountain Range to counterattack.¡± The members silently listened to the Emperor¡¯s words. ¡°Therefore, it¡¯s an all-out war. As soon as the meeting concludes, the Intelligence Unit will provide each of you with the ¡®Detailed Subjugation n,¡¯ so act ordingly.¡± The responses echoed in unison. ¡°We will follow your orders.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°We willply.¡± Everyone was silently preparing themselves at that moment. As everyone silently steeled themselves for whaty ahead, the elderly woman, Varun, known as the ¡®Lowest Saint,¡¯ spoke up for the first time since entering the meeting room. Her voice, sharp and resonant, echoed through the chamber. ¡°Your Majesty, won¡¯t we need the Hero for this subjugation?¡± Silence pervaded the room as everyone listened. It was a question lingering unspoken but looming in the minds of all present. The Emperor¡¯s calm gaze shifted to the elderly woman. ¡®I knew this question woulde.¡¯ She continued, opening her mouth deliberately. ¡°Ted will cooperate to some extent, but the detailed direction will remain highly confidential for now.¡± ¡°Highly confidential¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, even for all of you.¡± The Emperor, after a deliberate scan of the room, calmly added, ¡°You will understand, I believe.¡± The atmosphere in the room grew tense. The members were no fools. The Hero¡¯s abrupt journey to Rosenstark, dered as a break and rest, may have been publicly known, but nobody here was too dull to guess that there was more to it. A crack in trust. With the Emperor openly acknowledging what everyone had been wondering about, the members hadplex emotions written on their faces. Only Yussi, with her cold gaze, silently observed their reactions. Withposure, the Emperor added, ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry too much about his absence. You all know him best, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Ted Redymer. Whether he is here or somewhere else, at any moment, he remains the person who makes the best choices for humanity.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Um, yes. That¡¯s right.¡± As the representative, Saint Varun nodded her head. The wrinkles on her tired face briefly turned towards the Emperor before lowering again. Then, her two hands, which had earned her the title of the continent¡¯s finest healer, came together politely. ¡°There¡¯s always a proper reason for his whereabouts¡­ and his actions. I spoke in haste due to impatience. Please forgive me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± The Emperor made a light gesture. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s conclude the meeting around here. The subjugation n I mentioned earlier will be delivered shortly. I trust you will execute it well.¡± ¡°Yes, understood.¡± With a gesture of approval, the members of the Dawn Knights retreated, showing their respect. All except one. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± One of the members, who had remained silent until the end, spoke up. The Emperor looked at the elderly mage with silver hair, who stood quietly. A face that surpassed the beauty of human standards, an unreal appearance. Eyes that seemed crafted by a master artist blinked, scanning the surroundings. The continent¡¯s only ¡®Beyond¡¯ ranking mage, the Miracle, Larz¨¦ Gion. She responded, bending her knee slightly. ¡°No, Your Majesty. I just caught a strange scent, and my steps paused for a moment.¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± ¡°Well then, Your Majesty, may you be blessed. Until we meet again.¡± As Larz¨¦ left, the meeting room fell intoplete silence. The Emperor, who had been holding back a sigh, finally exhaled. ¡°Well, well. This must be the first time I¡¯ve ever seen them all at once.¡± Immediately after, a shadow emerged from the back. Manipting the multiplemunication channels as the host, the Emperor made a slight adjustment, essentially making the presence of one participant disappear. Even though the Dawn Knights were skilled, here they were merely projections, easily deceived. Leaning casually against the wall, the Hero responded to the Emperor¡¯s question. ¡°If identifying the traitor at a nce were possible, our grand deception wouldn¡¯t have even begun.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that to be possible. I just wanted to see if there were any small clues.¡± ¡°Well, personally talking to each one might give us a lead.¡± The Emperor opened and closed her eyes thoughtfully. ¡°It¡¯ll happen soon. We might have slipped through the cracks today, but some hot-headed members mighte looking for you within a few months.¡± ¡°I might go looking for them before that.¡± Euphemia gazed at the leisurely smiling ¡®fake.¡¯ His acting, mature from the start, had now reached an exceptional level. ¡°¡­Even such a small smile looks identical. Truly, everyone could be easily deceived without any suspicions.¡± It was truly fascinating. This moment made her realize how much humans rely on visual cues, even someone who knew all the facts like her found it confusing to watch him like this. The Emperor turned her gaze towards the empty meeting room and murmured. ¡°It¡¯s like a darkened stage.¡± A swift response came. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°I mean this ce.¡± The Hero followed the Emperor¡¯s gaze and soon understood the meaning, smiling wryly. ¡°We¡¯ll be actors doing our best to deceive the audience.¡± The Emperor chuckled. It was quite a witty response. ¡°I hope the curtain call goes smoothly.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll strive to make that happen.¡± ¡°I look forward to it.¡± ¡®Multi-Communication¡¯ is over. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 44 Chapter 44 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The next morning, the Hero instructed, ¡°Go to the freshman dormitory and pick up the kids first.¡± ¡°Yes, understood!¡± Mabu briskly nodded and returned to his seat. The Hero, gazing out the window, was lost in thought. His mind was filled with names¡ªthe members of the Dawn Knights. ¡®Who could it be?¡¯ The betrayer of the Knights, colluding with demons, had killed half of the members and the ¡®Original¡¯. The Hero recalled the meeting, analyzing every detail, but couldn¡¯t pinpoint the traitor. It was an indistinct memory, happening for the umpteenth time. Stagnum¡¯s escape. The Demon King¡¯s Bridge. The hero¡¯s story. Whenever sensitive topics arose, he closely observed the members. The gathering of many in a meeting. All attention and focus were on Euphemia, the organizer. Naturally, individuals couldn¡¯t help but pay less attention to their own expressions or actions during that time. The direction of gazes, blinking, volume, voice tone, speech speed, pronunciation, and more. Everything was a crucial clue. However¡­ ¡®There wasn¡¯t anyone particrly unnatural.¡¯ The Hero rubbed his head, realizing that the betrayer was also an excellent actor. ¡®Now that the bait has been set, let¡¯s wait.¡¯ The n aimed to punish the information department, doubling as bait to expose the traitor. ¡°Phew.¡± The Hero sighed, leaning back in the carriage seat. Yet, his thoughts shifted to Rosenstark¡¯s betrayer. His sharp gaze scanned the buildings outside, considering the high probability of a traitor within the academy. The demons might have infiltrated too. The hero¡¯s forehead creased as he mentally pictured the unidentified betrayer. ¡®Nevertheless, we are gradually preparing for any contingencies here, so that¡¯s fortunate.¡¯ They had a certain level of military strength. Trust in Principal Yussi and connections, including some young professors, had been established. A tight informationwork was alsoid out through Nyhill. All of these arrangements would undoubtedly hinder and eventually expose the betrayer¡¯s movements. Just as I was organizing my thoughts. ¡°Please take care of me today!¡± ¡°Go¡ªGood morning, Professor.¡± ¡°¡­Hello.¡± Evergreen, with sparkling eyes, energetically boarded the carriage first. She was wearing a slightly oversized dress, perhaps borrowed. Second was Ban, whose cheeks were flushed, and the area under his eyes was shadowed, contrasting with his excited demeanor. He seemed to have had a restless night. Thud! Lastly, Luke, with a solemn expression, closed the carriage door and sat down heavily on the seat. ¡°Take me with youuu!¡± The scream that followed was probably a hallucination I had due to my stress. After greeting everyone, the Hero pulled out the ¡®Outdoor Activity n,¡¯ aiming to boost the children¡¯s academic motivation. His gaze stopped at ¡®Glendor Auction¡¯. ¡®It¡¯s about time the kids got equipped too. Usually, children use ready-made items provided by the academy or their own possessions. However, in the position of fighting against demons, being well-armed is essential.¡¯ There are plenty of those who can crush iron like snacks. Trying out various artifacts and keeping what suits them is necessary. ¡®Providing clear rewards for achievements like this will surely motivate other children too.¡¯ It promises refreshment and motivation from various angles. And above all, ¡®it,¡¯ the star of the auction, was undoubtedly worth acquiring. Thunk! The hero patted the hefty pocket inside his robe. There were plenty of bullets to enjoy the fair. ¡°Since it¡¯s going to take a while, it¡¯s best to rest your eyes a bit.¡± They were already immersed in their own worlds. Thud-! * * * ¡°Ouch!¡± Evergreen woke up with a scream, her head hitting the window frame due to the carriage¡¯s jolt. Evergreen, looking around with dazed eyes for a moment, was startled when she met the hero¡¯s gaze. ¡°¡­Are you okay?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m fine!¡± After confirming she was fine, the Hero continued his thoughts about the betrayer. Rubbing her swollen forehead and adjusting her posture, Evergreen reassured others. With surprised eyes, she turned to Ban, who was next to her. ¡°Hehe, I stayed upte¡­ because of excitement.¡± ¡°Understandable. I was quite excited too.¡± Ban and Evergreen¡¯s eyes sparkled as they shared their excitement. They had learned about the list of booths at this exhibition from yesterday. The list they checked included things that seemed exotic not only to Evergreen, who came from the countryside but also to Ban, who had lived his entire life in a bustling city. ¡°¡­.¡± Only Luke kept his eyes closed, seemingly indifferent. The hero spoke up. ¡°We¡¯ll arrive soon, so get ready to disembark.¡± Beyond the open window, the bustling energy of the fair began to be felt, carried by the warm spring breeze. Evergreen¡¯s green eyes widened abruptly. ¡°Wow¡­ it¡¯s nothing like the oil markets back home.¡± Even the size of the entrance gate overwhelmed her. Arge sign disyed in fancy handwriting read: [Open the door to a new world]. Colorful pieces of paper of various shapes fluttered, weing guests. As the carriage passed through the main gate and entered the central street, the children almost hung out of the windows. This was because an incredible array of sights began pouring in all at once. Rumble-! ¡°Wow, is that a real demon?¡± ¡°I-I think so!?¡± Various demons and rare animals were confined behind tightly spaced iron bars. Bang-! All sorts of noisy and brightly lit mysterious items. ¡°Try the new beer developed by Aenu Trading! Taste it and go! The first ss is free! Free!¡± ¡°There¡¯s a famous bard, Chester¡¯s performance starting from noon! Selling tickets!¡± On one side of the street, theughter of slightly tipsy people and the songs of minstrels flowed out from the taverns. In addition, the wooden boardsid out on the ground were filled with various experimental and unidentifiable potions. A promoter threw a business card towards Evergreen, who was half-leaning out of the window, enjoying the view. ¡°Hey, lovelydy over there! Come spin the rouletteter!¡± ¡°Me, me, me!?¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡­Calling her a lovelydy. Evergreen touched her blushing face, fingering thece on her borrowed dress from her wealthy friend in the Alchemy Department. ¡°It¡¯s a grand festival¡­¡± It was an enormous scale,rge enough for an entire vige to enter. ¡®Are we going to get off and explore now?¡¯ Ban and Evergreen sparkled with excitement, eagerly waiting for the carriage toe to a stop. However, their carriage continued to pass through all these attractions, racing through without stopping. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°Uh, where are we going?¡± The destination of their carriage was a building located in the very center of the fairground. Unlike other booths made of tents or makeshift structures, it was the only building properly arranged. Ban tilted his head. ¡°It seems like it¡¯s still closed here¡­?¡± Guards stood in front of tightly ced curtains and fences. However, no one was stopping them. As if they had received prior permission, the guards simply bowed their heads and cleared the way. Creak-! The carriage stopped at the entrance of the building. The children looked at the hero with puzzled expressions, then suddenly widened their eyes as if they had realized something. ¡°Wow, really?¡± ¡± An auction? Hosted by Glendor?¡± The one who greeted them as they stepped down from the carriage was an elderly man with a dignified presence. His eyes were full of shallow wrinkles, his clothing neat and elegant. Despite his age, he had a surprisingly robust physique. The elderly man offered a graceful greeting. ¡°Wee, students. I am Simon Yulian, here to assist you in touring the Glendor Marketce Auction.¡± He continued with a warm smile. ¡°I have served as a steward for Director Yussi for a long time.¡± ¡°Oh, hello! Mr. Steward? M-Merchant? Anyway, nice to meet you!¡± ¡°Oh, please, make yourselves at home today.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± At that moment, the hero, who had finished his bow, exchanged a brief nod with Simon as he stepped down from the carriage. They were already acquainted thanks to Principal Yussi. ¡°Well then, shall we start?¡± Simon stepped aside, walking towards the building. ¡°Since I cannot take up too much of your busy time, let me introduce you to the most valuable auction items first. We have many special items this time, so I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll enjoy the viewing.¡± ¡°Wow-!¡± With the muffled cheers of Evergreen and Ban ringing in the background, the hero nodded approvingly, acknowledging their excitement. Securing the first visit to the auction was the hero¡¯s deliberate choice. The reason was simple: Glendor¡¯s numerous artisans had a contract to deliver their ¡®masterpieces¡¯ to the auction house first. Therefore, items disyed at the fair booths were often masterpieces in high demand. ¡®No need to visit elsewhere.¡¯ Despite the children¡¯s apparent interest in exploring other booths, the n was to provide free time after they finished their business at the auction. In the midst of these thoughts, they arrived at the fair. The children were excited about the lively atmosphere, and the Hero strategically led them to the Glendor Auction first. ¡®I heard that the Magic Exploration Team also delivered several items. I wonder what they have.¡¯ With such thoughts, the hero entered the entrance of the auction house. Thunk! As the main gate closed, the noise of the fair quickly faded away. * * * As we stepped into the interior of the auction house, a noticeably luxurious decor greeted us, in stark contrast to the market-like atmosphere outside. Unlike the bustling and mboyant permanent auction houses, even the regr ones couldn¡¯tpete with this level of splendor. ¡°Wow, this is so dazzling¡­¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s still not enough to entertain esteemed guests.¡± ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s more than enough! It¡¯s even better than our Youngju Castle¡­¡± Facing the impressed Evergreen, Simon responded with a gentle smile. ¡°No matter how sparkling the decorations are, they can¡¯tpare to the nobility of Solintail.¡± ¡°What? Nobility, you say? That¡¯s an exaggeration¡­¡± ¡°Not at all. If it weren¡¯t for those like the nobles who tirelessly fought for us day and night, where would us merchants be getting our meals from?¡± Evergreen looked at the elderly man with deeply moved eyes. It was aforting word, acknowledging the struggles of the nobles who had to constantly deal with monsters and the constant chattering of the nouveau riche. ¡°How warm your words are¡­¡± Having secured a loyal customer in an instant, Simon guided us to the innermost part of the building. At the end of a long corridor, arge iron door came into view. ¡°I assume our esteemed guests are more interested in practical items than artworks.¡± Simon smiled at the security device. The Iris of Lace reacted to the glowing red gem. ¨‹ Registration-type rm ¡¤ Blocking Device Enchantment List: Iron Wall (Calidus ss) 12 times, Tracking Incendiary (Calidus ss) 6 times, Venomous Mist (Apprentice ss) 1 time, ¡­ ¡ø Various enchantments for security were confirmed to be applied. ¡®Calidus¡¯ is a grade corresponding to the 4th rank among the top 10 grades of magic. It was evident that Glendor took considerable care in terms of security. Simon ced his hand on the doorknob and spoke, ¡°This is the warehouse where today¡¯s auction items are stored.¡± Creak! The steel door slowly opened, revealing the interior of the warehouse. A mix of scents permeated the air ¨C the smell of iron and the intense aroma of magic. ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°Ooh.¡± Even Luke, who had been indifferent until now, widened his eyes. Simon¡¯s proud smile turned into a frown as his gaze shifted towards the disy shelves next to the entrance. The cluttered misceneous items were scattered messily, starkly different from the neatly organized auction items bathed in bright light. Puzzled, Simon was met with questioning nces. ¡°I explicitly told them to clean up beforehand¡­¡± ¡°Are these items also from the artisans sponsored by Glendor?¡± The old man nodded, his expression turning stern. The warm demeanor transformed into that of a strict manager displeased with an employee¡¯s failure. ¡°Some of these are contributions from artisans, while others are discoveries made by the Magic Exploration Team. Among them, we¡¯ve gathered those with rtively lower value through appraisal.¡± ¡°So, not auction items?¡± ¡°Apparently, these items are yawn-inducing for an auction, so we n to hand them over to the general market. After all, ¡®a merchant must treasure every penny of profit,¡¯ as the saying goes,¡± Simon said, recounting Glendor¡¯s longstanding principles and regaining hisughter. ¡°In any case, these items are at a level too embarrassing to show to our esteemed guests. The genuine masterpieces are waiting inside. Please follow me.¡± As we mindlessly followed the old man, Evergreen tried to get my attention, saying, ¡°Professor?¡± However, I paid little attention to her. ¡®What is this feeling?¡¯ It was the same sensation as when I returned empty-handed from the ¡°Cave of the Protector,¡± the unease of missing something crucial. I stared at the cluttered disy shelves. ¡®Ah.¡¯ In the Iris of Lace not only the previous user, Ted Redymer, but also the knowledge of the creator, Zero Requiem, was stored. Thanks to this, when wearing it, I could understand almost any magical device. Just like when I found the intermediary Iris of Lace in the cave. ¡­And now. ¨‹ Comprehensive Concealment Magic Detected ¨C Estimated Rank: Maester ~ Beyond ¨C Faint traces of tracking magic detected ¨C The influence ofprehensive concealment is strong, and uracy cannot be guaranteed ¨C Weak magical energy is sensed ¡ø As my gaze lingered on an inconspicuous statue,ments filled my vision as if they were waiting. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 45 Chapter 45 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª As I refrained from taking another step, the children naturally came to a halt behind me. Simon, who was leading the way, quickly turned around and approached. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Turning my gaze away from the statue, I looked at the old man with a puzzled expression. ¡°Did you finish appraising these items?¡± Simon nodded. ¡°Yes, a wizard of Calidus rank and a superior appraiser affiliated with the Beyond Society bothpleted the appraisal. But¡­¡± ¡°Can I see the appraisal records?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Simon handed me the appraisal records, stored separately next to the disy shelves. Once again, it seemed like I was the only one who discovered the uniqueness of this statue. [Appraisal Record (712)] Item Name: Ancient Wolf Sculpture (Temporary) Size: 15cm Estimated Production Year: First Era Maker: Unknown Other Information: Supplied by the Inis Magic Exploration Team ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Appraisal Date: New Empire Year 297, March 21st Appraiser Name: Warren, Yukali¡­ ¡­Omitted Appraisal Price: Less than 2 gold Detailed Appraisal Content: While it possesses no special effects, the intricacy of the sculpture and the uniqueness of its production year warrant the pricing as mentioned above. ¡ù Weak magical energy detected. Likely due to long neglect in the magic realm. Comprehensive Concealment¡­ Comprehensive Concealment is an advanced magic that conceals all peculiarities of the target, making it appearpletely ordinary. Regardless of the amount of magical power it possesses or any unique abilities it might have, everything is hidden. Even the caster could be a Maester, or perhaps even a Beyond-rank Archmage. It would have been challenging for even a high-ranking mage like a Calidus-rank wizard or a senior appraiser to discern. However, what was truly astonishing was that despite all this, a faint magical energy could still be sensed. The appraiser initially thought it was due to the statue being neglected in the magic realm for an extended period, but he was mistaken. If Comprehensive Concealment was in effect, there should be no trace of magical energy. In summary, this statue is a dangerous item that contains magical power potent enough to prate through even Maester-level disguise magic. ¡®Although not certain, someone might be tracing it.¡¯ What kind of object could it be? I wanted to immediately confirm its identity by using the magic nullification engraved in my robe. Unfortunately, Dispel is not a magic that activates silently. Immediately after it is activated, this warehouse will be enveloped in such a brilliant light that it will be difficult to open your eyes. It wasn¡¯t an image suitable for the children or even Simon, who was close to Yussi, to witness the rare scene of the Hero using magic. ¡®However, leaving such a dangerous item to be sold openly in the marketce is also not an option.¡¯ ¡­So, the alternative method was to buy it immediately with the amount specified in the appraisal record. I casually picked up the wolf sculpture, feeling the cool and slightly rough texture of the stone against my fingertips. ¡°I want to buy this sculpture. I¡¯ll purchase it immediately for the amount stated in the appraisal record.¡± Simon seemed momentarily surprised, blinking his eyes. The children were also in a simr state. Their gaze alternated between the sculpture and my face. I said nonchntly, ¡°Is there anyone nning to buy it before me?¡± ¡°Well, it is included in the items contracted to be sold to the marketce..,¡± Simon hesitated briefly, caught between the ¡®merchant¡¯s ethics¡¯ and ¡®flexibility.¡¯ Of course, the hesitation was brief. ¡°Asking for your understanding shouldn¡¯t be too difficult. But would it be okay to inquire about the reason¡­?¡± The merchant¡¯s curiosity seemed to be piqued as his eyes sparkled beneath the creases. Even if I tried, it was challenging toe up with a sophisticated reason on the spot. ¡°I like wolves.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°¡­Ah, I see! Th-That¡¯s great! As it happens, there¡¯s also a knife with a wolf engraving among the premium items. I¡¯ll show you that too. Hahaha.¡± Awkwardughter filled the air. ¡°Oh, you like wolves,¡± Evergreen¡¯s muffled remark came from behind. ¡°Thank you.¡± I felt strangely embarrassed. Simon reached out towards the sculpture. ¡°Well, let me organize the items, pack them up, and then we can arrange delivery to Rosenstark¡­.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll take it with me right away.¡± ¡°That¡­ as you wish.¡± ¡°¡­Well, looks like you really like it,¡± ignoring the annoying remark, I roughly cradled the sculpture in my arms. ¡®Now that I¡¯ve secured it, that¡¯s enough.¡¯ I nned to unravel the mystery behind this sculpture once back at Rosenstark. I also intended to find out more about the ¡®Inis Expedition¡¯ that supplied items to the auction house. I turned my head back to face Simon. ¡°Sorry for taking up your time. Now, let¡¯s examine the auction items.¡± Although I momentarily lost focus, I couldn¡¯t forget the original purpose. It was time to find suitable armaments for the children. I followed Simon, along with the eager-looking children, to inspect the auction items. * * * Shopping took well over an hour. Simon, scrutinizing the items packed in arge bag, looked up. His appearance, with neat white gloves and sses, was quite professional, like any other auctioneer. ¡°Ites to a total of 1,720 gold for an immediate purchase, but Ms. Yussi said that you can pay whatever amount you¡¯refortable with¡­.¡± I shook my head. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± ¡°However¡­¡± ¡°I will tell Yussi. Just showing the items in advance is enough to show favor.¡± I had already umted a considerable debt of gratitude. Yussi didn¡¯t list these premium items in the auction and kept them aside solely for me. Thanks to that, I could seize quality items at a discounted rate. If these items were to go through the auction, the price would easily have been double. What I aimed for here was not only the goods but also to avoid being a burden. ¡°I¡¯ll pay for these.¡± I handed over a jewel I had prepared in advance. It was the most valuable among those I brought from the hideout. ¡°Hmm, if that¡¯s the case¡­¡± Simon acquired the jewel with a satisfied expression. A more favorable smile adorned the merchant¡¯s face. ¡°A top-grade ruby. Crafted by the dwarves in the 1st era¡­ Even after paying for this, there should be some left. How would you like to handle the difference?¡± ¡°Consider it an investment for the endless prosperity of Glendor.¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Haha, I will strive to grow quickly and be an even more reliable ally for the Hero.¡± I nodded. ¡°Send these items to Rosenstark. Only collect the ones set aside for me now.¡± ¡°Understood. So, about those¡­¡± With an amiable smile, Simon gestured toward the children standing behind him. ¡°Alright then. I¡¯ll personally hand these over to the new owners.¡± With a benevolent smile, Simon gestured towards the children standing behind him. ¡°Uh, thank you, Professor! Master! We¡¯ll make good use of them!¡± ¡°Is it really okay to just ept this¡­? Thank you.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± Again, I must emphasize that the gears these kids currently possessed were already quite good. The gears given to new Rosenstark students during their enrollment were crafted by workshops located in the academy¡¯s shopping district. Among the ready-made items, they were of the highest quality. Kids like Luke and Ban, with good backgrounds, probably received additional support at home. However, the artifacts from this fair¡¯s auction had merit in being ¡®unique.¡¯ These were experimental attempts by existing craftsmen. Items made with materials from the demonic realm, and evenpleted relics excavated from ruins were present. The uniqueness of their effects surpassed the ordinary goods. ¡°Wow, is this really mine?¡± Evergreen, born into a modest noble family with no connection to exquisite artifacts, was extremely delighted. What she chose after much consideration was a quiver made from purified magic wood. If you left arrows in it for a certain amount of time, it automatically enchanted them with tracking magic and a bleeding curse. ¡°It¡¯s a product specialized for hunting. With this, you can feed the territory¡¯s residents with meat all winter long.¡± ¡°Cuculli would envy this.¡± ¡°Ugh, no!!¡± Behind Evergreen, who was looking at the red quiver with ecstatic eyes, Luke was testing the bnce of the enchanted armor with apprentice-level deflection magic, and Ban was examining a high-quality cloak with a contemtive expression. The artifact was enhanced with repulsion magic and temperature control magic. Without asking, I could tell by their expressions that everyone was satisfied. Finally, I shifted my gaze to the item I had chosen. nk! A substantial weight surrounded my hand. The artifact I purchased was a gauntlet. Seemingly ordinary at first nce, this gauntlet revealed its fierce nature as des sprouted from each knuckle when manipted. ¡°It¡¯s perfect forpensating for the weakness of ck Hope in closebat.¡± I bought it for situations where battles urred in cramped spaces or in unforeseen ambushes where securing distance wasn¡¯t possible. While ck Hope was a formidable weapon as long as it could manifest its unique ability, the ¡®Zone,¡¯ it was still sealed, making this gauntlet a sensible choice. Zap! Furthermore, it was enchanted with electrical magic for suppression, making it quite useful. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head out.¡± Exiting the warehouse, we returned to the central hall. The auction hall, which was quiet just a while ago, was now bustling with people. Merchants enthusiastically haggled while bouncing on their toes, and nobles leisurely strolled through the corridors, admiring decorations. I noticed the vibrant colors they wore were a prevalent fashion in the capital. ¡°You¡¯ve alle a long way, I guess we¡¯re just getting started?¡± ¡°Yes. Would you also like to enter, Sir Hero?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send the kids and enter on my own. You can go about your business inside.¡± ¡°Very well, sir. It has been a great honour to serve you for a short time.¡± Simon courteously nodded and walked away with measured steps. I observed the elderly man¡¯s dignified demeanor, which surpassed many nobles. Evergreen asked in a soft voice, ¡°Professor, where are you going? Aren¡¯t you going to explore the fair with us?¡± ¡°I¡¯m nning to participate in the auction. You kids can roam around the fair on your own.¡± ¡°Oh, I guess we weren¡¯t nning to stay together.¡± Even if he had Yussi¡¯s backing, there was no guarantee that he could secure all the high-end items in the auction. Especially considering the protagonist of this auction. The rumored auction items that drew nobles and merchants from distantnds were not owned by Glendor but were consigned for sale by the original owners. Hence, I couldn¡¯t even catch a glimpse of them in the warehouse. ¡®Of course, it¡¯s an item I can¡¯t handle immediately, but¡­¡¯ I thought while tossing a pouch to Luke. He received it with a puzzled expression, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s money and a tracking artifact. Explore freely. I¡¯lle find you after finishing my business.¡± The kids, initially surprised by my generosity, lowered their heads in gratitude. Luke, representing them, spoke, ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± As if confirming the validity of the reward, Luke instinctively checked the amount and tucked the money pouch into his pocket. ¡°Then,¡± I left the kids behind and headed towards the interior of the auction hall. ¡°Goodbye! We¡¯ll have fun!¡± Their expressions gradually faded as I moved away. Instead, the scent of expensive perfume and a cultured tone of voice¡­ Such symbols of wealth quickly surrounded me. ¡®Then let¡¯s try to understand the atmosphere.¡¯ Thinking that, I put on the mask and transformed the ¡®Zero Requiem¡¯s Robe¡¯ into a form with a wide hood, concealing the upper part of my face. Thus, ready to enter the auction anonymously. * * * On the other hand¡­ ¡°¡­¡± Luke, Evergreen, and Ban came out of the auction hall. As they stepped outside the area protected by soundproofing magic, the surroundings became noticeably noisy. However, in stark contrast, only a thick silence lingered among the kids. Evergreen swallowed hard. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡®Ugh, this is awkward.¡¯ Truth be told, I wasn¡¯t close with any of them. We had barely interacted despite attending the same sses for over a month. Both Luke and Ban weren¡¯t particrly sociable. However, that didn¡¯t mean I didn¡¯t want to be friends with them. ¡®¡­.Of course, I want to be friends!¡¯ Evergreen awkwardlyughed while looking at Ban, who was also smiling ufortably, and Luke, who was gazing into the distance. Starting with Ban, the renowned Hero, Felson Dietrich¡¯s son and the heir of a prestigious family in Jestea. In Evergreen¡¯s mind the image of Ban was almost like a prince, considering his background. And then there was Luke. How was he? Living in the outskirts of the territory, encountering mercenaries wasn¡¯t umon for Evergreen. Thanks to that, she knew how rough and challenging their lives could be. But even considering the hardships she faced, Luke, growing up as the heir to the Mercenary King, would have experienced apletely different level of difficulties. It was both admirable and cool. And¡­ ¡®Even though it may sound selfish¡­ if we be friends, it could be helpful for our territory in various ways!¡¯ Especially whenter, Solintail might be struggling against a monster invasion, will he at least extend a helping hand? When I think of the people and my parents who are still going through hardships, a moment of shame is nothing. ¡­Theseplex reasons made Evergreen speak first. ¡°H-How about we go check it out together? There are quite a few things I want to buy! There are booths I¡¯d like to visit too.¡± ¡°Well¡­ why not? It might be tight on time, but let¡¯s n our route well and go.¡± With his characteristic warm smile, Ban nodded enthusiastically. It was a relief! Evergreen¡¯s face brightened considerably. Now, it was only Luke¡­ ¡°I¡¯m good, so you guys can go have fun.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± And that settled it. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 46 Chapter 46 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª It wasn¡¯t just empty talk. Luke pulled an exact third of a gold coin from the pouch the Hero had given him, and handed the rest to Evergreen. ¡°This is for you guys.¡± ¡°Uh, what?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be on my way then.¡± Even though Evergreen looked at Luke with a puzzled expression, he had already turned around swiftly. A somewhat annoying voice followed. ¡°I¡¯ll be drinking at a nearby tavern, soe after you finish sightseeing.¡± ¡°No, no! Just a moment¡­¡± Evergreen closed her mouth abruptly due to the unexpected turn of events. ¡®This seems a bit odd!¡¯ Despiteing together with ssmates for a leisure outing, they were wandering separately. Of course, it wouldn¡¯t be a big problem. It wouldn¡¯t, but¡­ ¡®¡­.¡¯ Her eyes, slightly narrowed, were fixed on Luke¡¯s retreating figure. His long legs made him swiftly move away with each step. ¡®Luke, what¡¯s going on?¡¯ She had noticed that Luke¡¯s mood was different than usual, from the moment they set out. It was because he hadn¡¯t spoken a single word until they arrived at the fair. Even though they weren¡¯t close, she knew that Luke wasn¡¯t normally that reticent. During the first ss, watching the professor and Gerald spar, he exined things in detail. So Evergreen hade to think of Luke as a good fellow, a little cocky but good at heart. ¡®Going to drink alone like that¡­¡¯ The gloomy side profile that had been present all dayes to her mind. Evergreen whimpered and ran over to Luke, gently tugging on his sleeve. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just!¡± Despite her bruised pride, there was no other way. ¡°Well, how are we supposed to navigate through thisplex ce on our own!¡± Luke¡¯s dark ck eyebrows narrow. ¡°What nonsense is this all of a sudden?¡± Yet, Evergreen didn¡¯t back down. ¡°Me! A rustic girl from Solintail! This bustling ce is confusing!¡± ¡°Not just me, there¡¯s that guy too¡­¡± But Luke¡¯s words are cut off abruptly. ¡°Ban!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Of course, Ban is incredibly smart andes from a well-respected family, but! He might not befortable in such a busy ce, right, Ban?! Huh? You¡¯re like a library-worm!¡± Ban raises his head in surprise. Evergreen adds slyly, ¡°And those¡­ delinquents or something? Yeah, there could be plenty of them. It¡¯s a reasonable concern.¡± Luke looked at Evergreen with an incredulous expression. In a ce so crowded that pedestrians could trample each other, delinquents? And¡­ ¡®You wouldn¡¯t be the one to fall victim to delinquents.¡¯ Thinking of her special bow that even an adult man couldn¡¯t pull with all his strength, Luke shivered. Local delinquents, even if they came in a few carriages, wouldn¡¯t be able to handle that innocent girl. ¡°So, help me a bit. I had high expectations for today.¡± Despite his hesitating reaction, Evergreen, undeterred, persuaded Luke kindly. Luke¡¯s stiff shoulders suddenly rxed. ¡°Ah, seriously, how annoying.¡± Life as a grown-up ¡®man¡¯ who only had his uncle. The power of a girl of the same age was more powerful over him than expected. [PR/N: Rtable moment luke ??] ¡°Come on.¡± Evergreen¡¯s pupils curved like crescent moons. Motioning to her back, Evergreen said, ¡°Ban, it¡¯s settled! Come quickly!¡± Perhaps secretly hoping for Luke¡¯s participation, Ban approached with a charming smile. Observing the scene of these ssmates, Luke, who had been watching quietly, uttered a few words. ¡°What have you guys been doing all this time, not having any fun?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You guys act like saints.¡± Evergreen had a lot to say, but she kept it in and slipped between the two. ¡°Let¡¯s go quickly! If we have timeter, we can also stop by a tavern!¡± And so, the kids were drawn into the crowded crowd. * * * About an hour away from the fairground, there was a rugged mountain slope where a group of rough-looking men had gathered. ¡°Ugh, my stomach still feels queasy, sir.¡± ¡°Are you still whining? Shut your mouth.¡± ¡°Ugh, sorry. But thinking about riding that thing again¡­ Oh, Oweeek!¡± One of the younger-looking guys ran into the bushes, vomiting. Of course, the expressions of the others watching him weren¡¯t exactly pleased. Young men in their twenties. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª At first nce, they were a very strange group that seemed to have nothing inmon. Slim and skinny individuals mixed with those with sturdy frames, and their weapons and attire were all different. A seemingly bizarre group with no apparentmonality. Some even looked ridiculous because they were wearing clothes that were the wrong size. However, there was one thing. Their sinister, ustomed-to-evil, and violent eyes. That, at least, was uniform among them. Addressed as ¡®hyungnim¡¯ (older brother), the man with the most powerful presence among them spoke up. ¡°Still, thanks to that, we were able to traverse the continent in just three days. No one could have imagined that we¡¯d be in the western region now.¡± The leader had quite a formidable appearance. A missing nose bridge, sharp and slitted eyes. His cruel expression made his face seem devoid of any human emotions throughout his life. One subordinate, looking at him with a mixture of admiration and fear, spoke. ¡°By the way, I¡¯m still in shock. Who would have thought we¡¯d survive ande out of that notorious Stagnum¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, it was pure luck.¡± The leader reminisced about three days ago. It was an unusually dark and pitch-ck night. Locked in a cell with no hope, waiting only for death. The entire prison vibrated, and a deafening noise echoed through the corridors. A wall several meters thick fell, and they¡­ the Demonic church, barged in. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Seeing the possibility of escape, there was no time for hesitation. Amidst the thick smell of blood, the sound of footsteps, and the ng of metal, they escaped from the echoing corridors. ¡°Expelled student Desmond Lusser, that¡¯s you, right?¡± The one who addressed him was also a man in prisoner¡¯s clothing. On the other side of the chaotic corridor turned battlefield, he strolled casually, his face strangely calm given the situation. ¡°¡­Do you know me?¡± ¡°Desmond Lusser, involved in 17 counts of serial killings of nobles, inflicted serious injuries on dozens of Imperial soldiers during the arrest process¡­ Should I go on?¡± ¡°Knowing someone well isn¡¯t always a good thing.¡± Under normal circumstances, he would have choked the man¡¯s throat then and there. However, Desmond suppressed the impulse. It was because he saw a ominous pattern engraved clearly on the man¡¯s backhand. A worshipper of the Demon King. And, as far as Desmond knew, the location of the engraving on the body varied ording to the rank within the Demonic church. ¡®Back of the hand¡­ an officer.¡¯ The edge of caution was instantly established. While he was quite a formidable figure among ouws, in front of an officer of the Demonic church, he couldn¡¯t help but feel intimidated. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Running away like this, you know you won¡¯t get far before getting caught, right?¡± Desmond, pierced to the core, fell silent. Stagnum was located in the middle of a very deepke. Even if they managed to escape, the n for what came after was vague. But¡­ ¡°Even if you¡¯re just killing people, it¡¯s one thing to be on the gallows.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s a way to spare my life¡­¡± The inevitable proposition followed. ¡°Do one job for us. Then, not only will I safely get you out of this chaos, but I¡¯ll also provide you with a foundation to start anew on the outside.¡± ¡°What if I refuse?¡± ¡°Well, then there¡¯ll be one more grave in the backyard of Stagnum, won¡¯t there?¡± And so, that¡¯s how he ended up in the distant west. As it turned out, most of the subordinates who were captured together were also in a state where the Demonic church rescued them. Moreover, with their peculiar methods, they even restored bodies that had be damaged or injured seriously. ¡®If I can sessfully finish this one task, it¡¯s a fresh start, just this one time.¡¯ Desmond turned his head and looked behind. ¡°¡­¡± There, leaning against a beautiful tree, there was a ¡®silhouette¡¯ calmly gazing at the sky. A reinforcement sent by the Demonic church to apany him in this mission. They joined right after the escape from Stagnum. Wrapped in a thick, long robe that concealed their entire body and with a voice magically modted, their identity was an unknown, neither gender nor age discernible. And next to them. Kikirurururu-! A huge monstrous creaturey there, emitting a strange wailing sound. A malignant bird called Myrmat, was it? ¡®At least an upper-grade¡­ no, perhaps a top-grade demon.¡¯ With the appearance of a mixture of a crow and a bat, its wings were bizarrely enormous. The fact that the group was able to swiftly escape the Imperial Army¡¯s encirclement was thanks to this demon. They covered the distance from the northernmost tip of the continent to here in less than three days. ¡®Demon taming, huh. Those damn followers of the Demon King, doing all sorts of things.¡¯ It was a bizarre phenomenon, a creature he had never seen before, even with his robust knowledge. Of course, many had attempted demon taming before. They all ended up in a sorry state. ¡®Well, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡¯ Whatever cruel methods they used to gain power, it was entirely unrted to him. What mattered now was¡­ just the reward they promised. Desmond raised his voice. ¡°Let¡¯s confirm the details of the request onest time. We¡¯re causing chaos for exactly 15 minutes, then we¡¯re out.¡± A nod. ¡°During that time, you¡¯ll find the item or whatever it is, then meet us at the agreed-upon location to escape together. The remaining payment will be settled at that time.¡± Another nod. ¡°¡­Items captured during the operation will be our property, correct?¡± A nod. Despite consecutive questions, the envoy from the Demonic Church didn¡¯t bother to look at him, only nodding in response. Desmond had to endure their arrogant attitude, keeping his impatience in check. ¡®It¡¯s a chance to change my life.¡¯ The fee they offered for the task was truly staggering. It was enough to settle his dreary life at the bottom and start anew. He had already received 30% of the upfront payment. If he could safely receive the rest, a new life awaited him and his subordinates. ¡®I don¡¯t like the idea of some unknown thing being the client, but¡­¡¯ If the situation turned ufortable, he could withdraw immediately. His knowledge of the local geography was sharp enough to navigate with closed eyes. Expelled student Desmond. He recalled the faded memories from a dozen years ago and twisted a wry smile. Piiiiing-! Suddenly, a sharp flute sound echoed. Urung! With the sound of the ground vibrating, the demon raised its massive body. Desmond gestured to his subordinates, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Subordinates gathered swiftly. Each of them was a skilled warrior capable of easily taking down an average knight. ¡®We weren¡¯t imprisoned in Stagnum for no reason.¡¯ As expected, even if the security at the exhibition is strict, causing a disturBance for about 15 minutes should be enough. They had also been provided with powerful artifacts suitable for a convenient ambush. Desmond, massaging the hefty pouch on his hip, stood in front of the envoy from the Demonic church. Hi-! Before Desmond could shudder at the eerie sound of the wind, the next words followed. ¡°Now, let¡¯s depart.¡± The grotesquely modted voice urged them on with an unsettling tone. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 47 Chapter 47 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª A little whileter. As the excitement of the fair grew, and the auction was reaching its climax. Desmond and his party arrived at the airspace above the fairground. It was as crowded as ants from this altitude. Desmond concentrated his magic and enhanced his vision. ¡°The security is stricter than I thought.¡± For a moment, he was surprised by the size, muchrger than before. A sly smile appeared on Desmond¡¯s face as he spotted students joyfully wandering around. ¡°Hey, are you ready?¡± His subordinates silently tightened theirbat gears. Through hair tousled by the strong wind, eyes tinted with anticipation for ughter shone crimson. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Just as Myrmat¡¯s massive shadow brushed directly above the auction building at that moment. Desmond pulled out several blood-red beads from his pocket and threw them forcefully downwards. They were high-grade magical bombs provided by the Demon Church. Kwaaaah-! Shards of magic scattered in all directions, striking the ceiling of the auction house. No matter how sturdy the material, it couldn¡¯t withstand an aerial bombardment. Deafening explosions, disorienting smoke¡­ Beyond them, faint screams echoed. In the evidence of the gruesome scene transmitted by his heightened senses, Desmond burst intoughter. ¡°Hahaha, follow me!¡± As Myrmat lowered its altitude, Desmond and his subordinates descended together. Huuuuung-! The cloak enchanted with one-time flight magic spread wide, slowing their descent. Although the magic, intense in magical power consumption, hadn¡¯t fully activated in zero seconds, it was enough to safelynd them on the rooftop of the auction building. Through the holes pierced in the ceiling, the indoor arena turned into a battleground came into view. A satisfied smile crept onto Desmond¡¯s sinister lips at the sight. Btedly, guards armed with firearms rushed in from all sides. ¡°Here you go.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°The remaining payment.¡± When did the Demonic church¡¯s messenger join them? Desmond looked at him with suspicious eyes as he handed over a hefty pouch. A heavy metallic sound. ¡°You¡¯re paying the remaining amount now?¡± ¡°Yes, indeed.¡± But before Desmond could inquire further, the messenger disappeared from sight. Hurriedly, fearing it might be a fake, Desmond opened the pouch and inspected the gold nuggets. The imprints were clear ¨C pure gold. ¡°Haha, hahaha!¡± Desmond¡¯s face was dyed with delight. ¡°Congrattions, sir!¡± ¡°Well, well. We must give value for the money.¡± Hemanded while holding the chain. ¡°Stick to the n. Me and the nine of you go down below to have some fun with the noble brats. The rest, handle the guards and create chaos. Treat my juniors well.¡± ¡°Hehe, leave it to us.¡± A simultaneously creepy grin spread across the faces of the men. Desmond distributed the assault artifacts and added, ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down; hit and run guerri style. Even if they are aristocrats, don¡¯t underestimate them. It could be dangerous if we get surrounded. Be cautious and get out of there.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sir! We¡¯ll kill them just right and make our escape.¡± ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s meet in 15 minutes.¡± After the briefing, Desmond jumped without hesitation through the hole. His nine subordinates followed. In the opposite direction, the remaining group encountered guards, and the sharp metallic sounds mixed with curses reached their ears. They encountered no problem in dealing with the guards after all they were each vicious individuals. ¡°Well, a few less to worry about.¡± Smack! Thud! Desmond and his subordinatesnded smoothly on the auction stage. The noisynding caught the attention of everyone in the room. Auction participants froze, staring at them. ¡°Hehe¡­ Nice to meet you, wealthy folks.¡± Desmond¡¯s sinister eyes scanned the room. Nobles and rich people, those in the upper echelons of society, always looked the same. Colourful attire. Expensive jewellery. Dignified appearance. Condescending gazes. Those who were once within reach but now more loathsome than ever. They were the objects of his long-held resentment, and now,nding in the auction hall, he reveled in their frozen reactions. ¡°The auction item for today is¡­¡± With a twisted smile, Desmond grabbed an amplification device lying on the floor. ¡°Your lives. Shall we call the bidders?¡± * * * About an hour ago. The material specialist, Rachel Mithras, was like any other merchant, if not slightly more mediocre. Well, perhaps a bit above average. Starting as a peddler at a young age, she built a respectable business. Her merchant spirit had grown steadily without a hint of decline. Surviving in the harsh upper echelons as a young woman was no easy task. ¡°Taking a brief break. The third act of the auction will begin in 20 minutes.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Rachel stiffly turned her head in various directions. There were so many remarkable items on disy that she couldn¡¯t even capture them all in a single nce. Regrettably, she hadn¡¯t sessfully bid on any items yet. ¡°As expected of Glendor. Glendor, indeed.¡± In reality, her ability to obtain admission to this auction was partly due to luck, as she operated a rtively small-scale market. The lottery she entered as a formality unexpectedly resulted in a vacancy, granting her the opportunity. ¡®Good if it happens, fine if it doesn¡¯t.¡¯ She had entered with that mindset, and luck had favored her with a sudden win. It wasn¡¯t an official auction conducted by the Auction institution but rather an informal auction hosted by Yussi Glendor. However, that didn¡¯t make much of a difference. Various notable figures had gathered. ¡®Gaining knowledge! Building connections!¡¯ She had cast aside all her usual duties and devoted herself entirely to this opportunity. However, the enthusiasm faded momentarily. ¡®Ah, darn it. Such arrogant high-noses.¡¯ The giants, as expected, remained indifferent to her. Despite circling the VIP area during the break, attempting conversation, theypletely ignored her. ¡®They won¡¯t even look at me.¡¯ HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª No matter how thick-skinned Rachel was, consistent cold shoulders were exhausting. ¡®Just wait for five years! I¡¯ll be sitting next to you, grumbling away.¡¯ As the disheartened Rachel was about to return to her seat, the moment she turned her back, the conversation among the VIPs caught her ears. Typically, every word uttered by the giants held valuable information. ¡°Ouch.¡± Rachel pretended to sit down, feigning numbness in her legs, and perked up her ears. ¡°By the way, who¡¯s that big guy? Doesn¡¯t look like a merchant¡­?¡± ¡°Judging by his attire, he seems like a mercenary or a frence knight. Well, it seems the conditions for purchasing admission tickets to this informal auction have been considerably rxed.¡± ¡°Well, having a few spectators adds some liveliness to the atmosphere, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Hoho, you don¡¯t just need someone to marvel at when the bids are called?¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s embarrassing for you to look into my dark inner thoughts like this.¡± Unfortunately, it was just ordinary gossip. Rachel nced briefly at the subject of the gossip. d in a deeply pressed robe, his attire was certainly more shabbypared to the splendid and neat colors worn by others. Seated in the farthest corner of the auction seats, it was next to her. ¡®They must haveughed at me like that.¡¯ Quickly, she needed to earn more. With that thought in mind, Rachel returned to her seat. The man still kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, not sparing a nce her way. Given the conspicuousness of her crimson short hair, it was quite surprising. ¡®But, seriously, what a massive figure.¡¯ His hands, protruding conspicuously from the sleeves, looked rough. The spections of the VIPs that he lived a rough life and earned his living with physicalbor seemed to fit. Rachel paused for a moment. ¡®¡­Could he turn out to be someone famous if you look closely?¡¯ However, she soon smirked and shook her head. ¡®If that were the case, there¡¯s no way he¡¯d be stuck in this corner seat with me.¡¯ Rachel leaned back against the backrest again. ¡®Haah, I was hoping he¡¯d be closer to Rosenstark.¡¯ Understanding and profit. Calction andputation. Even for her, who lived in the world of clear numbers, there were remnants of innocence. Rachel liked the heroes on the front lines. She admired them for standing outside the realm of understanding. Initially, she couldn¡¯tprehend why they chose the thorny path without a clear reward, but eventually, she found herself idolizing them. Of course, her favorite hero, like many imperial citizens, was the Hero ¡°Ted Redymer.¡± ¡®This guy must be a fan of heroes too.¡¯ You could tell just by looking at the unnecessarilyrge weapon resting on his back. Wrapped in thick fabric, it was undoubtedly the shape of a greatsword. There was a time when many martial artists followed the trend of using giant greatswords, thanks to the hero¡¯s influence. ¡­Although they disappeared rather quickly, probably because they were challenging to wield. It seemed this man had hopped onto that outdated trend. ¡®Ugh, it¡¯s hard to seed if you follow the trends.¡¯ The assessment wasplete. Perhaps, like her, this man had luckily managed to participate in the auction. ¡®Hmm, how much time is left for the break?¡¯ A strange sense of camaraderie led to a desire to converse. Rachel confidently pulled out her business card. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Rachel from Rachel¡¯s Emporium! Although I specialise in materials, I handle everything from weapons to armour and herbs! Anything you need, feel free to visit anytime.¡± For the first time today, she didn¡¯t face outright disregard. ¡°Kasim. Just a mercenary.¡± A low and gentle voice. Rachel noticed that the subordinate, whose hood had failed to conceal his very, very handsome face, was quite, very good-looking. She felt a little better. ¡°Nice to meet you, Kasim. Your name is handsome too. But you didn¡¯t bid at all?¡± ¡°There was nothing that caught my eye.¡± Well, well. Rachel chuckled inwardly. ¡°Oh, there were many good items. It¡¯s just that they were too expensive to bid on.¡± ¡°Did you have a lot of things you wanted?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I failed to win any bids. I just focused on participating. Seeing artifacts sharpens my eye, and it¡¯s not a loss.¡± The man nodded in agreement. ¡°Indeed. The highlight of this auction is definitely worth seeing. Besides, it¡¯s in your field of expertise, ¡®materials.''¡± ¡°Haha, even if I emptied my entire fortune, I couldn¡¯t afford those items.¡± Rachel¡¯s gaze shifted to thest page of the auction catalog. The characters ¡°Sacred Stone¡± were written in an elegant font. The Sacred Stone was a mineral continuously imbued with divine power, possessing the ability to reject impurities. It used to be quitemon, but as the era of the First Age came to an end and humans lost their divine power, items imbued with sanctity became rare. Even today, despite Rachel¡¯s considerable wealth, acquiring the Sacred Stone was nearly impossible. The auction item, just by itself, could probably fund the creation of several daggers, yet it boasted the highest starting bid. ¡°Even if you buy it, it¡¯s not a loss. If you manage to make a finished product, the price will skyrocket several times.¡± ¡°A finished product, huh?¡± ¡°Well, currently, there are hardly any cksmiths who can handle it.¡± ¡°Is it that difficult to process?¡± When her expertise came up, Rachel enthusiastically eximed. ¡°If it¡¯s an imperial cksmith, it¡¯s possible to process it imperfectly. However,plete processing would be impossible even for most dwarves. Unless it¡¯s that legendary cksmith who disappeared a few years ago, ¡®Noubelmag.''¡± The man paused for a moment. Rachel¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You¡¯re not unfamiliar with ¡®Noubelmag,¡¯ are you? That legendary cksmith who used to be a member of the Dawn Knights!¡± ¡°¡­I know. It¡¯s been a while since I heard that name.¡± Noubelmag. The name of the legendary cksmith, the greatest cksmith in history, and the equipment manager of the Dawn Knights, a dwarf hero. He dered sudden retirement about three years ago and disappeared without a trace. His whereabouts have been unknown ever since. The man¡¯s eyes narrowed strangely. ¡°Wee back, esteemed guests. Auction Session 3! As you all know, the auction for the Sacred Stone is also included in this session. Now, shall we begin!¡± With the lively announcement from the auctioneer, excitement began to swirl in the auction hall. ¡ª Starting bid: 2,000 gold. Asking price: 150 gold. It was a sum that would be difficult to gather even if you uprooted an average merchant guild. However, the current bid had already exceeded four times the starting bid. Rachel couldn¡¯t believe that one of the people continuing this crazy rally was the man sitting next to her. ¡°Customer #1, 8,450 gold! 8,450 gold! We have a bid¡­¡± ¡°Oh! Customer #189 bids 8,600 gold! The bid is 8,600 gold!¡± The man next to her showed a nonchnt attitude, only raising his card. There was only onepetitor. A middle-aged man sitting right in the center of the VIP seats. From what she heard earlier, he seemed to be a representative of some count. ¡®W-Who on earth is he¡­?¡¯ He was looking at her with eyes filled with disbelief. Judging by the way his hand holding the card gradually lowered towards the ground, he seemed to have surpassed the maximum bid limit he could afford. With a trembling voice, Rachel whispered, ¡°Th-This isn¡¯t a reckless bid, right?! It could be a real problem if so.¡± ¡°No need to worry.¡± Rachel gave him a skeptical look from head to toe. ¡®His attire is just in ordinary. Does he have a separate employer? Wait, does Glendor not check the ability to pay?¡¯ As the on-site manager of this auction, Simon would definitely not doubt the Hero¡¯s ability to pay. But Rachel, unaware of this fact, was merely curious about the man¡¯s identity. ¡°8,600 gold! 8,600 gold!! Is everything alright? I will now conclude the bidding at 8,600 gold!!!¡± The VIPs, who had ignored them until now, had no intention of looking away. However, the man¡¯s reaction was dry. He nodded as if satisfied, and that was it. Rachel, staring at him nkly, chuckled. ¡°Congrattions, Kasim. If you happen to have any scraps while processing it, make sure to sell them to me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Rachel felt a bit uneasy. She thought her greeting was witty, but Kasim didn¡¯t even look at her. His head was slightly tilted upward, moistening the top. ¡®¡­Where are you looking? At the ceiling?¡¯ But Rachel soon realized that something was strange. Kasim¡¯s chin visible beneath the hood was tense. The hand holding the card seemed to exert an unusual amount of force. ¡®¡­What¡¯s going on?¡¯ The alert in her mind went off right then. ¡°Hey! Kasim! Why are you¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t even finish her sentence. Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-! A vibration so strong it made her body tremble. A copsing noise filled her ears. Rachel, realizing something was wrong, screamed and instinctively lowered her head. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 48 Chapter 48 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª A deafening roar echoed. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª- !! The air filled with rising smoke and dust. As the vibrations subsided, people who had ducked their heads raised them cautiously. With the ceiling shattered, the lights lost their glow, plunging the surroundings intoplete darkness. The only source of light was the faint sunlight seeping through the hole in the ceiling. ¡°What, what the heck!?¡± ¡°What fell?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the organizer? Where are they?¡± But even that was short-lived. As the ceiling began to creak precariously, people once again grimaced, throwing their heads under the chairs. Wood, rebars, and rocks trembled as if they were about to fall any moment. ¡°Let¡¯s get out! We have to get out of here!¡± ¡°It¡¯s toote! Get under the chairs!¡± ¡°Save, save us! Please!¡± A few seconds that felt like minutes passed by. Debris started falling. ¡°No, no!¡± Rachel tightly shut her eyes. ¡®Please, please, please¡­! How did I survive so stubbornly until now! I can¡¯t end up dying like this!¡¯ However, she knew. The slim chance of surviving in this situation. If those things fell on her head¡­ Needless to say, it would be instant death. In an instant, her body would be crushed to death. A soft chair like this wouldn¡¯t be able to protect her. ¡°Ah, agh¡­¡± Due to having already tucked her head under the chair, her vision was pitch ck. Nothing could be seen. Only the ominous roar continued. Trembling, Rachel awaited death. Puff pop boom! Bang bang bang!! Boom!!! ¡­It was precisely at that moment when eerie sounds echoed consecutively. Feeling the dust brushing against her cheek, Rachel suddenly opened her eyes. Beyond the acrid dust, the back of someone was visible. ¡°Kasim?¡± There, in that ce. The giant sword, which she had dismissed as somewhat of a pathetic attempt at imitation, was swung at an unseen speed. Boom!! Thepressed air burst, creating a thunderous sound. A white glow continuously emanated from the sword, finely shredding the falling debris from the ceiling. ¡®He¡¯s using sword energy?¡¯ It was the moment when his extraordinary abilities were revealed. The sword energy kept shooting out, creating a protective barrier as if a light-made umbre was covering them. While others were paralyzed by fear and couldn¡¯t witness the scene, Rachel couldn¡¯t take her eyes off his back. Whooom! The swirling aftermath revealed the man¡¯s robe that had been pressed down. ¡­That color. Confirming that murky hue, Rachel bit her lip. At the exhibition near Rosenstark. An unidentified man. Ashen hair and a massive sword. As if to strengthen her certainty, The sword, which had been relentlessly moving,pleted its task and came to a halt. Theyers of fabric that had enveloped the greatsword had long been torn to shreds by the sword energy. ¡®Ah¡­¡¯ What entered Rachel¡¯s eyes like that was a pitch-ck sword deity that no merchant dealing with materials, or any survivor in this turbulent era, could possibly fail to recognize. As their eyes met beyond the mask and gaze, Rachel muttered with a dazed expression. ¡°¡­Sir Hero?¡± * * * ¡®Not good.¡¯ While he sessfully crushed the falling debris, preventing immediate casualties, it didn¡¯t mean the crisis in this ce was over. The once elegant and cultured auction house had lost its order in an instant. People pushed and shoved each other, heading towards the exit as if swept away by a flood. The fragments of the unsteady ceiling stole theirposure and reason. Even the dignified guards who were supposed to always be cool-headed were in disarray, following their master with uncertainty. ¡°In, let¡¯s get out of here before it copses!¡± A chaotic scene. It was what Desmond desired, but not what the Hero sought. ¡°Come this way!¡± In such disarray, protecting people from additional falling debris became challenging. Unidentified viins had appeared, so gathering together seemed like the right decision. However, the Hero¡¯s voice did not reach the people gripped by fear. ¡°Run away!¡± Fortunately, about half of the people in the auction house realized that the area around the Hero was safe and stayed put. However, almost all of the participants on the other side, including the central VIPs, had run out. It was at that moment when Desmond, standing on the stage, looked at the Hero. ¡°What the heck is that again?¡± To cut to the chase, Desmond didn¡¯t recognize the Hero. In the dimly lit interior, the stage and the corner where he was situated were far away, and the mask added to the disguise. However, he keenly observed the scene of the Hero dealing with falling debris using his sword energy. ¡°No wonder there were no casualties under the fallen objects.¡± There had to be someone who could manipte energy. ¡°Hey, guys.¡± Desmond gestured to his subdued subordinates in the background. Even if they were a capable individual, nine subordinates would be more than enough. ¡°Seems like we have a troublemaker.¡± Even though he could easily create sword energy himself, there was no need to personally face the danger. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡®It¡¯s best if a few of them die along the way.¡¯ Calcting in such a way, Desmond issued the order. ¡°Take care of that.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Nine subordinates dashed out energetically. Now, there was no need to pay further attention to that guy. Desmond turned his head again to look at the VIPs. They¡­ ¡°The exit is blocked!¡± ¡°Over there! That door seems safe!¡± ¡°Hurry, go that way! Before the ceiling copses!¡± For Desmond, luck seemed to follow him. For them, misfortune seemed to be in pursuit. The exit waspletely blocked by falling debris. They were in a panic but eventually headed towards the door on the opposite side, leading to a rest area. ¡°Ugh. They¡¯re trying to escape even though there¡¯s nowhere to run. Quite optimistic.¡± Desmond chuckled cheerfully and followed them. ¡°Time¡¯s up. It¡¯s a hunt!¡± A cruel smile crept onto his face. ¡ª The Hero faced the approaching men. Eyes filled with vitality and bodies hardened by malice. All nine of them, and none seemed easygoing. They didn¡¯t appear to take anything lightly, forming an encircling as they advanced. ¡°If I make a wrong move, it could be dangerous.¡± The warrior looked at his fingertips, which were trembling slightly due to fatigue. Dealing with the massive amount of debris with only sword energy was impossible. In the end, he had to exhaust his remaining magical power to create a protective barrier, leaving him with just a handful of magic. ¡®These guys are dangerous.¡¯ The Hero assessed the situation, realizing that he had to fight cleverly. [It seems you have a good habit.] [What?] [Before enteringbat, you have the habit of gathering and analyzing all the surrounding information. Your speed is quite impressive, and your judgement is urate.] Due tocking absolute strength, it became a habit. He had faced many battles, where utilizing every element of the battlefield was necessary to win. [Is it a characteristic of an observant chameleon or a technique honed by rolling relentlessly in a deadly battlefield? If your sword skills weren¡¯t trash, you could have be a pretty good warrior.] The Hero contemted the uing battlefield, recalling his conversation with ¡®Original¡¯ and ncing discreetly at the people behind him who were trembling in fear. Among them, there seemed to be no one who could be of help. The sword-wielding guards were assigned to inconspicuous figures and were unlikely to possess noteworthy skills. Realizing he had to face this alone, the Hero adjusted his mask, putting down the ¡®ck Hope.¡¯ ¡°Let me handle it for a moment,¡± said Rachel, catching the heavy weapon. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ heavy!¡± Not trained in rugged travel, her strength wouldn¡¯t have sustained her if not for her experience. Feeling the weight, she asked, ¡°Are you going to fight without a weapon?¡± The Hero didn¡¯t respond and moved forward. Already, intense calctions were taking ce in his mind. Even if the ck Hope was sealed, with sufficient stamina and magical support, it was an excellent weapon. However, if those weren¡¯t avable, it became an extremely inefficient burden due to its robust and heavy nature. The Hero considered the situation carefully, knowing that wielding the ck Hope with current magical power would be ineffective, slow, and cumbersome. Attempting to swing the ck Hope with the current magical power would not be enough to kill even two opponents, and being surrounded was imminent. ¡®Above all, now is¡­¡¯ The Hero found himself in a situation where he faced multiple enemies in a narrow, obstacle-filled indoor space. The greatsword was not suitable for a chaotic battle with numerous variables in such tight quarters. ¡®If that¡¯s the case¡­¡¯ The Hero quickly surveyed his surroundings. Moments before they would explode the ceiling, the attendants were moving the auctioned items for the final inspection. ¡®There it is.¡¯ Overturned carts. He could see auction items scattered around, some half-buried under debris and dust, but they seemed usable with no apparent issues. Thanks to the auctioneer¡¯s exnations throughout the event,ments about these artifacts flooded his mind. Recorded Artifacts: ¨C Yones¡¯s Spear¡­ ¨C ster¡­ ¨C Portable Colored Smoke¡­ Confirming the locations of useful items, the Hero immediately stood up, choosing the battleground. It was the narrow passage between the stage and the empty central seats. This narrow corridor marked the starting point of the battlefield. ¡°¡­¡± The assants had already formed a wide encirclement. Some were approaching through the stands, while others had taken positions on the right side of the stage. Even thoseing from the front passage were spreading out evenly. Pushing through the seats, a figure approached. A robust assant, approaching from the front, confirmed that the Hero was empty-handed and shed a sinister smile. ¡°You look like a coward, are you already surrendering?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Tsk, prepare to die in more pain for making me miss the joy of a fight.¡± The brute hefted a mace, showing no hesitation beforemitting murder. His expression spoke volumes about the life he had led. Now that the Hero knew what kind of people they were, mercy would be futile. With a swift motion, the Hero raised a spear hidden beneath the fallen rocks. The spearhead emerged at an appropriate height for grasping, catching the attention of the brute. ¡°Yeah, give it your best shot!¡± Swinging the mace diagonally, the bruteughed heartily. As the brute¡¯s attack began, the Hero tilted the body to avoid it and extended the spear towards the brute¡¯s throat. Swoosh! However, due to theck of infused magic, the speed wasn¡¯t sufficient. The brute, with a triumphant grin, raised the buckler in his opposite hand. ¡®I¡¯ve weakened¡­¡¯ Though his movements were somewhat agile, it seemed inadequate to be their match. That¡¯s what the Hero thought. ¡°Huh?!¡± Suddenly, widened pupils stared at the spear piercing through the abdomen. ¡°What¡­?¡± It happened in an instant. A faint magical circle appeared on the spearhead, and mes erupted. The spear, defying thews of physics, changed direction from the neck to the abdomen. The brute coughed up blood, muttering, ¡°¡­Artifact?¡± ¨‹ **Yones¡¯s Spear** ¡°This item is an experimental creation from Yones¡¯s Forge. It utilizes the propulsive force of explosive runes to add speed to attacks or make rapid directional changes. It can be considered a highly useful weapon for generating variables inbat.¡± ¡ø With a smooth pull, the spear was withdrawn, and then it punctured the jugr again. The remaining eight assants charged forward, yet the Hero¡¯s actions were quicker than the bodies hitting the ground. Loud curses filled the air. ¡°This bastard! Get him!¡± ¡°Damn it, kill him!¡± They wereing. The Hero¡¯s eyes moved swiftly. Their martial arts were well-executed, but not wless. It required exploiting subtle timing. Thunk! The Hero used the brute¡¯s lifeless body as a shield, lowering it towards the ground. Just as the leading attacker swung their sword, the tip barely missed the corpse. Swoosh! Immediately after evading the attack, the Hero reached for the fallen cart. Pssht! The sensation of a sturdy wooden handle met their fingertips. ¨‹ ster ¡ø ¡°Heinz Workshop¡¯s special magic bow, the ster!¡± ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, do you also enjoy hunting? Sometimes it¡¯s quite annoying to carry arrows or quivers, right?¡± ¡°Now, just carry one ster! This artifact sprayspressed air instead of arrows¡­.¡± Holding the ster, the Hero poured all his avable magic into two rapid actions. First, he threw his body far to the side. Second, he rose and aimed the bow. Whoosh-! Swish-! The attacks from the enemies narrowly missed. When the assants tried to follow the Hero¡¯s agile evasion, the ster¡¯s aim was already locked. The Hero¡¯s target was two men narrowing the encirclement from the spectator stands. Given their positions, they were the most troublesome foes. Thepressed air from two shots struck their necks with precision. They were unable to react to it as they did not even know that the warrior had picked up a bow. With a swift motion, the Hero swung the spear, shattering the assants who were stumbling. In the moment of confusion, the Hero thrust the de of the gauntlet into the spine of the remaining one, turning them into a lifeless lump. It all happened in about 5 seconds. The Hero kicked the corpses aside, rolling them, and looked down at the approaching assants. Behind the metallic mask, the eyes conveyed undisguised contempt, the thing they hated the most. ¡°Don¡¯t act all high and mighty!¡± ¡°Damn it! Kill that bastard!¡± The enraged attackers red at the Hero with widened eyes, their anger piercing through the mask. That¡¯s what the Hero wanted. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 49 Chapter 49 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The assants charged forward in anger. However, when they crossed the spectator stands in pursuit of the Hero, he had already moved up a tier of seats. ¡°Capture him!¡± Typically, auction house seats are arranged in a stepped fashion with higher vertical width to avoid obstructing the view of those behind. Due to the height difference between upper and lower rows, the movements and sight of the attackers were limited. In contrast, the Hero was free to move. That was why he had chosen to target the assants in the stands first. ¡°He¡¯s running upward! Capture him!¡± ¡°Why does this bastard keep going to higher ground so sneakily!¡± St-! Various projectile weapons, including rain-like throwing weapons, were employed across the ever-expanding distance. However, hitting the Hero, who swiftly moved between the shield-like aligned seats, proved to be extremely challenging. Of course, a few managed to reach the vicinity of the Hero, but¡­ ¨‹ Projectiles toward the shoulder confirmed Projectiles toward the Achilles tendon confirmed Projectiles toward the abdominal muscles¡­ ¡ø Even though his magic was depleted, he still possessed the ¡®The Iris of Lace.¡¯ Those attacks were impossible to reach him. Instead, a counterattack was unleashed. ¡°Aargh! My leg!¡± ¡°Damn it, he¡¯s throwing rocks!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t see! Where the hell is he doing this from!?¡± The Hero was adept at utilizing the advantages of the high ground. With each tier of seats he ascended, the injuries on the assants increased. Frustrated and enraged, they elerated their pace, seemingly on the verge of catching him but always falling short. ¡°Argh, seriously. I¡¯ll kill him!¡± They were so infuriated that one of them even brought out the remaining magic bomb from earlier. ¡°Stop that bastard! Do you want us all to die if it explodes indoors!¡± Amidst the repeated chaos, the arena was gradually copsing. Just as they managed to reach the top of the stands, colorful smoke erupted. Woo-woo-woo-woo-! Colored smoke billowed up dramatically, driving the assants into a frenzy. ¡°Damn it! I can¡¯t take it anymore!¡± ¡°Argh! This damn jerk is fooling around to the end!¡± Amidst the loud curses and insults, they eagerly waited for the smoke to dissipate. ¡®Damn, this farce needs to end.¡¯ Now they were at the top of the seats. A space he couldn¡¯t retreat from. If you corner him and attack him, you¡¯ll be able to kill a rat like that in no time. How many powerful people have they killed together so far? Woo-woo-woo-woo-! Fortunately, the smoke quickly dissipated through the hole in the ceiling. ¡°You¡¯re done now.¡± In case the guy tried to escape downward again, a man who had been blocking the passage, ready to chase, walked confidently through the dispersing smoke. ¡°Nowhere to run now. You jerk.¡± The guy, who had been struggling so much, seemed to have finally given up, standing still while waiting for him. ¡°Forget about dying gracefully.¡± The assant, who had beenying on the theatrics, realized something was off. There was no trace of confusion in the guy. Aposed response came back. ¡°Run away?¡± ¡°W-Well, yeah. Damn it. Are you going to run away again like before?¡± ¡°Well, I wonder.¡± Come to think of it, why is it so quiet around here? The assant raised his head to look at the man in front of him. Despite the intense battle and flowing fresh blood, the eyes beneath the mask, which showed no emotional change, glowed from beneath. At that moment, the assant thought that perhaps this man alone had killed more people than they didbined. Thud-! Something touched the back of the assant¡¯s heel as he took a step back. Lifeless bodies with familiar faces shook with the impact. ¡°Heh, huh.¡± It was a skillful hunt, considering the unique nature of the auction venue, the functionality of the auctioned items on the floor, and the rough and violent nature of the assants. It was a meticulous design that took everything into ount. The Hero spoke in a calm voice, ¡°I¡¯ll let you die gracefully.¡± Thest assant with a pale face trembled. ¡°Before that you need to answer some questions.¡± * * * I defeated thest assant and headed towards the crowd. As the mour and screams subsided, the trembling people seemed to regain someposure. ¡°T-Thank you. If you reveal your identity, I¡¯ll show my gratitude with the utmost respect!¡± ¡°What an extraordinary warrior. I am Baron Mayne. If you ever visit, we¡¯ll treat you generously, I pledge the honor of our family.¡± Fortunately, it seemed that no one had recognized my true identity. Understandable, given that I had discarded the ck robe and mask. Yet, they still seemed eager to unveil the identity of the ¡®unknown warrior.¡¯ ¡°Please consider entrusting yourself to my family if you¡¯re a free knight or mercenary¡­.¡± Some people expressing such sentiments had a mixture of awkwardness and anxiety in their eyes. Recalling the rumors and discussions during the auction, it made sense. ¡®Well, I¡¯m not particrly upset about it.¡¯ Rather than dwelling on these matters, more important tasks awaited. I checked the visual artifact in my possession. Three green dots were clustered at the center of the screen, linked to the tracking artifact I had given to the children. Fortunately, it seemed unharmed for now, butplete reassurance was elusive. ¡®A-Around twenty, I suppose!¡¯ Thest assant spoke with a broken corbone, gasping. It meant there were approximately ten attackers heading towards the central area. While the scale was smaller than expected, it wasn¡¯t a number to underestimate. I needed to act swiftly. ¡°Oh, by the way, what about the one who went into the lounge over there?¡± ¡°Considering the silence, it seems the situation has concluded.¡± ¡°Since there was only one Knight, it seems that the escorts of the guests have dealt with it.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s fortunate. The auction building doesn¡¯t seem to be shaking anymore, does it?¡± It was a regrettable statement for those whose faces were turning pale, but the situation was not over yet. I pushed through them and approached the peddler moaning with despair from a distance, holding the dark hope. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª With sweaty hair stuck to her forehead, she turned around, her face pale. ¡°Oh, dragon¡­¡± She looked at the deeply pressed hood and faltered in her words. She seemed to have sensed something and changed her way of addressing. ¡°Dragon, no¡­ valiant warrior!¡± But, it was of no use. Those who had btedly seen the ck hope began to stir. The murmuring intensified in an instant. ¡°Wait. What is that huge ck¡­?¡± ¡°No, could it be¡­?¡± ¡°The, the, the color is simr, but is it a different ck weapon?¡± ¡°No, as a weapons merchant, I can guarantee that there is only one ck weapon in the world with that color! Oh my, it¡¯s for sure. Oh my goodness!¡± ¡°No, th-then he is¡­ No! That, that person is!¡± But such reactions were not important. The screamsing through the hole in the ceiling were getting louder. There was no more time to dy. I had to quickly deal with the remaining intruders. I looked at the tracking artifact again. ¡®Fortunately, it seems that the children have not encountered any problems yet.¡¯ The tracking artifact I gave them not only reveals the owner¡¯s location but also sounds an rm in case of any physical abnormalities. Seeing that there were no significant signals so far, it seemed that they had not encountered the attackers yet or were somehow holding up well. ¡°Kids¡­¡± I recalled the faces of Ban, Luke, and Evergreen one by one. They were brilliant talents that even the Iris of Lace would acknowledge. It could be bewildering in unexpected situations, but these guys were not ones to fall in such ces. ¡°¡­Hoo.¡± I took a calm deep breath. In situations like this, judgement needs to be quick and urate. What I needed to do now was subdue the remaining one, the leader. I couldn¡¯t afford to waste time staring at the aftermath. ¡°Everyone.¡± I gripped the handle of the ck hope. Fortunately, the mana had recovered a bit as the sword didn¡¯t feel as heavy as before. ¡°Wait here.¡± I walked confidently towards the lounge, leaving the conspicuous aftermath behind. It was time to quickly finish that guy off. * * * The guest lounge was very spacious and luxurious. Elegant carpets, trendy teas and snacks, expensive decorations. However, now all of these things were covered in mismatched red blood. Stepping on the broken lights and shattered tables at the entrance, the Hero entered. ¡®¡­.¡¯ I quickly assessed the situation. There was one piece of good news and one piece of bad news. The good news was that most of the guests were alive. The bad news was that all the escorts were dead. Bodies split in half while trying to escape, bodies facing a gruesome death while wielding swords, bodies impaled on the extinguished firece. Amidst the horror, a figure with a weapon seemingly resembling a chain wrapped around both arms was intimidating the guests, focusing on terrorizing them. ¡°Why are you doing this to us?¡± ¡°We already gave up everything!¡± Two noble couples in luxurious attire trembled in front of Desmond¡¯s grotesque eyes. Desmond knew well the ways to disgrace these noble bloodlines. ¡°One of you. I¡¯ll specially spare the one who willingly strips his wife first.¡± The nobles trembled in fear and humiliation. However, as they clung to each other without moving, Desmond¡¯s face contorted. ng! The massive chain wrapped around his arms, emitting a heavy metallic sound, was released. The chain, with a snake-like pattern, sprawled across the lounge floor as if it were a monstrous creature. Each link was the size of an adult fist, with crescent-shaped iron spikes attached to both ends. The guests, barely able to catch their breath, stared at the gruesome spectacle of the flesh of the escorts scattered throughout the chain. ¡°Now, are you ready to grant my modest request¡­ huh?¡± What stopped Desmond¡¯s hand was a heavy footstep. A fierce gaze from glowing eyes fixed on the intruder. ¡°This is surprising.¡± ¡°The only surprising thing here is your ugly face.¡± Beneath the hood, the eyebrows of the concealed Hero twitched. Desmond¡¯s appearance was truly bizarre. Adorned with essories like bracelets and nes, his muscr and veiny body gave off an eerie glow. It seemed like the loot was taken from the guests in the lounge. The excessive opulence created a sense of alienation, making him look more like a demon than a human. ¡°My subordinates are not to be underestimated.¡± Desmond turned his entire body to face the warrior. His presence here meant that all his subordinates were dead. Yet, there was no sign of concern in Desmond¡¯s gaze. On the contrary, a sinister pleasure seemed to emerge in his ck eyes. ¡°I should thank you for thinning the ranks. Thanks to you, I¡¯ve be rich.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Why? Did you think I¡¯d be afraid of you?¡± He spoke each word as if chewing on it. ¡°I¡¯m different from my subordinates. It would be troublesome if you considered me easy just because you ughtered them.¡± His words were not entirely incorrect. ¨‹ Recorded Individual: ¡®Dropout¡¯ Desmond Lusser ¨C Former Rosenstark Battle Department student ¨C Expelled for being caught attempting to purchase forbidden items at the ¡®Kinesis¡¯ ck market ¡ø ¡®Dropout¡¯ Desmond Lusser. The depth of his abilities couldn¡¯t be precisely known, but he had honed his talents for more than a decade, enough to be admitted to Rosenstark. He was in the worst condition, with both his stamina and magical energy exhausted, so he was definitely not an opponent against whom the Hero could predict an easy victory. However, the Hero remained unfazed. Desmond, perhaps sensing this, scrutinized him more cautiously. ¡®Is he just bluffing?¡¯ Judging from appearances alone, it was hard to tell. Well, it didn¡¯t matter much. Regardless of how strong the opponent was, he had confidence in escaping with his own body intact. But soon, Desmond¡¯s casually observant eyes turned into ones filled with astonishment. Hisrge, round eye fixed on the warrior¡¯s hand. ¡°That¡¯s¡­!¡± A fist-sized stone was illuminating the darkness that had settled in the lounge. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a Congealstone.¡± A seemingly indifferent tone followed the situation. ¡°Let them go. Then I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 50 Chapter 50 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª It¡¯s authentic. While Desmond may have been nothing more than a criminal, his keen eye for recognizing valuables stood out, thanks to numerous experiences in theft and robbery. He knew what to look for to sell at a good price. ¡®No doubt about it.¡¯ The warmth that could gently warm the surroundings just by being brought out. The pure white light, unparalleled by any other ore, was a distinctive feature of the Congealstone that no other mineral could imitate. Desmond¡¯s eyes quickly filled with greed. ¡®With the payment received from the Demonic church and the loot from these nobles, adding this Congealstone¡­¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t have to divide the shares anymore since all my subordinates are already dead. ¡® Beyond thewless territory. Even after buying a massive fortress, there will still be some money left over. It was an opportunity to redeem his long-suffering life from the past. The Hero spoke again. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again. Let them go. Then I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s also the option of killing you and taking it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°well. If I run away like this, you¡¯ll be very disappointed, right?¡± Desmond thought for a moment and thenughed. ¡®It looks like you¡¯re nning on fighting me.¡¯ Okay, let¡¯s get to the tune of that idiot who wants to be a hero. He gestured to the dozen or so nobles behind him. ¡°Get out.¡± Either way, leaving this ce would lead to another confined space. Once he seized the Congealstone, he could just kill them all. ¡°Let¡¯s, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Darling, this way¡­¡± The hesitant nobles cautiously began to move, eyeing the surroundings. In truth, they didn¡¯t quite understand the situation at the moment. However, one thing was certain¡ªthey were in the midst of a man with a shabby appearance trying to save them. Exchanging a Congealstone that was won at the auction for a high cost, for the cost of their lives. ¡°¡­¡± Unable to express their gratitude out loud, they looked at the warrior with an indescribable gaze, and one by one, they started to leave. Desmond, who had been ring at them with a tilted head, shifted his gaze to the warrior as they departed. ¡°ce the Congealstone on the floor.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°From now on, every time one leaves, you take a step back.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The Heroplied willingly. ¡­ Eight. Five. Three. One. As the warrior moved farther away from the Congealstone, Desmond¡¯s smirk grew more pronounced. Finally, with only the two of them remaining in the lounge, Desmond slowly turned his attention forward, alert to any potential threats, and approached the Congealstone. ng- On his way, he didn¡¯t forget to magically lock the exittch. Meanwhile, the warrior remained motionless. Thunk! Desmond gazed at the Congealstone in his hand with a face full of joy. It was the key to changing his life. The moment felt like his heart would leap out of his throat. Rolling. Rolling. Something spherical rolled towards him. ¡°¡­?¡± It resembled the ¡®Mana Bomb¡¯ artifacts that he had personally distributed to his subordinates before entering the auction house. ¡°This guy-!¡± Desmond, wide-eyed, stared at the warrior. ¡®This madman!¡¯ Despite the spacious lounge, it was still an enclosed space. Once these Mana Bombs detonated, they would release hundreds of streams of magic in all directions, tearing everything nearby to shreds. Even if one bomb might not be noticeable, if several exploded simultaneously, no matter how skilled someone was, they wouldn¡¯t survive. ¡®Will this auction house copse as well?¡¯ Wasn¡¯t he trying to save people? Thunk! Desperately turning away to create distance from the bombs, something fell in front of him, tracing his trajectory. It was the ¡®Mining Mana Adhesive Bomb¡¯ that had been auctioned for around 300 gold. ¡°This bastard¡­¡± Kwaaaaaaaang! Light and noise swept through the lounge. In that fleeting moment, as magical shrapnel shot toward him, the warrior muttered, ¡°Dispel.¡± Bright light poured down over the magical fragments. ¡ª Five minutes before the auction house raid. ¡°Really¡­ an unbelievably miraculous stamina.¡± Ban mumbled unconsciously, grabbing his aching legs. They had just finished three hours of shopping and sightseeing. Fortunately, now they could find a roadside tavern to sit down. ¡®How does she do that?¡¯ His eyes, showing signs of fatigue, were still fixed on Evergreen, who seemed lively as ever. For some reason, she appeared to gain more energy as time passed. It was something Ban had never encountered before. ¡°Huh? What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­ but why did you buy so many gifts?¡± ¡°Oh, they¡¯re not gifts. They¡¯re things people asked me to buy for them.¡± Smiling cheerfully, Evergreen paused for a moment, lifting her shopping bags. ¡°Did I drag you around too much?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­¡± Ban replied, feeling a considerable sense of exhaustion, as if he had undergone intense training. He sighed, leaning back against the seat. Ande to think of it¡­ ¡®Why isn¡¯t Lukeining?¡¯ Initially, Luke kept muttering something, but he had been quite silent during thetter half of the shopping spree. Even now, he was just staring at his ss without saying a word. Ban wondered. Suddenly something caught his attention. Luke¡¯s eyes, which were always sharp, seemed strangely rxed as they were fixed on Evergreen. He closely followed her every move, and there was a certain depth of curiosity in his dark, enigmatic eyes. Fortunately, the person involved seemed to not notice it, as Evergreen continued to be blissfully unaware. Perhaps even the person themselves might not be aware that they are looking at Evergreen with such eyes. ¡®Well, they¡¯re young.¡¯ Thoughtful, Ban decided not to point it out. ¡°Cheers! Let¡¯s drink!¡± Evergreen¡¯s words were followed by the clinking of two beer sses and one whiskey ss. Luke had the whiskey. For some reason, despite rejecting the beer and ordering a solo drink, he sat there with a slightly wrinkled expression, asionally sipping the ss¡­ The only one smiling at unexpectedly increased sales was the cheerful owner of the refreshment stand. ¡®Ah, it¡¯s fine.¡¯ Ban turned his gaze towards the bustling street, filled with the fragrance of flowers, swaying amidst the lively crowd. ¡®When was thest time I had fun with friends like this?¡¯ It felt like it had been ages since he left secondary academy. It was truly an enjoyable day. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, there was no sign of anyone looking gloomy or sad. Ban, who had spent his childhood in a ce with exactly the opposite atmosphere, found joy in this space itself. ¡®¡­It¡¯s nice to have gotten a bit closer with the others.¡¯ If only every day could be like today. ¡®Quaaaang!¡¯ Ban felt like he had woken up from a dream as an unusual sound echoed. It was from the direction of the auction house. ¡°Whoa, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Explosion sound?¡± Evergreen, too, jumped up as if shocked. Even the passersby on the street were looking around with puzzled faces. ¡°Did you guys hear that just now?¡± ¡°Yeah, was it fireworks?¡± ¡°It¡¯s still daytime. Fireworks are usually at night, right?¡± ¡°Then what was it? It seemed toe from the auction house.¡± No one could have guessed that Desmond dropped a bomb from the sky, and, unfortunately, the main auction building, the epicentre of the explosion, was obscured by various tents and decorations and not clearly visible. However, the rising smoke was bing more noticeable, and themotion grew. ¡°Something seems to have happened!¡± ¡°Oh¡­ the VIPs are probably over there. What about their rescue?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. The security will handle it, I guess. Wanna go check it out?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go.¡± Most were just excited, curious eyes, but some were feeling something off and remained vignt. Theirmonality was their uniform¡ªstudents from Rosenstark. ¡°Just now¡­¡± The kids looked at each other as if they had made a silent agreement. Luke was the first to speak. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°This isn¡¯t an ident.¡± ¡°Huh¡­? Then what is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an attack.¡± Luke had already drawn his short sword, making a sharp sound. The surrounding merchants looked at him strangely due to the untimely noise. ¡°Oh my, what are those students doing something dangerous?¡± ¡°Hey, students, put away your weapons!¡± Regardless, Luke muttered curses under his breath. ¡°Damn, I only brought a backup weapon.¡± His primary weapon, the pike, had been sent for repairs after the recent outing where it got damaged. Regretfully, he had lightly armed himself, thinking there wouldn¡¯t be any trouble near the academy. ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Suddenly, Luke, now fully geared up with tightened armor straps, finished preparing for battle. Ban hastily questioned him, ¡°An attack? What do you mean? How do you know?¡± ¡°The explosion. It was a rather rare type of bomb.¡± He identified the type of explosion in that instant? Ban and Evergreen looked at him with skeptical expressions. ¡°¡­¡± However, they were aware of Luke¡¯s extensive experience as a mercenary. He might have made life-and-death judgments on the battlefield several times. They couldn¡¯t dismiss his words lightly. ¡°Ah! I don¡¯t know!¡± ¡°Hey, hey! Is this true!?¡± Evergreen strung her bow, and Ban unsheathed his sword in response. ¡°Oh my, guards! Come and see here!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with those guys? Professors were there a moment ago; shouldn¡¯t they report this?¡± ¡°Sorry!!!¡± The kids quickly left the scene. Behind a rtively deserted booth, Ban lowered his voice and whispered, ¡°S-so, someone attacked the auction house? But the professors were there¡­.¡± ¡°Yeah. The auction house should be fine.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Understanding Luke¡¯s implication, Ban and Evergreen fell silent. The attack was directed at the auction house. The reason wasn¡¯t clear, but it likely had to do with the valuable items present there. However, that didn¡¯t guarantee the safety of the central hub where they were. In this vicinity, there were plenty of targets for plunder. A chilly silence pervaded the surroundings. Ban was contemting whether to evacuate unarmed civilians first when suddenly, a sharp, metallic sound echoed. Whirrrrrr¡ª! Unexpectedly, a projectile was hurtling through the air right behind Evergreen. A metal object with a clinking sound¡­ an axe? ¡°Evergreen!¡± Without much thought, Ban drew his sword, but the angle of the attack was not something he could easily fend off. His expression twisted in concern. Fortunately, Luke, reacting to the boy¡¯s shout, threw himself forward. ng! Managing to defend against the attack in an unstable posture, Luke staggered a few steps backward. The de of his short sword was trembling, as if on the verge of breaking. ¡°Luke!¡± Evergreen rushed to support him. Blood trickled from the torn hilt. Simultaneously, a cold rage flickered in Luke¡¯s eyes. ¡°What, what¡¯s going on!? Are you okay?¡± ¡°Look ahead! Never take your eyes off the front!¡± ¡°Uh, okay. Got it.¡± Whirrrrrr¡ª Chin! The thrown axe rebounded into the air, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. Beyond the stacked boxes rose high, behind which¡­ The children¡¯s gaze naturally followed the source of the sound. Behind a tall stack of boxes, a shadowy figure gripped a handle menacingly. Soon, a gruff voice filled with gravelly tones reached their ears. ¡°Ergh, damn it, so annoying. I need to get this over with quickly,¡± muttered a man in an iprehensible manner,ining about something. Rumbling sounds echoed¡ªmes erupted from the street the children had just left. It wasn¡¯t a small fire. Despite the bright daylight, the sudden ze illuminated their surroundings. Unusual heat and smoke enveloped the area, and screams and shouts echoed in all directions. ¡°Kyaaaah!¡± ¡°What, what is it!? Fire!¡± ¡°Who, who is it! Who¡¯s wielding a sword!¡± ¡°Guards! Guards! Over there! Be careful!¡± ¡°It¡¯s an attack!¡± Too much happened in the blink of an eye. Luke sharply rebuked his fellowrades who were standing there with a bewildered expression. ¡°Get a grip. Make a wrong move, and you¡¯ll die.¡± ¡°No, even if you don¡¯t make a wrong move, you¡¯ll die. All of you.¡± The assant revealed themselves behind the boxes. Nokish eyes gleamed between messy blond hair, and in an instant, the figure¡¯s foot dug into the ground. St! Evading Evergreen¡¯s arrow effortlessly, the assant rapidly closed the distance. Flipping their body, they swung two axes simultaneously. Tricky trajectories that required a quick response. Ban and Luke, concentrating intensely, managed to fend them off. ¡°Argh!¡± Luke sessfully parried the iing axes with his shortsword in a narrow escape. However, Ban, with the manifestation of his ¡°symptoms,¡± couldn¡¯t exert full strength. He was sent flying. The assant chuckled and swung the two axes again towards Luke. Since their targets were different, the short sword couldn¡¯t effectively counter the dual attacks. Luke rolled backward, avoiding the strikes. Thud, thud! Over the mud-caked ground, beyond tangled hair, the grinning assant came into view. ¡®This guy.¡¯ Fast and powerful, the adversary was formidable. However, there was a moment ofcency, as if looking at a child, that infuriated Luke. ¡®Damn it.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t just anger at being underestimated; there was a deeper self-loathing. Luke understood the nature of this emotion well¡ªself-disgust. Even if he had entrusted his primary weapon for repairs, he should have at least carried an alternative. Have you forgotten your fundamentals just because you got into trouble with kids your age at the academy for a few months? There was nothing to say even if he died right now. The disdain for himself was palpable. What would the Mercenary King say if he witnessed this? What about his subordinates who died by his hands? Even after personally breaking their skulls, he couldn¡¯t shake off this foolishness! ¡®I can¡¯t be eaten alive by a problem like this. This is nothing.¡¯ With the shortsword reversed, Luke lowered his stance. Hisbat style strictly followed the instincts: ferocity and ruthlessness were essential. He needed to disy a savage resolve, biting into the opponent¡¯s vulnerability to protect his territory. ¡°Ha, this brat sure knows how to fight for his life.¡± With the changed momentum, the assant also hardened his expression. Thunk! Luke¡¯s calf swelled as if it would burst, and his body instantly plunged into the arms of the assant. The explosive movement shook the assant¡¯s pupils. ng! Responding to this, an axe swung from top to bottom. Luke managed to deflect it with his shortsword, even though it was impossible topletely dodge due to the thin de. It made a slicing sound as the axe passed over Luke¡¯s forehead, leaving a gash and blood flowing freely. Yet, with his eyes wide open, Luke focused on the remaining path of the other axe. Horizontal swing! Pretending to make a mistake, Luke presented his chest to the axe¡¯s trajectory. ¡°Hahaha, die!¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± ¡°What the¡­!?¡± The assant was bewildered. He naturally thought this kid wouldn¡¯t read the attack. Swoosh! Thud¨C Just as the axe rebounded, Luke swiftly rotated his body, guiding the axe toward the assant¡¯s square. Thunk! Deeply piercing like a stab, Luke¡¯s shortsword found its way. The reversed grip allowed for an angle that could strike even in the unstable posture during the rotation. Subsequently, spinning like a top, he carved a mark on the back of the femur with the hilt. The shortsword plunged deep into the groin. Thanks to the reversed grip, even in the unstable posture during the rotation, it was possible to stab at an angle. Continuing the spin like a spinning top, Luke left a mark on the back of the femur. The pace of the attacks was extremely fast and dazzling. ¡°Aargh!¡± Unable to endure, the assant dropped to one knee, still swinging the axe in an X shape towards Luke. If he had let his guard down, he would have been hit. However, the boy was no longer there. Suddenly, the sensation was felt again directly in front. At the same time, excruciating pain surged from the armpit. ¡°AAAGHHH!¡± The shortsword pierced through the left armpit, prating the shoulder entirely. While still on one knee, the howling assant¡¯s neck was twisted by Luke. The boy¡¯s mouth rose vertically. ¡°This is your reward for daring to underestimate me, Luke Selsood!¡± Evergreen, who had been marvelling at the incredibly fast and precise attacks, felt a bit embarrassed at Luke¡¯s self-assured remark. However, before they could rejoice in their victory¡­. ¡°¡­!¡± A sense of impending danger filled the air, and the children quickly turned around. There were numerous approaching figures. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 51 Chapter 51 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Luke red behind him with a stern expression. ¡®¡­ Should I use that?¡¯ No way. As long as there were ssmates next to him, it was impossible. He had no choice but to fight. ¡°Hehehe, it¡¯s so funny. I came because he didn¡¯te, and I saw something ridiculous.¡± ¡°Damn, what is this? What am I seeing right now? Did that idiot get his balls kicked by a kid?¡± Two sturdy assants approached with fierce expressions. Faces covered with wrinkles and rough beards. Twisted lips trembled with anger. ¡°This son of a bitch. Your balls will spin like that, too, so wait for it.¡± Luke pulled out a short sword from the corpse for the time being. When ites to trash talk, he won¡¯t lose. ¡°Your friend also kicked the bucket just by talking big. You guys should stick together and die.¡± ¡°Haha, guys. Let¡¯s start by pulling out that tongue of his.¡± ¡­He provocatively taunted them, but the situation wasn¡¯t actually good. It would be different if there was a numerical advantage. It¡¯s difficult to deal with both of them at the same time with just a short sword. Moreover, the current location was a narrow alley with many obstacles. It was a challenging condition even for Evergreen, the archer, to act effectively. He couldn¡¯t do anything just now because the angle of attack wasn¡¯t favourable. ¡®Those guys must have seen their friend in trouble, so they won¡¯t let their guard down.¡¯ Thinking up to that point, Luke suddenly shook his head with a determined expression. So what¡¯s the n? The situation has already unfolded. Comining won¡¯t change anything. A life spent as a mercenary since childhood. It was when Luke was about to rush in first to capture his heart. ¡°Ha, you can do it, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know! You should try it first!¡± Ban and Evergreen were buzzing in the back. For an instant, Luke and the assant¡¯s attention was focused on that ce. Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! ¡­ And as if in response, a huge amount of magical energy surged from Ban¡¯s body. Born as the eldest son of a master swordsman, he received various education from a very young age and devoted himself to mana training. Because of the trauma, he couldn¡¯t swing a sword, but if you just look at his mana capacity, it was more than Luke and Evergreenbined. The majestic mana vibrated violently and enveloped Ban¡¯s sturdy upper body. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯ll do my best!¡± Evergreen¡¯s expression next to him was also tinged with unusual determination. For some unknown reason, the assants attacked with evil intent. ¡°Damn it, get him!¡± ¡°Kill him!¡± And then¡­ Evergreen, holding a bow in her hand, leaped into the air. Her slender body soared about 2 to 3 meters and then descended. A seemingly purposeless jumping in ce. It was at that moment that Ban¡¯s palm precisely reached hernding point. ¡°Ah.¡± The moment Evergreen¡¯s foot touched Ban¡¯s hand. Everyone in that ce understood their intention. Ban¡¯s hand lifted the girl¡¯s petite body as it was. ¡°Go, Evergreen! Fly!¡± ¡°Hueeaaaaa!!¡± Evergreen flew out like a projectile from a sling. Golden hair fluttering wildly. In the blink of an eye, shended on a tall and sturdy pole set up to support various canopies. ¡®Crazy¡­.¡¯ Luke stared nkly at that absurd leap. On that narrow foothold. Evergreen, who skillfully centered herself, confidently raised her bow. In this ce, unlimited sniping was possible. ¡°It¡¯s a good ce to shoot arrows.¡± Absurd. But it was an appropriate strategy. ¡°I¡¯ll y the role of a meat shield or something.¡± Havingpleted his tasks, Ban quietly approached Luke and stood next to him, his determined expression being observed silently by Luke. ¡°Sure, go ahead,¡± Luke chuckled heartily. The boy, who had been giggling a moment ago, soon picked up the hand axe from the ground. The ce where the gleaming de pointed was filled with assants, frozen in surprise due to a series of extraordinary events. ¡°Alright, no need to rush. We should go see our friend,¡± Luke said. If the Hero had witnessed it, he would have been impressed by the party y that evoked admiration and praised them. * * * The auction house, where the chaos had subsided, fell silent. Desmond¡¯s painful moans only rang out intermittently. There were only two reasons why his life was barely hanging on. First, his beloved chainmail. Just before the explosion, Desmond tightly wrapped himself in the chainmail to minimize the damage. As a high-grade artifact, the chainmail with excellent hardness absorbed a considerable amount of shock. Second, an early dispel. Even for a Hero with the Iris of Lace capable of scrutinizing all existing magical forms, it was challenging to time the dispel so that only Desmond was the one who suffered damage. Thanks to this, some bombs were neutralized before detonation. He survived. But he wasn¡¯t unscathed. A bomb was still a bomb. No matter how protected by artifacts and magical powers, the destructive force was too much for the human body to endure. However¡­ However! What is that? Beyond the dimly flickering vision, there was a silhouette approaching him. Desmond, now reduced to a rag, stared at him like he was witnessing a monster. He couldn¡¯tprehend it at all. This was beyond belief. ¡°Wha, how¡­?¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª But after the smoke and dust cleared, as Desmond confirmed the face of the man who had thrown off his mask, he understood the absurd situation. A trembling voice followed, ¡°Ted¡­ Redymer.¡± Silence followed. ¡°Ted Redymer!!!¡± Why was he here? Desmond, who had spent a long time in captivity, was unaware that the Hero had be a professor at Rosenstark. Even if he knew, he wouldn¡¯t have imagined that he would be here today. The Hero replied, sounding a bit weary, ¡°You recognize me.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way I wouldn¡¯t!¡± Desmond replied, feeling a strange sense of humiliation. There was no way not to recognize him. The boy who shone brilliantly throughout their time at the academy. The boy who made Desmond realize that his own talents were nothing. ¡°Do you remember me?¡± Ted asked. ¡°To some extent,¡± Desmond replied. ¡°Haha, hahaha.¡± The boundary between reality and the past became blurred. The appearance of the Hero seemed to transport Desmond back a decade or so. Desmond admired him, envied him, and sometimes felt jealous, just like any other ssmate. The crucial differencey in how Desmond¡¯splex feelings manifested into a twisted desire. Desmond wanted to savor the process of corruption like a fine wine. ¡°Yes, you might be wondering how a ssmate you studied with ended up like this. The reason I fell into corruption¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to know about that.¡± ¡°What?¡± The Hero, or rather the ¡®doppelganger,¡¯ raised a partially shattered spear. ¡°Wait a moment!¡± From the perspective of the Hero, or the ¡®doppelganger,¡¯ Desmond seemed a pitiful and pathetic existence. He was born as a human, blessed with enough talent to be admitted to Rosenstark, with the potential to enjoy many things. He began this life holding what he once sacrificed his life for, wanting to obtain things he desired even if he had to start by sacrificing himself. Well, maybe he was a bit unfortunate. He was well aware, through the life of the man he admired, that there was no equality between misfortune and wrongdoing. ¡°Are you going to kill me?¡± Desmond asked, trembling. He had lived his entire life strictly following the logic of the survival of the fittest. Faced with an overwhelmingly strong opponent, he couldn¡¯t even think of resisting. Seeing his pitiful state, the Hero shook his head. ¡°I¡¯d rather I were dead.¡± He won¡¯t kill him. This assault had many unclear corners in various ways. He intended to send Desmond to the imperial pce to uncover its intricacies. From there, the loyal torture specialists of Euphemia would take over. ¡°What¡­ cough!¡± The Hero hit Desmond on the back of the neck with his spear, knocking him unconscious, and then began cutting the muscles in his limbs one by one. However, the Hero, who had confidently been cutting through the muscle tendons, was taken aback. ¡®¡­A scar?¡¯ There was already a mark on the severed vein. Nevertheless, the man moved energetically. In other words, someone had reattached the once-cut veins. ¡°¡­¡± The question was put on hold for a moment. The Hero kicked the limp Desmond and exited the now-ruined lounge. Many eyes were fixed on him. No one here was unaware of his identity. ¡°Detain the prisoner.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll soon send people to rescue him, so wait in a ce with low copse risk.¡± The Hero spoke while putting the unconscious Desmond down. No one dared to approach him. They just watched, each with a mix of awe and curiosity. ¡°¡­¡± The Hero nced at them before turning away. He had saved those he could see and reach. That was enough. It wasn¡¯t an action driven by any particr expectation. Now it was time to go see his students. As he was about to leap through the hole in the ceiling, someone gently pulled the hem of his garment. ¡°Excuse me, Hero!¡± There stood Rachel. The people were greatly stirred by the courage of the young merchant. However, she, blushing, courteously sped her hands and bowed deeply at the waist. ¡°Thank you so much!¡± Then she replied with a bright radiant smile. ¡°Someday, I¡¯ll definitely repay this favor!¡± With a deeply bowed waist and that innocent smile, the Hero watched her without saying anything and swiftly left. ¡°Hehe¡­.¡± Rachel was more than satisfied. The faint smile on the Hero¡¯s lips, drawn in a slight arc, made her day. Rachel followed the Hero, standing beneath the hole in the ceiling. As if the recent crisis was a lie, the bright sunlight of a spring day was pouring in. * * * Fortunately, there was minimal damage outside the auction house amid the unfortunate events. The quick response of some students who were outside the venue yed a significant role. They efficiently evacuated civilians, coborated seamlessly with security forces and other students, and sessfully surrounded the attackers. As a result, the assants failed to escape, and the fierce resistance culminated in the Hero suppressing the chaos in the auction house. The sky was filled with a circr band of light ¨C red, blue, white, and yellow, a vivid spectrum that defies easy description ¨C as it crushed the bodies of thoseden with sins. Everyone froze at the Hero¡¯s entrance. ¡°Professor! Wow! That was scary!¡± ¡°P-Professor, I¡¯m relieved that you¡¯re unharmed.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you for your hard work.¡± Only the three children ran towards him. The Hero silently observed the chaotic scene and then said, ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± His words made everyone realize that the situation hade to an end. The Hero called for a carriage to take them back to the academy and left the bustling scene for post-processing. At that moment, a girl with prominent freckles, startled, eximed, ¡°Oh no, my shopping bag! What if someone took it!¡± With a muffledugh, the boys who had returned with several shopping bags watched her run towards the street like a startled fawn. Soon, they couldn¡¯t contain theirughter. The chaotic events that had unfolded outside the academy seemed to being to a close. * * * Before the academy could send a carriage for them, they had already climbed onto another carriage. The VIPs grateful for the Hero¡¯s kindness were eager to support them and provided a carriage. Choosing the most spacious andfortable one, the Hero took the children aboard. ¡°Umm.¡± Seated side by side, the children gathered around as if they had made a promise. They rested their heads against the window or on each other¡¯s shoulders, falling into a deep sleep. A gentle evening breeze rustled through their different-colored hair. ¡°¡­¡± The Hero continued to watch them. The once-fatigued, antagonistic eyes now showed a faint sense of relief, and finally, the tension melted away. ¡°Ah.¡± Sighing, he leaned his head against the backrest. Although his body didn¡¯t require sleep, fatigue was palpable both in his physique and mind. He recalled the dimly lit lounge, the people he couldn¡¯t protect even though they were within sight and reach. Then, the image of the children running towards him reyed in his mind. What if the situation had been a bit worse? His eyes, once sinking, suddenly sparkled with vitality. It seemed like he understood why the ¡®Original¡¯, despite having tremendous skills, always fixated on bing stronger. During the moment when the Hero¡¯s face contorted fiercely, a soft sensation was felt on his knee. It was a wolf doll. Evergreen had awakened, cheerfully presenting it to him, mentioning how he forgot to give it earlier, knowing that he liked wolves. The Hero couldn¡¯t resist and chuckled at the unexpected gift. Evergreen, ted by the rare event, widened her eyes and burst intoughter. Being a mentor seemed to be quite challenging, especially when faced with such a mismatched gift that couldn¡¯t be refused. The Hero enjoyed the plush texture a few more times before cing the doll in the folds of his cloak. ¨‹ Understanding of Ban Dietrich deepened. Understanding Level: 21/100 -> 22/100 Understanding of Evergreen Solintail deepened. Understanding Level: 13/100 -> 14/100 Understanding of Luke Selsood deepened. Understanding Level: 5/100 -> 6/100 ¡ø HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 52 Chapter 52 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Thud! Yussi put down the report. The smoke on the desk was instantly disturbed by those hand movements that could not be described as gentle even with empty words. The ¡°Glendor Special Awakening Incense¡± was piled up on the ashtray. ¡°Ha¡­¡± The report covered the extent of property loss and casualties¡ªendless situations filled the white paper with distressing news. The silver lining was the minimal fatalities, considering the attack by powerful criminals of red and green grades. And among them, not a single student was harmed. ¡®If it weren¡¯t for the Hero¡­¡¯ It would have been a real disaster. The attackers chose an unbelievably opportune moment. It was just as the afternoon session of the exhibition wasing to an end. Most professors and senior students who had ventured outside were returning to the academy, leaving the security forces vulnerable. ¡®He said he caught Desmond himself.¡¯ Unable to provide any assistance, it seemed she was always on the receiving end. Yussi sighed irritably, looking at the estimated amount of losses. Nevertheless, there was another pressing concern. ¡°What about Father¡­ what should I do?¡± Though not officially, the auction had Glendor¡¯s name attached to it. Her father, Dewes Glendor, the Head of Glendor and owner of Glendor merchants, would certainly not overlook this failure. The impact on her position within the auction was inevitable. ¡°Ugh, Merian is really going to enjoy seeing me in a bind now.¡± Yussi¡¯s face, contemting the image of Merian, herpeting sister, became even more grim. The answer was clear. ¡°¡­I need to quickly find a way to strengthen our influence.¡± ¡°I apologize, Miss.¡± The old butler lowered his head as if acknowledging the gravity of the situation. Yussi, thinking about the uing challenges, replied, ¡°No need to apologize. You¡¯ve returned alive; that¡¯s enough.¡± Yeah, the old butler seems unaffected by this situation somehow. Chirp! Yussi sighed and pulled out a new Awakening Incense. Her sharp eyes were now focused on another document, a detailed report of the entire incident. The Hero had separatelypiled it. ¡°¡­Demonic Church.¡± It was evident that the Demonic Church was involved in this incident. The escaped Stagnum prisoners had caused this attack, and the problem was the process. ¡°This attack, with so many uncertainties¡­ How did they manage to travel from the northern edge of the continent to Stagnum in just three days?¡± Considering the tight surveince and checkpoints everywhere, it didn¡¯t make sense. ¡°And how did they recover so quickly?¡± Prisoners were supposed to be severely incapacitated. Stagnum typically took drastic measures based on the severity of the crime, including severing limb veins, adding various prohibitions, or even more. ¡°But ¡®Desmond and his gang¡¯, who should be weakened, managed to kill people recklessly.¡± It didn¡¯t make sense logically. ¡°A strange sense of difort and frustration¡­ Like wandering through the fog of ambiguity.¡± ¡°Yeah, if those guys are involved, it¡¯s not surprising that things don¡¯t make sense.¡± Those guys had developed various peculiar abilities through forbidden experiments, using them without hesitation for their misdeeds. ¡°First, one leg, and one arm.¡± ¡°Strip the skin, sprinkle salt on the flesh, grind the bones to powder¡­.¡± Yussi reminisced the vividly chaotic melody while massaging her sore limbs. ¡°Well, I thought he had trampled on thempletely.¡± Five years ago, the Hero had stormed their main base, tearing apart the former Church Leader. While the Emperor¡¯s punitive decree yed a role, it was also because Yussi had been captured as a prisoner. She vividly remembered the rage-fueled thorough destruction he had wrought upon them. That¡¯s why she was confident that they would never rise again. However, they resurfaced, engaging in audacious actions like this. Yussi tilted her head in confusion. ¡°But what for?¡± Suchrge-scale mischief inevitably came with risks. The individuals who had once shaken the entire organization wouldn¡¯t be unaware of it. Why would they do something like this? The purpose behind it was crucial. Yussi needed to find out. ¡®Oh, I guess I¡¯m not sleeping at all.¡¯ Yussi gulped down two Awakening drinks at once. [PR/N: This should be something different that the potion Pia is working on, maybe a coffee? Since it¡¯s called awakening¡­ ?? maybe a pun] It seemed like she needed to uncover the reasons before she could fall asleep. ¡­ Thump! Around the same time, the Hero stealthily left. After running for a while, he arrived at a secluded mountain area and surveyed his surroundings. ¡°Here it is.¡± In front of an abandoned warehouse deep in the forest, a wolf statue was ced in a carefully dug pit. ¡­ Wolf statue. Despite being covered with high-level concealment magic, it emitted a subtle magical aura, indicating its dangerous nature. Naturally, he couldn¡¯t bring it inside the academy. ¡®It would be caught in the inspection.¡¯ So, he asked for the children¡¯s understanding on his way back and stopped by a nearby mountain. ¡­Although they misunderstood and thought he urgently needed the bathroom, there was no other choice. After making the necessary preparations, he emerged from the academy again to unravel the secrets of the statue. ¡®The location is just right.¡¯ HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª It had been untouched by humans for at least several years, and it was a ce where there would be no consequences no matter what happened. ¡®Preparations areplete.¡¯ To dilute the magic that would burst out when the concealment was dispelled, various purification devices were strategically ced nearby. ¡­ I ced the wolf statue on the floor of the warehouse and stared at it. It was an item closely rted to the ¡°Exhibition Assault Incident,¡± and its identity needed to be uncovered. I raised my magical power. ¡°Dispel.¡± A white light shot out from the magic circle that appeared in the air, striking the wolf statue. ¡­The change was immediate. I instinctively covered my ears. Aooooo-! A creepy wolf howl echoed through the chilly night air, as if a living wolf were howling right in front of me. Passt! The purification stones scattered around turned ck and disintegrated into powder. I realized that the wolf¡¯s mouth was gradually opening wider. No, not just wider¡­ it was growing. ¡­ The howling ceased after viting thews of physics for a while. A strange sound prated my ears. ¡°¡­Mechanical devices?¡± The interior of the wolf¡¯s mouth wasposed of highly sophisticated mechanical devices. It felt like observing a piece of art with meticulously craftedponents moving and interlocking throughout the ceiling, floor, and walls. I gazed at the peculiar symbols engraved directly in front of me. The Iris of Lace deciphered them. ¨‹ A dangerous treasure left by an ominous adversary is here. ¡ø ¡­Treasure? Perhaps some kind of treasure chest. Since the Iris of Lace detected no immediate threat, I cautiously entered the wolf¡¯s mouth. ¡°Alright, time to search.¡± After that, I meticulously examined the surroundings. Thud! It didn¡¯t take long to realize that this small space was constructed with a dualyer. There was something beyond the wall. However, I couldn¡¯t figure out an immediate way to cross over. ¡°It seems like I need to manipte this device.¡± Conveniently, there was a device with multiple buttons ced at the center. However,cking any further clues, I couldn¡¯t afford to tamper with it recklessly. I pondered on how to operate it and what might be inside the dual space, but there were no more hints. ¡°¡­¡± It was at that moment when I was observing the smoothly moving metalponents. ¡°!¡± Thump! I tumbled to the ground, staring at the tightly closed wolf¡¯s mouth. It was a narrow escape. My heart btedly pounded. ¡°A cunning trap. I¡¯ll have to be more vignt.¡± Thud! The wolf statue returned to its original size. ¡°It seems to be a trap that activates after a certain period without any maniption.¡± It appeared to be the type of trap that activates automatically after a set amount of time without any direct maniption. Under the moonlight, I carefully picked up the statue emitting a mysterious glow. Strangely, it was no longer producing any magical energy. ¡°If I forcibly dismantle the device¡­¡± I had a premonition that I might never get a chance to explore the inside if I attempted to tamper with the device. It seemed foolish to risk it when there might be something valuable inside. I needed a mechanical expert. ¡°First, I should inquire more about this. If that doesn¡¯t work, I might have to go and look for the dwarves.¡± I took the wolf statue once again. Although the statue now seemed entirely ordinary without any magical effects, upon closer inspection, faint clicking sounds of mechanicalponents were audible. Unexpectedly, ament popped up right in front of me. It urred to me that I had neglected to checkments due to the chaos of the situation. ¡°Oh.¡± I checked the backlog ofments. ¨‹ Remnants are soldered. A small spark flew. The firewood has slightly dried. ¡ø ¡°It seems to be rted to progress¡­¡± Forge, firewood, me. The forge boosts individual strength. Firewood signifies the growth or addition of allies. The me represents the restoration of what humans have lost to magical beings. ¡°I understand roughly why thements have been updated, but¡­¡± ¡°One small adjective is really annoying.¡± Small¡­ Subtle¡­ Well, whatever. ¡°The appropriate reward has been given.¡± ¨‹ Changes detected in user¡¯s racial ability: ¡®Evolution Polymorph¡¯ The ¡®Upscale¡¯ option has been unlocked. The status of the duplicated abilities has been elevated. The extent of the rise and its limits are proportional to the user¡¯s achievements. With training, the abilities can be further enhanced. There have been some changes in the ¡®Polymorph¡¯ ability, different from before. ¡ø HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 53 Chapter 53 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª I checked thements again in my lodging. ¡°Upscale, huh?¡± There were manyplex terms like grade or rise, but to put it simply, this is it. ¨‹ Reaching the level where the ¡®Original¡¯ had reached through Polymorph. ¡ø I can pioneer beyond that. Recently, I¡¯ve only been duplicating the Hero, but in reality, there are over dozens of subjects I can Polymorph. For example, there¡¯s Buck, the thief I duplicated to infiltrate the Opening Ceremony. Of course, there are many others. Artists. Mercenaries. Gamblers. Merchants. diators. Martial artists. Bards. Retired knights, and so on. In the past, I travelled around the entire continent, meeting various individuals and building friendships. Unfortunately, sinceing to Rosenstark, I rarely used their abilities. ¡®They were all too mediocre.¡¯ What use would there be in having the pickpocketing and lockpicking skills of a third-rate thief or the stealth techniques? But the recent change has transformed abilities I hadn¡¯t found useful before into something valuable. ¡®It seems I can surpass even the originals.¡¯ From Buck¡¯s thievery to the gambler¡¯s sleight of hand. From thebat tactics of mercenaries and diators to the painting techniques of artists. All of them effortlessly surpassed the level of their original counterparts. ¡®Now, I might as well be a renowned thief.¡¯ The abilities that were previously deemed useless have now be valuable. The abilities I can duplicate from the kids have also be stronger. A variety of decent talents have emerged. Moreover, they can be further developed through training, so it¡¯s worth looking forward to. I cleared thements while thinking about how to utilize the new abilities. There was a bit of regret. ¡®It would have been great if the Salvation Form had been unlocked further.¡¯ During the Expo Assault, if I could use Nova, the situation would have been significantly different. We could have subdued Desmond and his subordinates without creating casualties. ¡®Most weaknesses in great swordsmanship can be resolved through speed.¡¯ Wrapped in a radiant light, I recalled the ¡®Original¡¯s¡¯ appearance that moved like a sh of light when Nova was activated. Even in normal times, he was incredibly powerful, but when Nova was activated, he truly seemed like a ¡®war god.¡¯ Of course, Halo, which allows free adjustment of the shape and attributes of the sword and can amplify its power, is also an excellent technique. But that was only the 1st form. As you reach the end with the 6th form, the Salvation Form exponentially amplifies the caster¡¯sbat power. Just opening the 2nd form would easily allow me to handle intermediate-level demons. ¡®Certainly, teaching the kids well is the shortcut.¡¯ At the moment, raising the progress of ¡®firewood¡¯ was the most realistic method. I remembered the practical training scheduled for around the end of the semester. There was a high-level experiential learningbining interpersonal battles and demon subjugation. It seemed like a good idea to move it up to next week. It wasn¡¯t just because of Nova. There was no guarantee that a simr assault would not happen again, and the kids needed more practice in interpersonal battles. I tore up the existing lesson n that was on one side of the desk. It seemed like I heard Pia¡¯s scream from afar, but there was no other choice. * * * The on-call doctor, Minerva, grinned at her children who were looking at her. ¡°It¡¯s done! It will healpletely tomorrow. Still, apply the prescribed ointment carefully. Because it could be disastrous.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really care if I have a scar. There are still a lot of them anyway.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Luke is amazing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing special.¡± Luke retorted toughly to the healer¡¯s words, turned around, and left the infirmary. Evergreen and Ban followed him, looking worriedly at the boy with bandages wrapped around here and there. The time when the extremely thorough treatment waspleted was midnight. The corridor was silent. Luke, heading towards the dormitory, suddenly muttered, ¡°Ah, if I go back, I¡¯ll definitely be tormented.¡± The Expo Assault incident heated up Rosenstark after just half a day. It had been several years since an attack urred nearby. Some students who were at the scene were excitedly chatting and spreading distorted stories, and soon, everyone heard about it. ¨C What¡¯s this expo incident all about? ©¸ It¡¯s an auction, but who would have expected an assault¡­ Seeing Halo wielded by the hero directly is the pride of my life. ©¸ Did you really see it? ©¸ Yeah. ©¸ How was it? ©¸ It was weird, not like a sword technique. It felt like watching a rare natural phenomenon like a sr or lunar eclipse. ¨C But why is everyone so calm? Isn¡¯t the academy in danger at this rate? ©¸ Forget about that. They say the hero cut down 100 people with a single swing of his sword. Is that true? ©¸ Just counting what I saw directly, there were 3,000. Seriously. ©¸ Ted Redymer! Ted Redymer! Ted Redymer! Ted Redymer! Ted Redymer! Ted Redymer! Ted Redymer! ©¸ Ugh¡­ I¡¯ll ask those who went to the expo properly ande back. Especially when the story reached Connectors, the rumors began to inte frighteningly. Extreme motivated students were even wandering in front of the hospital. If the healer hadn¡¯t chased them away, they might have been tormented even now. Probably, if he went back to the dormitory, he would attract a lot of attention. Thinking that not-so-close friends would stick to him, Luke involuntarily frowned. ¡°Should¡¯ve just been hospitalized.¡± However, Evergreen¡¯s reaction was quite different. ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s probably true. The kids must have been very worried.¡± ¡°Worried about what? It¡¯s just cheap curiosity.¡± ¡°Ahaha¡­ Don¡¯t get too worked up.¡± Evergreen made an awkward expression in response to the aggressive tone. Luke, who seemed like he wanted to say more, closed his mouth and stepped forward again. ¡°Let¡¯s go quickly. I¡¯m tired.¡± After a while, they realized that one set of footsteps that had been walking together had stopped. Evergreen turned around, and Ban, who had been following behind, had veered off to one side. ¡°Ban? What are you doing there?¡± ¡°Oh, can you two go in first? I want to walk a bit.¡± ¡°Huh? Right now? It¡¯s curfew time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just be inside the dormitory. Don¡¯t worry, go ahead.¡± Luke, with a puzzled face, grabbed Evergreen¡¯s wrist and pulled her along. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside.¡± ¡°Ah, yeah! Ban,e in safely too!¡± Before turning around, Luke¡¯s dark eyes lingered on Ban¡¯s face for a moment. When Ban avoided eye contact, Luke also soon averted his gaze. ¡°¡­.¡± That¡¯s how the ssmates drifted apart. Ban, finally lifting his forcibly drooping tail, sighed. Fortunately, there was no one around. He pressed his hot forehead against the wall, as if in self-pity. Luke was injured. It wasn¡¯t a serious injury, but his skin was torn, and bruises covered his whole body. The image of him fighting with blood streaming down his forehead was still vivid. Evergreen was the same. Although she didn¡¯t show it, she clearly had injuries all over her body. When she thought no one was watching, she didn¡¯t straighten her expression and didn¡¯t hold her shoulders up. Perhaps she had pulled the strong bowstring of her resilient bow too many times. She had seen her taking several pain relief and anti-inmmatory potions in the infirmary earlier. Ban felt a heavy and stuffy pain in his chest. ¡®Assants.¡¯ Yes. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª That¡¯s right. They were surprisingly brutal, showing no hesitation in killing people. Naturally, it was frightening and unsettling. A noble-born person like him had never encountered such kind of individuals. ¡®¡­But they weren¡¯t that strong.¡¯ Even the first assant wielding an axe was like that. Although the attacks mixed various oddities, to him, following Dietrich¡¯s progress, it was just predictable movements. With Luke by his side, they could have easily subdued them. If he had wielded the sword properly, that¡¯s how it would have turned out. Of course, he wasn¡¯t standing there stupidly without any awareness. He kept running until his mana was depleted. He kept running until the taste of blood filled his mouth, and there was not even a whiff of mana left. Each time, he sent Evergreen flying and took the lead in helping civilians evacuate. However, these facts didn¡¯t alleviate the boy¡¯s self-reproach even a little. Thud! Ban left the corridor and started to walk. Then, he began to run. His eyes were fixed on the floor. No sense of direction. ¡°Huuk, huuk.¡± The panting, which started because he wanted to clear his cluttered mind even a little, didn¡¯t stop for a long time. At some point, Ban felt the grains of sand rustling beneath his feet. He had always been training by running. It was like a habit that hade out without him realizing it while running aimlessly. ¡®¡­?¡¯ But something was odd. It was now close to early morning. Everyone should be focusing on rest rather than training. ¡®Besides, it¡¯s curfew time¡­.¡¯ However, he felt a sign. So Ban lifted his head that had been constantly looking down. Under the pale moonlight, A bright me was blossoming. ¡°¡­Leciel?¡± Ban, forgetting the torment that had filled his mind just moments ago, followed Leciel¡¯s sword with his eyes. Her deep red hair formed gentle waves in the chilly air, and the vast space seemed to be filled with just her presence. Swoosh-! A sharp and elongated sound cut through the air near his ears. Her chillingly elegant sword cleaved through the air, leaving no sound as it swiftly cut through space. The boy, watching the trajectory, gradually opened his mouth. What kind of swordsmanship was that? Short sword? Long sword? Greatsword? Leciel¡¯s sword, no matter what adjective was used, felt ambiguous, making it hard to ssify. It was a Sword of Hiyashin. ¡®They may unfold dozens of swordsmanship techniques, but their opponents can only see one.¡¯ It was a famous favorite of the former Sword Saint, the Shape Shifter. A sword that could transform its shape ording to the owner¡¯s will, smoothly disying dozens of sword techniques by changing its appearance in the blink of an eye. As a result, the air around Ban, the corporal training nonmissioned officer, shattered, tore, split, and crumpled repeatedly. ¡­Talent. It was also a measure of how deeply one could immerse themselves. In that sense, Ban could immerse himself in Leciel more than anyone else. He didn¡¯t even notice his mouth drying up. The sword swinging before him seemed to pull him in with a strong maic force. Without hesitation, inevitably, his gaze was fixed. The intricate and restrained sword. The flowing mana is like a fluid. Graceful and light movements. And, before he knew it, the crimson eyes looked in his direction. ¡°Ah.¡± Ban unintentionally made a sound¡­ and then, the sword stopped. He felt a mixture of a desire to see more and an inexplicable embarrassment as he froze. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Of course, Leciel, being unexpectedly watched by someone, felt the same way. Her eyes narrowed. Arge build and an innocent face. Light chestnut-colored hair. ¡®Ban Dietrich.¡¯ He was one of the few she exchanged greetings with. Not overly curious about her background. Not imposing. A guy who didn¡¯t make her ufortable. ¡®Is he here for training?¡¯ Leciel, about to swing her sword again, recalled the attack at the fair that morning. The Connecter anonymous bulletin board had been aze with discussions all afternoon. ¡®Is he okay?¡¯ There were rumors about a student being seriously injured. Of course, they were likely exaggerated, but Leciel, unaware of the facts, turned back to face Ban. Her eyes scanned him from top to bottom. For a moment, she considered not asking anything, but the memory of the attack resurfaced in her mind. The Connecter bulletin board had been burning with discussions all afternoon. Leciel¡¯s eyes scanned Ban, searching for any signs of injury. No external trauma, but you never knew. ¡°Are you¡­?¡± But her lips, as if hesitating to say something, barely moved. Leciel turned away again. ¡°Hup.¡± Ban couldn¡¯t help butugh at the situation. He wasn¡¯t adept at initiating conversations with others. The girl, who was idolized by everyone, however seemed more destructive than him in that regard. In response to Ban¡¯sughter, Leciel nced back at him. Ban said, ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± ¡°Who said anything?¡± Leciel, observing the slightly awkward boy, narrowed her eyebrows. ¡°You weren¡¯t hurt badly, thankfully. They said three thousand attacked you.¡± ¡°Huh? Who¡¯s spreading such nonsense?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Leciel remained silent. Since he seemed unharmed, that was enough. With no further interest, she resumed her training. *Snap!* As her slender fingers coiled around the sword¡¯s hilt again, Ban felt a bit disappointed. ¡®But I shouldn¡¯t disturb her.¡¯ He quietly turned away. It took a few more seconds for him to realize that he couldn¡¯t hear the sound of the sword swinging behind him. ¡®Huh?¡¯ Turning back, he made eye contact with Leciel. ¡°Feeling frustrated?¡± Ban stopped in his tracks at her words that he couldn¡¯t quite understand. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°That expression of yours.¡± Ban didn¡¯t know what expression he was making, but it didn¡¯t matter. Leciel was there to exin. ¡°Do you feel like your chest is tight, you can¡¯t stand yourself, and your head is about to explode?¡± Ban was surprised. She talked a lot more than he expected. But what surprised him more was the content of what she said. ¡°How do you¡­ know that?¡± The emotions that had been troubling him since the fair¡ªdefeat, self-loathing, helplessness¡ªhow could someone as radiant as her understand such feelings? Leciel didn¡¯t immediately respond. She lowered her eyes for a moment and then mumbled softly. ¡°I probably know better than anyone else.¡± *Boom!* The sword swung again without warning. Leciel, who had been venting her frustrations by shing through the air, continued speaking. ¡°If you want to stay here, then stay. But going inside won¡¯t change anything. You won¡¯t see anything good.¡± Ban nodded. The rhythmic movements of her chaotic ck hair as she resumed her swordy were enough to clear his mind. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 54 Chapter 54 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Fear is an emotion that easily distorts. It can transform into irrational attachment, intimacy, and even unconditional reverence and worship. Even primitive people who witnessed thunderbolts streaking across the sky created beliefs rted to them and worshipped them. In that sense, the Demon King, the greatest and most horrifying fear that exists, could be seen as having enough qualifications to be the deity of fools. -[Reflections on the Demon King Cult, Once Our Neighbors], Unknown Author. *** In reality, the Exhibition assault incident has yet toe to an end. ¡°There¡¯s still a climax toe.¡± It was the thoughts of someone who hadn¡¯t appeared on the curtain call. ¡°Well, this should do.¡± In the dark forest beside the road, moonlight filtering through the leaves shed with the ck, glossy scales. *Karururururu~!* At the subdued howl, the shadow of the Demon King¡¯s messenger came to a halt. ¡°Shh, quiet.¡± *Geeeeeeng~!* ¡°It¡¯ll be soon. Once those guys arrive. Won¡¯t it be troublesome if they see you and decide to run away?¡± Myrmat became quiet again at the soft,forting voice. His unaltered voice was so transparent and pure that it might be mistaken for that of a child. The Demon King¡¯s messenger stretched his neck to survey the surroundings. ¡°Now¡­ I wonder where our guests are.¡± There was no need to raise his sensitivity too much. Beyond the hill. The footsteps of over fifty escort troops were tumultuous. The sound of dew-covered bushes rustling, the sharp noise of horseshoes with iron shoes digging into the ground, and the crackling torches that burned insects flying in the air ¨C all echoed through the night. ¡°I wonder if they realize they are like moths to the me.¡± The messenger mused. The moans of a man trapped behind iron bars were audible, adding to the cacophony. After instantly sensing andprehending all the information, she approached, revealing her forehead adorned with a sinister pattern. The hood that had been tightly pressed against her head was now discarded, exposing her pale and frizzy white hair, with the ominous symbol shining vividly in the center of her elongated forehead. The Demon King¡¯s messenger, or rather, the young cult leader, let out a sigh. ¡®Is it certain that I will go back and get scolded?¡¯ ¡°Praise be to the Demon Lord, we have ascertained the whereabouts of the lost relic, so we must retrieve it!¡± ¡°To seize that legacy is the only way the cult can rise again. This is ourst chance!¡± ¡°Oh, new leader! Please, inspect the stubborn disciples!¡± What did they say again? The relic, which the former cult leader, foreseeing the suppression of unbelievers, had stolen a portion of the cult¡¯s power and property and hidden its coordinates. It was lost during the escape of the traitor. An item containing a part of what was once the cult¡¯s glory. Its true value was beyond estimation. The mission to recover such a crucial item was a very important one. Although it ended in a dismal failure. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to fail so miserably.¡± Honestly, she thought it would be easy. Sneak into a small fair, find one item. Although urate location detection was impossible due to a concealment spell, she had roughly identified it to be in the auction house. While the demons caused amotion, a leisurely search should have made it easy to find. Or so it seemed¡­ ¡®I never thought he would be there.¡¯ A giant sword, armor-like muscles, eyes devoid of any emotion. He seemed timeless, like a knight unaffected by the passage of time. He had not changed since the attack by unbelievers five years ago, when he, as a young Hero, had torn the limbs of the former cult leader and crushed his skull. ¡®A monster.¡¯ The cult leader¡¯s expression subtly trembled. If she hadn¡¯t even considered his appearance while causing a disturbance near Rosenstark, it would be a lie. However, she believed she could easily retrieve the item without directly confronting him. ¡®I am strong.¡¯ Having inherited the protection of Zero Requiem and recently acquired the ¡®Mana of Pration,¡¯ which allowed her to see through the intentions of others, she was often considered the most powerful among the cult leaders despite the declining influence of the cult. But when she looked at the Hero, or more precisely, the moment she peered into the ¡®Mana of Pration¡¯ within him, her body involuntarily faced outside the auction house. The thoughts of retrieving the relic and the sense of duty did not revive until the Hero left the scene. ¡®Is he truly human?¡¯ What was it exactly? An endless, dark abyss. And within it, crouched ¡®entities.¡¯ All of it was beyondprehension. Even the palimpsest couldn¡¯t be seen, yet the foreboding vanished as if it had never existed. [PR/N: Palimpsest is something like a page or anything that had engravings on it, but wereter carved off.] ¡°Ugh. Can¡¯t use it for a while.¡± The cult leader, wiping the flowing blood from her ring eyes, struggled to stand up. The torch at the forefront of the convoy was slowly flickering at the nearby hill. ¡°Annoying, but it must be done.¡± For the past few days, from Stagnum to the Western territories, she had seen and heard too much. Originally, there was no intention to let anyone live. ¡°Tsk.¡± Without hesitation, she leaped down from Myrmat¡¯s neck and faced forward. Nonding sound or footsteps were audible. *** A momentter, a girl appeared in the middle of the road like a ghost. The leader of the convoy was startled and pulled the reins abruptly. ¡°Who goes there?¡± No response. The leader squinted his eyes, staring straight ahead. ¡®What is it?¡¯ Since he saw the girl, it felt like the clouds suddenly covered the moon. For some reason, the darkness surrounding them seemed to intensify. Despite holding a magical torch several times brighter than usual, the road remained dark. However, it was evident that the silhouette blocking the path of the convoy was notably small. ¡®Is it a child from a nearby vige who lost their way?¡¯ The two knights at the forefront of the convoy dismounted from their horses, readying their drawn swords just in case. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª They approached the still silhouette cautiously. They had already drawn their swords in case of any unforeseen circumstances. They continued to approach the motionless, unidentified silhouette. ¡°What¡¯s going on!¡± ¡°Reveal your identity immediately! We are knights performing the Emperor¡¯s mission!¡± Given the sensitivity of the situation, the personnel escorting Desmond were carefully chosen. The Emperor, upon receiving the report, personally contacted nearby lords, and within an hour, elite knights and soldiers under theirmand were mobilized. Even from Glendor, they hired mercenaries to guide and assist them, iming a sense of responsibility. All of them were veterans with capabilities surpassing those of regr forces, numbering around fifty¡ªan equivalent or superior force to a small military unit. However, as they approached the small silhouette enveloped in darkness, an inexplicable unease grew within the hearts of the knights. Despite themotion, the girl showed no response, just raising her arms. Swish! An unreachable distance. Her hand gestured from a dozen meters away. The knights couldn¡¯t fathom the meaning behind her hand movements. One thing was certain: she had no intention ofplying with their demands. He yelled again amidst themotion, ¡°You insolent brat! Don¡¯t you realize the severe consequences you will have to face if you disrupt the imperial event?!!¡± However, she remained indifferent to the uproar, merely raising her arms. Whoosh! An unreachable distance. Just as they rushed forward, the knights felt as if they were caught in something. The view spun around, and the ground suddenly approached. It seemed like they might have tripped over a rock. As the field spun around and the ground approached abruptly, ¡®Oh no¡­!¡¯ To fall in front of so many people, what a disgraceful scene this was. It was doubly embarrassing considering there were colleaguespeting for the attention of the tavern girl, Lily, who came out together. The knight hurriedly got up. No, he tried to get up. ¡®Huh¡­?¡¯ The moment he realized that he couldn¡¯t feel anything below his neck, was the moment he saw his headless body copsing powerless. ¡®What¡¯s going on¡­?¡¯ His vision was spinning wildly. The knight with only a head blinked. ¡®Huh?¡¯ The main force of the escort, as if being severed by an invisible giant sword, was scattered on the ground in pieces¡ªcarriages, horses, people. Amidst the chaos, the leader of the Demon Cult, holding a familiar rolling head, approached with a chuckle. ¡°You went through a lot!¡± * * * The freshmen dormitory lounge buzzed until dawn. Under the perfect brightness of the lighting, students gathered in the lounge. Bathed in their sparkling eyes, Evergreen, entrusted with the mission to correct the distorted parts of the exhibition assault incident, continued speaking. ¡°So, you know that ¡®Kwaang!¡¯ sound that happened back then? I and half the people had no idea what it meant, just running around cluelessly. But Luke immediately figured it out. He said it was an explosion, an assault.¡± At that statement, all eyes turned towards one side of the lounge. Somehow, Luke, who was sitting on the sofa instead of returning to his room, nodded slightly. Yet, his gaze still remained fixed outside the window, seemingly indifferent. ¡°Then this menacing figure wielding two enormous axes charged at us, but like, spinning around like this, we instantly subdued him.¡± Evergreen deliberately depicted Luke¡¯s involvement with a considerable weight and an air of coolness. Perhaps she hoped he would appreciate it. ¡°He really went through the most trouble¡­ Heh.¡± Unable to contain herughter, Evergreen chuckled, slightly amused. Luke¡¯s ears turned a bit red. ¡°Unexpectedly cute.¡± It would be a phrase that could seriously damage Luke¡¯s self-esteem if he were to hear it. Anyway, the audience was waiting. She was about to resume her story. ¡°So, what did Luke¡¯s group do?¡± It was Lucas who asked. Leaning against the wall with an arrogant gaze fixed on Evergreen, he exuded an air of superiority. When the crowd¡¯s attention shifted to him, Evergreen momentarily shrank. The Duke of Wellington. A noble with an influence so significant that it could easily overshadow even Sontail. Despite the im of equality among all students within the walls of Rosenstark, Evergreen couldn¡¯t feel at ease around a powerful figure who could bring substantial disadvantages to her family. She stammered, ¡°Uh, what?¡± ¡°Ban. What did that timid cowardly guy do while you were all fighting so hard?¡± Coward? Evergreen briefly recalled the bustling fairgrounds. Although Ban didn¡¯t personally engage inbat with a sword, he never did anything to be called a coward. He provided the right strategies every moment for Luke and her, patrolling the burning streets to evacuate civilians. Didn¡¯t he use the wind of his sword to blow away the ming tent threatening to copse on people? The image of him wearily nodding off on the returning carriage shed before her eyes. Therefore, Evergreen spoke the in truth, making her voice loud enough for other children with perked-up ears to hear. ¡°Ban was amazing, really. Without him, we would have been in big trouble. He was brave, the most proactive.¡± By the time her words ended, Lucas¡¯s pupils sank coldly. Oh! As the children nodded in admiration, Lucas¡¯s eyes became even more threatening. ¡°That wasn¡¯t the answer I wanted, Solintail.¡± Ugh! Evergreen cringed at his fierce gaze. ¡°I-I-I just stated the facts, why are you like this¡­¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t over¡­¡± Thunk! The door of the lounge suddenly opened. The children, who thought the supervisor hade to scold them for being too loud, hesitated as they attempted to flee. Lucas was no exception. He stared at the two who had just entered the lounge with an awkward expression. ¡®¡­What¡¯s this?¡¯ Without a word, Leciel headed straight to her room. Ban wore an expression as if deep in thought. ¡®¡­What¡¯s going on?¡¯ ¡®Why again with him¡­¡¯ In the past few days, Leciel, who had missed counselling, was assigned to clean the bathroom with Ban. Lucas secretly hoped to be friends with her and tried to strike up conversations. However, the response he received was consistently cold. Thanks to this, Lucas, whose pride had been significantly wounded, couldn¡¯t help but feel ufortable seeing the two together. ¡°¡­Move aside!¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± It was at that moment, as he forcefully pushed the awkward Evergreen aside, heading to his room. The lounge buzzed once again. ¡°Huh? A ss notice just popped up on the connector!¡± ¡°Huh? At this hour?¡± ¡°¡­Is it a practical ss?¡± ¡°Something about dungeon exploration¡­?¡± At those words, everyone¡¯s eyes widened. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 55 Chapter 55 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The enthusiasm of the children who checked the details from the connector began to boil. [Extreme / 1st Dungeon Expedition Practice] Hello, I¡¯m Pia Joyce, the assistant of ¡®Extreme.¡¯ Wee to those participating in the 1st Dungeon Expedition Practice. This guide has been written to provide you with important rules and information about the practice. Please read the following contents carefully. 1. Practice Schedule Practice Date: [Imperial Year 297, April 21] Practice Time: [06:00 ¨C To be determined] Practice Location: [Rosenstark Dungeon Area, Separate dungeon for practice in production] 2. Practice Objectives This practice is nned to cultivate adaptability in a battlefield with many variables. You willy the foundation to sessfully conquer various environments of dungeons that you may encounter in the future. 3. Practice Contents The enemies you need to be careful of in the dungeon are not only monsters. Therefore, the 1st Dungeon Expedition Practice includes not only battles against monsters but also human warfare and responses to mechanical facilities. You will be divided into groups, experiencing cooperation and division ofbour,petition and interference operations, and acquiring the correct dungeon strategies. 4. Evaluation and Grades The method of practice evaluation and grade calction is entirely based on the judgement of Professor Ted Redymer. Details rted to scoring will be announced before and after the practice. 5. Other Guidelines Special rewards will be given to individuals and groups who demonstrate excellent teamwork, outstanding skills, etc., at the discretion of Professor Ted Redymer. We ask for your active participation in the practice. If there are additional guidelines, the assistant, who is in charge, will provide them. * * * ¡°Well, how are the reactions?¡± ¡°Overall, very positive. The training intensity has increased by about three timespared tost week.¡± Nyhill, who was casually sitting on the sofa and nibbling on pastries, replied. I don¡¯t know how she can pronounce so urately and cheekily even with a pastry in her mouth. Sip. The report continued even smoother. ¡°It seems that the condition ¡®fighting against each other while interfering with each other is possible¡¯ had a significant impact.¡± I nodded my head. It was exactly what I intended. The children of ¡®Extreme¡¯ are conscious of each other as rivals. A group formed by the most elite among the carefully selected neers. Demonstrating prowess here is equivalent to certifying oneself as the top talent on the continent. Moreover, each ranking is likely to be directly linked to the favor of the ¡®Hero.¡¯ ¡°This will inevitably intensify thepetitive spirit, throwing this number of elites into the mix. Legal opportunities for shes have arisen. It¡¯s not just a superficial sparring, but a real battle during the practice. Many children will be willing¡­ and for some, it will be a strong stimulus. Since we properly stirred up the external situation this time.¡± Ban, Evergreen, and Luke. These three demonstrated outstanding performances in the exhibition attack incident. They showcased their excellence even in external situations. For other children, it¡¯s inevitable that they would feel impatient. It was a good phenomenon. Competition typically concludes with growth and development. If talents that vie for the top are brought together, it is natural to expect excellent results. ¡°Everyone¡¯s skills have improved a lotpared to the beginning of the semester.¡± The situation flowing as calcted was quite satisfying. I asked Nyhill about the next agenda. ¡°By the way, have the investigation results for the Escort Convoy Attacke out?¡± The news of theplete annihtion of the escort convoy was urgently conveyedst night. Knowing the scale of the escort convoy, it was difficult to believe such unbelievable news. To unterally annihte armed forces of that magnitude and escape. Moreover, theypletely removed the bodies and traces, making the investigation difficult. ¡°For now, it has been confirmed that the Demonic Church is rted to the prison break incident.¡± ¡°Is there any evidence?¡± ¡°Several reports followed, iming to have witnessed a giant flying-type monster nearby. Above all, the only thing left at the scene was the head of ¡®Desmond Lusser¡± ¡°¡­¡± A giant flying-type monster. It was a troubling matter. ¡°In other words, they came flying on a flying-type monster from Stagnum to the West to carry out this incident. Thanks to the monster, such an absurd movement was possible.¡± ¡°As far as we have spected so far, that seems to be the case.¡± ¡°They wield strange abilities, befitting the Demonic Church.¡± I was convinced that this incident was rted to the Demonic Church. Throughout history, there was no case where humans tamed monsters. The power to wield them was exclusively that of demons. There were cases of bipeds taming ancient races (such as the Frost Dragons tamed by the Frost Dragon Tribe), but it was only a very small portion. ¡°¡­After all, the Demonic Church is closer to those who are more simr to demons than humans.¡± Both their bodies and minds were more simr to ¡®ma¡¯ (demon). They were so crazy that they inserted an artificial core into their bodies. Unlike the traitors, who had different natures, they didn¡¯t care about things like glory or wealth. They only prioritized the advent of the demon king and acted ordingly. Naturally, they were quite useful tools for demons. So, they often bestowed various powers or forces, causing confusion in the human world. This time, the probability of such a case was high. ¡®Monster taming¡­¡¯ Nyhill nodded slightly. ¡°¡­I will report any new information as soon as it is obtained.¡± ¡°Sure, good job. Go in and take a rest.¡± Although the Emperor mobilized the intelligence agencies to track them down, it would be difficult to immediately find clues about the Demonic Church. The ones who had just started their moves wouldn¡¯t leave their tails long. Therefore, it was important to quickly uncover the secret of the statue, which was the purpose of this attack. ¨‹ [Dangerous treasure left by an ominous adversary is here] ¡ø Only then could they know the next move of those guys. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Suddenly, I felt someone¡¯s gaze. When I looked up, I saw that Nyhill hadn¡¯t left yet. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Nyhill couldn¡¯t answer my question immediately and seemed to be in thought. After hesitating for a while, her lips slowly opened. ¡°You told me to rest just now.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious about what you usually do and how you rest.¡± I was momentarily speechless. It was an unexpected question. ¡°Have you never rested before?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s before a mission, there were times when I waited.¡± ¡°What did you do then?¡± Nyhill¡¯s small head tilted slightly. ¡°I was sitting, looking at the wall.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡­That doesn¡¯t sound like resting. Since she seemed like she might just sit and stare at the wall again, I quickly interrupted. ¡°Usually, when people talk about rest¡­.¡± ¡­Mid-sentence, I realized. I, too, was not familiar with resting. So, I hesitated a bit but did not stop talking. ¡°¡­Some people enjoy hobbies. Some do nothing and rx in bed. Oh, and enjoying delicious food is a must.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Maybe my answer was insufficient. She blinked her eyes and stared at me intently. ¡°¡­I like fishing.¡± I unintentionally responded. It was true that I used to fish frequently. For a doppelganger, sleep might not be necessary, but meals were essential. Fishing was a good means of self-sufficiency when wandering through changes. ¡®I did fish asionally for real, so it¡¯s not a lie.¡¯ Although now, the feeling of finding a secluded ce to avoid people was stronger. Nyhill nodded only now. ¡°I see. It was very helpful.¡± Before I could ask more, she disappeared into the shadows. I felt like saying something more, but I kept my mouth shut. ¡®¡­Fishing.¡¯ I closed my eyes and imagined myself leisurely fishing by a secludedke. Pia and Kasim chatted beside me as a fish leaped above the water. Cheers and praises by children followed. Cooking the caught fish while the children gathered by thekeside. ¡®¡­Now, even childrene out in my imagination.¡¯ It was a pleasantly imagined scenario. With a smile on my face, I returned to the paperwork. It might be a story for muchter, but I hoped such a moment woulde someday. Early in the morning, Luke, who was stretching in a corner of the training ground, unexpectedly encountered a visitor. He gazed at the slender boy who approached with narrowed eyes. ¡°So, what do you want me to help you with?¡± ¡°I want to receive guidance from you. Is it possible?¡± ¡°Be more specific.¡± He added, just in case of misunderstanding. ¡°Of course, that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll agree.¡± ¡°I want to learn to fight properly.¡± ¡°Why are you telling me that?¡± ¡­Why? Ban remembered clearly. The fierce attackers. Despite the disadvantageous situation due to the absence of main weapons, Luke exploded with determination and rushed in. It was like a wild animal defending its territory. The fact that someone of the same age showed such wildness and courage couldn¡¯t help but stimte him. ¡°I also want to fight bravely like you. You seem the bravest among the people I know.¡± Luke took some time to calm his trembling lips. The sensitive boy didn¡¯t miss this fact. ¡®This might work!¡¯ He quickly spoke up. ¡°Have you seen the training content for this week?¡± ¡°I have. You don¡¯t want to be a nuisance in group activities, is that it?¡± ¡°Yeah, exactly that.¡± If he didn¡¯t handle this properly and performed poorly, he might seriously consider dropping out. So, with the determination to catch at straws, Ban sought out Luke. As expected, he was facing a not-so-enthusiastic expression. ¡®Of course, it must be annoying.¡¯ Ban clenched his fist. He gathered the courage to confront the awkwardness. There was no point in backing off now; it would only lead to more regrets. ¡°I¡¯ll do anything, whatever it is. If there¡¯s a way, I can help. Can you tell me how?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Annoying tasks were the worst. Luke didn¡¯t seem eager to help at all. However, Ban had already mustered the courage to face the embarrassment. He knew that backing down now would only bring more regret. Luke, dressed in his training attire, looked Ban up and down. ¡®Hmm¡­.¡¯ Luke was already aware that Ban had a well-trained body. However, seeing him in the close-fitting training attire was a different experience. The smooth face and the slightly intimidating physique presented a striking contrast. The long arms were filled with muscles, and the shoulders spread wide. Even his back was well-developed, long, and thick, extending evenly from top to bottom. The pir-like lower body was equally impressive. In addition, his height was considerable. Ban was the only colleague whose eye level wasn¡¯t lower than his. ¡®¡­Innate talent, coupled with intense training.¡¯ Having gone through a simr process, Luke knew how challenging it was to develop such a functional body. Perhaps even more exceptional than that nameless orphan from the battlefield, Ban, having descended from superior lineage, knew how to appreciate the full potential of his physique. ¡®The problem lies in the mental aspect¡­¡¯ Luke recalled the moment when Ban fainted during the anatomy practical, dropping his sword. He could easily discern that the unconsciousness wasn¡¯t due to a simple condition or nervousness. And during the raid at the fair, he became certain of it. ¡®What happened to you, Young Master Dietrich?¡¯ Luke was well aware of the fragility of the human mind, perhaps better than anyone else. The indomitable spirit that never yields to adversity? Such a thing is rare in reality. Having witnessed seemingly robust warriors crumble unexpectedly, he knew that the unwavering mental strength was a rarity. Sighs and sobs from the extinguished mercenary tents were a familiar sound, and the next day on the battlefield, those who turned their backs were inevitable. The axes of the Executioner¡¯s was often soaked in the blood of such individuals. ¡®Damn it¡­¡¯ A not-so-pleasant memory from a few weeks ago surfaced, and Luke¡¯s face twisted momentarily. ¡°Weak trash, born losers from the start.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a different breed. I guarantee it.¡± ¡°The sight of you, who should be my sessor, giving your heart to those beggars one by one¡­ This father finds it extremely distasteful.¡± It was some time ago. The Mercenary King had spoken those words, full of disdain, mockery, contempt and scorn. Handing the hilt of a knife to his less nimble hands. ¡®¡­.¡¯ Luke looked at Ban¡¯s face, now a mixture of desperation, and opened his mouth. ¡°Money.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°If you want to hire a mercenary, you should at least offer a reward, right?¡± How can he be so clueless about the basics? As Luke grumbled, Ban¡¯s expression brightened dramatically. ¡°Tell me as much as you need! I¡¯ll give you as much as you want! I¡¯ve saved up a lot of pocket money because I have nothing else to spend it on.¡± ¡°Is that so? Then let¡¯s start with a trial free trial and see how it goes.¡± ¡°Huh? A free trial?¡± ¡°I need to estimate how much trouble I¡¯ll be in.¡± As Luke finished speaking, hisrge hand grabbed the handle of the Pike. ¡°By the way, I don¡¯t know any other methods.¡± Click¡ª The chain tightened, and the Pike began to spin around rapidly. Boom¡ª! It was Luke¡¯s cherished weapon, repaired. Arge weapon that seemed capable of causing more than just a couple of broken bones if it hit. Ban¡¯s face paled. ¡°By the way, physical pain is a great way to solve a lot of things.¡± ¡°W-who said that? I¡¯ve never heard that before.¡± ¡°I did!¡± Boom¡ª! Ban dodged, narrowly avoiding the pike¡¯s impact on Adam¡¯s apple. The centrifugal force of the spinning club changed direction before he could even get up, rushing back at him. ¡°Ugh, ugh!¡± It was the beginning of special training. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 56 Chapter 56 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Luke watched at the back of Ban as he moved away with a limp. ¡®Are there trolls among distant ancestors?¡¯ It was a highly disrespectful inference, but a reasonable suspicion. That durability makes no sense. His weapon, the pike, is undoubtedly arge weapon. A heavy weapon used to crush the tough skeletons of creatures that are resistant to shing attacks. Naturally, he controlled the strength, but getting hit repeatedly like this should result in swelling, much like a frog. He recalled the moment just before. ¡°I¡¯ve set themission fee. You pay 1 gold each time you get hit five times. How does that sound?¡± ¡°Huh? Am I the benchmark for getting hit?¡± ¡°Do you know how difficult it is not to hit to kill?¡± ¡°Oh, I see. Got it.¡± He earned 18 gold. ¡®I thought I¡¯d earn about 4 or 5 gold if I hit him.¡¯ Even after taking hits in the 90s, he was fine. His body was swollen, but he was sturdy enough to walk to the infirmary like that. His tenacity and toughness were beyond expectations. But most surprising of all¡­ ¡®How did he manage that?¡¯ Even in the midst of an attack, Luke didn¡¯t stop observing the other party. It¡¯s the mercenary¡¯s code to do their best when they agree to receive payment. ¡®Certainly, he stumbled at first.¡¯ He was about to react as usual but suddenly froze. But as the non-stop exchange of blows continued, Luke realized something was off. ¡®¡­ The sword is always there in advance.¡¯ From a certain point, the sword was always ready near the point of impact. Thanks to that, minimal defense was achieved. Even if the body stiffened and strength drained midway, critical hits were avoided. ¡®Like someone foreseeing a few seconds ahead.¡¯ Pike is inherently a challenging weapon to handle. Its attack range is significantly wider than ordinary weapons, and the effective range varies based on the grip distance, making it difficult to adapt to distances. Due to the concentrated weight in the front, the attack interval is also short. In other words, in the hands of a skilled practitioner like Luke, reading the attacks bes incredibly difficult. ¡®But he reacted to everything.¡¯ Luke silently observed the footprints of Ban stamped on the training ground. ¡®If there was no problem with him¡­¡¯ ¡­What would have happened to the match? The expression on Luke¡¯s face, who had been picturing the overall scenario in his mind, gradually hardened. ¡®I can¡¯t lose.¡¯ Those cruel and harsh times spent on the battlefield. The meaning of that shouldn¡¯t fade away. It was quite some time after Luke left the training ground. * * * ¡®It¡¯s almost time to wrap up.¡¯ The Extreme training dungeon was nearingpletion. The hero meticulously surveyed the surroundings, checking off items on the checklist one by one. Various traps, guardians, gimmicks, and mazes were strategically ced, awaiting the children. Next to him, Pia, covered in dust, sat down with a sigh. ¡°Wow, it ended faster than I thought.¡± ¡°Because we used advanced dungeon stones.¡± ¡°Huh, sometimes it¡¯s dizzying to see the Principal and the professor spending money.¡± ¡°You have to spend it when you have it. What¡¯s the point of hoarding?¡± Pia nodded her head approvingly. Of course, she also made money that she could never have imagined before. But to keep up with their spending, she still had a long way to go. Yussi generously handed money to the hero, and the hero, in turn, also used his own treasury for high-quality lessons. How much was spent on this ¡®dungeon practice¡¯ this time? Woo-woo-woo- Pia looked at the dazzling light emitted by the ¡®dungeon stone.¡¯ It was hard to believe that this fist-sized rock constituted and supported this massive dungeon. Even the price was hard to believe. However, the quality of thepleted dungeon was exceptionally excellent. ¡°Still, I¡¯m a bit worried about the difficulty. Usually, second-years start proper dungeon practices.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°¡­Professor? Why are you like that?¡± It was a rare sight. The usually sharp and clear-eyed hero was staring nkly at the dungeon ceiling. ¡°Professor?¡± The hero blinked. ¡®What is this sensation?¡¯ A very subtle feeling of d¨¦j? vu. Feeling a sensation in the dungeon was not surprising for him, given the various professions, including mercenaries and adventurers, he had experienced. He had considerable dungeon exploration experience. However, the sensation currently tickling his memory felt like it originated from even earlier memories. Dimly lit indoors. Subdued magical lighting. What exactly happened there¡­ ¡°Professor!!!¡± ¡°What did I do there, anyway¡­?¡± ¡°Professor!!!¡± ¡°Oh.¡± With Pia¡¯s continuous calls, the hero snapped back to reality and turned to her. Worried grey eyes were fixed on him. ¡°You must be tired. It¡¯s been a while since the external affairs ended, and you¡¯re already into dungeon creation, feedback from the kids¡­¡± Before the hero could respond, Pia¡¯s small hand rested on his palm and then withdrew. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± The hero, looking at the small vial, raised an eyebrow. ¡°I tried making a fatigue recovery potion. I carefully selected only good ingredients. Well, since you have a good rtionship with the Principal, you probably have many better potions, Professor¡­¡± The situation of giving a gift made the conversation awkward and verbose. Fatigue recovery potion. In reality, it wasn¡¯t an exceptionally useful item for him as a Doppelganger. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Thanks. I appreciate the thought.¡± However, utility and gratitude didn¡¯t necessarily corrte. He opened the vial with a willing expression and swallowed the small potion. As the bitterness filled his mouth, Pia grinned satisfactorily. ¡°Sigh, the kids should know how much you¡¯re working, Professor.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be content if I put in effort in teaching.¡± ¡°Still, shouldn¡¯t we look forward to ¡®Teacher¡¯s Day¡¯?¡± Pia¡¯s eyes sparkled with anticipation. Teacher¡¯s Day. It was an Empire-wide holiday at the end of the semester, derived from the birthday of Zero Requiem, who was also the mentor of the first emperor. Among the professors of Rosenstark, how grand the celebration was subtly became a measure of pride. ¡°Ha¡­¡± The hero suddenly chuckled at the memories of the past. There was a time when they prepared a modest drinking table to celebrate Teacher¡¯s Day and had a drink together with the ¡®Original¡¯. Despite getting a smack for clearly revealing their intention to take it easy, it was undeniably a quite enjoyable moment. ¡®Teacher¡¯s Day, huh.¡¯ There weren¡¯t high expectations. They didn¡¯t do this to receive something. Besides, the kids were extremely busy. Would they even have the time tomemorate Teacher¡¯s Day? ¡®You have to have experienced receiving something like that to expect or not expect it.¡¯ ¡­Feeling like it was bing verbose, the hero quickly cleared the area and stood up. ¡°Take another look. If you think of anything to add, let me know.¡± ¡°¡­Huh? Wasn¡¯t it all over?¡± ¡°Thanks to someone, I got a burst of energy after it was all done.¡± ¡°Ugh, I should have given it to you after everything was finished.¡± Pia followed the hero, who was leading the way. ¡®Hmm, should I remind the kids about Teacher¡¯s Day? But what does he like anyway?¡¯ With such pointless thoughts in mind. * * * Leciel silently stared at the sword in front of her. Shape Shifter. The ever-changing sword took the form of her favorite longsword and shimmered gracefully. ¡®Hmm, should I make it a bitrger?¡¯ Thinking of the immenselyrge greatsword of ¡®someone,¡¯ she pondered for a moment before deciding against practicing with an unfamiliar weapon. An important event was approaching. There was no need to practice with a weapon she wasn¡¯t familiar with. ¡°Phew¡­.¡± Sweat dripped down her rosy cheeks. For the past few days, Leciel had set aside her beloved art and devoted herself solely to swordsmanship. In fact, right aftermunicating with her grandmother, she had thought about giving up studying and grades altogether. It was because she realized that the academy wouldn¡¯t bother to acknowledge her unless she stood out a bit. Perhaps if she rebelled, they might take notice. She briefly considered rebelling against the system. ¨C How to rebel? ©¸ Don¡¯t do it, idiot. ©¸? ©¸ If they say not to do it, don¡¯t do it. ¡®Not easy.¡¯ She dismissed the idea. Bing a good-for-nothing overnight just because someone who had never tried meat said it tasted good was not a suitable option. [PR/N: The analogy is supposed to show how it¡¯s nonsense for you to do something just because some dumbass said it.] Besides, she didn¡¯t want to clean the bathroom twice for the same reason. Cleaning the toilet with a fool was something she only needed to do once. It was a moment of profound reflection. ¡­So, in the end, she continued as before. Swinging the sword diligently, harbouring the determination to eventually defeat the hero. It was a promise she made, hoping her grandmother would take notice. She returned to the monotonous routine. Bwoong-! In that pitiful moment of desires and sudden memories, and the sword in her hand, which had nothing to do with each other, moved organically and smoothly. She was in the midst of showcasingpletely different swordsmanship, skillfully changing the form of the sword. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Hoo-hoo-hoo.¡± A snort came from behind. Leciel turned only her head without stopping the sword, and soon faced an amused face. ¡®Blue fool. What¡¯s going on?¡¯ Cuculli¡¯srge pupils stared at her intently. Pupils longer than those of a human. The mischievousness that always lingered within them seemed somewhat subdued today. Cuculli casually spoke, as if delivering a greeting. ¡°Is this worth it?¡± Leciel blinked her eyes. Because it was a provocation she had never experienced in her life, she was slow to catch on, had it not been for the stinging sense of rivalry that pricked her skin. ¡°¡­Huh.¡± Leciel¡¯s sword came to a halt. She was aware that Cuculli often fought with her peers at the beginning of the semester. She was also well aware of the oue, which was a legacy. However, she honestly never expected Cuculli¡¯s hostility to be directed toward her. Leciel had considered the hero as her onlypetition, nothing more, nothing less. The prospect of bing the target of Cuculli¡¯s rivalry, who had always been beneath her, wasn¡¯t pleasant. ¡°Hey, what did you just say?¡± ¡°I said I thought it would be worth sticking around at this level.¡± ¡°Ha¡­¡± Cuculli joyfully watched as Leciel¡¯s brow twitched. Unlike the angry Leciel, Cuculli was delighted. ¡®This practical training is such a fantastic opportunity!¡¯ The sparring sessions she had engaged in with her peers so far had not satisfied herpetitive spirit. They were filled with weak opponents, and friendly matches had their limitations in intensity. ¡°To bring a kid to this point¡­ it¡¯s a deduction.¡± ¡°Ugh! That¡¯s unfair!¡± ¡°If you have a conscience, look at this face, bloated three times its size.¡± At the beginning of the semester, she had dealt a bit roughly with Gerald and received a lump sum deduction from the hero. For her, with a keen sense of smell, toilet cleaning was truly torture, especially with that foolish person boasting beside her. ¡®Other kids went out and fought to their heart¡¯s content, and I had to endure this injustice!¡¯ But finally, the time hade. A practical training wherepetition was possible. If she could officiallypete under the supervision of the hero, she preferred the strongest opponent. There was no need to think about whom to face; it was never a consideration. Today¡¯s cute provocation was a device to enhance the vor of the uing duel. Cuculli bared her fangs and smiled broadly. ¡°Scared?¡± Leciel¡¯s pupils rippled once, as if mes were flickering. ¡°You can¡¯t beat me.¡± ¡°Hmm, everyone will know that in a few days.¡± Leciel didn¡¯t react further. She merely furrowed her brows slightly, turned abruptly, and left. However, Cuculli vividly felt her anger. She was delighted, as it seemed to indicate how intense their uing fight would be. ¡°Hehe, this is going to be really fun.¡± With cheeks flushed with excitement and a swaying gait, Cuculli suddenly stopped. ¡°Well, what if we end up in the same group? What will I do then?¡± ¡­ They couldn¡¯t fight if they were in the same group. Cuculli quickly derived an answer. Well, if that happened, she would just have to clean the toilet for another month or so. Smirking, Cuculli left the training ground. * * * And so, a few dayster, the day of the dungeon practical training dawned. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 57 Chapter 57 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Lair and Dungeon. While simr, they are distinct. They share the aspect of being filled with creatures and traps, but the crucial difference lies in their origin. The former naturally forms in environments with high magical density, while thetter is created by humans for purposes such as hiding treasures or training. And today. The extreme students, for their practical training, were heading towards the dungeon area prepared by the academy. It was a ce filled with dungeons of varying difficulty. ¡°Everyone, gather over here! This is the entrance!¡± Pia waved a g around while holding a portable voice amplifier. The students followed behind her. During the process of gathering at the assembly point, their faces were tinged with tension and anticipation as they observed various dungeons. ¡°Wow, so this is the ¡®Dungeon Zone¡¯ we¡¯ve only heard about.¡± ¡°There are over a hundred dungeons made specifically for practice, right?¡± ¡°The dungeon we¡¯re going to conquer today ispletely new. There¡¯s no strategy guide even in the library.¡± ¡°Crazy, who¡¯s the creator?¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± Eyes filled with curiosity moved incessantly. Woo-! The entrance to the dungeon was engulfed in deep darkness. Since it was magically created darkness, no one could see beyond it. All the students could see was a mysterious sign directly in front of them. borate patterns, decorations, and engraved letters in the center glittered. > [Characteristics] ¨C Labyrinth ¨C Numerous Guardians ¨C Numerous Traps ¨C Scale: Medium The exterior stimted the sense of exploration to the point that all tension waspletely forgotten. ¡°Heh, this is extreme.¡± ¡°Wow, they even used high-quality ¡®Dungeon Stones.''¡± ¡°Burning a Dungeon Stone in one ss?¡± A Dungeon Stone is an item crafted by processing a rare material called ¡®Rare Stone,¡¯ found in the deepest part of their. Using a Dungeon Stone allowed the creation of dungeons without the need for workers or materials, reflecting the creator¡¯s preferences. It was highly popr. However, lower-grade ones were quite expensive, and obtaining a permit from the appropriate agency was required to use them. ¡°By the way, the dungeon is 4th grade, right? How about 4th grade?¡± ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be too difficult. There¡¯s a maximum of 10 grades.¡± ¡°The rare that I used to defeat the vassals was 4th grade. It might be easier than you think.¡± ¡°Gerald is falling for it again.¡± While they chatted excitedly, Pia, confirming that everyone had gathered, stepped forward. ¡°Now, before exining this practical training, let me distribute safety equipment first.¡± She handed bracelet-shaped artifacts to the bewildered students. The exnation followed. ¡°This artifact activates Elegantia Hierarchy¡¯s defensive magic immediately if a certain level of impact is applied to the body or if the user infuses mana directly. However, once the magic is activated, you must withdraw from the practical training, so please be careful when using it.¡± Click! The sound of bracelets being fastened echoed simultaneously. Pia meticulously checked if everyone had put them on, pondering how many of them would manage to pass through the dungeon without activating the artifacts. ¡®Perhaps around five of them.¡¯ The dungeon¡¯sposition was truly vicious. However, there was little Pia could do. In her heart, she wished them luck and continued with the exnations. ¡°Dungeons are essentiallybyrinths, and approximately five hundred beast-type guardians roam throughout. There are also some irregrs mixed in, so strategize well when dealing with them.¡± Irregrs refer to enemies stronger than the dungeon¡¯s grade. Although the concept of bosses existed, they didn¡¯t appear in lower-grade dungeons, making them exempt from this practical training. ¡°The goal is the deepest part of the dungeon.¡± Pia continued her exnation, reaching into her pocket. ¡°Your final objective is to ce one of these items, which I will distribute to each group, near the Dungeon Stone. Think of it as a kind of time attack where each grouppetes.¡± All eyes focused on the small bead that Pia pulled out of her pocket. It had a glossy, jet-ck surface, about the size of a plum. Luke was the first to react. ¡°That is¡­¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s an explosive artifact.¡± Seeing the children stepping back cautiously, Pia quickly pped her hands. ¡°It¡¯s a model, a model!¡± ¡°You should have said that first!¡± As the children protested, Pia stepped back, and at that moment, heavy footsteps echoed from beyond the dungeon entrance. As the Hero, who had finished inspecting the dungeon, emerged from the darkness, the children quickly adjusted their postures. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the rest of the exnation. Well done.¡± Approaching Pia with a slight squint against the sunlight, he received the voice amplifier. ¡°I¡¯ll get straight to the point. Evaluation begins the moment you enter the dungeon. There are two evaluation criteria.¡± The assessment would be detailed through the disyed video recordings. ¡°First, how organically you move ording to tactics duringbat with the guardians.¡± ¡°Second, how you handle unexpected situations.¡± It would be an application of what they had learned in ss and an assessment of each student¡¯s improvisational skills. ¡°The teams were announcedst night. No objections will be epted.¡± The children nced around, many of them already seated in their respective groups. 1st Team: Cuculli and 4 others. 2nd Team: Leciel and 3 others. 3rd Team: Luke and Lucas and 4 others. 4th Team: Ban and Evergreen and 5 others. 5th Team: Nyhill and Gerald and 6 others. While there were various reasons for forming the teams, the main objective was to induce as many battles as possible. The Hero was already aware of the subtle currents flowing among some of the students. Cuculli and Leciel were like that, as well as Lucas and Ban. By separating them into different teams, the goal was to create an environment for them to have a proper showdown. ¡®Compete and grow to your heart¡¯s content.¡¯ The Hero scanned the students who were starting to be enveloped in apetitive spirit. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to get in!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Cuculli grinned while looking at Leciel, who had be part of another team. ¡°¡­¡± Leciel, on the other hand, seemed to be deliberately ignoring Cuculli, but there was a subtle indication that she was paying attention. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Hmph¡­.¡± While Lucas exchanged a sidelong nce with Luke, who had be part of the same team, Gerald, their follower, also became part of the same team. ¡°Lucas, I trust only you.¡± ¡°Hmm, is he in the same team too?¡± They seemed to have a dismissive attitude toward Luke, the mercenary, yet they subtly found reassurance in having him around. Luke, whether they acknowledged him or not, remained silent and simply loosened his body. A slightly furrowed brow. Luke was in an ufortable state, not being able to be part of a team with someone he wanted to impress. ¡°We¡¯re fighting together again, Ban!¡± ¡°Yeah, please take care of me.¡± ¡°I should be the one counting on you! I feel secure being in the same team as a capable strategist like you!¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­.¡± Evergreen was jokinglyforting Ban, who looked nervous. The situation seemed ufortable for Ban. ¡°It¡¯s finally time for the idiot to step out of the frame.¡± After the awkward incident during orientation, where Gerald was teased, he was determined to prove his skills this time. Next to him, Nyhill was lost in thought with an unknown expression. In the midst of this tense atmosphere, the Hero spoke up again. ¡°I¡¯m sure you all know that a special reward is prepared.¡± The children cheered in anticipation. Their eyes sparkled with excitement. Everyone had been eagerly awaiting this moment since the announcement. As expected, Luke was the first to ask, ¡°What exactly is the reward?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s call it a wish. I¡¯ll consider granting one wish each.¡± The response was concise, but the reactions from the listeners were explosive. The artifacts they brought back from their excursions beyond the barrier had been the envy of all. A wish¡ªwhat a vague term, but the Hero showed no signs of joking. The children immediately let their imaginations run wild. ¡°Could I request a personal training session?¡± ¡°Is it possible to meet a member of the Dawn Knights, like Lady Larze or even Sir Ivar?¡± ¡°I¡¯d be happy just receiving an artifact.¡± ¡°Gold, piles of gold!¡± Amidst this array of excitement, the starting time for the practical training, 6 AM, finally arrived. Under the hazy sunrise, the Hero muttered softly, ¡°Dungeon open.¡± The darkness, like mist gathered at the entrance, gradually dissipated. The children eagerly rushed toward the entrance. Later on, after entering the dungeon: ¡°I¡¯ll be in charge of leading Team 3,¡± dered Luke. Of course, Lucas immediately objected, ¡°I can¡¯t agree to such an arrogant statement. I¡¯ll be the one in charge.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Their gazes shed, tension mounting. The other team members anxiously shifted their eyes around. However, the feared conflict did not erupt. The other team members nervously rolled their eyes, expecting a conflict, but to their surprise, Luke took a step back. ¡°Give it a try then, just once,¡± he said. ¡°Well, you do have some thoughts after all,¡± Lucas smirked. Of course, Lucas knew that for the team to score high overall, it would be better for Luke to takemand. Yet, there was a part of him that trusted himself. ¡®I have enough experience in dungeon expeditions¡¯ Lucas thought. As a Wellington, obtaining dungeon stones wasn¡¯t overly difficult. Thanks to this, Lucas had joined the knight order in their training expeditions several times. ¡®And about 4th-grade dungeons, well¡¯ Lucas chuckled as he nced at the embedded video recording and modification on the wall. This practical training, with the Hero offering a reward based on their wishes, carried significant weight. If Lucas demonstrated excellent leadership and achieved good results, he could quickly make up for his previously mediocre grades. It could even catch the Hero¡¯s attention again. With themand smoothly in his hands, things were off to a good start. Lucas shouted energetically, ¡°Let¡¯s go! We¡¯re aiming to be the first to reach the center!¡± However, the rosy outlook didn¡¯tst long, as it didn¡¯t take much time for that vision to shatter into pieces. ¡°Ugh, aaaaah!¡± Large groups of guardians and various traps hindered Team 3¡¯s progress, just like any other team. Primitive traps like snares, pitfalls, and more impeded their every step. ¡°Damn it, why is this happening!¡± With each step forward, there was another trap. Snares, pitfalls, and other primitive traps were the basics, and it didn¡¯t take long for 3rd Team to be caught in their midst. If you touched anything wrong, logs flew, and on the other side of the passage, giant boulders rolled. When arrows suddenly poured from the ceiling, it was beyond ridiculous. His past experience, where swinging a sword was enough, was very different. It was a moment when he btedly realized the efforts of the gasols who couldn¡¯t dare expose the young master to such wicked traps. ¡°Huh?¡± Some kind of result had to be shown. With that in mind, Lucas, impatiently moving forward, stepped on a strangely colored ground. By the time he realized it was a trap, the dizzying sensation had already enveloped his body. ¡°Uwaaa!¡± Just before Lucas¡¯s body was relentlessly sucked in below. Someone roughly caught his cor. Hanging like a kitten, Lucas looked down. ¡°Huuk, huuk.¡± Shaking and spreading in the swirling vision. Sharp spears densely packed in a dark pit were visible. The tips of the spears were blunt, but if they had fallen as they were, they would have broken somewhere. A chill ran down his spine. Unconsciously, Lucas grabbed the hand around his neck and let out a scream. ¡°Oh, mom!¡± Swish! Luke threw Lucas back with an expression of annoyance. With a rattling sound, a subtle moan spread. Luke turned his shoulders and opened his mouth. ¡°Hey, son. You should be careful.¡± Lucas¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment. ¡°This, this, this insolent¡­.¡± The moment he stood up with a sullen look, another trap was triggered, and an arrow shot straight at him. Thunk! This time, a side kick saved him. Staggering, the now meek Lucas lost the strength to speak. Luke chuckled. ¡°Well, can mommy takemand now?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡­ There was no disagreement. [TL/N: *YES MOMMY ?? YOU CAN TAKE-] [PR/N: Horny pig] HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 58 Chapter 58 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The atmosphere, interior, guardians, traps, and other detailed elements of the dungeon are determined by the creator. The dungeon materializes in response to the creator¡¯s imagination sensing the mana of the dungeon stone. In other words, the scenery before our eyes is someone¡¯s taste¡­ The four team members chewed on this thought and muttered. ¡°Whose taste is so peculiar?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ It couldn¡¯t be the professor.¡± ¡°Or the assistant?¡± Laughter followed. Guardians with absurdlyrge figures. Even though their appearance resembled teddy bears¡­ Gwaaaaaam- Gwaeoom- Wow- Gomgom- Upon closer listening, the crying sounds were strange. ¡°Where is the growling bearing from!¡± ¡°Has the person who made this actually seen a real bear?¡± But despite their cute appearance, the creatures were quite threatening. Growl! One guardian suddenly jumped forward, striking the ground with its front paws. Thud! The cave floor shook deeply. The children stared in astonishment at the rising dust, frozen for a moment. The power was enough to instantly twist bones and flesh if one were to be hit. Gulp¡ª the sound of swallowing saliva echoed simultaneously. ¡®If I take a direct hit¡­.¡¯ The artifact would activate. In other words, there was a possibility of failing the practical training. Upon realizing this fact, the atmosphere, which had been rxed, changed instantly. The children gradually assumed their positions. ¡®I can do this.¡¯ Ban took a deep breath and red at the guardian in front of him. As the vanguard in charge, the prosecutor¡¯s role in Team 4 was crucial. The simtor ss had taught him how dangerous a party could be if the vanguard didn¡¯t function properly. Half of the advice received during the special training with Luke came to mind. ¡°If you try to swing the sword, your body stiffens immediately. Until then, you move rtively well.¡± ¡°Yeah, it feels like I don¡¯t move if I think about stabbing or bending something.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t swing it for now.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°At least in this practical training, you should avoid getting injured as much as possible. To do that, you have to give up the sword.¡± The solution that followed shattered preconceptions, but it resonated well. ¡®Whether this works or not, I don¡¯t know¡­.¡¯ Being a sitting duck without doing anything would only confirm failure. It¡¯s better to be eliminated early than to whine without contributing anything. With that sincere thought, Ban looked at the approaching guardians. Then, pulling mana forcefully from the heart, he spread it in all directions. Woo-woo¡ª Growl! The guardians¡¯ attack coincided. The boy¡¯s silhouette was obscured by the shadows leaping around him. Closing his eyes tightly, the he tried to maintainposure. The sword was still untouched. ¡®I need to maintain the mana¡­!¡¯ The solution was as follows. Firstly, the Vision sensing technique of the Dietrich family is specialized in detecting mana flow. Secondly, the dungeon¡¯s guardians, being manaal beings, are powered by mana stones. In conclusion, since the guardians¡¯ movements were entirely mana-based, as long as the prosecutor maintained concentration, they could track them from start to finish. Tsutsutsu¡ª mana extended like a. The information conveyed through this was instantly processed by the prosecutor¡¯s brain, drawing the optimal evasion path, and the well-trained body implemented the result. Hooong¡ª! In this way, the guardians¡¯ fists passed by the prosecutor near his nose like a lie, unable to hit him. The boy, still in awe, shouted towards the teammates behind him. ¡°Guys! Right nk one by one! Left armpit! Right thigh!¡± Evergreen and Karen, who were aiming bows from the rear, shot arrows towards the positions he mentioned in the wave. Other teammates also rushed in, wielding weapons towards those areas. However, even as they followed his instructions, there was a shallow skepticism in their expressions. ¡®He imed to have identified the positions of the power stones in that short time? Is that possible?¡¯ ¡­Graawm! When the attacks hit the positions mentioned by the prosecutor, the eyes of the guardians went out, and their fierce movements immediately ceased. ¡°He¡¯s the head! That one¡¯s the right ankle!¡± While avoiding the raining fists, the prosecutor briefed the positions of the power stones, instantly boosting the morale of the teammates. ¡°Hey, let¡¯s go in!¡± ¡°Take them all out!¡± Of course, no matter how much mana the prosecutor had, it was impossible to continue spreading mana detection over such a wide area. However, by the time he started to tire, the majority of the guardians were already lying on the ground. Boom!! ¡­That¡¯s how more than a dozen guardians were sessfully subjugated. ¡°Huuk, huuk.¡± Only then did the prosecutor grab his panting legs and lean against the wall. As the extreme tension released, there was a temporary feeling of exhaustion. Excited teammates rushed towards him. ¡°Whoa, is he crazy? He went in without even drawing his sword.¡± ¡°He dodged almost by a paper-thin difference. How did he do it?¡± ¡°Thanks to him, no one got hurt at all.¡± ¡°Great victory, great victory!¡± Everyone had shown excellent performances in their positions, and those who expected high scores happily jumped around. There was also a clever one appealing to the surveince cameras on the ceiling. Awkwardly, the prosecutorughed along with them. In truth, he felt a bit overwhelmed. ¡®I did it!¡¯ Although he didn¡¯t swing the sword even once until the end, just the satisfaction of not causing trouble for the teammates was enough. The 100 gold he gave to Luke was well worth it. Tock-tock! Someone gently tapped on the prosecutor¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You really did well, Ban,¡± it was Evergreen. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª She, too, vaguely sensed that Ban was going through something emotionally challenging. Since the exhibition event, he had been wearing a mncholic expression. Seeing his face regainfort, she rejoiced as if it were her own aplishment. An excited voice followed, ¡°We did well. We smoothly passed through the trap area, and if things continue like this, we might even get first ce, don¡¯t you think?¡± First ce? Ban blinked his eyes slowly. It was a word he hadn¡¯t even thought about. With a pure smile, Evergreen asked, ¡°Do you have anything you want from the professor? I do.¡± ¡°I¡­,¡± Ban had something that came to mind. His gaze momentarily turned mncholic. ¡°I¡­¡± However, Evergreen didn¡¯t get to hear his answer. Gwaalmmm¡ª It was one of the corridors divided into several branches. About six guardians were approaching, making their characteristic growling noises, heading towards themon area where Team 4 was taking a break. The children didn¡¯t panic and picked up their weapons. ¡°What, were there more nearby?¡± ¡°There are only a few; let¡¯s quickly clear them and resume our journey.¡± At that moment, Evergreen, who held a bow, started trembling. A chilling coldness swept over her for a split second. ¡®What, what is it?¡¯ Ban stood up abruptly. The sensation of each hair freezing one by one. It felt like all the warmth in the space evaporated at once. Reflexively, they tilted their heads up and witnessed a sharp blue glow bursting beyond the guardians. Sizzlzz!! That was the end of it. The movements of the frozen guardians came to an abrupt halt. Then, a deformed sword shaped like a whip struck their bodies covered in ice. Crackling! Bang! The sound of air exploding emanated from the swift strikes of the sword. Following several more blows, the colossal bodies of the guardians, covered in ice powder, shattered into pieces. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°It seems like mana¡­?¡± The chilling cold of the formidable ice mana seemed to strike Team 4 as well. The children stood there, frozen, gazing at the approaching silhouette from the other side. Thud-thud! Kicking the fragments of the guardians, the approaching figure murmured, ¡°Hmm, this is the exact midpoint. I¡¯ll just wait here.¡± At her mischievous voice, Evergreen recalled the words of the warrior. ¡°Treat every other team in the dungeon as enemies. There¡¯s only one team that canplete the task. Sabotaging others can be a very effective strategy.¡± Other teams are enemies. If that¡¯s the case, she might be one of the worst enemies they could encounter in this dungeon. Evergreen bit her lip. ¡°Cuculli¡­¡± ¡°Oh, hi, Evergreen. How¡¯s the test going?¡± Cuculli stood before them with azy expression, her other team members nowhere in sight. It was a nonchnt attitude, not typical of someone who had just wielded powerful mana abilities, but her calm demeanor made her even more threatening. Standing alone in front of seven people, disying suchposure was by no means an easy feat. The Team 4 members hastily gripped their weapons. ¡°This doesn¡¯t look good.¡± The record Cuculli set at the beginning of the semester was famous. Some of them had even sparred with her. The problem was that she had achieved all those victories using only hand-to-handbat. ¡°We don¡¯t know how strong Cuculli is when she uses mana¡­ It¡¯s an unknown variable.¡± Of course, if they all attacked together, she might not win, but it would create a significant gap. The uncertainty surrounding the progress of the practical session was looming. The team members stared at Cuculli with tension. ¡°Oh?¡± However, Cuculli merely chuckled, looking at the weapons aimed at her. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s up?¡± She wore her typical harmless smile, and her demeanour didn¡¯t betray any hint of determination. Confused by her seemingly indifferent attitude, the team members were on edge. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m not interested in you guys anyway.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Just go.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Before I change my mind.¡± What¡¯s her game? Evergreen swallowed nervously. ¡®Is she really not nning to fight us? If it were someone else, they might have suspected it was a trick to catch them off guard. However, this was Cuculli. Would she bother with suchplex thoughts? Evergreen took slow steps, not letting her guard down. The team members followed cautiously. ¡®Is she really not nning to fight?¡¯ Evergreen wondered. Cuculli remained standing in the same spot. Evergreen took a few more steps, keeping her guard up. Strangely, Cuculli seemed unconcerned, as if Team 4 was not even worth considering. Her sparkling eyes remained fixed on the opposite corridor without any movement. ¡°Let¡¯s go¡± Evergreen said with a sigh of relief. However, a sense of impending defeat lingered. With mixed emotions, Evergreen left with her team. Cuculli stayed unmoved, her eyes still glinting as if fixated on a gift box in front of her. As they departed, Cuculli¡¯s eyes did not waver. They shone like those of a child fixated on a present. ¡°Where is she¡­?¡± ¡°Why is she alone?¡± Luke and Lucas¡¯ team arrived shortly after. Luke, upon spotting her, hesitated but still extended a hand toward her shoulder. ¡°Everyone, prepare for battle. Let¡¯s finish this with full force. Don¡¯t let your guard down. Think of it as exchanging two members,¡± Lukemanded. However, as determined as Luke was, Cuculli simply let them pass. ¡°Go ahead. Just passing through,¡± she said with a grin. Luke¡¯s team, puzzled, moved forward, and Cuculli¡¯s eyes remained unresponsive, as if focused on a present in front of her. ¡°Let¡¯s go. The assignmentes first.¡± The Lukas team vanished through the corridor. Cuculli finally moved when the Lucas team reached themon entrance. ¡°Ugh.¡± Stretchingzily, she blocked the path. ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys a bitte?¡± Levitating, Cuculli stood before them. Leciel stopped abruptly. ¡°Arrogant,¡± she muttered. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 59 Chapter 59 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Survival of the fittest, thew of the jungle. Only the strong survive, and the survivor consumes everything. Mercy only grants scraps to the weak. Therefore, strength is synonymous with justice. It is right for all members of the tribe to aspire to this goal. In thend of the dragons, such values were often praised. Survival or extinction. Predator or prey. In this harsh and rawnd, the Frost Dragon Tribe always stood in the position of predators. And among them, Cuculli adapted particrly well to this logic of power. Among the thirty or so children of Chief Dorempa, she was the only one who received his recognition. As the next chief, the one scheduled for the ¡°baptism¡± was also her. ¡°While you may be born weak, dying as a weakling is uneptable.¡± ¡°So, fight. Keep charging even if your limbs are broken. Every fight has lessons and values to offer!¡± Under such teachings, even before growing horns, Cuculli fought, and fought, and fought again. Of course, she didn¡¯t always win. Cuculli¡¯s fierce fighting spirit had no discrimination, and there were those stronger than her among them. However, she survived and faced the strong of North Hale at least once. ¡®It was around the time the northern region started getting a bit boring.¡¯ For her, thirsty for new challenges, Rosenstark¡¯s presence was a sufficient reason to decide on an imperial expedition. Fight the strong and gain knowledge. Most of her life flowed in such a manner, and Cuculli greatly enjoyed it. To her, Leciel catching her eye was an inevitable urrence. ¡°Wow, I really wish a professor would show up. Pretend to be drunk, challenge me once. How strong are you really? I¡¯ve been itching since the interview.¡± ¡°It probably won¡¯t be much of a challenge.¡± ¡°What about you then?¡± ¡°You seem to enjoy hearing the same answer.¡± It was from the first moment they met. That overwhelming talent was incredibly tempting. But above all, what strongly provoked Cuculli was the look in Leciel¡¯s eyes as she looked at the warrior. There was a burning determination. In the deep recesses of those seemingly indifferent, submerged pupils, Cuculli discovered intense emotions emanating heat. The moment she found the powerful emotions within those sinking eyes, Cuculli felt the mes transferring onto her. She was pleased. Pleased that she could meet such a friend before receiving the ¡°baptism.¡± ¡°Are you ready, Leciel?¡± *Click.* Cuculli¡¯s strong hand gripped the hilt of the sword. The sensation of each finger melding into the hilt, preparing for precise and powerful swordy, everything was ready. However, Leciel didn¡¯t draw her sword. She merely gazed at her with eyes flickering like mes. Cuculli chuckled. ¡°Do you still think it¡¯s not worth doing?¡± ¡°I guess you really didn¡¯t want to hear that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just nonsense.¡± ¡°Well, if that¡¯s all, you¡¯ll lose to me.¡± ¡­ In response, Leciel didn¡¯t say anything more and finally grasped her sword. At that moment, the other three members of Team 2 unconsciously stepped back into corners, gripping the handles of their swords. It felt like sharp des were wrapping around the entire space, a sensation of pain cutting into the air. Cuculliughed brightly. Her body lowered gradually, like a cat preparing for the hunt. ¡°I won¡¯t use magic because it¡¯s unfair.¡± ¡°No. Use everything you can. Do everything you can.¡± Leciel pounded the ground. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die¡­¡± With a loud bang, a powerful shockwave spread in all directions. ¡ª Early stages of the dungeon. It started when they entered the trap area. Leciel found herself in a very rational dilemma, considering the option of leaving her team members behind. Team 2. The warrior deliberately assigned the mostgging members to her team. From Leciel¡¯s perspective, it was a bursting disaster. They fell into a tantly visible trap, engaging in a battle that could have been avoided with hasty judgement. Leciel had thought about just abandoning her team and leaving. However, the words the warrior spoke in the previous ss stopped him in his tracks. ¡°Do you think your operation just now showed an understanding of your teammates?¡± Leciel knew too. She had no understanding of her teammates. She had no desire to understand them. Despite attending sses together multiple times, their names and faces were all blurry. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The words exchanged were all insipid and not worth responding to. But Leciel found herself actively trying to save the teammates screaming in agony, a self-discovery amid the chaos. ¡®Really annoying¡­.¡¯ All because of the shining video recording device embedded in the wall, which felt like the warrior¡¯s eyes. If she had left the team and acted independently, the warrior would have surely been disappointed. He would have looked at her with cloudy eyes, filled with disappointment, just like her grandmother. Just recalling that scene filled Leciel with determination. So, with great effort, she progressed through the dungeon, dragging the trio of burdensomepanions along. However, due to herck of familiarity with party y, it took quite some time just to reach the midpoint. ¡°You¡¯re really amazing.¡± ¡°Thanks, I owe my life to you.¡± ¡°Wow, if it weren¡¯t for Leciel, we would have been in big trouble. We would have been wiped out.¡± Well, it didn¡¯t feel that bad. It seemed like she showed the kind of behaviour the warrior desired. Until she saw the idiot waiting for her amid the dark corridors, she felt that way. ¡®It¡¯s already toote¡­ .¡¯ ng! Dodging the flying sword, she bit her lips tightly. Reluctantly, she admitted that it didn¡¯t seem like it would end quickly. The sound of the de hitting the ground echoed. Shifting the shape shifter into the most familiar form, a longsword, she thought, ¡®I need to finish this as quickly as possible.¡¯ In the world, Hiyashin¡¯s swordsmanship was often described as, ¡®Suitable for any situation.¡¯ For over three centuries, the Hiyashin family had produced countless swordsmen, and Leciel, inheriting that legacy, incorporated all the insights and techniques of the previous swordsmen into her own sword. She had mastered almost all types of swordsmanship, from longswords to curved swords and short swords. This mastery allowed her to handle any type of attack and prate any type of defense. The Shape Shifter, designed to freely disy this versatile swordsmanship, emitted a metallic sound as the de rippled, changing its shape and mass. ¡°Wow, amazing¡­!¡± With her mouth agape, Leciel sharply shouted at her teammates who were watching the spectacle. ¡°I¡¯ll join you allter, so continue on your own! I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯t get fooled again¡­!¡± ¡°Wow, you have a lot of free time!¡± ng! Failing in her surprise attack, Cuculli flipped through the air and rushed towards the ground again. Her wall of ck hair fluttered, and mana gathered in her right arm, the one wielding the sword. Sweeaak! An explosive sword strike shot towards Leciel¡¯s throat. The force beneath her footsteps was so powerful that it caused the ground under her boots to sink. Swirling sounds echoed as Cuculli¡¯s beloved weapon, her sword, transformed into a whip-like form. The flexible whip had a versatile range, and its unpredictable movements made it challenging to anticipate its trajectory. Moreover, the whip, a weapon capable of reaching the speed of sound, allowed for unexpected manoeuvres far surpassing ordinary humans. Moreover, the person wielding it now surpassed human capabilities in terms of bnce, muscle strength, reaction speed, concentration, and joint range of motion. This was why there was no peer who could withstand Cuculli for more than a few moves. However¡­ ¡°Sloppy.¡± Leciel¡¯s straightforward sword strike pierced through the myriad variations. Swish! The shadows of the countless changing forms that filled the arena disappeared in an instant. Leciel had no intention of prolonging the fight. She aimed to quickly subdue the opponent and be the first to ce the bomb artifact on the dungeon pedestal. Zing! ¡°Iko!¡± Meanwhile, Cuculli gradually realized that defeating Leciel with swordsmanship alone was impossible. The grip, capable of smashing even rocks, was too intimidating. ¡°Wow, this is a real monster.¡± Cuculli hesitated as she prepared to attack again. Splurt! Cuculli, who had dodged a stabbing attack from the corner, used her extremely flexible waist and sharp senses to return to her original position. The close-quarters battle was turning in Leciel¡¯s favour with each move. ¡°Haha, alright, let¡¯s see!¡± Szzz-! But she had magic. Powerful magic surged in Cuculli¡¯s outstretched left hand. Leciel had no choice but to grit her teeth. ¡®She said she wouldn¡¯t use it.¡¯ The way the Frost Dragons wielded magic differed entirely from humans. While their magic consumption was tremendous, they didn¡¯t require incantations, spell forms, or magic circles. Swoosh-! A thick ice wall suddenly appeared in the air, blocking Leciel¡¯s path. It was a distance where there was no time to stop. With increased velocity, her body collided with the ice wall. However, Cuculli had no expectation that the ice wall could stop Leciel. She soared over it effortlessly. Swhirrr-! Without losing much momentum, Leciel emerged on the other side of the ice wall. Her forehead was slightly furrowed, and her speed remained almost unaffected. Immediately, dozens of sword energy rained down. Anticipating the attack, Cuculli leaped, dodging in advance. Ssac-! Even so, the sole of her shoe was cut. ¡°Argh! Does this even make sense?¡± Her toes peeked out through the torn shoe as the wind chilled her feet. Yet, she didn¡¯t give up. Despite Leciel¡¯s seemingly wless swordsmanship, there must be weaknesses. She felt a subtle gap a few days ago, and now was the time to exploit it. Kwaang-! Cuculli mmed the ground and leaped, her exceptional physical abilitiesbined with magical output making it more akin to gliding through the air. Soaring to the ceiling, her hand extended towards Leciel. ¡°¡­?¡± Leciel¡¯s expression, initially focused on timing her descent, stiffened for the first time. Swoosh-! Swoosh-! Szzz-! Intense magic surged. Ice sculptures, forming adult upper bodies, emerged in the air,bining with a resounding noise. In a short time, a massive shadow loomed over the arena, a small icy mountain bathed in a bluish glow. ¡°Hehehe¡­.¡± At the top of the structure, Cuculli¡¯s horns gleamed a deep blue, indicating that over 90% of her magic potential was in y. ¡°Hurry up! Let¡¯s finish this quickly!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­.¡± Watching the scene, Leciel clicked her tongue. Even though she was facing Cuculli, who wasn¡¯t even the hero, the fact that she had to consider using ¡°Simgeum¡± bothered her. ¡®How much time has passed?¡¯ While other teams were likely progressing through the dungeon, relying solely on the trio of fools she had sent seemed unreliable. ¡®I should finish in first ce.¡¯ Feeling frustrated and rushed, everything seemed to be in chaos. ¡°Ah.¡± Leciel, for the first time in a long while, felt her sword tremble. In that moment of confusion and frustration, a colossal iceberg surged towards her. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 60 Chapter 60 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª As I sipped on the recovery potion that Pia handed me, I attentively observed the unfolding scenes on the screen in front of me. ¡°They seem to be doing better than I thought.¡± ¡°Yes, indeed. The expected dropout rate is only around 70%.¡± ¡°Is Team 3 the current leader?¡± ¡°Teams 3, 4, and 5 are neck and neck. We¡¯ll see whoes out on top when they inevitably face each other.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°By the way, you must be feeling proud. Everyone is different from the beginning of the semester.¡± ¡°They still have a long way to go.¡± This ce was the control room inside the dungeon. It was a location where we could monitor every nook and cranny of the dungeon in real-time through screens connected to the video recording and editing system. As I organised feedback to convey to the kids, I nodded with satisfaction. ¡®They are gradually getting the basics.¡¯ The significance of this practical training was twofold. First, it involved having the kids engage in party y in an environment simr to a real dungeon. In ordinary battles, showcasing my skills is far too easy¡ªdefined enemies, designated formations, and assigned roles. It¡¯s the perfect environment to apply the skills I¡¯ve honed one by one. But a dungeon is different. ¡®A dungeon itself can be considered a living organism.¡¯ Dungeons have a clear malicious intent to capture and devour humans. Tentacles or ws unexpectedly protruding from the walls are just the basics. The ground can copse for dozens of meters beneath your feet. And that¡¯s not all. Not to mention, acid raining from above, and toxic gases spraying from all directions. Various malicious traps are abundant. That¡¯s why we prepared ¡®Beast¡¯s Lair¡¯ to be as simr as possible. ¡®At least they seem to have developed a sense of caution about traps.¡¯ ¡°Hey, what¡¯s that popping out! It could be a trap, shoot it with arrows just in case!¡± ¡°Take it slow! Detection isn¡¯t finished yet, what if you rush and something happens!¡± ¡°There are human footprints here. Hasn¡¯t another team passed through already? We can speed up a bit.¡± It seemed that everyone had be more cautious. A positive development. If they don¡¯t forget what they¡¯ve learned today, they¡¯ll show a much better performance in the next practical session. And the second goal was to stimte petitive spirit¡¯. That goal was also well received. ¡°Those two are far beyond the level of ordinary students.¡± ¡°It¡¯s talent.¡± In the video, we looked beyond the slowly settling dust. There was only one standing on two feet. The faint green light, as if another defense artifact had been activated, sparkled through the dust. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s surprising.¡± ¡°What is it? The winner?¡± ¡°Well¡­ in various ways?¡± I nodded in agreement. Then I pointed to one of the many doors in the control room. It was the door connected to the midpoint of the fight between Cuculli and Leciel. ¡°So, our bear enthusiast will bring the eliminated ones here.¡± ¡°¡­Ugh, I told you not to tease me.¡± Thunk! The door closed, and the desperate footsteps faded away. ¡®A bear enthusiast¡­¡¯ When creating a dungeon through the Dungeon Stone, the structure and facilities reflect the creator¡¯s personality. ¡®¡­I wonder what¡¯s on their mind normally?¡¯ * * * ¡®¡­Isn¡¯t it cute?¡¯ At the end of the narrow corridor, an uneven floor made of worn tiles appeared, bearing the traces of the intense battle. Pia cautiously navigated through, searching for the ¡®eliminated ones.¡¯ ¡®Found them!¡¯ She soon discovered a silhouette, sitting in a daze, gazing up at the ceiling. ¡®She must be quite disappointed¡­¡¯ The battle was fierce, and the skill level was high. The massive iceberg that had fallen to the ground. When Leciel shattered parts of it, she levitated them into the air, using them as footholds. It was truly an unconventional method. Facing multidimensional attacks that traversed through the air, Leciel could only be perplexed. But that wasn¡¯t all. Cuculli reprocessed the shattered ice into arrow-shaped projectiles, and when her mana depleted, she engaged in closebat using her robust body. Kicking, stabbing with horns, biting. It was a tense fight that made even the spectators sweat. ¡®I wonder how disappointing it must be to fight so hard and still lose.¡¯ Pia, with a worried expression, tapped her on the shoulder. ¡°¡­Are you okay?¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± The silhouette that had been sitting copsed to the ground. Blue hair spread out like a broom. In that face surrounded by the refreshing colour, there was not a hint of shadow. Cuculli, who chuckled, stretched her arms and legs here and there. ¡°I lost, but next time, I¡¯ll definitely win!¡± Pia, almost involuntarily, burst intoughter. She was indeed an unusual child. ¡°Thank you for your hard work, Cuculli.¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± ¡°Can you get up? Those who fell midway should head to the assembly point first.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Cuculli grabbed Pia¡¯s hand and hugged her tightly. Despite being the mastermind behind this immense destruction, she felt surprisingly light. Supporting the limping Cuculli, Pia headed towards the corridor. It was then that Cuculli whispered something secretly. ¡°By the way, Instructor. Do you know who made this dungeon? They seem like a really peculiar person¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± * * * Lucas contemted. Since when? Since when did he start disliking him? Probably from the first time they met. They were simr, no they were too simr. The same age. The same gender. Even themonality of being heirs of prestigious families. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª But their talents were different. The entrance ceremony at the Elementary Academy. On that day when all praises were showered on the guy who disyed genius swordsmanship with a foolish face for the first time in his life, young Lucas learned the emotions of envy and jealousy. And he realized the fact that those words would relentlessly haunt him in the future. ¡®I would be the best.¡¯ It had certainly felt that way. When looking at that guy, the sword in his hand seemed to grow heavier. Even the swordsmanship that the Gasols praised¡­ ¡®It¡¯s just garbage.¡¯ He instinctively knew. No matter how hard he tried for the rest of his life, he couldn¡¯t wield a sword like that. It was the moment he first realized that he wasn¡¯t the protagonist of this world. That fact was too horrifying. So he weed it. The ¡°Nubes Salon Incident¡± that ruined half of his colleague¡¯s life. The disgraceful sight of him sinking without oveing his trauma. It was satisfying to see him, who received love for his sword only to tremble when holding the hilt. When he withdrew from the secondary academy, curled up like a loser, he thought he would never have to face him again as a fellow swordsman. ¡­Eternal victory. That¡¯s how everything returned to normal. For the past few years, Lucas had been the most highly regarded swordsman among the nobles. Lucas believed that this sweet reputation would continue in the future without a doubt. Hwoong! ¡®But why¡­?¡¯ Why? Lucas¡¯s teeth grinded. Squelch! Even now. Whoom! It seemed unreachable. Observing the sword cutting through the air, he couldn¡¯t help but harbour such a question. ¡°Ugh! This bastard!¡± Lucas swung his sword with all his might. His wrist and fingers flexed freely, creating countless variations. The essence of Wellington Swordsmanship was to mix a decisive blow amidst a downpour of sword shadows. No one could easily grasp the reality within the pouring sword shadows. However¡­ ¡°¡­¡± The movements of the boy avoiding the sword strikes were simple. His expression remained calm. Seemingly focused, he bit down on his lips, but that was it. The ck scabbard of the sword didn¡¯t even leave its sheath. ¡°Phew¡­.¡± Ban took a measured breath as he distanced himself. Lucas¡¯s poisonous gaze followed him. Once, the malicious gaze used to send shivers down his spine whenever they made eye contact. But now, his heart wasn¡¯t shaken by it. Heavy responsibility rested on his shoulders. ¡®I have to endure more.¡¯ The situation was like this. At the final stages of the dungeon, Ban¡¯s team had ovee numerous traps and guardians, and now, they were on the verge of reaching their destination, the heart of the dungeon. However, the passage leading to the core, where the dungeon stone was located, turned out to be surprisingly narrow. ¡®They say you meet the enemy at the single tree bridge.¡¯ Due to frequent battles, only two members of his group remained, him and Evergreen. Meanwhile, the third team, consisting of Lucas and Luke, emerged from a different passage, surprisingly maintaining their full five-member strength without any casualties. Hence, the decision was swift. ¡°Evergreen, run! Quickly!¡± ¡°Yeah, be careful, Ban!¡± Evergreen received the explosive artifact and leaped into the passage. The third team immediately pursued, but Ban blocked their way. Of course, Ban couldn¡¯t stop all five members. Luke and two others chased after Evergreen, leaving Lucas and one more to confront Ban. ¡°Try not to interfere, will you?¡± ¡°Yeah, sure.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll personally eliminate that guy. Just watch.¡± It was at that moment Lucas let his pride get the better of him. ¡°He¡¯s not going to interfere. He will just watch us.¡± ¡­.What a relief. ¡°Lucas is strong.¡± Among the top students, he was considered to have upper-tier skills. However, Ban felt confident that facing only Lucas, he could endure without drawing his sword. ¡®It¡¯s familiar.¡¯ Ban had seen this swordsmanship a lot during his time in elementary and middle academies. ¡®I¡¯m used to it.¡¯ To be precise, he had experienced this swordsmanship a lot. Since the time when Ban couldn¡¯t properly wield his sword, Lucas had enthusiastically challenged him to duels, reveling in the excitement of sparring. Naturally, Ban endured the duels, unable to retaliate. However, Ban¡¯s genius had memorized Lucas¡¯s sword movements even as he was being pummeled. In reality, Ban couldn¡¯t confront Lucas when he swung his sword, but in his mind, he could. Despite being knocked down, Ban remembered every trace of Lucas¡¯s attacks. Subconsciously, interpretations followed, and a solution dawned upon him. To Ban, it didn¡¯t seem absurd¡ªit was his ¡°innate talent¡± since birth. ¡°Uaaaah!¡± Thus, Lucas¡¯s sword never touched Ban. It couldn¡¯t. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°This, this! You son of a b****!¡± Lucas was furious, cursing and forgetting his noble pride. Just then, a sudden thud echoed, and both of them froze, staring at the opposite passage. ¡®What¡¯s this? Another team? What if someone sees us like this?¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s only one set of footsteps. I don¡¯t know who it is, but it might work in my favor. If I run and join Evergreen amidst the chaos¡­¡¯ They soon identified the silhouette. ¡°¡­Leciel?¡± But something was different. Dishevelled red hair. Eyes stripped of the indifference that had always surrounded them like armor. Instinctively, Ban distanced himself. ¡°Step aside.¡± The transformation served as both a warning and an event in itself. *nk!* The ordinary-sized sword turned into a massive greatsword, radiating a fiery de. A swift motion brightened the once-dark surroundings, causing shadows to tremble. The overwhelming presence alone was enough to make one loseposure. However, fortunately, the sword did not swing. With a sh, the entire dungeon was illuminated. [The control room announces the end of the exercise. The dungeon stone has been destroyed. Students, please follow the arrows on the wall and move to the meeting area. Let me inform you once again, the dungeon stone¡­ .] Ban and Evergreen, along with Lucas and the members of Team 3, stood frozen. Amon question echoed in their minds. ¡­Which team won? HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 61 Chapter 61 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª In stark contrast to the dungeon, which had been gloomy and tense throughout, the gathering ce had a veryfortable atmosphere. It was adorned with appropriate lighting that revealed every nook and cranny, along with refreshing and pleasant air. It was a space where the tension built up during the battle could gently dissipate. crackle¡­ Children gathered closely around a warm bonfire, looking at the Hero standing in front of them. ¡°You¡¯ve all worked hard. You must have learned and realized a lot during this practical training. Please don¡¯t forget and apply what you¡¯ve learned in the next session.¡± The Hero finished speaking and gestured to Pia. The children¡¯s eyes widened as they saw the cart Pia had brought. Zoom-! Cucullinded gracefully on it, her horns swaying from side to side. ¡°Heuk, heuk. Meat! It¡¯s meat!¡± ¡°Oh, there¡¯s also alcohol!¡± The forgotten hunger now made its presence. The current time was noon. They had been fighting on an empty stomach for almost six hours since dawn. Their stomachs were practically sticking to their backbones. The Hero grabbed Cuculli¡¯s tail, pulling her out and concluding his speech. ¡°I¡¯ll give you two hours now. Take a break and share your thoughts and feedback with each other.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°Hurry, hurry!¡± Thus, an unexpected feast unfolded. ¡°Well, let¡¯s eat!¡± Children gathered around naturally, without picking specific groups. The one that attracted the most attention was, unsurprisingly, the victorious group. ¡°Is this a cheerful rebellion?¡± ¡°Wow, honestly, we didn¡¯t really expect you guys to win.¡± ¡°No, how did you do it? We thought you would lose since your group never encountered ours.¡± As they perceived the other group as rtively weaker, there was even more focus on them. Gerald, at the center, wore an extremely proud expression as he sincerely answered each person. His shoulders almost reached his ears in triumph. ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s right¡­,¡± he mused. He had been receiving pitiful looks ever since the brutal education he received from the Hero in the first ss. Weren¡¯t there even some mean-spirited people who openlyughed at me to my face? ¡°Hahaha! Fool, you¡¯re a fool!¡± Now, the days of insult and contempt are over. He was filled with emotion and patted the back of the person responsible for this victory. Bang, bang! The girl¡¯s ck hair swayed rhythmically. Group 5 was the first to ce the explosive artifact in the heart of the simtion. This was thanks to their swift breakthrough of the early stages densely packed with traps. ¡°Hey, good job. Were you some kind of detection hound? It felt like it!¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ thanks.¡± Nyhill nodded as she toyed with the meat in her hands. Gerald gazed at her indifferent face with a strange expression. Under the silky ck hair, her clean and fair skin, tinged reddish by the warmth of the bonfire, was revealed. When their eyes met, she casually averted her gaze. Gerald suddenly realized something. ¡®Come to think of it, this is the first time I¡¯ve had a conversation with her.¡¯ Of course, he was aware of her existence. However, amidst extreme personalities with excessive quirks, Nyhill, with no distinct features, was just vague. A quiet,moner-origin colleague. If forced to point out a characteristic, it would be her unyielding calm expression. Anyway, she gave off a feeling of not standing out in anything. ¡°Today was a bit different, though.¡± It was in the early trap zone. When team members were gradually falling into traps, Nyhill took the lead. Since then, it has been a series of impressive scenes. ¡®Is she some kind of ranger?¡¯ She instinctively seemed to grasp the intention of every trap. Her momentary instincts and agile reactions were also at an extraordinary level. Thanks to her, they could quickly navigate through the trap area. Even when facing the guardians, she reliably covered his blind spots and assisted inbat. To others, she might seem to have made little contribution, but Gerald, standing at the forefront, felt with his entire being how invaluable she was. Gerald felt an urge to add another word. ¡°By the way, you worked really hard today.¡± ¡°Worked hard?¡± Nyhill set down the meat she was eating. Gerald nodded absentmindedly. ¡°Yeah, it was different from usual.¡± ¡°Different from usual¡­?¡± ¡°Do you have a wish you¡¯d ask the professor or something?¡± ¡°A wish?¡± Nyhill¡¯s eyes, mirroring Gerald¡¯s words like a parrot, shook ever so slightly. Her ck pupils turned towards the Hero on the other side before returning to their original position. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ It resembled the face of a child caught doing something mischievous. Gerald chuckled, feeling the odd impression. Soon, Nyhill realized her mistake and, trying to divert Gerald¡¯s attention, asked, ¡°What about you? What do you want from the professor?¡± ¡°Me? I¡¯ve got it all nned out.¡± Following Nyhill¡¯s intention, skepticism disappeared from Gerald¡¯s eyes, reced by a rising excitement. ¡°A signature. I¡¯m going to get a signature.¡± ¡°A signature? You mean, like signing something?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Why a signature?¡± ¡°What a silly question.¡± His own spear. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The Hero¡¯s writing would be engraved on the family heirloom passed down through generations in the Bryce lineage. ¡®To my beloved student Gerald, filled with affection and support.¡¯ ¡°Something like that!¡± I don¡¯t think he will do it¡­.. Nyhill mumbled as she continued to eat her meat. But upon hearing Gerald¡¯s words, the concept of a ¡®wish¡¯ became inevitable. Maybe imagining wouldn¡¯t hurt. Nyhill pondered deeply. Meanwhile, other children were also enjoying a sweet break. ¡°You! You watched me!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°You almost caught me!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t, really.¡± There was Luke, avoiding the energetic Evergreen who was hopping around in frustration and changing his spot. ¡°Hey, Ban. I saw you at that time.¡± ¡°How did you do that? Dodging everything so smoothly.¡± Among the children, there was also Ban, emitting a brightugh. ¡°¡­But why are you here?¡± ¡°I got kicked out for eating it before it was even cooked!¡± ¡°Well, that makes sense.¡± ¡°Urgh! you are aiding and abetting bullying!¡± Even Cuculli, coveting the Hero¡¯s meat, was there. ¡°¡­¡± Leciel, with a stoic expression, didn¡¯t touch the cooking meat and just stared into space as it sizzled. Regardless, the practical training had left an impression on everyone. ¡°Pia, you did a great job.¡± It was Pia who had stayed up for several nights preparing for this dungeon practical training. She sat huddled like a sleepy cat, absorbing the warmth from the bonfire, faintly smiling as she raised her cup. ¡°Thank you, Professor.¡± With that, the dungeon practical training, filled with chatter and adventures, came to an end. * * * Nyhill¡¯s routine was as follows: She would contact the informants, verify the newly updated information, and review the data collected by the dolls. The surveince and observation tasks were divided among the staff¡ªSta monitored the staff, Sergei took care of the servants and children, and the dolls scattered in the nearby vige gathered external information. After selecting any notable incidents to report to the Hero, she spent the remaining time observing and guarding the children. In the past few days, most of the children had spent their time in the training ground. Perhaps it was because they directly felt the strength of theirpetitors and their own shorings during this practical training. The intensity of the training had significantly increasedpared to before. Therefore, Nyhill¡¯s time in the training ground naturally extended as well. ¡°¡­¡± As usual, Nyhill found her ce in a corner. No one showed any interest in her. Under her abundant hair, her sparkling ck eyes moved here and there. ¡®¡­Everyone is working hard.¡¯ The training ground was bustling with activity. Everywhere she looked, it was filled with children sweating and exerting themselves. Even though they gasped for breath as if they were about to copse, their eyes didn¡¯t lose their vitality. ¡°Euhaha, take my spear!¡± ¡°Gerald, you¡¯ve gotten slower! Is that all you can do? Do you want to burst out like in orientation!?¡± ¡°No, suddenly painful memories¡­¡± Although Gerald had achieved first ce in this practical training, his treatment towards Nyhill seemed unchanged. Nyhill blinked for a moment. ¡®How interesting. Do they find training enjoyable?¡¯ A bright smile lingered on their lips as they swung their weapons with more vigor, as ifpeting with each other. Joy, passion, a sense of aplishment. Suddenly, ghosts of the rigorous training she had undergone to be a ghost candidate shed through Nyhill¡¯s mind. The long and harsh training that took ce in an unknown abandoned building. It was a time when even a smile was hard toe by. She wondered how the ghost candidates she lived with at that time would be if they were still alive. If she had lived with them, would she have learned to smile like that? ¡®¡­¡¯ Probably not. Nyhill¡¯s eyes, which had scanned her face reflected in the darkness, turned back to the present. Children who had lived entirely different lives from them. And children who would lead entirely different lives. For an ordinary person, this might have been a somewhat awkward moment, but Nyhill didn¡¯t pay it much mind. Her eyes, with a hint of crimson, shifted from her past to the front. The hands that had tightly grasped her growling stomach. In one hand, a bag of bread; in the other, the hand of a vige child holding onto her mother¡¯s hand. She, remembering that scene, was already ustomed to this kind of dissonance. The once vivid jealousy had long disappeared without a trace. ¡­Certainly, it must have been like that. ¡°5th team, if any of the 8 members have something they wish for,e to my researchb.¡± ¡°Wow! A wish ticket!¡± It was a few days ago, towards the end of the ss. Most of the ssmates from her team seemed to have visited the Hero. There were also a few posts on the connector. ¨C Hoho, I thought of a wish to ask the Hero. I¡¯ll be back. ©¸ What wish are you asking for!? ©¸ There is something like that! ©¸ Please block this person¡­. ¨C I never thought he would grant such a wish. ©¸ What wish did you ask for! ©¸ It¡¯s a secret! ©¸ Sigh¡­. ¡­something they wish for. Nyhill pondered on that phrase for a moment. To the ¡®Ghosts,¡¯ rewards were a distant and alien concept. Performing the tasks assigned to them was a natural part of their existence. Situations like this, where rewards were given for outstanding performance, felt very unfamiliar. ¡®Since the Hero asked for what I wish for¡­¡¯ Of course, as her real identity was not a student, such a thing would not happen. But imagination was supposed to extend beyond reality. Nyhill thought for a moment about what she might wish for. ¡®Even me¡­¡¯ In an instant, Nyhill fiercely shook her head. The cool voice of a phantom echoed in her ears. ¡°Hmm, for No. 3 it¡¯s always slow to realize. Emotions, desires, memories¡­ who would want a tool with an inner self?¡± ¡°Burial. It¡¯s all about burying them.¡± She knew very well what the fate of an unwanted tool was. Nyhill rigidly refocused on her original mission. . . . That night, an anonymous post appeared on the connector. ¨C If you could make a wish to the Hero, what would you wish for? Amidst countless posts covering various topics on the anonymous bulletin board, a single post written with the courage of a lifetime had appeared. Unfortunately, due to the abundance of simr posts, it disappeared without a trace, buried and forgotten. [TL/N: Man she doesn¡¯t deserve this¡­.she¡¯s a kid too.] HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 62 Chapter 62 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª At that moment, the ¡°traitor¡± opened and closed his eyes. The consciousness that had been fading away became clear once again. It was an opulent room, extravagant enough to make even an emperor envious. The space vividly disyed the owner¡¯s vulgar desires in all their glory. There, he once again faced the demons. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö, report on the progress of the mission.¡± The demon, with a sulphurous breath that carried a pungent smell, spat out the name of the traitor. The traitor, in a demeanour somewhat more confident than before, spoke up. ¡°The distribution of the ¡®new medium¡¯ is progressing smoothly. Although the nearby borders have been reinforced due to the recent attack on the auction house by the Demonic Church, given some time, we should be able to import the produced goods into Rosenstark without any issues.¡± ¡°It seems we can approach the prey in the near future.¡± ¡°Yes, please enjoy it to your heart¡¯s content! You can pick and choose to eat as much as you¡¯d like.¡± The demon nodded in satisfaction. There was no sign of the discontent and resentment that was evident in the traitor¡¯s face during their previous encounter. This meant that the n was proceeding well. ¡°I should start making some moves on our end soon so that the Demonic Church can move on to the next phase of their n.¡± ¡°Your words make sense. By the way, how do you n to support the Demonic Church for the time being?¡± ¡°Put it on hold for now. There¡¯s a concern of being caught. If the Imperial tracking diminishes, and if those fellows show some results, we can gradually increase our support.¡± ¡°Well, the church leader was quite lively with her actions.¡± The traitor raised his voice in excitement. This n, which they were now responsible for, held the promise of iparable rewards if sessful. A sly smile appeared on the traitor¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it. Pushing the ¡®new medium,¡¯ isn¡¯t this the first time since the ¡®Nubes Salon incident¡¯? I¡¯ll take responsibility and deliver results worthy of your expectations.¡± ¡°Ah, Nubes Salon¡­ a name I miss dearly.¡± The demon¡¯s head slowly moved up and down. Sweet and sensuous memories began to surface. He truly loved the agony, fear, loss, and despair of humans. However, sadly, the quality varied greatly for each specimen they provided. The emotions emanating from the wretched and disgusting things were tepid and sour. On the other hand, among humans, the higher beings¡­ He enjoyed and continues to enjoy many things. The vors of what the ones toe will produce will be truly remarkable! In that sense, the prey of Nubes Salon were an umon delicacy. ¡°Hmm¡­.¡± The demon¡¯s finger tapped slowly on his lips. Irregr fangs were revealed between the smoldering lips. ¡°I feel hunger.¡± Witnessing the grotesque gesture, the traitor swallowed his saliva. The gaze that saw humans as mere prey. Born as a human, the feeling of seeing the upper echelons of the food chain was something he could never get used to. ¡°Well, I¡¯m looking forward to it. The premium goods were raised in the finest breeding ground, Rosenstark.¡± With those final words, the demon concealed his form. The ¡®traitor¡¯ finally exhaled the breath he had been holding. Just for a moment. A pale face harbored feelings of guilt and shame. ¡­He knew. Their n would plunge many people¡¯s lives into hell. Being born and raised as a human, he couldn¡¯tpletely rid himself of guilt. But¡­ ¡®After all, living is hell. Isn¡¯t it?¡¯ He thought. He, too, had a life that was once so mundane and ordinary before taking their hands. A time when he groveled before insignificant beings that he can never return to. ¡°Originally, living is about pushing each other away and devouring one another.¡± That¡¯s how the world works; it¡¯s the essence of being human. The traitor shook off the repugnant emotions, resolute to get back to work. It was time to resume the task at hand. * * * Meanwhile, the hero, who was immersed in work in theboratory as usual, suddenly perked up at a sharp noise. Beep-beep-beep¡ª The sharp notification sound echoed from the bottom drawer of the table, where themunication orb connected directly to the Emperor was stored. ¡®¡­Euphemia?¡¯ In response to the unexpected contact, the hero hurriedly retrieved themunication orb. The background seen through the clear video was a spacious office, with the twilight illuminating the silver hair by the window like the crown. The emperor, who greeted him with the appearance of an arrogant and strong monarch as always, got straight to the point. . . . The hero, too, queried about the ¡®unpleasant news¡¯ that Euphemia deemed important enough to deliver personally. ¡°A new leader has appeared in the Demonic Church¡­ Is it certain?¡± [I trust the skills of my interrogators.] The hero had already suspected that the Demonic Church was behind the recent events. However, the sudden emergence of a new leader was unexpected and unwee. ¡®If the new leader is as strong as the former one¡­¡¯ He recalled the ¡®Original¡¯ mentioning the former cult leader, describing her as a formidable adversary close to the level of a legionmander. With her arrival, the Demonic Church rapidly expanded its influence, establishing substantial cooperation with demons and absorbing hostile factions among other races, causing numerous headaches. ¡®Most importantly, she was the one who severed the arms of the infamous Yussi.¡¯ Regardless of the hero¡¯s increased strength, he knew he couldn¡¯t currently match her level. Reactively, he absentmindedly touched the wolf figurine in his embrace. ¡®¡­I need to increase my progress and be stronger.¡¯ [Nevertheless, for the time being, you can take a breath. We¡¯ve located several of their hideouts and turned them into a mess.] ¡°Where is the cult leader?¡± [Unfortunately, we haven¡¯t found her yet. We¡¯re still pursuing her, but there¡¯s a high chance she¡¯s escaped beyond the borders of the Empire.] The hero nodded understandingly. ¡°For now, I¡¯ll be aware of it. By the way, there was something I wanted to ask, and this works out well.¡± [A coincidence. I also have something I want to ask.] ¡°Go ahead.¡± Euphemia¡¯s pupils coldly sank after that. Her lips twitched slightly. The Emperor spoke sharply. [You.] ¡°¡­.¡± [Do you really think you¡¯ve be the true hero?] It was a voice tinged with anger and disappointment. ¡®¡­So, this is the main point.¡¯ The hero didn¡¯t flinch at the Emperor¡¯s anger. Given the report on the exhibition incident, it was something he could naturally expect. Seeing hisposed expression, the Emperor, in a fit of irritation, ran her hand through her hair. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [I¡¯m disappointed that you seem to understand exactly what I¡¯m trying to say.] Each rising tone in the Emperor¡¯s increasingly forceful words was as sharp as a de. [All the merchants and nobles at that damned exhibition¡­ It wouldn¡¯t have mattered if they all died. The students too. It might have been a bit noisy for a few months, but they are all receable resources.] ¡°Sure.¡± [But what about you? What about your situation?] The Emperor¡¯s eye twitched. Her voice grew louder and faster. [You should have avoided the scene, whether they lived or died. ¡®Desmond Lusser¡¯ is a criminal of the red grade. He was a guy requiring elite troops on arge scale and several knights for suppression. You survived because you were less pathetic than I thought, but what if a dangerous situation had urred?] ¡°¡­.¡± [Don¡¯t you think your sense of justice almost led you astray?] The hero remained silent for a moment before responding. ¡°I don¡¯t engage in fights I can¡¯t win.¡± [¡­What?] ¡°If I die.¡± The hero¡¯s eyes locked onto the Emperor. ¡°If I die, I know exactly what will happen.¡± Every human settlement will be engulfed in mes. ¡°If I die, every human vige will burn. Farmers will spill blood on the fields they tended to, and children who haven¡¯t tasted the fruits of life will die far from their homes, d in ill-fitting armour, calling for their mothers. The absence of a hero in this world means that such tragedies will multiply manyfold. So, I never engage in fights I can¡¯t win. This fight was calcted and executed with thorough nning.¡± [Ha¡­] The hero smiled gently. ¡°I mean, if a truly dangerous situation arises, I won¡¯t hesitate to flee. I apologize for causing concern this time.¡± ¡­The Emperor was incredulous. Look at that expression. He says he¡¯s sorry, but there¡¯s no hint of regret on his face. She realized that he believes he can save people even if he goes back again. But what was even more baffling was the fact that his obstinate and upright gaze was too familiar. Eyes that resembled the real thing too much. Annoyed muttering was all she could manage. [How did you be friends with that bastard, I can see it now.] ¡°In that case, I will be careful in the future.¡± With those words, the hero took the wolf statue from his embrace and ced it in front of themunication bead. A very skillful shift in the topic. The Emperor stared at the suddenly appearing statue with round eyes. [What¡¯s this?] ¡°Probably what the Demonic Church was after.¡± [This wasn¡¯t in the report.] Euphemia scrutinized the wolf statue carefully. Even through themunication bead, the strangeness emanating from it was evident. [Well, there was some unexpected gain from your leap. So, what is this thing?] ¡°I tried to find out, but failed. It¡¯s locked. We need a specialist in mechanical devices.¡± [Hmm, looking for an artisan? There are a few even in Rosenstark.] ¡°That level won¡¯t be enough. There¡¯s also the risk of information leakage.¡± [So?] ¡°The only person who can solve this is¡­ No, I should say the only being. We need to find a dwarf.¡± Euphemia¡¯s eyes narrowed. [¡°Are you looking for ¡®Noubelmag¡¯?¡±] Noubelmag. The master cksmith mentioned by Rachel at the auction house, a renowned general who used to oversee the equipment production and management of the Dawn Knights. He was adorned with various grand titles like the Miracle Craftsman, Master of a Thousand Hands, and the Mythic Butcher, among others. Of course, those who had witnessed his skills firsthand didn¡¯t find them as grand as the titles suggested. [Noubelmag dered sudden retirement a few years ago and has since hidden from the public eye. You should at least know that.] The hero nodded. ¡°Yeah. I heard that even the ¡®Original¡¯ couldn¡¯t stop his retirement.¡± [Stubborn dwarves usually stick to their decisions until the grave.] ¡°Can we find him?¡± [If he¡¯s alive, there¡¯s a possibility, but so far, no one has bothered to look for him.] ¡°Why?¡± [Ted said so.] The hero recalled the time when the ¡®Original¡¯ mentioned Noubelmag¡¯s retirement in the past. Certainly, there was a reason for his retirement. ¡®Ah.¡¯ The hero remembered it and fell silent. ¡°Still, I n to meet him. There might be some useful aspects to it. A lot of time has passed since then; his mindset might have changed.¡± [Hmm. I doubt it, but¡­] Euphemia tilted her head, looking at the hero¡¯s eyes. [Anyway, I will order the intelligence department to find his whereabouts. Don¡¯t expect too much. If he¡¯s been hiding in a burrow, it won¡¯t be easy to find him even for our agents.] ¡°Thanks.¡± [Sure¡­ My business is done.] ¡°My business just finished too.¡± [Then.] The hero unexpectedly spoke as the Emperor reached out to end themunication with themunication bead. ¡°Just a moment.¡± [What is it? Is there something left?] The hero hesitated for a moment and then spoke. ¡°You said you might know how I became friends with the ¡®Original.¡¯¡± [That¡¯s right.] ¡°So how did you be close to him?¡± [What do you mean?] ¡­How did you be close to Ted? In response to the unexpected question, Euphemia narrowed her eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t have to answer if it¡¯s awkward.¡± It wasn¡¯t just a question thrown out of curiosity. The warrior wanted to gather more information about the intimate rtionship between the Emperor and ¡®Original¡¯. It could help understand ¡®Original¡¯ better. Of course, there was also genuine curiosity about the details. The Empress remained silent for a moment, then responded with a peculiar expression. [Did you never hear it from Ted?] ¡°Unfortunately, not at all.¡± [¡­¡­] There was a slight disappointment in her intricate expression. Shoulders slumped. [Seems like he either forgot or didn¡¯t think it was important enough to mention to you.] The warrior tilted his head. ¡°Well, there are memories you don¡¯t want to share. Precious memories are often like that, aren¡¯t they?¡± The Emperor chuckled. [Today is unusually¡­ whimsical. ying with trivial words and all.] However, unlike her sarcastic tone, the Empress seemed to quite like what the warrior had said. The silent rise of the corners of her mouth and the sparkle in her eyes. The rigid face loosened for a moment. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The warrior realized that long-forgotten memories were passing through her mind. It was a moment when the answer to the question became even more intriguing. ¡°So, what about it?¡± But unexpectedly, the Empress smirked and deflected. [I¡¯ll give it back to you exactly as you said it] ¡°¡­What?¡± [There are memories one doesn¡¯t want to share.] Thud! ¡°¡­¡­?¡± With that, themunication was cut off. However, just before that. An unexpected, clear and transparentughter faintly echoed. ¡®Seems like I know how we became acquainted.¡¯ The warrior chuckled. * * * Training ground. ¡­Whoosh-! The girl swung her sword. Thrilling sense of achievement, burning passion. None of that. As usual, Leciel simply swung her sword. Well, maybe a bit longer than usual. ¡®I won.¡¯ Yes, she won. Cuculli couldn¡¯t be her match. Leciel used every ounce of magic power she had and employed every possible method to defeat Cuculli. But looking at her fallen opponent, Rachel felt nothing but a sense of defeat. Persistent disappointment. It was aimed at no one else but herself. Struggling to win against a peer. Defeating a certain hero and returning the title of Sword Saint to Hiyashin. ¡°Hah, hah.¡± In the midst of the pain that felt like her lungs were on fire, Rachel unconsciously recalled the face of a certain man. Ashen hair, ashen eyes. Rough hands and feet with a strikingly tall figure. Broad shoulders. Upright posture and neat attire. A face with a hint of dissatisfaction. The grip on the sword tightened. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Rachel, swinging the sword, made a faltering sound. A slippery feeling on the hilt. The sword was slipping away. ¡°Uh?¡± The ground tilted. Beyond the spinning vision, a pale moon was visible. Something was odd. Wasn¡¯t it daytime when she first started swinging the sword? Thump! ¡­Damn. Rachel spat out the dirt that entered her mouth. Her eyes closed slowly. Somewhere in the haze of half-consciousness, she heard the sound of someone approaching. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 63 Chapter 63 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Huh?¡± Leciel, who had just woken up, blinked her eyes slowly and looked at the unfamiliar face of a woman in front of her. Estimated to be in her mid-30s. Wearing a gown. Faint scent of medicine. A white and sterile space. It didn¡¯t take her long to figure out the situation. ¡°Are you awake?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°To cut to the chase, this is the infirmary, and your friend found you copsed, so he brought you here.¡± ¡°My friend?¡± ¡°The guy with chestnut-colored hair. He¡¯s big and has a face as gentle as a puppy. Quite the catch, isn¡¯t he? Is he your boyfriend? Lucky you.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t bother answering annoying questions like this. That¡¯s how it is.¡± The therapist smiled and stretched her arms, then let out a soft sigh. The smell of cigarette smoke lingered. ¡°I heard you swung your sword without a break from Friday night to Monday dawn¡­ Even at a lively age, you can¡¯t do that without consequences.¡± Upon hearing that, Leciel btedly looked out the window. A red sunset seemed to set the quiet correctional facility aze. The sense of time was ambiguous, as if it had never existed in the first ce. ¡°Um¡­.¡± ¡°Call me Minerva. You can call me Minerva casually.¡± ¡°Yes, Therapist Minerva. What time is it now¡­ or, when is it?¡± ¡°Surprisingly, it¡¯s Tuesday evening today. How does it feel to have been unconscious for over a day?¡± Leciel sat up abruptly. ¡°sses! I have assignments to do,¡± she eximed. ¡°Oh,e on, that¡¯s not the issue right now. Just rest and don¡¯t move for a while,¡± Minerva advised. ¡°Who says so?¡± Leciel asked. Minerva¡¯s lips twitched slightly, forming a smirk. She gestured towards the ceiling, recalling the person who had unexpectedly visited this morning, relieving the boredom of duty. ¡°Who else could it be? The hottest professor at Rosenstark.¡± ¡°The hottest¡­ professor?¡± Leciel questioned. ¡°Oh my, oh my. Look at you, not even using proper titles. Kids these days are scary,¡± Minerva remarked. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Why are you staring so intently? Lie back down, quickly.¡± Leciel seemed to be about to say something, opened her mouth, then closed it. ¡­Quite an unusual person. Usually, even seasoned faculty members, once they knew her background, treated her with deference. But this therapist dealt with her just like any ordinary patient, asserting her opinion. ¡®You¡¯re just a patient, and I¡¯m a therapist.¡¯ Minerva¡¯s loose smile seemed to convey that meaning. Tap. For some reason, Leciel found it agreeable, so she followed her instructions andy back down. ¡°Right, good girl. Well done,¡± she said, praising her. Praising her for that? Leciel covered her face with the nket, perplexed. Minerva, tapping her forehead with her hand, continued talking. ¡°Oh, right. Look at my mind! When you¡¯re discharged, head straight to the professor¡¯s researchb. Don¡¯t forget! If I don¡¯t deliver the message properly, I might get scolded¡­ or is it a gain?¡± Watching Minerva seriously ponder the pros and cons, Leciel, still dazed, asked, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Why the dy?¡± Minerva responded. ¡°They said you¡¯re going to have a counselling session. If you run away again, be prepared to clean the toilets throughout your remaining time at school.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Leciel quietly found her way to the research building two dayster. After spending the whole day resting on the infirmary bed, she was in good condition. However, the impending schedule at the end weighed heavily on Leciel¡¯s mind. ¡°Just one more day? Oh my, she¡¯s the type to act spoiled once she gets close,¡± someonemented. ¡°¡­Not possible?¡± Leciel attempted his first act of persuasion but failed miserably. ¡®¡­I don¡¯t want to go for counselling.¡¯ Even she, who spent time stacking up bricks of confidentiality with her peers, roughly knew how the counselling with the Hero went. For a while, the Connector, and even the lounge, buzzed with stories about it. ¡®Dreamscape¡­.¡¯ It was said to be an artifact that showed desired fantasies. Actually, that was quite awkward. ¡®A desired fantasy, huh?¡¯ As Leciel entered the corridor connecting to the research building, she pondered deeply. ¡®What do I really want?¡¯ The first thing that came to mind was undoubtedly gaining recognition from her grandmother. Would the fantasy then involve regaining the title of ¡®Swordmaster¡¯? ¡°Uh¡­.¡± Leciel stood still in the corridor, contemting. Regaining the title of ¡®Swordmaster¡¯. For this proposition to be valid, she would naturally have to defeat the Hero with a sword. If, in the dreamscape, she saw a fantasy where she fought and subdued the Hero? ¡°Ugh.¡± Witnessing such a scene, whether amicably or not, with the person involved could be incredibly embarrassing and awkward. Leciel struggled with the desire to turn away for a moment. If it weren¡¯t for the threat of toilet cleaning, she would have undoubtedly fled. ¡®¡­Right. There¡¯s no rule that says it has to be such an instinctive fantasy.¡¯ Leciel suppressed her anxiety. Evergreen ended up just chatting with the Hero in front of the peaceful scenery of his hometown. ¡®I wish it would just be a safe fantasy¡­.¡¯ Leciel genuinely hoped for that. She didn¡¯t want others gossiping about her, especially not about her rtionship with the Hero. *Knock, knock!* Leciel tapped on the door of the researchb. The Hero¡¯sb was overwhelming from the entrance. It was said that he upied three floors all by himself. In terms of area, it seemed easily ten timesrger than the other professors¡¯bs. *Swish.* As the door opened, a stern-eyed assistant revealed herself. Leciel inadvertently peeked inside. The Hero¡¯s figure was not visible. A cracked voice followed, ¡°Ah, Miss Leciel, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯ve been waiting.¡± ¡°Hello, Assistant. I¡¯vee for counselling.¡± ¡°Yes, just go to the room at the far right on the second floor. The professor is waiting for you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The researchb was not well organized. Various-sized ss containers were scattered on long workbenches. Experiment data, charts, and graphs were attached to the walls. Maneuvering through precarious piles of documents and various expensive-looking devices, Leciel headed towards the ¡°Advisory Room¡± on the second floor. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the firmly closed door. *Knock, knock.* ¡°It¡¯s Leciel.¡± . . . And a short whileter. She looked at the scene in front of her with a somewhat awkward expression. The Hero also seemed somewhat surprised. ¡°Can you exin where we are?¡± Leciel hesitated before speaking, ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± And it was true. Leciel couldn¡¯t even guess what connection this unfamiliar space had with her. * * * The descendants of the Hiyashin family had lived in the ancestral home of the First Swordmaster for generations. A suburb slightly removed from the city center, located about an hour away by horse-drawn carriage from Giros. Beforeing to the academy, Leciel likely spent her entire life there. The Hero had visited the area as well. There was a beautifulke there too. Dense forests, filled with magical energy, surrounded the area. However, it was entirely different from this type of scenery. *Shooaah¡ª* HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª *Shooaahaaa¡ª* The Hero shielded his eyes from the sunlight, which was piercing through. Under the radiant sun, the vast sea unfolded in a way that could momentarily make one forget the situation. A wide, azure ocean, clear and transparent like ss, rippled in the sunlight. ¡­They were standing on the coastline. The Hero tilted his head. Having traveled extensively across the continent, he could roughly guess where this sea might be. The southernmost part of the continent, beyond the Great Forest. The vast and endless sea that one would reach after passing through the Grand Forest. ¡®Strange.¡¯ The fantasies created by the Dreamscape shared the nature of dreams and reality. A spectacle made from fragments of the subconscious. In other words, this sea was drawn based on andscape that Leciel had seen before. ¡®Did she go on vacation with her grandmother to the south? Beyond the Grand Forest?¡¯ ¡­It wasn¡¯t an impossible story. However, Leciel, with an expression of unfamiliarity, was looking around. The Hero asked, ¡°Can you exin where we are?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± The warm breeze tousled Leciel¡¯s bangs. The gem-like irises of the exposed girl were lost in confusion. The Hero felt the need to lighten the mood a bit. ¡°Well, how about we take a look around first?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°As you know, the Dreamscape is an artifact that shows what the psyche desires.¡± Leciel nodded. She knew. That¡¯s probably why she felt awkward about seeking counselling. ¡°But it can be quite capricious. Sometimes, it shows true desires, and other times, it reflects only superficial desires.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°So, while you might not understand right away, exploring the surroundings might help you figure out why this particr scenery appeared. You might realize it on your own.¡± ¡­Explore on her own? The Hero, who suggested that, seemed to quite like the warm atmosphere of this peculiar space. Leciel, leaning against a palm treezily, avoiding the sunlight, pursed her lips. ¡°So, I should explore alone?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be morefortable? Well, if you wantpany, I can apany you.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it¡­.¡± Leciel hesitated for a moment. This ce was too unfamiliar. The sensation of the soft sand grains beneath her feet, the humid scent mixed with the sea breeze, and the rhythmic sound of waves at regr intervals¡ªall of it felt strange. But, if she had to point out the most unfamiliar thing on this beach, it was the Hero. He seemed to like the idea of her exploring alone, leisurely observing the clouds in the sky with a very rxed expression. ¡®What¡¯s going on? Is he not going to counsel me?¡¯ It was an unusually casual attitude that she had never seen at the academy. Come to think of it, his attire was also different from usual. Not the usual high-end suit he always wore. Instead, he had opted for a loosely buttoned tunic. Through the gaps, she could see the tattoos and numerous scars she had observed during the orientation, along with the distinct outline of a well-developed pectoral muscle. Leciel blinked her eyes. Thunk. The Hero tapped the tree he had been leaning against with his fist, and at that very moment, several hard, round, emerald green fruits fell. Leciel looked at the Hero who took one of them with a shocked expression. ¡°What are you doing?¡± There was no response. Crunch! The Hero¡¯s bicep tensed, and the upper part of the peculiar fruit was torn off. Sweet fragrance filled the air. Leciel looked at the white pulp handed to her with a perplexed expression. ¡­ Well, it¡¯s so natural. ¡°Want some?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Gulp. The Hero, now sitting under the palm tree, savored the juice of the fruit. Leciel silently observed him. It was a moment when he didn¡¯t look like the savior of humanity or the strongest swordsman on the continent. If it weren¡¯t for his skin as white as snow, he could easily be mistaken for a young man who had spent his whole life on this coast. A few drops of juice flowed from the corner of his mouth, tracing his sharp jawline and down his neck. The Hero, seemingly satisfied with the taste of the fruit, smiled faintly with narrowed eyes. ¡­Hot. Leciel couldn¡¯t fathom why Minerva, the healer, used that term so often, but it strangely came to her mind at this moment. She btedly felt her throat dry up, simultaneously feeling a rush of warmth. She had been quite concerned about the counselling session, but the Hero seemed less interested in her than she thought. ¡°Oh, I should have one more.¡± Correction. He seemed utterly uninterested. Leciel spoke up, ¡°I¡¯ll take a look around ande back.¡± ¡°Sure, take your time.¡± The girl headed towards the white sandy beach. ¡ª The initial reactions of people facing the sea for the first time are usually quite simr. They marvel at the infinite expanse and depth, eventually wanting to touch the sea themselves. Leciel was no exception. Initially, she had nned to take a casual stroll and request the end of the counselling, but¡­ ¡°Oh.¡± Before she knew it, she had regained her senses and found herself standing at the boundary between the sandy shore and the sea. As the refreshing waves grazed her toes, Leciel let out a small sigh. Despite appearing indifferentpared to her peers, she still harbored the same curiosity. ¡°Uh¡­¡± After a moment of hesitation, she summoned the courage to take another step. There was no one around anyway. The Hero was already far away, probably busy devouring that stupid-looking fruit. So, there was nothing to be self-conscious about. ¡°Wow.¡± Leciel walked towards the horizon, the vastness of the sea unfolding before her. The water was exceptionally clear, allowing her to see every grain of sand and shell as the waves rolled in. She traced the waves with her fingers. ¡°It¡¯s salty¡­ .¡± Leciel removed her hand from her mouth and stared nkly, still staring at the distant horizon. The sky was cloudless, blending seamlessly with the endless sea. The sun shone warmly and gently above her. For the first time, Leciel realized she was spending time without a purpose. She found herself in a ce she might never have visited otherwise, surrounded by absolute tranquility. No one was around, and there was no sword in her hand. A strange sense of liberation enveloped Leciel. With a light p, her amateurish drumming turned into a skillful swim. Eventually, she expelled mana, moving faster than a shark. Yet, the Hero had note looking for her. Silently, Leciel, now dry and seated on the beach, spent time contemting. With closed eyes and basking in the sunlight, she felt warmth and peace. She used her fingers to y with the sand, creating a small castle. ¡°Beautiful.¡± The horizon disappeared in the glow of the setting sun, casting its hues across the sea and sky. ¡°Beautiful.¡± The glow of the setting sun erased the boundary between the sea and the sky, coloring everything in its own shade. She suddenly stood up. ¡°¡­Painting.¡± Leciel wanted to paint. She nced around. She remembered a nearby sand dune along the path she had passed earlier. From there, she could capture the entire scene. ¡°If the illusion can create what I desire¡­¡± Then, on that hill, she might find what she longed for. Easel, brush, paint, and canvases. Leciel had a strange conviction that such things might be on that hill. During her walk, her steps asionally faltered. ¡°Beautiful¡­¡± The sand grains beneath her feet, touched by the setting sun, turned golden. She noticed her own hair, tousled by the wind, had taken on the same hue. Afortable smile adorned her face. She couldn¡¯t remember thest time she smiled like this. It felt so unusual that she wished someone could capture her current self on canvas. With that peculiar desire, Leciel made her way to the top of the hill. ¡°¡­?¡± There was an artist holding a brush. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 64 Chapter 64 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª I sat in front of the easel on a hill, overlooking the coastline. There were many things I wanted to discuss with Leciel. However, bridging the gap with her through a conventional counseling session proved to be quite challenging. She had been anything but approachable in the past two months. Showing interest in others first and revealing oneself were not easy tasks for her. Even ording to stories from fellow professors like Kasim, engaging with her was a challenge. However, people who shared rare hobbies easily formed connections. ¡°¡­Especially considering that art is a hobby often scorned among martial artists.¡± I couldn¡¯t fathom how Leciel, the only granddaughter of the renowned Swordmaster n, developed such a hobby, but I considered myself fortunate. Delian Cruze. The name of the artist whose ¡°essence¡± I replicated. He was a promising young painter who attended the Imperial Academy of Arts. Despite the world devaluing skills deemed useless for survival, aesthetics for those detached from the mainstream continued through generations. In the art world, he was quite a promising figure. Until he chose the path of forgery, worn out by the hardships of life. Helping him when he was driven out and wandering the streets like a beggar became a connection, allowing me to umte enough understanding to polymorph into him. As long as he didn¡¯t engage in foolish activities like forgery, he could have left a mark in the art world. Moreover, my ability went through the ¡°upscale¡± process. The result¡­ ¡°Ah, did I go too far?¡± I nkly stared at the unfinished painting on the easel. I hadn¡¯t exerted much effort into it; it was just a practice piece before Leciel returned. But my gaze was drawn to it. The sunset gently swaying on the beach, the girl staring nkly at the horizon on the golden sand. Aforting smile spread on her slightly reflected profile. Mysterious and beautiful. ¡°¡­¡± Even an outsider would find it moving. The technical perfection and artistic sensibility were exceptionally outstanding, to the point that it would be embarrassing to call it an amateur¡¯s work. A proud smile spread on my face without me realizing it. ¡®When everything is over, I could make a living through painting.¡¯ As I entertained such thoughts, I felt a presence a few steps behind. When I turned around, there she was. Leciel, looking at me with trembling eyes. ¡ª At the top of the hill, observing the Hero sitting in front of the easel, Leciel felt a strange difort. It was displeasure rooted in a slight arrogance. Art and the Hero. Truly, an incongruousbination. ¡®Could drawing be his hobby?¡¯ No, that couldn¡¯t be. She had never heard of such a story that would appeal to warriors. Moreover, drawing was not a popr hobby. Even if someone started out of curiosity, reaching a certain level was extremely difficult. Even if they became proficient, it didn¡¯t receive much recognition in social circles, unlike instruments or dance. In addition, the interpretation of artistic expression was often confusing, and most martial artists considered art to be mere pretension. So, was he just drawing under the influence of the scenery? Or did he realize that his hobby was painting and decided to give it a try, even if he wasn¡¯t sessful? If it was thetter, it was ufortable. With such a skewed mindset, Leciel shifted her gaze towards the painting on the easel. And then, she froze. ¡®What is this?¡¯ Her heart fluttered first. She couldn¡¯t look away. The colors, forms,position, light, and shadow were perfectly arranged. The coloring was delicate, and the technique ofyering paint was so sophisticated that she couldn¡¯t surpass it. Most importantly, the subject¡­ ¡®It¡¯s me.¡¯ The skill of a painter depends on how they express the subject. Not just surface observation but a sensory exploration based on aesthetic sense. Efforts to understand the subject, emotional exploration based on empathy. Those things must be the foundation for the subject to truly receive the painter¡¯s affection and ¡®life¡¯. And what about that painting? ¡°Ah¡­¡± The moment she wanted to preserve was encapsted within the canvas. The beach bathed in golden light, ¡®herself¡¯ sitting there. All the emotions she felt today were alive again in that painting. ¡®She looks happy.¡¯ Leciel took a deep breath, trying to fully embrace the overwhelming emotion of the moment. The Hero, whose face had be more simr to the painting, opened his mouth. ¡°Leciel.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Do you now understand why you ended up seeing this scene?¡± Leciel opened her mouth briefly before closing it. ¡°I heard you swung your sword relentlessly for two days without rest or food, only to copse.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± ¡°Something seems to be urgently driving you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She remained silent, but the Hero continued, undeterred by her closed-off demeanor. ¡°I¡¯ve had moments of urgency too.¡± Unexpectedly, Leciel¡¯s gaze turned towards the Hero. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª In truth, he was recalling his own experiences. Then, he thought of something he wanted to say to Leciel. His sincere voice continued. ¡°It¡¯s inevitable to feel rushed. When I came to my senses, everyone was looking at me. I had to meet those expectations.¡± The life of the ¡®Originall¡¯ was like that. The Hero let out a small sigh. It was still challenging to precisely understand. How it felt to lose everything ¡ª lives, possessions ¡ª the hopes and disappointments of people, even the future of the continent, all hanging on the edge of his sword. That¡¯s why the ¡®Original¡¯ always felt urgent. Urgency to be stronger, to save lives, to dispel the darkness of the world and bring light ¡ª it was a perpetual sense of urgency. In the end, in his urgency, he vanished quickly. I don¡¯t want to see such a sight anymore. ¡°The world is so chaotic that there maye a time when we need to move quickly, but not now.¡± Beyond the horizon, the faces of the children came to mind. The heavy burden, unbeknownst to others, resting on the less experienced shoulders also surfaced in his thoughts. The Hero strengthened his words. ¡°Life is like a long-distance race. You may have heard this somewhat clich¨¦ expression before.¡± Leciel nodded silently in agreement. ¡°In that case, where do you think you are in this race right now?¡± ¡°Well, I must be running.¡± ¡°No. You haven¡¯t even stepped onto the starting line yet.¡± Leciel¡¯s puzzled expression drew a light smile from the Hero. ¡°In other words, it¡¯s the preparatory stage. It¡¯s the time to widen your stride, increase your lung capacity, and prepare a healthy mind for the long run. If you cover your eyes like a sprinting racehorse in this preparatory phase and run like crazy, you won¡¯t even reach half of your intended destination.¡± For the first time, Leciel raised a counterargument. ¡°I understand what you¡¯re saying, but that doesn¡¯t mean we can just sit back and do nothing.¡± ¡°Who said anything about just sitting back?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°You are my student, under my guidance and protection.¡± The Hero spoke confidently, stating the obvious truth. ¡°So entrust yourself to me. Wherever your destination may be, I¡¯ll help you develop the strength to reach it.¡± Silence lingered in the air. Today, it seemed like words were stuck in Leciel¡¯s throat. During that brief moment of silence, memories of conflicting emotions surfaced unexpectedly. ¡°You need to do better, Leciel. This is far from enough.¡± ¡°Talent deficiency¡­ Is this my limit?¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s the responsibility of the one teaching.¡± The responsibility of the one teaching? Not the responsibility of the one learning? Silently, the girl found herselfughing without realizing it. He said he would help her develop the strength to run to the destination. But what if the destination she desired was already known to him? ¡°Hah¡­¡± Leciel let out a small sigh and looked at the things that had captured her attention since earlier. Beside the Hero, the easel and the nk canvasy there. Approaching, she sat down on the chair, and before her eyes, the beach with the setting sun unfolded. Swordsmanship, the Hero, grades, the academy, her grandmother, Cuculli. The jumble of thoughts in her mind seemed to blur like watercolor. Or maybe not everything was blurred. She had left one thing untouched. Leciel lifted her head and looked at the Hero by her side. A burst of vibrant colors, shades of red, vermilion, and pink sunset spilled over him. It felt like diverse hues were washing over him, softening the rigid figure he usually portrayed. She decided to draw what she wanted to draw now. ¡°this way.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Look this way.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The girl¡¯s brush moved slowly. . . . Returning to the dormitory, the girl picked up a journal instead of a connector after a long time. Some memories were not meant to be shared with anyone. ¨‹ Gained a deeper understanding of Leciel Hiyashin. Understanding Level: 3/100 -> 10/100 ¡ø * * * ¡°Done. Today¡¯s 2 gold.¡± Mentally exhausted, Luke said. ¡°Ugh¡­ Good job, Luke.¡± Before the words could finish, Ban copsed on the training ground floor. Luke wanted to lie down too, but circumstances didn¡¯t allow it. He nced sideways and looked back at the opponent. The intense energy training that started to prepare for dungeon practice somehow continued due to mutual necessity. And, of course, the gold. Surprisingly, Luke also followed the movements of the opponent, making meaningful progress in breaking through defenses. ¡­Of course, the thickness of his wallet also significantly improved. Luke tapped the fallen opponent¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Two gold.¡± ¡°Ahahaha, can I pay you next month? My allowance ispletely gone.¡± ¡°No. I already discounted the amount per hit.¡± ¡°That¡¯s mean¡­¡± ¡°Now you can even cry; you¡¯ve quite adapted to this training.¡± Luke said, mixing jest and earnestness. It was clear that Ban was getting used to the training. Although he still had the habit of freezing when determined to attack someone, knocking Ban down was bing gradually difficult. Superb evasion and defense skills, along with insane endurance and stamina. ¡®At this rate, even if I can¡¯t swing a sword, just throwing him into the front line should be enough.¡¯ Luke took a breath, contemting such thoughts when a lively voice caught his ear. ¡°Wow¡­ You guys are really amazing. Your movements are getting better every day.¡± It was Evergreen, who had been diligently watching them. In fact, she was also involved in a part of the training, disrupting Ban with blunt arrows. During the process, Evergreen was deeply impressed by her friends¡¯ talents. ¡®¡­These guys are on a different level.¡¯ Although she had heard genius praises in her hometown,pared to them, she was just an ordinary prodigy. But Evergreen felt more admiration than jealousy. ¡®They¡¯re so amazing, so I¡¯ll work hard too,¡¯ was the feeling she had. Originally, she had such a personality. ¡°Now, shall we go eat something? Aren¡¯t you hungry?¡± Evergreen grabbed Ban and Luke¡¯s hands simultaneously, suggesting they go for a meal. Thump. At the same time, Luke¡¯s ears turned red. Ban wanted to burst intoughter, but he refrained, fearing his life. Luke mumbled his agreement blushing. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s getting close to dinner time.¡± Ding-dong! As if on cue, the evening bell chimed, announcing the dinner hour. Evergreen smiled broadly. ¡°Let¡¯s go! I checked the restaurant menus in the morning, and today¡¯s dinner options are all delicious.¡± However, at that moment, Ban put on an awkward smile and shook his head. ¡°No, you guys go ahead and eat. I¡¯ll have mer.¡± ¡°Again? You ate separately yesterday too.¡± Luke, looking at Ban with a skeptical expression, retorted. ¡°Are you avoiding that bastard again?¡± ¡°That¡­Bastard?¡± Evergreen tilted her head curiously. Luke answered with narrowed eyebrows, ¡°Wellington¡¯s unfortunate son, that loser Lucas.¡± ¡°Why Lucas?¡± ¡°After gettingpletely robbed by me in the dungeon and not getting his act together, he¡¯s been ring at me as if he wants to kill me every time we cross paths. Right?¡± Ahaha, Banughed awkwardly. Apparently, the answer was enough. Evergreen hopped around energetically. ¡°Why are you being so cautious? If I were¡­ if I were¡­¡± There was no choice. Evergreen lowered her head with a sullen expression. Honestly, she found Lucas somewhat intimidating. His background as a noble¡¯s son was one thing, but his sharp tongue and threatening demeanor were the main reasons. There were also rumors about him being a troublemaker, hanging out with a few ruffians, and secretly drinking with female servants. ¡­Anyway, I don¡¯t want to get involved. ¡°Get up.¡± Luke lifted Ban, who was sitting on the floor. ¡°Even if you fight again, you¡¯ll win. Well, at least you won¡¯t lose. Why are you so scared?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m avoiding a fight. I just feel like I might vomit¡­ huh?¡± Ban¡¯s eyes widened at that moment. The reason was the appearance of Leiciel, who had just entered the training ground. Evergreen and Luke¡¯s gazes also turned toward her. ¡®¡­Leiciel, she¡¯s discharged.¡¯ Just as Ban was about to greet her, he realized that she was walking towards them. At that moment, Ban noticed that she was not looking for him. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡®Is she calling me?¡¯ Luke, who had been sitting on the ground, was a bit confused. ¡°What? Me?¡± ¡°Yeah, you. The professor will be in theb until 9.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Counselling. I told him. Don¡¯t bete.¡± Counselling? Luke blinked and looked at Leiciel, who was walking away. Come to think of it, he missed some sessions thest time he was absent due to the mercenary group. ¡°¡­Not really necessary for me.¡± Smiling broadly at Luke¡¯s hesitant mumble, Evergreen teased. ¡°It might be fun.¡± ¡°¡­¡± To cut to the chase, it was quite entertaining. ¡­Except for Luke, the person involved. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 65 Chapter 65 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Before going to the counselling session. Luke briefly heard an exnation about ¡®Daydream¡¯ from Ban and Evergreen. ¡°Do you see what you wish as an illusion?¡± Naturally, questions followed. What will I see? ¡­ What do I desire? ¡°What did you guys see?¡± ¡°Me? I saw the meadow of Solintail¡­ It looked exactly the same.¡± ¡°I saw my hometown. It wasn¡¯t exactly the same, but¡­ Come to think of it, Cuculli also went through the Great Snow sea. She said she ate a lot of delicious food there.¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing that you bankrupted a store and still want to eat again.¡± ¡­ Hometown. I don¡¯t know anymore. He, who was an orphan, was picked up by ¡®Mercenary King Ravias¡¯ from infancy. A life born and raised as a mercenary. For someone who hadn¡¯t stayed in one ce for more than a few months, the concept of a hometown seemed nonexistent. ¡®¡­¡­¡¯ He roughly imagined. Perhaps it would show him surrounded by a pile of gold coins or maybe the scene of sessfully inheriting the position of the Mercenary King. Both were futures that were more than enough for a mercenary. ¡­It would have been like that. ¡°Professor, there seems to be some misunderstanding.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m not sure about the misunderstanding, but it¡¯s certainly unexpected.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t wish for something like this. Really.¡± Contrary to expectations, the counseling session did not go smoothly from the beginning. Luke masked his expression with an indifferent look and nced around. Thanks to his desperate efforts, he could maintain a somewhatposed face, but the blood rushing to his ears was inevitable. Eventually, he tightly closed his eyes. ¡®Damn, why do I have fantasies like this¡­ .¡¯ The ce that the daydream revealed to them was the Triumphal Arch in Jido Kyrus. More precisely, it was the Triumphal Arch dedicated to the exploits of the warriors and the Order of Dawn, filled with artistic depictions. Originally, the entire path of entry for the punitive forces was adorned with artworksmemorating the achievements of the knights and the Order of Dawn, intending to instill hope and courage in the public. Consequently, when there were no ceremonies, the Triumphal Arch was also used as a kind of tourist attraction. Luke, whenever he had business in Jido, had visited a few times and was familiar with it. A spacious and pleasant environment, statues and paintings vividly portraying the exploits of warriors and heroes, bustling crowds, guides introducing and exining the artworks¡ªeverything was etched vividly in his memory. The problem was¡­ The problem was that the protagonist of this Triumphal Arch had changed now. None other than ¡®Luke Selsood.¡¯ ¡°Ah.¡± He could no longer avoid looking around. The boy stood tall with an expression that seemed like he would die of embarrassment. Ironically, the spot where he stopped was right in front of his statue, bravely charging toward a horde of monsters. ¡°¡­Tsk.¡± The hero¡¯s cheek couldn¡¯t endure and puckered. Seeing that, Luke now just wanted to die. To make matters worse, it wasn¡¯t just Luke who had changed. Upon closer inspection, the faces of the Order of Dawn members in the artwork had also been swapped with different people. Even long-deceased mercenaries appeared, and then¡­ ¡°Ah!¡± Discovering a familiar girl running right next to ¡®Hero Luke,¡¯ he hastily turned his body to shield her from view. Fortunately, it seemed the hero hadn¡¯t noticed. With a narrow escape from disgrace, Luke gasped for breath. ¡®¡­No, is it normal for only such embarrassing illusions toe up?¡¯ Didn¡¯t someone see a meadow, and someone else saw their hometown? Why am I the one getting illusions fitting for a seven-year-old before bedtime? Luke, who had always considered himself more mature than his peers, felt this situation was terribly unjust and embarrassing. He didn¡¯t want to spend even one more second in this dreadful ce. ¡°¡­Professor. You mentioned that I could stop the counselling if I didn¡¯t want to continue.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a rule that we can¡¯t continue counselling if the client doesn¡¯t want it.¡± ¡°Then please, I request to stop.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The hero¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Would you be okay if I don¡¯t show more of your fantasies?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± And that was the end of it. With a snap, as if a finger had been flicked, he was back in an ordinary room. Only then could Luke flush the embarrassment from his face. ¡°¡­¡± Fortunately, the hero didn¡¯t tease him further or mention the contents of the illusion. Just with a knowing look in his eyes, he added a few words. ¡°Daydreams are inventions of the great wizard Zero Requiem.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯ve heard.¡± ¡°He certainly behaves capriciously, but there are no errors. It mostly shows superficial desires, but sometimes it delves deep into the subconscious, revealing one¡¯s true intentions.¡± ¡°¡­True intentions?¡± ¡°So, instead of just being embarrassed, carefully consider why you saw such an illusion. It might be good to discuss it at that time.¡± ¡°I will do that.¡± ¡­He probably won¡¯t. Luke hastily left the temporary counselling room and hurried his steps. No, he tried to hurry. *Squelch.* HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Perhaps the assistant had already left; there wasplete darkness on the first floor of the researchb, no lights. The boy stood still in that darkness for a moment. Why, he didn¡¯t know. Maybe it was because of the lingering embarrassment from the shameful illusion in the daydream. ¡°Beliefs? Goodness? Honour? Risking your life for those uncertain things is what losers do.¡± ¡°You are a mercenary. You¡¯ve been a mercenary since birth, and you should die as a mercenary. That¡¯s how you repay the grace of the one who picked you up.¡± A voice that had apanied him throughout his life passed through his ears like an auditory hallucination. ¡°¡­¡± *Squelch, squelch.* The footsteps quickened and faded away. ¡°¡­..¡± . . . ¨‹ Understanding of Luke Selsood deepens. Understanding Level: 6/100 -> 10/100 Additional Comment from Luke Selsood: ¨C Daydreamer ¡ø * * * Back in the researchb. ¡°Phew¡­.¡± With this, all counselling sessions were over. After Luke rushed out, I began organizing the counselling records. Firstly, Leciel. Keywords for her include pressure, burden, and responsibility. I was well aware that most members of prestigious families would inevitably be familiar with such words. After all, humans are creatures that unreasonably expect a lot from the next generation. Hiyashin is undoubtedly the top prestigious family in the empire. I naturally expected Leciel, the sole sessor, to bear a simr burden. However, it was only with her recent hospitalization that I realized the extent of it. ¡®I didn¡¯t expect it to be this severe.¡¯ She was an outstanding child. Without a doubt, she would be the most exceptional among her peers across the continent. That¡¯s why I never anticipated that she would be suffering from such intense pressure. ¡°Hmm¡­.¡± I recalled Leciel¡¯s appearance in the infirmary. Paleplexion and trembling hands. Sunken cheeks. It was right after the intense dungeon training. Going straight to the training grounds for an additional two days of practice immediately afterward was by no means a normal mindset. Diligence ismendable, but such intensity can easily turn into poison. ¡°I may need to discuss this with the Head of Hiyashin.¡± If there was an issue in her upbringing, it needed to be addressed. He thought that the previous Swordmaster would not be friendly to the ¡®Hero¡¯ who defeated her and took away her title as the Swordmaster, so he had not thought of contacting her until now, but now he felt the need to contact him. But now, there was a need for contact. ¡°¡­Still, I¡¯m fortunate that the illusions shown in the daydream were fitting.¡± Leciel seemed to have loosened her guard against me to some extent and appeared to have epted advice. The increased understanding level and the added progressment proved this. ¨‹ The warm wind somewhat pushed away the dampness of the firewood, but it still couldn¡¯t be lit. ¡ø Her condition seemed to have improvedpared to before, though thements suggesting the administration of medicine were still there. I thought about the next person. Luke. When I first saw his daydream, I was honestly a bit perplexed. But as soon as I understood its meaning, I felt relieved. ¡°I was worried.¡± Luke is the sessor of the Mercenary King, Ravias. Ravias, the Mercenary King, is a typical ¡®bad mercenary.¡¯ An individual who moves based on profit and loss, devoid of morals and ethics. While he now upholds a certain dignity as a king, during the time when his influence was weak, I knew the unsavoury deeds he did to umte power for his mercenary band. There were even jokes about why Ravias sided with humans instead of demons¡ªbecause demons, no matter how much gold they offer, wouldn¡¯t have a human society to enjoy if they became dominant. With such a hardcore character as Ravias being Luke¡¯s mentor, I couldn¡¯t help but worry about whether Luke would turn out normal. ¡®¡­ But I never thought he would like the life of a mercenary very much.¡¯ Luke¡¯s keywords are admiration and longing. The improvement in understanding Luke¡¯s character brought some relief. Surprisingly, he seemed to harbour an unspoken desire for trust, honour, and justice¡ªqualities that mercenaries typically disdain. ¡®He doesn¡¯t seem to be aware of it himself.¡¯ It was good news. Cultivating such tendencies and steering Luke towards bing a ¡®hero¡¯ who aspires to those ideals rather than a mere ¡®mercenary¡¯ would be my role. For Leciel, I¡¯d provide space. For Luke, I¡¯d instill conviction. With these thoughts in mind, I closed the counselling records and turned my attention to the ¡®reward.¡¯ ¨‹ Find the retired Storekeeper. ¡ø Thement that appeared when I finished counselling other children was ¡®Find the storekeeper.¡¯ It has now changed to ¡®Find the retired Storekeeper.¡¯ ¡­Retired. It seemed like a minor change. However, that one adjective helped me realize the identity of the elusive ¡®Storekeeper¡¯ that had eluded me for so long. ¡®¡­Noubelmag¡¯ I tapped the desk, recalling the dwarf I had seen a few times during the early days of exploration. ¡®¡­ Even if it wasn¡¯t for the wolf statue, I would have had to look for him anyway.¡¯ Storekeeper. I had a rough idea of what I could gain by finding him. ¡®It¡¯s strange. Where did all those items go?¡¯ ¡®Original¡¯ enjoyed exploring the magical realms. However, in recent years, he couldn¡¯t embark on explorations due to the intensifying war. Until then, he had unearthed numerous relics from the First Age buried in the magical realms, excavating artifacts. ¡®He said he stashed them away because he had no immediate use for them.¡¯ But after he passed away, I searched all the hiding ces, but I couldn¡¯t find those artifacts. The probability of Noubelmag having them is high. If he was entrusted with maintaining those items, it would make sense. First Age artifacts were not something just any craftsman could handle. ¡®If I can retrieve those artifacts, they will be useful when arming the children in the future.¡¯ ¡°Wolf statue and artifacts. There were two reasons to find Noubelmag.¡± I turned my gaze to the documents on the desk. Last night, Mother Ghost, the leader of the ndestine group, had conveyed information through Nyhill. ¡®¡­It contains the presumed location of Noubelmag¡¯s hiding ce, where he has concealed his tracks.¡¯ It was closer than I thought, perhaps close enough to make a round trip for reinforcement a couple of times during sses. ¡®The problem is not the distance, but¡­¡¯ I looked at the postscript written at the end of the report. [Three days ago, a report came in that a stake had been driven into a nearby city] It seemed like I might need a reliable panion.¡¯ HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 66 Chapter 66 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The weekend visitation room was adorned with bright and warm-colored wallpaper, where the children were catching up with their families after a long time. Some were indulging in yful antics,ining about the hardships of academy life, while others expressed longing for their hometowns. Nyhill, silently observing this scene, turned her gaze back to ¡®Father.¡¯ A warm, yet somewhere dry, look met her eyes. ¡°When will you go back?¡± ¡°I have to go soon. Can¡¯t leave the store empty for too long.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a shame I haven¡¯t been able to see my daughter for a long time. I wish I could find a nearby inn and visit her regrly.¡± A middle-aged man who bore quite a resemnce to her. Of course, he wasn¡¯t her real father. He was an agent prepared by the ndestine group to match her undercover identity. ¡°Oh, Mom said to send her regards. You might be busy, but try to write letters often.¡± ¡°Yes, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m doing well. Of course, Dad knows our daughter is doing fine.¡± A mundane conversation fitting for a normal interaction between a father and daughter who rarely meet. ¡®Father¡¯ hugged Nyhill with tears welling up in his eyes. Nyhill gently brushed his back and, seizing the opportunity, fiddled with the vial of antidote clutched in her hand. The antidote had to be taken with each meal. If not consumed within the specified period, the dormant poison within the body would dissolve the organs, leading to a painful death. It was a shackle to restrain the ¡®ghost,¡¯ dealing with numerous secrets. Once in the ndestine group, one had to share a lifetime with this poison. That¡¯s whyrades who retained enough humanity to joke often referred to this antidote as their panion.¡¯ Nyhill yed with the panion¡¯ in her hand and then, in a quiet moment, tucked it into the embrace. Her father, who had been closely observing her, finally turned his gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll go in now. There¡¯s a lot of homework left.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. Studying is good, but don¡¯t forget your health. Our daughter always makes us proud.¡± ¡°Yes, Father, take care on your way back to the shop.¡± The agent maintained the act of a slightly pitiful father being impressed by his daughter¡¯s grandeur until the end before leaving. Nyhill, with the snacks he brought, watched his departing figure. The genuine smiles of the security guards, deceived by the feigned parental affection, were heartwarming. Under her dishevelled ck hair, Nyhill¡¯s silent, deep-set eyes moved left and right for a moment. Observing real parents and students ying family, Nyhill turned her head and left the visitation room. The inte was ringing. ¡­ Knock, knock! ¡°Come in.¡± Nyhill cautiously closed the door and entered the researchb. It was daytime, so there was no need to escape through the exterior walls. Swoosh! The hero was looking at the piled-up documents, creating a calm atmosphere, yet Nyhill could sense his peculiar tension. In a corner of the room, facing the standing girl, he spoke. ¡°Nyhill, you¡¯ve probably received orders from higher-ups.¡± ¡°Yes. I also received information about the whereabouts of the Dawn Knights member Noubelmag.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m thinking of leaving early tomorrow morning. I¡¯d like you to apany me.¡± ¡°Yes, no problem.¡± The hero nodded with satisfaction. Nyhill had a doll with the same appearance as her main body. The n was for the doll to attend sses at Rosenstark, while Nyhill would apany the hero. Originally, he intended to go alone, but¡­ ¡°A stake¡­¡± The hero carefully reread the note¡¯s postscript. The vige where Noubelmag was presumed to be hiding is called ¡®Lonkers.¡¯ Located in the west of the empire, it¡¯s an obscure vige that can only be reached by heading further west from Rosenstark. A small mine had been developed in the nearby mountains in the past, but it was abandoned a few years ago, leading to rapid decline. ¡°Now, it seems to be asionally used as a refuge for people with stories¡­¡± The hero pondered, examining the documents in detail. In the document, there was a brief exnation of why Noubelmag had taken refuge in such an unremarkable vige, as well as the assumptions made by the secret agent. It was the same reason the Original told me. ¡°¡­¡± The issue was a few days ago, a stake was driven into the wastnd near the area. It was one of the trade routes mainly used by traders heading to the extreme north. Naturally, the Emperor, Euphemia, expressed concerns. [There¡¯s no intention to send someone else, right? Well¡­ if another person goes, Noubelmag won¡¯t even show his face, but¡­] ¡°It¡¯s a low-grade stake. Besides, it¡¯s quite a distance from Lonkers. It hasn¡¯t been influenced yet.¡± [Because there is such a thing as what if. Plus, even at low levels, there are managers at the stake. It is dangerous if the demons find out about your visit and try to do something.] The note ended with the hero¡¯s decision to secretly visit. Being a hero, he couldn¡¯t bring arge escort and draw attention. ¡°Of course, I n to go discreetly. I¡¯m called a hero, but I can¡¯t bring arge escort like that.¡± [Yeah, at least take Number 3 with you. That resourceful agent should be able to help you out even in unexpected situations.] With these circumstances, Nyhill was assigned as apanion for the journey. Moreover, when she fell into a sleep state, the doll could collect information gathered during her absence. If anything happened at the academy, she could receive a report promptly. The hero, looking at the expressionless girl listening to the exnation, spoke, ¡°I n to contact Noubelmag and return. If I hurry, it should take about a week.¡± ¡°Yes, understood.¡± ¡°Since we can¡¯t depart together, join in midway. This seems like a good joining point.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± ¡°Good.¡± The hero turned his gaze back to the map. He recalled hisst conversation with Euphemia. [Just a friendly reminder, don¡¯t go after the stake for no reason. If the military has the resources, they¡¯ll handle it.] ¡°Resources¡­ are they nning to ignore it for now?¡± [For the time being, leave it to their local militia. It¡¯s not a high-grade stake, and there¡¯s no spare force to allocate to such areas. It¡¯s not a densely popted area either.] Though it sounded ruthless, it was a reasonable judgement. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go prepare.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Leaving the thoughtful hero behind, Nyhill exited the research room. The peculiar item she discovered was at the door¡ªan oddly familiar spear. Upon closer inspection, it was Gerald¡¯s spear from dungeon practice. She briefly recalled her conversation with the boy. ¡®Did he really request that and¡­ you listened?¡¯ [To my dear disciple Gerald, filled with affection and support ¨C Ted Redymer.] The signature of the hero, written in a rough script, apanied the inscription on the spear shaft. Nyhill turned her gaze back. The hero, eyebrows furrowed in contemtion, continued to examine documents and maps. ¡®What I wish for¡­¡¯ The pondering continued. Since she wasn¡¯t even a real student, she had no intention of asking anything from the hero. She herself wasn¡¯t sure what she desired. Nyhill closed the door carefully so as not to disturb and left the room. *** Preparations for the journey to ¡®Lonkers¡¯ were quicklypleted. There was no reason to drag it out. The round trip would take about a week, and the necessary luggage was only a hood that could conceal her entire face and a ck robe. The farewell was modest, consisting only of Pia and Yussi. ¡°Ugh.¡± Yussi, looking extremely tired as if she had stayed up all night, yawned abruptly, but when our eyes met, she quickly stopped. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re having a hard time because of that dwarf¡¯s sack of shit, Hero.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Why retire when you¡¯re still in good shape? It¡¯s annoying to bother people by retiring. Tsk.¡± Before retiring, he grumbled about how a day was too long. Meanwhile, Pia looked very disappointed. Her face, handing over a bag containing essentials and simple travel items, revealed her desire to join us. It made sense because alchemy and metallurgy were broad aspects of the same manufacturing field. Alchemy also dealt with ores as materials. Pia, who was passionate about learning, probably wanted to meet Noubelmag, a master in that field, to receive various advice. However, taking Pia with us on this potentially dangerous journey, considering herbat abilities were limited, was not an option. Taking the bag, I advised her, ¡°If things go well, I¡¯ll make arrangements for us to meet next time. So endure this disappointment for now.¡± ¡°Oh, really? You don¡¯t have to, though.¡± You don¡¯t have to¡­¡­. As I looked at her face, pale like flour due tock of sunlight, feelings of anticipation and excitement crossed her features. Whistle-! Suddenly, Yussi whistled loudly, catching my attention. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Ta-da!¡± I stared in surprise at the giant silhouette that appeared next to the side door. Approaching steadily and gracefully, with its luxurious and stic movements, it stopped next to Yussi, and its massive head was level with her shoulder. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Just a moment~¡± It appeared so. A long, sturdy neck, a well-developed physique all over, long and stic legs. The creature had intelligence and powerful strength, as I could tell from the brief moment it stopped next to Yussi. Its height was undoubtedly several hands higher than a regr horse. ¡°¡­A horse?¡± ¡°Just a good one.¡± That seemed to be the case. ¡°Shh, be good.¡± Yussi reached out proudly, stroking the creature¡¯s short, shiny fur. Incidentally, the fur was the same dark ash color as my hair. ¡°Hehehe, my dear. Whenever I felt frustrated, I used to ride this one around the academy grounds. Please ride him on this trip.¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± I took the reins in my hands. I climbed onto its firm and t back. Between its legs, I could feel the tough muscles. ¡°Whoa, whoa.¡± Surprisingly docile, there was no fuss even with an unfamiliar rider on its back. Its strength was impressive. Normally, horses tend to sway a bit when the weight of the rider and the ck hope saddle are applied simultaneously, but this creature remainedpletely steady. I expressed my admiration and asked, ¡°What¡¯s its name?¡± Yussi chuckled awkwardly, ¡°Hehe, how about letting the Hero give it a new name?¡± I shook my head. ¡°If it¡¯s this smart, it must be familiar with its original name. I¡¯ll just keep calling it that.¡± ¡°Ahaha.¡± ¡°Yussi?¡± ¡°¡­Ted.¡± She spoke in an unusually hesitant voice, quite different from her usual self. I asked her again. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Ted.¡± I looked at the horse beneath me and then looked away without saying a word. ¡°Wow.¡± Pia looked stunned at the sight of her alchemical senior, her stern boss. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± With Yussi bowing her head deeply in the background, the dawn began to break, revealing the sky. A blue morning sun spread low among the clouds. The transition from dawn to morning was the perfect time to start a journey. Feeling the cool breeze on my forehead, I took hold of the reins. ¡°Well, then I¡¯ll be off.¡± As I urged the horse forward, the alchemist duo waving goodbye disappeared quickly beyond the horizon. A littleter, I found Nyhill waiting, crouched under a road sign. And that evening, a notice appeared on the connector. It contained information that would make the children¡¯s eyes doubtful. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 67 Chapter 67 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The sound of the notification echoed at the moment when most of the extreme kids were sharing stories in the break room. [Unir Lecture, Extreme Notice has been updated] Without anyone saying anything, the kids grabbed their connectors. Their faces were a mix of anticipation and worry. ¡®¡­ This time it was a dungeon, what on earth will the next ss be?¡¯ But what greeted them unexpectedly was an announcement of an unusual cancetion. [Extreme Lecture Cancetion and Makeup Notice] Hello, this is Pia Joyce, an assistant at Extreme. I would like to inform you about the cancetion and makeup of the extreme lecture as follows: Reason: Due to personal reasons of Professor Ted Redymer, who is in charge, the lecture is canceled. Additional information: During this cancetion period, a quiz and makeup ss led by the assistant will be scheduled twice. Students are advised to review the previous lecture materials. If there is additional information to be conveyed, We will announce itter. Professor Redymer has also left a brief message. ¨C I hope you don¡¯t neglect your learning and training during the break. If you have any questions about the past sses or if there are parts that you don¡¯t understand, Please contact Professor Kasim Pierre or Assistant Pia Joyce. I hope you approach the makeup ss with sincerity. Date: To be determined Time: To be determined Location: To be determined President ¡®Yussi Glendor¡¯ and Professor ¡®Labin Hawk¡¯ have taken charge. In the case of unavoidable absence from the makeup ss, please contact the assistant in advance and inform the reason. Thank you. . . . ¡°Wow!¡± If the hero had seen it, the scene unfolding in the break room might have been a bit disappointing. The kids looked at each other and burst intoughter. ¡°Phew, a makeup ss¡­¡± ¡°So, does that mean we don¡¯t have to do practical training this week and next week¡­really?¡± ¡°Sob, sob. Is it my birthday today?¡± In reality, before checking the announcement, they were deeply worried. ¡®¡­ Where will the hero take us this time?¡¯ It¡¯s not even time for midterms, and they¡¯ve already conquered a dungeon. They couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy about what the next practical training would be. ¡®Of course it helps a lot, but¡­ .¡¯ The sses are fun and informative. But sometimes it¡¯s really tough. There were a lot of assignments. There were jokes circting that the reason for not getting a perfect score in the extreme lecture evaluations was because of the difficulty. But now, a two-week break. In the midst of the repeated practical training, it was a perfectly timed break. ¡°By the way, the president is personally conducting the makeup ss. Does he usually teach regr sses too?¡± ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t know? Maybe we¡¯re all going to learn alchemy together.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about alchemy.¡± ¡°Me neither.¡± ¡°But it still seems like it would be fun.¡± After the explosive reaction, curiosity arose about Yussi and Labin. ¡°Professor Labin Hawk¡­ he¡¯s the one with the intimidating eyes, right? The bald one.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Who is he?¡± Labin was the professor of another Unir lecture, ¡®Understanding the Battlefield.¡¯ Due to the non-duplicating nature of Unir, as students taking the hero¡¯s sses, they couldn¡¯t help but not know Labin. ¡°My friend takes Professor Labin¡¯s Unir lecture, ¡®Understanding the Battlefield.''¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°They say he teaches well, but he¡¯s a bit intimidating.¡± ¡°I heard he spent a long time at Rosenstark.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a rumor that he taught the Hero when he was a student himself.¡± ¡°Really? Wow, he¡¯s a professor¡¯s professor.¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious about what the makeup ss will be like.¡± The kids¡¯ eyes sparkled. Experiencing an entirely new ss was something they were eagerly looking forward to. Moreover, if someone is qualified enough to establish Unir and be the guiding professor, their skills must be top-notch. It would be helpful in many aspects. The hero¡¯s intention to assign Labin for the makeup ss also seemed clear. ¡°¡­But it¡¯s quite surprising that the professor had to leave his position due to personal reasons.¡± ¡°Yeah, what personal reasons could it be?¡± Until dinner check-in, there was about 30 minutes left. The kids, with their heads together, began specting about the hero¡¯s ¡®personal reasons.¡¯ Leciel¡¯s footsteps halted as he passed by the break room. Simultaneously with Culi letting out a yawning sound, she spoke. ¡°Well, maybe he went to meet his girlfriend or something.¡± Gerald chuckled. ¡°Oh, Professor has a girlfriend too?¡± ¡°Of course, why wouldn¡¯t he? He¡¯s so strong.¡± ¡°What does being strong have to do with having a girlfriend?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it? My dad has more than ten girlfriends.¡± Gerald was at a loss for words. ¡°¡­.¡± Thanks to Culi, the topic of conversation naturally shifted to ¡®dating.¡¯ HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª It seemed to be one of the favorite keywords for teenagers, and the voices of the kids gradually grew louder. Evergreen blushed and nervously twiddled her fingers. ¡°Well, can you imagine Professor dating? He seems so stoic.¡± A girl with messy skin who was listening nearby chuckled. Each time sheughed, her reddish-brown curly hair moved in all directions. She was Karen, hailing from a territory near the Southern Great Forest. ¡°This kid doesn¡¯t know anything. People like that are even sweeter when they¡¯re in love. When there¡¯s no rtionship, they can be icy, but once they be someone¡¯s man, there¡¯s a charm thates from the warmth¡­ it¡¯s the gap that makes it attractive.¡± ¡°Wow, I see. Karen, have you had a lot of rtionships? You seem so mature¡­¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Luke nodded approvingly from behind them, as if he had gained some insight. Meanwhile, the boys were also engrossed in their conversation. ¡°Well, honestly, not having a girlfriend doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°There were even dating rumors in the past.¡± Gerald¡¯s words captured everyone¡¯s attention for a moment. In the kingdom, there were weekly magazines that closely covered celebrities. What Gerald mentioned was about the ¡®hero¡¯s dating rumors,¡¯ a topic those magazines loved to cover. There were various versions of the dating rumors, including romantic entanglements with fellow members of the Dawn Knights, rtionships with various noble youths (there were rumors that they requested articles paying hefty fees), and surprisingly, even a crazy magazine linking the hero to the emperor. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if someone used him of heresy, considering the nature of that matter. Strangely, the editor-in-chief of the prominent magazine that covered these stories is said to be safe even now. ¡°Hehe, maybe he went to meet one of them¡­¡± ¡°It could just be a mission.¡± A mission? Just a mission!? Who decided to spoil the fun in the midst of such an interesting conversation? Gerald opened his eyes wide, turned his head in the direction of the voice, and spotted Leciel standing there with a skewed posture. Swoosh. As the tension eased from his forehead, his eyes naturally softened. For some reason, it seemed like he had to agree with that opinion, at least for now. ¡°Hahaha, of course, that¡¯s also a high possibility. Maybe he received a secret mission from Her Majesty!¡± Geraldughed brightly. ¡­Yeah. Whether it¡¯s a mission or romance. What¡¯s important about that? The two-week break is waiting! ¡®Please take your time! Enjoy yourself! Come back soon, Professor!¡¯ Gerald earnestly prayed. ¡­Of course, whether his wish would smoothlye true was uncertain. There were many opposing wishes as well. ** * * The enthusiastic wee for the hero¡¯s absence wasn¡¯t limited to the students. In the professors¡¯ hideout, excited voices were filling the air. The professor in charge of ¡®Monsters in the Battlefield,¡¯ Bellum, proudly eximed, holding up a document, ¡°Now, everyone, please pay attention!¡± He was particrly hostile to the hero among the professors. Having receivedckluster evaluations for several years, he harbored resentment when he saw the hero receiving outstanding reviews right after his arrival. Despite being only ten years apart in age, he felt a deep inferiorityplex, especially after overhearing a female student¡¯s gossip suggesting that the hero looked thirty years younger than him. Thus, he secretly gathered information to find a way to undermine the hero. And today¡­ ¡°I finally got my hands on this.¡± Thanks to his connections in the administrative department, he managed to obtain it with some effort. ¡°The budget and expenditure statement allocated to Extreme!¡± ps and cheers followed. ¡®I can¡¯t let this opportunity slip away.¡¯ Surreptitiously taking a portion of the lecture support funds and public funds was almost customary among professors. Yussi who had been reforming the academy to a great extent, was also concerned that if she touched that part, an all-out war with the professors would break out, so she tolerated the double ledgers being submitted. One of the professors expressed a different opinion as if he was skeptical. ¡°Would a figure like the hero dare to touch public funds?¡± ¡°Haha, we¡¯re not trying to find a major embezzlement here.¡± Of course, the hero¡¯s integrity was well-known. He used the wealth he umted to support the families of fallenrades and civilians in need of reconstruction. However, humans can¡¯t be perfect every moment. ¡°This is several times more funding than existing lectures. Moreover, since the president is a former subordinate, surveince is useless. There¡¯s no way he didn¡¯t use a single penny of that much money for personal purposes.¡± ¡°Ho, it seems like you¡¯re onto something.¡± Bellum nodded emphatically. ¡°Think about it. Just recently, he spent thousands of gold coins at an auction. Do you think he didn¡¯t use that for personal purposes?¡± ¡°Hmm, he did mention buying artifacts for the students, right?¡± ¡°Heh, using money to show favoritism is still using it for personal purposes.¡± Once again, they weren¡¯t looking for a major embezzlement. Something minor would suffice. After all, people¡¯s expectations regarding the hero¡¯s morality were already sky-high. Manipting public funds, even in a small way, could tarnish his reputation. With the hero away, now was the time to influence public opinion. ¡®Perhaps that abnormal poprity of the hero will decrease a bit.¡¯ Jeremy Eitrobin, the professor in charge of the ¡°History of Demonkind¡± course, stepped forward confidently. ¡°I¡¯ll look into it. Manipting the ledger to some extent can be easily detected.¡± He was one of the few young professors who mingled with the elders (as Kasim was almost the only one in the hero faction). Being one of the rare professors with a business background, he had been entrusted with the maniption of the elders¡¯ ledgers for a long time. ¡°Oh, Professor Eitrobin. I trust you with this.¡± The professors looked at him with hopeful eyes. Eitrobin, with a sly smile, confidently spread out the ledger. ¡­ The professors¡¯ anticipation quickly dwindled. It was around the time when cold sweat started to bead on Eitrobin¡¯s cheek. ¡°No, this can¡¯t be happening.¡± ¡°Examine it carefully. There might be something you missed.¡± It was unbelievable. Who would stick to using ¡®support funds¡¯ strictly for support? However, no matter how thoroughly he examined the ledger, there was nothing. ¡°Huh!?¡± At the moment when Eitrobin, still unwilling to give up, started to look at the ledger again, the professors¡¯ high expectations drastically faded. ¡°Why, what did you find?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s just¡­¡± Eitrobin couldn¡¯t finish his sentence. Frustrated, another professor grabbed the ledger. At that moment, an astonished exmation escaped his lips. ¡°Savings¡­?¡± His words were delivered with a subtle nuance. ¡°Savings¡­?¡± The professors erupted with joy. ¡°As expected!¡± ¡°It was the savings after all!¡± ¡°I told you. There can¡¯t be such a clean person!¡± The professor holding the ledger smirked. ¡°No, that¡¯s not it¡­¡± It was quite the opposite. In the ledger¡¯s back pages, it was recorded in detail how the hero had poured a considerable amount of savings into preparing for his lectures. Even for the hero, it was a staggering amount. The professors immediately fell silent. ¡°Well, well.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± They had been defeated as human beings. When the professors¡¯ faces gradually turned red, a deep voice echoed through the room. ¡°You¡¯ve put in unnecessary effort. He¡¯s not the kind of guy to do such things.¡± The chaotic atmosphere instantly quieted down. Even though they were elders who asionally made indiscretions on campus,pared to the man who had just spoken, they were nothing. Professor Labin Hawk, with 25 years of service, was a senior professor who had produced numerous schrs and received unparalleled support in various fields of the empire. He had also taught the hero directly in the past, and despite his usual negative stance toward the hero, the professors looked at him with puzzled and somewhat betrayed eyes when he spoke in defense of the hero. Whether the professors agreed or not, Labin nced at the message board. The anonymous forum was buzzing with stories about the Extreme makeup sses. ¡°Ha, it¡¯s makeup.¡± ¡­ Quite presumptuous. It was time to show people what true teaching methods were. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 68 Chapter 68 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°We should arrive around tomorrow evening.¡± ¡°Yes, should we prepare for camping?¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s a rest area nearby. Let¡¯s head there.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± We travelled tirelessly for two days, but it wasn¡¯t a harsh journey. Our conversation flowed smoothly, and mypanion had noints. Furthermore, the weather had clearly transitioned into spring. I nced at Nyhill, who was munching on jerky while looking at the map. Petals carried by the spring breeze gentlynded on her plump cheek. ¡°¡­¡± She btedly realized it, pulled off the petal, and held it up to the moonlight before letting it flutter away. ¡®¡­Truly capable.¡¯ Versatile. Unfazed by any unpleasant tasks, she executed even seemingly iprehensible requests without harboring any doubts. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to understand; it seemed more like she was a person born without the concept of ¡®curiosity.¡¯ A feeling of getting exactly what you input. Since the results were excellent, she was an indispensable worker from the perspective of someone assigning tasks. ¡­However, observing that inhuman proficiency sometimes stirred an inexplicable sense of difort. ¡®She¡¯s only eighteen or neen.¡¯ How harsh of a training did she undergo to be like this at such a young age? Considering the Imperial Intelligence¡¯s methods for nurturing agents, it must have been a terribly grueling time. When such thoughts crossed my mind, I felt like I was seeing my past self in her¡ªa past version of me who wandered through life without ever experiencing the happiness of being human for a moment. ¡®When this mission is over, I should give her a few days off or something.¡¯ That¡¯s what I was thinking when Nyhill spoke quietly. ¡°There¡¯s a rest area over there.¡± On one side of the road, a bright light shimmered¡ªa small two-story building that belonged to Glendor, not the Empire, a private rest area. As we entered on horseback, a caretaker walked out, his uniform noticeably wrinkled. ¡°Wee to Glendor Wespear 7th Branch. Are you the two? The fee is 2 shillings per person. Bath fees are separate¡­.¡± Without a word, I presented the card that Yussi had handed me. The change in attitude was instantaneous. The weary expression turned into a bow, nearly revealing the top of his head. ¡°Oh, wee, honored guests. You can enjoy all the services at Wespear 7th Branch free of charge¡­.¡± I handed the chatty employee the reins and, taking control, surveyed the outer barn with its full stable and the main building where the talkative sound of horses emanated. Despite being a Glendor facility, it looked quite shabby, owing to the backwardness of the region. ¡°Are there other guests?¡± ¡°Yes, one is staying upstairs. Um, the guest¡¯s name is¡­ well¡­.¡± ¡°First, please guide us.¡± Upstairs. If they came from the west, we might obtain information about a stake post near Lonkers. Nyhill whispered, ¡°I¡¯ll take a look around for a moment.¡± ¡°You must be tired too, soe back quickly, I¡¯ll be going in for now.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Guided by the employee, we entered the main building. Creak! The sluggish sound of the door echoed, and a dimly lit hall appeared. A group of chattering travellers turned in unison. I stopped dead in my tracks. ¡­I could smell the faint odour of blood. It seemed there were more stories to be told. *** The tired Hero silently took a seat in an empty chair. Then, he flicked a silver coin toward the man. Thunk. With skillful precision, he caught the silver coin, and his gaze turned back to the Hero. An unspoken agreement had been made. ¡°How far have you travelled upstream?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s quite obvious in this area. Springdale, Sunhill, Lonkers¡­.¡± ¡°¡­Looks like you encountered monsters along the way.¡± ¡°You have a keen eye.¡± The man sighed and rummaged through his belongings. An old pipe dangled precariously from his fingers. ¡°Are you a traveller? A wanderer?¡± ¡°Whichever way you look at it, it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Oh, a secretive guy, it seems. Still, you must know about the stake, right?¡± ¡°Of course, I know. But I didn¡¯t expect its influence to reach the vicinity of the viges you mentioned¡­ Hasn¡¯t it been that long since it was put up?¡± *Cough* The man erupted into a dryugh and cough simultaneously. ¡°Yeah. Our upper management thought so. That¡¯s why we stupidly nned to sell our goods quickly and run.¡± ¡°Upper management?¡± The Hero noticed there were no figures resembling merchants among their group. Only guards. There was no sign of guests upstairs either. The Hero turned his gaze back to the man. The corners of his mouth twisted into a cynical smile. ¡°Want to talk to our upper management?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Well, mysterious sir. If you head west, you¡¯ll meet them soon.¡± ¡­It meant death. The Hero inquired, ¡°Is the situation really that messed up?¡± ¡°This stake seems strange.¡± A young man who had been noisily ttering dishes next to them intervened. His voice trembled with excitement. ¡°We were almost in big trouble, weren¡¯t we? If we hadn¡¯t just passed Lonkers, we wouldn¡¯t have survived like this.¡± ¡°Yeah, maybe we would have left our bones in that field.¡± ¡­Lonkers. The Hero asked again. ¡°Is Lonkers just a rural vige? Do they have the means to help you?¡± ¡°Well, we received help, so that¡¯s why we¡¯re still alive.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to hear more details.¡± ¡°¡­Sure.¡± The man, having received another silver coin, cleared the dishes away. ¡°So, this is how it happened¡­.¡± The story was concise. The stake in this area strangely spread the magical contamination much faster than usual. The nearby viges were quickly affected by the magic, causing monsters to proliferate, and casualties began to rise. ¡®Could it be that a powerful demon came as the administrator, contrary to what the emperor said?¡¯ The Hero wondered, but if the emperor called it a low-grade stake¡­ With that doubt in mind, the Hero looked at the man continuing the story. ¡°But luckily, Lonkers remained rtively unharmed. The ¡®artisan¡¯ handcrafted Aquatic weapons, and they were all neatly arranged. The monsters that were chasing us melted away when they encountered those weapons.¡± ¡°The artisan¡­ have you met the one who crafted Aquatic weapons?¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°No, we barely stayed in Lonkers. We only heard vaguely about such a person from the militia. Anyway, to think that you can make such amazing weapons out of materials found in that trash-like neighbourhood. Honestly, it¡¯s unbelievable.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± The Hero nodded calmly. ¡®¡­Lonkers doesn¡¯t seem to be in immediate danger.¡¯ However, he couldn¡¯t bepletely reassured. Noubelmag was an excellent artisan, but hisbat abilities were not exceptional. The variable of ¡®rapid magical contamination¡¯ had already urred. It would be a prudent decision to hurry and reach Lonkers before another variable emerged. The Hero organized his thoughts, stood up abruptly, and the man who had been enthusiastically talking fell silent, giving him a disbelieving look. ¡°¡­Are you nning to continue your journey west?¡± The Hero responded calmly. *Ping!* It was a fairytale. ¡°¡­A miser.¡± The Hero pocketed it, saying, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m nning to leave now.¡± ¡°At thiste hour? Are you crazy? Even in the morning, it¡¯s a dangerous situation¡­¡± The man, shaking his head nervously, interrupted, ¡°What¡¯s your name? This is also fate, so I should wish you well.¡± ¡°Kasim.¡± ¡°Alright, Kasim. Anyst words?¡± ¡°If you act so stingy, you won¡¯t be popr with women.¡± Leaving the chubby man behind, the Hero stepped out. Just then, Nyhill, who hadpleted reconnaissance around and was entering the main building, looked at him with widened eyes. She seemed puzzled about why he wasing out like this. Seeing her dusty clothes and tousled hair, the Hero felt a bit guilty. ¡°Seems like we should sleep after reaching Lonkers. Sorry.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Nikhil headed to the stable without saying anything. The two walked straight along the road leading to Lonkers. * * * Noubelmag. Since the beginning of the Second Era, the most outstanding cksmith. While there were countless epithets used to refer to him, the most famous one would probably be ¡®Miracle of Nature.¡¯ ¨‹ Recorded Figure: Noubelmag Master cksmith Drunkard Spirit Weapon Maker Workaholic ¡­And a half-blood. ¡ø As indicated by thestment, he was born between the seemingly ipatible races, the Fairy and the Dwarf. To my knowledge, it was an unprecedented case. ¡®¡­With the power of that bloodline, he inherited the maximum talents of both Dwarven alchemy and Elven spirit magic.¡¯ Thanks to this, Noubelmag became the only artisan capable of crafting ¡®Spirit Artifacts¡¯ imbued with his essence. He was an irreceable cksmith. Of course, his skills in Dwarven alchemy were exceptional. He could repair and improve the various weapons wielded by the Dawn Knights without any problem. He also contributed significantly to the development and enhancement of Aquatic weapons, greatly aiding in the defense of human territories. Repairing ¡®Blessing Stone¡¯ and ¡®Wolf Totem¡¯ would be child¡¯s y for him. However, even such a remarkable figure had a weakness. Surprisingly, he was among the Knights of Dawn with rtively weakbat skills. This remarkablement speaks volumes, and that pretty much sums it up. ¨‹ Weakling ¡ø This was the reason why I couldn¡¯t sleep and was in a hurry to go to Lonkers. If, by any chance, a horde of monsters breached Lonkers¡¯ defenses, the probability of Noubelmag surviving was almost negligible. ¡°Uh¡­.¡± Nyhill, who was quietly listening to the exnation, murmured softly. ¡°But why are you telling me about these things?¡± ¡°Because you never asked.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± The girl blinked her pitch-ck eyes. Due to the backdrop of the entirely dark wastnd, the confusion was emphasized on her pale face. ¡°Considering the circumstances where you can¡¯t even rest at the inn and have to hurry all through the night, it¡¯s reasonable to inquire as a fellow traveler, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Ah¡­.¡± Is it patience or genuineck of curiosity? Or perhaps she isn¡¯t curious at all. Nyhill just gazed with a perplexed expression, as if this situation was unfamiliar to her. With a brief sigh, I called her. ¡°Nyhill.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°In the Shadows, they might teach you to refrain from asking questions, but¡­ ¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°When I¡¯m around, feel free to ask if you have any curiosity.¡± It was something I had been thinking about for a while. Of course, strict discipline in the Shadows was convenient. However, I wished the girl wouldn¡¯t treat herself excessively as a mere tool or instrument. Because I knew better than anyone how it felt to be treated as a tool by others. My wish was for Nyhill to consider herself a bit more, a thought that had crossed my mind during the past month while observing her. It seemed like that would be more helpful in my work as well. ¡°Ah¡­.¡± Nyhill just blinked her eyes. When she heard unexpected words or felt such emotions, she would make that kind of expression, like a small animal seeing the outside world for the first time in our world. After ncing at me for a moment, she pursed her lips. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll ask.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired, Sir Hero¡­?¡± I chuckled. ¡°I didn¡¯t force you to ask, you know.¡± ¡°Uh, it¡¯s not forced.¡± ¡°¡­ ¡± Anyway, we continued our journey while exchanging novice questions and answers, heading towards the direction pointed by the old signpost. The weather was pleasant, and the experience of passing under the night sky with stars while exchanging harmless jokes with someone was quite enjoyable. However, we would soon realize that the situation in Lonkers was more serious than expected. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 69 Chapter 69 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [TL/N: 69th chap hehe] Located at the westernmost edge of the continent, Lonkers was a small vige with just over a thousand inhabitants, but few in the vicinity were unfamiliar with its name. Such conversations often took ce in the cozy homes of nearby cities. ¡°You! If you don¡¯t listen, I¡¯ll send you to Lonkers.¡± ¡°¡­How can you say such things to a child!¡± Rumours of gloom circted in the abandoned mine: a diminishing poption, lurking ouws, poverty, and despair. For the majority, Lonkers was not a ce they wished to be close to. ¡®Huh¡­ Although it is a familiar hometown to me.¡¯ Hans, a native of Lonkers, peered out from his hiding spot in a pit, only showing his head as he surveyed the surroundings. Hisplexion turned pale, as if sensing impending misfortune. The moon was as thin as a fingernail, clouds were dense, and darkness descended like mist. The air, unpleasantly sticky, hinted at the impending doom. It had been less than an hour since Hans set out for reconnaissance. ng-! Krrrr-! A pack of feral dogs rushed at him with their eyes glowing red. Thanks to them, he lost the donkey he was riding. Nevertheless, he thought it was too early to give up and continued a bit further. Then, his vision strangely blurred. Even if he held up a torch, the brightness didn¡¯t extend beyond a certain range. It was all due to the influence of demonic magi. ¡®It¡¯s more corrosive than I thought. Going further from here seems impossible without adequate preparation. Returning without any gains is disheartening.¡¯ Facing a return without any ie, Hans sighed as he tucked himself back into the pit. It was disappointing to let down the expectations of the vigers. ¡°Huh¡­ Are you, are you going back?¡± Right next to him, a terrified whisper was heard. It was hispanion, Diontri. ¡°It seems like that¡¯s the only option.¡± ¡°Well, I suggested staying in the vige quietly. Why did you decide to go scouting and create this mess?¡± Hans felt irritation on his forehead at his friend¡¯s pathetic words. A fierce whisper followed. ¡°So you want to just stay in the vige doing nothing when people aren¡¯ting back? Do you want to act so cowardly?¡± It¡¯s been more than three days since we sent a plea to nearby cities and viges for help. Enough time has passed. But there¡¯s been no news. That¡¯s why Hans, who¡¯s known for using a sword in the vige, decided to venture out with his friend Diontri. Diontri also argued with a sense of injustice. ¡°¡­W-what can we do? Look. In the end, we¡¯re in danger. Damn it, if we had stayed in the vige, thanks to that craftsman, we might have at least saved our lives.¡± ¡°Shut up. Whether we get help from around or not, the result will be the same. Whether we die early or diete, it doesn¡¯t make a difference.¡± ¡°I-if we endure, the extermination force mighte, right?¡± Hans let out a deep sigh. ¡°¡­Talking naively. Do you think they care about us from the center? The vige atmosphere is already strange enough, and if we don¡¯t do something¡­¡± Hans¡¯s words became muffled at that moment. He reached out and covered Diontri¡¯s mouth. Grrrrr-! Not too far away, a sound distinct from the cries of animals echoed, spreading terror. As the horrifying noise repeated, piercing their eardrums, even Hans couldn¡¯t help but shiver. ¡°W-what is this sound?¡± ¡°Hush.¡± As Hans¡¯s expression became serious, Diontri turned pale. Soon, they could sense a very peculiar presence. Ssswip. In an instant, they understood. This wasn¡¯t the sound of a creature with a normal structure moving. It felt as if mud was wriggling with a semnce of life. ¡­The problem was that the sound was getting closer. Both exchanged nces. Hans spoke first. ¡°¡­It¡¯s a demon.¡± ¡°D-demon? Is it like those dog-like creatures from earlier?¡± Diontri asked, even though he knew it wasn¡¯t the case. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Hans remained silent, then sighed. ¡°It¡¯s probably something much more horrifying.¡± Squelch. Hans¡¯s hand, slippery with sweat, tightened around the hilt of his sword. ¡®¡­I have to do it.¡¯ Hans¡¯s n, just formted, was as follows. He could only strengthen the sword with magic for a brief 2 or 3 seconds. Killing it with one stroke wasn¡¯t his hope. He aimed to sever its legs, impairing its mobility, and then escape with all his might. Having concluded his thoughts, he kicked Diontri¡¯s buttocks. ¡°You, just don¡¯t do anything and run straight. If I die¡­ I entrust Jennefer to you.¡± ¡°Oh, okay. If I die¡­¡± ¡°You won¡¯t die, so shut up.¡± ¡°Uh, yeah.¡± ¡°Then¡­.¡± Go! ¡°Aaaah!¡± Hans screamed as he leaped out of the pit. Simultaneously, a faint light emanated from the tip of his longsword. It was an absurdly feeble light to dispel the surrounding darkness. As Hans turned his head towards the direction where he sensed the presence, he eximed, ¡°Ah¡­¡± His concentration wavered, and his magical power scattered. Unconsciously stepping back, he gazed at the ¡®something¡¯ in front of him. ¡®Where are its legs?¡¯ Diontri, who was rushing out behind him, froze in ce. ¡®¡­Is this a dream?¡¯ The demon had such a bizarre form that it felt unreal, as if the most unpleasant parts of several people¡¯s nightmares were put together one by one. Being born in the western region, they hadn¡¯t encountered demons frequently. Seeing a mutated demon directly affected by the dense magi of the stake was unsettling, and they couldn¡¯t adapt to it easily. ¡°Oh, no¡­¡± Hans stared at the creature, which was emitting something that seemed to be either legs or tentacles, with a stiffened expression. Slurp-! The grotesque contraction and expansion of the appendage at the end continued. Hans needed to avoid it¡­ ¡°Bow!¡± Hans couldn¡¯t react in time to the voice suddenlying from behind. However, it didn¡¯t matter. His head, against his will, obediently bowed. The demon¡¯s tentacle barely grazed the back of his head. ¡®Huh?¡¯ Hans looked at his own neck with widened eyes. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Something was entwined. ¡®Is this¡­ a thread?¡¯ A thin thread pulled down his neck, allowing him to evade the tentacle. Thud thud thud thud! Startled, the sound of hooves echoed loudly in his ears. A silhouette on horseback, charging towards the demon. Countless threads were unravelling from her hands. Swish-! The threads, imbued with magical power, gained a high degree of sharpness and resilience. They whipped through the air, cutting through the tentacles that lunged like whips. The threads, emitting a blue light, left dazzling trails in the darkness. And¡­ ¡°Burn it.¡± Another voice was heard, this time in a deep tone. Hans looked at the man riding an unusuallyrge horse. Though he couldn¡¯t see anything due to the deep hood, an overwhelming presence pressed down on Hans, leaving him breathless. ¡°W-who¡­¡± As Hans stammered, the man reached out and grabbed the back of Hans¡¯s clothes. Like a kitten held by the scruff of its neck, Hans, who had always beenrger than his peers, found himself awkwardly mounted on the horse. It was a truly unfamiliar experience for him. ¡°N-no! Wait a moment!¡± However, the mysterious man paid no attention and spurred the horse forward. It happened at the moment he passed by the girl who was fending off the demons. ¡°The demons are swarming. Head to the vige first.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°¡­Also, help the man who went into the pit.¡± Whoosh-! The girl rescued Diontri, who was shivering with his head in the pit. He was still trembling and couldn¡¯t even think about covering his wet trousers. Frowning, the girl just extended her outer garment. The man reassured them, ¡°Now you¡¯re safe. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Th-thank you. Sir.¡± The only calm one among them, Hans, looked at the vast expanse of the man¡¯s broad back with a bewildered expression. ¡®W-who is this?¡¯ ¡­He didn¡¯t have the courage to ask, so he just held onto the saddle in silence. Clip-clop! Clip-clop! The monstrouslyrge horse carried the two riders swiftly. ¡®¡­It¡¯s the vige.¡¯ The homnd, which seemed even more weing from a distance, unfolded before them. It was the moment when the hero and Nyhill smoothly entered Lonkers. * * * The men we rescued were indeed residents of Lonkers. They even imed to be part of the local militia. Thanks to that, we were able to pass through the gate without any inspection. Fiddling with the forged identification nestled in his pocket, Hans looked at me. I felt sorry for Nyhill, who had prepared it all. ¡°Hans, thanks for guiding us.¡± ¡°Haha, no problem. This is the center of Lonkers. It might be a bit modest, don¡¯t you think?¡± Although I wanted to deny it out of courtesy, it wasn¡¯t a ce I particrly wanted to stay for a long time. Despite thete hour, it was excessively dark and quiet, with buildings stained by moisture and dust. The asional passersby had dark expressions, a mix of curiosity and hostility, casting nces at us. A dead street. The only bustling ce was a store across the street. Sounds of horses and the inviting smell of alcohol wafted from it. I turned my gaze back towards the direction we came from, the wagon. ¡®The artifacts mentioned by the guys we met at the checkpoint¡­¡¯ Amidst everything worn and crude, they stood out distinctly. I looked at the sophisticated and intricate structures of the Sumerian artifacts ced somewhat awkwardly on the wagon. There was a sense of aesthetics that didn¡¯t match this crude ce. Hans cautiously added, ¡°Are you here to find the craftsman who made those?¡± I nodded. ¡°Do you happen to know him? I heard he¡¯s been here in Lonkers for quite a while.¡± ¡°Well¡­ I know, but I¡¯ve only spoken a few times. In fact, there are hardly any locals who are close to him. Even for me, I only started talking because of the Sumerian artifacts.¡± ¡°Are you avoiding interaction as expected¡­?¡± Hans widened his eyes. ¡°Do you happen to know him?¡± ¡°Well, something like that. So, where should I go to meet him?¡± ¡°Uh, that¡¯s a bit tricky¡­¡± Hans pointed across the vige with his finger. I squinted my eyes. ¡®¡­The abandoned mine?¡¯ It was the abandoned mine, the cause of Lonkers¡¯ decline. Under the faint moonlight, a vaguely visible path led to a moderately steep hill and mining equipment moving back and forth. ¡°¡­He spends time in the abandoned mine?¡± ¡°Yes. Except when hees down to the vige to buy essentials, he stays in the mine.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t know the details, but he bought thend as soon as he came here and settled down.¡± I looked back at the direction of the mine. Of course, Dwarves and Elves were not races that particrly enjoyed interactions with humans. Even if they disliked getting involved with others, why would they choose to live in such a wretched ce? Since the mine had been abandoned for a long time, it might not even be producing minerals anymore. Thinking about this, I was about to move my steps towards the mine. ¡°Alright then.¡± ¡°Oh, wait a moment!¡± Hans urgently raised his head. ¡°You don¡¯t need to go all the way there. It¡¯s about time for him toe down.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡­That strange sound was heard at that moment. Whirring! nk. ¡°¡­?¡± Whirring! nk. ¡­?! HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 70 Chapter 70 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Whirring! nk! Every second, the echoing mechanical noise filled the air. I nkly stared at the approaching metal lump from the other side of the vige. It took the form of a cow, emitting a bright light from its two eyes, with its entire body made of iron except for the fact that itcked the typical cow¡¯s appearance. Though it seemed vaguely threatening at first nce, the haphazard construction suggested that it wasn¡¯t meant forbat. Thunk- A silhouette,pletely concealed under a robe turned deeply, shuffled forward as if pushing the metal cow. Hans added from the side, ¡°Every day, around this time, hees all the way here to buy beer.¡± Upon closer inspection, a disproportionatelyrge beer barrel was strapped to the back of the ¡®mechanical cow,¡¯ far more than what one would consider a day¡¯s supply. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Our eyes met, and in the next moment: ¨‹ Found the Warehouse Keeper ¡ø Ament appeared. * * * The path leading to the abandoned mine could hardly be described as pleasant. A dark corridor with no illumination, littered with discarded odds and ends and fist-sized rocks on the floor. However, as me and Nyhill were indifferent to such things, we silently followed behind Noubelmag. In the silence, the sound of a full oak barrel of beer sloshing echoed. ¡®It¡¯s as if he expected me toe.¡¯ Otherwise, there is no way he would just calmly say, ¡®Follow me¡¯ and lead the way. I didn¡¯t expect an extravagant wee, but the reaction from my colleague, reunited after several years, was quite dry. ¡®I thought he¡¯d be a bit more weing.¡¯ I observed his retreating figure silently. Perhaps due to the mix of dwarf and fairy blood, he was significantly taller than the average dwarf. At first nce, he seemed almost like a short human. Suddenly, I recalled his appearance from the early days of our adventuring. Like any cksmith, he had sturdy muscles, but now, even through the thick robe, it was apparent that he had lost a considerable amount of weight. In short, he didn¡¯t look anything like a former Dawn Knight and a relentless cksmith. One of the reasons his whereabouts didn¡¯t be evident during years of seclusion might be attributed to this drastic transformation. ¡®We¡¯re almost there.¡¯ The proximity to Noubelmag¡¯s residence was evident from the intricately arranged artifacts scattered throughout. The cement was meticulous. Various water-based weapons aimed at the corridors. Stepping foot without permission seemed bone-chilling, to say the least. In a vige like this, it would have been difficult to procure materials, making it astonishing how they could afford such a high level of defense. ¡°Why bother paying attention to such crude things, Captain?¡± ¡°Just¡­It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen your skills.¡± ¡°¡­My skills.¡± Noubelmag came to a sudden stop. We were now in front of the entrance to the mine. A small hut stood silently. ¡®¡­It¡¯s too narrow. Are operations carried out inside the mine?¡¯ However, it was too dark there to see anything. ¡°Wait a moment. I¡¯m not at all prepared to receive guests.¡± Noubelmag said in a low, rugged voice. With a beer keg on his back, he staggered into the cabin. Thunk. Following the sound of the door closing, the noise of a locking mechanism echoed. The bted scent of stale alcohol wafted through the air. It was the smell of the house. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± We were left standing in front of the cabin. As we were on a mountainside, the wind blew forcefully, kicking up dust. Yet, the small gravestone next to the cabin was clean, like it was new. [Noubelmag and Haley¡¯s son, Daig. Resting here.] The date of death below matched roughly with the time Noubelmag retired. The grass near the gravestone seemed pressed down, as if someone had often sat there. Squelch. The door of the cabin opened. ¡°If you¡¯ve seen enough,e inside.¡± We followed his words. ¡ª The cabin was cramped, but with minimal furniture, it seemed surprisingly spacious. It consisted of a bed, a table, and a wardrobe. I found myself sitting across from Noubelmag, who was enjoying a beer. Nyhill stood behind me. Flutter. Noubelmag, pushing back his robe as if feeling stifled, looked at me. His appearance was a mix of fairy and dwarf features. It was a face that blended stubborn determination, years of experience, and a calm sadness. Noubelmag got straight to the point. ¡°If you came to retrieve the entrusted item, it¡¯s here.¡± With a flick, he took a small scroll from his pocket and ced it on the table. I opened the scroll, revealing intricately carvedpartments. A sizable golden key emitted a brilliant light. As if waiting, numerousments filled my view. ¨‹ Recorded Artifact: Category 1st Era Heritage, Recovered ¡®Key of Valber¡¯ Retrieve rted information In the augmented virtual space separated from reality, You can store owned items The condition of stored items will be maintained Living beings cannot be stored Reviewed records linked to previously seen artifacts Coordinates of stored items have been restored ¡ø ¡­So this was it. The hero used a spatial artifact to store the items acquired during his journey. The Key of Valber, an artifact with tremendous intrinsic value, allowed the safekeeping of items. Such space-rted artifacts were rare across the continent. ¡°Among the 18 weapons inside the key, I¡¯ve repaired 17. One was beyond repair,¡± Noubelmag exined. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. Thank you.¡± To find out what weapons were stored inside by the ¡®Original¡¯, we could investigate a bitter. I carefully ced the scroll back into the pouch. Noubelmag silently took a sip of beer, foam clinging to his drooping beard. After a while, he spoke. ¡°Seeing you still sitting, seems like there¡¯s more business?¡± I nodded. ¡°If you could take a look at these too.¡± ¡°This is¡­¡± As I took out the wolf fang and the condensed stone, Noubelmag¡¯s eyes, which had been lifeless for a moment, sparkled. His calloused hands delicately handled the items. ¡°The condensed stone in powder form. I want to unlock the dual lock inside the wolf fang. Is it possible?¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Hmm, it should take about three days. If you wait in the vige, I¡¯ll bring them to you.¡± It was a shorter time than I had anticipated. I epted the items again and leaned back in the chair. Everything was going smoothly, but the conversation shouldn¡¯t end here. I asked him, ¡°Is there anything you¡¯d like to ask of me?¡± ¡°What could I possibly ask of the Leader?¡± The response was quick. Noubelmag¡¯s wrinkled eyes trembled slightly as he poured beer into the mug again. ¡°Could there be another matter?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± The most crucial matter remained¡ª the proposal for his return. The value of a great cksmith sometimes surpasses that of hundreds of martial artists. If Noubelmag returned to duty, it could lead to a significant boost in humanity¡¯s power. However¡­ ¡°Sorry, I have no intention of returning.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Noubelmag remained silent, a deliberate interruption to the flow of the conversation. I probed further, ¡°Is it because of your son?¡± His lips slowly formed a grim line. ¡°Leader.¡± He sighed heavily, as if stabbing his own chest. ¡°I still remember that day.¡± ¡°That day?¡± ¡°The day I received a message from my son, who had cut ties, and arrived in this miserable town.¡± Noubelmag¡¯s rough palm wiped across his face. ¡°It was already toote, far toote. Foolishd. Why make such a reckless choice¡­ Or did I make him that way?¡± Perhaps influenced by the increasing intoxication, Noubelmag spoke more openly. His gaze, tinged with remorse, scanned the surroundings of the mine. Then, he looked at me again, and with a subdued voice, he continued, ¡°I still have unfinished business here.¡± ¡°What kind of business?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Silence fell once more, but this time it was a more stubborn kind. Noubelmag¡¯s retirement was clearly linked to his son, but the exact details remained unknown. Why did ¡®Daig¡¯ meet his end? Why did it be the reason for retirement? What was the remaining task? No answers were forting. ¡®Unfinished business.¡¯ What that meant remained a mystery. Noubelmag hadn¡¯t mentioned anything concrete, and the Iris of Lace had no relevant information. ¡®If only I could find out, maybe I could persuade Noubelmag to return.¡¯ nk! Noubelmag set down the empty beer mug, but he didn¡¯t refill it. It was a pregnant pause. ¡°Leader.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to ask. May I?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Since you¡¯vee all this way, could you help me clear those stakes? We¡¯re on the verge ofpletion, and I don¡¯t want to be bothered by those nuisances.¡± ¡­Clearing the stakes. A momentary image of Euphemia crossed my mind. One thing was certain. ¡®If I can¡¯t handle it, Noubelmag¡¯s return might be in jeopardy.¡¯ Noubelmag¡¯s request involved tackling the stakes. Even if they were lower-grade stakes, there could be mid-level or higher-level demons inside. It was undoubtedly a dangerous proposition. But then again,¡¯Is the risk worth taking?¡¯ There was another certainty. If the stakes weren¡¯t removed, there would be no grounds to continue the conversation with Noubelmag. Giving up on his return would be too disappointing. Moreover, ¡®As a so-called hero, leaving the stakes untouched and departing seems odd.¡¯ The spread of magi was elerating, and leaving without addressing the stakes could lead to considerable harm to nearby viges, especially when central support hadn¡¯t been determined yet. Noubelmag could also be more endangered. I made the most rational judgment. ¡°I¡¯ll get rid of that.¡± ¡°Well, even if I didn¡¯t say it, as the leader, you would have thought that way.¡± After finishing speaking, Noubelmag closed his eyes as if tired of the rare conversation. I got up from my seat without bothering him anymore. It was the moment I grabbed the doorknob of the cabin. ¡°Sorry.¡± It was a faint voice. ¡°For what?¡± ¡°For notpleting the task to the end. For giving up our goal because I couldn¡¯t bear my personal pain.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And thank you.¡± I turned around. And asked, ¡°For what?¡± ¡°¡­For safelying back from that intense battle. Thank you.¡± Noubelmag, who consistently had a businesslike face, finally rxed his expression and looked at me with eyes filled with various emotions. ¡­For a moment, I felt a poignant feeling. A courageous apology and gratitude from a long-timepanion. Now, I won¡¯t reach my destination anymore. Before leaving the cabin, I asked onest question. ¡°What do you n to do when that task is over?¡± He answered promptly again. ¡°I haven¡¯t thought about it.¡± ¡­And so the door closed. We returned to the vige like that. We still didn¡¯t know what the great cksmith remained in this town for. One thing was certain. To have more conversations with him, we needed to remove the stakes. . . . ¨‹ Understanding Noubelmag more deeply. Understanding Level: 1/100 -> 2/100 ¡ø HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 71 Chapter 71 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Meanwhile, at Rosenstark. ¡°Everyone, there are 30 minutes left until the end of the exam.¡± Square, square -! At Pia¡¯s quiet words, the sound of pens scribbling rapidly increased. Today was the day of the extreme written exam she hosted. ¡°I would like you to submit something that is moderately difficult based on the content of the lectures you have taught so far. If you don¡¯t study hard, it¡¯s impossible to get a high score.¡± What was the rush? The hero left without specifying any format, examples, or scope. To seek the legendary craftsman, ¡®Noubelmag.¡¯ ¡°I trust you¡¯ll do well.¡± Pia sighed deeply. There was an abundance of material to use for the exam, so creating the questions was quick. However, adjusting the difficulty level was a bit challenging. ¡®Reasonably challenging.¡¯ She wanted to make it a bit easier to lessen the children¡¯s burden, but it couldn¡¯t be helped. Thus, two questions were released in total. One involved drawing the bone structure of creatures and coloring the vulnerable areas in red. The other required describing the correct strategy considering the given examples of creatures, battlefield, and party members. ¡°Now that the exam is over, I need to prepare for the supplementary lessons¡­.¡± As Pia recalled the schedule for the supplementary lessons, a smile disappeared from her face. Two supplementary lessons during the hero¡¯s absence. The first lesson would be conducted by Professor Labin Hawk, and the second one would be overseen by Principal Yussi Glendor. Principal Yussi had not said anything yet, but Professor Labin had already sent the course outline and requested the necessary materials after sending it. ¡­The problem was the content of that course outline. ¡®Is this some kind of a battle or what.¡¯ Since checking the content, sighs have increased. ¡®Why would the professor entrust the supplementary lessons to Professor Labin like this.¡¯ The students might not know, but among the staff, it was widely known that Professor Labin held hostility towards the hero. He didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of hiding it. He even openly criticized the hero in meetings attended by professors. ¡®¡­Why does he dislike his former student so much? If I were the professor, having the hero as a student would be a lifelong pride.¡¯ No, even setting aside being a former student, it was hard to understand how someone could hate the hero. Pia shook her head, expressing herplicated thoughts. ¡°Everyone, there are 10 minutes left until the end of the exam. Please check and organize your answer sheets without dy.¡± But something was strange. It was now the time for students to start finishing and submitting, but why were they all whining at their seats? It was a moment when a genius, who had never missed a perfect score in a written exam during her undergraduate days, questioned such a situation. ¡°¡­Sniffle.¡± A suppressed sob came from the front row. Pia looked puzzled as she gazed at the source of the sound. Evergreen Solintail. Always cheerful, kind, and diligent, a girl known for her greetings and hard work. Just a few days ago, she came to theb asking various questions, showing enthusiasm, and was considered a likable student. ¡®B-But why is she crying?¡¯ Tears were welling up in Evergreen¡¯s emerald eyes. Wiping her eyes hastily, tears rolled down onto the exam paper. As if trying not to make a sound, she struggled to hold back her tears by putting a fist in her mouth, a pitiful sight. Pia cautiously approached her and whispered, ¡°Miss Solintail, what¡¯s wrong? Is something hurting?¡± Evergreen looked at the worried assistant in silence for a moment, then responded with a lost-child-like expression, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s just too difficult.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Pia raised her head and looked at the ssroom again with an ominous feeling. Things that weren¡¯t visible before became apparent. Leciel, sitting with a soulless expression. She was ring at her test paper with a half-smiling, yet very fierce expression. Shuffle- Cuculli¡¯s desk froze. ¡°Oh.¡± ¡­And so, the first written exam hosted by her concluded with an average score of 23 points. Pia prepared the final remarks. * * * Late at night. I left the inn alone. For the past few days, I had been running non-stop from Rosenstark to Lonkers. I was fine, but Nyhill, being human, must be quite tired. Since we weren¡¯t heading straight to the center of the stake and were instead exploring the surroundings, I wanted her to rest. There was an incident where the girl followed me despite my consideration and I had to force her into the room¡­ Anyway, I was alone now. ¡®By the way, it might take longer than nned until the return.¡¯ Still, I wasn¡¯t worried about Rosenstark. With apetent and reliable assistant, she would fill my vacant position well. Having a subordinate you can trust and rely on was truly a blessing. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± With that thought in mind, I mounted ¡®Ted¡¯ and urged him forward. Powerful muscr legs and buttocks pushed against the ground, and Lonkers¡¯ scenery faded away vaguely. I would probably reach the stake before dawn, where it would be visible. ¡®Stake extermination.¡¯ It would be a task to do until I got bored. mes. Reiming the territories stolen from humans was also one of my given duties. But I didn¡¯t expect to do it so soon. ¡­Hence, thorough preliminary research was needed. What kind of tribe the administrator belonged to. How strong the monster forces had be. The extent of erosion in the vicinity, and so on. The pattern of extermination would vary greatly depending on these factors. Kieeeek! Advancing by cutting down monsters. The creatures that rarely appeared gradually increased in frequency and number, and by the time the stake became visible to the naked eye, the ck hope had still not dried up with blood. I stopped on top of a lonely hill. ¡°¡­¡­¡± And gazed at the grotesque structure towering high in the distance. It looked as if a giant had inverted an enormous iron stake. Something like veins surrounded the elongated surface like a vine. Creak- Heehee-! The ¡®Protective Ward¡¯ I had attached to Ted¡¯s back when we left the vige was rapidly contracting. ¡­Surprisingly, the magiization in this area was alreadyplete. The magi was dense. ¨‹ Nameless Stake ¨C Grade 5 Malekia¡¯s magi can be felt. ¡ø ¡°Malekia¡¯s stake¡­.¡± Malekia, the Queen of Agony. One of the most powerfulmanders of the demon race, excluding the Demon King. The administrator of this stake seemed to be one of her subordinates. Only now did I realize the reason why magi had spread abnormally fast. ¡®A vicious one hase.¡¯ Magi typically thrives on humans¡¯ negative emotions. Therefore, Malekia¡¯s subordinates, including the Queen of Agony herself, don¡¯t kill humans outright. They indulge in all sorts of tortures. If captured by them, you¡¯ll experience a devilishly creative torment that surpasses the imagination. While other tribes also extract emotions from humans in a simr way, Malekia¡¯s subordinates were on a different level in terms of quality and creativity. Alongside inducing the copse of human minds with nightmares, they were one of the demon tribes with the highest magi production. ¡®I need to hurry.¡¯ Subordinates of agony. I hadn¡¯t considered them because they were mostly active in the eastern border areas. I assessed the number of creatures visible as dots. Fortunately, a massive force hadn¡¯t gathered yet, but¡­ ¡®¡­Armies can swell in an instant.¡¯ If even one nearby vige falls, countless human captives will fall into their hands. The magi production will rise to a level difficult to handle. That was something I had to prevent. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡®The administrator is the issue¡­.¡¯ I gazed up at the top of the tower where the most magi was concentrated. If someone became the administrator of the stake, they would be at least an intermediate-level demon. If more magi fell into their hands, it would be dangerous. Of course, I had obtained the key of Valber and achieved considerable growth, so even if I ended up in a direct confrontation, I wouldn¡¯t lose without a fight. However, given the significant risk, it was necessary to fight more cleverly than head-on. I outlined a rough n in my mind. ¡®Thorough preparation is needed.¡¯ First, I nned to contact Euphemia. ¡­The situation was more serious than I had thought. It was the moment I was about to speak again. Eeuhhh. Euaaaah! A strange sobbing sound reached my ears carried by the wind. I looked towards the approaching peculiar procession from the opposite direction. Thunk! Thunk! A dozen or so humans were confined in a narrow barn-like structure, seemingly suitable for livestock. The weird creatures were dragging them towards the location of the stake. Every single one wore a despairing expression. They looked like nearby vige residents. ¡®¡­Timing is perfect.¡¯ Captured humans be tools for magi production. Liberating them would be the first step in stake extermination. I absentmindedly took out the ck Hope but hesitated. ¡®If someone recognizes it and the story spreads, it could be troublesome.¡¯ Instead, what I took out was the golden key. Click- As I spun it in the air, a ck hole appeared in front of me, swirling into existence. ¨‹ Subspace, would you like to connect to ¡®Valber¡¯? ¡ø Based on the test I conductedst night, the weapons stored here were quite powerful. Powerful enough to handle such wretched creatures. * * * Going back a bit in time. The night before, Lonkers Inn. I had some time to examine the weapons stored in the key of Valber. A golden key inside a wooden box. I was already familiar with how to use it. Click- I rotated the key a full circle to the right and half a circle to the left after picking it up. Click- A faint metallic sound echoed, as if there were even transparent keyholes in the empty space. Tsutsutsutsu- And then, the golden thread slid rapidly in all directions. The geometric patterns covering the entire room were quickly absorbed into a single point along with intense vibrations. Afterward, a ck hole appeared in front of me. ¨‹ Subspace, would you like to connect to ¡®Valber¡¯? ¡ø Closing my left eye, I reached into it. That¡¯s how the connection to the subspace waspleted. ¡®It¡¯s strange.¡¯ My body was definitely in the inn room. I could feel the hardness of the chair, the scent of the bedding, the warmth emitted by the candles, all distinctly. In my field of vision, a magnificent disy of infinite space was reflected. A sword adorned with a brilliant crimson me. A spear covered in a ck aura. A polearm emitting a strange vibration. A shield with teeth and a mouth drawn on it. And even a bow with a blinking eye in the center of the bowstring. It wasn¡¯t just weapons; artifacts like rings and nes were also visible. If there was one thing that those artifacts had inmon, it was that they felt a power so great that it made you feel numb. These were all high-quality products that would not be surprising if they were included in the imperial treasury. ¡®Moreover, they are all items from the First Era.¡¯ With sessivementsing to mind, I could grasp the extraordinary capabilities of these artifacts. A spear, Umbra, that could pierce shadows and inflict wounds on the main body. A dagger, Imperfector, that made the target more vulnerable to magic damage. A shield, Laphina, that not only had powerful magical resistance but also stole the strength of the opponent it touched. Boots, Ventus, that could absorb and store air, allowing a temporary ability to walk in the air. ¡®I might as well discard the gauntlet I bought at the auction.¡¯ Seventeen artifacts that would be of great help in immediately facing demons in battle. These could be used as main armaments by the children in the future. Among them, I shifted my gaze to the most noticeable one. ¡®Why is there noment on this item?¡¯ A pure white ring positioned at the center of the disy. It was one level higher than the other artifacts. Except for its color, it had no distinctive features. Suddenly, the conversation from earlier came to mind. ¡°I repaired 17 out of the 18 artifacts inside the key. But one, I couldn¡¯t even touch.¡± It seemed to be the artifact that Noubelmag mentioned. If he couldn¡¯t touch it, it was certain that I couldn¡¯t identify its true nature with my current abilities. Moreover, there was noment. I decided to give up on it and picked up a few of the artifacts that seemed immediately useful. I judged them to be practical for immediate use. As I made up my mind to bring them out, they gradually transformed into particles of light and disappeared. At the same time, a heavy sound echoed in my ears ¨C the friction sound between the inn¡¯s wooden floor and the artifacts. ¨‹ Disconnecting from ¡®Valber.¡¯ ¡ø I immediately gathered the artifacts and headed towards the open space behind the inn. ¡®I need to get familiar with them for now.¡¯ Anyone witnessing this would probably find itughable. Trying to familiarize oneself with various types of weapons in just one night is not only impossible but also futile. There¡¯s a saying that goes something like this: a person who has practiced one kick a thousand times is not to be feared, but a person who has practiced a thousand kicks once is to be feared. However, in this world, there are those who have practiced a thousand kicks a thousand times. Ted Redymer ¨C one of the many epithets attached to him was ¡®Weapon Master.¡¯ While his primary weapon was the ck Hope, he extensively practiced various forms of weapons, quickly mastering them thanks to his exceptional talent. He embodied what I always emphasize to the kids: ¡°You should know yourrades¡¯ fighting styles well.¡± Therefore, I confidently wielded unfamiliar weapons, trusting that the essence within me, Ted, would guide me. With a swish, I unsheathed Prm, Hor. The core within me will guide itself, so *Whoosh* Polearm, Hor. It was an artifact that emitted powerful vibrations, shattering anything it touched. A polearm unfamiliar, gently swirling in my grip, with a *hum* as I securely wielded it. As I adjusted my wrist, a sense of unity between the axis of the polearm and the center of my body emerged. It was a phenomenon that urred when the weight and bnce of the weapon were perfectly mastered. In my mind, angles and forces needed for striking or piercing were automatically calcted. ¡®Among the 17 artifacts, there are many simr to the children¡¯s weapons. It might be good to practice their techniques,¡¯ I thought. A genius¡¯s day can sometimes surpass several years of an ordinary person. The essence of a hero resonated with those words. I grasped Polearm again. The night was short, and there were still many weapons to wield. ¨‹ Countless iron fragments were piled on a soft hearth. ¡ø HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 72 Chapter 72 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Inside the abandoned mine, in the workshop. Noubelmag stood before the mes. His wrinkled face was bathed in the red light flowing from the furnace. Despite decades, or rather, nearly a century of craftsmanship, his posture exuded solemnity and tension. His movements were ceaseless, swift, and precise. ng-! ¡°Phew¡­.¡± As the hammer moved, the metal transformed into elegant curves and sharp edges. Continuous noise and vibrations filled the air. When sweat streamed down his forehead and soaked his clothes, he abruptly paused, closing his eyes to assess the bnce and weight of his work. Eventually¡­ ¡°Shit.¡± Noubelmag threw the piece he had been hammering aside like trash with a ng. It collided with other simr ¡®failures,¡¯ creating a loud noise. Noubelmag, who had been ring at them with fierce eyes, turned abruptly. ¡°Yeah. How long do you n to stand there doing that?¡± Nyhill, who had been silently observing the entire process, responded as she stood still. ¡°The Hero asked me to watch over Noubelmag.¡± ¡°Me? Why?¡± ¡°For protection. He was worried that you are the weakest among the Knights of Dawn and expressed his concerns. He asked for close protection when je is absent.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Nyhill repeated the words exactly as the Hero had said. ¡­The weakest? Noubelmag looked at her with an expression of disbelief. But the girl just stared at him nkly, with an expression on her face that showed she knew nothing. The old man sighed deeply. ¡®Themander brought another strange kid.¡¯ Nothing much had changed since the old days. Themander always brought entric people along. Noubelmag had long expected that the small girl, no bigger than a bean, would be extraordinary. After all, he had been watching the monotonous forging process without a twitch for hours. In the sweltering mine, where it was so warm that sweat would drip after just 5 minutes, he had had enough. He clicked his tongue and looked at Nyhill¡¯s messy, soaked hair. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day. Today¡¯s work is done with this.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Nyhill stood beside Noubelmag. Their heights were simr, so making eye contact was inevitable. Innocent ck eyes that sparkled like ore every time the furnace¡¯s light shone on them. Suddenly, memories of the past shed through Noubelmag¡¯s mind. His son¡¯s eyes were the same color. ck irises reminiscent of the mother who had been a human. ¡®Daig.¡¯ 25% Dwarf. 25% Fairy. 50% human. Noubelmag, an artisan diluted by more than half. Had he ced excessive expectations on him? He realized that he hadn¡¯t properly met those jet-ck eyes since then. ¡°Father is insane! I am your child! I¡¯m not some damn artifact ced on that shelf!¡± The old man shook his head as if trying to escape old memories and looked at Nyhill with a puzzled expression. ¡°¡­Have you eaten?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Then follow me.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± For the first time in a long while, smoke rose from Noubelmag¡¯s cabin. * * * ¡­Two days into reconnaissance. The Hero tightly gripped the spear in his right hand, a weapon he had now be ustomed to wielding like a lifelongpanion. Shadow Spear, Umbra. One of the 17 artifacts stored in Valber, it possessed the unique ability called ¡®Shadow Tread.¡¯ It was a powerful ability that allowed inflicting identical wounds on the opponent¡¯s body when the attack hit their shadow. ¡®I can¡¯t tantly use the ck Hope.¡¯ The ck Hope was more famous among demons than humans. Using it recklessly would only increase unnecessary suspicion from the administrator of the post. Therefore, he used the weapons stored in Valber. Even that was sufficient to deal with the remaining impish creatures. Keyaaak! He dodged the massive creature¡¯s body m. There was no need to turn his body to attack the creature¡¯s core. As the spear pierced the shadow near its neck, the creature let out a final scream, writhing on the ground. It was thest remaining monster. Kwagwang! Next, he swung the spear to break down the enclosure where people were trapped. They hurriedly escaped, their bodies covered in dry bloodstains. An old middle-aged man embraced a child who seemed to be his daughter, bowing his head. ¡°Thank you. Thank you.¡± ¡°Hurry and leave this area.¡± The Hero pointed in the direction they should go with his fingertips. ¡°If you go this way, you won¡¯t encounter any monsters.¡± ¡°May I know your name, sir? We will definitely show our gratitude.¡± ¡°Kasim, I am Kasim.¡± ¡°Kasim! I will make sure your name echoes in every corner of the nearby taverns!¡± ¡°¡­Do as you wish.¡± Watching them depart, bowing continuously, the Hero activated Valber again. Tsutsutsutsu! The spear, longer than the distance between both arms, quickly disappeared into a small hole. ¡®Hu¡­ the hostage rescue to disrupt their magi production is progressing smoothly.¡¯ As guerri battles were frequent, Nyhill was deliberately left behind in Lonkers. It was because he couldn¡¯t afford to show off his skills, much below the level of a real Hero. Additionally, it served as a safety measure, as they weren¡¯t sure if the group of monsters would attack the vige. Noubelmag, the stoic, and Nyhill, emotionless. Although there were some concerns, after hearing yesterday¡¯s story, it seemed they had managed well without any major issues. ¡­Anyway, guerri warfare was the most suitable strategy for dealing with a small group against arger force. From the outskirts to the center of the stake, the Hero ambushed and eliminated the Malekia¡¯s monsters escorting prisoners, repeating the process. The strategy was effective because guerri warfare was best suited for dealing with a few against many. As a result, in just half a day, he managed to rescue nearly twenty civilian hostages and significantly reduced the enemy¡¯s forces. Wiping the ck blood that clung to his body, the Hero nced at thement from Lace that appeared in his mind. ¨‹ mes bloomed before those who wandered through the darkest moments. ¡ø Rescuing humans destined to burn with just a handful of mana seemed to have changed thements. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Unfortunately, there was no reward, but considering the change in thements about the ¡°Furnace¡± yesterday, there might be something to look forward to soon. ¡®It would be good if I could be a bit stronger before they start moving in earnest.¡¯ One fortunate thing was that Euphemia had sent reinforcements. Leaving Malekia¡¯s stake alone would be a significant risk from her perspective. [Don¡¯t ever confront them head-on! Just stay stuck in the vige for three days until the reinforcements arrive. Got it?!] ¡°Noubelmag asked to clear the stake¡­.¡± [A retired cksmith¡¯s words are being prioritized over the words of the current emperor, what a surprising little twist.] ¡°¡­.¡± Of course, there was no intention of facing the danger directly. However, leaving Malekia¡¯s influence unchecked was too risky. Putting some pressure on them like now could prevent their power from spreading too much. ¡°¡­.¡± For now, this was the best option. The Hero grasped the key in his hands. * * * Meanwhile, Lonkers. ¡°Move the iron over there a bit.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hold the end firmly.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Surprisingly strong. Leave the forging to me.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°Excellent. Now, go get the grinding material in the yard.¡± Nyhill¡¯s arms trembled. * * * Stakes are generally in the form of cylindrical buildings, efficiently utilizing internal space. The structure is used primarily to extract mana from captured humans, with the exception of the top floor where the administrator resides. The ¡°Malekia¡¯s Stake¡± near Lonkers followed this typical arrangement. The top floor of the stake, overlooking the lower levels filled with horrific screams, echoed with the irritated voice of the ¡°administrator.¡± ¡°¡­ A rat is ruining the grand n.¡± His form resembled that of a human but was twisted in some way. His hunched back and spiky protruding vertebrae characterized his twisted upper body. The bare upper torso was engulfed in mes that seemed to consume demonic flesh, but the regeneration was faster than the speed at which the body burned and crumpled. The administrator, a mid-level demon named ¡°Verris,¡± was near Lonkers¡¯s stake. As he descended, the movements of the subordinates below became frantic. ¡°Aaaaargh!¡± ¡°Kill me¡­ Just kill me, you bastards!¡± However, Verris¡¯s expression remained distorted as he observed the diligent activities of his underlings. As he headed downstairs, the movements of the lesser demons became extremely busy. ¡°Ugh, damn it! One little rat is screwing up everything.¡± He had been in an unpleasant situation for a few days now since the supply of human prisoners began to dwindle. The reason he hurriedly came out of the furnace, where he had been to properly harness the vast amount of magi umted, was also because of the sudden halt in the supply of human prisoners. ¡®¡­At this rate, we might not be able to meet the delivery quota.¡¯ The delivery date had crept up to three days away. Although they had relentlessly squeezed mana out of humans since the stake was set up, the total production of mana was sufficient to fill the delivery quota. However, Verris, who had been a mid-level demon for a very long time, didn¡¯t want to deliver these valuable manas straight to the upper echelons. So, he had sneakily tampered with the magi that was supposed to be delivered. ¡®Anyway, if I capture more humans in the meantime, I can make up for it.¡¯ Thus, when he entered the furnace, he didn¡¯t hurry his subordinates outside. Little did he imagine that a supply problem would arise. Verris reluctantly headed downstairs. ¡®If I lose my position as an administrator because of this¡­¡¯ He would return to the demon realm, possibly even to the maelstrom. He couldn¡¯t stand the thought of that, despite all the criticism from the upper ranks. ¡®How did I let this opportunity slip away?¡¯ ¡­Maelstrom. There were too many demons there, especially an abundance of mid-level demons. Trying hard as he might, he would only end up scavenging leftovers from the higher-ranked demons. The prospect of promotion was a distant dream. Verris thought coldly. ¡®If we keep going like this, even if we capture and torture all nearby travelers, we won¡¯t be able to meet the delivery quota.¡¯ Due to the injury suffered by the Demon Lord from that cunning human Hero, all administrators at the stakes had been assigned much higher quotas than before. Therefore, they needed a vast amount of magi. Verris¡¯s dry eyes gazed down at the ¡®production tools¡¯ at his feet. Just as one of them woke up after fainting, gasping painfully, he begged, ¡°Just kill me¡­ Please, I beg you. This is enough, you monster!¡± ¡°Death, you say¡­.¡± Verris slowly raised his arm, holding a blood-stained dagger that had been drawn at some point. The man¡¯s eyes reflected a sense of relief. ¡°No.¡± However, the dagger didn¡¯t end his life; instead, it sliced through Verris¡¯s palm, and ck blood poured onto the man¡¯s body. The man, with an astonished look, stared at the ck blood pooling on the wound. Soon, he let out a desperate scream. ¡°Uaaaah! Huuuaaah!¡± Whether it was due to intense pain or extreme fear, the man convulsed with his eyes rolling back. Bubbles began to form over the wounds on his body, and slowly, they began to heal. Regeneration. It was the ability that Malekia, the Queen of Agony, willingly bestowed upon her offspring. Verris, looking down at his healed palm, quietly murmured, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t die yet. Recement candidates haven¡¯t arrived yet.¡± And he smirked. ¡°Start over.¡± Leaving the man behind, Verris walked away. He stopped precisely in the middleyer of the stake, staring with an ecstatic gaze at the ¡®core¡¯ of the stake. Thump, thump. It was an empty space, and a fleshy mass resembling a heart pulsated, trembling. Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-! As the core contracted and rxed, mist-like gas spewed out in all directions. Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo! With each contraction and rxation of the core, a misty gas-like substance spewed out in all directions. Verris¡¯s long tongue slithered out, licking at the air, and emerged from his mouth. ¡°¡­Hot. Incredibly sweet.¡± Once he tasted this, there was no turning back. Given the circumstances, there was only one option avable to him. Paaaat! As Verris reached out, a nearby map materialized in light before his eyes. After scanning the surrounding viges, his gaze ultimately settled on Lonkers. He had been cautious not to act recklessly before gathering enough strength or facing potential human reinforcements. But now, there was no time to wait. If he could conquer that vige, extract all the residents, and squeeze out their mana, not only would he meet the delivery quota, but he could also extract enough mana to elevate his rank. ¡°Now is the perfect time while the humans are distracted in the east.¡± Decision made, Verris summoned all the magi within him. The stake trembled violently with a massive vibration. It was an all-out assault. Producing as many demons as possible and then striking Lonkers. That was his n. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 73 Chapter 73 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª It was well past evening, almost turning into night, when the hero returned. Unconsciously passing through the heart of Lonkers, his steps came to a sudden halt as he headed towards the inn. A tavern stood right next to the inn. It was because familiar silhouettes were visible through the window. nk, thud! The hero entered the tavern, pushing through the dust, sweat, and the cheap solo of the ce. Noubelmag and Nyhill were enjoying ate dinner and drinks at a table. The sight of the two, seemingly mismatched yet strangely fitting, caught his attention. ¡°Have you returned?¡± Nyhill, spotting the hero, stood up abruptly and nodded respectfully. The hero¡¯s eyes widened slightly as if he was quite happy to see her, but no one noticed it. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The hero realized he didn¡¯t need to order his menu. Noubelmag seemed to have spent money decently, as the table was filled with good options. So, he just ordered a beer and sat down. ¡°Thanks for taking care of Nyhill.¡± ¡°I should feed her well since she worked hard. I guess there¡¯s nothing suitable to eat in my cabin.¡± ¡°¡­Feed her well?¡± The hero looked at Nyhill. It then struck him that her clothes were stained with soot and the smell of iron. ¡°Hmph, worked diligently like a cow.¡± Noubelmag remarked casually. He seemed to have consumed quite a bit of alcohol. Droplets of beer clung to the beard visible under his worn robe. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve been to the stake area?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been there since yesterday. The manager of the stake is a subordinate of Malekia.¡± ¡°¡­Malekia? The stake of that dirty tribe? Why not just destroy it directly instead of dying time?¡± It was an expected question, and the excuse was also prepared. ¡°I requested reinforcements.¡± ¡°¡­Reinforcements?¡± ¡°Yeah, they should arrive within two days.¡± ¡­.Reinforcements. Noubelmag tilted his head. Isn¡¯t he the hero? He could easily sweep away lower-grade stakes alone. Why call for reinforcements? At his puzzled expression, the hero added, ¡°The range of monster activity is wider than expected, spreading to nearby viges. Moreover, the manager was nowhere to be found, leaving the position vacant.¡± It was a skillful blend of truth and lies. ¡°So?¡± ¡°If I break down the stake too hastily, the scattered monsters, as well as the absent demons, will likelyplicate things, so I n to wait and deal with them all at once. For now, I n to continue to rescue those who are captured as tribute.¡± ncing briefly at the hero, Noubelmag sipped his beer with a somewhat bitter expression. ¡®It¡¯s been less than half a year since the great battle took ce.¡¯ Not immediately subduing the stakes, of course, had its reasons. Perhaps even the Leader¡­ Was he injured like the demon king? Noubelmag cautiously entertained that thought. But he didn¡¯t ask. The leader he knew always made the best choices for the best results. It would be the same this time. ¡°Well¡­ I believe you¡¯ll handle it well on your own. As long as I don¡¯t get interrupted in my work, anything¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°For someone speaking so coldly, you¡¯ve put quite a few exquisite things on the Lonkers stall.¡± ¡°¡­Exquisite? They¡¯re just things made from leftover materials.¡± Whether he knew or not, the hero spoke in a casual tone. ¡°Oh, I almost forgot to mention. Yussi asked to send her regards.¡± ¡°¡­Yussi?¡± At that, Noubelmag¡¯s eyebrows, which had been serious, twitched. ¡°Huh, is that crazy human still alive?¡± ¡°Yeah. She¡¯s in very good health.¡± ¡°Regrettable.¡± Although he said it grumpily, he seemed to be d to hear news of his old colleague. Seeing the faint smile on Noubelmag¡¯s lips, the hero felt that he seemed slightly brighter than yesterday. ¡°How was your time with Nyhill?¡± ¡°Well, I heard how the leader thinks of me.¡± The hero chuckled softly. ¡°Please understand. I don¡¯t want to lose you in a ce like this.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°By the way, is everything going well with the tasks?¡± ¡°Just so-so.¡± As Noubelmag let out a deep sigh, the conversation paused for a moment. Only the sound of Nyhill quietly chewing on bread could be heard. When it seemed she finished her meal, the hero spoke. ¡°Nyhill, you¡¯ve worked hard today. Go back to the amodation, tidy up, and rest.¡± ¡°Alright. Then¡­¡± She bowed slightly towards Noubelmag. ¡°I hope you have a peaceful night too, Noubelmag.¡± ¡°Sure. See you tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°¡­Morning?¡± ¡°Gotta work.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The hero deliberately avoided looking at Nyhill, who was looking at him. Regardless, if Nyhill and Noubelmag became friends, there wouldn¡¯t be any harm. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± As Nyhill, who had upied one side of the table, disappeared, a brief silence lingered in the air. Surprisingly, it was Noubelmag who broke the silence first. ¡°Not an ordinary kid, huh?¡± It was a question that seemed to be asked about something they both knew. ¡°¡­My machines might be more humane.¡± ¡°¡­An agent of the Secret Service, I presume.¡± ¡°Well, Secret Service¡­¡± Noubelmag took another sip of his beer. ¡°For a kid from that hell, she manages to find nooks and crannies quite well.¡± The hero nodded in agreement. He knew well the innocent and childlike side of Nyhill. She seemed naturally kind, a genuinely good soul. They both stared at the empty space where she had been sitting. ¡°Oh, by the way, it seems the wolf statue and blessing stone you entrusted should be finished by tomorrow evening. I¡¯ll stop by the mine and pick them up.¡± ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll make sure to do that.¡± With that, the conversation ended, and silence filled the space between them once again. They emptied their sses, lost in their own thoughts. ¡­The hero pondered. In two days, the reinforcements would arrive. Euphemia had gathered knights and soldiers from nearby territories as much as possible. ¡°After the tragedy of the Desmond Lusser escort, it took time for the surplus forces of nearby nobles to recover,¡± she said. Anyway, with them, it should be rtively easy to attack the stakes. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Until then, disrupting Malekia¡¯s influence in the region would be sufficient. On the other hand, Noubelmag contemted. His task was reaching its final stages. He had invested time and effort into creating a masterpiece¡ªa weapon left unfinished by his deceased son. The ¡®Spirit Artifact¡¯ he wanted to show off to him more than anyone else. Once it waspleted, what should he do next? The two of them clinked sses, each lost in their own thoughts. * * * Midnight in the study. The Emperor, leaning diagonally on her chair, reminisced about the verbose reports that had been piling up on themunication crystal for the past few days. ¡°I am finally fighting¡± Talking about guerri warfare being safe. ¡°I estimated their strength through reconnaissance, and it doesn¡¯t seem dangerous¡± Talking about gauging the enemy¡¯s power. ¡°If I conquer the stakes, we might convince Noubelmag to return,¡± Talking about persuading Noubelmag. Pretending to be calctive, pretending to be administrative, pretending to be looking for benefits. Despite all the justifications, Euphemia could see through the ¡®fake¡¯s¡¯ intentions. It was because the thought process resembled that of a long-time friend. ¡®He just wants to save the visible people he can see.¡¯ I would have definitely told you to save yourself. Euphemia gritted her teeth. Fortunately, her volcanic rage seemed to subside over time. ¡­In truth, she expected something like this to happen when he mentioned going near the stakes. It was fortunate that he didn¡¯t recklessly charge towards the stakes. If he had, she would have personally led the troops, removed the stakes, and probably plucked that guy¡¯s hair out. Though the loss of those elegant wolf-like hair might be a bit regrettable, hair grows back. Or he could use polymorphing or something to fix it. ¡°Ha.¡± The Emperor, dispelling the harsh imagination with a chuckle, turned her gaze back to the report. [Lonkers Expedition Report] Recovery of the First Era heritage, the Key of Valber. Secured numerous powerful artifacts. Sessful rescue of 7 civilian hostages. Elimination of over 30 monsters. ¡­and so on. ¡­Honestly, it was an impressive achievement for a single individual. The Emperor realized that the ¡®fake¡¯ was growing abnormally fast¡­ and soon she could even guess the reason. ¡°Thanks to the Iris of Lace, I suppose.¡± The first time she saw those sses was during his first meeting with Ted. He always wore the Iris of Lace like a second pair of eyes. Naturally, curiosity arose among hisrades about its identity and performance, but there was no answer. Perhaps Euphemia was the only one among the knights who knew the truth. ¡°A non-standard artifact with unparalleled performance, and the reason why I could be this strong.¡± After a brief silence, Ted murmured quietly. ¡°And also my shackles.¡± After that conversation, he gradually stopped wearing the symbolic external sses. ¡®With such rapid growth in less than half a year¡­ I should ask exactly how it contributes to his growth.¡¯ Only then would she be able to make her ns for the future. It is obvious that he will run wild, but we need to know his power level in advance. ¡°Hmm.¡± Having organized her thoughts up to that point, the Emperor let out a long sigh and closed her eyes. ¡°Hoo.¡± The silvery hair, neatly arranged around her eyebrows, became disheveled. Several days into the vigil. If not for her origin, the ¡®Ultimate Body,¡¯ she would have sumbed to illness long ago. However, the Emperor¡¯s rest couldn¡¯tst much longer. *Beeeep* The Emperor irritably opened her eyes. It was in the next moment that her eyebrows sharply narrowed when she saw the sender. ¡°Your Majesty! Head of the Exploration Unit, Will Turman reporting. Please forgive the rudeness for not showing enough courtesy.¡± Immediately after the great battle. The Demonic Expedition departed for the depths of the demonic realm. On the face of the leader, excitement and fear were intermingled. The background seemed to be the Grand Mountain Range. It seemed like they attempted to contact as soon as they reached an area withmunication capabilities. ¡°¡­What¡¯s going on?¡± Will, the head of the exploration unit, took a deep breath¡­ ¡°The return of the Demon King has been determined!¡± He revealed the greatest achievement of the exploration unit. Euphemia stood up abruptly. * * * Meanwhile, the Emperor¡¯s astonishment. The hero¡¯s struggle. Noubelmag¡¯s long contemtion. In the distant, peaceful academy, Rosenstark. The children at the Extreme swallowed their saliva and looked at the old professor standing upright on the podium. It was the beginning of the first reinforcement. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 74 Chapter 74 HEL SCANS ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡®Labin Hawk.¡¯ This old professor was a thorny figure for Yussi. It was about five years ago when she took office as the head of the academy, supported implicitly by the current Emperor and acquiring a substantial stake in the school corporation with Glendor¡¯s vast financial resources. Her first major action was a massive restructuring, aimed at clearing away the remnants of the ipetent and corrupt former head of the academy. Numerous faculty members who had ridden the coattails of the former head¡¯s iron rice bowl were let go. Labin Hawk was one of the few senior professors who survived this ruthless purge. The reason Yussi couldn¡¯t dismiss him boiled down to two main factors. Firstly, his rank was too high. Labin had served as a professor at Rosenstark for the longest period, teaching students. Many of his disciples were actively serving in key positions across the Empire, some wielding considerable influence even being called ¡®giants.¡¯ In fact, Yussi herself, the current Emperor, and even the hero had studied under Labin¡¯s guidance. His influence was immense, to say the least. While it might be possible to challenge him with careful preparation, stirring up trouble with him would likely result in a catastrophic aftermath. Secondly, and actually the primary reason, Labin¡¯s reputation was not bad; in fact, it was quite good. Unlike the former head of the academy and other senior professors who had engaged in massive corruption, Labin had a spotless record. His qualities and abilities as a professor were unquestionable, and his umted research achievements were outstanding. Especially in tactics, he had earned a solid reputation. The moment Yussi and the Emperor¡¯s n to reform Rosenstark veered slightly from its course, Labin Hawk became a potential disruption. Anyway, the result was that Yussi, along with some professors gathered around Labin as the focal point, had no choice but to continue their persistent struggles. ¡­Of course, for the Extreme Kids who had just entered the academy, this was an ancient secret history they could never know. But now, they were feeling in real-time that Labin was quite an unusual figure. It was in the ssroom where the reinforcement was taking ce. ¡°I am Labin Hawk. You probably know, but I am in charge of the Unir lecture on ¡®Understanding the Battlefield¡¯ in the Combat Department.¡± p! p! The kids pped ceremoniously as they observed Labin, who appeared for reinforcement. His mostly white hair, with a disproportionatelyrge percentage, was neatly styled with pomade, without a single strand out of ce. His beard was meticulously trimmed as if sharpened with a razor. In the midst of his face, filled with tight wrinkles, his sharp eyes scrutinized the children. ¡°You¡¯ve probably been ustomed to a certain type of ss, mainly focused on practical exercises. It seems it was quite risky practical training, suitable for upperssmen¡­¡± A low and thick voice. Strong tone and firm pronunciation. In his cold expression, there was no trace of kindness or sociability. The children watched Labin in slight stiffness. Every time he spoke, it felt like the air in the ssroom became even heavier. ¡®¡­He¡¯s quite intimidating.¡¯ Evergreen always sat at the front. It was a habit to concentrate more on ss and gain something extra. However, she regretted her choice for the first time when she met Labin¡¯s piercing eyes. ¡°But you won¡¯t need yourbat gear for today¡¯s reinforcement. Everyone put it away.¡± It was a different pressure from what they felt from the hero. The hero¡¯s pressure came from his great reputation and innate dignity. On the contrary, the hero was usually modest and not very authoritative. He was known for answering somewhat absurd questions and encouraging students¡¯ free expression of opinions. ¡­But Labin seemed tock such tolerance. From the moment he mentioned not needingbat gear for today¡¯s reinforcement, Cuculli, who seemed displeased, raised her hand and eximed. ¡°Uh, so are we not doing any practical exercises today? The scheduled ss time is supposed to be 6 hours¡­!¡± ¡°Cuculli Evans. Questions should be raised when permission is granted.¡± Labin looked at Cuculli and spoke. While other kids might have been intimidated, unfortunately, she wasn¡¯t one of them. ¡°Yes! Can I ask a question now?¡± With a lively response, Labin was momentarily at a loss for words. ¡°¡­Go ahead.¡± ¡°So, are we not doing any practical exercises today? Just theory?¡± ¡°Why do you need practical exercises?¡± ¡°Well, because we¡¯ll have to fight demonster¡­¡± Labin frowned and interrupted Cuculli. ¡°Nonsensical. You¡¯re freshmen. It¡¯ll be at least five more years before you step onto the front lines. There¡¯s no need for risky practical training right away. It¡¯s enough to do it after advancing a grade.¡± ¡°But Professor Redymer¡­¡± ¡°The current ss falls under my jurisdiction. Redymer¡¯s opinion is not important here.¡± The kids looked somewhat puzzled. Of course, they knew that theory was as important as practical experience, and the hero had emphasized the need for theory through anatomy sses and the like. However, they couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Labin, for some reason, despised practical training. ¡°Today, we¡¯ll examine the defeats humanity experienced in thest ten years or so. We¡¯ll discuss the tactics used at that time, the reasons for their failure, and alternative strategies.¡± Labin finished speaking and gestured towards the back of the ssroom. ¡°Assistant Joyce! Distribute the prepared materials to the students.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Pia moved somewhat reluctantly, not in her usual manner. While handing out the materials, she disyed an unwilling attitude. The kids looked at her with confusion but epted the papers. Ban¡¯s head tilted in amusement as he quickly skimmed through the entire set of materials. ¡®Wait a minute, this¡­ .¡¯ The documents detailed various types of defeats, with thorough ssifications. Reports and situational exnations from those times were densely recorded. Ban¡¯s gaze lingered on the list. Battle of ¡®Wraithfire in¡¯. Battle of ¡®Ardum Gorge¡¯. Battle of ¡®Lake Kubo¡¯¡­ . ¡®Most of these battles weremanded by Professor Redymer, right?¡¯ ¡°Let¡¯s identify the mistakes made by themanders in these defeats and discuss suitable alternatives.¡± ¡®Wow, this is absolutely evil.¡¯ The ss looked at Labin with his mouth wide open as he confidently continued his lecture. Some kids were already connecting to their Connectors. * * * The Hero continued his meditation and suddenly opened his eyes. ¡®Is it today?¡¯ It is the day of the first extreme reinforcement. By now, the children are probably hearing about the ¡®Original¡¯s¡¯ defeat from Labin. ¡®This is a necessary process.¡¯ ¡­¡®Original¡¯ did not always win. Especially in the early days of his activities, when he threw down the gauntlet and gained fame, the Dawn Knights,posed of himself, his peers, and juniors, had many shorings. There were many simrities between them and the current extreme kids, with talents so concentrated that they could be called the ¡®Golden Generation.¡¯ The seniors made mistakes when they first entered the battlefield, and the kids needed to know what those mistakes were and what the consequences were. Effective methods to avoid repeating those mistakes also had to be learned. That¡¯s why I entrusted the reinforcement to Labin. He had extensively researched tactics in the Combat Department and, for some reason, always used his own failure cases as examples in lectures, perhaps due to his strong dislike for the ¡®Original.¡¯ ¡®Still, I heard that he criticizes with reasonable grounds rather than indiscriminate me¡¯ HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Kasim, well-versed in the professors¡¯ situations, told me, and it was also mentioned inst year¡¯s Connector data. Anyway, in terms of tactical theory, he was exceptionally skilled. He asionally came to other academies seeking knowledge. ¡°If his abilities weren¡¯t up to par, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to take on the role of Unir instructor in the first ce,¡± Kasim added. The hero believed that Labin could fill in the gaps in the shorings of the extreme thus far. ¡®Well, I¡¯ve thought enough about Rosenstark now.¡¯ So, the hero¡¯s thoughts returned to the original topic that had been haunting him. It was about dealing with the Lonkers incident¡ªor more precisely, dealing with the ¡®Administrator of the Stake.¡¯ ¡®¡­it¡¯s the most threatening variable in the current situation.¡¯ Therefore, since arriving at Lonkers, the hero had invested most of his time in ¡®Avatar Training,¡¯ except for the time spent on exploring the Stake¡¯s surveince. It was mainly to face the forces of Malekia. Given that I¡¯ve faced countless real threats from Malekia, the ¡®List of Implementable Avatars¡¯ includes a significant number of Malekia¡¯s subordinates. The grade of the stake embedded in this area is Grade 5. Since administrators of Grade 5 stakes are mainly mid-level demons, I chose a suitable demon from my avatars. ¨‹ Virtual duelpleted Duel Evaluation: B- If the evaluation result is B- or lower, it is rmended to duel with avatars of lower difficulty. Generating aprehensive evaluation¡­ ¡ø However, the results were never satisfactory. It was on a different level than the lesser demon ¡®Azimuth¡¯ faced before. From intermediate demons and above, they belonged to legions, receiving some of the powers of a Greater Demon. In particr, one of Malekia¡¯s representative powers, regeneration, horrifically increased the difficulty of the battle. ¡®There are no effective hits.¡¯ With the regeneration ability added to the resilient and fast body of an intermediate demon, it was challenging to inflict critical hits. Relying on the ck Hope alone was futile. Using the weapons stored in the Valber at the right moment was the only way to gain a slight advantage. Consequently, it inevitably turned into a protracted battle. ¡®Not easy.¡¯ Eventually, they had to exchange blows until both of their manas and stamina were depleted, then barely win, or use Halo for a fatal blow and wound him before the fight starts. Neither side desired such a fight. This ce was an enemy territory with stakes embedded. Ambushing the opponent was dangerous, and¡­ ¡®An Administrator reinforced by the magi spread by the stake would be significantly stronger than an avatar.¡¯ The hero concluded. ¡®Until the Second Form is unlocked, I must avoid direct confrontations at all costs.¡¯ ¡­The First Form, Halo, enhanced the destructive power and versatility of the crescent de. It allowed the freely transformable shape of the crescent de, which is fundamentally a half-moon shape, by adjusting the mana density. This made it possible to concentrate mana to a single point for increased destructive power or spread it for an omnidirectional strike. Since various attributes could be added, it was possible to maximize attack power by choosing the attribute that countered the opponent. It was a kind of offensive technique. On the other hand, the Second Form, Nova, was a supportive technique that increased ¡®physical abilities.''¡± To be more precise, it increases ¡®speed.¡¯ It not only enhances movement speed or the speed at which the body operates. The moment Nova is activated, even the head, usually unaffected by internal mana,es under the influence of mana. As a result, the speed of perceiving and judging objects in the brain also increases. It bes possible to trante thoughts into movements much more quickly and urately into physical actions. Although there was severe recoil as it was a technique that could push the body beyond its limits, the ability to move and judge at several times the original speed was a tremendous merit. If acquired, it became possible to face opponents much stronger than oneself. This ability was so remarkable that ¡®Original¡¯ described it in this way: ¡®The moment I realized Nova, it felt like the world was slowing down.¡¯ The ability to use 1 second as if it were 10 seconds. However¡­ The hero nced at the dirty walls of the inn. ¡®¡­I haven¡¯t even found a clue yet.¡¯ The progress of the firece, firewood, and mes seemed insufficient. The unlocking of the Second Form did not seem to be happening anytime soon. However, he couldn¡¯t just sit back and wait for reinforcements. ¡®They im to be minimizing casualties, but the fact is people are still dying.¡¯ The hero clenched his fist. If he could realize the Second Form, he might be able to eradicate the stakes before the reinforcements arrived. ¡®¡­Let¡¯s practice so that we can at least mimic something simr.¡¯ He had a n. He knew well how ¡®Original¡¯ hade to realize Nova. Stuck in a trap, separated from hisrades, and fighting several demons alone. He didn¡¯t know if he could find even a small clue if he found himself in a simr situation. ¡­So he activated the Iris of Lace once again. ¨‹ Do you want to execute Avatar Training? ¡ø Pain and other sensations in Avatar Training are the same as in reality. Of course, it can be adjusted arbitrarily, but doing so prevents gaining enlightenment. The hero continued with the settings. ¨‹ Do you want to set ¡®Intermediate Demon, Rackmos¡¯ as the training Avatar? Do you want to set ¡®Intermediate Demon, Avril¡¯ as the training Avatar? Do you want to set ¡®Intermediate Demon, Belethor¡¯ as the training Avatar? Load the saved battlefield, ¡®Ardum Gorge.¡¯ Proceeding has an extremely low chance of winning. Will you proceed? ¡ø He nodded. Immediately, the Iris of Lace transported him to a narrow, steep gorge filled with dark shadows. ¡®Theye out fast.¡¯ On the narrow and steep path, the hero adjusted his grip on the sword, facing demons spreading powerful mana. ¡­It was a fresh start. Today, he was prepared to die at least fifty more times. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 75 Chapter 75 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The next day. In the afternoon, heavy rain poured down. The continuous disy of thunder and lightning captured the attention of passersby. Large and heavy raindrops, along with powerful winds. The streets turned into windows, making it difficult to go out on horseback. ¡°Uaaaah!¡± ¡°Hryaa!¡± ¡°Take this!¡± Lonkers were noisy with untimely shouts. It was the open space behind the self-defense force headquarters. ¡°Hans, I have a favor to ask.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Gather the self-defense force members. It doesn¡¯t have to be exclusively them. Anyone who wants to protect the vige is wee.¡± ¡°¡­ I understand the intention, but I¡¯m not sure if people will gather.¡± ¡°At least convey the message; I would be grateful.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m more thankful. Thank you, Kasim.¡± As a result, about fifty people gathered. There were self-defense force members, as well as ordinary residents. Whenever I had time, I taught them the basics of defense formations. Thanks to Noubelmag going to fix defensive weapons, I also asked Nyhill, who became free, to help improve their swordsmanship. ¡°It¡¯s fortunate that the body doesn¡¯t need sleep.¡± It was a busy few days without a moment to spare. Fortunately, perhaps because Hans had mentioned our skills in advance, the residents obediently followed the instructions. It was quiteical to see a group of bulky men seriously watching a swordsmanship demonstration by a girl who was no taller than their chest, but no one wasughing. ¡®At this level, the minimum safety measures have been put in ce.¡¯ The existence of reinforcements is basically confidential. In other words, the residents were unaware that the situation had improved. Of course, there were some individuals that gave up, but arger number were making efforts for the vige¡¯s defense. Their expressions showed a firm belief that their current efforts would increase the chances of survival in the imminent tragedy. I took full advantage of their desperation. ¡°Rest.¡± As soon as the word was spoken, everyone copsed to the ground. It was muddy, but there was no one who cared about it. I nced at them and then turned my gaze away. ¡®I hope the training continues even in the future.¡¯ Just because the stakes disappeared didn¡¯t mean everything would be solved. Their lives continued in this harsh ce. Danger was widespread. There was a possibility that remnants of monsters could attack. Bandits could invade a weakened vige. No, there was no guarantee that such situations wouldn¡¯t ur in the first ce. It was that kind of era. That¡¯s why ¡®self-sufficiency¡¯ was not a choice but a necessity. ¡°Even if a few heroes work hard, it¡¯s useless if themoners can¡¯t stand on their own.¡± Taking Nyhill, who was suffering alongside me under the rain, I entered the self-defense force building. A resting area on the first floor. Empty beer sses were already piling up at the window, which seemed too cramped for three people to sit. Noubelmag, who had been looking out the window at a distance, turned his gaze in our direction. It seemed like he was casually lounging, but I knew he had been checking the condition of the water artifacts by making a round with Nyhill and a notebook since morning. ¡°¡­It¡¯s pouring like crazy. Leader, does it remind you of the old days?¡± ¡°The old days?¡± His cheeks seemed flushed, perhaps due to drinking. ¡°When the Grade 8 stake was firmly driven into the ground. The damn administrator called for acid rain, and it poured like this.¡± As if recalling old memories, Noubelmag¡¯s eyes, which had been wandering through the air, shifted to Nyhill. ¡°That dense forest, thend, the animals, and even the armor¡­ Acid rain that melted everything poured for over an hour. Can you imagine?¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t.¡± With Nyhill¡¯s concise response, Noubelmag chuckled as if it were absurd. ¡°¡­Sit down. It¡¯s ufortable for people to stand all hunched like that.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t sit until I¡¯m given an order.¡± ¡°Nyhill, you can sit.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Nyhill sat cautiously next to me. Noubelmag alternated between her and me with a displeased look. ¡°That damn order. Thanks to your order, I have to carry that girl even to the toilet.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better than being idle.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Your expression seems to have brightened up quite a bit. I thought you liked Nyhill quite a bit.¡± Seemingly about to say something, the old man opened his mouth, hesitated, and then closed it. ¡°I told you that then too. She¡¯s a kid hard to hate.¡± ¡°Leader has changed a lot. Talking nonsense like this in front of the kids.¡± Nyhill, feeling somewhat awkward being the topic of conversation, wiggled her toes. For a while, we silently gazed out of the window, watching the rain pouring down. Despite the bad weather, a considerable number of residents were briskly moving around the vige. Some were making consumables like stones and arrows as instructed, and leaders, including the self-defense force, were back on their feet, dedicated to training. On the distant road, vige women approached with baskets covered with waterproof cloths, containing fresh herbs and drinks for the warriors. Nyhill, who had been quietly observing their faces, spoke up at that moment. ¡°I have a question.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Even if they train for a few days and prepare for defense, their chances of survival won¡¯t change significantly. They must be aware of that, so why are they so desperate?¡± ¡­There¡¯s a reason. However, as I pondered my response, an unexpected answer came from another source. ¡°It¡¯s obvious.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of blood ties.¡± Both Nyhill and I turned our gaze to Noubelmag simultaneously. He took a sip of beer, gazing at the vigers outside with a somber look. ¡°Those who could escape already did when the situation got bad. They are the ones for whom escape is impossible.¡± ¡°¡­Escape is impossible for them?¡± ¡°People with family members too young or too old, making it difficult to cross the dangerous wilderness for refuge.¡± Noubelmag repeated. ¡°So, they endure this crazy rain because of blood ties. Can you understand that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really know.¡± ¡°¡­Fair enough.¡± ¡­Blood ties. Noubelmag, who had been quietly murmuring that word, suddenly stood up. ¡°¡­I should probably return to the mine. The work is piling up.¡± The raindrops were gradually thinning. It seemed like it would stop before evening. I returned among the vigers, who were practicing diligently with Nyhill. Amidst the panting sounds, asional hearty cheers were mixed in. . . . ¡­None of us imagined that Lonkers¡¯ fence would copse the next day. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª * * * In the workshop of the mine, Nyhill was working with a hammer in front of a hot furnace. It was her new task. The intense heat and mes surrounding her, her face reddened, and sweat dripping down. The reason she started handling a hammer was Noubelmag¡¯s whim. He noticed that she watched him work with curiosity every time he assigned her simple tasks. It was curiosity about a field she had never experienced in her life. ¡®¡­¡¯ He recalled Nyhill¡¯s background that he heard during the drinking session with the warrior. The ghost of the dark division. She must have only done ¡®absolutely necessary tasks¡¯ every day. ¡®She probably hasn¡¯t even experienced any kind of waste.¡¯ So, he handed her the hammer, roughly exined the basics, and set up a workbench. It was a whim, a diversion. ng! As an amateur, Nyhill¡¯s talent was not bad. Her hands were precise, and she had strength. Having grasped the basics, she often swung the hammer, cutting and bending metal. Of course, the results of her work were not particrly impressive, but Nyhill seemed to enjoy the process. Sparks asionally flew from her ck stone-like eyes. ¡®It¡¯s fascinating.¡¯ ¡­Creating something. For her, who was always in a position to destroy, kill, and create a mess, it was a new experience. ng! A steady metallic sound. Listening to the sounds of hammer and anvil, her mind settled. Lately, her head had been noisy with various thoughts, but now everything felt serene. ¡°¡­¡± Noubelmag silently observed her. It had been three days since he worked alongside Nyhill, providing guidance and assisting her as she continued the inexperienced hammering in front of the workbench. Watching her work brought back an old memory. ¡®¡­Daig.¡¯ The toy hammer that he had given to his son since he took his first steps. Daig seemed to enjoy it, thinking it was a game with his father. When he first stood in front of a workbench, he sparkled with excitement at the shiny ore on the anvil. That image was still vivid in his memory. ¡®Since when did that smile disappear?¡¯ He thought it was better to teach him sternly, expecting a lot. In this crazy world, a mixed race hybrid needed skills to stand out. He hoped Daig would be a skilled cksmith, enjoying the pleasure of creating beautiful works, and one day surpassing himself as a renowned cksmith. But¡­ ¡°Father.¡± The son he met again at Lonkers after a long time was unrecognizable, huddled over. Noubelmag instantly understood the reason. It was the aftermath of manipting a spirit much stronger than one¡¯s capacity. The repercussions had gnawed away at his son¡¯s life. ¡°Why¡­¡± Irreversibly. ¡®Why¡­¡¯ ¡°Why did you aspire to manipte a spirit that you couldn¡¯t handle properly?¡± What Daig challenged was a ¡®Primitive spirit,¡¯ something that he, at his level, could never handle. A Primitive spirit was an existence formed when existing spirits reached the end of their lifespans or disappeared due to external forces. Unlike regr spirits with consciousness, a Primitive spirit was a massive force incapable ofmunication until awakened. It can be seen as the same as a natural disaster. Especially the spirit in this mine was an immensely powerful Primitive spirit, challenging even Noubelmag¡¯s ability to control. ¡®Why¡­¡¯ Did you take on such a reckless challenge? Nouvelle Mag¡¯s mouth was blocked when he tried to ask the reason. ¡°You know why.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry, my son.¡± A clumsy fist pounded on his robust chest. It shouldn¡¯t hurt, but it did. ¡­To the point where it still throbs sometimes. Noubelmag lifted his head. Nyhill¡¯s hammer had stopped. She looked at the finished work on the anvil with a bewildered expression. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡­How was it? To Noubelmag, it seemed utterly crude. If he had seen such a piece during his active duty, he would have immediately thrust it back into the furnace, along with its creator. He contemted for a moment before opening his mouth. ¡°Not bad¡­ You did well.¡± ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m d.¡± Nyhill nodded with a strangely proud expression. Now, the next step was casting. She approached the furnace but hesitated. It was because she saw something on Noubelmag¡¯s workbench. ¡°Noubelmag, may I ask a question?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°What is that?¡± Noubelmag touched the ore on his workbench and replied, ¡°This is¡­ spirit stone, a spirit stone.¡± After scrutinizing the expression for a moment, Nyhill unexpectedly asked a sharp question. ¡°Did your son leave it behind?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± It was the correct answer. This was a spirit stone that his son had started to work on, and Noubelmagpleted it. To create a spirit artifact, a spirit stone must be created by guiding a spirit intopatible ore. Then, a weapon is crafted, and the spirit stone is fused into it to imbue it with power. Thus, a spirit weapon with a ¡®self¡¯ is born¡ªa powerful artifact that rivals those from the First Era. In fact, Noubelmag hadpleted all the preparations for the final production. That had been the case for the past six months. The once-rampaging Primitive spirit had calmed down, and with the creation of a suitable weapon to infuse the spirit stone, everything would be finished. However, Noubelmag hadn¡¯tpleted the work. No, he intentionally left it unfinished, repeating the process ofpleting the weapon, breaking it, and melting it, as if searching for some w again and again. His skill left no room for mistakes, but he repeated the process dozens of times. ¡°May I ask another question?¡± ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡± ¡°What kind of person was he?¡± He faced Nyhill, who was looking at him with an innocent expression. ¡°Daig was¡­¡± The difficulty in answering the question pained him. What kind of person was his son, Daig? He couldn¡¯t say for sure. Looking back, he could only remember confronting him like a piece of work. Like working on a piece, he hammered and melted him ording to his desired shape, poured him into a predetermined mold, refined, and polished him. If it didn¡¯t please him, he ruthlessly brought down justice and a hammer. Noubelmag looked at Nyhill again. She gazed at him as if a machine was asking a question. ¡°He was simr to you.¡± ¡°¡­.Yes?¡± Noubelmag put the spirit stone back into his embrace. Instead, he pulled out a pipe. ¡°Let¡¯s stop here and go down to the vige. It¡¯s time to inspect the water artifacts.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± It was a request from the Leader. ¡®In the afternoon, I¡¯ll finish the work entrusted by the Leader.¡¯ As Noubelmag made this n and gathered tools and materials with Nyhill, a sudden ringing interrupted them. Dang-! Dang-! Nyhill abruptly stopped. Noubelmag looked at her with a puzzled expression. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Having been ustomed to the noisy sounds of the forge for a long time, Noubelmag wasn¡¯t very good at hearingpared to the hybrids. However, he soon realized the identity of the sound flowing through the noise of the busy work space. It was the emergency rm. ¡°Please stay here.¡± Noubelmag, following Nyhill¡¯s lead, dashed outside the mine to assess the situation. He stared at Nyhill¡¯s retreating figure, his chest uneasily throbbing. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 76 Chapter 76 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª A few hours before the raid, in the early morning, Nyhill was about to head back to the mine to assist Noubelmag. The hero left the vige. It was for reconnaissance and rescue. Although the rain had stopped sincest night and the situation had slightly improved, the ground remained muddy. Not wanting to risk Ted injuring his leg by running continuously, they frequently stopped. Even during these short breaks, the ¡®Avatar Duel¡¯ continued. ¡­ It didn¡¯t matter anyway; it wouldn¡¯t take long. -Virtual space. The hero blocked the attacks from the iing demons. Bang! His hands and feet were dizzy. Facing three intermediate-level demons, which were difficult to handle even for him, was quite a reckless challenge. Initially, he couldn¡¯tst for 30 seconds. Even recovering the lost arm and leg with polymorph didn¡¯t change the situation. If he were a vulnerable human, 10 seconds would have been the limit. ¡®¡­I can¡¯t see a solution.¡¯ It was a basicbat technique with no particr strategy. One demon shot demonic energy from a distance, while the other two simultaneously rushed from both sides. ¡­ But even that was brutally effective. They exerted the power of ten, not three, and that was a force the current hero couldn¡¯t handle. Naturally, questions arose. ¡®How did he suddenly gain enlightenment in such a situation?¡¯ Examining the records of the battle in the Ardum Gorge, it was said that he fell into a trap but suddenly awakened, swiftly defeating three intermediate demons and breaking through the encirclement. ¡®It¡¯s hard to imagine.¡¯ ¡­Of course, there was some gain. Thirty rounds of Avatar training. While he never gained the upper hand inbat, the time he could endure gradually increased. Although it was far less refined than Nova, it was a method to quickly move his body a bit faster. ¡®In this way¡­¡¯ Kwang! He invoked Halo in a simplified manner. Not shooting the sword, he infused a small amount of mana into his body, colliding with each other. The resulting powerful rebound sent the mana to the extremities of the whole body faster than the usual speed. Kwaahng! It was a method devised to block dyed attacks. It was also a method that he could attempt because he was a Doppleganger with immediate recovery. Although it caused excruciating pain as if the body was tearing apart, in the end, he could counter the demons¡¯ attacks. ¡°What is this¡­ Kueeek!¡± The ck Hope rushed into one demon¡¯s upper body. His expression showed surprise at the unexpected speed. In the moment he attempted to burn the regenerating guy¡¯s flesh with mana¡­ ¡°¡­!¡± A mass of demonic energy and long ws severed the hero¡¯s head and heart at the same time. The vision went dark in an instant. Familiarments appeared again. In an instant, the field plunged into darkness. ¨‹ Virtual training concluded. Evaluation in progress¡­ ¡ø The hero opened his eyes again in reality. It was another defeat, but his expression was a bit brighter. For the first time, he managed tond a valid counterattack, even though he was in a hurry to retaliate. It was a meaningful progress. ¡®In a 1v1 situation, it should be an overwhelming victory as before.¡¯ With such thoughts, the hero took hold of the reins and nned to start towards the post again. However¡­ ¡®¡­¡¯ The hero suddenly stopped. A chill ran down his spine. ¡­Thump. Thump, thump-! His sensitive senses detected a very subtle vibration. ¡­Thump. BOOM, BOOM-! What started as a small vibration quickly amplified, hitting his ears. Shadows falling on the ground. No, multiple shadows. ¡°¡­!¡± The hero immediately lowered his body behind a nearby hillock, then used the enhanced invisibility skill of ¡®Bucks¡¯ topletely hide his presence. Ted also cleverly knelt down and sat next to him. A dust cloud approaching slowly and filling the deste ground. The hero¡¯s mouth murmured as he confirmed their identity. ¡®Demons?¡¯ But¡­ It was different from usual times. ¡®¡­What¡¯s that number? Did they gather all the demons from the posts?¡¯ The demons exuded a sinister aura, numbering in the tens, if not hundreds. It hadn¡¯t been more than a few weeks since the posts were set. With that number, it was reasonable to assume that they mobilized their full force. ¡®Why all of a sudden?¡¯ It was a movement far beyond his expectations. However, the problem wasn¡¯t just their numbers. ¡®That¡­¡¯ The hero looked at the rear with narrowed eyes. There. ¡®There is some ominous presence¡¯ Floating a few spans above the ground, herding the demons like a flock. The hero¡¯s mouth mumbled as he confirmed their identity. ¡®¡­Administrator.¡¯ The hero quickly confirmed the direction in which the army of monsters was advancing. It was exactly the same as the direction the Administrator hade from. In other words, whether it was their destination or a detour¡­. ¡®Lonkers is in danger.¡¯ The hero quickly grabbed the signal re he always carried just in case, but soon released the grip of his hand. Maybe if it¡¯s fired at night. Even if we shot it now, the probability that the vigers would notice it was low. ¡®Rather, it might attract attention, and a battle could break out right here.¡¯ That would be the worst-case scenario. No matter how strong he had be, facing such arge number of enemies at once was impossible. ¡®Keep calm.¡¯ ¡­The hero thought. ¡®Then, what can I do right now?¡¯ His mental calctions were swift. Three possible ns immediately came to mind. One for the lower. One for the middle. One for the upper. The lower n involved returning to the vige and joining forces with Lonkers¡¯s troops. If he assisted Noubelmag¡¯s water weapons, the vigers, and even Nyhill, there was a possibility of winning, although slim. ¡®But the risk is too high.¡¯ It was a full-frontal confrontation with the demons. If he revealed himself, there was no guarantee of his life. Even if he won, many vigers involved in the fight would likely die. Moreover, it would expose his skills, which were not very ¡®heroic,¡¯ tantly in front of Nyhill and Noubelmag. ¡­It would be a fatal mistake. The middle n¡­ The middle n was put on hold for now. The final upper n. The upper n was to simply flee. If needed, he could deal with Lonkerster with Nyhill and Noubelmag. ¡®But¡­¡¯ The hero hesitated. The n to observe the posts had failed, or the demon army had been attracted. ¡®This is a safe option.¡¯ There was no need to worry about Noubelmag¡¯s life. Nyhill, regardless of the situation, would prioritize protecting him. If the vige became endangered, she would take him away on her own. No risk. Safe and rational. ¡­The problem was the inevitable annihtion of the Lonkers residents. ¡®I and Noubelmag and Nyhill, without us, the probability of them surviving is nil.¡¯ The hero couldn¡¯t help but have cruel thoughts. Lonkers¡¯s residents. They were¡­ ¡®Even if they die, it won¡¯t affect the future of humanity.¡¯ Indeed, it was true. By discarding them, receable resources, he could preserve his and Nyhill and Noubelmag¡¯s lives. ¡®Even if it means abandoning them in a hopeless situation without me, Noubelmag, and Nyhill.¡¯ ¡°Haah¡­.¡± Thump, thump-! The demon army, which was a bit of a distance away, was now almost at his doorstep. It was time to make a decision. Lower n? Upper n? Or¡­ The hero recalled the middle n he had put on hold. ¡®No, this might be the middle n.¡¯ In terms of risk, it was as significant as the lower n. However, what he liked about this npared to the previous two was that the risk wasrgely focused on himself. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª If he could manage the risk well, he could achieve much better results than the other two ns. If not, he would face the worst-case scenario. The deliberation was short. ¡°¡­Ha, I¡¯ll get scolded again.¡± The hero exhaled a deep sigh, recalling the image of Euphemia angrily scolding him. But before her determined face, another face came to mind. ¡­ If it was ¡®him¡¯ in this situation. If he were the person who always made the most just and right choices. It was clear what n he would choose in such a situation. He mounted his horse. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Rising from the saddle, he energetically urged the horse, seemingly following the owner¡¯s will. Below the hill. The demon horde¡¯s rear was passing by at that moment. ¡­There were demons within striking distance if he swung his sword. With a leap, the hero rushed towards them. Druch- Simultaneously, hundreds of pairs of eyes focused on him. * * * The demon, Verris, thought as he advanced. It¡¯s a simple task. All calctions had already been made. They would drive out Lonkers and conquer it. It wouldn¡¯t take more than half a day to put that shabby vige under his foot. Despite having a considerable poption, it was a countryside vige without even a decent caretaker. Trained soldiers or even militia were likely to be easily trampled. Once they captured as many humans as possible and extracted mana through torture, they would move on to the next vige. Even if humans in the West were indifferent, if an entire vige was annihted, a punitive force would undoubtedly be organized. If they targeted the surroundings as much as possible before they arrived, they could conquer two or three more viges. ¡®In that case, it¡¯s entirely possible to surpass the hierarchy.¡¯ That way, even if the post was destroyed and they lost all the demons under it, it wouldn¡¯t matter. More potent power. Broader influence. Anticipating that sweet fruit, Verris headed toward Lonkers. ¡­ Until he heard the sound of hooves. Thud, thud-! ¡®¡­What¡¯s this?¡¯ Turning around, Verris faced a man. The man, about a hundred meters away, was on horseback, staring directly at him. It was not clear, thanks to the deeply pressed hood, what his face or eyes looked like. However, even through the thick robe, Verris could see a well-trained body and a horse that seemed to be of noble lineage. Verris realized that this man was not an ordinary passerby. ¡®A mercenary? Frence knight? Or¡­ could he be a hero?¡¯ asionally, there were such individuals¡ªthose who honed their talents, surpassing the limits of their race. They were often called ¡®heroes¡¯ among humans. They often stood against demons for reasons such as honor, fame, or beliefs. But Verris wasn¡¯t particrly concerned. ¡®Either way, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡¯ Of course, there were some particrly strong ones. But they were not numerous. Most of them had skills that could handle at most one low-ranking demon, with only a few capable of confronting a hundred or more demons, including mid-tier ones. ¡°¡­Really unexpected.¡± Verris¡¯s judgement was distorted by the interference as he faced an important task. When he reached out, demonic energy rapidly condensed in the air. Wooooo-! A mass of demonic energy, once formed to the size of a human head,pressed slowly into a small bead, melting into the ground like molten metal. The buzzing sound grew louder as the ground melted away. There was no time. Even if it was a bit of an overinvestment, he intended to turn that guy into a pulp instantly. ¡°Die.¡± Quaaaaaa-! A projectile soared, tearing through the air. Verris squinted his eyes, waiting for the anticipated result. . . . ¡­But the expected explosion and shockwave did note. Suaaaaa-! Instead, a bright sh filled his vision. A beam of light shot like an arrow, wrapping around the magic and neutralizing its momentum. ¡®¡­Dispel?¡¯ Kugugugung-! Certainly, it wasn¡¯t perfect defense. Dispel was a spell that disrupted the magical structure, rendering the magic powerless. Against demonic energy, an energy formed from the distortion of the ambient mana, its effectiveness was inevitably reduced. It wasn¡¯tplete nullification but rather a partial mitigation of its power. However, it seemed sufficient against the man. Toong-! He pulled out a shield from the extradimensional space. ¡°Ugh.¡± A brief sound of impact. The man on the saddle swayed slightly to the sides. He managed to avoid a direct hit, but the shock he received was substantial. Even the horse¡¯s legs wavered. Considering the attack was powerful enough to obliterate Lonkers¡¯s defenses, it was a sessful defense. ¡°¡­Ha.¡± After exchanging one round of offense and defense, Verris¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡®Look at this.¡¯ Demons are extremely sensitive to the flow of mana. During this short moment, Verris could sense the manifestation of three artifacts. The shield suddenly appeared¡­ a spatial magic artifact. The shield itself had a spell embedded in it, scattering magic and absorbing physical force. And finally, Dispel. Moreover, the Dispelling originated not from the man¡¯s body but from the robe he wore. ¡®Does he possess such high-grade artifacts?¡¯ Gradually, Verris¡¯s gaze changed. Irritation and annoyance disappeared, reced by desire. ¡®That guy¡­¡¯ He didn¡¯t seem that powerful. Evidence of this was that he still appeared to be struggling from the aftermath of the attack, staggering somewhat unsteadily. Verris¡¯s pupils dted. ¡®He doesn¡¯t seem to have gained those valuable artifacts with his own abilities¡­ Could he be a scion of a high-ranking noble?¡¯ Demons also coveted artifacts as much as humans did, even more so. This was because demons inherently valued power more directly than humans did. Moreover, if properly processed, artifacts could extractrge amounts of mana, refining it into usable demonic energy. In the ongoing struggles among demons, artifacts could be used as a trump card. ¡®Should I take some time to investigate?¡¯ Verris turned his body entirely toward the man. The demon army followed suit. A foul odor and grating groans echoed as the horde moved. ¡®Won¡¯t take more than three minutes.¡¯ However, the situation unfolded entirely differently from Verris¡¯s expectations. The man, who had just appeared as if ready to charge, wasn¡¯t looking at him at all. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ Verris felt an inexplicable sense of unease. The moment he realized where that gaze was directed¡­ ¡®Wait a moment¡­¡¯ Beneath the deeply hooded robe. His lips twitched. The demon¡¯s exceptional vision didn¡¯t miss the movement and read it urately. A horse. Thunk. ¡®¡­What?¡¯ It happened in an instant. The horse¡¯s hooves pounded the ground, and it shot forward like an arrow. It wasn¡¯t aimed at Verris. Without any wavering, the fixed trajectory was directly in the direction Verris hade from. Verris shouted in disbelief. ¡°NNNNOOOO!!¡± He had beencent, thinking there was no powerful force capable of crossing the stake in the vicinity. Suddenly, an audacious and resolute human appeared, heading straight for the stake. It was an unexpected and piercingly effective strategy that Verris couldn¡¯t have imagined. ¡®The stake is in danger!¡¯ He had no time to ponder the identity of the audacious man performing such daring actions. Verris urgently summoned the demon leader, who was equivalent to the general of the demon forces. ¡°You lot, continue besieging Lonkers. I¡¯ll join you shortly.¡± Of course, he had left minimal guarding forces at the stake. However, he couldn¡¯t afford to let his guard down. They hadn¡¯t fulfilled their quota yet, and if the ¡®core¡¯ was destroyed¡­ Verris¡¯s face twisted like a demon. At that point, whether it was a rapid promotion or a demotion, everything woulde to an end. Without any achievements and losing the stake, the higher-ranking demons wouldn¡¯t let him off easily. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Verris exerted all his strength, spreading his wings. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 77 Chapter 77 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª It was a while after Nyhill went to the vige to assess the situation and returned to the mine. Her expression was as usual, emotionless. But there was sweat forming on her forehead. Partly because she had run all the way to the vige and back in a hurry¡­ But mostly because what she saw there had unsettled her. Noubelmag, who had been anxiously waiting, quickly approached her. ¡°Have the demons attacked? How many are there?¡± ¡°The exact number is still uncertain from a distance, but it seemed to be at least a hundred.¡± ¡°¡­A hundred? Really?¡± Noubelmag stood still for a moment, dumbfounded. A hundred, he thought. Considering it was pulled out of a low-grade stake in just a few days, it was an excessivelyrge force. That was almost like a full-scale war. ¡°No, why is the administrator moving so urgently? It¡¯s so different from the usual progress of stakes.¡± Usually, they waited for the demonic energy to spread enough, weakening humans, and then the main force moved. That way was much more efficient. ¡°Why¡­¡± The amount owed due to the demon king¡¯s injury. If it wasn¡¯t paid on time, there would be penalties. Even so, it couldn¡¯t be guessed to that extent. ng! ng! The emergency bells kept ringing. Amidst the urgent metallic sound, cries of despair mixed in. He didn¡¯t have any close friends, but it was a vige he had spent thest three years in. As familiar faces shed through his mind, Noubelmag bit her lip. ¡°Where¡¯s the leader?¡± ¡°He went for reconnaissance as usual, early in the morning.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± If the leader had gone for reconnaissance, why had those demons arrived unharmed? The answer was clear. ¡°Darn, did they miss each other without encountering each other?¡± If the leader had been in the vige, there would be no worries. That level of force would have been annihted under his sword in an instant. Rather, it would have been a good thing, not having to worry about the scattered remnants. ¡­Unfortunately, he was absent now. In a situation where he couldn¡¯t find a missing person, he had to do something useful. If this invasion mobilized the full force of the stake¡­ there would be more to worry about than just the number of demons. Noubelmag asked with a serious expression, ¡°Did you check if the demons, or their administrator, came along? Have you confirmed that?¡± ¡°No, we didn¡¯t see the administrator. We didn¡¯t feel any particrly powerful demonic energy either.¡± A sigh of relief escaped. That was fortunate, at least. Most of the artifacts Lonkers had ced around the vige were made from crude materials avable nearby. They wouldn¡¯t withstand the power of a demon at the level of the stake¡¯s administrator. ¡°¡­For now, I should go down and see for myself.¡± Noubelmag rushed into the mine with a determined expression. In one corner, there was dusty armour and abat hammer piled up. He had debated whether to melt them due to ack of materials but fortunately hadn¡¯t. Even when he was on active duty, he never had to fight, so it was something he rarely wore. However, today seemed like an exception. ¡°While it¡¯s tough to fight directly¡­¡± Controlling the machines to fight and immediately repairing the damaged artifacts on the spot would be a significant help. Moreover, there was this agent from the shadows. If only demons had invaded, dying them for some time should be possible. As time passed, the hero would return, and the so-called ¡®reinforcements¡¯ he mentioned might also arrive. In any case, they had to endure. With such thoughts in mind, he took the armor off the rack. It was then that Nyhill spoke. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°¡­Putting on the armor. Instead of just standing there, how about helping? It¡¯s heavy.¡± Nyhill¡¯s head tilted slightly. ¡°Armor hinders escape. I rmend not wearing it.¡± ¡°Escape?¡± Noubelmag paused, his hands tying the straps. ¡°Who¡¯s talking about escaping?¡± Nyhill alternated nces between the back of Noubelmag¡¯s head and the entrance of the mine before speaking again. ¡°It sounds like you¡¯re saying you¡¯ll participate in the battle.¡± ¡°Yeah. Sorry, but stay out of danger as much as you can and help from a safe distance.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± At the unexpected response, Noubelmag narrowed her eyebrows. ¡°¡­What?¡± Nyhill continued dryly. ¡°Thest order the Hero gave to me was to prioritize your life and act ordingly.¡± ¡°¡­So?¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible to take Noubelmag to a battlefield where his life might be in danger. Fortunately, this ce is far from the front line. While Lonkers¡¯ militia buys time, Noubelmag can escape through the path behind me.¡± On the first day at the mine, afterpleting the surrounding reconnaissance, she had found a path behind the mine leading to an open field. If it was just the two of them, they could easily escape. By waiting near the nearby checkpoint, they might be able to join the hero when he arrives. From the moment she realized the invasion, this was the n Nyhill had conceived and decided to carry out. Noubelmag¡¯s face stiffened. ¡°What if I decide to go down to the vige?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stop you. Following orders takes precedence for me.¡± ¡°Hah!¡± Noubelmag snorted while looking at the expressionless girl. Indeed. She was undoubtedly an agent from the Shadows. She strictly adhered to the given task, eliminating any unnecessary elements, such as emotions and personal judgment. The way this girl was created was evident. However, Noubelmag wasn¡¯t pleased with her current demeanor. ¡­As someone who faced catastrophic results trying to shape someone ording to his own desires, this feeling was even more profound. ¡°He told me to be a cksmith following in my father¡¯s footsteps¡­ to create a masterpiece. That¡¯s what I tried to do.¡± Noubelmag finally turned his body away from the armor and looked at Nyhill. Those jet-ck eyes, which had constantly emitted a scent of nostalgia for the past few days, met his gaze. ¡°Nyhill.¡± Daig. ¡°Let me ask you a question.¡± ¡°Yes, please hurry.¡± ¡°Are you a tool or a human?¡± Since the crisis hit the vige, she had been expressionless. But there was a fleeting moment when her face showed a hint of emotion. Unable to answer immediately, she just mumbled, and Noubelmag¡¯s face twisted. ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°¡­Damn it. I¡¯ll answer for you.¡± Noubelmag grabbed Nyhill¡¯s wrist tightly and pulled her. She obediently followed. The destination of the old man and the girl was the workbench. Sigh-like words poured out of Noubelmag¡¯s mouth. ¡°These cold and hard pieces of iron are tools.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°You are human. A fully human being made of warm flesh and blood¡­ No one here thinks of you as a tool. Not me, not the leader who gave you orders. In the first ce, he¡¯s not someone who sees humans as tools.¡± Nyhill stood still, listening to Noubelmag¡¯s words. ¡°The leader¡¯s order for you to protect me is well understood. But think about it. If the leader you¡¯ve seen so far¡­ if we run away, pretending not to know the residents, would he be pleased?¡± ¡­Think about it? Nyhill thought about it as he said. From the chillyte winter to the full spring. ¡°¡­.¡± She turned her gaze back to the man she had seen all this time. And asked weakly, ¡°Then what should I do?¡± It was an expression like a lost child. Noubelmag groaned in frustration. The impulsive nature he had suppressed for three years as a dwarf was slowly emerging. ¡°Well¡­ when you think about it, as long as I¡¯m not in danger, it should be fine, right?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Give it to me.¡± The wrinkled hand picked up the dagger from Nyhill¡¯s belt. Nyhill didn¡¯t object, just looked at him with a puzzled expression. Noubelmag¡¯s hand then moved towards his waist. Woooong! A faintly vibrating bead. What appeared was a spirit stone. Noubelmag, as if making a decision, let out a long sigh. ¡°Nyhill.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Without going through the predetermined process, most attempts to process a spirit stone end in failure. While it may exert its power for a short period, there is a high probability that the power of the spirit will leave afterward. But now, it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°Tell me. How does it feel to save people with your own choice¡­ with your judgement?¡± When he thought about it,she realized he had also forgotten about it for a long time. The feeling of willingly forging a weapon for someone like that. Thunk! Noubelmag struck down the spirit stone. Instantly, a dazzling light filled the dark mine. * * * After provoking the demons, it was rtively smooth. Dagadag-! Dagadag-! Tedd ran like a fearful horse. He didn¡¯t stiffen his body or flinch at the demonic energy flying incessantly from behind. Instead, he utilized his superior strength and flexibility, showcasing perfect evasion. Dagadag-! Dagadag-! He ran while intensely staring at the destination. With no rest, he faced the iing demonic energy head-on without being shaken or surprised. It was more like showcasing excellent strength and flexibility, revealing perfect evasion. Thunk! Thunk! His robust legs, every time they pounded the ground, distanced him from the pursuing demon. Considering the previous day¡¯s heavy rain, causing the ground to be somewhat muddy, it was quite surprising. I believed he would reach the goal straight, so Ipletely turned around to face the pursuer. Now it was time for Valber to step up. Kwaguagauaang! Hor. Using a polearm capable of causing intense vibrations, I stabbed the ground, creating a wall of soil. He didn¡¯t even think about avoiding it and collided head-on. A wall of soil copsed with a thunderous noise. While he was charging straight, I unleashed Umbra toward the shadow he cast. His puzzled face distorted momentarily. ¡°What!¡± Chizijijik- Umbra emitted a disturbing sound as the magical power it contained and the magical energy imbued on the demon¡¯s body frictionally created a cumbersome noise. While the demon was bewildered by the unexpected and extraordinary attack through the shadow. Tstssts- I took out Lute, the bow of atonement, and shot an arrow. It was an artifact that had the ability to increase gravity on the hit target. ¡®Before I reach the stake, I must not be caught.¡¯ So I did my best. Swinging my sword. Blocking attacks with a shield. And restraining with bow and spear ording to the distance. While watching me, who refused to keep a distance, the demon shouted as if chewing me out. ¡°Don¡¯t y tricks!¡± Shpshpsh- His face was tinged with contrasting emotions. ¡­Displeasure at the situation not resolving as smoothly as he thought. And a tremendous desire for the artifact. ¡®Considering how many I¡¯ve shown him, it¡¯s quite understandable.¡¯ Both of them weren¡¯t particrly helpful in battle. But what seemed like an easy pursuit turned into a different situation as they got closer to the stake. Heheheung! The demonic energy intensified. It felt like a viscous liquid stuck to the ceiling and the back of the throat every time I breathed in and out. I lowered my gaze. Tedd¡¯s body, swelling and deting repeatedly, was visible. From his mouth, frothy saliva mixed with white foam bubbled and boiled. ¡­It¡¯s the limit. Holding Umbra in my hand, I jumped off his back. The clever Tedd sensed my intention, changed direction on his own, and kept running. During the unexpected descent, the demon¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Hey!¡± The demon¡¯s ws aimed for my heart. I extended my spear towards the demon, who hade unexpectedly close. At the same time, with the other hand, to reduce the impact of the fall, I expelled mana towards the ground. Hweeik! The demon also, to avoid the spear, half-folded its wings made of a membrane and rapidly changed direction. Inded, chasing after him. Uuuuuung- A lump of demonic energy was condensing at the extended end of his arm. I took out my shield from Valber and prepared for the ensuing impact. But the attack didn¡¯t target me. Kwaaaang! ¡­A powerful shockwave. The sound of an explosion was enough to drown out the horse¡¯s scream in an instant. I intentionally didn¡¯t look back. I just ran towards the stake in full sprint during the brief interval. It felt like my hatred for the demon was thickening by ayer. ¡°Hahaha! You run better than I thought!¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Enhanced by ¡®Awakening,¡¯ my body reinforced with magic, it became as fast as it was when I rode a horse. I couldn¡¯t maintain this speed for long, but it didn¡¯t matter. The stake was getting closer. ¡®¡­I should start preparing.¡¯ The corrosion had progressed much more than when I came two days ago. It was a scene that could hardly be seen as human habitat. Andscape of faded earth and a sky so red that it seemed blood and flesh could drip down any moment. ¨‹ Territory of the Stake: The erosion isplete in this area. Thend that has undergone magical solidification continuously contaminates the surrounding soil and generates magic. ¡ø Beyond thement, I saw the discarded bodies of humans like trash. Due to torture, the bodies had limbs missing. At the moment when I faced the eyes that hadn¡¯t blinked even after not closing them while running. A giant shadow was cast. ¡­It was the stake. Kwaaaang! And a tremendous roar echoed. ¡°This is as far as you go.¡± Finally, he caught up. The demonnded in front of me, folding its wings. Kwajik- His feet trampled the corpses beneath mercilessly. ¡°¡­.¡± The bodies crumbled into dust, sttering and crumbling. I silently watched the dry scene. The demonughed arrogantly. ¡°It¡¯s worth seeing the expression on your face.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± With no answer, I raised the spear. For the first time, I will fight against a demon. Although the hand holding the grand spear was trembling, it wasn¡¯t because of fear. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 78 Chapter 78 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Kwang! mes burst forth. The sharp ws of the demon got caught in the grand spear, halting right in front of my eyes. My pupils stung from the metallic aura. The demon chuckled. ¡°Human. Did you expect something to change bying here?¡± It seemed like the demon had no intention of letting me enter the stake willingly. The power kept increasing. Though my grip on the handle was tingling, I steadied it. The next attack was imminent. ¡°Foolish! This is my territory alone!¡± A punch directlying at me. I twisted my body to evade, and the subsequent kick was deflected with the grand spear. Every move was effective, even if just grazing. ¨‹ Detection of an attack towards the left pectoralis major¡­ Detection of an attack towards the right external oblique¡­ Detection of an attack towards the external intercostal muscles¡­ ¡ø The Iris of Lace analyzed the ongoing battle without rest. I strengthened my grip on the grand spear. ¡®¡­Stronger than expected.¡¯ Powerful. Perhaps due to the absorbed demonic energy, it was much stronger than the intermediate demons I fought during avatar training. The fact that the vicinity of the stake had a high concentration of demonic energy would also have a considerable impact. ¡®It would be somewhere between advanced and intermediate.¡¯ If I hadn¡¯t faced three demons at once before, it would have been challenging. ¡®¡­And it doesn¡¯t let its guard down.¡¯ After dodging and countering my attacks several times, the demon became cautious. Rather than trying to overpower forcefully, we ended up in a fight where we had no choice but to inflict wounds on each other. It seemed actively using regeneration was part of its strategy. ¡­Intelligent. ¡°Tsk.¡± Crossing attacks. As the tip of the spear prated the demon¡¯s ribs, its ws grazed my shoulder simultaneously. It was an exchange of piercing and shing wounds. If it were a human-vs-human fight, the tide might have turned here¡­ Bubble, bubble! Bubbles boiled in the hole pierced in the demon¡¯s chest. ¡­Regeneration. I hastily pulled back my arm before the spear got stuck in the tough chest muscles. The demonughed grotesquely. ¡°Hehehe, looks like it hurts.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a lowly species. Get a little hurt, and you quickly be dull and weak.¡± The tone suggested the demon was confident that the recent exchange was in its favor. ¡­It wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. But what mattered was that I was taking less damage than the demon anticipated. I¡¯m not an ordinary human; I¡¯m a Doppleganger capable of gradually healing physical wounds using polymorph. I needed to exploit this blind spot of his effectively. That way, I could steer this battle in the direction I desired. Kwang! Once again, the spear shed with the demon¡¯s ws. I deliberately eased the pressure from my hand. The demon¡¯s ws gradually tilted towards me. My forehead tore open, and the view turned entirely red. The relentless cycle of thrusting, shing, and striking continued. Stabbing, cutting, taking hits. An intense brawl with no respite. Both the demon and I were gradually wearing down, being cut and sliced. The demon sneered. ¡°Are you giving up?¡± I didn¡¯t answer. Just a little more¡­ As naturally as possible. Slowly¡­pletely losing the strength to fight. Instill in the demon the conviction that I am losing the upper hand. Thud. Thud! Sharp ws and talons relentlessly battered my body without pause. For a human, these injuries would be incapacitating, if not fatal. ¡°¡­Kuk.¡± The ceaseless attacks stopped only after I dropped my head. I spat out the collected blood in my mouth. The scent of iron. A foot approached my nose, crushing the spilled teeth. I raised my head. The demon¡¯s eyes glowed with intense desire. ¡°Human. You¡¯re stronger than I thought.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Indeed, it turned out better for me.¡± The demon didn¡¯t seem to have immediate ns to cut off my breath. Just as expected. ¡°If I squeeze you, enough mana worth an entire vige wille out.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll crush your flesh, corrupt your spirit, and feed on that noble-blood.¡± The n had beenid out even before the fight began. The moment I faced the demonic army. I pondered why the demonunched a sudden all-out attack. In truth, there was only one reason for the haste. Probably a shortage of demonic energy. ¡°Hehe, did you think you could aplish something? No way¡­ I will be even mightier because of you, and with that power, I will imprison your kin in agony.¡± And from a powerful human, I can extract more¡­ high-quality magic. In a situation where mana was scarce, why would a demon engage in a full-blown battle with ¡®quite a strong human¡¯ without extracting mana? It¡¯s like a starving person rejecting a bowl of rice. Realizing the cause and effect, the future unfolded before me. The demon would never kill me. Clunk! With a triumphant gesture from the demon, the tightly closed gate of the pole swung open. Creatures inside, focused on guard duty and torture, started emerging to take me away. ¡­And that moment arrived. Crack! Different magical energies collided within my heart. An intense shudder ran through my body from head to toe in an instant. I had to endure. I focused my mind to avoid letting this pain disrupt my movements. ¡®Just for a moment.¡¯ I mmed the ground. The demon¡¯s perplexed face swiftly passed by. It wore an expression that couldn¡¯tprehend how someone with serious injuries could move like this. Certainly, if I were a human, these moves would be inexplicable with such wounds. ¡°What, how!?¡± Btedly, it swung its arms back to where I had been, but it was already toote. Even by my own perception, I was reaching the speed of teleportation. Suaaaaa! Reaching into the pocket dimension created by the Key of Valber, I retrieved my hand. Uuung! As if it had been long-awaited. A familiar sensation and weight wrapped around my fingertips. A lump of iron darker than the surrounding darkness revealed itself. ¡°All right, hold on!¡± By the time I was about to extract the remaining magic andplete the Halo, I was already inside the pole. About ten remaining creatures stood there, unable to react, mumbling to themselves. ¡°No!!! Stop him!!!¡± I heard the desperate footsteps of a demon rushing towards me. I raised the ck hope. The ring of light coiled around the obsidian de, rising like a ck me. The surroundings fell into a silence. Thud! Thud! Only the slow movements of the ¡®core¡¯ reverberated clearly. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡®How many did it devour?¡¯ I lowered my arm. Quaaaaang! A blinding sh of white washed over the entire field. And then, the sound of tearing and breaking followed. * * * Quagwagwang! A cloud of dust surged wildly. In the midst of it, the hero stood still, observing the aftermath of the strike. In the center of the pole, the core, which had exuded an imposing presence,y shattered into pieces, rolling on the ground. No matter how solid the material, it couldn¡¯t withstand a direct hit from the Halo. ¡°¡­What is this?¡± The demon stared at the debris with a bewildered face. His slightly parted lips mumbled iprehensible words, as if he were waking up from a dream. Srrung- But it was short-lived. Feeling the sword pressed against his back, the demon clenched his teeth. ¡°It¡¯s not over.¡± The armored warrior covered in blood whispered. ¡°¡­ Not yet.¡± * * * By the time Hans and the militia, along with the vigers, had prepared for the fight and stood on the wooden tform, the demons were already approaching. Under the azure glow. It was an ironically bright light. Below that, sinister eyes glowed a lurid color. ¡°¡­¡± Seeing the numbers, Hans unconsciously trembled, then gritted his teeth, not wanting those around him to see his fear. If he, the strongest among them, showed fear, it would only worsen the already fragile morale. Hans recalled the conversation he had with the man who had saved him. It was right after the intensebat training. ¡°Your name is Hans, right? It seems the people in the vige rely on you quite a bit.¡± ¡°Well, I suppose so. I¡¯m a bit better with a sword than most people here. I briefly went to the city when I was young, earned my keep with a sword¡­ that¡¯s all.¡± This wasn¡¯t even worth mentioning. Embarrassed, Hans scratched his head. The man then said something thought-provoking. ¡°So, Hans. When the vige is in crisis, people will naturally look to you.¡± ¡°Uh, yeah?¡± ¡°A trusted leader is essential inrge-scale battles.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°¡­When the fear strikes Lonkers, it will be your role to instill courage and determination in the people.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ yes!?¡± ¡­Hans looked at the vigers standing on the tform. They were all individuals with reasons to fight. Some of them had rarely experiencedbat. The tension of battle gnawed at them. ¡°What do we do?¡± ¡°D-damn it. Those things¡­ seem to outnumber us.¡± ¡®That man¡­¡¯ His eyes moved quickly. The man and the girl were nowhere to be seen. They might have already left. There was no need for outsiders to confront such a threat. The surroundings briefly darkened. Hans clenched his fist. Clunk- A hefty metallic sound resonated from the gauntlet. The item the man had given him to protect the vigers. ¡®Alright.¡¯ From here on, the people of Lonkers had to take charge. He spoke up. ¡°You stupid bastards!¡± All eyes focused on him as he shouted decisively. ¡°Don¡¯t just shiver in fear looking ahead; check behind you too!¡± ¡­Behind. Behind them was the vige. Originally, this time would have been for the quick rise of smoke as they prepared for a meal. However, now there were only short cries and sighs circting among the people of Lonkers. The expressions of the militia stiffened. Behind themy the vige. Old folks and children evacuating, carrying only essential belongings. They left their families behind, and with each step, they kept turning back, their eyes filled with worry. In an instant, silence lingered on the wooden tform. Everyone was silently observing the families that might face theirst moments. Hans shouted again, as if screaming. ¡°Damn it, see! We have to do it!¡± The vigers realized it again. If they crumbled quickly, the vige wouldn¡¯tst long, bing mere food for the demons. ¡°We have to¡­ do it.¡± They muttered those words like a prayer. The tension that had filled the air began to rise slightly. Kwoong-! Kwoong-! The demons were approaching. Hans opened his eyes wide. The sound of a pounding heart, as if it would break his ribs, and the rolling sound of the demons¡¯ footsteps became indistinguishable. ¡°Everyone! Fire the arrows!¡± A dense shower of arrows rained down. The vigers, as long as their strength allowed, continued pulling their bows. Fingers tore, shoulders burned with pain, but they didn¡¯t stop. Thanks to the continuous production of materials for the past few days, there were plenty of arrows. ¡°Ah¡­¡± However, those who had been watching with hopeful eyes had to be disappointed. The demons didn¡¯t fall, not even one. The remaining demons broke through the dense arrow rain and rushed towards the tform. ¡°Stop shooting and fall back now!¡± ¡°Activate the artifact!¡± ¡°The rest of you, hold up shields and protect!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t back down! We have to do it!¡± The militia threw away their bows and attached themselves to the water-based artifact. The water-based weapon was undoubtedly much more effective than the bow. The projectiles shot at an impressive speed tore through the tough bodies of the demons. About thirty more fell roughly. ¡°Reload! Reload!¡± But Hans¡¯s face gradually darkened. They hadn¡¯t even managed to bring down half of them, and the demons were already approaching the nose of the tform. They were about to crawl up the tform soon. They had worked hard to prevent easy ess, but judging by the sharp ws and tentacles of the demons, it seemed futile. ¡®If they climb up to the tform¡­¡¯ ¡­To put it bluntly, it¡¯s over. There is no chance of winning. Even if the militia and vigers stick together, it would be challenging to handle a single demon. Although they practiced fortification diligently, it would probably only hold up for a short time. ¡­Thus, annihtion was the predetermined oue. Hans alone would find it challenging to deal with a single demon, and the demons wriggling under the tform still seemed numerous enough. His lips twisted in a strange way, as if he wereughing or crying. ¡®¡­Ha. Damn it. The crumbs of bread I ate earlier were myst meal.¡¯ Contrary to expectations, his mind became strangely calm. Hans turned his head again to look at the Lonkers. Unluckily, fortunately, all the vigers had already left the vige. Seeing them in the distance, they looked like dots, and it seemed like determination surged. ¡­His wife and son are there. Even if they perish, they will be the ones to remember the value of this fight. ¡°Everyone¡­!¡± In the unfortunate moment when he wanted to encourage hisrades to endure a little longer so that their families could escape further, Hans fell silent. Kwung-! Someone had jumped down under the tform. Looking down hastily, there she was. The ck-haired girl stood distinctly in front of the gathered demons. Her dagger emitted a brilliant light. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 79 Chapter 79 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡­My mood was unusually bad. Even though I had torn apart all of the 10 demons that had lingered around the stake, the sinking feeling did not improve. ¡°Fake.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a difficult world to live in with a sound mind.¡± I vividly remember most of the conversations I had with the ¡®Original.¡¯ It was on one of those days. The words were muttered with an unexpectedly tired expression. It was right after a fairlyrge-scale battle had ended. Crack! I ran, parrying the ws of the approaching demon, contemting that conversation. ¡­A difficult world to live in with a sound mind. ¡°¡­How dare you, how dare!¡± The enraged, pale-faced demon approached in an instant and bounced back faster than it came. He seemed momentarily surprised. His bloodshot eyes scanned me hastily. As if realizing something, he stopped. ¡°Wait. That sword¡­.¡± Turning away from him, I looked up at the ceiling, which had started making a rumbling noise. Crash! The stake was slowly copsing. I could feel the diminishing intensity of demonic energy in real-time. In about 10 minutes, the stake wouldpletely disappear as if it had never existed in this world. ¡­But there were things left behind. I blinked my stiff eyes slowly. Bloody stains on the walls on every floor. Iplete forms of corpses. Despairing expressions. Even tear marks on the pitch-ck faces. ¡­They remained clearly in this scene of annihtion because they were not part of the stake. ¡®How many¡­¡¯ To swing the sword, I took a step forward. Thud, thud, tter. An inconspicuous pendant, like something belonging to a deceased person, caught my foot. Inside the pendant, opened wide due to the impact, there was a picture of a young woman and a child. The words of the ¡®Original¡¯ echoed in my mind again. ¡°It¡¯s a difficult world to live in with a sound mind.¡± I recalled the list of avatars that I could implement. The retainers of Malekia, numbering in the dozens. Demons in the hundreds, and creatures surpassing thousands. I counted the tragedies someone had faced. Click- ¨‹ Delving deeper into Ted Redymer¡­ ¡ø I continued to observe the demon that I had not yet engaged. Unlike before, he seemed cautious this time. He scrutinized me with suspicious eyes. More precisely, he alternated between my ragged body and the ¡®ck Hope.¡¯ I felt like I knew what he was thinking. That expression, it felt like he was sensing a contradiction. ¡°No way¡­ No, that can¡¯t be.¡± He muttered in a hesitant voice. Without bothering to answer that question, I turned back towards him. Thud. Blood flowed down from my body, soaking the ground through my ankles. But my mind was clearer than ever. Truth be told, I had been somewhat puzzled. ¡®Original¡¯ understanding level: 50. Why did the Iris of Lace judge my understanding of the Original, something I had observed and imitated consistently for years, to be a mere ¡¯50¡¯? Was it because I couldn¡¯t bring myself to fully use the essence of the real, or was it something more difficult to handle? ¡­As time passed and I grew, I believed that if I could replicate him, I could handle it without any issues. Looking back, it was truly a foolish thought. ¡®To unfold polymorph perfectly, an understanding of the subject is necessary.¡¯ I. What had I mistakenly thought I understood about him all this time? ¡­His tone? The atmosphere he exuded? Habits? The aplishments conveyed through words and writing? Ted Redymer. A man who, out of excessive love for humans, resolved to shoulder their fate. A man who loved humans more than anyone else. A man who lived half a lifetime on the battlefield where humans crumbled every second. A life punctuated by brutal tragedies and intense battles. Such a life. How could I understand it properly without walking the same path? Click, click, click- I looked at thements that had been flooding my vision when I shattered the core. The sentences of the furnace and mes were simultaneously changing. ¨‹ The mes boiling in the new furnace, Will drive away the darkness and cold of thisnd. Deepening the understanding of Ted Redymer Understanding Level: 50/100 -> 60/100 Salvation Ritual ¨C ¡®2nd Form: Nova¡¯ has been unlocked. ¡ø Crackling sounds echoed! I lifted my head. For the past few days, the azure energy that I had longed for so much was swirling around my whole body. A vivid blue energy, just like what the ¡®Original¡¯ wore. A power different from the imitation forcefully pulled out by shing with magic of different attributes. As I realized Nova had been activated, the world seemed to suddenly decelerate, just as the ¡®Original¡¯ had mentioned. My body entered an extreme state of awakening. ¡°No way.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You¡­ are not the Hero, right? Laughable, isn¡¯t it? Mocking a subject barely standing on its feet.¡± A twisted smile spread across his face again. Twisted corners of his mouth. Perhaps it was a sneer. ¡°A mere imitation that looks good on the surface¡­ Humans do quite amusing things when you think about it.¡± ¡°¡­True.¡± I didn¡¯t bother denying that statement. It wasn¡¯t wrong. The fact that I am fake remains unchanged no matter what happens. ¡°Hahaha¡­ on a subject weakened beyondparison. What meaning is there in merely imitating, especially whenpared to that?¡± Woo-woo-woo-! He seemed to regain confidence. Demonic enegry began swirling from the tips of his grimy nails. It felt ominous. ¡°That meaningless false life¡­ I will personally put an end to it.¡± In front of the aura of demonic energy exuding ferociously. Crackle! The energy bounced even more fiercely, and intense pain pierced through my entire body. I had just awakened the 2nd Form. I knew that with a body with considerable injuries, stable implementation would be impossible. But it didn¡¯t matter. ¡®¡­A meaningless false life.¡¯ I recalled his words while holding the ck hope. ¡°¡­Die!¡± The concentrated force burst out in an instant as the magic rushed forward, simultaneous with the charge. Koo-oo-oo-ooong! It was not only powerful but also fast. An energy mass arrived at me before the sound, moving at a speed that, under normal circumstances, I wouldn¡¯t be able to react to¡ªsomething I should avoid or deflect through intuition alone. Yet, right now, the thought that this attack would reach me didn¡¯t cross my mind. Pang! I mmed into the ground. It felt like my heart stopped momentarily. Unconsciously, I had passed through the magic and ended up right in front of the demon. The ck hope in my hand felt light. The massive chunk of metal moved at a speed unseen before, severing his arm. ¡°Kkuah!¡± Paaang! The shockwave from the movement of the sword echoed btedly in my ears. Not stopping, I leaped backward, following the retreating figure. And then, I swung the sword again. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°What is this¡­!¡± Rather than attempting to counterattack, the bewildered demon focused desperately on healing. Magic rushed to the wounded area, regenerating flesh at a much faster pace than before. But ultimately, it was futile. My attacks were hitting faster than before. Crackle! shing, thrusting, bending¡­ The only difference from previous encounters was the speed. In the blink of an eye, dozens of strikes mercilessly assaulted the demon. Flutter! Ultimately, he unfolded wings made of blood. ¡®Is he trying to escape?¡¯ A tempest followed. A demon soaring fiercely towards the ceiling. But it was futile. Thud! I mmed into the wall of the stake. In my mind, a picture of where and how to step on the wall to catch up with him formed instantly. ¡­It was fascinating. The speed at which I recognized objects on the battlefield. The speed at which I thought about how to use it advantageously inbat. Everything seemed elerated. My body followed the arrow-like thoughts shot out. ¡°This persistent creature!¡± Encountering the demon again in mid-air, I swung my sword, and he met it with a fist imbued with magic as if resigned. But the exchange was one-sided. His calves. Wings. Corbones. Thighs. Eyes and ears. Abdomen and waist. All simultaneously severed. Crackle! Dark blood evaporated in the energy, and a pungent smoke rose. When the smoke covered the view, obscuring the vivid bloodstains on the wall, the long-awaited scream finally erupted from the demon¡¯s mouth. ¡°Kuaaah!¡± Mounted on the upper torso of the barely remaining demon, I thrust the tip of the sword into his chest. We plummeted and got entangled near the top of the stake. Instinctively, he tried to spread his wings, but they had already been severed, and all that remained was a pitiful wriggling. It was a grotesque sight, but noughter escaped my lips. Crunch! The ck hope pierced through the bottom of the stake and the demon in one go. The one beneath mey motionless. Yet, as the dust settled, I could meet the crimson-eyed gaze staring at me from below. ¡°¡­Hehehe.¡± Heughed again. However, theposure he had just moments ago was nowhere to be found. A face marked by conflicting emotions. Anger, despair, helplessness, fear, all vividly portrayed. ¡°Don¡¯t be so conceited¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I am but a speck of dust in the n. The moment insignificant beings like you stand before Lord Malekia, you will notst a moment and will beg for your life.¡± I silently looked down at his cursed face. The Queen of Agony, Malekia. And the demons whose names I did not know, part of her retinue. He spoke with the intention of plunging me into despair, but I couldn¡¯t hide theughter bubbling up. ¡°Pain, huh¡­¡± ¡­It was amusing. Ironically amusing. What did these beings know about pain? In response to his arrogant words, I recalled the greatest pain I had witnessed. ¡°Then, I wish you well¡­ Ted Redymer. Make sure to bring a future to humanity.¡± ¡­A scene of a man leaving withoutpleting a lifelong mission shed before my eyes. Thatst moment. I tried to imagine the emotions he felt at that moment. That, indeed, was agony. ¡°¡­Are youughing? Are you happy? Toppling just one of us won¡¯t change anything. Are you delighted with such a meager victory?¡± Even without saying it, I knew. He was just a tiny fraction of the iceberg. Even now, all over the continent, various miseries created by demons were likely overwhelming humans. Just looking at the stakes told the story. Hundreds had been driven in so far, and until the Demon Lord was subdued, dozens, hundreds more would be driven. In ces my hands couldn¡¯t reach. How many more lives would brutally be extinguished? ¡°¡­It¡¯s not joy.¡± And that¡¯s why I had to move forward. The life of the ¡®Original.¡¯ The pain scattered throughout that life. To ensure it didn¡¯t lose its meaning. I had to move forward. ¡°I just reflected on the answer.¡± That was the meaning of this life, adorned with falsehood. ¡°This¡­¡± He tried to say something more. But there was no time to listen. No reason. So, I swung down the sword. ¡­Thunk. As the head rolled off, the demon finally fell silent. I held the ck hope and stood up immediately. ¡°Phew¡­¡± Perhaps due to the recoil from Nova, my consciousness felt as if it might float away. Despite self-recovery being possible, it was difficult to remain unscathed with injuries of this magnitude. But I couldn¡¯t copse yet. ¡°¡­I have to go back.¡± With those muttered words, as I turned my body towards the entrance, I suddenly stood still. ¡°P-please, save me¡­.¡± A shuffling figure emerged from the debris behind the fallen stake. Someone was walking, struggling to maintain bnce as if their body might copse at any moment. ¡°Wait, just a moment. Please take me with you! Please¡­.¡± The faint light seeping through the copsing ceiling illuminated him. He seemed to be on the border between a young man and a boy, a child who had been waiting patiently until the end of the battle. ¡°Ah, ah¡­.¡± The boy who had noticed me, standing still and waiting, seemed to lose strength in his legs and slumped to the ground. Even in the darkness, the tears of relief streaming down his face sparkled brightly. ¡°¡­.¡± I gently draped the wounded boy over my shoulder and slowly moved towards the copsing entrance. Hehehe-! Suddenly, a hearty cry echoed, and it was at that moment. ¡°¡­Ted.¡± A bitterugh escaped my lips. The one I thought had died from the demon¡¯s attack was standing proudly at the entrance. Though his once glossy fur was now covered in dust, fortunately, he seemed unharmed. Hehehe-! As if signalling for the boy to be ced on his back, the creature bent his legs. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± It was time to return to Lonkers. With a burst of speed, Ted ran even with two people on his back. ¡°¡­.¡± Watching the swiftly running horse and the copsing stake filled with various emotions, the boy on the ground. As I observed this scene, I silently reassured myself. ¡®The answer is already decided.¡¯ As long as we live. Each must strive to reach their respective destinations. That is likely the only way for this world to live withplete sanity. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 80 Chapter 80 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The acrid smoke and the pungent odor of dark blood filled the air. The battle in Lonkers was intensifying in an instant. Nyhill swung a dimly lit dagger in the midst of it all. ¡®¡­Wow, impressive.¡¯ Kugugugugu-! It seemed as if an invisible giant was moving at her will. With a single sword strike, the ground split, and a massive vibration and shock reverberated. Countless rocks and soil that made up the ground turned into weapons, striking the demons climbing the wooden fence. The debris with its immense mass sent all nearby demons flying. ¡°Ah.¡± In a brief moment of respite, she, who was trying to catch her breath, awkwardly came to a halt. [Ah, you really have a temper. Well, there are cases like this] The voice that had been echoing in her head since the beginning of the battle was bing louder. For the first time, she asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± [And who are you?] ¡°¡­I¡¯m Nyhill. Are you a spirit?¡± [Oh,e on. Why ask when you already know! Annoying! Even this vessel is filled with such shoddy stuff¡­] Kkieeek-! The spirit¡¯sints were drowned out by the demon¡¯s roar. Kugugugugu-! Nyhill swung her dagger again. Fortunately, the spirit, despite being a bit mouthy, lent its power quite effectively. It was natural. They had been fundamental beings in this world for a very long time. Having crossed over from another dimension, they couldn¡¯t just stand by and let the demons and their ilk disrupt the order of the world. Of course, they weren¡¯t particrly friendly to humans and the others, but they weren particrly hostile to the demons. That¡¯s why the spirits, with their own ego, couldn¡¯t help but be hostile to demonic energy. ¡­So much that they even lend their power willingly. By the way, the chatterbox spirit¡¯s attribute was Earth. It seemed fitting for a spirit that had been crouching in a mine. ¡°¡­.¡± As Nyhill, who had inadvertently taken down nearly a dozen demons, wiped her face, thick droplets of sweat rolled down. ¡®¡­Controlling this power is more difficult than I thought.¡¯ If she released her power without thinking, the shaky stakes would be even more precarious. Then, at some point, the ascending Noubelmag, already teetering on the wooden fence, would be in danger. Nyhill bit her lips. ¡®He said he¡¯d be in the vige.¡¯ He was busy cursing while fixing the damaged watery weapons. ¡°Hey, you ipetent idiots! Are you going to lie on the ground while a girl is fighting her heart out up there!? Get up!¡± Nyhill honestly didn¡¯t understand him at all. It¡¯s not like he can provide enough help to change the situation, so there¡¯s no need to stand in that dangerous position. Above all¡­ ¡®¡­Aren¡¯t elemental stones precious?¡¯ If not processed ording to the established procedure, the value of an elemental stone is lost. The material should be made frompatible ingredients right from the beginning. Even during the production process, precisemunication with the spirit and the modtion of power were necessary. If one were to hastily create the nest for spirits, although it might initially harness the spirit¡¯s power, the stability would bepromised, leading the spirit to eventually abandon the nest. Nyhill gazed down at her dagger. ¡®Why?¡¯ The spirit stone possessed immeasurable value, perhaps even being the creation of his son, ¡®Daig.¡¯ ¡°Uwaaa!¡± ¡°Hold on for a little more!¡± ¡°We¡¯re done!¡± The sight of the vigers was entirely unfamiliar. From the perspective of preserving the vige¡¯s lineage, evacuating frail elders and children was inefficient. It would have been much better for the young people currently fighting to use them as bait and run away. In a situation where the protectors were absent, the remaining individuals would find it challenging to survive. She knew the misery of the powerless, abandoned without protection. ¡®Then why?¡¯ Why did everyone here make utterly irrational choices? ¡®My head hurts.¡¯ ¡­But there was a more significant problem. Among the multitude of irrational individuals, the most irrational one was herself. ¡®What am I doing right now?¡¯ Strictly speaking¡­ No, there is nothing to strictly discuss. She is clearly disobeying orders now. The realization made Nyhill feel drained from head to toe. ¡®What if the hero bes disappointed?¡¯ Should she just take Noubelmag to a safe ce right now? If she rendered him unconscious and moved him, that would be an unavoidable situation and he wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything about it. It was the ¡®reasonable¡¯ approach she had always taken. But if she continued in this manner¡­ The dormant spirit suddenly spoke up. [Hmm, there are a lot of worries in that head the size of a chestnut.] Nyhill froze for a moment. ¡°How¡­?¡± [How did I read your thoughts? Well, you¡¯re squeezing me to death right now; it¡¯s pretty easy.] ¡°Do I have to squeeze so tightly¡­?¡± [Even a slight squeeze is enough; you¡¯re such a fool. Just think silently, and I can read it, so focus already!] ¡­Reading her mind. She blinked in bewilderment. [Anyway, you have some gloomy thoughts.] ¡®I¡¯m not gloomy.¡¯ [No, you are.] ¡®No¡­¡¯ Denying it, Nyhill hesitated before asking, ¡®What should I do?¡¯ [Hmm, what a stupid question. With a panion¡¯ like you¡­] ¡®¡­¡­¡¯ [You gloomy human, what was your name?] ¡®¡­Nyhill.¡¯ [Alright, Nyhill. Listen well.] The spirit whispered. It had be quite mature in its tone. [Humans, in general, are beings who contemte in the face of numerous choices.] ¡®¡­Choices?¡¯ [Yes, you¡¯ll encounter them now.] Whooooosh! They were at the rear of the demon horde. A figure, unlike the nearby demons, was preparing a spell. The demonic energy emanating from it was different. Approaching the level of lesser demons. Covered in glossy ck leather, the massive and asymmetrical body effortlessly deflected the downpour of water weapons and arrows from the water weapons raining down on it. Thud! Although a sizable projectile hit just now, it withstood it with its massive arms and legs. Eeeeeeeh! The demon raised its horn-covered head with a roar. The spirit whispered again. [Are you going to fight? It seems challenging to deal with that one and the rest of the riffraff with this iplete power. Well¡­ it wouldn¡¯t have been a fistfight in the first ce.] Nyhill¡¯s eyes moved slowly between the wooden fence and the demon. [Or should we run? I can buy you enough time to escape with that old man.] Parts-chuchuchu! Everyone¡¯s attention focused on an unexpected spark sound. Between the demon¡¯srge horns, demonic energy was swiftly circting and amplifying. Noubelmag¡¯s voice echoed anxiously. ¡°Everyone, get away from the wooden fence! It¡¯s a spell!¡± [What will you do? It¡¯s time to choose.] ¡­Choose. Nyhill experienced a static moment as if the world hade to a standstill. Choose. The noise of the battlefield faded away, and only those words echoed. Her current decision would influence a lot. It was an extremely harsh experience for someone who was faced with a choice for the first time in his life. Usually, it started with much simpler decisions. * * * ¡­Choice and responsibility. These were always present in human life, but for Nyhill, they were truly unfamiliar words. However, she eventually made a choice, and now she was facing the consequences. ¡®Did I block it¡­?¡¯ It happened simultaneously with the shot of the spell. Nyhill raised the ground with the spirit¡¯s power with all her strength. Right before impact. A thick and sturdy wall of earth took shape in front of the wooden fence. Kwagwagwagwak! The girl looked beyond the swirling dust with earnest eyes. ¡°Haah¡­.¡± Fortunately. Although the earthen wall copsed miserably, the wooden fence remained unharmed. Startled residents, bewildered by the explosion, were running around it. Noubelmag quacked, calming them down. [Hmm, feeling relieved already?] ¡°¡­What?¡± But that wasn¡¯t the end. Besides the spell, there were many ways to siege. Whooooosh! As the creature¡¯s body lowered, its massive hind leg pressed down on the ground. Unpleasant sounds emerged as the ground started sinking beneath it. ¡®Ah.¡¯ HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Nyhill noticed the demon was preparing to charge. Even though it had only a third of the wooden fence¡¯s height in stature, its overwhelming mass was formidable. If it gained enough speed and collided with the wooden fence, the fence wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand it. Wujik-! The sound echoed like a hallucination in Nyhill¡¯s ears. She realized the demon was about to charge. Without further thought, she swung her dagger again. Kugugugugu-! The earthen wall surged up. However, the spirit¡¯s power had its limits. [¡­What¡¯s this?] The density and thickness of the wall were much weaker than before. It wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand the impending onught. ¡°Ah¡­¡± If the wooden fence copsed, it would be the end. Most of the residents would be incapacitated in the aftermath of the copse, giving demons the chance to advance. Amidst the chaos, Noubelmag was undoubtedly in danger as well. Whooooosh! From bad to worse. Before the girl¡¯s thoughts could conclude, the demon began its charge. ¡°Oh, it¡¯sing!¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we shoot arrows!?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you see that it was useless before!? Get down from the wooden fence quickly!¡± Nyhill¡¯s gaze reached the terrified people on the wooden fence in the wake of the copsing earth. ¡°¡­Stop.¡± Shrrrrrrrrack-! Countless threads unraveled from the device attached to her right hand. It was one of the special weapons supplied to the shadows, ¡®Aranea,¡¯ with outstanding magical sensitivity. Made of a material with excellent magical responsiveness, the threads rapidly absorbed Nyhill¡¯s magic, bing incredibly tough and sharp. Whyyyyyck-! Dozens of threads turned the heavy objects around (stones and demon corpses) into supports, creating a geometric shape in an instant. It looked like a giant spider had spun a web. Chachachacha-chak-! The demon rammed straight into the center. Numerous wounds appeared on the massive body of the demon. The leather tore, revealing its insides. It is so powerful that ck blood dripped from Aranea. However, the creature didn¡¯t stop. Thud-! Thud-! The supports couldn¡¯t hold up. As stones and demon corpses flew up into the sky, the threads lost their sticity and fluttered lifelessly. Wuuuuuu-! The demon¡¯s charge slowed down a bit, but it was still threatening. Nyhill didn¡¯t think Aranea alone would be enough, so she was already preparing for the next attack. ng-! The throwing continued. Ssweeeeeek-! Various projectiles flew with a chilling prating force. There were explosive artifacts, weakened magical swords, and poisoned daggers. Grab, throw. Even though she was throwing projectiles across the chaotic battlefield, her aim never faltered. At that moment. The residents, who had retreated from the wooden fence, shouted in sharp unison as they watched. ¡°Hey, watch out!¡± ¡°It¡¯s dangerous!¡± It was Nyhill¡¯s counterattack. One of the daggers she threw had Aranea attached to it. The dagger pierced the demon¡¯s neck. Whooooosh-! As if sucked in, Nyhill soared into the air. Shended on the creature¡¯s head when there were roughly 50 meters left to the wooden fence. ¡­From there, her memory wasn¡¯t very clear. Tied with Aranea, thrusting with the dagger, hitting with her fists, kicking¡­ when she looked back, it seemed like she even bit into it. She was that desperate. Wuuuuuu-! But the demon persisted, relentlessly pounding the ground. . . . Kwaaaaaang-! That¡¯s how the wooden fence copsed. The enhanced demon¡¯s life was cut short before it could reach the wooden fence, but its colossal body crashed into it nheless. ¡°Ah¡­.¡± What was fortunate was that, thanks to Nyhill¡¯s resistance, the people on the wooden fence narrowly managed to escape. The girl descended from the demon¡¯s carcass, staggering. Though she herself was unaware, all the residents looked at her with eyes that couldn¡¯t express what they felt. [Kukukukuk, isn¡¯t thispletely futile?] Feeling dizzy, Nyhill responded to the spirit¡¯s words. ¡®Futile¡­ you say?¡¯ [Well, isn¡¯t it? Look at yourself now.] ¡®¡­Yeah.¡¯ [Covered in wounds, covered in dust, legs trembling from exhaustion. If you had run away earlier, by now you would have already arrived safely with that old man in a secure ce.] Nyhill lowered her head, looking at her own battered body. It was undoubtedly a mess. It hurt. The thought of possibly failing the mission assigned by the Hero made her chest ache even more. [But does that mean everyone is safe now? Not really. The wood fence is in ruins, and outside, the monsters are still lurking.] ¡®Oh, I see. I made a foolish choice.¡¯ The spirit chuckled as if finding her realization amusing. [¡­Tch, how boring would it be to just die right away. Lift your head, foolish Nyhill. The real fool is the one regretting a choice already made. And!] As the words ended, an intense sh emanated from the dagger Nyhill was holding. ¡®Huh?¡¯ [Spirits don¡¯t let theirpanions die even if they are fools.] A sudden vibration and noise followed. Ku-ku-ku-ku-! [Oh well, I guess I¡¯ll have to sleep for a while.] The ground shook under the feet of the approaching monsters, creating a chain reaction of fractures. It looked as if a powerful earthquake happened only in front of the wooden fence. Monsters falling into the crevices, shattering into pieces upon hitting debris. In an instant, about half of the monsters were incapacitated. [Ah, I¡¯m tired. You handle the rest.] As the words finished, the light faded from the dagger, returning to its dull color. Nyhill tightly gripped the handle. ¡®Thank you.¡¯ The voice that had been ringing in her ears since earlier did not respond any longer. It seemed like it was really asleep. So, from now on, the spirit wouldn¡¯t help her. Mana and stamina were depleted. Her body was in shambles. Raising her head, she faced the approaching monsters. Their numbers had significantly decreasedpared to before, but there were still about twenty of them. She had to figure out a way to deal with them. With determination, Nyhill readied herself for another fight. Just then, someone approached her. ¡°Nyhill.¡± Noubelmag, covered in dust, tapped her on the shoulder. Nyhill was momentarily flustered, hiding the now dimmed dagger behind her. ¡®What should I do?¡¯ ¡­The spirit was gone. She couldn¡¯t imagine how he would react to the disappearance of his son¡¯s legacy. With a stiff expression, the old man stared at the girl, blinking his eyes. However the words that emerged from those cracked lips was something far different from what she had anticipated. ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± Noubelmag awkwardly raised his skinny arm, holding a hammer. By his side, weapons he had created were suddenlyid out. They might not be very robust due to their crude materials, but they should buy some time. Nyhill gazed at his determined face. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± No more words were needed. The old man and the girl turned, their backs facing each other. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 81 Chapter 81 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Hans abruptly stopped running and stood still. The recent conversation echoed in his mind. ¡°Take the residents and head to the abandoned mine.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve set up some water artifacts on the way up. You should be able to handle that number of monsters easily.¡± An obvious question arose. ¡°And what about you, old man?¡± ¡°Can you run faster than those things?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Well, if you can buy me some time to escape, I won¡¯t stop you. But if you can¡¯t, get out of my way! Run!¡± Startled by his fierce roar, they turned and headed towards the abandoned mine. The self-defense squad and the residents were also with them. After running a few steps, he thought. ¡®Why.¡¯ All I did was mix things up with the old man a few times when he came down to the vige to buy beer. He was always blunt and sharp. To the extent that even he, who prides himself on being very sociable, could hardly get close to him. ¡­His identity was unknown. Since he came to Lonkers a few years ago, the identity of the artisan old man had been a regr topic in drinking sessions. Rumors circted about escaping aftermitting a crime or seeking a ce to die due to old age. ¡®Just leave him alone; he¡¯s an outsider anyway.¡¯ ¡­Undoubtedly an outsider. Interest in him gradually faded away. Even more so after the stake was driven in one day. ¡®But why?¡¯ His friend, Diontri, muttered beside him. ¡°Hey! What are you doing standing there all pudgy? Not going up to the mine?¡± ¡°¡­Are you really going?¡± ¡°What nonsense! You want to fight those things? After even the wooden fence is broken?¡± Fear deepened in the eyes of the people. It was reasonable to fight on the wooden fence. The sense of duty to protect the vige was maintained as long as the monsters¡¯ thorns, tentacles, horns, and teeth did not reach them. However, when they descended to the same eye level as those creatures, ¡®death¡¯ began to dig into their minds. The power to tear humans apart with contemptuous ease. Ferocious howls. Stench. The determination and courage they once held were quickly dulled. As a result, leaving the old man and the girl behind, some were already fleeing. Hans looked at the copsed wooden fence with a creaking head. The two of them were struggling to resist the approaching monsters. When a monster tried to jump out to chase the residents, the old man kicked its spine even to the point of injuring his own leg. In order to protect him, the girl desperately stood in front. ¡°When the vige is in crisis, people will naturally look to you.¡± Why did that man¡¯s wordse to mind now? Ah, damn it. Hans could no longer move forward. ¡°¡­Damn.¡± ¡°Hey, Hans! What are you doing there?¡± ¡°Damn! Is this right?!¡± ¡°What, what!?¡± ¡°Is this right, you bastard?!¡± Hans ran. He was terrified to the point of death, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to suggest others going down together. He ran with his mouth shut. The footsteps of the vigers quickly faded away. But there were footsteps that didn¡¯t move away. ¡°Hey, this crazy bastard!¡± ¡°Damn, oh god!¡± It wasn¡¯t everyone. But it was enough. Hans rushed down the steep path as if possessed. Why? The foot that felt as heavy as wearing steel boots was surprisingly light. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± He charged forward and thrust his gauntlet into the jaw of the monster that was about to bite the girl¡¯s head. Crack! It was a blow thatcked the strength to kill. However, as lightning magic was cast, and the spears of those who followed pierced the stiffened body, it copsed. The old man looked at him in disbelief. ¡°Tsk, I gave you a chance to live, and you act like this.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry, I apologize! My bad. I did something shameful.¡± ¡°Fine. Save your apologies for your soon-to-be widow.¡± Meanwhile, Nyhill stared nkly at the few self-defense squad members standing in front of her. ¡®Why?¡¯ Considering theirck ofbat experience since the wooden fence copsed, she thought they would panic. No, she never considered them a fighting force to begin with. However, they walked into this mess voluntarily to save her and Noubelmag. ¡°Shoot! Kill them!¡± ¡°Hans! Don¡¯t you dare die!¡± Other vigers, who couldn¡¯t make it up to the mine, joined in. Though they couldn¡¯t enter the battlefield, they shot arrows and threw whatever they could from a safe distance. Thanks to them, Nyhill caught her breath and took up her dagger again. Noubelmag, limping, gripped his hammer. Crack! Monsters that had been wary of the appearance of new humans rushed forward again. ¡°Kill them!¡± ¡°Hold your shields properly!¡± ¡°Keep your eyes open! They¡¯reing from behind again!¡± In that moment when everyone¡¯s best efforts were continuing, an unexpected miracle urred. Dudududududu¡ª! Even though there was no spirit, the ground suddenly began to tremble. Everyone looked at each other with puzzled faces. It was a subtle vibration, but the tremors and noise quickly amplified, revealing its true nature. ¡®The sound of horse hooves?¡¯ At this moment Noubelmag recalled the existence of the ¡®Reinforcements¡¯ which he hadpletely forgotten. ¡°I¡¯ve requested reinforcements.¡± ¡°¡­Reinforcements?¡± ¡°Yeah, they should arrive within two days.¡± Riding over the fallen wooden fence, dozens of knights arrived at the battlefield. Their sparkling appearance in the ruins was almostical. A deep voice followed them. ¡°In the name of the great Emperor! In the name of Euphemia Cecilia!¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Purge the demonic forces!¡± ¡°For the glory of Her Majesty!¡± Noubelmag sat down on the spot, pulled out his pipe. ¡°¡­Damn. They came quickly.¡± Nyhill also sat down next to him, watching the round smoke he exhaled. It was over. * * * As evening fell, the damp weather began to change gradually. The wind was refreshing, and the temperature became pleasantly warm. It was ate spring day. The Lonkers streets were bathed in the nail-like light of the descending moon. The tavern was literally bursting at the seams. No, damn it, is this right¡ª! Someone¡¯s voice,ically imitating Hans, signalled the beginning of the afterparty. The restoration of the wooden fence was postponed with the consent of the vigers. Since some of the Imperial Army had already built barracks and were stationed near the vige, it would be safer from monsters. Considering the copsed stake, it made even more sense. ¡°Let¡¯s drink.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± The hero quietly clinked sses with Noubelmag in a corner seat. Today¡¯s protagonist was not him. ¡°Uh, um¡­¡± Nyhill found herself surrounded by numerous vigers in the center of the tavern, wearing a bewildered expression. Thunderous cheers, whistles, and apuse showered upon her. Someone shouted a loud thank you, others approached to pat her on the shoulder, and someone even messed up her hair. ¡°Ugh¡­ Hot¡­ Ugh.¡± The girl froze like a small animal suddenly thrown into a different environment overnight. But she couldn¡¯t avoid it. It was because the hero had given her a mand.¡¯ ¡°Remember this moment well from now on.¡± He added that she should enjoy the drinking session as much as possible. He even mentioned she could drink as much as she wanted. ¡®¡­What does it mean to enjoy?¡¯ Today was really full of challenges. Nyhill felt strangely thirsty, so she took a sip of the beer in front of her. Noubelmag and the hero also raised their sses and drank together. The hero spoke first. ¡°Thank you in many ways.¡± ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s not a joke; we really almost died. If it weren¡¯t for that kid, the leader would be drinking alone as the sole survivor tonight.¡± ¡°Fortunately, that didn¡¯t happen.¡± ¡°Ugh, damn, I was so resentful that I thought about throwing the Wolf statue and the Blessing Stone into the furnace.¡± ¡°Good thing you didn¡¯t. I¡¯lle to collect them tomorrow.¡± ¡°¡­Whether youe or not.¡± sses clinked again. ¡­The eradication of the stake. Although Nyhill and Noubelmag had been told the story by the hero, the other vigers credited the reinforcements for the victory. If the vigers knew that the ¡®hero¡¯ had already been here, many questions would arise. For example, why didn¡¯t they clear the stake and wipe out the monsters earlier? Thanks to this, Nyhill heard plenty ofments. ¡°Hehe, while you werezing around, yourpanions did a great job!¡± One of the revellers approached, chuckled cheerfully, clinked sses, and then moved away. ¡­Anyway, the fact that all the spotlight went to Nyhill was something he dly epted. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± At that moment, Nyhill, whose face had turned a bit flushed, approached them. Whether it was the alcohol, her usually graceful movements seemed slightly off. It seemed like she hadn¡¯t used her magic to dispel the effects of the alcohol, as per the hero¡¯smand. ¡°Sit here.¡± Noubelmag pulled out a chair for her. Meanwhile, the vigers, already quite drunk, had ced Hans in the center this time, making him the focus of their attention. ¡°Hey, well done, Hans! Who would have thought such a character woulde out of Lonkers!¡± ¡°What did you say! Is this right?! You bastards! Follow me, be proud to follow Hans, the pride of Lonkers!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do thest one!¡± Amid Hans¡¯s angry outburst, one side of his face showed undeniable pride. ¡°Everyone! Stop drinking! You¡¯re not even in good shape!¡± Presumably his wife, she pleaded desperately, trying to restrain them. But the people continued teasing that they looked good together. ¡­In the cramped tavern,ughter and warmth filled every corner. Things that were not visible when Nyhill first came here. And today, things that could have disappeared forever. For a moment, the hero, Nyhill, and Noubelmag silently watched the scene. It was a moment when the hero, in the process of choosing his words to say something to Nyhill, spoke. ¡°Nyhill.¡± Noubelmag gently squeezed Nyhill¡¯s shoulder and turned her towards the people with a soft smile. ¡°¡­Noubelmag?¡± Nyhill asked with an unexpectedly rxed voice. In a quiet tone, Noubelmag answered, ¡°I promised to show you.¡± Nyhill saw vigers sending endless winks toward herself and raised her ss, looking at the people who wereughing and enjoying themselves. ¡°By your own choice. By your own judgement. When you save people. How does it feel?¡± ¡­What feelings were stirring within her right now? She has always been a ghost. All the operations she and herrades had conducted never surfaced in public. Even if they were actions worthy of apuse, they never did. Her entire life seemed to have taken ce backstage. ¡®¡­¡­¡¯ Nyhill recalled some of the challenging operations. Operations where they lost severalrades. Yet, the oue was the same. Like the crew behind the scenes never receiving apuse. No acknowledgement for her and her deceasedrades. ¡­It was the first time. The first time was filled with various emotions. Nyhill hesitated for a moment, unable to respond. Observing her expression, Noubelmagughed so hard that even deeper wrinkles formed on his face. And he threw a question whose answer he already knew. ¡°¡­Yeah. So, how does it feel?¡± The reason Nyhill could finally voice an answer was probably due to the effects of the alcohol. ¡°¡­It¡¯s good.¡± After finishing her sentence, she ced a hand, scarred from the battles, over her heart. Her heart was pounding. Nyhill added a smallment to herself. ¡°¡­More than I deserve.¡± Noubelmag looked at the hero and asked, ¡°Anything to say, Leader?¡± Tock. Tock. The hero¡¯srge hand gently patted Nyhill¡¯s small back. ¡°It is not undeserved. You did well.¡± Nyhill mumbled quietly to herself one more time. ¡­This touch is more than I deserve. Lonkers¡¯ night faded away like that. ¨‹ Understanding of Nyhill deepens. Understanding Level: 4/100 -> 8/100 ¡ø HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 82 Chapter 82 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡­Meanwhile, at Rosenstark. The extreme students were in the ssroom, weing the second supplementary professor. The first supplementary ss with Professor Labin, which they experiencedst time, had its informative aspects, but it was too strict, rigid, and boring¡­ Anyway, it was a ss that made them miss the hero. That¡¯s why the kids didn¡¯t have high expectations for the second supplementary ss. Click-! A ssroom with a sunken atmosphere. The sharp sound of heels echoed. Smooth and short blue hair swayed to the beat. Her eyes, as cold as the color that pierced the body¡¯s core, followed the rhythm. The students looked at her somewhat tensely, wearing a perfectly fitted sleek blue suit. Some of those interested in clothes and essories noticed that her outfit probably cost several hundred gold. ¡­Yussi Glendor. A retired dawn knight and one of the richest people on the continent. Moreover, she is also the Principal of the academy they attend. In other words, she was a person who could be extremely challenging for new students. Furthermore, given the scolding they received from the senior professorst week, they worried about how severe the Principal would be. The children sat up straight in their chairs, looking at her as if needles were attached to the backrests. ¡°Huhu¡­.¡± On the other hand, Yussi seemed a bit lethargic. She had been too busy with various things recently and couldn¡¯t even get two hours of sleep a day. ¡®¡­In the midst of all this, I have to stand at the podium.¡¯ But that didn¡¯t mean she could teach carelessly. It was the hero¡¯s request, after all. The quality and satisfaction of this ss would immediately reach his ears. Yussi, who had just taken a sip of coffee with five spoons of Awakening Essence, spoke. ¡°Alright. Can anyone guess what I will teach you today?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± The kids stiffened at the too difficult question. Yussi¡¯s eyes swept over the front row. ¡°Gerald Bryce, why don¡¯t you try answering?¡± ¡°Yes, me?¡± Gerald¡¯s eyes widened at the unexpected call. No way! How could the headmistress address him, a mere freshman, by name? But there was nothing surprising. With her extraordinary intellect, she could recall the entire content of the application form she nced at a few months ago. Gerald immediately responded. ¡°I, I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Well, of course, you wouldn¡¯t know. I just decided.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Professor Redymer told me to teach whatever I wanted. So, after careful consideration, I¡¯ve decided on today¡¯s lesson.¡± Yussi turned around while saying so. Though her actions seemed entric at first nce, the students were too tense to entertain such thoughts. ¡°So, after careful consideration, I¡¯ve decided on today¡¯s lesson.¡± Yussi wrote on the chalkboard. Even though it seemed hastily written, the writing flowed smoothly without a hint of distortion. Living in a crazy world, dealing with damn demons and monsters. ¡°You¡¯ll learn about it in Feynman¡¯s ¡®Introduction to Demonology¡¯, but I thought I could exin it more vividly.¡± After a big,zy yawn, she continued speaking. The atmosphere shifted, and the students¡¯ tension eased for a moment. ¡°As you all know, I was actively operating five years ago until I lost my arms and legs. Today, I¡¯ll focus on exining the characteristics and tactics of those bastards, especially the ones that were a pain in the ass.¡± With another yawn, she pulled out another Awakening Essence candle from her pocket, releasing smoke rings as she spoke. ¡°You also know that I¡¯m from a merchant family. Now, let¡¯s talk about the special features and tactics of those demons, focusing on the ones I found particrly annoying.¡± ¡­ And so, the ss began, turning out to be much more interesting than expected. Yussi eloquently shared her experiences, recounting her adventures in the demonic realm with her fellow heroes and knights. Behind-the-scenes stories that had not been revealed in any other media took the spotlight, leaving the students naturally captivated. ¡®Fun!¡¯ ¡®The second supplementary ss is amazing¡­.¡¯ With the addition of her unique storytelling skill, inherent to merchant families, everyone found themselves drawn into her tales. Eventually, the lesson reached its climax with the exnation of thest demon. ¡°I¡¯ll exin thest monster, the Monmada.¡± In an instant, Lucas¡¯s gaze turned to Ban. ¡­Simultaneously, Ban¡¯s shoulders also trembled. Of course, no one noticed the subtle gestures of the two boys. ¡°Monma, Monma¡­¡± Yussi, with a faintly distorted face, began to speak. ¡°They are definitely more troublesome than the monsters I introduced earlier.¡± Monma. Demons interfering with human dreams, destroying their reality. By providing excessively sweet dreams, they made people deny and hate reality. They could plunge individuals into terrifying nightmares, making them fear sleep instead. But the reason they were considered the most difficult and loathsome tribe was one. ¡°Because they can peer into the depths of the human subconscious through dreams.¡± Through the unconscious, they could expose desires, wounds, and hidden secrets,ying everything bare. Once Monma learned the weaknesses of their target, they could easily navigate through the mental defenses and torment them through dreams. After a few cycles of such a vicious circle, the target would transform into something akin to a puppet under theplete control of Monma, with their mental defensespletely neutralized. ¡°Like a parasite manipting its host to the point of drowning itself, or a bug that goes into a me without realizing it.¡± This led to numerous betrayals. ¡°While the associates of Malekia I described earlier extract magic through physical pain, Monmas subtly copse the mind. Then, they extract magic from the negative emotions emanating from the copsed mind.¡± Yussi recalled the sacrifices she had witnessed due to Monma, sprinkling Awakening Essence on the lectern. ¡°By cultivating a strong mental fortitude, you can strengthen your mental defenses. Apart from that, there¡¯s no reliable method to counter them.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Fortunately, high-ranking Monmas that can exert a powerful influence on humans are scarce, and most of them have been eradicated. However, if you ever encounter a bizarre entity in your dreams, don¡¯t hesitate to let others know immediately.¡± Gerald, who had been listening attentively, raised his hand enthusiastically. ¡°Just a simple dream has such a significant impact?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just a simple dream¡­ You must have experienced a daydream not long ago.¡± The response was met with excitement. ¡°High-ranking Monma¡¯s dreams are much more realistic and intense. Moreover, there are no limits to the production of dreams. We subtly gather the deepest desires, secrets, and wounds, and who can remain unscathed by such skillful methods. It¡¯s like a highly addictive opiate. Once you taste it, knowing the destination is destruction, you still crave for it. Even though you know it shouldn¡¯t be like this, you find yourself hoping for Monma toe. But don¡¯t worry too much; Monmas can¡¯t just effortlessly invade people¡¯s minds without any limitations on mental defenses.¡± ¡°R-Really?¡± ¡°Unless theye into contact with a weakened individual, it usually ends with a short nightmare. So don¡¯t worry unnecessarily.¡± ¡°Phew¡­¡± ¡°The vessels used by infamous Monmas throughout history are well documented in the Monster Compendium, so make sure to familiarize yourselves with them.¡± The children, who had been holding their breath and concentrating, finally breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Well then¡­¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Yussi nced at her wristwatch. Today was the day for preparations to obtain the protection of Zero Requiem, with a meeting scheduled for the trade. However, there was still some time left. ¡®Even if I go back now, it will be just the tasks assigned by ipetent professors.¡¯ ¡°Feel free to ask any questions, even if they¡¯re not rted to the ss content.¡± As the children hesitated and looked at each other, a hand slowly rose. Yussi¡¯s eyes met a girl with neat red hair in a proper posture. ¡°Leciel Hiyashin. What¡¯s your question?¡± After a moment of hesitation, Leciel opened her mouth. ¡°¡­I heard that you were close with Professor Redymer when you were a student.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°What kind of person was Professor Redymer when you were around our age?¡± ¡°¡­Why are you curious about that?¡± You said just asking any question. Leciel felt a bit embarrassed. ¡®Why are you curious?¡¯ In fact, she didn¡¯t know either. It was just an unexpected question that popped up. However, that question was something everyone in the ssroom was curious about. The children¡¯s pupils suddenly brightened. ¡°Um¡­¡± Yussi¡¯s mouth twitched slightly at those gazes. The memories of her school days spent with a hero were like precious treasures to her. Originally, treasures are meant to be something you want to boast about to someone. With so much interest, there was almost nothing she couldn¡¯t talk about. ¡°Professor Redymer¡­¡± Yussi opened her mouth. ¡­A hero from a dozen years ago. It was actually a topic she quite liked. Due to recalling it so many times, it was a question she could answer very urately. ¡°At that time, he was a senior. The senior was very famous.¡± Leciel nodded. It was natural. Considering his skills, it wouldn¡¯t be strange for him to gain fame from the moment he entered. ¡°By his appearance.¡± Leciel coughed. A slight cough due to surprise, and the face of the hero who looked at her from the ¡®dreamy¡¯ sunset beach shed by for a moment. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡­He was definitely famous. Yussi continued with a faint smile. ¡°On Valentine¡¯s Day, the front of the dormitory was so crowded with various gifts and choctes that the door waspletely blocked. There were even things handmade by some crazy female professors.¡± ¡­Most male students who didn¡¯t have such an experience and wouldn¡¯t in the future briefly imagined that scene. Gerald muttered quietly. ¡°Hmm¡­ Is it that much?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Gerald Bryce.¡± Taking advantage of the moment the boy closed his mouth, Cuculli asked with a mischievous expression. ¡°Was the president also one of them?¡± ¡°No. I never had any interest in senior until then.¡± It was true. While her peers were busy squealing, Yussi didn¡¯t have the luxury to spare a nce at guys. At that time, her standing within Glendor wasn¡¯t so secure. Survival itself was challenging, so she escaped to the academy. However, her wolf-like brothers used their various connections and money to harass her. In order to bring her back to the Chamber of Commerce within their reach. ¡°Well, I was somewhat grateful when he pulled me out of the warehouse where I was locked up like a bug wriggling in a trap.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Question marks appeared in the children¡¯s eyes. Whether or not she would exin, Yussi continued speaking. ¡°Anyway, I became friends with the heroter.¡± ¡°How did that happen?¡± Look at this kid. In response to Leciel¡¯s immediate question, Yussi chuckled. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear about when Rosenstark was invaded by demons in the old days?¡± Some had vaguely heard of it, while others were hearing about it for the first time. It was that era. Although Rosenstark is now located in the far west, receiving rtively favorable reviews for safety from magic, back then, it had almost no advantage in terms of location. The influence of demons spread like a tumor across the entire continent. Rosenstark was a tempting prey for the demons in the western regions. It was a joint invasion, even involving a legionmander. ¡°The defense systems copsed, the outer walls crumbled, and the faculty all went out to fight. They told the students to evacuate, but¡­it was every man for himself.¡± ¡­Yussi, who spoke calmly, was stared at by the children in disbelief. The fact that such a horrific incident had urred here, where they were currently taking sses, was hard to believe. ¡°Anyway, everyone got mixed up, fought and fled in confusion, and eventually ended up in one of the training grounds.¡± A sealed space. Demons and monsters rushed through the entrance. It was a situation where they were too tired and terrified to even think about resisting. It was like a wolf entering a flock of sheep. It was then that someone stepped forward. ¡°The senior fought. Did you see it during the orientation? Probably around thirty of those scars were from that time. I thought the senior died standing there.¡± Yussi once again reminisced about the past. ¡­Ted Redymer in his teens. Unrivalled in skill, tall, fit, and handsome. A man who would have countless good options waiting for him in the future. If it were her, she couldn¡¯t have done something reckless, not because her life was precious, but because that brilliant future was too valuable. However, he had the skills to escape alone, yet he fought at the forefront and protected everyone. For Yussi, who had been educated to live her life calcting everything in terms of money and exchanging it, it was a fresh shock. It was also the first time in her life that she thought about a purpose beyond numbers. ¡°Justice, salvation, and fairness¡­ There was someone living in such unrealistic fantasies. I was curious, somehow annoyed, and jealous. So, I¡¯ve been chasing him since then. Until now.¡± ¡­So, it¡¯s a very long-standing rtionship. Yussi looked at Leciel yfully and finished speaking. The children were all gaping, caught up in their own thoughts. Yussi had never thought of students of that age as cute, but now she felt a bit proud. ¡®¡­They are a blessed generation.¡¯ Most of the early Dawn Knights were seniors, juniors, and peers who were studying at Rosenstark at that time. Everyone fell for the hero, ventured into that dangerous path, and most of them died. Thinking briefly about their faces, Yussi turned her head towards the window. The direction the hero departed was to the west. ¡®¡­I wonder when he wille.¡¯ Beep-! The short beep from her wristwatch indicated that it was time for her to go for the deal. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s wrap it up here today!¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 83 Chapter 83 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The hero left the inn with Nyhill. All the necessary belongings were already packed. However, the direction he headed towards wasn¡¯t the vige¡¯s exit. ¡°Let¡¯s stop somewhere.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Where do you mean?¡± ¡°I n to persuade Noubelmag to go with us to Rosenstark. I need you.¡± Nyhill blinked herrge eyes for a moment. It was a habit that came out when faced with unexpected situations. ¡°¡­Can I be of help?¡± ¡°Very much.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll do my best.¡± The hero nodded and set off on the path to the mine. It was all dirt roads when he first came, but now it was quite green. Summer seemed to be approaching. * * * The sky cleared of rain clouds. The warm sunlight shone even in front of the gloomy mine. As usual for the past three years, Noubelmag sat in front of his son¡¯s grave. ¡°¡­Daig.¡± Then, systematically, he swept away the grass and flowers that had grown around the grave with his hands. Last year¡¯s fallen leaves had turned into fertilizer, giving rise to new branches and leaves. The unceasing cycle of life. The only thing that stood still in this space was one thing. ¡°Father, do you regret?¡± ¡°I, Daig, I¡­¡± ¡°¡­We should have lived our own lives, right?¡± The projection of desire. He realized toote that it was the most heinous form of violence a parent could inflict on their child. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Regret it. I hope you regret it, pounding the ground and crying.¡± He already knew he would. ¡°When all that regret is over¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Live ¡®your own life.¡¯ Don¡¯t have pointless thoughts. Such things don¡¯t suit you, Father.¡± Since then, three years have passed. He left the knight order, put down the hammer. In front of his son¡¯s grave, inside the mine, he lived like a living corpse. In the end, he never listened to his son until the end. ¡®Live your own life¡­.¡¯ Rustle. Rustle. At the sound of hooves approaching, Noubelmag turned his head without igniting the pipe, and carefully searched his pocket. When he took out the processed Blessing Stone and the unlocked Wolf Statue, the hero and Nyhill dismounted from their horses. He reached out, handing them to the hero. ¡°The requested items are here. Just put the Blessing Stone in the refining process, and when you activate the Wolf Statue, it will automatically show you its contents.¡± ¡°Thank you. You¡¯ve been through a lot.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Even after putting the items in the saddle storage, the hero didn¡¯t leave. It was as Noubelmag expected. It was the moment he was about to speak. The hero made a move. ¡°Don¡¯t say you¡¯re not going.¡± ¡°I¡­ ¡± Noubelmag¡¯s mouth twitched. His tongue felt as stiff as lead. He knew that simply rotting away in Lonkers wasn¡¯t the right answer. But he didn¡¯t have the courage to go further. He didn¡¯t have the confidence to handle new challenges, encounters, uncertainties, farewells, and sorrows. ¡°¡­¡± As he had been doing for the past three years, Noubelmag tried to escape to the cabin. It was at that moment. Thunk. A small, warm hand, tinged with heat, grasped his wrist. A few days ago, just like when he guided the girl¡¯s hand in the mine, this time Nyhill took the old man¡¯s hand and led it to her open palm. ¡°This¡­ ¡± A hand covered in wounds. A few sweet-looking snacks were crackling on top. In this backward vige, they were precious items that were not easily obtained. Nyhill added an exnation. ¡°The residents are grateful¡­ They prepared these for you to eat on the way.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± ¡°It was amazing to receive them. Really.¡± It could be understood without words that such an experience had never happened to the girl before. Nyhill looked at Noubelmag with pitch-ck sparkling eyes. It was a nostalgic and painful gaze. ¡°Can I ask a question?¡± ¡°¡­Go ahead.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we go back together?¡± ¡°Haha.¡± Noubelmag opened his mouth, shook his head, and finally turned his gaze to his son¡¯s grave. A cool breeze blew, shaking the surrounding flowers. ¡®¡­Ah.¡¯ Why didn¡¯t I know? The fallen leaves turned into fertilizer, creating the greenery of the following spring. After Daig died, he regained his senses and helped someone else make the right choice. And now, she was guiding him again with her own hands. In the end, there was nothing stopping him here. ¡­There was nothing that could stop. ¡°Haha¡­.¡± Noubelmag finally burst intoughter. Afterughing for a while, he bit the pipe and mumbled. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll be the cksmith for snotty brats¡± The hero, who had been quietly observing the conversation between the old man and the girl, finally chuckled as well. ¡°¡­They¡¯re not just any snotty brats, so you can expect something good.¡± It was the conclusion everyone had hoped for. . . . ¨‹ The understanding of Noubelmag deepens. Understanding Level: 2 / 100 -> 10 / 100 ¡ø * * * Tap, tap. The bonfire flickered. Nyhill and Noubelmag had just fallen asleep. It must have been quite exhausting. I was worried about being away from the academy longer than nned, so I ran without stopping. Thanks to this, I thought I would be able to pass through the main gate of Rosenstark before lunch tomorrow. Tadak-tad-tad- HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Anyone who has ever made a fire with firewood will know that crackling embers have a strange magical power that attracts people¡¯s attention. I absentmindedly followed the embers with my eyes and thought back on the past ten days. It started from a conversation 30 minutes ago. ¡°Give me the Dagger.¡± Examining Nyhill¡¯s Dagger with a magnifying ss, Noubelmag, who had been tapping it for a while, spoke. ¡°I have both good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?¡± ¡°It seems like a meaningless question, but I¡¯ll start with the good news.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I didn¡¯t used to have this kind of personality.¡± Noubelmag, who had been tapping away, spoke. ¡°The good news is that the spirit hasn¡¯tpletely left. There¡¯s still a trace of its presence.¡± Nyhill¡¯s expression subtly brightened for a moment. Normally, I might have overlooked it, but after spending a few days with the girl, I could now notice those subtle changes in expression. ¡°That¡¯s really good news. I wanted to talk to the spirit again.¡± ¡°¡­Is that so? Anyway, now for the bad news.¡± Noubelmag, without the magnifying ss, squinted his eyes, staring intensely. ¡°I don¡¯t know when this fellow will wake up. He used too much power in an iplete state. Moreover, during the battle, it seems he only used the power of the earth.¡± ¡°Yes, isn¡¯t he the earth spirit?¡± ¡°Originally, the spirit stone had two attributes: earth and darkness. Let¡¯s hope that none of them is permanently lost. The power difference between handling two attributes and handling one is like night and day.¡± After sharing such a conversation, they soon shared some snacks provided by Lonkers amicably and then fell asleep. ¡®¡­Looksfortable.¡¯ Nyhill, who handled tasks stoically and expressionlessly, felt much more mature than her age. Seeing her sleeping so peacefully made her seem even more like a younger sister than Rosenstark¡¯s children. ¡®¡­This journey must have been somewhat helpful for her too.¡¯ Just as I gained a lot from this trip to Lonkers, I think Nyhill must have gained some significant benefits as well. The Nyhill from when we departed from Rosenstark and the Nyhill now were certainly different people. ¡®Well then¡­.¡¯ It was time to check the gains I obtained. ¨‹ The mes simmering in the new furnace, Will drive away the darkness and cold of thisnd. Salvation Ritual ¨C ¡®2nd Form: Nova¡¯ has been unlocked. ¡ø I have undeniably be stronger. Rising understanding level. With the opening of the 2nd Form and the growth of Polymorph¡¯s stage, now I can fight on par with high-level demons. In the past, when the Dawn Knights first ventured into the world, the condition for admission was whether one could individually suppress a high-level demon or not. Of course, the current members of the Dawn Knights can easily handle high-level demons, but gaining powerparable to the early heroes and theirrades was a significant achievement. Just a few months ago, even facing low-level demons was challenging, making this growth quite remarkable. ¡­And, morements appeared after this. The reward for subjugating the stake and demons and saving Lonkers was revealed. ¨‹ Sturdy stone formed the foundation of the furnace Rted to ¡®Zero Requiem¡¯s Memory¡¯ Through the recorded individual ¡®Rosalyn Requiem,¡¯ you can now ess some of the previously restricted memories. You can now read ¡®Zero Requiem¡¯s Memory¡¯ mentioned by Rosalyn. ¡ø Surprisingly, the title of that memory was found within the information repository. Commonly known as the 1st Era ¨C Part I. The moment I confirmed the title, a shiver ran down my spine. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The 1st Era. The golden age of humanity, where magic, divinity, medicine, science, and more developed to an extent iparable to the 2nd Era I currently live in. However, this splendid era disappeared into the backroads of history with the emergence of demons. Just by tracing the traces of the 1st Era, humanity could regain tremendous power, but unfortunately, most rted information was currently lost. This was due to the records and legacies left behind in the eastern region, which had transformed into the Demon Realm. Only those who asionally entered the Demon Realm and seeded in archaeological exploration could experience a part of it. One example was the key to Valber, which proved useful in Lonkers. ¡®¡­But to see that time from the perspective of Zero Requiem.¡¯ I never dreamed that the memories stored in Rosalyn were rted to the 1st Era. Perhaps the way of essing memories was simr to the Library of Memories. You can be the person who left behind memories, that is, Zero, and look at the First Age. ¡­essing the ¡®Secrets of the World¡¯ that no one else knew. ¡®It¡¯s the memories left by the Archmage. It shouldn¡¯t be something trivial.¡¯ Perhaps some clues about Zero¡¯s origin or his incredibly powerful abilities coulde to light. Or maybe some magical or technological clues that could propel the current era forward might be revealed. I couldn¡¯t even guess how significant this benefit was. ¡®Once we return, I need to find Rosalyn right away¡­.¡¯ Anyway, the gains mentioned in thements ended here. Next was the list of items that Noubelmag had crafted. Since the usage and purpose of the Blessing Stone were clear, I¡¯ll skip it¡­ The problem was the Wolf Statue. I proceeded to dismantle the Wolf Statue directly in Lonkers¡¯ abandoned mine; what I found locked in that space was¡­ ¡®A treasure map¡­.¡¯ I pulled out a dense brown-textured paper from my pocket and examined it in the light of the campfire. It was indeed a treasure map. The map seemed untouched by human hands, clean, and the written text, lines, and numbers were clear. Moreover, it appeared that whoever crafted the Wolf Statue was quite confident in its security, as the location of the hidden treasure was intuitively marked on the map. And the moment I looked at it¡­ ¨‹ A me to illuminate the path to the beginning flickered. ¡ø Comments rted to mes appeared in the Iris of Lace. ¨‹ The me rises when humans restore what was taken away by the demon. ¡ø In other words, it was almost confirmed that the original owner of the Wolf Statue was a demon associated with the Demonic Church. The problem was¡­ ¡®The marked location is in the middle of the Demon Realm.¡¯ I couldn¡¯t go there immediately. But someday, when I had the strength to explore the Demon Realm, I was determined to go and find it. ¨‹ A dangerous treasure left by an ominous adversary is here. ¡ø ¡­¡¯The ominous adversary¡¯ I felt like I somehow knew who this being was. Moreover, thements were quite significant. A me to illuminate the path to the beginning flickered. There was a distinct difference in tonepared to the upliftingments that had appeared so far. It seemed like another turning point. ¡®Now it seems like everything is settled.¡¯ I put the items into the key of Valber, replenished the firewood, and closed my eyes. It was time to enjoy the brief peace that had returned. ¡®From tomorrow, I¡¯ll be busy again.¡¯ ¡­It was the midterm exam season. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 84 Chapter 84 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª It¡¯s been 10 days since the hero left. During this time, Leciel developed a habit that she couldn¡¯t share with others. Instead of returning to the dormitory after training, she took a slightly detoured path along the hill. The open view revealed the research building in the distance. Well, it wasn¡¯t an extraordinary effort. It only took about 30 minutes to go back. ¡®It¡¯s also good for cardio,¡¯ Leciel thought as she briskly climbed the hill. As it waste, the ce was sparsely popted. Following the well-paved path and passing through the dense trees, a sparkling night view unfolded before her eyes. Perhaps due to the uing midterm exams, all the researchbs were brightly lit¡ªexcept for one. The top floor, as always, remained dark. Considering the hero¡¯s personality, if he returned to the academy, he would undoubtedly head straight to theb to catch up on pending work. Yet, it seemed he hadn¡¯t returned yet. This made Leciel contemte whether he might miss the next ss. While today¡¯s supplementary lesson from the Principal was interesting in various ways, Leciel couldn¡¯t help but feel annoyed. ¡°When is heing back?¡± She muttered, kicking a pebble at her feet. Thwack! The kicked pebble dug into the base of a poorly ced garden gnome. ¡°¡­¡± Red eyebrows furrowed together. Is it even allowed for a professor to be absent for so long during the semester? Moreover, there was no announcement regarding his return. Each time she checked the connector, it felt like another wrinkle formed on her forehead. Due to thepleteck of news, there were even bets among ssmates. Various spections were raised, and frustrations grew in the absence of any updates. Some guessed that he received an incredibly secretive mission from the emperor or encountered unexpected issues on the front lines. Others spected that he left to manage the Dawn Knights, among other theories. Leciel paid close attention whenever these stories circted in the break room, but there was no helpful information. ¡®¡­It¡¯s a dereliction of duty.¡¯ Leciel muttered in frustration. While she wasn¡¯t originally one toin, she was genuinely angry. It was because other Fine arts sses were unbearably dull for her. She found joy only in extreme sses that provided new challenges and learning experiences. Yes, that was the sole reason she climbed the hill with tired legs ¨C the hope that the hero would return and provide informative lessons. Impatience and the asional burst of frustration stemmed solely from that desire. Leciel, feeling drained, sighed and sat on a nearby bench before heading back to the dormitory. Leaning on the backrest, she recalled a memory she had been reying in her mind for the past few days. ¡­No, that was a lie. In reality, she never got tired of it. ¡°So entrust yourself to me. Wherever your destination may be, I¡¯ll help you develop the strength to reach it.¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s the responsibility of the one teaching.¡± Whenever her mind felt dizzy during training, consciously or subconsciously, she revisited that day and those words. The golden beach as the sun set, the gentle breeze mixed with the salty sea air, the ashy hair fluttering in the wind, the loose face unlike usual, and the voice that was easy to hear as it spoke. ¡°Responsibility. The responsibility of the one teaching.¡± It was a phrase she had never thought about before. Upon reflecting on it, it sometimes made her feel relieved, and at other times, it felt like an oppressive weight. One thing was certain: she didn¡¯t dislike the words. ¡°¡­¡± Leciel stared into the void for a while, lost in thought. Lately, her mind has been wandering to unfamiliar ces more frequently. ¡°It¡¯s already time¡­,¡± she muttered. The curfew was approaching, and she decided that one round of restroom cleaning was already enough. Moreover, it is really undesirable for her to show a pile of penalty points to the hero after he returns. Leciel hurriedly got up from her chair, only to stop abruptly. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± A different scene unfolded before her eyespared to just a few minutes ago. At a nce, nothing seemed to have changed, but Leciel¡¯s extraordinary observational skills and sensitive senses caught a very subtle difference. ¡°The lights¡­,¡± she murmured. They were on. The lights on the top floor of the researchb were shining brightly, resembling a lighthouse. With her keen observations and sensitive senses, Leciel, standing there in anticipation of the imminent curfew, noticed the warm light illuminating one side of the night sky. Thump, thump¡­ ¡®What is this?¡¯ Leciel quickly dispelled the strange and mysterious emotion. . . . ¨C Hero is back. ©¸ Oh, it¡¯s you. The one who alwaysins about when he¡¯lle back every day. ©¸¡­Nope. * * * The hero and Noubelmag, who sent Nyhill separately, entered the Rosengstark estate through the side gate. [Wee back!] Somehow, Yussi knew. She was standing there, holding a small sign. ¡°Wee, hero! I missed you so much¡­ Wait a minute¡± She said, smiling broadly at the hero, but suddenly her face twisted Yussi¡¯s gaze was directed towards Noubelmag sitting behind the hero. ¡°Eeek, you really brought him? Oh my, he got even grumpier in the meantime.¡± Indeed, even though he was covered in a robe up to his chin, she seemed to recognize her colleague in an instant. At her strong reaction, a thick vein popped on Noubelmag¡¯s neck. ¡°Still the same old troublemaker, Yussi Glendor.¡± ¡°Oh, really? Were you expecting a warm wee?¡± ¡°Not at all. As if I expected a crazy person like you to be in your right mind when you even lost an arm. I didn¡¯t have any expectations.¡± In response to Noubelmag¡¯s retaliation, Yussi¡¯s neck muscles also visibly tensed. ¡°Ha. Ha. Ha. Is it because you¡¯re an old man now that you can¡¯t see this new, fresh arm that I got after going through hell?¡± ¡°Well, you still suck at alchemy, that¡¯s for sure. I knew I shouldn¡¯t have expected much from you in that department. I should have let you search for the arm in demon dung back then.¡± ¡°¡­Aaargh! Is this how it turns out if I don¡¯t die on time?¡± The hero chuckled. The two of them growling at each other was quiteical. ¡®¡­They¡¯ve clearly had a grudge for a long time.¡¯ Anyway, Noubelmag, who seemed to have shaken off the gloomy mood, looked more bright. ¡°Search for it, inspiration.¡± ¡°Die first.¡± ¡­But if I had left them like this, the reputation of the former Dawn Knights would have fallen to the ground. The hero waved his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s move to another ce for now.¡± ¡°Shall we go to my office?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± In the office of the Principal where they arrived, the hero briefly exined the events that had taken ce in Lonkers so far. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Yussi, under the Glendor organization, had already received reports and had a rough idea of the situation, but she listened attentively without showing any sign. ¡°¡­So, that¡¯s why I brought Noubelmag to the academy.¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work¡­ If there are any colleagues heading that way soon, I¡¯ll make sure to have them stop by Lonkers. They might be short on supplies and relief items, after all.¡± She¡¯s quite capable on her own. The hero nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Thanks. Has everything been quiet around here during my absence?¡± ¡°Yes! Everything has been calm in and around the academy.¡± ¡°And the students?¡± ¡°They¡¯re all fine. Oh, regarding the reinforcement you mentioned, we focused more on theoretical aspects. I was afraid that if I touched the practical part, it might disrupt your lecture ns, sir.¡± ¡°You did well. Thank you for your hard work.¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s nothing.¡± At that moment, Yussi, who was smiling and nodding, cautiously added a few words. ¡°By the way, are you well-prepared for the midterm exams? There are only two weeks left¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already nned everything.¡± During the tedious horse ride, he had already thought it all through. ¡°Well, would you mind sharing the details of the n with me¡­¡± Yussi was a bit nervous. No matter how much she thought about it, the hero wouldn¡¯t have prepared a standard exam like other professors. The developments since the beginning of the ¡®extreme¡¯ activities after the opening were quite extraordinary. ¡°I wonder if you¡¯re nning to challenge the students¡­?¡± Continuous and extraordinary practical exercises without a break. The ss budget was dozens of timesrger than other sses. Of course, it wasn¡¯t about the money. It¡¯s just that the concern about potential casualties was significant. While Yussi anxiously observed, the hero finally opened his lips. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of holding an ¡®Extreme Midterm Exam¡¯ in the ¡®Forest of Martial Arts.''¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yussi nodded without saying anything. Ha-ha. It was fortunate that she had mentally prepared herself. The Forest of Martial Arts. It was a practical training ground feared even by senior students trained in the anti-demon curriculum under Rosenstark. Taking freshmen there. If any other professor had presented such a midterm exam n, Yussi would have probably written a resignation letter on their behalf. ¡°¡­Please don¡¯t call the undertaker.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I intend to be thoroughly prepared before that.¡± ¡°Thoroughly prepared?¡± ¡°We still have two weeks. Let¡¯s use ces like the artificial gravity room, individualbat arena, and the Abyss of Paralysis for practice next week.¡± Yussi smiled wryly, remembering the cheerful children who had smiled so brightly. ¡°The kids will love it¡­¡± ¡°Two weeks of fun for them will be enough.¡± The hero answered decisively and then turned his gaze to Noubelmag. ¡°And can Noubelmag arrange lodging and a workshop for a while?¡± ¡°¡­Let¡¯s use an empty house near the marketce for now. I¡¯ll roughly fill it with the necessary items, so you can stay in the guest amodation until today. From tomorrow, you can use it. It might not take long for an arsonist to show up, though.¡± ¡°And the workshop?¡± ¡°It will take several months to properly equip and supply a workshop where Noubelmag can fully demonstrate his skills¡­.¡± Yussi, rotating her earlobe with her index finger, threw a casual remark to Noubelmag. ¡°For now, I¡¯ll provide you with a workshop that was used by a craftsman affiliated with the academy. I¡¯ll also send Professor Eitrobin. If you need anything, just let us know before long.¡± ¡°Professor Eitrobin? Who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a professor among us who runs arge mine in his hometown.¡± ¡­Eitrobin. A professor that even the hero remembered. On the day of the pre-orientation, he was a young professor who struck up a conversation pretending to be friendly, only to be chased away by Yussi. ¡°I should be able to get most things for you.¡± Noubelmag, hearing those words, stroked his beard and smiled contentedly. ¡°Well, the treatment is better than I expected.¡± ¡°Remember, it¡¯s not free; it¡¯s an investment. You won¡¯t be able to step outside Rosenstark until you recover the initial investment.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s how it is, I guess.¡± Noubelmag snarled towards Yussi, chuckled, and then spoke to the hero. ¡°Anyway. Just to be clear, even if it¡¯s a request from the leader, I can¡¯t hand over my weapons to those riffraff. Do you understand this?¡± ¡°I know. But I don¡¯t think my students will disappoint you.¡± ¡°Hmm, even the leader says so?¡± The hero nodded. No master would want to diminish the value of his weaponry. It wasmon and, at the same time, a stubborn insistence of skilled craftsmen, but it wasn¡¯t a problem. ¡°The talents of the kids, it¡¯s not at that level yet.¡± Of course, even if they had exceptional talent, the majority of them hadn¡¯t bloomed yet. But the hero was confident. Confident in the value of the students he had taught, which would surprise even the former head cksmith of the Dawn Knights. ¡°First, I¡¯ll find a ce for my disciples. Some of them may catch your eye even now.¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s no need for that.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just observe your ss. Didn¡¯t you say you were going to train them for two weeks? I can see plenty of potential in that time.¡± After a moment of contemtion, the hero nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll inform the kids then.¡± As the conversation seemed toe to an end, the hero stood up from his seat. Yussi followed suit, wearing a puzzled expression. ¡°Oh? Are you leaving already?¡± ¡°I have some things to take care of. I¡¯ll leave Noubelmag¡¯s guidance to you.¡± In truth, his mind had been at the ¡®Library of Memories¡¯ since earlier. The hero hurriedly left the principal¡¯s office. * * * Noubelmag and Yussi, alone in the principal¡¯s office. In the awkward atmosphere, Noubelmag cleared his throat and prepared to stand up. ¡°I¡¯m feeling a bit tired as well. Do you have a ce to stay?¡± ¡°¡­Just wait a moment.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± But Yussi seemed to have no intention of getting up. Nouvelle Mag tilted his head and looked at her. The corners of her mouth turned up awkwardly, and her eyes turned into an equally awkwardly friendly look. ¡­As an experienced militarymander with his years of experience instinctively realized. ¡°Hehe, is there anything you would like to ask me? It¡¯s a very ufortable expression to look at.¡± Seeing that yful expression, Yussi gritted her teeth and nodded her head. This level of teasing was something she could endure. If Noubelmag could create items well, her long-standing wish would be fulfilled. ¡°Will you listen to a story?¡± ¡­Is she already nning to recover his investment? Noubelmag chuckled. ¡°Nothing I can¡¯t handle.¡± ng! Yussi checked that no one was in the corridor, then locked the door again. A strange expression appeared on Noubelmag¡¯s face when he saw the thoroughness. ¡°What on earth is it?¡± ¡°A while ago, I got hold of a document left by Zero Requiem¡¯s disciple.¡± At the unexpected name, Noubelmag¡¯s face stiffened. ¡°Zero Requiem¡¯s disciple? He had a disciple?¡± * * * ¡°Has it been almost a month, Mr. Ted?¡± ¡­The awkward address of Mister. I gazed at the ¡®magical creature¡¯ in front of me, trying to suppress my emotions. It goes without saying, but nothing has changed from thest time. Even if it¡¯s not a month but a year or ten, it will likely be the same. Rosalyn, among numerous shelves, directed her calm eyes at me. ¡°It seems I¡¯ve earned the right to ess you.¡± ¡°Partially¡­ That seems to be the case.¡± ¡­Again. It was exactly the same as the moment when I visited the Library of Memories before, expressing my desire to ess Zero¡¯s memories. The momentary evaporation of vitality. A ¡®different Rosalyn¡¯ exuded an inanimate feeling, and her eyes were calm. ¡°Then, I hope it will be an enjoyable review.¡± The darkening of vision urred simultaneously. ¨‹ essing the First Era ¨C Part I ¡ø And a scene of a type I had never seen in my lifetime appeared before me. [TL/N: A crazy reveal in the next chap, well some of you might have already guessed it¡­..] HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 85 Chapter 85 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The first thing that caught my eye was the multitude of high-rise buildings. Even when craning my neck painfully, their tops were not visible. Designs that exuded a dizzying aesthetics and fantastic technological prowess, unseen even in the most prosperous districts. ¡®This person¡­¡¯ At the moment, the ¡®someone¡¯ I am possessing was looking at the shop window. The face of a middle-aged stranger reflected on the polished ss¡­ No, calling it a stranger seemed awkward. ¡®Ah.¡¯ The statue erected everywhere in the academy came to mind. Although there was a significant gap in time, the resemnce was not unnoticed. ¡­I was looking at the First Era through the eyes of the young Zero Requiem Borningenheim. ¡°Oh, I apologize.¡± Thump. Someone bumped into me and passed by. Distracted by staring at the image artifact in my hand, I seemed disoriented. But that wasn¡¯t all. Every pedestrian on the street was carrying what looked like expensive magical artifacts. Carriages moving at high speed with an unknown force. A metal object flying through the sky, emitting smoke. Above the city¡¯s murky airspace, a massive crystalrger than all these skyscrapersbined was slowly rotating. ¡®Magic formation?¡¯ The inscribed magic formation on it emitted a fantastic light, releasing magic power throughout the city. Centuries ago, the past. But the feeling was like glimpsing into the future centuries ahead. ¡®Ha¡­ Yussi and Pia would be stunned if they saw this scene.¡¯ Wouldn¡¯t it be simr to the feelings of the prosecutor who discovered a treasured sword? At that moment when I was having such thoughts. ¡®Uh, huh!?¡¯ A strange sense of buoyancy, unlike anything I had ever felt before, enveloped my body. It was a different sensation from when I soared through the sky as a polymorphed bird. An invisible force pushed my body into the void. Zero Requiem, using flight magic, was heading somewhere at a dizzying speed. The surprising thing was that the high-level flight magic was executed without any visible wand movements. Whoosh-! Strangendscapes blurred and distorted rapidly. What Zero stopped in front of was an extremely massive tower. ¡®¡­A magic tower?¡¯ While other buildings were tall, the height and scale of this tower were beyond imagination. It almost seemed to pierce the sky. Majestic pirs extending endlessly from the ground, forming geometrically perfect shapes, converging towards the top of the central building with dramatic curves. The unique grandeur of this tower made me think that the city existed for the sake of this magic tower. There were numerous guards in front, but as soon as Zero appeared, they hastily bowed their heads and cleared the way. ¡°He, huh! Make way!¡± ¡°Why are you standing there so dazed? Hurry up and report it to the top!¡± Even in the First Era, his presence seemed formidable. ¡®For some reason, it feels like they¡¯re scared.¡¯ Zero headed straight for the towering structure with urgent and forceful steps. Each time he passed the ss, his face reflected. Although he seemed expressionless at first nce, I could sense the anger within him. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ Fortunately or unfortunately, it didn¡¯t take long for me to find out the details. Bang-! Zero kicked open the firmly closed door. Magicians were seated around a long table, engaged in a serious discussion, indicating that some kind of meeting was underway. Despite Zero¡¯s violent entrance, there was no sign of surprise. They all just looked at him with calm expressions. The oldest-looking magician among them spoke from the head seat. ¡°Zero Requiem Borningenheim. Seeing you again.¡± Zero seemed uninterested in prolonging the conversation. He went straight to the point. ¡°Surely, you¡¯re nning to open the ¡®Gate,¡¯ Tower master!¡± ¡°You already know and yet you ask again.¡± A non-magician turned his wrinkled eyes towards Zero. ¡°He¡¯s getting more rampant. We don¡¯t have time. It¡¯s time to make a decision now.¡± Zero Requiem responded with a growl. ¡°I cannot agree. Chasing a tiger by bringing in a lion is not the right metaphor.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a severely wed analogy. We¡¯re not just bringing in a lion but a tamed one.¡± A tamed lion. At that word, Zero¡¯s eyebrows raised high. ¡°tus Namsov! It seems your arrogance knows no bounds. You think you¡¯ve tamed the power of a world you¡¯ve never properly experienced.¡± ¡°See this.¡± The non-magician smirked and raised one hand. Violet sparks burst fiercely above his palm and then vanished. I stared into the momentarily pierced void. If I¡¯m not mistaken, that¡¯s¡­ ¡°It looks stable, doesn¡¯t it? We¡¯ve experimented enough. The power flowing through the rift is not only far more destructive than what we¡¯ve dealt with before, but it¡¯s also superior in other aspects. If we harness this power well, we can confront ¡®him.''¡± ¡°That¡¯s like setting a fire in the backyard and being pleased that the house is warm now. What if, once the ¡®Gate¡¯ is fully open, somethinges through that we can¡¯t handle?¡± ¡°Whatever entityes through, if it¡¯s not ¡®him,¡¯ humans should be able to handle it. And I¡¯ll say it again, we don¡¯t have time. ¡®He¡¯ is growing stronger with each passing day. Right now, it¡¯s a tiger, but soon it will be a dragon.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try to persuade ¡®him.''¡± ¡°Trying to persuade ¡®him,¡¯ who is filled with hatred for humans? Haha, don¡¯t make arrogant remarks.¡± The old man¡¯s voice rose as if filled with emotion. ¡°He is the disaster that will bring about the destruction of humanity! It¡¯s the foretold end!¡± The mention of themon entity known as ¡®him¡¯ was particrly annoying. Although I couldn¡¯t immediately identify who it was, every time it was mentioned, the eyes of these impressive wizards filled with serene fear and difort were quite striking. In the First Era, which was far more advanced than the modern era, the mere mention of this ¡®him¡¯ in the leadership of the magicians could unsettle them so profoundly raised questions about who this figure could be. I couldn¡¯t figure it out, no matter how much I thought about it. ¡°Towermaster. Opening the ¡®Gate¡¯ for the sake of humanity, is that really the right reason? Is it not because of your misguided curiosity and thirst for knowledge!¡± ¡°Nonsensical talk! If you continue with disrespectful words, I won¡¯t stand idly by.¡± While Zero and the Towermaster, as the non-magician was called, red at each other, silence fell in the meeting room. In the meantime, I organized the information I had heard sequentially. First: In the First Era, there was a tremendous threat known as ¡®him.¡¯ Second: To gain the power to stop ¡®him,¡¯ the magicians are trying to open the ¡®Gate.¡¯ Third: Zero is opposing it, deeming it dangerous. ¡®The Gate¡­.¡¯ If I knew where the Gate led, would it be too presumptuous? The moment Zero opened his mouth, Ipleted one hypothesis. ¡°Finally, I¡¯ll give you a warning. If you open that ¡®Gate,¡¯ I¡¯ll obliterate this entire tower. If necessary, I can inform the Holy Church.¡± ¡°Young wizard, if you can, go ahead and try. We¡¯ll stop you.¡± Zero Requiem seemed to age more than ten years since entering the meeting room. He closed his eyes tightly with a face deeply marked by wrinkles, then opened them with great effort. Thud. Thud. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Even with the magician¡¯sposure, an unstoppable passion was bursting from his chest. ¡°¡­Tower master. ¡®Beyond¡¯ there are beings we can¡¯t even imagine. Please refrain frommitting an irreversible mistake.¡± And so, he left the meeting room, then the magic tower. After walking a few steps, he staggered and sank to the floor. ¡°¡­Like foolish frogs. Are you determined to open the well¡¯s lid willingly?¡± With a deep sigh from Zero as thest, the scene in front of me rapidly faded away. ¡®¡­It¡¯s the end.¡¯ After the darkness passed, the familiar library soon revealed itself. Rosalyn still gazed in my direction with an unreadable expression. I repeated opening and closing my mouth, eventually uttering a dreadful hypothesis. ¡°Humans¡­ have summoned demons into this world. Not anyone else, but humans themselves.¡± My head was in turmoil. . . . ¨‹ Understanding of Zero Requiem Borningenheim deepens. Understanding Level: 1/100 -> 2/100 *However, this is an entity that cannot be replicated. ¡ø * * * ¡­In the First Era, humans opened the ¡®Gate¡¯ to the demon realm to confront an unidentified threat known as ¡®him.¡¯ What Zero¡¯s memories were trying to reveal to me was the secret of the world. Was the record intentionally concealed? Or is it because everyone who knows the inside story and rted records are buried in the Eastern Continent? No human who knew this fact seemed to exist in my knowledge. ¡­Both possibilities were highly likely. ¡®Ted would surely know, and Euphemia¡­¡¯ As the enemymander of the empire established by the first group of survivors, she might also be aware. ¡°¡­.Sigh.¡± My mind was filled with scenes I had witnessed earlier. If all of these were to be made public, the contents could potentially shake the order of the continent. The expression of confusion and anger that filled Zero¡¯s face shed through my mind. His efforts to assist the ¡®Original¡¯ for the ¡®salvation of humanity,¡¯ the establishment of Rosenstark, and various other acts of protection¡­ Was it because of the guilt of not being able to prevent the opening of the ¡®Gate¡¯ while knowing it was happening? ¡®And thement, what does it mean?¡¯ ¨‹ Understanding of Zero Requiem Borningenheim deepens. Understanding Level: 1/100 -> 2/100 *However, this is an entity that cannot be replicated. ¡ø I¡¯ve never actually met him. If that¡¯s the case, the understanding level couldn¡¯t have increased either. But thement seemed to convey a message as if I had met him in person. Numerous unanswered questions. First, I decided to prioritize sorting out the urgent ones. I opened my mouth. ¡°¡­He mentioned ¡®him.''¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°In your memories, the existence referred to as ¡®him¡¯ was mentioned quite frequently. Who is ¡®he¡¯? No¡­ what is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I am merely an entity containing my owner¡¯s memories, and I cannot directly ess them. Therefore, I am unaware of the content you mentioned.¡± ¡°¡­Thements, though. It¡¯s sending a message as if I¡¯ve met him in person.¡± Difficulty turning the conversation, it seemed to be saying, ¡®Hurry up and read the second part to raise your progress.¡¯ Was limiting and providing information like this also part of Zero¡¯s intention? ¡°Yes. That¡¯s correct. Everything flows ording to the owner¡¯s arrangements.¡± It seemed that Rosalyn had no intention of mentioning anything further about the ¡®First Era.¡¯ She blinked with an emotionless expression. ¡­Blink. Her pupils, moving up and down in a steady rhythm, turned towards me again. And then, an entirely unexpected statement followed. ¡°Shall I share the schedule for the future?¡± Considering her passive demeanor until now, I couldn¡¯t help but be quite surprised. ¡°¡­Why are you asking that?¡± ¡°Under the authority granted to me, I want to provide as much help and advice as possible.¡± ¡°Help and advice¡­¡± ¡°If I may add, thanks to the partial integration with ¡®Iris of Lace,¡¯ I have a more detailed understanding of you than you might think. Sharing my opinions on how to improve the ¡®progress¡¯ in the future might be helpful.¡± I stared at her for a moment as she spoke with clear artiction. ¡­Help. In a way, Rosalyn was a ¡®magical creature¡¯ created by Zero from the beginning to assist the sessor who took on the role of humanity¡¯s savior. There might be a possibility of offering unexpected insights. I spoke up. ¡°Previously, Iris of Lace told me to ¡®find the hidden warehouse keeper.¡¯ Are you aware of that?¡± ¡°Yes. I am aware.¡± ¡°Then I brought Noubelmag to the academy. But after that, no otherments appeared. It was different from before whenpleting a task would immediately prompt the next step.¡± ¡°That is correct.¡± ¡°It means that the mission rted to Noubelmag is not yet finished.¡± Of course, bringing Noubelmag back provided significant assistance. I regained the ¡®warehouse,¡¯ obtained the key to Valber, and made progress on issues like the wolf statue. ¡°But in my opinion, what Iris of Lace wants is still¡­ ¡± ¡°Still?¡± A furnace, logs, mes. One of these three aspects must be making progress. And when I thought about it, the area where Noubelmag could be of help was with logs. ¡°If Noubelmag, being the best cksmith, could create custom equipment for the children or improve their existing gear, it would be a tremendous help.¡± ¡°So, I n to show Noubelmag to the children in the ss tomorrow. Then, the next task should appear as ament. That¡¯s my n¡­ Is there any advice you can give?¡± I looked at Rosalyn with a slight sense of anticipation. The answer did note immediately. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ Her expression was almost the same as before, but her eyebrows subtly trembled. Rosalyn then opened her mouth. Her expression is almost the same as before, but her eyebrows are subtly trembling. Rosalyn soon spoke. ¡°Very appropriate.¡± ¡°¡­.?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to just go along with it.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Rosalyn calmly spoke. But for some reason, her words seemed toe faster than before. ¡°It was just a momentary surprise because what I intended to advise perfectly aligns with your n.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°¡­I find it difficult to provide separate advice.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± This time, it was my turn to be silent. One thing was certain; there was a sense of disappointment. ¡°But, based on the analysis of the internal data of Iris of Lace, I can roughly infer the reward for the progress this time. It should make it easier to n the next steps. It will be more helpful than advice.¡± ¡°Are you sure it will be helpful?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Rosalyn looked at me with an expressionless face. Subtle, but her eyebrows seemed to rise a bit more than before. ¡­She seems annoyed. I stopped teasing her. ¡°So, what reward am I getting this time?¡± Rosalyn¡¯s gaze shifted to the ¡®ck Hope¡¯ on my back in the next moment. ¡°Your sword will awaken again.¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 86 Chapter 86 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ck Hope. For a long time, this jet-ck sword has been nothing less than the symbol of the Hero. The Hero has relentlessly wielded the ck Hope, writing unbelievable myths, making it the protagonist of numerous expressions and phrases. This was one of them. It is the most destructive sword and, above all, an imprable shield. ¡­An imprable shield. It might sound somewhat paradoxical to attach this term to a sword. However, those who have witnessed its majesty on the battlefield strongly empathize with this expression. It was because of the magic enchanted into the ck Hope. Unique ability: ¡®Domain¡¯ ¡­The highest-ranking gravity magic ¡®Domain,¡¯ where hierarchy measurement is impossible. It allows the user to control gravity within the range they perceive, ranging from basic maniption to extensive interference. For example, the ck Hope can instantly adjust the weight of the sword. Light during preparation. Heavy upon hitting the target. In this way, it was possible to maximize destructive power. ¡®There are many other ways to use it.¡¯ Generating a strong gravitational field in the airspace of the battlefield to block various projectilesing towards allies was also possible. The reason for the seemingly inappropriate modifier ¡®shield¡¯ attached to the sword. ¡®If I be more proficient in its use and have sufficient mana¡­¡¯ Adjusting not only gravity but also the forces of attraction and repulsion between objects, it would be possible to instantly pull distant enemies towards or teleport close to them. In the case of the ¡®Original.¡¯ There were even reports of enemies being subdued before the battle began by increasing the gravity along the enemy¡¯s advance route. ¡®Of course, with my current abilities, the mana consumption would be unimaginable¡­.¡¯ If handled perfectly, it would be a weapon that epassed offense and defense. Even though artisans im not to discriminate against tools, it was said that the presence of the real ck Hope had a tremendous impact onbat. ¡®But it hasn¡¯t lent me strength so far.¡¯ I¡¯m not alone. The moment it fell into someone else¡¯s hands, other than the Original, the ck Hope became no different from an ordinary sword. It was hard and heavy, but that was it. The activation of the ¡®Domain¡¯ was impossible. The reason was unknown. Unable to ask the creator, whose identity was unknown, or find out through the Iris of Lace. ¡®Considering my current mana level, basic maniption might be challenging, so I¡¯ve temporarily put it on hold¡­¡¯ Suddenly, I discovered a clue to unlock the unique ability. ¡®Finally!¡¯ Even if awakening the ability might initially be limited to basic gravity maniption, it promised a significant increase in power. ¡®It boasts an overwhelming mass already. Just by increasing the weight at the impact point, the destructive power of the sword strikes will be iparable.¡¯ I found myself filled with anticipation for the first time in a while. ¡°If I can truly unlock the ¡®Domain¡¯ and be proficient in handling it, I can start exploring the Demonic Realm much faster than expected. I should think in advance about how to raise the progress of the ¡®me¡¯ in the Demonic Realm.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Rosalyn, who had been silently listening, subtly twitched her eyes. Curious, I asked, ¡°Is this also part of the advice you intended to give?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a very small part.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± With that, the conversation came to a temporary close¡ªor at least it seemed so. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Suddenly, Rosalyn made a sound of surprise. Her gaze slid as if observing something invisible to my eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Oh, no. It¡¯s just that a frequent visitor ising again.¡± ¡°A visitor? Here?¡± ¡°Yes. Would you like to see?¡± Rosalyn¡¯s fingers swept through the air a few times. Soon, the image on the magical bead installed at the library¡¯s main entrance appeared before me. In one corner of it, the figure of the ¡®frequent visitor¡¯ was visible. It was just a receding figure, but I could recognize him instantly. ¡®¡­ ¡®It¡¯s finally time to talk about this.¡¯ Rosalyn subtly hinted, opening her mouth. ¡°If you go out now, you¡¯ll run into him.¡± I shook my head. The time woulde soon, but it wasn¡¯t now. ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Is there something urgent?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ironically, the imminent matter at hand was not rted to my duties as a Hero but rather as a professor. ¡®Why does being a professore with so much work?¡¯ I returned to my researchb. Piles of documents cluttered the desk, and my exhausted assistant greeted me. ¡°Professor¡­ you¡¯ve returned¡­.¡± In the brief absence, administrative tasks had piled up like mountains. * * * ck¡ª The towering stack of documents neatly organized itself and slid into thepleted approval files. ck¡ª It didn¡¯t take too long for the mountain of tasks to be efficiently processed. ¡°Ohhhh¡­.¡± Even before administrative duties, a Hero was a Hero. Precise categorization, unbelievably swift processing, and meticulous finishing touches. In the Hero¡¯s absence, numerous documents piled up, and he efficiently handled them in the blink of an eye. It was a scene that could bring tears to the eyes of someone prepared for overtime. ¡°Ah, thank you for returning at the right time¡­.¡± ¡°¡­Why do you look like that? Go inside and take a rest quickly.¡± ¡°Ah, my appearance?¡± Pia awkwardly smiled, adjusting her disheveled hair. The faint wrinkles around her eyes, tinged with a hint ofughter, looked somewhat forlorn. ¡°I¡¯ve been a bit busy¡­.¡± The construction was a mess. Personal research had to proceed smoothly, and preparations for extreme reinforcement also needed assistance. However, the biggest problem was¡­ ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± As the Hero picked up thest batch of documents, Pia¡¯s body trembled. Sweat trickled down nervously. With a low sigh, the Hero¡¯s eyes, flipping through the documents, gradually narrowed. ¡°It¡¯s my mistake for forgetting that you¡¯ve never missed a perfect score on a written test.¡± ¡°Ahaha¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± The Hero chuckled in disbelief. Still, an average score of 23 was quite something. The vivid experience of the children¡¯s frustrations struck a chord, and the Hero couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for them. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release updates! /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª He spoke to the perplexed Pia. ¡°Post a notice and then leave. Those who failed should gather for a retest after work tomorrow. I¡¯ll oversee it personally.¡± Pia¡¯s eyes sparkled, ¡°P-Professor, you¡¯ll personally oversee the retest?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better for someone with a general understanding of difficulties to do it?¡± The Hero responded. ¡°Ugh. Thank you.¡± For her, who had been struggling with selecting retest questions, it was like salvation. Pia quickly finished writing the notice and gratefully bowed deeply to the Hero, who willingly took on the task. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll leave now! Thank you!¡± Tadadak- Pia¡¯s footsteps quickly faded away. Hearing the hurried echoes, the Hero closed his eyes. Thefortable support of the chair embraced him. ¡®Good.¡¯ A space that felt unfamiliar and tense just a few months ago. But now I felt like I was back in a home I never had. ¡®Good.¡¯ Experiencing new emotions was always weed. * * * The children headed toward the ¡°retest venue¡± as if being dragged to a ughterhouse. Feeble footsteps. Compassionate gazes were directed at colleagues in the same situation. They looked at each other, sharing the unspoken pain. Gerald broke the long silence, ¡°The retest won¡¯t be easy, will it?¡± ¡°I feel like I¡¯ll fail again this time¡­ Should I bother taking the retest?¡± ¡°Our assistant is good, but why doesn¡¯t she have any empathy?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a schr. How could she understand the feelings of ignoramuses like us?¡± ¡°Ugh, I¡¯d prefer physical training instead!¡± In addition to their listless steps, there was one moremonality among them. ¡ªFatigue-filled, weary eyes. The retest notice had been posted yesterday afternoon. It was much earlier than anticipated, so the weary children, burning the midnight oil, had to rush to the study room immediately to open their books and read even a single line more. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go in¡­¡± The ssroom door creaked open. Gerald, leading the way, stood at the threshold, solid as a statue. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are you like that?¡± ¡°Move, kid!¡± One by one, the students who had slightly raised their heads came to a stop. All their gazes fixated on the front of the room. ¡°¡­¡± In the ssroom bathed in warm sunlight with a view of the blue sky through the window, the Hero, who had been gazing outside, turned his head. ¡°How have you all been?¡± At his voice, the children surged into the ssroom like a wave. There was a momentary bottleneck as some lost their bnce, but soon everyone entered the ssroom. For some reason, Leciel, who wasing from behind, had somehow ended up stepping on Gerald¡¯s fallen figure. ¡°Wow, Professor! Professor is here! When did you arrive?¡± ¡°Did you have a good time?¡± ¡°We missed you!¡± ¡°Please give us practical training!¡± The children were surprisingly delighted to see him. Is it because the affection has built up over the past few months? The enrichment sses were useful and fun in their own way, but they couldn¡¯t help but miss him. The ssroom quickly filled withughter, questions, and cheerful voices. Surprisingly, the Hero, without any restraint, disyed a faint smile in the midst of it. ¡°Did you go to meet your lover?¡± Even such an absurd question didn¡¯t provoke any anger. The children continued to linger around him, chattering away. ¡°Whew¡­.¡± As the excitement gradually subsided, the children returned to their troubled expressions. While it was delightful that the Hero had returned, they still had to take the exams. ¡°Did everyone prepare well for the retest?¡± ¡°Yes¡­.¡± Mutterings of varying tones emerged. Someined that they stayed up all night, while others found the study material challenging. The Hero raised his hand to quell any discontent. ¡°If everyone studied so hard, there¡¯s no need for another theory exam.¡± ¡­.Wait a moment. The children¡¯s pupils began to tremble subtly. ¡°As a professor, I will rece the retest with practical training.¡± Wait, then what was the purpose of studyingst night? ¡°If you studied both the theory and practiced, you kill two birds with one stone.¡± Looking at the broad back of the Hero leading the way. The children couldn¡¯t help but think they might have been too quick to wee him back. . . . The practical training was like hell. It felt like their breath was being cut off. Gerald, who had been swinging his spear until he was on the verge of copse against the onught of stuffed monsters, tried to get up but ended up putting his nose back on the floor. There was no strength left in his fingers. But, in a way, there was a refreshing feeling in one side of his chest. ¡°Have I¡­ broken down?¡± ¡°It was just piled up.¡± Karen and Evergreen, who were lying next to him, nodded as if in agreement. No matter how much they trained alone, they couldn¡¯t produce half the intensity when the Hero joined in. The children, who had exhausted their strength to the point of almost dying, couldn¡¯t shake off a refreshing feeling. The Hero stood in front of them with a somewhat satisfied expression. ¡°During my absence, it seems you¡¯ve worked reasonably hard.¡± Stuffed monsters that had been thoroughly pierced, bing targets. The results were on apletely different level than when they first conducted the Demonology Anatomy practical training. ¡®This should be a decent preparation to enter the Forest of Martial Arts.¡¯ The Hero spoke. ¡°Everyone, pay attention. I will provide guidance rted to the midterm exams taking ce in two weeks.¡± At his words, the children turned their heads in unison. In reality, other lectures had alreadypleted announcements regarding the exam format. The only exception was Extreme. The students, in both worry and anticipation, awaited to hear what kind of brutal and ruthless midterm exam their entric professor had prepared. ¡°The Extreme Midterm Exam will take ce in the Forest of Martial Arts. Prepare yourselves mentally and physically.¡± The Forest of Martial Arts. Some students¡¯ mouths slowly dropped open. Only Cuculli asked calmly. ¡°The Forest of Martial Arts¡­ where is that?¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 87 Chapter 87 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª After the practical training, the extreme kids naturally gathered in the lounge. It was to discuss the shocking midterm exam results that had just been announced. Cuculli spoke in a low voice, ¡°So, what¡¯s the Forest of Martial Arts?¡± ¡°Well, is it a dangerous ce?¡± ¡°Gerald, you dummy, that¡¯s a response anyone could give.¡± ¡°Why me¡­!¡± Unable to get a clear answer, Cuculli asked the smartest ssmate in her opinion. ¡°Ban!¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Hehe, exin it.¡± Although he felt it every time, Cuculli¡¯s innocent wall-colored eyes had a magical power that made it difficult to refuse. It¡¯s not for nothing that the dormitory kitchen is robbed every day. Ban reluctantly began a brief exnation. The Forest of Martial Arts. It was undoubtedly one of the distinctive ces among the extraordinary training locations of Rosenstark. It was because the forest itself emitted ¡®demonic energy.¡¯ Cuculli, who had heard that far, tilted her head curiously. ¡°Huh? It¡¯s not even a ground with stakes, why demonic energy?¡± ¡°There¡¯s an ¡®artificial core¡¯ in the center.¡± ¡°Artificial core?¡± ¡°Exactly. You know, demons, monsters, stakes have cores in them, right? They artificially made that.¡± ¡°Hmm, I see.¡± Thanks to that, the Forest of Martial Arts, periodically exposed to magic, became an environment simr to a Demonic realm. A hostile space for humans. Before heading to the real demonic realm, it was created with the intention of providing a simr experience as much as possible. ¡°¡­ Zero, that gentleman is not in his right mind. Making such a dangerous ce!¡± Contrary to her words, Cuculli¡¯s eyes were sparkling more than ever. ¡°You can control demonic energy step by step, so it won¡¯t be that dangerous¡­ probably.¡± Cuculli abruptly leaned in towards Ban, who had just finished exining. The boy quickly turned his head. ¡°Smarty. Where did you learn all this?¡± ¡°I, I read it in a book. ¡®The Beginning of Rosenstark,¡¯ in the library¡­¡± ¡­A book? The library? Cuculli¡¯s sky-blue eyes sparkled. ¡°Take me with you next time!¡± ¡°To the library? You fall asleep just by going to your own study room¡­¡± Cuculli¡¯s horn drooped. ¡°Hmph, what can I do if I haven¡¯t developed the habit of reading books? My dad said that if I tried to read a book, he would throw me off a cliff. He thinks only fortune-tellers read books.¡± ¡°¡­He threw you off a cliff for reading books?¡± ¡°No?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± It was a moment of such casual banter. Karen, who was listening to the exnation beside them, murmured sadly. Her carefree face was covered with worry and unease. ¡°Do we have to take exams in such a dangerous ce?¡± Tap-tap ¨C Evergreen patted Karen¡¯s back reassuringly. ¡°Come on, even if that¡¯s true, do you think the professor would just throw us into such a ce without a n?¡± Gerald, who had been lurking around, btedly offeredfort. ¡°Yeah! He even said he would prepare us during lecture time before the exams. Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± ¡°Next week and the week after that, he said he would soon upload the lecture schedule, let¡¯s check that.¡± Following Evergreen¡¯s words, the kids took out their connectors one by one. It was right after a new announcement had been updated. The next lecture schedule was imminent. ¡°Hmm¡­?¡± The kids, checking the schedule, had puzzled expressions. ¡°cksmith meeting? What¡¯s this about?¡± * * * The next morning. The hero headed to the temporary workshop in Noubelmag. It was to convey the schedule for the uing lectures. ¡°Uh¡­ Is it too nerve-wracking?¡± The person standing next to him was swallowing saliva, looking restless. ¡°Is it really okay for me to go to such a ce?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, just stop trembling.¡± ¡°To meet Lord Noubelmag. If my ssmates find out, they¡¯ll be jealous¡­ Of course, there¡¯s no one to brag to¡­¡± Whether it was due to tension, excitement, or maybe both, Pia¡¯s petite body couldn¡¯t stay still. It was right after asking if she wanted to go together to meet Noubelmag. She abandoned everything she was doing and stood up from her seat. It seemed like she hadn¡¯t noticed that the spilled ink from the fallen ink bottle was halfway covering the documents. ¡­She seemed to be a natural alchemist. ¡°His personality can be a bit entric.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay; artisans tend to be a bit grumpy.¡± The hero looked at the luxurious scroll in her hand. It would contain a ¡®special fatigue recovery potion.¡¯ It seemed more luxurious packaging than what he had received before, perhaps due to the mood. ¡®¡­I don¡¯t think she was this nervous even when she was assigned as my temporary assistant.¡¯ Ironically, back then, there didn¡¯t seem to be any signs of annoyance. The hero walked faster, feeling a strange sense of disappointment. Pia followed behind, ¡°L-Let¡¯s go together, Professor!¡± They soon arrived at the shopping street. The hero looked around to find the address Yussi had given. There was no need to walk more than a few steps. At the entrance of the shopping street. ng! ng! Sharp sounds of metal being struck echoed rhythmically from the most prestigious cksmith shop. The address pointed to that ce. The forging workshop supplying training equipment, ¡®Power Forge,¡¯ was just across the street. The cksmiths, curious about the identity of the new neighbour, quickly scattered when they saw the hero and Pia. ¡®What is he already making?¡¯ The workshop door was wide open, so the hero entered without any particr hesitation. Creak! The workshop floor made a sound, announcing the arrival of a visitor. One thing was certain; the sound of striking metal remained unchanged. ¡®¡­The facilities are better than I thought.¡¯ The workshop, illuminated by scattered cooling artifacts, was not onlyfortably warm but also pleasant. Moreover, the materials piled everywhere looked high-quality at first nce. For a hastily arranged temporary workshop, it was in remarkably good condition. Perhaps the rtionship between Yussi and Noubelmag wasn¡¯t as bad as it seemed. ng! The hero soon discovered Noubelmag, wearing work goggles and hammering away in a corner. The purpose of the metal piece on the anvil couldn¡¯t be easily identified. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡®What is he making?¡¯ ¡­Sometimes curiosity must be restrained. The hero and Pia silently observed him to avoid disturbing his work. ng! ng! Noubelmag¡¯s movements were relentless, rapid, and precise. ¡°Wow¡­hup.¡± Pia eximed in admiration at his delicate and skilled craftsmanship but then quickly covered her mouth in surprise. However, even that level of distraction couldn¡¯t disturb the craftsman¡¯s concentration. After a few more minutes of hammering, Noubelmag carefully examined the finished product, checking its weight and bnce. Then, hepared it with the sketch on the workbench. A rather satisfied smile spread across his bearded face, adorned with sweat droplets instead of foamy beer bubbles. It was a pleasant sight. ¡°Kuhmm.¡± The hero, sensing that the process wasplete, purposely made a noise. Noubelmag raised his head. ¡°¡­You move around quite quietly for such a big fellow, Leader. Good morning.¡± The hero also raised a hand in greeting and settled into the nearby chair. ¡°Yussi seems to have taken good care of you.¡± ¡°¡­Well, there¡¯s plenty to tear apart. It feels good to work in a decent environment after a long time.¡± ¡°Tear apart?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll hear about that directly. I¡¯m working on something quite charming.¡± ¡­Something charming? The hero tilted his head for a moment. ¡®Ah.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t entirely beyond his imagination. When he first visited the Principal¡¯s office to receive the key to the library, there was a rather ambiguous conversation. ¡°I¡­actually got a chance to get my hands on something I¡¯ve been searching for a long time.¡± ¡°Can I tell you about itter when it¡¯s confirmed? I don¡¯t want to speak prematurely.¡± Is it rted to the ¡®something I¡¯ve been searching for¡¯? The hero wondered. Thump- Noubelmag, now sitting across from them, took off his gloves and safety goggles. His gaze, like a sharpened awl, was directed towards Pia, who was sitting across from him like a nted staff. ¡°Leader is always friendly with the girls, be it now or before. Who is she?¡± ¡°My assistant. An excellent alchemist. She wanted to see you.¡± ¡°An alchemist¡­¡± ¡°Yussi says her alchemical skills are better than hers.¡± ¡°Huh? That arrogant guy admits that?¡± Noubelmag¡¯s expression subtly turned more favorable. Then, he approached and extended his calloused hand. Pia, surprised by the unexpectedly friendly response, shook hands with a look on her face as if she might faint. ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Noubelmag. It must be tough working under the leader. Thank you for your hard work.¡± ¡°Oh, no, it¡¯s not. I¡¯m Pia Joyce. It¡¯s truly an honor to meet you! A, a fan!¡± The hero added a word to Pia, who looked like she might faint with joy. ¡°For a while, I¡¯ll take care of your paperwork, so focus on Awaken research and assist Noubelmag. You cane to work at your own pace.¡± Pia¡¯s face became like that of a released prisoner upon hearing his words. ¡°Professor¡­!¡± It was a reasonable decision. Alchemy and metallurgy were mutuallyplementary. When two geniuses from these fields met, it was appropriate to provide as much support as possible to create synergy. Perhaps another splendid coboration like ¡®Awaken¡¯ might emerge. A highly upgraded Pia Joyce was eagerly anticipated. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get to the main point. Pia, hand over the lesson n to Noubelmag.¡± Noubelmag carefully examined the document detailing the ss schedule and location. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll finally get to see the Leader¡¯s disciples. So, what kind of ss do you n to showcase their talents?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no fixed n; you can do whatever you think is good. Make any requests you want. We¡¯ll cooperate fully.¡± Noubelmag¡¯s eyes sparkled right after hearing this. For a craftsman, it was customary to understand not only the creation of the weapon but also the small habits and quirks of the future owner before making a weapon. He must have his own routine. The hero respected that. ¡°Well, if you allow, I have one request.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Do you remember the initiation test for the Dawn Knights?¡± The hero nodded silently. ¡°How about a simplified version?¡± Noubelmag grinned sinisterly. After a brief consideration, the hero epted the proposal. Since they decided to roll with it, why not make it a bit more challenging? * * * Originally, the recruitment of new members for the Dawn Knights was a private process. Rmendations from existing members¡¯ acquaintances, scouting already renowned heroes, or voluntary enlistment by such individuals filled the vacancies. However, in the distant past, there was a time when public entrance exams were conducted. It happened not long after the establishment of the Dawn Knights. ¡®Back then, with the rise of the demons, there was a shortage of manpower in the face of the most dangerous frontlines, and vacancies urred in the Dawn Knights.¡¯ The knightly order that raised the banner of humanity¡¯s defense on the most perilous front. Many valiant individuals were drawn to the glory, applying for the ¡°new member recruitment¡± of the Dawn Knights. It was overwhelming to verify each one individually. Therefore, the ¡®Original.¡¯ in charge ofbat evaluations, devised a single test to assess the mental andbat capabilities of arge number of candidates simultaneously. It was named ¡°A Day of Exhibition.¡± ¨‹ Information on the test has been recorded in the database. Would you like to read it? The Day of Exhibition. Invented by the previous user, Ted Redymer, this test method was adopted to determine eligibility for entry into the Dawn Knights. It has the advantage of assessing various qualities such as stamina, mental strength, patience, and weapon skills simultaneously. However, due to its high difficulty, it significantly reduced the number of candidates in the next round of applications. The rules are as follows: 1. Candidates take the test in a designated location. 2. Each candidate is assigned an individual zone. 3. Candidates are free to move within their assigned zone. 4. Unless they give up or be incapacitated before the end of the test, they pass. ¡ø To avoid difficulties in supervising alone, the hero requested assistance from Kasim. He dly epted, and thus, the three of them awaited the extreme students in the test arena. The location was one of the indoorbat training grounds. Since there was still some time before the arrival of the students, the hero subtly initiated a conversation with Noubelmag. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to showcase A Day of Exhibition to the students.¡± ¡°It might seem excessive, but as a creator, I need to see a lot¡± Noubelmag replied with determination. It was his belief as a craftsman ¨C ignorance was never eptable. Ignorance could create ws in weapons. A craftsman needed to know everything about how the users wielded, shed, stabbed, blocked, deflected, and maneuvered with their weapons. If there were gaps in that understanding, imperfections could be embedded in the finished product. wed weapons, even in situations where death wasn¡¯t imminent, could lead to the demise of their wielders. ¡°Neglecting this process is a grave sin,¡± Noubelmag continued. ¡°Understanding every detail is essential. Especially when ites to crafting custom weapons and improvements, there¡¯s no room for negligence ¨C especially for the students of the leader.¡± The hero acknowledged, ¡°I understand.¡± It was a non-negotiable aspect for Noubelmag. The old craftsman surveyed the spacious testing ground with fiery eyes. ¡°For A Day of Exhibition, I should be able to provide most of the information you seek.¡± With a creaking sound, the door opened. The students entered thebat training ground, bustling with anticipation. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 88 Chapter 88 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª After the return of the hero. It was the day of the first lecture. Children walked with blurry eyes toward their destination. ¡°A meeting with the cksmith¡­.¡± Confused. Certainly, something was off. The crisis detection skills developed during extreme training were sounding the rm. ¡°¡­It¡¯s definitely not a simple meeting.¡± ¡°Of course. Who holds a meeting for 24 hours straight?¡± ¡°I thought it was a typo when I checked the lecture schedule.¡± ¡°And they told us toe armed¡­ haha.¡± ¡°Hehe!¡± The shivers ran down the spines of the children as they recalled the notice posted a few days ago. The only constion was that the specified location for the lecture was just an ordinary indoor training ground. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not a dungeon¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down; has it happened only once or twice when you felt relieved and something happened?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± With that, the children headed to the exam venue without rxing their tension. Surprisingly, the first person they encountered was Pia. ¡°Oh? It¡¯s the assistant.¡± Alone, she was standing at the entrance of the indoor training ground, waving at them. ¡°Good morning, everyone! Please line up in order of arrival!¡± The hero was nowhere to be seen. ¡®Why is the assistant alone? Where is the professor? And the cksmith?¡¯ While the children were puzzled, they followed her instructions. It didn¡¯t take long for thirty-one people to line up in a row. Pia handed out numbered tickets to them without hesitation. ¡°Go inside and wait in your seats ording to the numbers.¡± Evergreen, who got number 1, asked cautiously, ¡°Um, Assistant¡­ Do you happen to know what today¡¯s lecture is about? There was no exnation in the notice.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­ Shall we go inside first?¡± Pia wasted no time and opened the door to the training ground. Creak-! If it were the beginning of the semester, the children might have nervously fidgeted, but now it was different. The children immediately assumed a defensive posture, scanning their surroundings. However, it didn¡¯t take long for their expressions to change to confusion that day. ¡®Huh?¡¯ Inside the training ground. In addition to the hero, two more people were waiting for them. Upon closer inspection, one of them was a familiar face. ¡®Professor Kasim?¡¯ ¡®Why is Professor Kasim here?¡¯ Some of the children were familiar with his Fine Arts ss, ¡®The Joy of Swordsmanship,¡¯ so they had a friendly connection with Kasim. Being generally popr in the academy, others knew his name and face to some extent. ¡°Wow, two handsome guys.¡± Karen muttered with a face Ban-rxed. ¡°I knew it would be that kind of meeting.¡± ¡°Thanks for 24 hours, really.¡± Tall and handsome enough to rival the hero. His slender figure seemed even more elongated due to his slender physique. As his golden hair, extending down to his shoulders, emitted a dazzling light, small sighs followed. ¡°Well, that¡¯s something.¡± ¡°Shut up, Gerald.¡± Kasim, leaning against a pir with a gentle smile, observed the children. Not many noticed the rapier with a silver-blue hue hanging from his waist. The children turned their gaze to another observer. ¡­He was somewhat enigmatic. A small and petite silhouette sharply contrasting with the others. One finger protruding from the robe sleeve was surprisingly thick, not matching the overall petite appearance. ¡°Well, he must be the cksmith.¡± ¡°But he doesn¡¯t look like a cksmith?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t they usually look rugged?¡± ¡°If the professor called him, he must be incredibly skilled.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Among the famous craftsmen, was there one with such an impression?¡± While no one could urately guess his identity, only Nyhill paused for a moment, looking at him. In response, a faint smile appeared on the wrinkled mouth beneath the robe. It was a moment when Nyhill, taken aback by unfamiliar emotions, blinked her eyes in surprise. ¡°Well, well. Everyone, please take your seats.¡± Pia urged from behind. The children, who had been stiff, finally moved hesitantly. ¡®¡­Take our seats?¡¯ Upon closer inspection, grid lines were drawn on the floor of the training ground. Inside each square, numbers corresponding to the tickets they received were visible. ¡°Well, everyone, have a good time!¡± Thunk-! With that awkward farewell, the door closed. The interior of the training ground fell so silent that the sound of each other¡¯s breathing felt disturbingly loud. The children hesitated as they headed to their respective positions. From 1 to 31. The children stood at equal intervals, like chess pieces on a board when viewed from a distance. Until they were in a perfect military alignment, the hero didn¡¯t say a word. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ ¡­This is where some exnation about the lecture should be given. But the hero just stared at them without any exnation. The other observers were the same. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Thus, the silence continued without any sign of breaking. After being quiet for a while, weighed down by the atmosphere, the children slowly began to get bored. Even though they were far away from each other, it wasn¡¯t so much that they couldn¡¯t hear each other. Evergreen, number 1, subtly spoke to Gerald, number 2. ¡°What is this¡­ some kind of patience test?¡± ¡°Well, isn¡¯t there a point to it? There must be moments when we have to do something dishonorable, like lurking when fighting against demon guys.¡± Aidan, number 3, unexpectedly joined the conversation. ¡°What does a patience test have to do with a cksmith meeting? Just because she¡¯s a girl, you always have to agree with her opinion?¡± ¡°W-What nonsense¡­¡± Unfortunately, Gerald couldn¡¯t prove his innocence until the end. Swoosh-! It was because a rapier suddenly appeared right in front of his nose. The pointed de emitted a chilling light. Swaah- Gerald quickly dodged the sudden thrust by bending backward. The boy¡¯s blue pupils shook as if experiencing an earthquake. ¡°Wha-what is this!¡± Kasim attacked out of the blue. However, there was no response from him. Instead, another thrust followed, this time from below. ¡°Ugh, Uwack!¡± Gerald, screaming, managed to evade the attack but had no choice but to parry with his spear. ¡®They said it was a cksmith meeting!¡¯ Why me again? After being embarrassed by the hero during orientation, now it was Kasim. ¡®Ugh, it¡¯s different fromst time!¡¯ Gerald suppressed his sense of injustice and readied his spear. It was a spear bearing the mark of the hero, cherished and meticulously cared for despite the scratches it had endured over time. However¡­ ¡®If it¡¯s a professor, it shouldn¡¯t be unfair like this, sending surprise attacks!¡¯ The boy swung his spear confidently. The sturdy thrust cut through the numerous sword images. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª But then, unexpectedly, as the exchange of blows that seemed like a few exploratory moves continued, the momentum of the rapier gradually diminished. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Swoosh. Gerald, drenched in sweat, stared nkly as Kasim moved away. He didn¡¯t realize how shy and fast Kasim¡¯s steps were, and the distance between them had widened. ¡°No! Where are you going!¡± In the moment when the boy, fueled by adrenaline, was about to give chase, the hero finally articted the first rule of the ¡®Day of Exhibition.¡¯ ¡°Stop, Gerald.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°You must not leave your assigned square for the next 24 hours. Regte bodily functions using mana. If you dere surrender or step outside the square during the process, you will be penalized.¡± ¡°¡­What!?¡± The group was shocked, and some began to contemte very ominous possibilities. ¡®Is this¡­ like that test?¡¯ * * * Ban of them sat hesitantly on the floor, then abruptly stood up as if propelled by a spring. ¡®Absolutely must not rx.¡¯ They couldn¡¯t afford to let their guard down, not knowing when or where an attack mighte. Kasim was a problem, butpared to the hero, he was nothing. He even used ¡®Nova¡¯ during the practical exercises. The moment the children saw the crimson aura rising from the dark corners of the training ground, they momentarily doubted their eyes. ¡®There¡¯s no way he¡¯s going to use techniques like this on us¡­¡¯ But that wasn¡¯t the end of it. The hero even employed the powerful invisibility technique of ¡®Bucks,¡¯ testing them to their limits. To feel safe was to face the irregr and unpredictable assaults that followed. It was like confronting a ghost that left no presence. Bang- Even the lights went out at one point. The only remaining light source in the training ground was the faint light filtering in from the windows near the ceiling. Using mana to brighten their field of vision was brief; considering the exam time was 24 hours, they had to conserve their mana. ¡®¡­Securing visibility is too difficult.¡¯ ng-! ng-! Sparks were flying up ahead. Judging by the location, it was probably Luke. However, the rest couldn¡¯t afford to rx because there was only one nging sound. They didn¡¯t know when another person might aim for him from the darkness. Even with a 1 in 30 chance, the moment they revealed a vulnerability, the probability would skyrocket in an instant. They didn¡¯t want to be the first to fail. ¡®A Day of Exhibition.¡¯ Thump¡­ Thump-! Excitement at experiencing a test once faced by legendary heroes of the past. And along with that came the tension that refused to subside. The heartbeats were relentless, as if the lungs were wrapped in mes. ¡®I can¡¯t give up.¡¯ With determination, Ban wiped the sweat from his forehead and eyelids, fiercely fighting against the gripping tension. That¡¯s when it happened. ¡°Snap out of it. It seems like there¡¯s none on this side.¡± A murmur came from the back seats. Ban turned his head slowly, and then the smooth, flowing red hair came into view. Leciel. She, who had received the most attacks since the test began, looked the most unscathed. ¡°L-Leciel, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. You can sense the mana flow well. Don¡¯t be distracted; concentrate.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Leciel¡¯s calm voice brought an odd sense of calm to Ban. The breath slowly steadied. The scattered nerves became sensitive again. ¡°Do you feel it?¡± ¡°I-I feel it!¡± Ban couldn¡¯t help but exim loudly. At that moment, the hero was approaching him. Bwoong! As soon as he sensed the attack, a giant greatsword swept past him. The force of the sword wind was enough to ruffle his bangs. In response to the follow-up diagonal sh, Ban rolled to the side with all his might. ¡°Ban, it would have been better to deflect rather than avoid just now.¡± ¡°Heuk, heuk.¡± After the advice was given, the hero fortunately didn¡¯t continue attacking. His pitch-ck shining eyes shifted to Leciel in the back. ¡°Seems like you have some spare capacity to help your peers, Leciel.¡± Leciel confidently replied. ¡°I have no burden with Professor Pierre¡¯s surprises.¡± The hero chuckled at her bold statement. ¡°Kasim would be upset if he heard that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why Professor, pleasee more often. You said you¡¯d take responsibility.¡± Remembering the conversation in the ¡®Dreamscape,¡¯ the hero nodded without much thought. However, Ban, who didn¡¯t know the details, widened his eyes, puzzled. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ Leciel btedly realized that her words might sound a bit strange. And with that realization came her choice¡­ ng! It was a sharp preemptive strike. The hero, blocking the iing de at his neck, blinked as he was dumbfounded for a moment. If this had happened a few months ago, his throat would have been cut in half. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± When Leciel slowly sheathed her sword, there was a moment of confusion. The sound of an unusual noise came from one side of the training ground, and everyone¡¯s attention was drawn there. There¡­ ¡°Hahaha.¡± Cuculli was riding an ice pir rising vertically from the ground, reaching up towards the ceiling. She seemed quite pleased with herself. ¡°Hahaha! If it¡¯s like this, you can¡¯t attack! You can¡¯t do anything! What can you do!¡± She appeared as if she had made a great discovery. The hero sighed unknowingly and rubbed his forehead. Kasim hurriedly approached her. ¡°Cuculli,e down right now!¡± ¡°Why?! I¡¯m still in the safe zone, right?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true, but¡­¡± Without thinking, the hero decided to break the annoying ice pir himself and rushed towards it. A blue afterglow remained where he had left. Cuculli continued tough triumphantly. ¡°Uh-huh!¡± . . . Wearing night vision goggles, Noubelmag calmly observed the situation. His arms, once tightly closed, had rxed. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡®This is better than I thought¡­ .¡¯ Aren¡¯t they monsters? HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 89 Chapter 89 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Hollow eyes relentlessly chased the children without a moment¡¯s rest. There was no intention to waste his time, just because of the leader¡¯s request. If the skill level was below par, he would have refused the production. However, the disciples of the Hero he personally facedpletely satisfied his high standards, making worries seem unnecessary. ¡®Is this the second golden generation¡­.¡¯ Of course, Noubelmag was not a martial artist. But he had a vision developed over the years, dealing with top-tier monsters and marching with the continent¡¯s elites. Even before joining the Dawn Knights, he had created countless legends for numerous heroes. In his eyes, too, the children were exceptionally outstanding for their age. ¡®It¡¯s not just about having skills.¡¯ Usually, reaching such a level at that age would pierce the sky with arrogance. However, such a sight was almost nonexistent. They were cautious and careful like those who had experienced real battles. Probably thanks to the leader¡¯s concentrated coaching for the past few months. Especially, some of them had skills that could create an illusion of seeing the past of current members of the Dawn Knights. Square after square¡ª Noubelmag pulled out a nk notebook, seemingly out of nowhere. His rough hands moved swiftly on the paper. It seemed like tearing and crumpling, but incredibly detailed notes and sketches appeared at an extraordinary speed. ¡®¡­Now, I want to see some ws.¡¯ It had been about four hours since the test began, so it was the right time. Noubelmag signaled to the Hero who happened to be nearby. A subtle movement of the head up and down. Tang¡ª At the same time, light returned to the previously dark indoor training ground. Even though the brilliance made the children grimace, they did not rx their guard. It was an excellent posture. ¡°I have something to announce, so I temporarily suspended the test. Take a moment to catch your breath.¡± As the words ended, the kids sat down on the floor, exhausted. Even their underclothes were soaked in sweat. In reality, most of them hadn¡¯t moved their bodies vigorously. But being trapped in the darkness, awaiting a formidable opponent with exceptional skills, uncertain about when they might attack, created tremendous pressure. The Hero who had waited for the kids to catch their breath spoke. ¡°I announced there was a cksmith meeting, and suddenly conducting such practical training would have surprised you all.¡± Vigorously nodding heads. The Hero pointed at Noubelmag. ¡°Today¡¯s lesson was a request from the artisan who will take care of your ¡®auxiliary weapons.''¡± Auxiliary weapons. Commonly known as secondary weapons. Literally, weapons carried around as supplementary tools. Some preferred the same type as their primary weapon, like Longsword ¨C Longsword, while others chose topensate for the weaknesses of their main weapon, like Bow ¨C Short Sword. ¡®Arranging auxiliary weapons is also an important process.¡¯ No matter how exceptional Noubelmag was as a craftsman, there was no need to immediately rece the weapons familiar to the kids. ¡®Rather, it could have a negative impact onbat¡­ and considering the recent battle, Noubelmag¡¯s physical condition and materials at hand both are insufficient to show his actual abilities.¡¯ So, he requested the creation of auxiliary weapons. As mentioned before, in the Great Demon War, there was an abundance of weapons. Cutting through the tough and resilient bodies of monsters all day long often resulted in teeth falling out or breaking, even for the most robust des. In the heat of battle with no time to maintain the weapons, if the main weapon malfunctioned, relying on the auxiliary weapon was logical. ¡­However, despite the Hero¡¯s exnation, the kids¡¯ reactions were somewhat uncertain. ¡°He¡¯s making auxiliary weapons for us?¡± ¡°Indeed, that person is the cksmith.¡± ¡°So who is he? We know most of the artisans in the vicinity, but we don¡¯t know who he is.¡± ¡°Which workshop did hee from? Is it the academy¡¯s workshop?¡± ¡°Well, the auxiliary weapons we currently have are still usable, but¡­¡± In the first ce, they did not understand that the purpose of this difficult and life-threatening training was ¡®making weapons.¡¯ Typically, when you handed over the task of weapon creation, the cksmith, would take care of everything once you chose your body measurements, preferred design, and materials. Perhaps sensing this atmosphere, the Hero calmly spoke. ¡°Now, let me introduce Noubelmag.¡± The kids pped their hands formally. ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°Please make them well.¡± A brief moment of silence followed. ¡°¡­Noubelmag?¡± ¡°But what kind of name is that?¡± ¡°Cuculli, that¡¯s not something you should say, is it¡­?¡± ¡°It sounds like a dwarven name, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Uh-huh?¡± ¡­Three years. It¡¯s not a short period. But it was far from enough time for the legendary cksmith to be forgotten. His name was recorded in history alongside the great Dawn Knights. Even now, the weapons, or rather, the works of art he created, were contributing to great achievements on the front lines with their respective owners. Perhaps his name wouldn¡¯t be forgotten even after 30 years, or even three centuries. ¡°¡­.¡± A deathly silence settled. When people are extremely surprised, they often can¡¯t make a sound. Hup¡ª Someone¡¯s gasp was the detonator. ¡°Woww!¡± ¡°Uh, didn¡¯t he retire?¡± ¡°Auxiliary weapons! Auxiliary weapons! Auxiliary weapons!¡± ¡°Uwaaaa, Noubelmag¡¯s signature weapon in my hands!¡± ¡°Mom, it looks like there¡¯ll be some changes in our family¡¯s inventory.¡± The Hero added, ¡°Noubelmag will have some requests from now on, so respond diligently.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± A thunderous response as if the ceiling was about to lift. Tang¡ª As soon as the echo faded, the training ground plunged into darkness again. However, the gaze of the children was noticeably different from just a moment ago. ¡°Bring it on.¡± ¡°If possible, with Professor Kasim.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll cut your throat.¡± [PR/N: Uh, if u do that who will make ur weapons bruh, who will teach u ??] The desire of martial artists for excellent weapons had been an obsessive rule for ages. * * * Thus, in thetter part of the ¡®Exhibition Day,¡¯ Noubelmag took the stage. The basic framework remained the same. Kasim and the Hero seized opportunities to attack, and the kids defended against them. However, Noubelmag added some peculiar handicaps to the mix. For instance¡­ ¡°Everyone, lift your left foot off the ground from now on.¡± ¡°Yes, what?¡± It was a demand to assess the children¡¯s sense of bnce. ¡®No, how are we supposed to withstand the attacks in such an unstable position!¡¯ Normally, it might have been okay, but in their current tired state, just supporting the heavy swords and the gear with one foot was challenging. However, no one uttered a word ofint. Even Lucas, usually busy criticizing from behind, kept his mouth shut and focused on the practice. ng! ng! The sounds of metal dominated the air. Fortunately, the Hero and Kasim had adjusted the difficulty appropriately, so they could endure it to some extent. About 30 minutester. That was until themand was given to lift the opposite foot. ¡°Uwaaaa!¡± The children screamed as they struggled to rece the familiar footwork that had be second nature. With their sense of bnce in disarray, their limbs moved independently. In the midst of this chaos, they had to be prepared for attacks, it felt like death. But this was just the beginning. About 10 hours passed. ¡°From now on, everyone puts down their weapons and grabs the iron barsing down from the ceiling.¡± Woooooong-! With a roar, the iron bars descended from the ceiling at regr intervals and came to a stop. Hanging from them would mean their feet wouldn¡¯t touch the ground. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡®Is he trying to make us do chin-ups?¡¯ As the children looked at the iron bars, they realized how unusually thick they were. It seemed like they could barely hang on by pinching them with their fingers, let alone gripping them. It was a device designed to push their strength to the limit. The Hero encouraged the kids (or maybe not). ¡°Using mana is prohibited. Points will be awarded based on the time you endure, so do your best.¡± ¡°Uwaaaa!¡± ¡°Help, save me!¡± ¡°You fell, Gerald. Falling doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s over. Go back up in 10 seconds.¡± Cuculli was given a speciallyrge iron ball attached to her ankle. ¡­After about ten minutes, there was no one who could properly hang on. ¡°Kwah!¡± Falling from the iron bar, Evergreen, with a snotty nose and tears streaming down her face, clenched her reddened nose. But as the eldest daughter, who had to gain a foothold, could not give up. She stood up again and hung on to the iron bar. ¡­Repeatedly. Zzzing- The iron bars ascended to the ceiling again. ¡°Now, prepare for another attack.¡± ¡°Huuu¡­.¡± One of the muscles that tired the quickest when wielding martial arts was the forearm muscles responsible for grip strength. When the grip strength was exhausted, observing habits thate out during fatigue was also good. This unusually thick iron bar was a device specially requested by Noubelmag. ¡­16 hours passed. ¡°From now on, everyone holds their weapons with the opposite hand.¡± ¡°¡­What!?¡± ¡­20 hours passed. ¡°Everyone drinks the mana-nullifying potion Pia brought. You¡¯ve probably tried it before.¡± ¡°Gwaaaack!¡± ¡°Everyone! You have to swallow it all at once! All at once! What if you spill it like that? Come on, take this fresh one.¡± ¡­24 hours passed. In addition to various bizarre trials, the children, tormented by exhaustion, all copsed on the floor as the ss came to an end. Tang-! The lights returned to the indoor training ground at that moment. Even in the midst of near-exhaustion, the children reflexively looked up to check on the professors. Having endured surprises for 24 hours, not knowing their positions made them feel uneasy to the point of fearing death. Fortunately, the professors stood upright. Only then did the children rx and release the tension from their bodies. ¡®¡­Ugh, it¡¯s finally over.¡¯ Kasim also disyed signs of exhaustion. Sweat droplets slid down through the tightly bound hair at the back of his head. Only the Hero stood there as if nothing had happened, looking no different from 24 hours ago. ¡®Is he even human?¡¯ As everyone stared at him like he was a monster, he smiled contentedly. ¡®You¡¯ve all grown a lot.¡¯ Anyone can showcase good skills in optimal conditions. What matters is how well you can move when both your body and mind reach their limits. A cornerstone for surviving in the endless and unpredictable battlefield. Even aside from martial arts, experiences like these were crucial to further strengthen the children¡¯s mental resilience. ¡°¡­Good job. You can all disband now.¡± The children staggered out of the training ground. They looked tired, but their faces were bright with anticipation. Kasim also nodded in acknowledgment and left. Now, only Noubelmag remained by his side, immersed in the process of creation while scribbling notes. The Hero¡¯s gaze, which had been scanning through them one by one, stopped in mid-air. ¡®Rosalyn¡¯s predictions were correct.¡¯ The mission rted to Noubelmag had beenpleted. ¨‹ Kindling Firewood branches were polished. Recorded Artifact: The unique ability ¡®Domain¡¯ of ¡®ck Hope¡¯ has been partially unlocked. ¡ø A thrilling sense of aplishment brushed past his lower back. The liberation of the unique ability, ¡®Domain.¡¯ Though only partial, it brought him closer to the Original. ¡®¡­!¡¯ The Hero¡¯s eyes, which had been reading thements satisfactorily, wavered. It was due to unexpected content appearing. ¡­Noubelmag was still by his side. He tried not to show surprise, continuing to read thements. ¡®¡­I forgot.¡¯ Progress increased, offers both ¡®reward¡¯ and ¡®milestone.¡¯ Focusing solely on the reward, he momentarily forgot about the milestone. ¨‹ ess permissions for the indicated location have been updated. ¡ø Since the previous exnation meeting. The Iris of Lace guided him into a hidden cave. It was just like before. The Hero gazed at the sudden beam of bright light in front of him. Its end was within reach in no time, a distance he could easily cover before tonight¡¯s schedule. ¡°Is there something good happening?¡± The question from the side prompted the Hero to respond lightly. ¡°A long-standing problem has been solved.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also a reason to celebrate.¡± ¡°¡­Also?¡± The wrinkled corner of Noubelmag¡¯s mouth curled up slightly. ¡°Well, there is such a thing.¡± . . . The Hero also left the training ground. Noubelmag stayed behind, reminiscing about old memories. The Hero who ruthlessly confronted the hopeful warriors wanting to join Dawn Knights. Having lost hisrades in the recent battle, he behaved like a yaksha, mercilessly knocking down the candidates. It was as if telling them not to join the Order of Knights. The Hero from that time, unable to control his boiling anger. And now, the current Hero, exchanging smiles with the children as if boasting about their growth. ¡°A reason to celebrate indeed.¡± Noubelmag chuckled and raised his pen again. His beloved disciples, the ones the leader cherishes. They were talented enough for him to wield a hammer without hesitation. It was an opportunity to showcase his skills after a long time. If this effort could prevent one future loss. So, if the tranquility that the Hero had finally regained is not disturbed¡­ It seemed like the reward of being able to hold a hammer once again, was satisfying enough¡­.. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 90 Chapter 90 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Every Sunday night. The emperor and the ¡®fake¡¯ exchange regrmunication. About thirty minutes before themunication, she sat nkly, staring at one side of the office. The emperor¡¯s office. Originally a space filled with dignity and formality, but there was a somewhat mismatched painting hanging there. Theyout was strangely unmatched. Right above the entrance. A position that only she, the owner of the office, could appreciate as a decorative function. As a result, most visitors didn¡¯t even realize there was a painting until they left after finishing their business. But no one in the pce had pointed it out, because they knew how much the emperor cherished that frame. ¡°¡­.¡± An oil painting showing somewhat young boys and girls sitting together, staring straight ahead with various expressions. The golden eyes of the emperor didn¡¯t stray from the center of the painting. ¡­When was it? Because of his blind sense of justice, there was a time when we had a big argument. It was after a close battle had ended. This was because the targets that the hero risked his life to save at the time were worthless. ¡°I can¡¯t understand because I am not a noble human like you. Do you not realize the immeasurable loss that would ur if you died while trying to save them? Why do you keep causing trouble every time? Can¡¯t you think straight?¡± ¡°Euphemia.¡± His calm and serene eyes. Since the day he dered proudly to protect their friendship in front of ¡®Sun Emperor,¡¯ who knew the topic. Even for her, who was well-versed in all kinds of worldly expressions, it was difficult to name the emotions that surged when she looked into those eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t have to try to understand. Just stay as you are. More realistic than anyone else. Wisely.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Hold our center like that.¡± The emperor murmured quietly. ¡°Realistically¡­¡± The emperor muttered quietly, ¡°Realistically¡­¡± A stake nted in the far north. Naturally, she had known it since the first time it was driven in. Did he not know that there were several members of the ndestine organization spread across the continent? Euphemia knew it all. The fact that there were some small, poor viges around that stake. The fact that they had no power to cope with their misfortune. But she had dyed taking action. It was obvious. It¡¯s a stake with a low flow of changes. No matter how influential the followers of Malekia were, even if they were administrators, it would have taken another month to cause ¡®meaningful damage.¡¯ For the time being, it was judged that it could be ignored. The forces sent by the punitive army could handle more ¡®meaningful tasks¡¯ in the centre. But it all fell apart when the ¡®fake¡¯ suddenly headed towards Lonkers. ¡°Huh.¡± The emperor lowered her gaze. On the table. There were two reports. Her eyes lingered on the more tattered one. It was a report dealing with the Lonkers incident, submitted by one of the nobles she had sent as part of the main army. Several sheets of parchment. In summary, it was as follows: [The spread of Malekia¡¯s stake was faster than expected.] [It affected nearby towns and cities.] [The Hero carried out the extermination before the main army arrived.] [There were some casualties among the nearby residents, but overall damage was minimal.] The person who wrote the report wouldn¡¯t consider it particrly noteworthy. Because it was just a low-grade stake, and the ¡®Hero¡¯ had personally taken care of it. But for the emperor who knew the details, the resonance of the content was significant. ¡°I don¡¯t engage in losing battles.¡± [What?] ¡°I know what will happen if I die.¡± She recalled his face when he said such things. ¡°Are you trying to me me?¡± Many of the things she had done after her coronation could be exined as the tedious narrative of sacrifices of a few for the greater good. However, such realistic calctions did not apply to those who had experienced the scene of tragedy firsthand. Especially if the target was a fledgling. So, Euphemia thought that the ¡®fake¡¯ might me her when he returned from Lonkers. If a close friend made such foolish remarks with a serious face, she thought it would be quite infuriating. And perhaps, just a little heartbreaking. ¡°Ha.¡± Beep beep beep- The emperor dryly chuckled, looking at the flickeringmunication bead. The appointed time hade. It didn¡¯t take long for all the contemtive aspects to be excluded from her face. The topic they had to discuss today was too important for any trivial emotions to interfere. The emperor picked up another report. * * * ording to the Hero, the emperor seemed a bit more businesslike today. As if not wanting to talk about anything other than the matter at hand, she kept a stern expression, focusing only on official business. He decided to go along with that tone. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The first issue she brought up was about the Iris of Lace. ¡®He probably was curious about it anyway.¡¯ Even thinking about it himself, his rate of growth was at a level that didn¡¯t make sense conventionally. So the Hero shared a part of the secret with the emperor. That the Iris of Lace have the goal of humanity¡¯s salvation. Following that guideline, they could recover at least some of the power that the ¡®Original¡¯ possessed. He roughly exined how strong he had be now and the conditions for bing even stronger. [So that¡¯s it. That¡¯s why those reckless actions were possible. I understand.] Listening quietly, Euphemia asked a few additional questions and nodded in understanding after being satisfied. ¡­It was somewhat surprising that the emperor would casually bring up the part where he acted freely in Lonkers without anyment. ¡®Well, I dealt with the neglected stake, and I even recruited a retired Dawn Knight. It should be satisfying.¡¯ As the Hero reached such a conclusion, the emperor, with a brief sigh, brought up the main topic. [We¡¯re done with the Iris of Lace, and today¡¯s agenda is more important than that.] ¡°It¡¯s a coincidence. I also have something important to say.¡± [Is that so? Since I have an idea of what it might be, let¡¯s start with mine.] ¡­You have an idea of what it might be? The Hero nodded in confusion but waited for her to continue. The change in Euphemia¡¯s gaze came the next moment. [Ted turned out that way, and right after, do you remember I immediately sent arge-scale investigation unit to the Demonic Realm?] ¡°I remember.¡± [They returned to themunication-capable base camp in the Great Mountain Range a few days ago. They brought quite surprising research results.] ¡­Surprising research results? Before the Hero could ask, the emperor dered with a subdued voice. [The Demon King will return within four years.] . . . The Hero fell silent for a moment. Then he asked where the specific figure of four years came from. Instead of exining in detail, the emperor ced part of the report on the table onto themunication bead. Demonic energy density in each region of the demonic realm, the amount of demonic energy collected by region, production from the stakes, and so on. The figure of four years was the result derived from variousplex indicators, forms, and causal rtionships that only schrs would understand. There might be some minor errors, but they wouldn¡¯t be significant. [It was strange that the demonic energy density in the demonic realm significantly decreased. The demons have been driving stakes more frequently than ever, but the results are the opposite. Of course, you can guess the reason, right?] ¡°It¡¯s probably due to the Demon King¡¯s treatment.¡± [Yes, thanks to that, an opportunity for counterattack hase.] The Hero paused for a moment at the emperor¡¯s words. Tense muscles tightened. His lips, devoid of a smile, even seemed fierce. ¡®An opportunity for counterattack.¡¯ It seemed like Euphemia was working to realize the n mentioned during the multiplexmunication. Honestly, it was unexpected. After receiving the four-year deadline, the Hero had initially thought of somehow maintaining peace and strengthening the internal situation. But the emperor seemed to have a more aggressive n to lead the nation. [Soon, I¡¯ll mobilize the Dawn Knights to strike the high-grade stakes in the west at once.] ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± [After that, I¡¯ll need to send the army beyond the Great Mountain Range. We¡¯ll establish a forward base near the entrance to the demonic realm. If we conduct purification operations in that area, their magic supply should be disrupted properly.] ¡°The deadline of four years may be pushed back a bit. However, if the situation goes awry¡­¡± [Yes, if things go awry, the Demon King¡¯s return might be elerated.] ¡­A double-edged sword. If the forces sent to the eastern conquest achieved continuous victories, it would be perfect. But if the subjugation faced difficulties, the burden would fall on the western region where there was a gap in military strength. The possibility of a smoother demonic energy supply couldn¡¯t be ruled out either. However, the emperor had already made up her mind. [It¡¯s a crisis, but at the same time, an opportunity. Four years may be shorter than expected. Can you and your chicks grow enough within that time to stand against the Demon King?] She concluded matter-of-factly. [So, I¡¯ll buy you some time.] The Hero pondered. It was a risky and burdensome strategy, but if sessful, there was a definite return. There was a saying that the best defense is a good offense. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll help.¡± At those words, the emperor¡¯s eyebrows twitched. [You¡¯re helping?] ¡°I mean, I¡¯ll fill in the gaps in your forces. If you provide information about stakes or the positions of demons of suitable grades, I¡¯ll undertake the subjugation.¡± Before the emperor, with a displeased expression, could say anything. ¡°Isn¡¯t it better for you to designate the targets rather than me running around recklessly? It would also help improve the progress of the Iris of Lace.¡± [That makes sense¡­] ¡°When the timees, I can bring the kids along. It¡¯ll be a story after they¡¯ve grown a bit more.¡± [Your disciples? Isn¡¯t it premature?] ¡°The ¡®Original¡¯ was already shooting the demonic realm alone at their age. They are the ones¡¯ who will rece him so we should do this, right?¡± It was like that. The emperor remembered the appearance of her friend, whose scars had a significant increase in scars after each break. He had mixed with an adventurer party, crossed the Great Mountain Range, and killed demons and monsters. ¡­As a mere student. ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten. The kids need to be stronger than the ¡®Original.''¡± [You¡¯re harsher than I thought.] The Hero paused for a moment and answered calmly. He had felt a lot during the recent stake subjugation. ¡°If they can¡¯t, they¡¯ll all die anyway.¡± After working as a professor for a few months, his affection for the kids had firmly taken root. It wasn¡¯t pleasant to see them leaping into a harsh battlefield. But, they couldn¡¯t stay in the embrace forever. For their sake, even in risky situations, they had to be pushed into danger. ¡°¡­We can discuss this partter.¡± [Sure.] So, the conversation seemed toe to a tentative end. Now it was the Hero¡¯s turn. A faint shadow appeared on the emperor¡¯s face. [So, what do you have to say?] ¡°¡­.¡± Leaning forward, the Hero approached themunication bead. Between tightly sealed lips. A cold and dry voice leaked out. ¡°There¡¯s a traitor within the academy. We need to catch them.¡± It was a matter entirely different from what the emperor had anticipated. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 91 Chapter 91 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª A little back in time, this morning. The ce guided by the rays of light waspletely unexpected. Different from the destination on the outskirtsst time. A rtively short distance from the indoor training ground where the exhibition took ce. The shadow of a giant building poured down on me. ¡®This building¡­¡¯ It was a building that any representative of Rosenstark would know. The Control Tower. Also known as the ¡®Heart of the Academy.¡¯ It was a facility that supplied mana to numerous magical devices and infrastructure owned by Rosenstark, hence the nickname. Since it was the first timeing this far, I observed the exterior of the building. ¡®Come to think of it¡­¡¯ The appearance of the first-era magic tower that I saw in Zero¡¯s memory was simr. The majestic height as if piercing through the clouds. The outer wall wasposed of a material that looked extremely sturdy. However, the Control Tower had all its windowspletely opaque, preventing the observation of internal activities from the outside. And outside of that. There was a very strict security in ce. It was natural, as any sabotage attempt could potentially disable the entire Rosenstark system. I gazed at the guards standing vigntly in front of the tower. The patterns engraved on their armor were all different. This measure was taken to avoid vulnerability in issues like betrayal or infiltration if only one group were assigned to guard. ¡®¡­Even so, they¡¯ve gathered such arge number of personnel.¡¯ There were forces dispatched directly from the royal pce, and even a mercenary group personally hired by Yussi was visible. Including the academy¡¯s security force. Even I, with my current strength, couldn¡¯t break through head-on against such a formidable force. ¡°Ah.¡± Among them, a middle-aged man who seemed to hold the highest rank approached. He was from the royal pce. ¡°Professor Redymer. What brings you here?¡± ¡°I want to take a look inside.¡± He cautiously inquired. ¡°Inside the Control Tower? For what reason¡­?¡± ¡°Ask that to Euphemia.¡± Since he had received the same ess privileges as Yussi, it was indeed true. As he extended the card specifying his authority along with a joke, the guard chuckled nervously. ¡°P-please go in¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m carrying out the Emperor¡¯s orders, so I hope I won¡¯t be disturbed when I go in.¡± ¡°Yes, of course. I¡¯ll make sure to inform the internal staff as well.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± I passed by the guards and walked on. From behind, I could hear him loudly giving instructions. Zzzing! Thud! The main gate opened, revealing a long corridor. As if beckoning, the rays of light emitted a dazzling glow. I, while disying the Control Tower¡¯s blueprint on the information cluster on one side of my vision, followed the rays of light. ¡®Most first-time visitors are likely to get lost.¡¯ The Control Tower was aplex structure with numerous polygonal spaces interconnected like an anthill. Dozens, even hundreds of control rooms where each academy facility is managed. Security rooms to maintain the tower¡¯s security. Storage rooms, administrative offices,munication rooms, and even amodations and recreational facilities for the working staff. Probably the most densely popted area throughout Rosenstark. However, as I followed the rays of light, the presence of people gradually diminished. That¡¯s how the Hero entered the innermost part of the tower. Numerous security devices blocked the way, but thanks to the card received from Yussi, everything went smoothly. ¡®Here is¡­.¡¯ The ce I arrived at was the innermost part of the tower, the Arc Room. It was a ce with arge-scale mana stone dissolution apparatus called ¡®Ark.¡¯ Ark was a device that liquefied mana stones for easy use as a source of magic power, an item that had been around since the founding of Rosenstark. I stood at the entrance and nced around the room. A giant heating device resembling a cauldron was centrally located, and hundreds of pipes, seemingly used to transport molten mana stones to various parts of the building, were densely connected to the floor underneath. Today¡¯s mana stones seemed to have already beenpletely dissolved, and the system wasn¡¯t in operation. It was fortunate for me. If the Ark were in operation, intense heat would have been emitted to the extent that even standing in front of it would be difficult. ¡­Anyway. Why on earth did the Iris of Lace bring me here? ¡°¡­¡­¡± In this vast and dimly lit space, there was nothing but the chillingly cooled dissolution apparatus. There were no visible staff, not even maintenance personnel. I wandered around for a while, and eventually, I approached the Ark. It was at that moment. ¨‹ Found an artifact that can be essed Mystery: Astera Vision Sync in progress¡­ ¡ø Zzzz- A courteous noise rang in my ears, and my vision shook. ¨‹ Providing the appropriate syncing method based on the current user¡¯s situation. Please follow the instructions of this artifact from now on Step 1: Disable the surveince system of the Ark Room Rmend using ¡®Zero Requiem¡¯s Robe¡¯ ¡ø Among them, one caught my attention immediately. ¡®Mystery¡­.¡¯ Rosenstark¡¯s mysteries. It was a term epassing the most overwhelming magical devices among all the magical devices in the academy. As a representative example, there was the ¡®Eternal Spring,¡¯ which maintained a constant temperature in the academy buildings throughout the year. There were also urrences like the ¡®Golden Books that Sleep¡¯ that appeared once a year. Even ¡®Dreamscape¡¯ and the ¡®Library of Memories¡¯ fell into the category of mysteries. However, Astera Vision was a term I had never heard before, even as someone who knew a fair amount about Rosenstark¡¯s history and secrets. ¡°¡­¡­¡± I decided to follow the guidance for now and raised my mana. What the Iris of Lace was looking at was clear. Cast ¡®Dispel¡¯ on the image beads in this room. So, conceal the scenes that will unfold next in secrecy. ¡°Dispel.¡± Whoooooosh! A sh emanated from my attire, forming ripples. A light that nullified all magic below Maester rank. The surveince image beads were instantly neutralized. In the momentarily brightened and then darkened vision,ments appeared again. ¨‹ Step 2: Reactivate Astera Vision ¡ø HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Zzzzz- Lines made of light began to appear on the tough surface of the Ark. Circles and ellipses. Straight lines and curves. Countless symbols and numbers. Characters that seemed to be ancientnguages. In the dim space, they shone like gold. They even seemed to resemble embers at a nce. ¨‹ Engrave it ¡ø As if entranced, I approached and traced the trajectory with my fingers. Ssshh- Strangely, the surface of the Arc, which should have felt firm, felt as smooth as water. Without any resistance, my hand moved. As the movement repeated, the dim light, which had been murky, gradually intensified, and mana began to ripple in multiple directions. And at the moment when that power reached its peak. ¨‹ Astera Vision is unlocked ¡ø Thepleted rays of light explosively emanated, filling the chamber. The Hero opened his eyes wide, reading the continuingments. ¨‹ This artifact is in progress in linking with the Iris of Lace¡­ Integrationplete Would you like to see an overview of Astera Vision? ¡ø I nodded. ¨‹ Astera Vision is one of the ¡®Mysteries of Rosenstark,¡¯ created for the purpose of ensuring the safety of internal personnel and guarding against external intrusion and maniption. It operates by precisely analyzing the pattern of reflected magical waves after the emitted mana waves collide with a target, allowing for the detection of the target. Stored in the innermost part of the Control Tower, the Ark Room, with concealment, disguise, and locking spells, and when linked with this artifact, it can operate regardless of time and ce. It detects traces of demons more sensitively than any existing detection device. It bes possible to confirm the locations of individuals recorded in this artifact. Some functions are locked. ¡ø A bted line was added. ¨‹ My surveince does not end¡­ ¡ø Zero¡¯sstment, seemingly left directly, disappeared at the same time. Apanied by a significant vibration, the entire field of vision was tinted in a blue hue. What appeared was an overview epassing the entire Rosenstark. The scene brought back memories of looking at the academy when I morphed into a bird. The only difference was the sparkling blue dots scattered throughout. A smallment was attached next to it. The Hero, scrutinizing it with narrowed eyes, soon realized its identity. ¡®Names¡­?¡¯ Noubelmag was in the craftsman¡¯s workshop. Pia was in the researchb. Kasim¡­ in the maids¡¯ recreation area. Sta¡¯s name was also visible. Leciel and Ban, Evergreen, Luke were in the training grounds. Cuculli was in the kitchen¡­. The Hero, aware of these individuals recorded in the Iris of Lace, saw all their locations disyed in his field of vision. On the other hand, the majority of individuals he hadn¡¯t noticed were represented by smaller dots. Since there were noments attached, it was impossible to identify them. In ces like the dormitories, where people were densely packed, it looked like a giant dot. ¡­Of course, not all facilities could be seen at once due to the vast Rosenstark premises. However, zooming in and out was possible based on one¡¯s will, so there was no inconvenience. The Hero marveled, his mouth slightly agape. ¡®¡­Certainly, it has detection abilities that deserve to be called a mystery.¡¯ I could understand why Zero Requiem had hidden this mystery in the most guarded area of Rosenstark, even using various concealment spells. If, by any chance, this mystery fell into the hands of someone hostile to the academy, Rosenstark would face an unprecedented crisis. ¡®¡­But why is Cuculli in the kitchen?¡¯ ¡®Nyhill is in the Garden of Letters, probably enjoying free bread.¡¯ ¡®¡­What is Gerald doing in front of the girls¡¯ dormitory?¡¯ The Hero, fascinated, continued to examine various locations on the map¡­ until he discovered a vague square window at the bottom. A translucent space. Brief exnations came to mind. ¨‹ Log: This is a ce where significant changes within the academy are separately recorded. ¡ø And there,ments that could instantly dispel his excitement and anticipation were written. ¨‹ Faint traces of demons are felt within the academy. Detailed tracking is not possible. ¡ø At the same time, the Iris of Lace issued the next instruction. ¨‹ Find the coborators within the academy. ¡ø * * * ¡°So, that¡¯s how it is.¡± [Coborators within the academy¡­] Coborators, in this context, referred to humans swayed by demonic energy, forming alliances with demons. In a broad sense, they were often associated with traitors, but it specifically referred to individuals who directly made contracts or contacts with demons, not just a simple cooperation. In other words, they were particrly nefarious among traitors. [A very thorough investigation, I see.] Euphemia¡¯s eyes, having heard the exnation, subtly trembled. Although she didn¡¯t contort her face or utter curses, the Emperor¡¯s anger was palpable. The Hero shared a simr sentiment. [¡­I thought you were more skilled at maintaining your expression.] ¡°I¡¯m working on it.¡± [¡­¡­] ¡°In truth, you suspected it from the beginning, didn¡¯t you? Whether sooner orter¡­ that they would extend their influence to Rosenstark. Your concerns have now be a foregone conclusion.¡± The Emperor nodded. Certainly, Rosenstark¡¯s defense system was stringent and robust enough that even arge army would find it challenging to breach. However, when it came to physical defense, preventing human change of heart was another matter. [He might have been nted there from the beginning.] ¡°They could have hastily infiltrated after I took office. Or perhaps both.¡± [We¡¯ll allocate resources for an extensive identification process. If we dig deep enough, we might find something.] ¡°Blindly stirring things up won¡¯t likely increase the chances of finding him, and you know that well. If he manages to hide, it¡¯ll be even more troublesome. He¡¯ll be more cautious in devising schemes.¡± Euphemia furrowed her brow. [So what? Are you nning to let it be for now?] ¡°I have a better n. Trust me for now.¡± [¡­n?] The Emperor tapped her desk with his fingertips. She gazed at him fixedly, seeming uneasy but refraining from expressing any explicit dissatisfaction. As the pendulum-like movement of her eyes continued, they narrowed slightly. [Let¡¯s hear it first.] The Hero spoke. ¡°I want someone sent to Rosenstark.¡± [Who?] ¡°Felson Dietrich.¡± Felson Dietrich. Given the circumstances, he was one of the Knights of Dawn members who was least likely to be a traitor. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 92 Chapter 92 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Magic. In this mysterious field of study, there was an unbroken proposition. ¡®A sorcerer belonging to a lower hierarchy can never defeat a sorcerer of a higher hierarchy one-on-one.¡¯ This was due to significant differences not only in destructive power but also in speed of calction, enchantment, and invocation. To face a sorcerer one level above, ten from the lower level had to gather, that was the main point. Or they could use physical force. What about martial artists inparison? In their realm, there was no clear boundary like that of sorcerers. Even with an obvious difference in skill, the oue of battles often flipped easily. This was because martial arts battles had too many variables. But there was one thing. There was an absolute criterion that divided the realms of martial artists. That was the maniption of mana. The gap between those who could freely handle mana and those who couldn¡¯t was clearer and insurmountable than any other difference, not due to the enhancement of the physical body or the manifestation of the sword¡¯s edge. Detection. The ability to perceive information about the surrounding environment, objects, and people by extending mana outward within the body. This was the biggest difference between those who could use mana and those who couldn¡¯t. If one became proficient in detection, it was possible to sense opponents beyond walls or predict their movements. In other words, it was gaining a perception ability that far surpassed the realm of human senses. And Felson Dietrich was undoubtedly the most exceptional martial artist in the aspect of ¡®detection.¡¯ Tsu, tsu, tsu, tsu, tsu! On a quiet night. The abandoned house covered in weeds and bushes was very deste. There was no sign of poprity, but Felson confidently walked inside without hiding his presence. Since he didn¡¯t bother to conceal his presence, the sound of footsteps was loud. ¡°Hmm.¡± Abandoned toys. Broken ss. Shattered furniture. Decaying wooden nks. His gaze slid over them once. No matter how you looked at it, it seemed like a long-abandoned house, where human footsteps had been severed for a while. However¡­ ¡°¡­¡­¡± Felson¡¯s eyelids closed. As he took slow breaths, his chest expanded. His immense mana began to move slowly. Woo-woo-woo- Mana extended like a thread through the damp musty air. It gathered every subtle sound, small light, and any clues without missing a beat. In fact, Felson¡¯s initial detection had already begun from outside the main gate. ¡®One, three¡­ six, all twelve. They hid well in this cramped ce.¡¯ It was akin to a spider hunting on its web. Once mana reached a close range, it was impossible for anything to escape Felson¡¯s perception. Swish! What Felson drew out was an ordinary longsword. But from the moment mana converged on the sword, it no longer looked ordinary. As if thrown into a furnace, it ignited and¡­ Pah-! Instantly, dozens of crimson sword beams shot out from the tip. Considering that even a skilled swordsman couldn¡¯t control more than a few beams, it revealed how exceptional Felson¡¯s mana control was. Squeak-! The sword beams, like an angry swarm of bees attacking a beehive, made fierce sounds as they flew in all directions throughout the abandoned house. ¡°Aaaargh!!¡± ¡°Thunk!¡± ¡°Auughhh!!!!¡± ¡°Thud!¡± The cries echoed. Of course, some had anticipated the attack and tried to defend as much as possible. However, Felson¡¯s sword beams, even mid-defense, found openings and struck somehow. The sword beams, approaching by circumventing cover like a water strider, were sheer terror. Thud! The sound of a dozen bodies hitting the floor seemed like a single collective thud. All except one had their breaths cut off. ¡°Heuk, heuk.¡± The lone survivor looked around, dazed, as corpses rolled around him. He, too, was bleeding from the side. It seemed the name wouldn¡¯tst long, but he, overwhelmed by fear, seemed almost oblivious to pain as he staggered backward. Woosh-! Suddenly, Felson¡¯s military boots approached and stepped on his back. ¡°He, heeeeah!¡± What terrified the man the most was how this series of ughter seemed as natural to Felson as breathing. A cold voice followed. ¡°Are you thest of the coborators working in Viscounty of Ement? If you want treatment, give me the names of the other coborators.¡± ¡°Jo, Joseph! Joseph Crouch! Currently hiding in the slums of Jedo¡­¡± Rolling, the man¡¯s throat left a moist trail as he tumbled into a corner of the abandoned house. At the same time, an officer who had been waiting outside entered. ¡°Lord Dietrich.¡± ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°Her Majesty just sent a message.¡± Felson swung his sword like cracking a whip. Shuaaak-! Mold on the damp wall was showered with blood, sticking to the surface. Felson, summoning the sword beams again, vaporized the foreign substances on the sword, sheathed it, and spat out. ¡°What¡¯s the message?¡± ¡°Head towards Rosenstark.¡± ¡­Rosenstark? A faint smile crossed Felson¡¯s lips, which seemed unmovable until now. Far in the distant west. It seemed like the journey would be quite enjoyable. Thinking of the faces of the two men he cherished, Felson left the abandoned house. * * * Meanwhile, in Rosenstark. As the exam period approached, there was one ce where the most noticeable change urred¡ªthe anonymous bulletin board. While there had been a few abnormal posts before, recently, it seemed like sheer madness had taken over the board. ¨C Well, I¡¯ll focus on participating rather than the results. ¨C This is an opportunity. ©¸ What opportunity? ©¸ Now that the self-study room is a mess. Study until a female student talks to you. ©¸ The birth of a schr. ©¸ *Censored word* HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¨C If the professor in charge gets seriously injured, will the exam be canceled or postponed? Serious question. ©¸ ??? ¨C Rosenstark professors are nothing special. Since no one has seeded in teaching me, there¡¯s nothing to worry about. ©¸ Cheer up ?? ??. Rosenstark¡¯s exam period had always been notorious. Professors believed in a bizarre equation where the difficulty of the exam equaled the level of the lecture, and they set unreasonable exam scopes. Students were literally dying. Especially for newly enrolled freshmen, the learning load they had never experienced before led to despair. Their sce was only one thing. ¨C Better than extreme. They say they¡¯re heading to the Forest of Martial Arts. At least, it meant a more manageable time than the students taking extreme. For a long time, they had envied the students taking extreme course, but now that the exams hade, the tables had turned. Some took the opportunity to mock the extreme students, feeling a strange sense of victory. ¨C I wonder, are they really that great to go to the Forest of Martial Arts already? ©¸ I don¡¯t know; I¡¯ve never taken the same ss. ©¸ I¡¯m taking it with a few people, but honestly, I don¡¯t really know. Seems simr, though. ©¸ Nothing special, just always hanging around. St- Evergreen¡¯s forehead showed a bulging vein. ¨C Still jealous. After all, it¡¯s 100% practical skills. My Unir requires both practical and written exams. ©¸ Jealous? Are you serious? ©¸ Because you can fill it in with your body. ¡°Jealous? They really don¡¯t know what they¡¯re talking about!¡± Evergreen muttered, putting the connector into his bag with a trembling hand. The tremor wasn¡¯t due to anger; it was the side effect of the ¡®Hell Week¡¯ that had been going on for the past week. ¡°¡­Are you okay? If you¡¯re tired, take a short nap. The exam ising soon.¡± A gentle voice came from beside him. It was Luke, also worn out by fatigue. Both of them were extreme students taking ¡®Understanding Poetry,¡¯ the only two enrolled students in the course. Now they were waiting in the waiting room, having finished the written exams, preparing for the practical exams of ¡®Understanding Poetry.¡¯ The practical exam was conducted through a simtion of poetic battles. They would take turns performing attacks and defenses within a set constructed to resemble a city, earning points based on their actions. Luke and Evergreen were assigned to the attack team together. Click- The door connecting to the set opened when Evergreen yawned and wiped away a tear. It was the defense team returning to the waiting room afterpleting their reconnaissance, trap setting, and ambush point checks within the simted city set. Their faces exuded a self-satisfied look. Upon spotting the visibly exhausted Evergreen and Luke, their expressions brightened even more. ¡°Hmm, with both of them in that state, it should be easy to handle.¡± ¡°You guys didn¡¯t manage your condition properly. You shouldn¡¯t underestimate the Fine Arts.¡± ¡°I might find Luke tough, but I can definitely handle that brat.¡± Under normal circumstances, such provocative nces would have triggered tension. But at this moment, there was no particr reaction. Evergreen yawned again. ¡°Defense team, you have 5 minutes before your position!¡± The assistant¡¯s announcement prompted the defense team to stretch and loosen their bodies energetically. Observing their movements, Evergreen recalled the memories of the Hell Week that had made her look like this. It had been several days, but the memories were vivid. ¡°This week is going to be Hell Week.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t just throw you into the Forest of Martial Arts without any preparation.¡± After the abrupt notice, they had endured unimaginable suffering. Although the preparation was supposedly for dealing with the Forest of Martial Arts, the schedule the instructor had prepared was beyond human capability. ¡°Last time, it seems like youcked grip strength. Before starting rigorous training, let¡¯s warm up and climb the Paralysis Gorge.¡± They climbed a cliff as if it were shaved off. The cliff had toxic nts emitting paralysis-inducing scents all over. It was said to be a device to maintain concentration. Climbing the cliff with immobile limbs took hours, but that wasn¡¯t the end. ¡°After a 3-minute break, we will conduct physical training and sparring within the gravity field.¡± ¡°Uh, gravity field?¡± ¡°It will feel simr to moving in a ce with dense mana. Try to get used to it.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± With aching bodies, they rolled on the ground as if stuck to the earth. And the long-awaited climax. ¡°Get down!¡± Engaging in individualbat. While lying in the mud, she repeatedly advanced and retreated, climbing the steep hill with somersaults. Kwaaaaaang! Suddenly, magic bullets flew from behind. ¡°Uhiyak!¡± ¡°Mmhaak!¡± Although it was shot to the side of the assault path, it felt like her heart had dropped to the sole of her foot. ¡°Maintainposure! Advance, charge!¡± ¡°Charge forward¡­!¡± After crawling to the outpost, an indifferent voice reached those who were lying exhausted. ¡°Alright, after a break, we¡¯ll go down again.¡± ¡°Uh, where to?¡± ¡°Into the gorge.¡± As the reminiscence came to an end, Evergreen involuntarily wore a strained expression. ¡°Look at her. She seems nervous already.¡± ¡°Do you think being an Extreme learner means she¡¯ll do well? She is just another arrogant brat.¡± The defense forces were still making noise. In fact, the words aimed at Evergreen didn¡¯t affect her much. Born as the daughter of a modest noble family, she had learned to overlook most humiliations. She grew up watching her parents seek support from the nearby lord. Getting worked up over such sarcastic remarks was, in fact, more amusing. So, she silently loosened up in one corner of the waiting room. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡­Though she didn¡¯t expect anyone to stand up for her, Luke tilted his head and looked at the defense forces. ¡°What? Me?¡± ¡°Yeah, you.¡± The guy who was singled out seemed slightly shrunk, but he quickly responded cheekily, adopting a nonchnt attitude. He made bold gestures, seemingly trusting his friends in the background. ¡°Hah, where do you get off talking like that to a senior?¡± Luke chuckled silently, maintaining his nonchnt demeanor. In anguid tone, he continued, ¡°Seniors, don¡¯t let your guard down. It¡¯d be unfair if it ends before we even get started.¡± And Luke lived up to his words. [PR/N: MY MAN ??.] HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 93 Chapter 93 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Shortly after the start of the exam. The defense team fell into confusion. ¡°Where the heck are these arrowsing from!¡± ¡°No, they keep changing positions! It¡¯s not a flying squirrel, it¡¯s above and then below¡­¡± ¡°Can someone take a look!¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯ll check.¡± Amidst the screams of the students heard through the short-rangemunication devices, Meian, a second-year student hiding near the third-floor window, decided to step forward. ¡­Squeak! Meian aimed at the training arrow that had fallen to the ground after hitting the acupoint. It was right after he raised his head. ¡®¡­In that moment?¡¯ Could that freshman see beyond the wall? It was utterly iprehensible to him. Meian dered with bitterness. ¡°¡­Hit area, head. Meian is out.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Wait¡­ does that make sense?¡± The ce they were ambushing was right in front of the stronghold. From the attackers¡¯ perspective, it was the quickest route to nt the g on the stronghold if they could break through. But the defense team boldly reduced the number of personnel. It was only a firepower unit consisting of archers. ¡°It¡¯s a straight path. If we ambush a few archers, how are they going to break through?¡± ¡°Yeah. The rest of us will be flexible and focus on marking Luke or her.¡± It seemed like a reasonable strategy at first nce. The road was structurally the key point of defense that could withstand over a dozen troops in two or three rows. But an unforeseen situation unfolded. ¡®One building to the northeast on the second floor, one on the rooftop, and one in front of the stronghold¡¯s tform. The rest¡­¡¯ Evergreen squinted, hiding in the shadow of the bell tower, surveying the exam venue. A battle song. She had experienced facing real monsters in Solintale, her hometown. She had practiced simted battles countless times. To pass a difficult written exam, she thoroughly studied the patterns of historical battles recorded in history. Thanks to that, Evergreen could roughly sketch out the defense team¡¯s strategy, where they set traps, and where they might be ambushing, just by looking at the terrain of the exam venue. With a slow and extended sensory detection, she couldpletely pinpoint their locations. Her calmness, quick judgment, and decisiveness to seize opportunities that the hero had emphasized so much were now ingrained in her through the hellish training she underwent, elevating her skills to a whole new level. Taking down the defense team, who had becent one by one was not a challenging task for her in the face of her leap in skills. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Only four defenders remained on the road now. They muttered into theirmunication devices with expressions of frustration. ¡°No, it¡¯s just one person. Why should we be stuck like this?¡± ¡°Stay calm. You roughly got the positions, right? Over there, by the bell tower.¡± ¡°Darn it, how did they get up there?¡± The one who seemed like their leader opened his mouth with determination. ¡°We have no choice but to go out at once. While one person is engaging, the other three will identify the positions and intercept.¡± ¡°What if we don¡¯t reveal ourselves?¡± ¡°That¡¯s even better. We can reposition while maintaining the encircling formation.¡± ¡°Just waiting¡­¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they already figure out our positions? If the main forcees, it¡¯s over. It would be quite embarrassing to be wiped out by a freshman. Agree?¡± Any opposing opinions were immediately silenced. ¡°Counting to three. One.¡± ¡­Two. ¡­Three. They rushed forward, all aiming their bows towards the bell tower, where Evergreen was presumed to be. However, there was no one there. Rustle- The only sensed presence was directly in front of them. ¡®Oh, when did shee down?¡¯ Evergreen, leaning diagonally against the tform on the road, drew her bow. The four arrows attached to the bowstring glowed ominously. ¡­ ¡°Ah, I wish all exams were like this.¡± There was no malice in that mutter. * * * The anonymous bulletin board was buzzing with discussions about the midterm exams, specifically about the ¡®Extreme¡¯ students who were making headlines. ¨C No, are they a different breed? How can they improve so rapidly? It doesn¡¯t make sense logically. ©¸ I¡¯m a bit confused too. There are a few people who took the entrance exam together, but it feels like they¡¯re different individuals. ©¸ Isn¡¯t it strange that there¡¯s no change even with the world¡¯s best examiner teaching? If I had gotten in, I might have done better. ©¸ ??????. ¨C There¡¯s a rumor about a monster archer with four hands and a hundred eyes in Extreme. Is it true? ©¸ Yes, it¡¯s true. I saw it. ©¸ Not a monster, but cute. ©¸ Is it the person themselves? Seems like it. ©¸ No the person above is not me. ¨C Ha, that¡¯s why I said it¡¯s a must to enroll in Extreme. Do you feel the loss now? ©¸ So did you catch it? ©¸ I feel like I might die of envy. They even received weapons from Noubelmag. ©¸ Are you friends with Noubelmag? . . . Everyone seemed to be doing well. ¡®Well, it would be awkward if they couldn¡¯t stand out in Fine Arts after showing off like that.¡¯ The hero smiled slightly and put down the connector. The young professor, who was presenting the ¡®Duty Badge,¡¯ nced at him. ¡°Haha, it seems like there¡¯s something enjoyable going on.¡± ¡°Well, sort of.¡± The duty room in the freshman dormitory. Today was the day for the monthly duty rotation. Originally, professors took turns for duty in academic dorms, research buildings, or various key facilities. Despite being a legitimate educational institution, the reason for having such a systematic duty rotation in Rosenstark was due to the repeated invasions they had faced. ¡®It¡¯s like military facilities, to be honest.¡¯ Anyway, the hero was in the process of receiving the handover from Professor Jeremy Eitrobin, who was the duty professorst time. Eitrobin, who was preparing to leave for the day, consistently made small talk. It seemed like he didn¡¯t want to miss the opportunity for a one-on-one conversation with the hero. Knowing that Eitrobin had quite a sticky rtionship with the senior professors, the hero, who had recently be aware of this, didn¡¯t find him particrly pleasant. ¡°By the way, I didn¡¯t know you would personally serve in the office. Usually, the Unir professors tend to delegate¡­¡± ¡°So, are you standing in for them? That must be tough.¡± He awkwardly chuckled. Looking at the records, he had stood duty consecutively for several days. ¡°Haha¡­ Now, you should go inside and prepare for the exam.¡± ¡°Was it ¡®History of the Demons¡¯?¡± ¡°Wow, you remember the name of my lecture? It¡¯s an honor.¡± The hero received the duty badge from Eitrobin and wore it on his left arm. ¡®¡­Forget about delegating duty. I should serve even more diligently.¡¯ During the exam period, the curfew was rxed. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Many students utilized the library, study rooms, and various practice facilitieste into the night, leading to an increase in incidents. Due to the loosened regtions, there was a need to be more vignt, as there could be traitors taking advantage of the rxed atmosphere to carry out schemes. ¡°Well then, take care!¡± Watching Eitrobin disappear with asional steps, the hero also prepared to leave. Unlike other professors, he had no intention of spending his time in the duty room. ¡®For now¡­¡¯ Woo-woo-woo- ¨‹ Mystery: Activating the Astera Vision. ¡ø It seemed like talking to ¡®him¡¯ took precedence. The hero headed to the study room. * * * ¡°¡­Son.¡± This is a dream. The moment that voice was heard, half of him realized. He had to realize. It was the voice of his mother who had passed away more than ten years ago. Memory is a strange thing. Even if you think you¡¯vepletely forgotten, given the right trigger, it surges out of the subconscious in an instant. The boy stared ahead, lost in thought. ¡®¡­Yes. This is how she looked.¡¯ The first thing that caught his eye was the neatlybed short hair behind her ears. The same color. Gentle, twinkling brown eyes, just like his. A kind andpassionate face smiled at him. He didn¡¯t notice it when he was younger, but now he saw many simrities. He opened his mouth. ¡°¡­Mom.¡± In reality, there weren¡¯t many ways for Ban to reminisce about his mother. In his family, all traces of her had been erased for a long time. His father no longer mentioned her. Even when he tried to delve into his memories, the time they spent together was so long ago that it remained blurry. It wasn¡¯t for no reason that he wandered in the Library of Memories. However, asionally, very ordinary and everyday memories would unexpectedly surface. A tender touch that used to wake him up, a supportive voice that resonated every time he practiced swordsmanship in the training ground. In the bedroom, lips that touched his forehead. When he turned his gaze away from a book in concentration, there would inevitably be a fruit te on the desk. The absence of those small and trivial moments felt immensely significant, sharp, and poignant from the moment he became aware of it. It was as if there was no shortage of memories tearing up his childhood. ¡°¡­.¡± The dream was short. Ban gazed at his mother¡¯s fading face. There were many things he wanted to say. But before that, there was one thing he had to say. He moved his stiff tongue and managed to utter it. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry.¡± That was the end. ¡°¡­Ah.¡± Ban opened his eyes. The view was entirely blurry. As if momentarily vacating reality, the vividness of his long-standing memory faded. Where was this? What time was it now? When did he fall asleep? He had no idea. His head throbbed. In contrast, the desk felt cool. With his head resting quietly, Ban surveyed his surroundings to understand the situation. Thick books filled the shelves, a neatly arranged desk and chairs, a dark window, and the sound of a pen scratching¡­ faint snoring. That must be Cuculli. And¡­ ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­Huh?!¡± Gray eyes? Ban abruptly sat up. The hero was standing right in front of him, staring at him with calm gray eyes. Ban was shocked to the point that his heart seemed to jump out. ¡®What¡¯s this? Why is the professor here?¡¯ His mind quickly regained itsposure after the unexpected appearance. Right. This was the study room attached to the freshman dormitory. For the past few days, he had been stuck here studying for exams. Today, too, he must havee here right after training and fallen asleep without realizing it. ¡®Then what about the professor?¡¯ Only btedly did Ban notice the badge on the left arm of the hero¡¯s formal attire. He seemed to have been patrolling. Ban quickly bowed his head and spoke in a hushed voice. ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡± However, the hero¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t leave Ban¡¯s face. He stood there silently, looking at him with calm gray eyes. ¡®Did I talk in my sleep or something?¡¯ Ban wondered, feeling a bit flustered. He absentmindedly raised his hand, and at that moment, the hero spoke. ¡°Ban.¡± The hero opened his mouth, and his low voice resonated in the quiet study room. Ban, in the midst of lifting his hand, stopped and turned his attention to the hero. ¡°Uhh, I can¡¯t eat this anymore¡­ please pack it for me.¡± Cuculli, sitting right behind, mumbled in her sleep with her head buried. The hero, after releasing a small sigh, spoke with determination. ¡°Let¡¯s go for a walk.¡± It was a firm voice that didn¡¯t seem to allow any disagreement. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 94 Chapter 94 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Thanks to the dyed curfew, children were sporadically wandering in the corridor. The hero somehow seemed to be seeking a sparsely popted area. Ban followed him in surprise, thinking, ¡®¡­What¡¯s going on? Have I done something wrong? Vition of school rules or something¡­¡¯ But no matter how much he thought, nothing came to mind. Dragged along with such questions for about five minutes, they arrived at a garden located behind the dormitory. It was somewhat gloomy, with the soil scattered here and there as if under repair, and sculptures and garden nts scattered around. Thanks to that, there was not a single person around. Unless one had a very unique taste, it would be impossible to take a rest in such a mentally fierce ce. The hero turned around in the midst of it all. His deeply locked eyes still lingered on Ban¡¯s face. They were eyes that were difficult to read. ¡°Professor? Did I do something wrong¡­?¡± The hero calmly spoke. ¡°Your father will soone to Rosenstark.¡± Ban, who was about to say something, froze. The hero continued calmly. ¡°Perhaps you didn¡¯t know. Please keep it a secret from your ssmates.¡± Ban replied hesitantly. ¡°Oh, I see. But why would my fathere to the academy?¡± ¡°Not because of you alone¡­ You¡¯ll hear the detailster.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± The boy¡¯s expression darkened slightly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he contact me?¡± A faint smile lingered on the hero¡¯s lips. ¡°I guess he wanted to surprise his son whom he hadn¡¯t seen in a while. If that¡¯s the case, it seems I¡¯ve seeded in surprising you.¡± ¡°Ahaha, that¡¯s not it.¡± Banughed awkwardly. No matter how much he thought about it, it didn¡¯t seem like his father had such a cheerful side. Felson Dietrich was the epitome of a stern father. He emphasized authority and valued rules and order within the family. He was always firm and rigid¡­ equally unyielding. When he was young. ¡­So, when Ban¡¯s mother was alive, he seemed a bit gentler, but there had been no such disy since then. Wasn¡¯t he even excessively strict with the castle and knight attendants within the family. The hero nodded in agreement with Ban¡¯s resolute statement. ¡°Of course, you would know better.¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± Ban chuckled with a bitter smile. Still, it was fortunate. ¡°I thought something was wrong when you called me.¡± A surprise visit from a parent. It was an unexpected event as a student, but it wasn¡¯t burdensome. ¡®Still, things have improved a lot since before I entered school.¡¯ He felt the desire to show his father the improved version of himself as soon as possible. Anyway, thinking that the matter was settled, Ban was about to lower his head when the hero unexpectedly spoke again. ¡°In the Library of Memories, are youing to see Jenny Dietrich¡­ to reminisce about memories of your mother?¡± Ban froze in the same posture as when he was greeting. ¡ª It was almost 20 years ago. Jenny Dietrich. Back when she didn¡¯t have ast name. The girl, recognized for her talent in swordsmanship, entered Rosenstark in Hero¡¯s senior year. Due to the injuries Felson received on the battlefield, he became an invited professor at Rosenstark. A special lecture on his expertise, ¡®sensing,¡¯ was held, and it was there that Jenny and Felson had their fateful first meeting. And so, a very famous romance story began. Felson Dietrich, the promising heir of a prestigious family and considered the top swordsman among the young inspectors of that era. Jenny, amoner with nothing special to boast about. Because Felson abandoned his fiancee, who had a secured background, and passionately pursued Jenny, their love became even more famous. ¡°I cannot imagine myself without Jenny. Her happiness is more valuable to me than my title, my sword, or my family.¡± This statement, uttered by Felson (whom Ban thought to be so gruff), was actually spoken at an official gathering in front of dozens of reporters and hundreds of officials. Incidentally, even now in social circles, many middle-ageddies blushed recalling that scene. In the end, they overcame various rumors, countless oppositions, jealousy, and finally their love bore fruit. Fortunately, a few yearster, Ban¡¯s birth solidified Jenny¡¯s position as thedy of the house, and it seemed that the family of three could envision a smooth future. ¡­Until she tragically lost her life in an unfortunate ident. Now, more than 10 years have passed. Despite numerous advances, proposals, and requests for remarriage, Felson Dietrich remained single. Perhaps he would remain so until his death. ¡°Did my father really say that?¡± Of course, it was a somewhat awkward story for the son. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, you can ask him directly.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll just keep it to myself. It might be embarrassing, I guess.¡± Ban said this with a brief smile. The love stories of parents always seemed intriguing to children. It made them realize that even those who seemed like adults from the beginning had immature and passionate times. In another way, isn¡¯t it a way for him toe to know his own origins? The boy, excited, continued with a question. ¡°By any chance, have you ever seen my mother, Professor?¡± The hero met the boy¡¯s sparkling eyes. ¡®Jenny Dietrich¡­¡¯ The ¡®Nubes Salon Incident,¡¯ in which she died, happened long before he encountered the ¡®Original¡¯s¡¯ world. So naturally, he had never met Jenny Dietrich. However, there was a record about her in the iris of Lace. ¡°¡­I did see her once, before she passed away.¡± ¡°Oh, how was she?¡± He recited the recordedment. ¡°She was someone Felson could fall in love with.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± The hero turned his gaze slightly away from the smiling boy¡¯s face. And then, he brought up the original purpose of seeking him out today. ¡®Since I heard that he walks to the Library of Memories every week from Rosalyn, I¡¯ve had a n in mind.¡¯ ¡°The Library of Memories is off-limits unless you¡¯re in the fourth year, ording to the rules. You should know that, right?¡± ¡°¡­Y-Yes, I¡¯m well aware.¡± There was no way he wouldn¡¯t know. The Library of Memories was one of the reasons Ban enrolled at Rosenstark, as it was one of the few ways to trace his mother¡¯s footsteps. Although he had to wait a long time until he reached the fourth year. The hero spoke calmly. ¡°Firstly, I know that your trauma is rted to your mother.¡± Ban¡¯splexion turned pale at the sudden mention. Of course, it wasn¡¯t a big surprise. Thinking about it, it was more strange that the hero, a close colleague of his father, didn¡¯t know about it. ¡°And as I mentioned before, as a professor, I have an obligation to help you ovee the difficulties you¡¯re facing.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Th-thank you.¡± Ban couldn¡¯t understand what the hero wanted to say. But despite the personal matters beingid bare, he didn¡¯t feel bad. It was because he could read trust and support in the seemingly cold and indifferent gaze. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°I think you¡¯ve be stronger than when you first entered the school gates.¡± Ban nodded slowly. ¡°So, for this midterm exam, I¡¯ll give you an additional assignment.¡± ¡°What kind of additional assignment¡­ do you mean?¡± ¡°Get into the top three.¡± It was undoubtedly a challenging task. How could he, who couldn¡¯t handle a sword properly, achieve a rank within the top three? Ban was taken aback by the demanding request. The hero pulled out something from his embrace. It was arge and rugged key. Ban took a deep breath. ¡°Well, someone who got hit might drop this on the floor. And some brave individual might be willing to ept a few demerits to enter the library.¡± The boy¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver until the key was ced back by the Hero. The hero, as if signaling the end of the matter, turned and walked away, pausing for a moment. ¡°Ban.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°I believe you can handle it well.¡± The weight of a statement from someone who knew all the details was heavy. Ban clenched his fist. ¡°Yes, I will.¡± He would seed. ¡ª After seeing Ban off, the hero continued to patrol around the freshman dormitory. Near the affiliated training ground, he spotted Luke and Evergreen engaging in conversation. ¡°We still don¡¯t know the format of the exam, but¡­ since it¡¯s a dense forest, you, being an archer, might be at a disadvantage. Have you thought of a n?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking of diversifying my auxiliary weapons a bit¡­¡± Seeing them deeply engrossed in discussion, he chose not to interrupt and walked past. In the corridor returning from the study room, Gerald was standing, disying a thick and seemingly challenging tactical manual. Of course, his pupils barely lingered on the pages of the book. ¡°Gerald.¡± ¡°Oh, Professor! What brings you here?¡± ¡°¡­Nothing.¡± Continuing his patrol, he encountered several other students. They all seemed to be earnestly preparing for the midterm exams, showing signs of tension. ¡®There seems to be nothing unusual internally.¡¯ Thinking that, he headed towards the main gate to survey the external area. Just as he stepped out after the survey, he spotted an unexpected silhouette. Just in time, it seemed like the person noticed him too. Thump- The moonlight, diffused due to the clouds, made the wrinkled forehead of the old man clearly visible. ¡°¡­¡± It happened to be an isted path. Professor Labin seemed to momentarily consider turning away, but eventually, with more rigid and measured steps, he approached. However, his gaze was unnaturally avoiding me. Thump- The intimidating bald old man with a formidable presence approached. Arge stature and a robust body, eyes gleaming like hooks. In the darkness, the senior professor presented quite an overwhelming figure. It was easy to understand why children found him frightening. As he passed by, I opened my mouth, breaking the ufortable silence. ¡°Thank you for the excellent reinforcement.¡± It felt strange to use such formality after a long time. He was one of the few individuals in the academy who could receive honorifics from the Hero. Unfortunately, he seemed unresponsive to such honors. ¡°¡­Excellent reinforcement?¡± Professor Labin¡¯s wrinkled face turned towards me. ¡°I assume you received information about the content of the reinforcement. Are you mocking me now?¡± ¡°I just thought it was essential for the children.¡± ¡°Essential?¡­¡± His gaze became colder. It was clear that he did not want to engage further, and the hostility was so evident that it felt refreshing. ¡°It¡¯s a valid point. Understanding precedents of your seniors who died like moths to mes, can help make the right judgments in the future.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Those eyes. Once a manifestation of affection, now they held an unimaginable amount of hatred and suffering. Faced with this, I couldn¡¯t find words. Professor Labin took a step forward and spoke. ¡°I heard that the midterm exams is being held in an absurd ce again.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°cing those unprepared at risk. It seems nothing has changed.¡± I lowered my head. ¡°It¡¯s necessary.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t agree with that statement.¡± I didn¡¯t want to continue the verbal exchange. I respect this old professor. Unlike other corrupt elders, he has contributed significantly to humanity for a very long time within the Rosenstark. He must have been a true asset, or else suchments wouldn¡¯t have been left behind. ¨‹ Teacher ¡ø However, his perception of this world and the ¡®reality¡¯ differs. Now, with a four-year deadline looming, I found myself repeating the same words. ¡°It¡¯s necessary.¡± The old professor didn¡¯t respond and distanced himself, turning away. Of course, even without a response, I could understand that he didn¡¯t agree with my words. ¡°¡­I should probably buy walnut cookies.¡± If rtions with Professor Labin improved, there could be many advantages. The other senior professors, who expressed dissatisfaction with every move I made, might quiet down, and my various activities as a professor could gain more momentum. But since emotional rift ran deep, any progress in the rtionship seemed challenging for now. ¡®I should try gradually.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t an urgent matter at the moment. There were more pressing issues to focus on. I observed the many dots moving swiftly on the academy map disyed by the Astera Vision. ¡®I will definitely find you.¡¯ [PR/N: If you stop being a traitor now, that¡¯ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don¡¯t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.] Preparations were essential for the impending assant. With just a week left until the midterm exams, it was a crucial moment. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 95 Chapter 95 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The day after duty. Usually, those on duty would head to their amodations for some rest. However, someone who didn¡¯t need sleep at all was preparing for a secret outing. ¡®The observer¡­.¡¯ Unseen. In fact, whether being watched or not made no difference. For someone who could freely transform their form, surveince was as useless as it could be. The hero exited through the side gate, prearranged by Yussi, and arrived at the shopping street in the nearby vige. The current time was noon. There were roughly 30 minutes left until the appointed time. ¡°Come this way.¡± Ignoring the bustling street and entering an alley, someone cautiously tapped his shoulder. It was a middle-aged man he hadn¡¯t seen before. His hair stood up unevenly, resembling cheap wool, and his thick, bushy beard was messy. Judging by the apron, he seemed to be the owner of a nearby stall. ¡°Ricky?¡± ¡°Yes, follow me.¡± Disguised as a vige merchant, thest puppet of Nyhill. He guided the hero to the entrance of a secure mansion and then disappeared into the shadows of the alley. ¡®¡­They¡¯ve managed to create such a hidden ce in this rundown area.¡¯ Without hesitation, the hero descended into the underground. At the end of the narrow and nauseating stairs, there was a security door. Click- Upon opening the door, the luxurious interior of the mansion, in stark contrast to the outside, was the first thing that caught the eye. Two out of the three people I was supposed to meet were already there. ¡°Hero!¡± ¡°Leader, you¡¯vee.¡± Yussi and Noubelmag, who were bickering as usual, greeted him with joy. The hero nodded and ced the document bag he was holding on the table. Thud¡ª a heavy sound echoed, and their gaze naturally turned towards it. ¡°This is¡­¡± ¡°Meeting materials. We¡¯ll start when Felson arrives¡­¡± The hero stopped speaking and looked towards the entrance he had juste through. ¡°Look, the tigeres when I speak.¡± Just then, a man wearing a reversed robe was entering. * * * A stillness settled in the secure mansion. Felson stood at the entrance, silently observing Yussi, Noubelmag, and the hero. Unspoken emotions crossed his wrinkled eyes, then calmly settled down again. ¡°¡­Nice to see you all.¡± Noubelmag had been away, so he was unaware of the news. Although Yussi hadmunicated a few times after retirement, this was the first time meeting face to face. For the hero, excluding the previousmunication, it was the first meeting since the victory celebration. Once, they faced each other every day, crossing borders through the screen. Hence, the feelings he experienced were profound. A smile appeared on the lips of the three who had been waiting. ¡°It was a good idea toe out of that corner at times like this.¡± ¡°Well, first, how about taking off that dusty robe, Felson?¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯ve traveled a long way. What¡¯s in your hands?¡± Felson faintly smiled and shook the bag in his hand. ¡°I didn¡¯te empty-handed. I brought something to eat in front of you all. Your favorites.¡± The perfect, Felson Dietrich. Many people, including his son, saw Felson as the epitome of a stern knight. However, behind the strictness he always disyed, in private, he was a rather easy-going and gentle man. Rugged yet affectionate, the strictness he showed was always apanied by tenderness. Thanks to that, he got along well with the cantankerous Yussi, remained unfazed by Noubelmag¡¯s pickiness, and had a good rtionship with the hero. ¡°A direct address to the Principal, you¡¯re fully qualified as a parent, Felson..¡± ¡°As I grow old, I crave these salty snacks.¡± ¡°Eat moderately, or you¡¯ll die quickly.¡± ¡°Why do you speak informally to me while you¡¯re always showing respect to that guy who hasn¡¯t even lived half a century?¡± As bowls were passed around a few times, the conversation took a turn into lighthearted banter. Usually, Yussi and Noubelmag bickered while the hero and Felson watched. ¡°¡­.¡± Then, suddenly, silence descended. In the midst of banter, there was often a silence that naturally crept in. The hero was the one to break it. ¡°I think that the probability of the three of you being traitors is low based on the circumstances.¡± That was enough to reverse the atmosphere in the once cheerful mansion. Noubelmag and Yussi, retired and unable to participate in the great battle. Felson, who lost his wife to demons, had been tracking and eliminating them relentlessly for the past ten years. The hero calmly spoke, exploring their facets. ¡°So, I¡¯m sharing this operation with you all.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°You probably have a rough idea of the situation.¡± Yussi and Noubelmag had been briefed in advance, and Felson would have received an exnation from Euphemia before departure. Sure enough, all three heads nodded simultaneously. ¡°Within the academy, the presence of coborators has been confirmed, and this time, I n to lift them onto the surface through an extreme midterm exam.¡± The hero¡¯s eyes shed with intense determination. ¡°At Rosenstark.¡± . . . There are coborators in Rosenstark. When Asteria Vision revealed that, it didn¡¯te as a big surprise. It was somewhat expected. The ¡®hero¡¯ was the most threatening enemy of the demons, and it was obvious that once I came to Rosenstark, they would extend their influence here too. ¡­But suddenly, a thought crossed my mind. ¡°Are they really aiming straight for me?¡± It¡¯s been three months since I came to the academy. However, until now, they haven¡¯t done anything to harm me. ¡®¡­No, I guess it was not possible.¡¯ I could be sure. The traitors here are not powerful enough to directly target me. Due to the nature of the closed academy, they wouldn¡¯t be able to gather such power. Usually, in such cases, they would go for secondary targets. So, who could be the secondary targets? The answer was obvious. ¡°¡­The kids.¡± There have been attempts in the past as well. Promising young talents being attacked by demons during vacations or cases ofplete brainwashing and persuasion. The current exceptional kids, excluding the ¡®Golden Generation¡¯ where the hero was an undergraduate, were on a level that could be called the strongest in history. From the demon¡¯s perspective, they would undoubtedly be future obstacles that must be eliminated. Traitors within the academy couldn¡¯t just let these growing kids, potential threats, be. ¡°¡­.¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Felson, who had been listening to the exnation, narrowed his eyebrows. The expression was quite different from before, especially when the story involved his son. ¡°But why hold the midterm exam in the Forest of Martial Arts? It¡¯s already a dangerous ce, and it¡¯s also far from the central part of the academy. Isn¡¯t that a bitx in terms of surveince? It seems like setting the stage for mischief.¡± ¡°Yes, it is setting the stage. To expose the traitors.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Initially, I, too, considered changing the location. Even if the kids had grown enough to safely pass through the Forest of Martial Arts, it was a story that held true only if there was no external interference. If a coborator yed tricks, it could be dangerous in an instant. I thought it made sense to conduct the exam in a secure location. But¡­ ¡°So, if the exam is sessfullypleted this time, is it all over?¡± No. The coborators will always be after the kids. Given more time, they¡¯lle up with more sinister and cunning ns. ¡®In the worst case, those who are well-prepared could target the kids individually. That would make it even harder to prevent.¡¯ Therefore, the best thing to do now was to pull them out from under the surface as quickly as possible. And to achieve that, this exam had to be held in the Forest of Martial Arts. ¡°¡­It sounds like using the kids as bait.¡± I shook my head slowly. ¡°It¡¯s not using them as bait.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°As long as there are coborators in Rosenstark, whether we like it or not, the kids are already bait.¡± It was an intense expression. But it was also an undeniable fact. Tension tightened in Felson¡¯s jaw muscles. Yussi, who had been alternating gazes with him and me, cautiously intervened. ¡°So, in summary, you judged that rather than waiting for the hesitant ones to make a move, it¡¯s better toy the groundwork first.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Felson let out a long sigh and rummaged through his pockets, pulling out a pipe. After emitting a few puffs of blue smoke, his face revealed a mixture of fatigue, concern, and determination. ¡°¡­I roughly understand. It¡¯s regrettable that my son got involved in this mess.¡± I asked vaguely. ¡°Do you regret admitting him to the academy?¡± ¡°No, it was his own decision. I have no right to interfere with what he decided.¡± ¡°That answer is surprising¡­¡± Felson¡¯s deep blue eyes turned towards me. Though different in color, Ban¡¯s eyes and Felson¡¯s somehow resembled each other. ¡°I trust the Leader. He is not the kind of person who would put the kids in danger.¡± Feeling a heavy responsibility, I answered. ¡°Of course.¡± It was the opportune moment to bring out the prepared ¡®meeting materials.¡¯ Ziik- As I opened the bag and spilled its contents onto the table, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to it. A massive stack of documents. Surprisingly, despite the weight and thickness causing it to spill out of the bag, it still maintained a book-like shape. Various sizes and colors, making it difficult to count, these reports, memos, drawings, and more formed a substantial amount of information. ¡®At this point, we have to prepare for every possibility.¡¯ Given theck of information about the coborators, with only six days left until the exam, the chances of obtaining new information were slim. I didn¡¯t know which demon tribe they had allied with or how they would carry out their schemes. The situationcked even basic clues. Hence, I had to prepare contingency ns considering every possible scenario. Felson sifted through some of them and muttered with a sense of awe. ¡°When on earth did you¡­¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯tpare to you, traveling from the east to the west in less than a week, all because of your concern for your son.¡± ¡°¡­Goodness.¡± Analysis of all potential threats and dangers that could arise in the Forest of Martial Arts, detailed response ns, steps, and responsible individuals for each n,munication systems in case of a crisis, descriptions of resources and equipment needed or mobilized for the response¡ªthese documents were strategically organized. In the past few days, while carefully guarding the kids and figuring out how to catch the coborators, this result hade about. Noubelmag and Yussi, wide-eyed, expressed admiration. ¡°With double and triple safety measures.¡± ¡°With this¡­¡± I nodded. ¡°Yes, things won¡¯t go the way they want.¡± Only then did Felson lift the corners of his mouth. The shape of his lips was tense, reminiscent of a hunting dog¡¯s snout. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s give it a try.¡± . . . A few dayster. The coborators within the academy were also having a meeting with the demons. ¡°¡­Finally, it¡¯s tomorrow.¡± The demon, with eyes shining with anticipation, responded in a voice that seemed to devour the air. ¡°Yeah, the wait was long.¡± It was the final check phase. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 96 Chapter 96 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Upon hearing that the extreme midterm exams were going to take ce in the Forest of Martial Arts, they hastily prepared a n. This n would be the starting point for tremendous changes, not only in the academy but also in his life and for those entangled in the n. ¡°I don¡¯t think the hero will take it so lightly.¡± The demon looked at the traitor, who seemed clearly excited. In response, the betrayer confidently disyed a self-assured smile. ¡°Of course, he is aware that taking an exam in a dangerous ce requires preparation and has taken precautions. However,¡± His voice trembled with anticipation, ¡°you can¡¯t imagine being attacked in this way. Besides, they don¡¯t know about your existence so openly, nor do they know the identity of the new conduit. This is a foolproof n.¡± The reality was as he stated. Despite the reinforcement of security measures and systems in the Forest of Martial Arts after its adoption as an extreme test venue, nothing proved effective. ¡°They were toocent about the peaceful life in the academy.¡± It seemed unthinkable that an incident would ur within the academy. From his perspective, it was an exceedingly favorable situation. ¡°Hehe.¡± A man anticipating a change in treatment and substantial rewards after the sess of the operation. The clear desire now revealed without concealment elicited mockery from the demon. ¡°Yes, believe and entrust everything to me in the future!¡± ¡°Well, let¡¯s see just how much damage you can inflict.¡± The previously cheerful expression of the man slightly hardened. ¡°As I mentioned before, with our current preparations, it seems impossible to directly strike the hero. Please forgive us.¡± A subsequent ominous smile followed. ¡°But at least we can send most of the children taught by the hero to the afterlife. We¡¯ve prepared enough for that.¡± The aplice savored the idea. Truth be told, it was a bit disappointing. If there had been a little more preparation time, a more lethal n could have been devised. However¡­ ¡®Can¡¯t afford to miss this rare opportunity.¡¯ The Forest of Martial Arts. Given its nature, it was the optimal location to execute the n. Even with inadequate preparation, the desired results could be obtained. ¡°Good. Very good.¡± The confident man¡¯s demeanor satisfied the demon as they nodded approvingly. His assigned task was to restrain the hero and eliminate the growing young humans. If the betrayer¡¯s n seeded, both objectives would be excellently achieved. After that, they could gradually prey on quality feed, engrossed in fear and confusion. The groundwork for that was steadily beingid. ¡®¡ö¡ö¡ö¡­ Finally showing some usefulness.¡¯ Soon, after the ¡®Nubes Salon Incident,¡¯ the lost power and authority could be regained. The era of prolonged humiliation wasing to an end. They could confidently return to their homnd, the demonic realm. The demon suppressed their simmering emotions, taking a deep breath. ¡°Alright. The rewards are certain, so give it your best.¡± ¡°Th-thank you! I will definitely make the n a sess!¡± The betrayer bowed repeatedly. Aligning himself with the demon, he was bing increasingly convinced. He had glimpsed their unfathomable power through the alliance with the demon. Even if the ongoing human-demon war seemed evenly matched for now, ultimately, humans couldn¡¯t defeat the existence of demons. It was predetermined. Humanity would decline, and a new order would emerge. In the twilight, a new era with established order would unfold. He would transcend his innate limitations in this new world and reign as the king, surpassing those who once looked down on him. The betrayer eagerly awaited the day that would change his life. * * * In the dim forest, an untimely groaning sound echoed. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s over!¡± A frail silhouette of an old man twisted his body in various directions, then justy down on the ground, seemingly unfazed by the dirt covering his body. A ck-haired girl, who had been assisting nearby, approached and gently tapped his back. ¡°Thanks, Nyhill.¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Ugh, my muscles feel even more tired since they¡¯re all worn out. After this is over, I should start exercising again.¡± ¡°I have some good training methods I learned during my training. Would you like me to share them?¡± ¡°¡­No, it¡¯s fine.¡± Watching the two, who seemed to be as close as a grandfather and granddaughter, the hero spoke. ¡°Well done. Without you and Yussi, we couldn¡¯t have set up such a tight security so quickly.¡± ¡°No, Leader! Ugh.¡± Noubelmag tried to stand up but hesitated and sat back down. ¡°Why are you cramming that one who is probably sleeping in her bedroom?¡± ¡°Well, she contributed financially.¡± ¡°Ugh, the troubles of theborer.¡± After the recent meeting in the safehouse, various measures were implemented for the safety of the children. Control of ess to the Forest of Martial Arts, strengthened inspections and patrols, and monitoring of staff. Standard security policies, mainly for show to reassure the betrayer. ¡®The real actions were carried out separately.¡¯ The hero¡¯s carefully prepared strategies were graduallying together. Even the act of setting up security equipment in the forest during the night was part of this effort. With his Astera Vision, he could work discreetly, avoiding the gaze of others, and everything proceeded smoothly. However, there was one thing that bothered him. ¡®¡­It¡¯s strangely calm.¡¯ The hero with Astera Vision could detect in real-time anyone approaching the Forest of Martial Arts. Yet, despite wandering in the forest for the past few days, not only was there no evidence of any plot, but there was not even a single instance of a suspicious individual entering or leaving. It was undeniably peculiar. ¡®Surely, they won¡¯t just let this opportunity pass.¡¯ The probability was low, but it couldn¡¯t be entirely ruled out. While the chances of it not happening were higher, he had to prepare diligently. The hero silently stared at the darkened forest. ¡®Tomorrow. Everything will be decided.¡¯ It felt like ying chess with an unseen opponent for days. Not knowing when or how the pieces would move, every moment required heightened vignce. If the danger were only to himself, he might have lived nonchntly as usual. However, as the safety of the children was at stake, even amid thorough preparation, a part of his heart remained uneasy. ¡°¡­Hm.¡± Unconsciously, the hero let out a brief sigh. The two who had been watching him immediately responded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Leader.¡± Noubelmag, who had risen without notice, ced his hand reassuringly on the hero¡¯s shoulder. He tapped his feet, mimicking a crow. ¡°With everyone gathering their strength like this, nothing bad can happen.¡± Nyhill, standing nearby, added in a calm voice. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to protect as well¡­ Lord Noubelmag. It doesn¡¯t look good for your ankles.¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª With a grunt, Noubelmag sat back down. The beads of sweat on the old man¡¯s forehead were being touched by the first light of dawn, gradually permeating the air. Summer was approaching, making the sunrise swift. The hero, gazing at the gradually tinting sky, closed his eyes firmly. Thorough preparation originally brought peace of mind. The extreme training and feedback over the past few months had molded the new students into vibrant and capable individuals. Non-stop drills, various practical exercises, dungeon conquests, a day dedicated to exhibitions, anatomy, simtions, and finally, the much-anticipated Hell Week. These kids had spent an entire year¡¯s worth of densely packed time, facing various challenges, and now their hearts were resilient to most threats. ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s quite vast.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see, is it a mixed forest?¡± ¡°I wonder what kind of magical creatures wille out.¡± Upon arriving on the battlefield, observation was essential. Under the teachings ingrained in them by the hero, the kids instinctively scanned their surroundings. Their minds were already busy running through variousbat simtions. And then, one child eximed, catching everyone¡¯s attention toward a specific part of the forest. ¡°Woah, is that it?¡± A massive sphere floated in the center of the clearing. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°Something¡­¡± ¡°Feels a bit off, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Due to the considerable distance, nothing discernible could be felt. Nevertheless, the kids fell into a peculiar illusion, as if the air itself was uneasy. A strangely ominous feeling. Cuculli shivered, her arm hair standing on end. ¡°That¡¯s an artificial core, I think.¡± Overwhelmed for a moment, the kids quickly regained theirposure. Partially obscured by the presence of Gerald standing beside Ban, they engaged in a conversation. ¡°It seems like it¡¯s not activated yet.¡± ¡°Oh? Ah, right, I can¡¯t sense any mana right now. By the way, how many levels of magic adjustment were possible for that thing?¡± ¡°Well, it can go up to level 5, but we might end up somewhere around levels 1 or 2 at the highest.¡± Using up to level 5 in a practical exercise was a rarity, heard only once in the entire history of Rosenstark. ¡°Hmm, nothing special.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get toocent, we might end up like the orientation again¡­¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Just as such a conversation was unfolding, a moment urred. [Wee, students. Are you all gathered?] A silhouette suddenly appeared at the entrance of the forest. Gray hair cut in a medium length. A bright and neat face resembling a puppy. It was Pia Joyce, the extreme assistant. She stood with a voice amplifier in hand. [From now on, individual actions are prohibited. Please line up and follow me!] Slightly trembling hands. Unlike usual, there was a tense atmosphere. Upon witnessing this, the expressions of the kids quickly turned serious. Swoosh- Thirty-one students followed Pia, who had gone ahead. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 97 Chapter 97 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The hero awaited them at the edge of the forest, not far from the clearing. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s the professor.¡± They entered the clearing with faces halfway between tension and curiosity. The moment the children could rx was only until then. ¡®I¡¯m starting to worry.¡¯ ¡°Hey, look at the professor¡¯s expression. He¡¯s unusually scarier today.¡± As they aligned themselves in front of the hero, a silence naturally fell. Once everyone was in formation, he began speaking. ¡°This midterm exam is about ¡®building points.¡¯ It will be conducted through rtive evaluation, and the goal is to umte as many points as possible within the limited time of 4 hours.¡± ¡­Building points? The children¡¯s heads tilted at the unfamiliar method. Further exnation followed. ¡°There are two ways to earn points. First, ¡®exploration.''¡± Swish¡ª As the hero finished speaking, he pulled out something. It was a small stone, emitting a blue light at regr intervals, just the size of a fingernail. The children were familiar with it. Mana Stone. A mineral containing mana. ¡°I have ced five hundred stones of the same size in the forest. If you find them using detection magic, you will earn 3 points per stone.¡± ¡­The expressions of the children froze. Even if the mana stones the hero brought out were scraps, it was an appropriate size. Of course, at this distance, even faint mana could be felt, but the ce where they were taking the test was a vast forest with a diameter of several kilometers. Moreover¡­ ¡°In a ce saturated with mana like this, it might be challenging to detect the mana emanating from these small stones.¡± In ces with dense mana, detecting the presence of mana bes much more difficult. It would be like searching for something in clear waterpared to muddy water. As if he had read the thoughts of the children, the hero continued. ¡°But this process is essential for you. Does anyone want to exin why?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­Those who get the right answer will receive an additional point.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Hands that weren¡¯t heard before now shot up one after another. The hero pointed to the first person who raised their hand. As everyone else lowered their hands in disappointment, expecting the guy to answer quickly, he spoke. ¡°Ban, go ahead.¡± ¡°¡­We have to perform operations in demonic territoriester. We need to be able to detect mana proficiently even in dense environments.¡± ¡°Go into more detail. Give us a simple example.¡± ¡°Well, during operations, it¡¯s not umon for the reconnaissance team to scatter for various reasons.¡± Casualties dropping out. Situations where individualbat erupts. Maneuvers to avoid pursuit. Ban calmly continued to answer, providing enough examples that could likely ur. ¡°In such cases, quickly detecting and joining forces with teammates is essential to minimize risks. That¡¯s why we need to be proficient in ¡®detection within mana.''¡± ¡°A good answer.¡± A subdued murmur of admiration flowed among the children. The hero raised the mana stone again and spoke. ¡°Don¡¯t just think of this as a stone. It could be a teammate you need to rescue or a rescue team waiting desperately in a fallen situation. It¡¯s better to approach the exploration with that determination.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The children responded with enthusiasm. Listening to the hero¡¯s exnation, it seemed as if they were already members of an exploration team active in the demonic realm, and a sense of pride swelled within them. Extreme lectures had this advantage. Clear and concise exnations that directly pointed out why they were undergoing such training. There was no choice but to follow with a strong sense of purpose. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Watching the determined children, the hero nodded slowly. ¡®If you keep your detection active to find the mana stones, at least you won¡¯t be attacked unknowingly even if you don¡¯t understand what¡¯s going on.¡¯ A kind of safety measure. It was also an opportunity to improve the proficiency of detection, a skill often neglectedpared tobat techniques, even with diligent practice. And so, the next exnation unfolded. ¡°The second way to earn points is ¡®subjugation.''¡± This was expected. The children clenched their fists. ¡°Common magical creatures are worth 1 point. Other magical creatures have different point values depending on their types. If necessary, you can cooperate with your peers to subjugate them.¡± ¡°Grrrrroar!¡± The distant cry of a magical creature startled the children, and they looked around nervously. These were the creatures released for today¡¯s exam. The hero continued the exnation nonchntly. ¡°Since they are all magical creatures we covered in the previous theory lectures, if you¡¯ve reviewed diligently, you should be able to subjugate them easily. Any questions?¡± Given the intuitive nature of the test, no additional questions were raised. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll distribute the survival kits.¡± All eyes of the children focused on the center of the clearing, where a pile of supplies was stacked. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s a lot here.¡± ¡°Is this the kit we received during dungeon practice?¡± ¡­ It was a more reinforced version. The new survival kit contained several useful items. First, a map detailing the terrain of the forest. Although filled withplex symbols, map reading was one of the first things the children learned in their Parchment ss. ¡°But what¡¯s this here?¡± The children discovered ¡®refuge¡¯ points marked in blue throughout the map, ces unfamiliar to the Forest of Martial Arts. The hero added an exnation. ¡°As you explore the forest, your mana will deplete rapidly. You¡¯ll resist demonic energy while extending detection and engaging inbat with magical creatures simultaneously.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°So, we deemed that shelters are necessary. Each shelter is equipped with a purification barrier that prevents magical intrusion. Use them to recover stamina and mana when needed.¡± The children nodded in understanding. The rest of theponents of the survival kit were familiar to them. An artifact used during dungeon practice that automatically deployed a protective spell when taking significant damage. Emergency mana boosters and light res. Items thoroughly upgraded and nurtured by the hero for the safety of the children. ¡°Oh?¡± It was when Cuculli pulled out a strange artifact from the kit. ¡°Professor! You didn¡¯t exin this!¡± It was a bracelet with a small dial attached to the body. The number ¡®0¡¯ was written in the center. The hero responded sinctly. ¡°It¡¯s a score recorder. When you subjugate magical creatures, your score goes up, and if multiple people contribute to subjugation, it automatically calctes and distributes the score.¡± Crafted by Noubelmag and Pia. It includes a simple video recording function, a magical density disy, and even a protective shield. ¡°By the way, the scores for mana stones will be tallied separately after the exam is over, so keep them in the pocket inside the kit for retrieval.¡± ¡°Ah, got it!¡± ¡°Now, everyone will wear the score recorder on their wrists from now on.¡± Snap! The sound of wearing the recorder echoed in the clearing. Once the hero confirmed everyone had put it on, he stood before the densely packed forest. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Now then.¡± The area they were currently in was a kind of safe zone not affected by demonic energy. Once they stepped beyond this point, the true appearance of the Forest of Martial Arts would reveal itself. ¡°Open the path.¡± Shh-shh-shh-shh- The dense branches intertwined seamlessly, moving as one. In an instant, thirty-one paths, enough for one person to travel through, were connected to the vacant lot. The hero spoke to the wide-eyed children. ¡°Good luck.¡± The extreme midterm exam had begun. * * * Dadadadada- Ban swiftly navigated through the dense forest. Since the start of the exam, the face of the boy who hadn¡¯t stopped even once showed spreading drops of thick sweat. But there was no sign of fatigue. ¡®Top 3¡­¡¯ ¡­I must achieve it. In his mind, Ban recalled the faces of his rivals. There were three that immediately came to mind. Leciel, Cuculli, Luke. ¡­Leciel went without saying. Cuculli, with her vast mana reserves, seemed to have a significant advantage in this prolonged exam. She could progress without needing to visit the shelters. Beforeing to Rosenstark, Luke¡¯s usual requests were often rted to exploration and subjugation, just like this exam. The experience between him and others differed significantly. Nothing was easy in this situation. ¡®Nevertheless¡­¡¯ There was a corner where he could pin his hopes. The exam wasn¡¯t simply about subjugation. Ban¡¯s specialty was detection. He was confident in searching for mana stones. Beep-beep-beep. The number that was 0 at the forest¡¯s entrance had suddenly risen to 15. The demonic energy density was already heading towards the second level. ¡®I need to find as many mana stones as possible before the demonic energy bes denser.¡¯ Shh-shh-shh! Mana originating from Ban¡¯s heart spread in all directions. The range of perception expanded several times in an instant. ¡®Huh?¡¯ In an instant, he felt Cuculli¡¯s mana not far ahead. Even in the swirling demonic energy, Cuculli¡¯s unique cool and crisp aura pierced through with a noticeable presence. As if she had no intention of holding back, she emitted mana at a formidable level. He nodded slowly. ¡®She went to catch the high-point magical creatures marked on the map.¡¯ He had already expected that Cuculli wouldn¡¯t spend much time on exploration. After all, she considered everything mundane unless it involvedbat. Thud! Ban immediately changed direction. With such amotion, magical creatures naturally gathered around that area. It wouldn¡¯t be a smooth exploration. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Ban skillfully avoided magical creatures, using detection to find mana stones. Underneath trees. In the crevices of rocks. In the mud by the stream. The ces where mana stones were hidden were diverse. When he found about four, Ban fell into thought. ¡®Avoiding magical creatures and finding mana stones. It¡¯s too inefficient.¡¯ But there was no clear solution. Frustrated, Ban dispersed his mana as widely as possible. ¡®¡­Huh?¡¯ It was then. The edge of the extended mana, a clear indication of a mana stone, was captured. Ban abruptly stopped. ¡®F-five of them gathered in one ce?¡¯ The coveted opportunity for a high score. However, Ban¡¯s feet remained firmly nted, refusing to move. It was because along with the mana stones, he also sensed the presence of a magical creature. Ban stared into the dark forest with shaking eyes. Night-colored eyebrows gathered and then dispersed repeatedly. ¡®¡­Should I at least check it out?¡¯ Once he went, who knew what opportunities might arise. It was a chance to earn a whopping 15 points. Unable to let fear take over, Ban pushed forward again. ¡­And arrived at the location. ¡®Huh?¡¯ There was already someone there. Ban cautiously called out the person¡¯s name. ¡°¡­Leciel?¡± Under the dim shadow of the forest, her red hair swayed like a me. Leciel, upon noticing Ban, looked at him with surprised eyes. ¡°¡­Did you follow me?¡± Excessive self-consciousness¡­ Her poprity was too great to criticize her. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 98 Chapter 98 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°¡­¡­¡± He tried to say that wasn¡¯t true. But there was something else to do first. Swoosh- The boy dragged Leciel into the bushes where he was. With half of Leciel pinned to Ban¡¯s chest, she looked up at him with eyes that seemed betrayed. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Uh, sorry. Your hair color was too noticeable.¡± Leciel soon understood the meaning of those words. Kikirurururu-! It was the forest path they had just encountered and the tall tree not far away. Somethingrge flew and perched on top. ¡®¡­A demon?¡¯ It was a bird-type demon. The unfolded wings seemed to exceed a diameter of three meters. Its appearance was very strange¡­ Not only were eyes attached only to the silky head, but also a giant pupil was embedded in the bulging stomach. The mouth was unusuallyrgepared to its size. Degrururu. The crimson-eyed pupil moved around, guarding all directions. Leciel felt a little embarrassed after the misunderstanding. ¡°Well, I again.¡± Ban whispered, lowering his voice. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± ¡°Do you know what kind of demon that is?¡± ¡°I know. I learned about it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡­Theory is difficult. While Leciel kept his mouth shut, Ban cautiously observed the demon, poking only his head out. The creature¡¯s name was ¡®Vitor.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t an individual with exceptionally strongbat power, but it was a demon that was quite challenging to subdue or capture. Its excessive wariness made it prone to escape at the slightest provocation. When fleeing, its habit of relocating an entire nest in its mouth made it difficult to identify its habitat. ¡°¡­Look at that.¡± In the middle of the tree where the creature was perched, there was a crudely constructed nest. The two quickly realized what was in the nest. Since the mana emitted from the mana stone was being detected there. Leciel looked at Ban again. ¡°Do you have a good idea?¡± ¡°Well¡­ actually, it¡¯s quite simple with two people. One attracts attention, and the other catches the mana stone.¡± Leciel nodded. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s cooperate.¡± ¡°C-Can we really?¡± ¡°Will you do it, or should I?¡± It was a story about attracting attention as bait. Ban swallowed his saliva. ¡°I¡¯ll do it. You¡¯re better at climbing trees than I am.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Although he was somewhat worried, asking if it would be okay here would hurt his pride. Leciel swiftly turned his body. Charak-! The longsword held in Leciel¡¯s hand transformed into a short dagger. The operation was about to begin. ¡­Shh. Ban slowly emerged from the tall grass. Deliberately not looking at Vitor, he walked forward. Pretending not to notice. Pretending to be an easy prey. However, he mobilized all the mana in his body, skillfully weaving a dense mana. Vitor was very agile. It would be toote to capture its movements with all senses. ¡®Carefully¡­.¡¯ Flutter-! Before the faint sound of its small wing ps could reach his ears, Ban¡¯s senses detected its movement one step ahead. ¡°Uaaaah!¡± With all his strength, Ban stabbed the dagger in the direction where the creature was descending, propelling his body backward. Squelch-! ¡­He avoided it! In the nick of time, Vitor¡¯s ws clenched the ground, making a chilling sound as it shattered. On the other hand, Ban¡¯s swung dagger hit precisely on the creature¡¯s vulnerable spot. Kikirurururu-! Perhaps angered, bloodshot veins appeared simultaneously in the creature¡¯s white eyes. Ban recoiled in horror. ¡®Disgusting!¡¯ ¡­Meanwhile. As Vitor flew towards Ban, Leciel threw the ¡®Shape Shifter¡¯ transformed into a dagger towards the tree where the nest was located. Thud-! The dagger stuck halfway into the trunk. Leciel quickly ran, kicked the ground, and leaped up. There was no need to climb that was out of shape. Whoosh- Because the mana gripped her body heavily, her leap was lower than usual. But it didn¡¯t matter. Everything was calcted in advance. Leciel stepped precisely on the dagger located under her foot and leaped again. It was a graceful and skilled movement reminiscent of gymnastic exercises. Chin-! Leciel, flipping her body in mid-air, swiftly grabbed the mana stones inside the nest. With her head facing the ground during the fall, it was a precarious position where her neck would undoubtedly break if shended as is. Thud-! While pulling out the Shape Shifter stuck in the trunk with her foot, Leciel forcefully kicked the tree, raising her body again. ¡°Wow.¡± Ban, forgetting the creature in front of him, watched the performance that resembled an acrobatic feat. Thump-! The trunk of the tree swayed significantly, and Leciel shot forward like an arrow. Simultaneously, the Shape Shifter took on a spear-like form. ng-ng-ng-! The spear sparkled from a distance, and then¡­ Keyeeeek-! The sharp tip pierced through Vitor¡¯s neck, scattering ck blood in all directions. The creature slumped sideways. Looking down at Ban from above, Leciel raised an eyebrow. Ban opened his mouth, then closed it again. ¡®¡­She could have easily obtained the mana stones on her own.¡¯ Ding-! A notification sound echoed from the score tracker on her wrist. The score for subduing Vitor was 15 points. Ban received an impressive 5 points. Swoosh- Leciel unexpectedly extended the hand holding the clenched fist. ¡®Is she challenging me to a fist bump?¡¯ There was an unexpectedly easy going side to her. Ban cautiously extended his fist and bumped it against hers. However, he met Leciel¡¯s grimaced face. ¡°No, take it.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Ban nkly stared at the three mana stones on his palm. ¡­9 points. Considering the subjugation score, he had earned 14 points in less than 10 minutes. But instead of joy, there was more confusion. ¡®There were five mana stones in the nest.¡¯ Even if he taught her the strategy, Leciel should have taken at least 3¡­ no, about 4, right? ¡®Leciel was also ambitious about her score.¡¯ Indeed, she was looking at the mana stones on her hand with eyes shedding disappointment. Ban promptly extended his hand again. ¡°It seems like you should take more.¡± ¡°Never mind.¡± Ignoring his outstretched hand, Leciel turned away. It was an unexpected situation. Soon, another unexpected situation unfolded. Leciel didn¡¯t leave first; instead, she stood as if waiting for him. Startled by the red hair that almost brushed against his nose, Ban took a step back. ¡°Come with me.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be hunting demons, and you can look for mana stones on the side.¡± ¡­Why? Baffled by the unexpected party proposal, Ban couldn¡¯t help but wear a puzzled expression. As he hesitated, Leciel drove her point home. ¡°Why are you just standing there so cluelessly? Don¡¯t you need points?¡± Whether it was a taunt or a favor, he couldn¡¯t tell. But he couldn¡¯t miss this opportunity. Ban quickly caught up with Leciel, who had started walking ahead. ¡°I¡¯ll share the mana stones if I find any.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯ll manage that myself.¡± Leciel, gritting her lips, sprinted towards the depths of the forest. It was aplex and subtle expression. ¡­Taking care of Ban. A few days ago, she overheard a conversation about the boy¡¯s mother in the garden by chance. . . . This somewhat regrettable decision. She had no idea that this would end up saving her life. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª * * * Meanwhile, a bit further away from them, in the forest, a demon resembling a giant mantis stood tall. Its two scythe-shaped front legs plunged towards the ground, and between them, a crescent-shaped ice de pierced through. The creature¡¯s head fell off abruptly. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± But that wasn¡¯t the end. Its front legs rose again. Cuculli, who ignored the theory, didn¡¯t know this fact. Insect-type demons could still move for a short time even if their heads were severed. Due to their extremely slow metabolism and narrow blood vessels, they could briefly survive such fatal injuries. At that moment¡ª ¡°Get out of the way.¡± Sharruk-sharruk-! A hefty iron chain wrapped around the mantis¡¯s front legs and pulled them away forcefully. Thunk-! Following that, Phegon¡¯s head, wiggling between the creature¡¯s torso, shattered it into pieces. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve never seen a demon like this in my entire life. I didn¡¯t expect this.¡± ¡°¡­We learned about it in ss.¡± Cuculli let out a deep sigh. ¡°Luke, men who cling to trivial things aren¡¯t popr. Men who secretly followdies are even less popr.¡± ¡°There are two errors in your statement just now. You¡¯re not ady, and I didn¡¯t secretly follow you.¡± ¡°Hmph, then how long are you nning to keep following me?¡± Even though a dangerous situation had just unfolded, Cucullizily stretched and yawned as if it was nothing. Even a demon several timesrger than her and a fellow student who had followed her since the start of the exam didn¡¯t seem like significant threats to her. ¡°Well, who knows? I might follow you for another hour.¡± Luke replied while staring intently at the ice crystals floating near his cheek. Crackling sounds echoed around, and the surroundings looked drastically different from before. Frozen leaves covered the forest floor like a nket, and a thinyer of frost covered the ground. Sunlight filtered through the branches, revealing a peaceful winter forest. Except for the fact that the bodies of demons, more than a dozen of them, were rolling on the ground. ¡®¡­There¡¯s really no reason to leave.¡¯ Following Cuculli proved to be a highly efficient strategy. She consulted the map and targeted high-scoring demons first. Instead of discreetly handling them, she boldly unleashed her mana to crush them. Due to the aftermath of the mana storm, various lesser demons were drawn to themotion, and Luke could effortlessly subdue them, earning high points. Except for the fact that he was now apanying Cuculli in tackling the demons she faced during the remaining time. ¡°Hmm, are we in a crocodile and crocodile bird rtionship?¡± Cuculli jokingly remarked. She didn¡¯t particrly dislike it either. Thanks to Luke, the speed at which they dealt with demons increased, and there were times when he provided assistance, like just now. Moreover, these demons were not formidable opponents who would willingly sacrifice their lives for a fight, so there was no sense of interference with the duel. ¡­Thunk. So, naturally, they found themselves walking with a certain distance between them. asionally, there was some conversation, mostly initiated by Cuculli. ¡°Can I join in your training¡­ I mean, beating up Ban? It looks fun!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll consider it negatively.¡± Or something like that. ¡°But you seem to like Evergreen. It¡¯s so obvious when you¡¯re watching from the side.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But it seems like she¡¯ll take a long time to open her eyes to romance. Good luck with that!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Well,e to think of it, it seems like you¡¯re in a simr situation. Hang in there, tough guy!¡± ¡°¡­Shut up, please.¡± ¡­These were mostly the kinds of conversations they had. Since Luke consistently responded with indifference, Cuculli soon became quiet. After about ten minutes of silence, Luke unexpectedly spoke up. ¡°But why don¡¯t you challenge me? You¡¯ve forced yourself into sparring with other ssmates.¡± Cuculli, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped. Turning her head, she stared at Luke and burst into a genuineugh. ¡°If I wanted to fight you, would you have epted? You wouldn¡¯t have fought, right?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Before Luke could respond, Cuculli continued. ¡°More than anything, after sparring with Leciel just once, the others seemed just mediocre. And you¡­ well, you¡¯re strong. But still not enough for me.¡± ¡°¡­Ha.¡± ¡°You know it too, right?¡± Cuculli left behind such provocative words and resumed walking. Luke, surprisingly, did not deny it and quietly followed her. She continued with a humming tone. ¡°Both you and me. Wee from a ce where if we don¡¯t urately understand each other¡¯s strength, we can¡¯t survive.¡± Cuculli. Always showing a half-hearted, carefree appearance, but Luke knew well that it wasn¡¯t the whole picture. Her hometown was at the edge of the world, the Great Snow Sea. The memories that ce left for the boy who had gone near there for the sake of the mercenary group were something he didn¡¯t want to experience again. For the children who grew up like greenhouse flowers the Great snow sea were an unimaginable ce. It wasn¡¯t all pure and innocent, and living in such a deadly ce required a certain toughness. Perhaps that¡¯s why, for him, Cuculli was the only one among his peers who gave off a sense of kinship. ¡­Luke changed the subject. ¡°So, where are you going now?¡± ¡°Hmm? Ah, the magical train station.¡± ¡°¡­The magical train station? Why?¡± ¡°Why go~! To ride the train, of course!¡± Luke was dumbfounded for a moment. But going there just for the fun of it? That was a different story. He knew, of course, that in the Forest of Martial Arts, there were magical trains and railways for transporting goods. It was also marked on the map handed out by the Hero. It was a necessary means of transportation, considering the vastness of the Forest of Martial Arts, too challenging to manage on foot. However, that was for official business. There was no way students participating in the midterm exam could just use it as they pleased. ¡°¡­So, is it allowed?¡± ¡°Well, no one told us not to, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If you treat every ss as a real battle, you have to act like it! Right? You use any means necessary on the battlefield!¡± ¡­Why is she like this only at times like this? Luke thought for a moment about Cuculli¡¯s actions, boarding the magical train at the station, and found it quite absurd. . . . However, unfortunately, Cuculli¡¯s enthusiasm was thwarted. At the control seat, she stood before the unmoving train with eyes filled with despair. ¡°Uh, what should I do?¡± ¡°¡­What can we do when we came without any ns? Honestly, it was absurd to think we could ride a magical train during the exam. Why did I follow you?¡± In response to Luke¡¯s sarcasticint, Cuculli, standing in front of the control panel, looked at the motionless vehicle with a despondent expression. ¡°Then we can¡¯t ride it?¡± ¡°Ah, damn it, wait.¡± Cuculli¡¯s hopeful gaze followed Luke as he went to fetch a toolbox that was visible on one side of the control seat. He walked around the train once, inspecting it before returning. ¡°For now, there don¡¯t seem to be any issues with the traction motor or other equipment¡­ We need to check the magical control panel.¡± In response to Luke¡¯s somewhat skilled actions, Cuculli¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Oh, how do you even know about this?¡± ¡°¡­When you¡¯ve been in the mercenary business, you end up meeting people who¡¯ve done all sorts of jobs. I learned maintenance back then.¡± Cuculli¡¯s eyes narrowed as if assessing him, her gaze sweeping from his face to his toes. ¡°Hmm¡­ Is this kind of skill useless for a mercenary? Why did you bother learning it? Aren¡¯t you someone who likes efficiency?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Yeah? Yeah??¡± ¡°¡­Okay, that¡¯s enough.¡± Wooong! As the light entered the instrument panel, Luke muttered in bewilderment. ¡°It¡¯s really working. Wait, what? Did they design it to be ready for us to ride?¡± ¡°Kyaaaa!¡± As if she had forgotten the question she just asked, she shouted, grabbing Luke in a headlock. ¡°Great! Let¡¯s sweep through the north first!¡± ¡ª That was the moment when the ssmates were building some teamwork in their own ways. Evergreen, who was diligently focusing on the exam, looked at a fellow student emerging from the dense forest with a puzzled expression. ¡­Should I greet them? Or should I not say anything? Brief contemtion. When their eyes met, Evergreen immediately averted her gaze and mumbled. ¡°¡­Oh, hello, Lucas.¡± Power dynamics were indeed intimidating! HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 99 Chapter 99 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Before the start of the exam. The protective artifact given to the children was the first safety device prepared by the Hero. Unlike the supplies provided by Rosentark for practical use, it was a much higher-grade item, suitable for noble use as a personal protective gear. If the owner experiences a certain level of impact, a barrier of ¡®Calidus¡¯ grade is activated, and the precise coordinates are reported to the linked artifact. Although it boasted a considerable price as a high-quality item that could be called a spare life, it didn¡¯t matter to the Hero who had the continent¡¯s richest person as apanion. ¡­ One hour after the start of the exam. The first protective artifact was activated. Kkiiieeek-! The Hero looked at the demon outside the imprable barrier, furiously scraping the ground with its hooves. A small silhouette trembling inside is also visible. The name of that demon is ¡®Cabrera.¡¯ Unlike its appearance resembling a deer, it had a mouth structure and freely movable de-shaped hooves unsuitable for herbivores. ¡°Ugh¡­.¡± The suppression was quick. ck hope reached out, approaching without making a sound. Kwaaaang-! With a heavy thud against the ground, the sound of footsteps and the demon¡¯s scream were buried without a trace. As the chilling scream and breathing disappeared, Aileen raised her head with her head wedged between her knees. The Hero was casually looking down at her. ¡­Tock. Tock. Drops of ck blood dripped from the wide shoulders of the ck Hope. After that, a demon corpse, torn in half, came into view. ¡°Uhh¡­¡± Aileen breathed a sigh of relief, copsing towards the ground with fatigue enough to want to lie down with her back. At the same time, a deep sense of regret overwhelmed her. The activation of the protective artifact meant immediate elimination from the exam. Eliminated participants could no longer umte points and had to move to the designated safety zone. Since there was still plenty of time until the end, the regret doubled. ¡°Any injuries?¡± ¡°Oh, none.¡± ¡°As of now, I conclude Aileen Lever¡¯s midterm exam. Any objections?¡± ¡°¡­None.¡± She lowered her head dejectedly, and the Hero, who alternately examined the demon corpse lying behind, spoke. ¡°The weakness of Cabrera is the tendons connected to the hind hooves and the dark spots on the back. You should have learned that in ss. Did you forget?¡± ¡°Well¡­ it was too fast, and the attacks kept missing, and my mana was almost depleted, so I got confused.¡± Aileen frowned. The Hero examined the traces of the surrounding battles and then matched her eye level. ¡°Seems like you were focusing on big attacks.¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, yes¡­¡± Aileen¡¯s main weapon was the Bastard Sword. Supplementary weapons included lightweight weapons such as short swords and daggers. However, near the terrain features, only the marks of the Bastard Sword remained. ¡°Aileen, as I mentioned in thest ss, knowing how to choose the right weapon for the situation is also a skill.¡± ¡°Well, I was too nervous¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Since you¡¯ve failed once, you¡¯ll do better next time. Don¡¯t get too discouraged.¡± Aileen¡¯s eyes became teary at the kind tone. ¡°I¡¯ll practice the supplementary weapons harder too. I¡¯m sorry, Professor¡­¡± The Hero nodded and reached out to support her as she sat down hesitantly. Aileen stood up more confidently as if everything was okay now. ¡®¡­Some of them were expected to be like this.¡¯ Hell training, practical exercises¡ªthese were really different from facing demons in realbat. Once you start to panic, it¡¯s hard to regain control. ¡®¡­It¡¯s a pity.¡¯ The Hero¡¯s eyes passed over the demon¡¯s corpse¡ªmore precisely, the bluntly split fang and the stake. For highly dangerous demons, such measures were taken. If she had judiciously restrained with supplementary weapons and calmly approached the attack, she might have utilized that point to sessfully subdue the demon. However, she couldn¡¯t do that, and she ultimately concluded the exam with a total of 15 points. ¡®By the way, it¡¯s about time to receive a message.¡¯ Beep-beep! Themunication device attached to his ear rang at that moment. [Leader, there are no abnormalities outside the control center.] [Hero, there are no issues inside the center yet!] They were the second safety devices he had prepared: Yussi and Felson. Both were positioned where the possibility of the ¡®coborator¡¯ targeting was the highest¡ªin the Forest of Martial Arts, at the control center. * * * About 10 minutes ago. Felson looked at the massive building in front of him. ¡­The control center. It was the ce overseeing everything in the facilities within the Forest of Martial Arts. Unusually, all external walls were made of transparent ss panels, designed for real-time observation of the artificial core from the inside. ¡®¡­Hmm.¡¯ Felson¡¯s eyes, passing through the purification magic form engraved densely on the frame and ss, turned towards various security devices such as sensors and video recording modifications. Even so, it was the first time he had directly seen the control center with his own eyes. The security level was undoubtedly high, evenpared to other Rosentark facilities. ¡®¡­It¡¯s natural for a facility that has to manage such things.¡¯ Wuuuuuung- The artificial core exuded a strong presence from a considerable distance above the control center. No, it was closer to ominousness than presence. Felson¡¯s expression turned fierce as he felt a resemnce to the cores he had relentlessly destroyed before. ¡®The invention of Zero¡­.¡¯ Zero was famous for devoting himself to magical research. In response to his request, all captured demons, monsters, and core samples from the battlefield were sent to Zero¡¯s researchb, and research continued through the numerous specimens. The artificial core was one of the byproducts. A device with the exact same function as a core, capable of absorbing mana from the atmosphere and converting it into demonic energy. That moment arrived. Ding-Ding-Ding- The numbers on the cold magical measurement device on the wrist began to rise. Krrrr- Magical clouds emitted from the top of the artificial core¡¯s pipe. Before the start of the test, the Hero had informed the control team of how often to raise the magical concentration at intervals of a few minutes. At the agreed-upon time, they released the magical power stored in the artificial core. Chichijik- Not long after, the voice of the Hero echoed through themunication device attached to the ear. [Yussi, get ready for entry.] A slightly trembling voice responded, ¡°Uh, it¡¯s been a while since we carried out a mission¡­ It¡¯s nice.¡± [Felson, stay on standby. How¡¯s the situation over there?] Felson also muttered quietly, ¡°Everything¡¯s normal.¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Currently, Felson was concealed in a high ce near the control center, atop tall trees. It was a location that could monitor not only external personnel approaching the control center but also the movements inside and the artificial core. Felson did not let down his guard, recalling the final briefing from the previous night. ¡°As you know, the control center oversees everything in the facilities within the Forest of Martial Arts.¡± By manipting the artificial core, the concentration of demonic energycould be adjusted. It was even possible to release the monsters they were managing for practice. If they could control the control center, they could turn the Forest of Martial Arts into a field of chaos without relying on external forces, or so the story went. ¡°So, most likely, they¡¯ll aim for the control center. There¡¯s a considerable chance of an insider among the center staff. No, assume there is and act ordingly.¡± ¡°Felson, take care of external intruders, and Yussi, rush to the center when I give the signal.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down. If you make a mistake, the kids are in danger.¡± ¡­End. It was inevitable that his son¡¯s face momentarily invaded his mind. [Arriving at the control center entrance in 3 minutes] [¡­ Yussi] [Why, Felson?] [I¡¯m counting on you.] After a moment of silence, Yussi¡¯s cheerful voice continued. [How about expressing that deep fatherly love directly?] ¡°What are you talking about?¡± [The academy offers counseling regrly these days. It seems like your son needs more attention and love from his parents, right?] Felson¡¯s expression seemed as if he had been hit but then turned into a bitter smile. ¡°Learned that through theft. It¡¯s not easy even if you try.¡± [me it on Dietrich¡¯s bad tradition.] ¡°¡­Exactly.¡± Yussiughed at the rough but awkward fatherly figure. Well, it was said that Felson¡¯s personality had changed to be more likable after meeting Jenny Dietrich. [He became human too.] Even Felson couldn¡¯t refute the remark from Noubelmag, who had been silently listening. Having a casual conversation before the operation was one of the long-standing habits of the Dawn Knights. Since they knew it was to calm excitement and tension, the Hero didn¡¯t discourage it. Once they entered the operation, they were more immersed than anyone else. [Arriving at the control center entrance in 10 seconds] ¡°Hmm.¡± Felson, who let out a brief sigh, focused his mana on his eyes. Near the main entrance of the control center, Yussi¡¯s vibrant blue hair and slender figure were distinctly present. The guards at the main gate who spotted her seemed to be in a rush. ¡°Hey, you¡¯ve all been working hard.¡± ¡°P-Principal?! Um, why are you here at our center¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, I should¡¯ve reported while I was at it? I didn¡¯t know that.¡± A moment of deathly silence fell over themunication devices. To them, Yussi was nothing short of a troublemakingpanion. To the staff at the academy, she was practically a deity, controlling their livelihood with her words. ¡°I absolutely did not mean it in that way¡­¡± ¡°Ahaha, just kidding, just kidding. The reason I came¡­ It seems like this test has some experimental elements and is a bit risky, right?¡± ¡°Y-Yes.¡± ¡°As the overall responsible person, I felt a strong sense of duty. So, I want to monitor the forest with our hardworking control team to ensure the safety of the students¡­ Is there anyone dissatisfied?¡± Of course, there wasn¡¯t. ¡°Now, let¡¯s go in.¡± That¡¯s how Yussi entered the heart of the control center without anyone¡¯s objection. If there were a traitor or someone colluding, they would have been surprised. Yussi was known to be absent today due to externalmitments. The Hero asked straightforwardly. [How¡¯s the situation inside?] The members waited in hushed anticipation for Yussi¡¯s response. ¡°Hee-hee~¡± A lively snort. It was a signal that everything was going smoothly. ¡°Where¡¯s the secure watch?¡± ¡°W-Why do you need the secure watch¡­?¡± ¡°Oh? A staff member answering back?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll guide you immediately!¡± Beep-beep-! Following that, a series of mechanical sounds came through themunication device. Yussi was seen sitting in front of the secure watch in the control center. The secure watch was a device that could monitor all hundreds of video recording points installed in the forest. This allowed them to be prepared for unforeseen dangers to the children, even if they didn¡¯t anticipate them. ¡®All right. Now, let¡¯s see how this unfolds.¡¯ Felson recalled the events from yesterday once again. ¡°The artificial core going haywire, or the release of isted monsters. You just need to be cautious in these two cases.¡± ¡°I understand that those two are the most likely scenarios. But couldn¡¯t they try other methods? Like hiding in the forest in advance andunching an ambush¡­ or introducing external personnel the moment the test starts?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle the response to that part, so don¡¯t worry.¡± The Hero shook his head. The two examples he mentioned could be dealt with using Astera Vision. ¡°Anyway, I won¡¯t be away from the kids. It¡¯s for their safety, but also because I need to be away from the control center for them to move actively.¡± The Hero¡¯s sunken, ash-colored eyes turned toward hisrades. ¡°So, your role in identifying the traitor is the most important. Yussi, if you notice anyone showing suspicious behavior inside, observe them closely. Felson, stay in ambush outside and be vignt.¡± Of course, if they didn¡¯t care about the children¡¯s safety, they could have prepared a more definite trap. But that wasn¡¯t what Yussi, Felson, or the Hero wanted. ¡®So, let¡¯s seize this opportunity.¡¯ Felson extended his mana, enveloping the entire area of the control center¡¯s premises. The movements and presence of isted monsters in the building¡¯s underground were as clear as if he were right in front of them. The problem was on the artificial core side. Due to the nature of the core, which absorbed mana from the atmosphere, detection in that area was futile. It had to be visually inspected. Felson moved a bit closer to the artificial core. The only visually distinct feature from the real core was that its color was precisely divided into halves. One half was a vivid blue, and the other half was a deep violet. Woo-woo-woo-woo! From the pipe at the top of the core, a continuously billowing demonic energy cloud, close to ck, spread out. Given the need to spread demonic energy across a giant grove with a diameter of several kilometers, the concentration was substantial. Certainly, it wasn¡¯t an immediate burden for Felson. However, if the demonic energy stored inside the core were to burst out all at once, it would undoubtedly be perilous. ¡°Umm¡­.¡± Highly concentrated demonic energy is as deadly as a potent poison. Just being close to it can shake a person¡¯s mind and have detrimental effects. For instance, it can momentarily manifest unwanted illusions. Familiar scents and a warm touch. Hair that tickles the nose. The clear sound ofughter. Felson took a deep breath. [Leader, currently, there are no abnormalities outside the control center.] HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 100 Chapter 100 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Just don¡¯t greet me! Evergreen, facing Lucas¡¯s arrogant face, let out a deep sigh. ¡­ Of course, she was very careful not to let it be heard. ¡°Haha¡­ W-what¡¯s wrong? Yourplexion looks really bad.¡± ¡°Hangover. I drank until dawn.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ You drank when there¡¯s an exam today?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of the exam? I¡¯m already out of the eyes of the hero.¡± Evergreen¡¯s pupils shook. The rumors about Lucas seemed to be true without exaggeration. Associating with unsavory seniors and causing various troubles in flying¡­ such unbing rumors. Seeing the bewildered Evergreen, Lucas¡¯s mouth twisted. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°Oh, no¡­ I was just thinking, Lucas is an adult. Ahaha.¡± ¡°Envious? Wannae with me once?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay!¡± ¡°Well, anyway, it won¡¯t be fun for you because there are only girls.¡± ¡­Isn¡¯t it more fun if there are only girls? Evergreen briefly pondered such a question, but didn¡¯t express it out loud. ¡°Well then, do well on the exam¡­!¡± As she was discreetly disappearing, Lucas spat out abruptly. ¡°Hey, I¡¯ll give you one piece of advice.¡± ¡°Uh, okay.¡± ¡­ Lucas¡¯s advice? I don¡¯t know what it is, but I don¡¯t feel like listening to it. It seems unnecessary. But she couldn¡¯t just ignore it as if it were nothing, as much as her heart desired. After all, that guy was the heir to a duke¡¯s family, a noble house that could easily push a mouse-sized family off the cliff with a single breath! Evergreen forced a forced smile and waited for Lucas¡¯s ¡®advice¡¯. There was a faint feeling that her lips were going to twitch. ¡°You know. You came to the academy to somehow save your rat-sized family.¡± ¡°Hahaha, well, it¡¯s not like that. I¡¯m working hard.¡± ¡°If you really want that, make some friends properly. With nutritious ones.¡± Lucasughed and continued, sneering. ¡°Don¡¯t you still get it? The key to your survival isworking.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Anyway, being able to remain as a disciple of the hero until graduation and receive benefits is a privilege for a few, right? It will probably be limited to idiots like Cuculli and Leciel. Do you think a hero would give a disciple title to someone ordinary like you?¡± ¡°Well, is that so¡­?¡± ¡°But you¡¯re hanging out with an uneducated mercenary and a bastard.¡± At those words, a smile faded from Evergreen¡¯s expression. ¡°¡­Don¡¯t say that, they¡¯re good people.¡± ¡°Huh, good people?¡± Lucas¡¯s cold and sticky gaze reached Evergreen. An unusual anger was swirling within him. ¡®What¡¯s wrong, why is he like that¡­?¡¯ Evergreen took a step back without realizing it. ¡°You don¡¯t know why Ban can¡¯t hold a sword, do you want me to tell you?¡± No! I don¡¯t want to know. ¡®That¡¯s something to talk about when the person wants to!¡¯ But before Evergreen could plug her ears, Lucas spoke with a triumphant voice. ¡°That brat¡­¡± Vroooom! Vroom! Vroom! Suddenly, a loud honk interrupted Lucas¡¯s revtion. ng! Creak! The sound of metal scraping followed. It was quite close. ¡®What, what is it?¡¯ Evergreen, surprised, looked at the origin of the noise and then turned her gaze back to Lucas. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± He was gone. In her confusion, Evergreen looked around, and at that moment. The bushes on the other side shook, revealing familiar silhouettes. An exaggerated voice followed. ¡°Surrender!¡± Evergreen, who was stringing arrows for the protest, sighed with relief and lowered her arm. ¡°Cuculli¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, Evergreen! Meeting here, it truly can¡¯t be anything but a fateful encounter¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Cuculli and Luke bickered, standing in front of Evergreen. As if they were extremely excited, the horns on both sides of the head were wiggling vigorously. Seeing that scene, the difort from earlier seemed to melt away like snow, and Evergreen couldn¡¯t help but join in theughter. Afterughing together for a while, Cuculli shouted with a determined face, ¡°Evergreen! Get on my train!¡± ¡­Luke¡¯s mood improved significantly. * * * Meanwhile. ¡°Uaaaah!¡± Ban narrowly avoided the demon¡¯s front paw flying towards his chest. To feel relieved that the ws are blunt is underestimating the mass it carries. If he takes a direct hit, a bone or two might easily break. Then the barrier would activate¡­ and he would fail the test. Swish! Dodging the tail that came flying in session, Ban shouted. ¡°Underneath the exposed tail now! Stab it!¡± Thunk! The movement of the struggling demon quickly came to a halt. Leciel wrinkled her face. ¡°Really disgusting.¡± ¡°¡­This one only has a weakness there.¡± ¡­This sword has no scabbard. Swhip- Leciel frowned as she diligently struck the sword against a tree trunk. Ban breathed out the breath he had been holding with a grin. ¡®Still, I contributed¡­¡¯ At first, it was aplete division ofbor. While Leciel was beating up the demon, Ban picked up the magic stones from the surroundings. It was easy, simple, and efficient. There was no need to go near the demon. But after repeating that process several times¡­ Ban felt that it wasn¡¯t always going smoothly. In other words, conscience. To be more honest, it was the heart of an adolescent boy. Waiting for the fight to end by sucking on fingers and rushing to fetch the magic stones was too much of a childish appearance to show to the ssmates he admired. ¡®¡­.¡¯ So he volunteered for the role of drawing attention. It turned out to be more worthwhile than he thought. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Focusing only on evasion, there were no dangerous moments. The ability to promptly brief on the revealed weaknesses was also an advantage. Thanks to the improved stability and speed of subjugation, the scores were umting at a staggering pace. If it weren¡¯t for Leciel, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to umte even half of it. ¡°We¡¯ve cleared the high-scoring demons in this area, so let¡¯s go further inside. There might be more demons there.¡± Leciel stood up. Her red hair, flowing with a glossy sheen, gently swayed. The boy, who had lost his focus for a moment, noticed that sweat was dripping down Leciel¡¯s cheek. Come to think of it, her breathing was quite rough. ¡®¡­Why is she in such a hurry.¡¯ Even though grades are important, it felt a bit excessive. Since joining, it had been almost non-stop forced marches. Ban cautiously spoke up. ¡°Shall we take a short break? The demonic energy concentration is rising, and it seems like we need to adjust the pace a bit.¡± ¡°¡­Then just 5 minutes.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Leciel sat down abruptly on a rock. Only then did a faint weariness appear on herposed face. Ban grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll keep detecting, so restfortably.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I still have some mana left¡­¡± At that remark, Leciel¡¯s almost closed eyelids trembled slightly. ¡®How hard did he practice?¡¯ ¡­Ban Dietrich. Even Leciel, who was usually indifferent to others, felt a hint of curiosity when looking at him. ¡®Why does he struggle to keep up in practical situations?¡¯ The first semester was already halfway through. It was enough time to recognize Ban¡¯s excellence. ¡®He¡¯s definitely skilled.¡¯ Leciel had endlessly high standards when it came to swords. However, Ban¡¯s swordsmanship, often seen in the training ground, was undoubtedly above those high standards. His physical conditioning was at an exceptional level, approaching the limit without a doubt. ¡®¡­His mana is considerable too.¡¯ He was truly a hexagonal talent. If there were no issues with wielding a sword. Under the guidance of a hero, wouldn¡¯t he have experienced explosive growth? Leciel muttered, ¡°It must be frustrating.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Not being able to wield a sword.¡± Leciel stated it inly. ¡°Want some help?¡± In response to the unexpected offer, Ban looked at Leciel with a puzzled expression. ¡°W-why all of a sudden?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡®Why?¡¯ A small wrinkle appeared on Leciel¡¯s forehead. ¡­Why, indeed. Because she was grateful for being moved to the infirmary after copsing from exhaustion? Because she identally overheard a pitiful story? Because the hero had told her to start showing interest in his peers? No, why did he say that to someone who had offered to help him? ¡°If you don¡¯t want it, forget it.¡± Leciel moved away and walked steadily into the forest. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Baffled, Ban followed after her. * * * Back at the Forest of Martial Arts Control Center. Many people resided here, each carrying out their assigned tasks. Employees responsible for maintaining and repairing the artificial core, servants managing practice demons, and security guards responsible for their safety. The spacious interior was crowded to the point of being lively. The fact that such an investment was possible in a practice area with not very high usage was likely due to Rosenstark alone. ¡°If I were a conspirator, I would have nted spies in the center somehow.¡± ¡°Identify infiltrators, suppress internal disruptions, and secure the safety of the children with the secure watch. Those are your three missions.¡± The secure watch was located on the highest floor. Yussi, recalling the hero¡¯s instructions, scrutinized the people with his sharp eyes. ¡®¡­Who could it be.¡¯ Unfortunately, there was no one immediately suspicious. Everyone was focused on their work, tense due to Yussi¡¯s unexpected appearance. When Rosenstark recruited servants, he set very strict standards. First and foremost, clear social status and background were required, and there should be no conspirators among family and rtives. Very detailed tests of personality and aptitude were also mandatory. Especially for those working in such important facilities, a certain number of years of service was necessary. In other words, the employees wereposed of individuals with an extremely low probability of betrayal. ¡®Buying or threatening¡­ perhaps.¡¯ Infiltrators were practically living clues. If they climbed up, they might reach the conspirator¡¯s head. In case this operation ended without any gains, it was necessary to find them. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Yussi observed the busy people for a while before turning her gaze back to the screen of the Secure Watch. ¡°No abnormalities in Area D at the moment.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you.¡± One of the employees monitoring the video alongside her reported, bringing the fourth cup of coffee. The number of video orbs installed in the Forest of Martial Arts exceeded several hundred easily. Since Yussi couldn¡¯t handle all of them alone, she was currently receiving help from some employees. Holding a teacup, she looked at the images that appeared on the massive screen in front of her. The monocle on her nose gleamed in the light. It was an item she had obtained while following the hero. ¡®But they¡¯re more skilled than I thought.¡¯ Of course, she was well aware that they were rare talents. However, talents were like buds. If the nurturer iszy orcks ability, they cannot grow beautifully. Isn¡¯t itmon for a talented child to be ruined by meeting the wrong mentor? In that sense, the extreme children were growing in the best environment. ¡®They don¡¯t seem like typical freshmen. I understand why the hero was so confident.¡¯ They were notpletely ustomed to subjugation yet. However, there is less immaturity and hesitation that freshmen usually have. Moreover, they all excelled in physical fitness. Thanks to that, they coped well even in an environment where mana was constantly consumed. A faint smile lingered on Yussi¡¯s lips. It was a scene that made the support provided for the Extreme lecture worthwhile. ¡­It also reminded her of the scenes from her student days. The precursor to the Dawn Knights. They were also like that. ¡°If you want to fight with me, a lot of training will be needed.¡± Revisiting the nostalgic memories, Yussi reached out her hand. The entrance of arge bag touched the tip of her fingers. A cold and solid sensation of steel. Inside the bag was the Alchemy Glove. It absorbed the elements of the touched object, amplified them with a special device inside, and then, ording to the alchemist¡¯s imagination, manifested the desired form¡ªan alchemical weapon like the alter ego of an alchemist. It was an item that had given her the nickname ¡®Mass Murderer¡¯ in her heyday. Although she was currently consuming a considerable amount of mana to recreate her lost limbs one by one, with this, she could still exhibitbat capabilities stronger than most activebatants. nk! The tough metal coiled around her palm and back of her hand in an instant. The nearby employees, who were passing by with curious eyes, stared at her with widened eyes. Wheeeng! Suddenly, the Alchemy Glove¡¯s tranquil glow was pouring down over the employees who were assisting with monitoring. Yussi smiled and said, ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Y-yes, why, why are you doing this?¡± The staff looked at her with an iprehensible look on their faces. Indeed, it was a shameless expression befitting someone who dared to drug a coffee for an alchemist. ¡°The coffee tasted delicious.¡± It was true; she had charged the Alchemy Glove with a lot of iron elements. Tang! A 50 cm-long steel needle ejected from the glove, piercing through the employee¡¯s shoulder. Jjanggrang! ¡­The coffee, undeterred, plummeted to the floor in the teacup. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 101 Chapter 101 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [A situation has arised. The enemy¡­] Yussi, who was reporting, suddenly stopped. ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯ The employee with drugged coffee, pierced by a sharp object, was hanging on the wall. It must not be an easy pain for a nonbatant, but there was no sound. Empty pupils just rolled their arms and legs. [Yussi? What¡¯s happening?] ¡­No way. Yussi frowned in unease. [Hero, I confirmed and captured one infiltrator for now¡­] But the report was cut off again this time. ¡°Aaaaaahh!¡± It was because of the scream echoing from downstairs. Instinctively, the gaze turned to the source, where an iprehensible scene was unfolding. Slish- An employee who was simply concentrating on work pulled a dagger from the security guard¡¯s holster on patrol and stabbed his neck. The employee next to him, unfazed by the sudden attack, casually manipted the control panel and activated the ¡¯emergency quarantine sequence.¡¯ Woooooong-! In an instant, a dome-shaped transparent barrier was implemented, enclosing the control center. [Yussi! What¡¯s going on! Outside¡­] Felson¡¯s urgent shout was buried in the continued noise. Kugugugugug- Steel outer walls rising around the center, piercing through the ground. In just a few seconds, the control center waspletely isted from the outside. For a moment, Yussi was stunned, then she regained hisposure. ¡®I have to move for now.¡¯ Swish- Jumping down towards the lower floor, she shouted into themunicator. [Multiple traitors are causing chaos inside the center. The situation is urgent; I will report back after resolving it!] [¡­I will prioritize the protection of the children. Be careful.] Felson¡¯smunication continued. [Yussi. It will take about 2 minutes to breach the barrier and steel walls. Can you hold on?] [No, don¡¯te in. Just wait!] [What?] [This is under my jurisdiction!] Since they didn¡¯t know what was happening outside, it was right for Felson to stay put. ¡®¡­One, two, five, damn, how many are there?¡¯ Yussi nervously scanned the chaotic control center. ¡°Argh!¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°Why, why¡­ ¡± People who were attacked and had no idea what was going on were writhing on the floor. Dozens of employees brandishing weapons and going berserk. ¡®¡­Considering the size, it¡¯s not just a simple betrayal.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t an internal breach due to bribery or threats. No matter how much money or something important was at stake. Ordinary people wouldn¡¯tmit such irreparable acts. Thud- As Yussi thrust his fist into the jaw of an approaching employee, she pondered. ¡®What could it be then?¡¯ Yussi¡¯s gaze shifted to the flipped eyes of a subdued employee in that moment. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Dted pupils as if in a stupor. Eyes unable to focus on anything. ¡­A familiar sensation. A strong sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu washed over her. She had definitely witnessed a scene like this before. Soon, a deep-seated memory in her mind surfaced. ¡®Yeah. That¡¯s right.¡¯ When she was very young. During the time when many demons ravaged human society like a scourge. She distinctly remembered seeing simr figures. People moving as if possessed, losing their will. Yussi muttered in bewilderment. ¡°It¡¯s mesmerization¡­.¡± Mesmerization. It was the ability of the Monma n. ¡®Monma¡­¡¯ Numerous questions raised their heads. Was the coborator involved with Monma? But how? Monma should have disappeared entirely a long time ago. Yussi was umonly perplexed. ¡®To cast such arge-scale mesmerization, you would need at least a high-ranking Monma.¡¯ However, the high-ranking Monma had all perished in the past. Heroes of the previous generation had dealt with them, enduring significant losses in the process due to the danger they posed to humans. Even thest remaining Monma Legion Commander, Enoch, and his subordinates were eradicated after the ¡®Nubes Salon Incident,¡¯ pursued relentlessly by the enraged Felson. Since then, there had been no sightings of Monma in human society. ¡®If it¡¯s really Monma¡­.¡¯ Yussi quickly shifted her gaze. ¡®First, I need to find the intermediary. Where is the dream¡¯s intermediary?¡¯ No matter how high-ranking the Monma might be, to exert such a powerful influence on humans, they would need an intermediary to amplify their power. If she could find and destroy it, these mesmerizations would cease. But no matter how much she looked around, she couldn¡¯t see the dream¡¯s intermediary. ¡®But how did they contact so many people through the intermediary?¡¯ This is Rosenstark. A ce with more thorough measures against demons. No suspicious item potent enough to serve as Monma¡¯s intermediary could have passed through the strict inspections. Her mind was a jumble of tangled questions. Chaos spread like ripples. Yussi pped her cheek to make a sound. ¡®¡­Let¡¯s stay calm.¡¯ One minute passed. She needed to act before the situation became uncontrobly worse. Yussi ran forward. ¡°This isn¡¯t going to end well!¡± Wheeeeng-! With a heavy mechanical sound, the alchemy glove absorbed and amplified the elements of the wooden table, creating a suddenly enormous wooden club in mid-air. Whoosh-! A club of a sizeparable to a pir swiftly flew towards one of the employees. To increase the concentration of forest magic, it was attached to the control panel. Other employees twisted their bodies grotesquely, trying to block the path, but it was in vain. Thud-! The club, which easily broke through the flesh wall, struck the side of the employee. ¡°Ugh!¡± But despite the sound of bones breaking, he staggered only momentarily. He turned his body and, along with five other employees, rushed towards Yussi. Their movements were unnatural. Regr office workers wouldn¡¯t have trained their bodies separately, yet they moved more agilely than an average soldier. It seemed like they were drawing out the potential of their bodies under the influence of mesmerization. Yussi chuckled. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re tough?¡± Thud-! HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Yussi seized the neck of the leading employee and mmed him directly onto the floor. ¡°Sitting at a desk doesn¡¯t make your body tough!¡± Followed by a splendid series of blows, Yussi¡¯s hands and feet twisted unnaturally as she struck the employees. They fell down in a single blow. But Yussi¡¯s expression subtly wrinkled. ¡®I couldn¡¯t stop thempletely.¡¯ Beep! Beep! Beep! Red warning signals shed on most of the screens. While the worst-case scenario of escting demonic energy density to its highest level was averted, it had still increased significantly from the default settings. With the employees destroying various control panels, it was impossible to lower the density again. TsuTsuTsuTsu¡­ Dense demonic energy seeped into the forest. Keee-! To make matters worse, faint roars of demons echoed beyond the walls. Some creatures, previously kept in the demon repository for experimental purposes, had been unleashed. Among them were some that the children couldn¡¯t handle. Leaving them alone would put the children in danger. ¡°Haah¡­.¡± Surprisingly, Yussi¡¯s expression was far from panicked. She trusted her colleagues outside. ¡®Let¡¯s test the waters a bit.¡¯ No need to say it; she was ready. And sure enough. ¡°Stand back.¡± ¡­Felson¡¯s voice, brimming with mana, echoed thunderously. Wheeeeng-! Before the reverberation of the echoedmand had even finished, a vast amount of mana poured into the sky. Literally, it ¡®poured.¡¯ Woooooong-! Mana emanating from Felson, like a reversed waterfall, created a massive flow, streaming out in a way that seemed unimaginable for an individual to control. Ziiiiiiing-! The mana quickly took shape. What emerged in the air several dozen meters around was a dense mesh, so close-knit that it felt like a thin film. Even amid the massive release of demonic energy from the artificial core, Felson¡¯s mana presence was eerily vivid. Thunk-! Yussi roughly fended off the approaching employees, flexing her well-toned arms. ¡®¡­He¡¯s really pissed.¡¯ She soon knew what scene would unfold. Woooooong-! The strongly consolidated and focused mana, defying its specifications, spread in all directions. The threads of magic forming the mesh emitted a chilling light directly above the targets. Felson¡¯s technique. Feast of the Great Army. God¡¯s Net. The first stage, ¡®Capture.¡¯ ¡®The second stage is¡­.¡¯ Annihtion. The activation of the second stage didn¡¯t take long. Woooooong-! A strange force generated across the entire space covered by the. At the moment when the widely spread mana condensed. A deafening noise echoed, tearing through the surroundings. Twisting, intertwining, and entangling. The shape of the slowly changed. TsuTsuTsuTsuTsu-! Hundreds of magical swords, emitting a chilling light, embroidered the ck sky, which had been engulfed by demonic energy. The imprinting of the targets was alreadyplete. He never misses. Felson dered, ¡°Those tainted. Vanish.¡± Yussi plugged her ears. Kwaaaaa-! Amidst the falling stars, there were no screams. There existed only a brilliant radiance and vibrations as if the ground were being turned upside down. Beyond the walls surrounding the control center, hundreds of columns of light soared into the sky. Silence. In this way, ¡®God¡¯s Net¡¯pleted its duty, capturing all life within its range. Feeling the slowly dispersing magical power, Yussi rose to her feet. ¡°Hah.¡± While Felson was casting the Feast of the Great Army, she had subdued all remaining employees andpleted the emergency treatment of the survivors. Summoning an iron rope from the alchemy glove, Yussi bound the employees one by one, muttering to herself. ¡°You guys messed with the wrong people. Got it?¡± ¡­Monma. Of course, it had to be Monma. ¡®There¡¯s no way to let this slide.¡¯ With Monma involved in this matter, Felson would never overlook it. Once again, an eerily resonant voice, as deep as before, was heard over themunication device. [I sensed the presence of Monma.] [Felson¡­] [Starting now, I¡¯ll begin tracking the coborator. Please take care of my son¡­] Kwaaang-! With a sound almost like an explosion, Felson moved away. ¡®Tracking.¡¯ The immediate decision to start tracking was a rational choice. No high-ranking Monma, no matter what, could carry out such arge-scale operation remotely without any conditions or aplices. There was undoubtedly a ¡°real coborator¡± within the academy, serving as a conduit tomunicate with the main body. Up until now, they might have hidden themselves well, but after conducting arge-scale ability like just now, they would inevitably leave traces. ¡®I need to capture the real culprit, not just the pawns. The academy will be safe again.¡¯ Even with Felson gone, there was the Hero in the forest. No threat could approach the students. ¡°Alright.¡± What she needed to do now was evident. First and foremost, she had to restore the broken systems in the center. This was to halt the artificial core that was spewing out demonic energy incessantly. Standing in front of the damaged panel, Yussi pped her hands loudly. ¡°Alright, everyone who¡¯s still alive,e over here. There¡¯s work to be done!¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 102 Chapter 102 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ng! ng! The train the children were on moved swiftly. The small magical train installed in the Forest of Martial Arts operated on a different principle than what they had been riding. Unlike the conventional trains that ran on wheels, it levitated using a repulsive force generated by magic between the tracks and the train, using that levitation as a propelling force. ¡­It could even be self-controlled. It was an advanced train that was rare in non-regted areas due to the high cost of equipping the basic facilities. However, because of the Forest of Martial Arts, where sudden situations asionally urred, the academy boldly invested in and installed it. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s really fast!¡± Evergreen, who came from the northeastern edge of the empire, had never ridden such a train, let alone seen one. During the test, she hesitated whether she should really ride it, but now she was admiring the passing scenery with sparkling eyes. As the strong wind blew, Evergreen¡¯s golden short hair spread out like a fan. Sitting in the cockpit, Cuculli poked Luke¡¯s side. ¡°Hey, quickly insult her.¡± ¡°¡­What insult?¡± ¡°A while ago, you said I looked like a country bumpkin.¡± Luke, lowering his voice, replied, ¡°When did I?¡± ¡°Look at this. I was happily jumping around, and you told me to back off because I smell like the countryside¡­ Ugh!¡± Just as Evergreen, who had finished observing, was returning to the room with a flushed face, Luke promptly kicked Cuculli away. Cuculli, crumpled in the corner, rolled on the floor with a resentful expression. Of course, Luke paid no attention. ¡°Finished sightseeing?¡± ¡°Yeah! The forest looked pretty from the running train. It was scary a moment ago.¡± A bright smile appeared on Evergreen¡¯s cheerful face. Luke, with a satisfied expression, was about to respond when he felt the gaze of an unwee guest and quickly hardened his expression. Evergreen continued speaking. ¡°By the way, have you guys scored well?¡± ¡°More or less?¡± Luke checked the score recorder on his wrist and nodded. Cuculli¡¯s suggestion to take the train turned out to be right. The ce where they started the test was the Forest of Martial Arts, the northern entrance. In other words, the test progressed by heading south together. Therefore, quickly detecting and preempting high-scoring magical creatures was the key to a high score. Thanks to boarding a highly mobile train, they could handle the creatures much faster than other ssmates. The creatures drawn by the noise of the train were a bonus. ¡°Although we couldn¡¯t gather many magic stones¡­.¡± Even with just the points earned from handling creatures, they were likely to rank high enough to stand out. ¡°Wow¡­.¡± As Luke exined, Evergreen momentarily had a disappointed expression. She had anticipated it, but dense forests like this were not favorable battlegrounds for her, an archer. Despite running around to collect magic stones with sweaty feet, she had little sess. ¡°It seems like someone has already swept through here.¡± Her collection pouch was almost empty. ¡°Would a hero give a disciple title to a in kid like you?¡± Recalling Lucas¡¯s teasing from earlier, Evergreen unconsciously hid the score recorder behind her. Luke casually said, ¡°Want some magic stones?¡± Before Evergreen could refuse, Cuculli, who had been silently watching their conversation with a smirk, intervened. ¡°Is it okay? She seems to be trying to cheat for real.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°If you meet the wrong girl, you¡¯ll be in trouble.¡± Cuculli reached out and patted Evergreen¡¯s slumped shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay! You can get plenty of points from now on.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Get ready to get off. We¡¯re almost there.¡± At that, Evergreen raised her head. Come to think of it, she hadn¡¯t asked about the destination. ¡°But where are we going?¡± ¡°Ta-da! Here!¡± Shff-! Cuculli pointed to a part of the map while waving the map in his hand. ¡°Since the control center radius is restricted within 1 km, we just need to continue heading south from this point and take down everything.¡± Luke nodded in agreement, tilting his head. ¡°There probably hasn¡¯t been anyone else reaching this location yet. So, the first ones to get there will get more points. With the three of us, we can easily subjugate high-scoring creatures.¡± ¡°¡­Geez, be kind to me too.¡± ¡°Shut up, Cuculli.¡± Evergreenughed, looking at Luke and Cuculli bantering. Amidst the enjoyment, she steeled herself. Her friends were there to help. She had to do her best not to be a burden. ¡°All right then, let¡¯s disembark!¡± ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t it ¡®alight¡¯?¡± ¡°That just sounds weird!¡± So, the kids parked the train at the station about 1 km south of the control center¡­. Kwaaang-! Soon, they heard an unidentifiable explosion. * * * Meanwhile, after repeated extermination and exploration, Ban and Leciel had arrived near the control center. As time passed, their teamwork improved significantly. Ban was the person who could find the textbook-perfect answers the fastest in any situation. On the other hand, Leciel was the type to overwhelm with overwhelming power. When the twobined their strengths, a pattern emerged¡ªheading to the most suitable path with the fastest steps. ¡­It was truly a terrifying synergy. Leciel looked at the score recorder, which disyed scores much higher than expected. ¡®¡­Is this why he emphasized learning how to fight with ssmates?¡¯ A smile appeared on Leciel¡¯s lips, subtle enough for only herself to notice. With these scores, it was a definite first ce. Cuculli wouldn¡¯t evene close. The hero would be shocked. He would wonder how she managed to cooperate with ssmates so well. ¡°Well, let¡¯s head further south now.¡± Leciel took the lead, and that¡¯s when it happened. Kwaaang-! An untimely explosion drew their attention toward the control center. Naturally, they stopped in their tracks. ¡°¡­What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Sounds like an explosion?¡± Boom! Boom! The explosions continued sporadically. As the forest was dense, and the control center was much higher than their location, nothing was visible. ¡°What is it¡­?¡± Ban muttered with round eyes. The explosions reminded him of the auction house incident. But this was Rosenstark, surely safer than anywhere else. ¡°¡­It¡¯s towards the center, could it be an ident?¡± ¡°Or maybe part of the test.¡± ¡°But it doesn¡¯t seem like that¡­.¡± The boy, who was specting, abruptly closed his mouth. Leciel¡¯s eyes widened as the color rapidly drained from the boy¡¯s face. ¡°Why are you like that?¡± ¡°L-look over there.¡± Ban¡¯s finger pointed towards the sky in the direction of the control center. Even Leciel, turning her head with a puzzled expression, soon stiffened. ¡°What¡­ is that?¡± It seemed like darkness was creeping in from a distance. The sky, usually bright as any other morning, gradually darkened. Beep! Beep! Beep! A warning sound echoed from their wrists. Highly concentrated demonic energy clouds were spreading out from the control center, with the center itself being the focal point. Breaking the silence first, it was Leciel. ¡°Are they increasing the demonic energy concentration for difficulty adjustment?¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t the concentration too thick for that? Even the explosions we heard earlier¡­¡± ¡°Then, an ident?¡± ¡°It seems that way¡­.¡± The demonic energy clouds, even from a distance, were so dense that they felt like they could choke the breath out of them. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Ban narrowed down his sensing, extending it far into the distance, and then absorbed the remaining mana into his body. Leciel, with a frown, also drew up the mana within her. ¡­At that moment. Rustle-! A strange presence was felt. . . . The kids, who had been on high alert, instinctively hid their bodies beneath the trees and bushes. ¡­Thud. ¡­Thud. A man in a white uniform was stumbling as he walked. ¡®Is he a control center employee?¡¯ Leciel¡¯s pupils dted slightly. ¡®¡­Blood?¡¯ Bloodstains were smeared across the man¡¯s white uniform. It seemed like an incident had urred at the control center. Leciel tried to stand up to offer help. However, at that moment, Ban, who she naturally expected to join her in assisting, firmly grabbed her sleeve. ¡°¡­Ban?¡± Leciel turned to look at him with a puzzled expression. ¡°Just wait. Just wait for a moment.¡± ¡°Wait?¡± Her eyebrows narrowed. The demonic energy clouds were rapidly approaching. They would reach this area soon. For an ordinary person, exposure to such dense demonic energy concentration, even for a brief moment, could be fatal. ¡°Sorry, just 10 seconds.¡± ¡°¡­Fine.¡± However, after a moment of hesitation, Leciel stopped. Ban¡¯s judgments were always rational. That was something she had clearly felt today. ¡®¡­That person.¡¯ With a brief moment of relief, Ban silently stared at the stumbling man. ¡®Something¡¯s off.¡¯ This hill was more than 1 km away from the control center. The explosion was heard about 3 minutes ago. How could an ordinary person traverse a rough forest for 1 km in that short time? ¡®Especially with injuries.¡¯ Of course, it could be that the person was lucky to escape the ident site. But then, another inconsistency arose. ¡®If that¡¯s the case, what kind of injury would cause this? We¡¯ve already cleared all the creatures around here.¡¯ ¡­5 seconds passed. No clear answer emerged from his contemtion. Finally, Ban, willing to bear the mana consumption, expanded the range of his sensing, which he had previously reduced. Woo-woo- Sending magical energy through the intensified magical concentration, the boy¡¯s face turned pallid. ¡°¡­.¡± Meanwhile, Leciel became increasingly uneasy. The man groaned in pain. The demonic energy clouds were getting closer. Ban remained silent. Out of the blue, Ban uttered something utterly unexpected the next moment. ¡°Demonic energy.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I sense demonic energy from that person.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Why would a human emanate demonic energy? ¡°I don¡¯t know either¡­¡± It was the moment when they looked at the man with eyes full of doubt. ¡°Cough.¡± He suddenly scratched his chest as if in agony and copsed to the ground. The rough touch tore apart the thin fabric of his uniform without mercy. Ban and Leciel halted their movements for a moment. It wasn¡¯t because they were concerned about the man. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Something unfamiliar reflected in their eyes. ¡®Magic circle?¡¯ Mysterious symbols and forms densely covered the upper body of the man. The density was so high that almost no bare skin was visible. ¡®What kind of magic circle is this?¡¯ ¡­If there was someone with knowledge of demon magic rituals, they would have immediately evacuated the kids. But even Ban, well-versed in various knowledge, was not that knowledgeable. Therefore, the kids did not flee and instead observed the man in ce. The inexplicable sense of unease kept them from getting closer. ¡­And soon, they realized something. That magic circle. ¡°It¡¯s not drawn, is it?¡± It was engraved. Fresh blood was still flowing from the yet-unhealed parts. A crooked magic circle like a child¡¯s scribble. Leciel furrowed her brows. It was because she realized one more dreadful fact. ¡°The parts that are hard to reach are even more messed up.¡± In other words, someone had carved it on themselves. But who could mutte their own body like that? While they were retreating in the growing unease, something happened. Swoosh. The man¡¯s hand, wandering through the air, moved toward the only part on his upper body without any symbols. Something was happening. Ban was certain. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± So, without hesitation, Ban grabbed Leciel¡¯s wrist. The direction was behind them. Tadadak-! As the kids ran, they looked back. The man¡¯s hand dug into his left chest, the only area without any symbols. Something was unfolding. Ssh. As if responding to the man¡¯s actions, demonic energy clouds that had been scattering throughout the forest poured down on him. The magic circle engraved on his body glowed bright red. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 103 Chapter 103 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The situation, which seemed to being to a close, now appeared to be just beginning. ¨‹ ¨C 2 hours and 25 minutes into the exam, disturbance in the control center. ¨C 2 hours and 30 minutes into the exam, abnormal reactions observed near 1 km south of the control center. ¨C Simultaneously: Confirmation of the disappearance of the previously observed magical concentration. ¡­¡­. ¨C 2 hours and 31 minutes into the exam, confirmation of the urrence of an unidentified summoning ritual. ¡ø This was a fact confirmed by the hero through the Astera Vision¡¯s log. In addition, various situation reports were pouring in. In summary, it was as follows: Evacuation of some childrenpleted, excluding a few. Support forces deployed. All entrances to Rosenstark sealed off. Unscheduled inspections underway. Ongoing search for the ¡®mediator.¡¯ Tracking of ¡®coborators¡¯ by Felson. Yussi, along with the survivors in the control center, working on system recovery. Cuculli, Ban, Leciel, Evergreen, Luke each evacuating near the control center. ¡­An unknown demon summoned through the ritual is also advancing. If the control center¡¯s video panels were intact, the demon¡¯s identity could have been confirmed through the video records. But now, chasing its movements through Astera Vision was all they could do. Tap- The hero ran south lost in thought. ¡®¡­A dangerous one has appeared.¡¯ Setting aside the extinct Monma, its power was strangely strong. It had deceived dozens of confirmed things and sessfully summoned a demon estimated to be above the highest grade. Moreover, within Rosenstark. ¡®At least a high-ranking Monma.¡¯ Monmas vary greatly in danger depending on their grade. Regr Monmas only create nightmares, extracting a small amount of mana from humans at most. Starting from high-ranking Monmas, they can manipte humans through the process of deception and brainwashing. ¡­And their legionmander, Lord Enoch. During the Nubes Salon incident, that guy, when suppressed, could evenpletely ¡®possess¡¯ humans, using them as hosts. ¡®The most sinister and dangerous tribe.¡¯ Deception, brainwashing, possession. The powers were so threatening that even the ¡®Original¡¯ acknowledged it. But no matter how powerful a Monma is, it¡¯s extremely difficult to deceive a healthy human without any prior preparation. So, they usually carried out meticulous groundwork to weaken the target¡¯s mental strength and then manipted them as they pleased. ¡®¡­For example, making theme into contact with a mediator.¡¯ [Pia.] [Yes, Professor.] Pia responded immediately. Her voice was trembling enough to be felt even in the low tones of themunication device. [No abnormalities in the current evacuation shelter.] Whether trying to conceal her unease or deliberately speaking with a more confident voice. [Just in case, please search the children.] [¡­Search the children?] [The location of the mediator hasn¡¯t been identified yet. If any child has suspicious items, iste them immediately.] Mediator. An item that has been mobilized for negative symbols or evil acts, bing imbued with malice. Humans whoe into contact with it naturally be vulnerable to magic, making it easier for Monmas to deceive them. Therefore, when Monmas appear. To prevent additional damage, it was a top priority to identify what items they used as mediators and destroy them. The academy¡¯s security forces werebing through the control center staff¡¯s residences and recent whereabouts as if catching a fugitive, all for that reason. One unfortunate thing, however, was that the whereabouts and identity of the mediator were stillpletely unknown. [Are you suggesting that coborators might be mixed among the children?] [We can¡¯tpletely rule out the possibility.] [Well¡­] Pia bit her lip. [Yes. We¡¯ll conduct the search¡­] [Be careful.] [Yes, Professor. Please take care too.] Wooooooong-! Having given the orders, the hero¡¯s eyes turned back to the Astera Vision. There were two pieces of new information. First, the bad news. Children who hadn¡¯t joined the evacuation yet. Namely, Cuculli, Ban, Leciel, Evergreen, and Luke had gathered. ¡­And now, even worse news. The demon changed direction. Towards the children. It was like putting all eggs in one basket. ¡®And the movement speed¡­.¡¯ It was significantly outpacing the children. At this rate, it would meet the children before he could arrive. Using Nova could make it in time, but¡­ blindly wasting mana without knowing how strong the demon was, that was absurd. The hero smirked. ¡®Let¡¯s give it a try for real now.¡¯ He knew coborators would appear, but the scale of the incident was beyond expectation. After the control center sabotage, now demon summoning. Who would have thought someone would dare such bold acts within Rosenstark? The hero¡¯s eyes coldly sank into the darkness. ¡®This is also an opportunity to show them properly.¡¯ ¡­What preparations have we made so far to exterminate creatures like you? He calmly moved his steps. Wheeeee-! nk-! The magic-powered train, not cutting off its power supply, started its engine. [We¡¯ve arrived at the station; we¡¯re going to rescue the children now.] [Yes, wish you luck.] The magical train on the track swiftly headed south like an arrow. * * * ¡­Rustle. ¡°!¡± Whoosh-! In the dark forest. Leciel, who was running without a thought, instinctively swung her sword as she sensed someone¡¯s presence. Normally, she would have confirmed the opponent, but right now, she couldn¡¯t afford to. She was using all her mana for sensing, and the recent scene she witnessed made her nerves extremely tense. ¡®Ah.¡¯ The thought that it might be the colleague¡¯s presence urred to her after the sword had halfway extended. But there was no need to retract it. ng-! With a sharp metallic sound, mes spurted out. Standing beyond the mes was an uninvited guest with a familiar face. ¡°Ah! That hurts~! Oh, isn¡¯t that Leciel? Hello!¡± Cuculli shook her hand, still trembling from the sneeze. Behind her, Evergreen awkwardly waved her hand, and Luke stood like a bodyguard beside her. ¡®Ah¡­.¡¯ They weren¡¯t particrly close, but somehow, she felt relieved. It was only now that Leciel loosened the grip on the sword in her hand. Cuculli, observing her silently, blurted out. ¡°Um¡­ What¡¯s the situation? Why are you making such a face?¡± It was an attitudepletely devoid of her usual yfulness. And understandably so, given the serious expressions on Ban and Leciel¡¯s faces. Cheeks and calves marked as if scratched by branches. Eyes scanning the rear while catching their breath. Even their breaths were trembling. Cuculli spoke with certainty. ¡°What are you running away from?¡± The one who answered was Ban, who had somehow caught his breath. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s talk while running for now.¡± . . . About 5 minutes ago. Ban and Leciel ran while checking behind them. They absolutely didn¡¯t want to look back, but they had no choice. They needed to know what was happening to be prepared. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡­And what awaited them was an unexpected sight. ¡®¡­What is this?¡¯ Since there should have been a man¡¯s corpse, their hearts pierced. But below the hill. Where the man had fallen, there was nothing. No blood-soaked corpse, no demonic energy cloud descending over it. On the contrary, thanks to the disappearing demonic energy, the sky seemed unusually clear. After a moment of confusion, Ban squinted his eyes. ¡­It wasn¡¯t that there was nothing. ¡®Blood threads?¡¯ A red blood thread was drawn diagonally in the air. It resembled a narrowed pupil. In the thin gap between. Tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu- A streak of crimson light formed ripples and surged out. For no apparent reason, the heart pounded. Ban wanted to look away from it, but it wasn¡¯t easy, as if some unknown force was at y. Kigikigikigik-! With a strange noise, the gap widened abruptly. ¡°¡­Ah.¡± The children doubted their eyes. ¡®What is that?¡¯ The enormous head was the first thing. The hazy sunlight bounced off its shield-like ck scales in all directions. ¡®¡­A snake?¡¯ At first, they didn¡¯t even consider it a living being. They thought it was some kind of structure. Had it not been for the long tongue split into two, they might not have known until the end. Sisisisisi-! Although only half of its body seemed to be emerging from the gap, the head already reached the treetops. Amber eyes. Eyes gleaming with raw appetite turned toward the children. ¡®¡­Vermoth. It¡¯s Vermoth.¡¯ [PR/N: Eugene boutta pull up for some questions about the moonlight sword] Ban quickly recalled the characteristics of the creature he read in the Monster Codex and took a step back. Now that they understood its identity. It was time to run for their lives. * * * Vermoth had three keywords. Hunger, predation, molting. Proportional to its massive size, Vermoth was always gued by hunger. Without suitable prey, it would not only prey on other monsters but even its own kind. There were cases of it devouring its own freshly hatched offspring, so its appetite needed no further exnation. Anyway, after repeating predation and umting sufficient mana, molting follows. The strength of the individual is determined by the number of moltings. Vermoth, which failed to molt several times, ranked at an intermediate level due to its loose scales and non-threatening size. However, an individual that umted enough mana through repeated moltings would possess scales with a hardness surpassing steel and a size reminiscent of ancient dragon species that were thought to be extinct. In short, it was a creature that grew stronger the more it ate. The Vermoth they just witnessed was undoubtedly an extremely voracious individual. ¡°Wow, what an enormous snake.¡± Having heard Ban¡¯s exnation, Cuculli marveled, shaking her head. Even while running, her breathing showed no signs of disturbance. It seemed as if she were taking a leisurely stroll on a in. On the other hand, the other four had almost depleted their stamina. The oppressive feeling of being chased, coupled with the challenging terrain, rapidly drained their energy. ¡°Pant, Do, Do you think the professor knows?¡± When Evergreen made a distressed expression, Luke replied. ¡°Of course. The academy is surely taking measures as well. Stop talking and save your breath.¡± ¡°Uh.¡± Following Luke¡¯s words, Evergreenplied. Among them, she was the most exhausted. If Luke hadn¡¯t been pushing her from behind, she would have fallen behind already. ¡®I can¡¯t be a burden to the kids.¡¯ Evergreen summoned all the strength she had left and increased her speed again. Seeing her in that state, Luke, feeling sorry, asked Ban. ¡°But if it¡¯s such a big creature, shouldn¡¯t it have been captured earlier?¡± ¡°Probably on the way here, any monster that appeared was devoured. One of its characteristics is an insatiable hunger.¡± Ban¡¯s prediction was somewhat urate. If things went ording to the ¡®coborator¡¯s¡¯ n, Vermoth was supposed to be more powerful by eating the monsters released from the control center. However, the unexpected appearance of Felsonpletely overturned the n. Starved Vermoth, in an attempt to appease its hunger, began devouring nearby monsters. Additionally, thanks to Yussi lowering the demonic energy enhancement level, the summoning ritual did notplete entirely. Fortunately, this dy prevented Vermoth and the children from crossing paths. ¡°So, we need to take advantage of this opening and escape quickly.¡± ¡°Fight against it?¡± ¡°¡­Doesn¡¯t seem like a good idea.¡± The calction was over the moment they saw the creature. Fighting against Vermoth in their current state, with insufficient mana and stamina, would be suicidal. Their attacks would likely be blocked by its thick ck scales, making it nearly impossible to inflict any damage. ¡°So, let¡¯s hurry towards the entrance¡­¡± It was at that moment. Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud. At first, it was just a small sound that they could dismiss as an illusion. However, the faint vibration rapidly amplified, shaking the forest. ¡°What, what is it!?¡± ¡°Get down!¡± The intensity of the vibrations was strong enough to make pebbles on the ground float. The party instinctively lowered themselves, looking around anxiously. ¡°What the hell!?¡± ¡°Calm down! We¡¯re not under attack!¡± The intensity of the vibrations indicated that the source was further back than Vermoth. Still obscured by the dense trees, they couldn¡¯t see the creature. However, the sounds of trees breaking and what seemed like the cries of a monster were evident. ¡°Everyone, stay down!¡± The wind, filled with gritty dust, was clear evidence that something was approaching. Now, it seemed to be very close. ¡°Oh, this can¡¯t be helped.¡± It was then that Cuculli stopped abruptly. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 104 Chapter 104 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Luke shouted in astonishment. ¡°Hey, you crazy bastard! Why aren¡¯t you running?¡± But Cuculli didn¡¯t budge from her spot as if glued to it. In the end, the kids had no choice but to stop. Cuculli casually nced over the faces of the kids standing there. ¡°You, you¡­.¡± ¡°Thinking of running all the way to the entrance? It doesn¡¯t seem like a good n. You¡¯ll be caught soon.¡± Luke was speechless. ¡°So, what should we do?¡± ¡°Sis has a n for everything.¡± Cuculli¡¯s n was as follows. Running away was already impossible. Even though there was still a considerable distance to the north entrance, everyone was exhausted both physically and mentally. ¡°If we keep going like this, we won¡¯t even reach halfway before we encounter that monstrous guy.¡± So there was no other choice. This body had to step forward. She cheerfully opened her mouth. ¡°I¡¯ll attract their attention. You guys run hard.¡± It was as casual as choosing a lunch menu. A moment of silence followed. ¡°That¡¯s really¡­.¡± ¡°Oh, no! What are you talking about?¡± Luke, who was about to say he would follow the rational judgment immediately, shut his mouth against Evergreen¡¯s opposition. Various reactions followed. Leciel, annoyed, swept her hair back. ¡°If I knew you were going to spout nonsense like this, I would have just ignored it and run.¡± Cuculli retorted with irritation. ¡°Nonsense?! Hey, Red. Why is this nonsense? I can run much faster than you humans, and I don¡¯t get tired!¡± ¡°So what?¡± ¡°So! Instead of watching you slowpokes get caught and devoured, I, this body, will put in some effort.¡± ¡°Lies. You just want to fight that thing.¡± ¡°¡­No, I don¡¯t!?¡± Meanwhile, Ban was lost in thought. In fact, mindlessly running away like this was the opposite of what he wanted. ¡®What should I do? What is the best course of action?¡¯ He took a deep breath. In times like this, one had to stay calm. Didn¡¯t the hero say that repeatedly? No matter how difficult the situation, there is always the ¡®best answer.¡¯ Do not panic and gather as much information as possible, analyze it, and find that answer. ¡®Wait a minute¡­.¡¯ It was then that Ban noticed something strange. He stared intently at Cuculli and Luke¡¯s scoreboards. ¡®Why are their scores so high?¡¯ Naturally, he thought Leciel and he would be overwhelmingly superior, but there was hardly any difference. ¡®We were specialized in detection, and with Leciel¡¯sbat skills, we kept moving without rest. Yet, the scores are close.¡¯ Cuculli and Luke¡¯s scores were undoubtedly impossible with conventional methods. ¡®Ah.¡¯ It felt like a sudden surge of electricity in his head. Soon, one conclusion emerged. ¡°You guys.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°You rode the magic train.¡± ¡°Huh!? How did you know? Were you a mage, Ban?¡± ¡°Where is the train now?¡± Cuculli pointed to the station where she had brought the train to a stop with a decisive gesture. ¡°It¡¯s not too far, but it¡¯s on the opposite side of the entrance. We¡¯ll end up going more south¡­.¡± Ah-ha! Cuculli, realizing something as she spoke, pped her hands. ¡°¡­As long as we don¡¯t get caught midway.¡± ¡°Yeah, whether it¡¯s magic enhancers or stamina, use everything and head to the station with all our might. There¡¯s no other way.¡± ¡°Oh, a n with no way out.¡± It was a change of perspective, so to speak. There was no need to necessarily leave the forest. If they could stall for time, the hero would resolve the situation on his own. Even if it was Vermoth or Nabal, they wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against him. ¡°Um, yeah, okay.¡± Cuculli¡¯s light azure eyes sparkled. Having already ridden the magic train once, she knew. No matter how fast that snake thing was, it would be slower than the train powered by magic. ¡®Even though I, a descendant of dragons, am running away from a snake¡­ But my friends¡¯ lives are more important!¡¯ Cuculli nodded confidently. Luke, who had been anxiously watching their conversation, burst out. ¡°If you¡¯ve decided on something, then run already!¡± ¡°Right! Let¡¯s run!¡± Cuculli, who ruffled Evergreen¡¯s hair, took the lead and charged ahead. * * * 3 minutester. ¡°Ugh, ughh¡­.¡± ¡°Jeez, feels like I¡¯m going to die.¡± ¡°Kyaaa! Run! They¡¯re chasing us!¡± Pouring all their remaining magic into protecting their bodies, the kids ran with all their might. The children ran through the forest, whether twigs scratched their faces or their ankles stumbled on the uneven ground. Without caring, they surged through the forest with all their strength. It was a moment when the hellish training they had endured felt gratefully worthwhile. If it weren¡¯t for the developed stamina and mental strength at that moment, they would have been caught long ago. ¡°Just a little more!¡± They kept running. Cuculli (apanied by Evergreen) led the way, followed by Leciel. Ban and Luke alternated between leading and following. ¡°Huff, huff.¡± Their steps became heavier, and their breaths endlessly burst from their chests. It felt like their bodies were being mmed into the ground, but they couldn¡¯t stop. Ban, avoiding a clump of dirt under his foot, leaped up and shouted. ¡°Cuculli! How much farther to the station!¡± But no one could hear Cuculli¡¯s reply properly because of the thunderous noiseing from behind. It was the sound of trees falling¡ªthump, thump, thump! Dozens of trees copsed, and a huge maw opened suddenly. How massive and deep it was. The inside was entirely ck as light couldn¡¯t reach it. Only the elongated fangs and the two-forked tongue glimmered distinctly. The distance was roughly 100 meters. 90 meters. The stench of rotten flesh seemed palpable. Ban felt dizzy. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t look back!¡± At the sharp shout, Ban¡¯s head turned towards the front. In the darkness of the forest, Leciel¡¯s red hair shone like a lighthouse, fluttering. Ban chased after it desperately, feeling like a sailor about to be wrecked just before reaching the shore. Then it happened. ¡°Euratcha!¡± ¡°Cu, Cuculli!? What are you doing!¡± Cuculli, who had been running well, stopped and turned around. Ban saw the intense excitement frozen on her normally white face as Evergreen, lifted in her arms, made a face as if he might doze off. ¡°Everyone, just watch!¡± Swish! Putting a bottle of magic enhancer into her mouth, she stretched both hands toward Vermoth. There was fresh blood flowing from cuts on her lips caused by ss shards, but she seemedpletely indifferent. Kugugugugugu! Simultaneously, an ice wall surged up with fierce momentum, cutting through the cold air, separating the snake from them. Vermoth, momentarily surprised, paused as if they had disappeared right in front of its eyes. It was a trick they had pulled knowing that snakes could sense heat. ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± ¡°How did that idiot¡­?¡± Cuculli, looking back at her amazed teammates,ughed cheerfully. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal! I read a bit of the Monster Guide too!¡± Thanks to Cuculli¡¯s cleverness, the distance between them and Vermoth widened in an instant. The thunderous noise grew distant, the trees gradually sparse. Slowly, hope dawned on the faces of the children. And at some point, their vision opened up. ¡°Hey, kids! It¡¯s the train!¡± ¡°We¡¯re alive!¡± Cuculli, with her keen eyesight, shouted first. Soon, the other kids could see the wellid tracks and the train stopped at the end of them. Fortunately, the surroundings were still eerily quiet, with no sign of Vermoth or other monsters. It was the perfect moment for a final sprint. ¡°Now! Hurry!¡± The children sprinted along the tracks and reached the train, panting heavily. ¡°Heuk, heuk.¡± They copsed onto the steel-made carriage. It was cold and hard, but that didn¡¯t matter. The sturdy and delicate feel of the artificial material brought a sense of relief, realizing they had escaped from the threat to their lives. ¡°Alright! This is the Crisis Escape Train operated by the Super Beautiful Conductor. We¡¯re departing now!¡± Cuculli, standing in front of the control panel, shouted cheerfully. The train slowly elerated, and the cool breeze tickled the sweaty foreheads of the children. Without waiting for someone to suggest it, everyone cheered. ¡°Haah¡­ Thank goodness. I thought we were done for, about to be devoured without a chance to react.¡± Evergreen, releasing a sigh of relief, sat down as her legs lost strength. When Luke reached out to support her, his face turned red. Seeing that, Cuculliughed heartily, and even Leciel couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡­After turning a corner. Until they collided with a massive ck pir that spanned the entire railway, it was a pleasant journey. It didn¡¯t take the children long to realize that this colossal and thick object was Vermoth¡¯s body. ¡°Oh, for f***¡¯s sake.¡± After Luke¡¯s curse, echoing through everyone¡¯s sentiments, the train came to a powerless stop. The snake, smoothly coiling its tail, wrapped itself around the train. ¡­The colossal shadow had won. Sarararark! The sound of scales brushing against the ears echoed like thunder. A massive body, overwhelming in its indeterminate size, blocked the entire field of vision. In an instant, the surroundings plunged into darkness. A deep darkness where yellow eyes revealed themselves. The children instinctively grasped their weapons as they heard a slithering sound. Srrung! However, the determination did not rise easily. They couldn¡¯t figure out how to fight against this colossal monster. No matter how they shed, stabbed, or poked, it seemed unaffected. Sweat poured from their fingertips, and at that moment when their hearts made desperate sounds for survival, Leciel¡¯s small murmur was heard. ¡°¡­Just hold on until it arrives.¡± It was a sentence with an omitted subject. But everyone understood. Only then did the strength begin to flow into their hands holding their weapons. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s give it a try.¡± ¡°Be, be careful, everyone!¡± ¡°Tonight¡¯s dinner will be snake stew!¡± It was a moment when Vermoth was leisurely looking down at the frozen prey, as if there was no need to rush. Clink! Clink! Another train sound echoed in the distance on the railway. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 105 Chapter 105 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª After leaving the Forest of Martial Arts, Felson headed towards the central part of the academy. Traces of demonic energy scattered by Monma were stretched out like threads. No matter how specialized in detection one might be, the flow was so faint that it was difficult to pursue. But to Felson, it felt intensely vivid. There was no time to wait for the magical train. He ran with all his might and looked back at the distant forest. ¡°Half¡­¡± As his son¡¯s gentle face brushed through his mind, Felson¡¯s steps momentarily slowed. But only for a moment. The speed picked up again. ¡­It will be okay. Because there¡¯s arade he believes in more than himself, guarding his ce. Now, all he has to do is find and condemn Monma, the one responsible for all this, and its host. That¡¯s it. ¡®Monma¡­¡¯ Even though he tried not to recall, memories of the past prated his mind like a sharp spike. One of the sad aspects of human nature is its tendency to focus more on loss. Over a decade ago. It was the moment Monma took away his wife. He could no longer remember the joy, happiness, and tranquility he felt when he was with her. The bright smile that captivated him at first sight. The warm and calm voice. All blurred. Only hatred swelled silently. So he killed and killed until the seed dried up. There was no other way to regain a normal life. But who would have thought these creatures would reappear like this. ¡®Some entity must have remained.¡¯ All known high-ranking Monmas were thoroughly subdued. But the incident in the Forest of Martial Arts today was on a scale that an ordinary Monma couldn¡¯t cause without directly manifesting. No, even for a high-ranking Monma, influencing to this extent without direct manifestation is burdensome. It felt as if the annihted Monma Legion Commander, Enoch, hade back to life¡­ ¡®¡­No.¡¯ Suddenly, Felson¡¯s teeth gritted. It couldn¡¯t be true. After tracking dozens of hosts, didn¡¯t he personally plunge a sword into Enoch¡¯s main body? ¡°Let¡¯s meet in dreams sometimes.¡± ¡­He remembered Enoch¡¯s expression, filled with anger using a handful of demonic energy. Considering Enoch might have yed some kind of trick he carried out the confirmation and assassination several times. ¡®¡­Let¡¯s not dwell on useless thoughts. It¡¯s probably another high-ranking Monma who luckily survived.¡¯ Felson raised his head, looking at the building in front of him. The presence that summoned Monma to this academy. The ce where the host¡­ the conspirator¡¯s presence could be felt. If captured and interrogated, the whole story of this incident will be revealed. With a stern expression, Felson ascended the stairs of the professor¡¯s building. ¡°¡­Disgusting.¡± A space where memories of his deceased wife were embedded everywhere. * * * > Recipient: Ted Redymer Security Level: Top Original Writing Date: Year 287 of the New Empire, under the rule of Louis III Summary and Transmission Writing Date: Year 297 of the New Empire, under the rule of Cecil I Original Author: Former No. 1 Summary and Transmission Author: Current No. 3 1. Incident Overview: Monma Legion Commander ¡®Enoch¡¯ infiltrated the high-end salon ¡®Nubes,¡¯ where the heads of prestigious families gather, by possessing the host¡¯s body. Later, an unprecedented kidnapping incident urred, where they abducted the heirs of each family, manipting them. 2. Circumstances: It is assumed that the intention was to lure and eliminate the leaders of the empire by using the heirs as bait. 3. Location: Although the actual kidnappings urred in different ces, the ¡®Prave Fishing Grounds¡¯ nearby, presumed to be the transport destination for the captives, is where the host and all eight captives were found. 4. Kidnapping Information: ¡®Jenny Dietrich,¡¯ the mother of one of the captives, ¡®Ban Dietrich,¡¯ and the head of the Dietrich family¡­ (omitted) ¡­ Deceased. The only casualty in this incident, confirmed as Enoch¡¯s first host. 5. Measures and Responses: ssified 6. Investigation Results: Monma Legion Commander ¡®Enoch¡¯ tracking initiated ¨Cplete extermination. Failure to explore the mesmerizing medium. All deceiveddies survived without harm. * * * Standing at the front of the train, I shook my shoulders once as if I were about to fall off. ¡°I can¡¯t do this again.¡± The wind was so strong that it was hard to open my eyes properly. Beyond the blurryndscape, a few pitch-ck silhouettes approached at an rming speed. They were monsters. Paang-! As in the past ten minutes, I swung my sword and knocked the creature out of the tracks. Kieeek-! The monsters screamed as they retreated. The resilience transmitted from the de reverberated heavily through my body. ¡®¡­Not easy.¡¯ Because I sent all the children to the shelter, the creatures left in the forest lost their targets. The magical train, roaring with noise, was a great prey for those creatures. Kieeee! Four monsters were running on the tracks again. There was an option to sweep them away like a mat. But if I identally got one of their bodies stuck between the tracks and the train, the disaster would be unavoidable. For that reason, I became the one dealing with the creatures rushing in front of the train like a defender in a ser match. ¨‹ Would you like to ess the pocket dimension ¡®Key of Valber¡¯? ¡ø Dealing with the relentless influx of monsters with only the heavy sword, a middle-range weapon, was not efficient. So, I used the weapons stored in the Key of Valber. Shooting arrows. Swinging with a spear. Pushing with a shield. Blocking with a. In the midst of exchanging martial arts, I heard a beep in my ear. [As expected, the children are heading to the nearby station. The monsters are also chasing them.] It was amunication from Yussi, who had partiallypleted the system¡¯s restoration. Thanks to this, the video recording beads started functioning, and the identity of the mysterious monsters was finally revealed. ¡°Activate all equipment along the path.¡± [Yes] Last night, various explosives andbat machines were strategically ced in preparation for emergencies. Of course, it would be difficult to give them even a few seconds in a battle against those monsters, but the children being chased needed any extra time they could get. ¡®¡­Vermoth. A quite threatening one has been summoned.¡¯ It was a powerful entity recorded in La ce¡¯s eyes. ¨‹ Recorded Monster: Vermoth Codex Grade: Beyond Grades ¨C Significant variations among individuals ¨C Inhabits the magical field in the 20s of the Ma Territory ¨C Possesses strong physical resistance and regeneration ¨C Exceptionally intelligent, almost cunning ¡ø ¡­and so on. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release updates! /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª To sum up Vermoth in one word, it would be this. A physical-based monster. A typepletely opposite to the one I faced before, ¡®Magorn.¡¯ Vermoth¡¯s scales were as hard as steel, and its body, which grew with each prey and molt, exhibited unimaginable strength. Moreover, having regeneration capability, if you couldn¡¯t umte damage in one blow, the battle would be prolonged. In a typical stamina battle, monsters had a significant advantage over humans, making them extremely difficult opponents for unarmedbatants. ¡®Most of the notable extermination cases were carried out with the involvement of wizards.¡¯ Moreover, Vermoth, as an extraordinary monster, possessed a unique ability. ¨‹ Possesses ¡®Hardening¡¯ Concentrating magic, it momentarily increases the strength of certain parts of the body. ¡ø When scales undergoing hardening shed with a de, it was almost certain to break or lose teeth. If I were my former self beforeing to Rosenstark, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to leave a scratch even with all my strength. Such a formidable opponent. ¡°¡­¡­¡± I looked down at the dark steel in my hand, feeling its solid weight. Why is that? I wasn¡¯t as tense as one might expect. Instead, my breathing and heartbeats calmly settled. [All prepared equipment is depleted!] At that moment, an urgent report came through themunication device. [The distance between the children and Vermothis rapidly closing.] [Encountered!] [Hero, one minute left to the target point.] ¡°Let¡¯s get ready.¡± ¨‹ Recorded Artifact: Unique Ability of ¡®ck Hope¡¯ Partial unlocking of the ¡®Domain¡¯ ¡ø Recalling the recentments, I looked forward again. The enormous shadow of a snake was slowly entering my field of view. Once again, it had an astonishing size. Its body, rising like a mountain towards the sky, made the surrounding objects look like toys. Sssss! The eyes of the creature, with only the upper body of an adult, turned towards this direction as if curious about the newly arrived prey. ¡®The children¡­¡¯ From within the creature¡¯s thick trunk, the presence of the children could be felt. However, their figures were not visible, concealed by Vermoth¡¯s massive body. It seemed like a sturdy ck wall surrounded them. Kugugugugu- The train elerated. As it approached, the size became more tangible. Undoubtedly, it was thergest and likely the most powerful monster I had faced among all the monsters. A monster iparable to the baby snakes I encountered before. ¡®¡­Nevertheless.¡¯ The time I had spent building up to face such a monster wasn¡¯t for nothing. I reached out towards the train¡¯s magical engine, uncorking the lid of the magic booster with my teeth. ¡®Dispel.¡¯ Wooooong-! For safety reasons, the magic that had been restricting the speed was lifted. The maic force on the tracks immediately increased, and the train surged forward at an elerated pace. [Hero! You need to stop! Hero! Hero!] Yussi¡¯s desperate cries and the sound of the children¡¯s signal res ovepped. But it was toote to stop. Vermoth¡¯s body had already filled the field of view. The glossy scales reflected the speeding train and me standing in front of it. ¡°Let¡¯s see if your colossal body can withstand this.¡± Right before the collision, I leaped, using the train¡¯s railing as a springboard. The thunderous explosion echoed closely behind. * * * The destructive power is proportional to the mass and speed of the target. Conveniently, the hero had recently gained the ability to dramatically amplify both. Pajijijijik-! The hero, rushing through the air, was surrounded by a deep-blue aura. Nova¡¯s intense light, reflected off Vermoth¡¯s ck scales, instantly dispelled the surrounding darkness. It was like lightning striking on a pitch-ck night. Kieee-! Until then, Vermoth couldn¡¯t escape from the impact of the magical train collision. Understandably, even though it was a small train, it rammed into him at its top speed. That impact alone was enough to shatter hundreds of rib bones. The body swayed left and right. The vulnerable head exposed. The hero didn¡¯t miss the opportunity provided by Vermoth¡¯s vulnerable position. ¡®I must inflict a fatal wound with a single blow!¡¯ He concentrated all his nerves, waiting for the right moment. Pzzzzt! The ident, elerated to the limit by Nova, shed before his eyes. ¡®Not yet, not yet.¡¯ In that moment when the altitude reached its peak. Ascent ¨C Halt ¨C Descent. Exactly when the kic energy changed direction. Finally, the hero¡¯s ash colored eyes focused on Vermoth¡¯s dark forehead. ¡®¡­Now!¡¯ Kagagagagak-! A spiral-shaped sword energy wrapped around the de, tearing apart the air it touched. A thunderous explosion. ck Hope, emitting a hazy light like a shooting star, plunged towards Vermoth. Tsutsutsutsu- Vermoth, btedly regaining his senses, quickly raised demonic energy. The massive demonic energy gathered towards his forehead, and the hardness of the scales sharply increased. It must have be harder than steel. But it didn¡¯t matter to the hero. He was already prepared for this. Wuuuuung-! Right before the de of ck Hope touched Vermoth¡¯s scales, the hero activated the unique ability of ck Hope. ¨‹ ¡®Domain¡¯ activated. ¡ø And I felt the mass of the iron lump in my hand amplify immeasurably. It felt like holding the reins of a giant beast. ck Hope zed red. It reached its destination. ¡ª¡ª¡ª! Intense pressure. The surrounding air briefly dispersed like ripples, then, apanied by a loud tearing sound, it exploded. The destructive power was akin to a disaster. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 106 Chapter 106 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª With added propulsion from gravity. Nova. And even the ¡®Domain.¡¯ The hero, with a dislocated and broken shoulder, observed the result of their coboration while fitting the pieces together with polymorph. The head of Vermoth, plunging vertically from the high sky to the ground, from dozens of meters in the air. Kuuuuuuung-! Ddddddrrrrrr-! Dust rose so thick due to the vibration from the impact that it could eclipse the sun. The hero, momentarily suspended in the air due to the rebound of the sword strike, lifted the dust cloud with a sword swing. Beyond the clearing view. With mouths agape, children looking up at him appeared. The eyes, once clouded with despair, sparkled again, followed by brightughter. ¡­Everyone is safe. As the hero confirmed this fact, the corners of his mouth moved slightly in the same angle as his disciples. Thud-! The children rushed towards him,nding lightly in front of the magical train. Cuculli, hanging on the railing, swung her arms vigorously. ¡°Aaaah! Take me! Ted Redymer!¡± Of course, the hero did not react to the banter and only said. ¡°There should be instructors and ssmates in Shelter 1. You should go there first.¡± The line that had been blocked by Vermoth¡¯s tail, released by the recent blow, was revealed. They should be able to arrive soon. ¡°But why don¡¯t you go with the professor? That thing seems dead too.¡± In response to Leciel¡¯s question, the hero¡¯s gaze turned to Vermoth¡¯s tail. It was twitching ever so slightly. It wasn¡¯t a sign of life. Probably just post-mortem rigidity. ¡®¡­I have to finish it off.¡¯ The head fell vertically for dozens of meters. The brain must have been crushed inside the violently osciting skull. Even with good regenerative abilities, you can¡¯t survive when the brain is crushed. ¡­But just defeating Vermoth didn¡¯t end the situation. Kyyyyyaa-! The distant scream made the children¡¯s eyes widen. The massive demonic energy Vermoth had, mixed with the atmosphere as he died. Thanks to that, all the magical creatures in the forest were going crazy and rushing towards them. It was too much for the exhausted children to handle. ¡°Go.¡± The hero swept away the remaining debris on the line with the sword wind. It was a resolute voice that would not tolerate any dissent. In the end, the children nced back a few times, but the train departed. Be careful, thank you. You¡¯re amazing! Such words quickly faded away. ¡°Sigh¡­.¡± Once they were out of sight around the corner, the hero exhaled the breath he had been holding. ¡°Well then.¡± And slowly turned his head to look at the opposite track. Vermoth¡¯s corpse sprawled out in any way. Debris of the train engulfed in mes. Beyond them, creatures with creepy eyes were rushing. ¨‹ ess Subspace, ¡®Key of Valber?¡¯ ¡ø ¡°Shall we finish it?¡± It won¡¯t take too long. * * * An old and shabby mansion, an old and wrinkled servant. Cheap furniture and essories not much different from whatmoners use. Being a poor noble is miserable. Born to look up, but having to live like those below. Not a single moment of happiness. So, on that day, like any other day ten years ago, I was drunk and asleep. The day when the entity invaded my dreams. I didn¡¯t hesitate and epted the offer without any worries. ¡°A ruined family by the ancestors, a pile of debts approaching bankruptcy, you, whom no one cares about. Isn¡¯t life tough?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Let me help you forget this burdensome reality, even if only for a moment.¡± I knew he was a demon, but I wasn¡¯t that scared. I heard that in the border area with the demonic realm, thewlessnd of Kanis, there are people deliberately tempted by demons for dream exploration. ¡®It must feel like making high-quality medicine by chewing on some herbs.¡¯ But the dream that started like that. It was more provocative than I thought. Beautiful women who mocked my worn-out coat and rough skin clung to me like leeches. Trash that used to ignore me at social gatherings groveled at my feet. A luxurious mansion. Top-notch carriage. Gleaming essories. The gaze of people had changed 180 degrees. The dream continued long enough for me to fully enjoy all those benefits. ¡®Ah, this is what living is.¡¯ And above all, it was so vivid. Perhaps tens of times more vivid than the hazy and threadbare reality. ¡­We¡¯ve all experienced it at least once, haven¡¯t we? A dream so enchanting that you don¡¯t want to wake up. A dream filled with things that can¡¯t happen in reality, making you feel a deep sense of emptiness the moment you wake up. Standing by the bed, I was dumbfounded. The demon, Enoch, spoke. ¡°Help me.¡± ¡°A vivid dream like reality.¡± ¡°A dream-like, dreamy reality.¡± ¡°The boundaries between the two will copse.¡± ¡°You are to save your absurd life with your own hands.¡± ¡­A coborator. It was a path I had never considered. Once I had already tasted the pinnacle of pleasure, there was no choice. I did as Enoch instructed. And then, reality began to change like a dream. A jackpot hit in the family-owned mine. A ce where magical creatures appeared frequently suddenly vanished in an instant. Naturally, the mining output soared. The backward territory also developed. Since the mines of rival families copsed due to the sudden appearance of magical creatures, the development was even faster. Wealth umting rapidly and the environment changing at a dizzying speed. Helping hands reached out unknowingly from various ces in the political and business circles. In that process, I reached the pinnacle of honor that a young noble could achieve, even bing a professor at Rosenstark University. Jeremy Eitrobin. My once unknown name had now be the object of envy. So, I had never regretted the choice of shaking hands with Enoch, not even once. ¡­Until today. * * * Around the time the extreme test began in the Forest of Martial Arts, Eitrobin swallowed a sleeping pill. ¡®Hurry¡­.¡¯ Perhaps due to tension, he hadn¡¯t slept a winkst night. With closed eyes, he bit his lips. ¡®There¡¯s no need to be anxious. This n has to go well.¡¯ How much effort had he put into it? He had given his all for Sabotage, the central control of the project. As a result, almost half of the employees in the control center hade into contact with the new medium. ¡®¡­I¡¯ve done everything I can.¡¯ Now it was Enoch¡¯s turn to act. Slowly, as if the effects of the drug were working, his eyelids grew heavy, and his body gradually sank into the bed. Eitrobin reluctantly epted the drowsiness. ¡°¡­¡­¡± When he opened his eyes again, it was a splendid room. In the center, Enoch¡¯s distorted silhouette flickered. Whether he was concentrating on controlling the hosts or not, a sinister energy swirled around him. ¡°How is the situation¡­?¡± ¡°No problem.¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Enoch answered with a spark in his eyes. The ¡®new medium¡¯ had been properly epted, and once the illusion was triggered, ordinary human employees would be overtaken without resistance. Now all that was left was to wait for the extreme kids to venture deep into the forest. ¡°Sigh¡­.¡± Eitrobin bit his already dry lips again. This time, it wasn¡¯t tension but excitement. Monma. In the end, without understanding their true identity, the test had begun. That alone was considered a sess. Raise the demonic energy level in the forest. Release the monsters stored in the center. Summon ¡®Vermoth¡¯ as well. By the time Sabotage in the control center was over, the kids would already be scattered throughout the forest. No matter how much of a hero he might be, it was impossible to deal with all-epassing threats when there was only one body. During his frantic efforts, the kids would likely die quite a bit. ¡®If it happens like that, the situation will already be over.¡¯ The dreadful massacre in the forest, the mental defenses of the kids who witnessed the deaths of their peers, would inevitably weaken significantly. That¡¯s when Enoch would shine. After turning them into quality hosts, he would systematically extract mana and manifest his true form. ¡®¡­The resurrection of the vanished legionmander. Has there ever been a coborator who achieved such a great feat? Surely a tremendous price will be paid.¡¯ It was a moment when Eitrobin was indulging in such sweet dreams. ¡°What¡­?¡± Enoch¡¯s face subtly twisted. He seemed somewhat surprised, as if he had seen an expression he had never seen in the past years. Eitrobin, startled by the unexpected expression, asked. ¡°W-What¡¯s going on?¡± Enoch¡¯s cold gaze turned toward Eitrobin. ¡°¡­Yussi Glendor is here at the control center.¡± ¡°What? The director was supposed to have a different schedule today and leave the academy¡­.¡± The crisis for them had now begun. As the situation progressed, Enoch¡¯s expression hardened strangely. Eitrobin, unsure of what to do, nervously tapped his foot. ¡°¡­The Dawn Knights. These abominable things!¡± Enoch finally roared angrily. His face twisted for a moment, and a red light exploded in all directions. ¡­Sabotage had failed. Because of Yussi¡¯s interference, the demonic energy from the artificial core was only half released as expected. The summoning ritual barely worked. It was fortunate that Vermoth¡¯s summoning waspleted, but ultimately, the n to increase the demonic energy concentration in the forest and endanger the kids failed. ¡­But the real problem was elsewhere. Enoch, who understood the situation with just one eye of the enchanted employee, spat out as if chewing. ¡°Why is Felson Dietrich here?¡± ¡°What? Are you sure about that?¡± No doubt about it. The decisive manner in which hepletely annihted the monsters in the control center. The technique thatpletely eradicated all the monsters in the control center. A sword of pouring light. Though his appearance was not confirmed, it was Felson. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to thoroughly check the list of those entering Rosenstark?¡± ¡°I-I certainly double-checked and triple-checked! Not only the entry list but also the daily confirmation of all lodging guests and magic train passengers¡­!¡± Thanks to Nyhill¡¯s maniption, they had no idea. Enoch took a deep breath, trying to calm his anger. ¡®¡­The situation has be quite messy.¡¯ Felson Dietrich. He was a bloodhound. Once he caught a scent, he would never let it go. Especially when it came to Monma, his persistence was almost fanatical. ¡®It won¡¯t be long before Felson arrives.¡¯ Enoch slowly got up. Eitrobin, who had been nervously watching for any signs, was startled and raised his head. ¡®¡­It¡¯s premature, but unavoidable.¡¯ While causing arge-scale illusion, he had depleted some of the stored demonic energy. But there was still a considerable amount left. For a short while, he could use the power of his true form while it was still intact. ¡®¡­Considering the targets may not be in perfect condition, it should be enough.¡¯ Enoch made up his mind. He would use the ¡®power¡¯ they had kept as ast resort. If he missed this timing, vignce against Monma might strengthen, and he might lose the opportunity forever. Now was the time to throw the dice. The senseless rampage was over. Zzt zzt zzt zzt-! Enoch drew in all the avable demonic energy. He even pulled in the demonic energy interfering with the control center. Then, looking at Eitrobin with a puzzled expression, he said. ¡°Jeremy Eitrobin.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You said you wouldn¡¯t spare anything for my resurrection.¡± ¡°Of course. I am your loyal servant.¡± ¡°Good, I¡¯ve been waiting for those words.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Consent is needed.¡± Eitrobin stared nkly at his dream that was shattering into pieces. * * * Bang! Swirling magic. Monma and the hosts showed no intention of hiding their presence. Felson climbed the stairs in a calm manner. After confirming the namete that read ¡®Jeremy Eitrobin.¡¯ He kicked the locked door after a nce. It was a sturdy steel door, but in front of his mana filled and enraged kick, it was as fragile as a piece of paper. Thud! Felson stepped on the fallen iron door and entered the room. ¡°Resistance is futile. Surrender.¡± He had already sensed the room¡¯s structure and the owner¡¯s location from outside. He immediately aimed his sword at the bed where he felt movement. However, there was no swing or sh. ¡°¡­ Jeremy Eitrobin?¡± ¡°Huff¡­¡± Felson stood still and looked at Jeremy on the bed. A bizarrely thin body with mushrooms scattered all over. Thin, white hair. The skin was covered with fine wrinkles. He couldn¡¯t believe what had happened to him, and if it weren¡¯t for his wide-open eyes, Felson would have thought he was a corpse. Anger and betrayal¡­ The meshes barely held him back from death¡¯s door. ¡°What on earth¡­¡± Felson, with a furrowed brow, slowly walked towards Eitrobin. Ironically, there was a portrait hanging above the bed. A confident face of a man in his 30s who seemed capable of anything. An old man with the shadow of death. Experiencing simrity and contrast at once was extremely unpleasant. ¡°What happened?¡± Dry lips crackled. Amidst the gasping breaths. A bted confession echoed like a reverberation. ¡°¡­Enoch.¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 107 Chapter 107 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Evacuation Point 1. Most of the children were lying on makeshift beds, exhausted. Pia moved quickly through the scattered bodies. ¡°Ugh, Instructor. Please look at my arm.¡± ¡°Fortunately, it¡¯s not broken, just a simple dislocation. Hmm, anything to bite on?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Would you like a potion cap to bite on?¡± ¡°Yes? Ugh!¡± Using the supplies stockpiled in the evacuation point, she skillfully provided the necessary treatment for the children. Her skills were almost as good as a professional healer. ¡®¡­We¡¯re short-handed.¡¯ Thanks to the protective artifacts, the children weren¡¯t seriously injured, but there were many minor injuries and cases of exhaustion. ¡°Grrrr!¡± It was the moment when she tightly bandaged Gerald¡¯s arm wound. Beep! Themunication artifact in her ear rang, and she headed towards the central tent. [Pia] [Yes, Professor] [Any issues at the evacuation point?] A brief report followed. Following the instructions of the hero, Pia conducted an inspection of the children¡¯s belongings. Fortunately, even after a thorough search, there was no sign of any items that could be potential conduits. It seemed like the monsters hadn¡¯t touched the children. Relieved, the hero who heard the story let out a sigh. [All remaining monsters have been dealt with. However, it might take a bit longer to reach the evacuation point due to the train¡¯s destruction. Have the five of them arrived?] Pia¡¯s gaze shifted outside the tent. Amidst the children waiting for treatment, cheerful voices were mixed in. ¡°¡­Hey, logically, where would such a snake be?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m telling you, there really was one! A huge snake appeared! So, Professor jumped up this high! Huh? You saw it too, right, Ban!¡± ¡°Uh, yeah. What Cuculli says is true.¡± ¡°Sigh, how much are you going to exaggerate the story for¡­¡± ¡°I told you not to!¡± In the midst of the conversation,pletely inappropriate for the situation, Pia found herselfughing involuntarily. [Yes. They all arrived safely. They suffered some minor injuries, so we¡¯re going to treat them.] [Good. Support forces will arrive soon, so endure a little longer. After finishing the recovery of the control center, Yussi will join you shortly.] [Understood. Don¡¯t worry about the children¡¯s care. We¡¯ll do our best.] [It¡¯s reassuring. Then.] Ending themunication, Pia wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead and surveyed the bustling evacuation point. Initially, she considered evacuating the children outside the forest altogether, but she decided that the protected evacuation point would be safer. Therefore, all thirty-one extreme students were here. ¡®¡­Everyone seems determined.¡¯ The exams were abruptly halted, and with the sudden body search, the children must be confused. ¡®In times like these, as an adult, I need to provide stability.¡¯ Of course, Pia was scared too. Unlike the children, she knew exactly what had happened in the forest. But the hero entrusted this ce to her. She couldn¡¯t betray that trust. Pia gathered medical supplies, including bandages, and turned back to the children. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Someone was entering the tent. ¡®¡­Lucas Wellington?¡¯ He arrived rtivelyte at the evacuation point. Unlike his usual lively self, he was sitting in a corner without energy, causing concern. Pia smiled and said. ¡°Mr. Wellington, you shouldn¡¯te into this tent. If you¡¯re feeling unwell, should I take a look outside?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not that¡­.¡± His gaze, which had been wandering for a moment, settled on the rm device inside the tent¡ªmore precisely, the rm device connected to the control center. ¡°It seems the professor is a bitte?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I¡¯m so anxious, so I was wondering when the professor woulde.¡± ¡°Oh, the professor is¡­¡± She was about to answer the question absentmindedly. Pia stopped speaking, feeling a strange sensation. ¡°¡­Instructor?¡± Soon, their eyes met. Pia had been observing and caring for each child since the beginning of the semester. ¡®Different¡­.¡¯ Lucas was undoubtedly an arrogant and confident young man. But he also had the impetuosity and awkwardness typical of his age. ¡­Except for that. The chilling and ruthless aura emanating from him was different. Coborator? No. That was something else. A warning bell echoed in her mind. Her hand reflexively reached for themunication device. Before Pia could do anything, Lucas¡ªor rather, the possessed Enoch¡ªwas a step ahead. Crack! His outstretched fist shattered themunication device hanging near Pia¡¯s ear. Momentarily losing bnce, she tumbled to the ground amid the broken pieces. Her right ear felt like it was burning. ¡°Ugh.¡± But Pia didn¡¯t give up. She quickly got up and ran towards the side with the rm device. ¡®I have to inform them! I have to inform!¡¯ The control center is where the Principal is. If the rm goes off, she can ry the evacuation status to the professor. ¡®Ah, no!¡¯ But even that was thwarted. A hand squeezing her ankle tightly. She struggled, but it was in vain. Thud! The pain of her body hitting the ground echoed, crushed under the weight of the beating. ¡°Keh, who are you!¡± No answer. Just an increasing pressure on her ankle. The abnormal strength made her bones ache as if they would crumble. Beep beep beep beep beep! At that moment, the rm device rang. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Pia and Enoch stopped simultaneously. It wasn¡¯t a hallucination. The untimely rm disrupted the peace outside the tent. With trembling eyes, Pia stared straight ahead. ¡°¡­.¡± When did she enter the tent? ck hair lightly fell on her shoulders, swaying in the air. ¡­Nyhill. Her small hand was precisely on the button of the rm device. ¡°¡­Ha.¡± Finally, a big smile appeared on Enoch¡¯s expressionless face like a wax doll. The moment he intended to quietly suppress themunicationwork and leisurely consume the children, the n was distorted. Given the circumstances, there was no choice. He said as if spitting out. ¡°You have the expression of thinking you¡¯ve won.¡± The moment his words ended, Pia couldn¡¯t resist the overwhelming drowsiness and copsed to the ground. After a while, Nyhill also staggered and soon kneeled. A sinister magic spread from the hand he clenched. ¡®Professor¡­.¡¯ A thud! The sound of footsteps leaving the tent. ¡°¡­You will regret it in the endless nightmare.¡± Beep-beep-beep- Following that, simultaneous rms from the magic measuring devices echoed. That was theirst memory. * * * Ban resisted abnormal drowsiness and walked forward. It felt like forcibly getting up right before falling asleep after staying up for several nights. Eyelids were heavy as if someone was pulling them down, and the vision was blurry, if not pitch dark. ¡®I must not fall asleep¡­.¡¯ Suddenly, the rm went off. The whirlwind of demonic energy burst out of the tent, sweeping through the evacuation point. Unsure of the situation, it seemed clear that closing her eyes now would not be a good idea. ¡°¡­Gerald! Karen! Wake up!¡± But most of his fellow students were already sprawled on the floor. Depleted in mana and physical strength, they had no ability to resist. Even those standing seemed precarious, as if they could copse at any moment. Beep beep beep- The rm from the magic measuring device became increasingly loud. Swish- A cascade of red hair fell in front of his hazy eyes. ¡®¡­Leciel!¡¯ Just as he reached out to support her, a desperate voice calling him urgently came from behind. ¡°Ban! Run away!¡± ¡°¡­Cuculli?¡± Turning around, there. Fierce-looking Cuculli was rYussing towards Lucas. No, was that really Lucas? Meeting the dry gaze, Ban was enveloped in an intense sense of unease. ng! Cuculli¡¯s whip-like sword swung towards Lucas. Perhaps due to significantly higher magical power than her peers, she seemed less affected by drowsiness. But Lucas appeared even more unaffected. No, he was stronger and faster than usual. Cuculli, with a stern expression, was quickly knocked back and fell. ¡°Persistent dragon bitch.¡± Annoyed, Lucas stepped on Cuculli¡¯s writhing fingers. He then rushed towards Ban. Swish- Ban hastily took a defensive stance, preparing for the iing attack. However, in his current standing state, not to mention counter attacking, he couldn¡¯t even evade or defend. ¡°Kugh.¡± Taking a blow to the abdomen, Ban crumpled to the ground. Beyond the blurry vision. Iprehensible words were poured out. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°A¡­ while?¡± ¡°You must know me.¡± Squelch! Stepping on Ban¡¯s throat, Enoch looked down at him. The rm was ringing, and time was running out. Ban¡¯s presence was inevitable. Breaking through the guy¡¯s mental barrier would be easier than biting the wrist of a child. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The boy¡¯s biggest weaknesses were fear, trauma, defense mechanisms, and psychological trauma¡ªall created by himself ten years ago. ¡®It will end smoothly.¡¯ After consuming this high-quality prey, he would use the amplified power to engulf the minds of other children. Like dominoes. It wouldn¡¯t take long to consume them all. Enoch¡¯s hand reached out. ¡°Shh¡­ Let¡¯s have a long dream.¡± * * * Themunication device rang incessantly. It was Felson, who had gone to capture the host of Monma. [Enoch. The leader of the Monma legion was Enoch! Damn, how is he alive?] A desperate voice. Before the shock could subside, Yussi¡¯s report came from the evacuation point, where the rm had just sounded. [After the rm, the contact with Pia was lost. The visual recording beads of the shelter are also offline¡­] As the words pierced the ears, a sense of urgency felt like a stab to the heart. Monma Legion Leader. Moreover, Enoch, thought to have been subdued ten years ago. A muchrger threat than anticipated. One couldn¡¯t afford to be flustered at a time like this. R egaining control was essential now. In the face of an imminent crisis, cold judgment was necessary. Acting hastily to escape immediate anxiety and fear could lead to irreversible consequences. I ran towards the shelter and tried to assess the situation. [ Felson. Did you find out any other information by interrogating the coborators?] [¡­The conduit. Eitrobin revealed the identity of the conduit.] [What was the conduit?] The conduits usually used by demons to corrupt humans and enhance their powers included objects like ritual daggers used in demon worship, swords used in civilian massacres, items exposed to magic for a long time, etc. Destroying such conduits could lower Enoch¡¯s influence. With that expectation, I asked. However¡­ [¡­They developed an entirely new type of conduit.] [What was the conduit?] [Alcohol, they said.] [Alcohol?] Felson sinctly summarized the situation and conveyed it. Given his son¡¯s perilous situation, it was an extraordinarily patient response. [It was called the ¡°Dream Droplet,¡± a conduit. It seems they secretly distributed it from nearby viges.] [Ah¡­] Yussi, who was listening, let out a low sigh. ¡®So, that¡¯s why Control Center employees were easily deceived.¡¯ The users had freedom of movement within the academy. Hence, they often spent their breaks at nearby facilities such as taverns. ¡®Jeremy Eitrobin being a businessman probably yed a role too.¡¯ He became a wealthy entrepreneur in the mining industry. With various connections to the upper echelons and even directly operating among the upper echelons. ying pranks on items being circted wouldn¡¯t have been too difficult. I recalled the report on the ¡®Nubes Salon Incident¡¯ I had read before. Investigation Results: Failure to identify the hallucination conduit. [Right. Nubes Salon¡­ It was probably rted to this damn droplet, or whatever it was, even with my wife¡¯s death. And now my son is in danger.] Felson¡¯s voice began to tremble. It seemed his immense patience had reached its limit. [Leader, how long do you think it will take to reach where the children are? Enoch can not only deceive but also ¡®possess.¡¯ The power of dreams he unfolds in that state is different from other Monmas. We¡¯re in a hurry!] ¡­How long would it take to reach the shelter? The magic train had been destroyed, and I was running. Moreover, the forest was not a t terrain. It had many hills, and the dense trees made running difficult. Monsters kepting. Even if we ran with all our might, it would still take considerable time. ¡®Clearly, it won¡¯t work like this.¡¯ So, I stopped running. [¡­Sir Hero?] Yussi¡¯s puzzled voice echoed in my ears, but there was no time to exin. Checking with the Astera Vision, I found that the st safety measure¡¯ I had prepared was gradually approaching. Ta-aang! I fired a signal re into the sky. And then¡­ ¡®It¡¯ appeared. Drumroll! The low hum of the magic engine resonated. As the sound grew louder, the shadow on the ground rapidly increased in size. Shielding my eyes from the dust and leaves swirling in the strong wind, I looked up at ¡®it.¡¯ ¡®Well¡­ it¡¯s not very impressive.¡¯ Its angr and awkward body was cramped enough for only two people to barely sit in the cockpit, including the pilot¡¯s seat. Long wings rotating like crazy on both sides of the fusge. Rotors (rotating machines) attached underneath, spinning in opposite directions, keeping the craft afloat in the air. I didn¡¯t know how it operated, but it was, in essence, the first-ever invention in human history¡­ ¡®A machine that can fly in the sky.¡¯ It was still in the early stages of invention, and long-distance flights were impossible. But it would be more than enough to reach where the children were. Yussi, who had been watching through the vision bead, screamed sharply. [No, not that! My¡­] Unfortunately, her voice was buried under the roar of the engine and the furious yelling from the angry dwarf popping out of the cockpit. His face, usually stern, was darkened by concern for someone. ¡°Leader! Get on quickly!¡± His goggle-like eyepieces sparkled brightly, reflecting the sunlight. I climbed onto the floor, checking the items stored in the cargopartment. Then, I addressed themunicator. [Felson.] [¡­Leader.] A desperate voice responded. It seemed like a desperate situation. But there was a solution. If he were another Monma Leader, there would be no chance. But he was Enoch, a Monma close to a spiritual entity. I spoke calmly, as always. [I¡¯ll find a way to rescue them.] Through themunicator, the anxious breaths gradually subsided. * * * Ban opened his eyes. Shoo-oo-oo-oo-! Rain poured over theke. It was such a heavy rain that the sight seemed to warp and shake. Standing there, the boy faced the faint boundary where the white sky and the surface of theke merged. Squuueek-! On a creaky wooden board, swaying in the strong rainstorm, the erased letters were barely visible: Prave Fishing Spot. Ban closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Yes, this was the ce. Where he had stabbed his mother. [TL/N: ¡­.The big reveal] [PR/N: HOLY SHIT. yeah now i get why he couldn¡¯t fight with swords and his trauma, this is too much damn.] HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 108 Chapter 108 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª As with everyone else, memories of childhood days were faint for Ban. However, he remembered his mother¡¯s words as well as a habit. ¡°Son, you will be a brave person.¡± ¡°What does ¡®brave¡¯ mean?¡± ¡°Well, not losing courage in any situation?¡± ¡°What¡¯s courage?¡± ¡°Well, courage is¡­¡± Without showing irritation at sessive questions, his mother kindly exined. The details were not well remembered due to the difficult words, but her expression as she spoke of something sublime and precious was vivid. ¡­ Anyway. His mother had lived bravely. Knowing she would face rejection in social circles, she still went to the ¡°Nubes Salon.¡± It was the highest social gathering in the empire. ¡®For the sake of my father.¡¯ Amoner. He remembered the remorse and regret his mother felt for her own status, unable to provide any merit. So, she worked even harder as Dietrich¡¯s hostess. ¡°Mom, are you going out again? Can¡¯t you stay?¡± Apologizing, she shook her head somewhat sadly. ¡°Right. Mom has to be a good hostess so that our son can be loved and grow up well. So, even if Mom is a bit busy, understand, okay? I¡¯ll bring something delicious!¡± Even at a young age, Ban was intelligent enough to understand his mother¡¯s words. So, he didn¡¯t throw tantrums after that day. But it would have been better if he had been a little more intelligent. If he had been, he could have prevented the harsh treatment of themoner, who had fallen into the scornful social circles. In herte twenties, how much would his mother have suffered there? Counting the moments, she would have tried to hold onto her dignity even in the face of contempt. ¡°Why did such an ipatible woman enter our family¡­ Tsk, tsk.¡± Everyone saw his mother as an enemy. Even in a family that should have supported her, they treated her coldly. If his father had been by her side, the situation would have been much better, but at that time, the demons were causing havoc, and he could hardly stay close to her. His mother spoke less and confined herself to her room. The only time she smiled was when she wielded a sword with Ban in the training ground. ¡°Indeed, our son is a genius beyondparison with his mother.¡± ¡°To detect it already, our son is truly exceptional!¡± Even that was criticized by the family elders for being without etiquette. However, one midnight, his mother, with an oddly different atmosphere, woke Ban up. ¡°Ban,e with me. We¡¯re going on an outing.¡± Excitedly following, Ban saw arge carriage at the back gate of the mansion. Inside the carriage were people who seemed strangely absent-minded. Elegantdies and peers of the same age, all in splendid attire. I couldn¡¯t remember much from there. The carriage that rattled all night and the giggles of the children. His mother remained silent despite him calling her out. The carriage finally stopped at some remote fishing spot at dawn¡­ . . . ¡­ What happened there? ¡°Son, I¡¯m sorry. I love you. It¡¯s not your fault. Just remember that.¡± A voice echoed from the depths of his memory. Difficult and painful emotions surged like a torrent. Ban felt a choking sensation, opened his eyes. Then, an Enoch with his mother¡¯s appearanceughed loudly. ¡°Why, can¡¯t you do more? It¡¯s only been five times.¡± His mother, who lost herself to Enoch, manipted by him, tried to hand over Ban and the other children anddies to the demons. It was a n to seize hostages and control the imperial leadership. ¡­ In that desperate moment. Ban remembered that he had a concealed dagger in his embrace. Coincidentally, his mother resisted the control of the dream, regaining consciousness. Perhaps she realized it then. If the host doesn¡¯t die. The situation would be worse than her son¡¯s death. The fact that her husband, fighting day and night for humanity, would also be jeopardized. If not¡­ she wouldn¡¯t have made such a choice. ¡­ Unforgettable suffocating pressure. The weight and temperature pressing down on the body. ¡°Son, I¡¯m sorry. I love you. It¡¯s not your fault. Just remember that.¡± The words whispered until life faded away. ¡°Heh, heh-¡± His breath became increasingly rapid. The symptoms were manifesting after a long time. Each time he blinked, the rain soaking his body reflected inpletely different colors. ¡°Haha, again!¡± Enochughed satisfactorily. Due to depleting a considerable amount of demonic enerf, the dream wasn¡¯t perfect. But it was enough to overpower Ban. ¡®Humans don¡¯t have the knack to resist in such situations.¡¯ The boy was just gasping for breath. ¡°Ugh¡­.¡± It would start again. His mother approached, and he stabbed. A forced repetition of the most dreadful memory. Ban buried his head in his hands. ¡®I can¡¯t do this anymore.¡¯ Once his heart broke, regret slowly crept in like a dark fog. ¡­ Why. Why did I gather the courage that was not meant to be. I should have just stayed confined in the mansions of the institute. Then, I wouldn¡¯t have to endure this torment, this pain,ing all the way to Rosenstark. Ban felt like he was crumbling. No, he wanted to crumble. To give up everything and findfort. ¡­ So, he recalled those words. The words that had supported him for the past few months. The day he copsed embarrassingly in front of hisrades. The words that lifted him up again when he was broken. ¡°When you want to give up, remember why you started.¡± He had mulled over it hundreds of times since then. While being beaten by Luke and rolling on the ground. While enduring Lucas¡¯s sneers in silence. Even when self-loathing surged up unexpectedly. ¡®¡­Why I started.¡¯ There were many reasons. To escape the shame of the family and be a pride to his father. To trace the footsteps of his mother left behind in Rosenstark. To stop hating himself every night before falling asleep. But before all of that. There was something he desired more than anything. ¡°¡­I.¡± Ban wanted to fight. Against the demonic beings who had twisted his life upside down. He wanted to confront them. So, he left the mansion¡¯s room. He picked up the sword again. So, there¡¯s no running away from here. Ban slowly raised his stiffened head due to the chill. Beyond the rain hitting his ears loudly. He heard the cold and moist voice of the creature. ¡°Pointless resistance.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°This is my dream, my realm. Once you¡¯re trapped here, no human can escape.¡± ¡­No human can escape from here? Lies. Ban exhaled a warm breath. ¡°You¡¯re wrong.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± It felt strange. He used to freeze even in the face of a fellow student¡¯s clumsy swordy. Even in front of the lifeless body of a defeated monster. But now. In front of the leader of the nightmare legion. [TL/N: Dear author, is it nightmares or monmas? ??] He didn¡¯t even consider stepping back. ¡°There was someone who defeated you, right?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The person who finally beat you.¡± Ban understood exactly what he needed to do. Just do what he was good at. His father did it. His mother did it. The talent praised as genius until their mouths wore out. The talent inherited from both of them. ¡°I¡¯m her son! Now I¡¯ll do the same!¡± Ban shouted as he drew on his mana. Detection. Threads of mana that tracked the enemy surged from his body. Tsu tsu tsu tsu tsu-! The boy¡¯s mana poured out towards every reachable ce in his field of vision. It was an output that far surpassed the limits. It felt like his heart stopped, and his blood wasn¡¯t flowing, but it didn¡¯t matter. As long as he couldnd a blow on the creature, it didn¡¯t matter what happened to his body. ¡°Just a bit more! Just a bit further!¡± The vast detection unfolded. Beyond broken ss bottles and shattered wooden chairs, beyond rusted and corroded fishing tools. Beyond the abandoned fishing boat and the silver-coloredke surface pouring rain under dark clouds. He finally found it. The boundary between dream and reality. ¡°I found it.¡± Enoch muttered in disbelief. ¡°It¡¯s absurd¡­.¡± It felt like time was repeating. The memories of the past and the current reality intertwined. Certainly, ten years ago. In the same way, his dream had torn apart from here. The disgusting brown eyes. Enoch¡¯s face distorted like a malevolent curse. ¡°How dare you!¡± Ban¡¯s sword cut through the air. The light that split from its end extended across theke, cutting through the boundary between illusion and reality. The dream, unable to sustain its power any longer, began to crumble. Kwagwagwagwak-! This had happened only twice in Enoch¡¯s long life. ¡°¡­Haha.¡± Watching the crumbling dream. Banughed with relief. * * * The evacuation point looked entirely different from just now. The dense demonic energy fog made even a few meters ahead blurry in the darkness. Children, fallen like pieces of wood, writhed on the ground. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Enoch had wreaked havoc, using over half of the demonic energy he had recovered in the past ten years. But the main culprit of the incident, Enoch himself, was not satisfied, but immersed in bewilderment. ¡­His dream had shattered. Not by a Dawn Knight or the renowned hero. But by an academy student who was still just a child. Enoch shifted his gaze with disdain. ¡°Truly, a detestable bloodline.¡± Perhaps exhausted, the eyes of the fallen one had no focus. With his stamina, mana, and spirit at rock bottom, contacting high-concentration demonic energy would soon lead the boy to his death. However, even if such a result was predetermined, Enoch¡¯s anger did not subside. Pheguk-! Ban¡¯s chest was kicked, and he flew powerless, rolling. ¡®To such a guy¡­.¡¯ The ability he disyed in his weakened state, far inferior to before, did hurt his pride. But what was even more miserable was the fact that there was no room for anger. ¡®About a minute has passed since the rm went off.¡¯ There was still time until Felson or the knights arrived. But extracting mana from the children seemed impossible. The aftermath of the shattered dream and the instability caused by the forced possession made the use of abilities somewhat unpredictable. For now, putting them to sleep was the best he could do. The resurrection he had prepared for his original body, done with deep regret, was now futile. Enoch¡¯s face grimaced horribly, then returned to normal. ¡®Let¡¯s calm down for now.¡¯ Regretting what had already happened could wait untilter. Now was the time toe up with the best n. ¡®If I want to prepare for the future, I have to extract this host at least.¡¯ Enoch looked down at the young boy. A rare noble bloodline that had grown up in affluence, unaware of life¡¯s hardships. Perhaps due to that, his mental strength wasn¡¯t anything special, but his physical potential far surpassed that of Eitrobin, thanks to the noble lineage. If used wisely, he could umte demonic energy even faster than before. ¡®¡­First, I need to get out of Rosenstark. As long as there are knights and Felson, this ce is too dangerous.¡¯ Enoch quickly raised the remaining magic. Tsu tsu tsu tsu-! The ¡°Dream Droplets¡± hadn¡¯t only spread to the control center employees. Several residents of the viges near Rosenstark and the academy¡¯s servants were also affected by the medium¡¯s influence. Of course, it was impossible to mesmerize all of them, but by mobilizing some, Enoch could create enough confusion for him to escape. ¡®¡­Now it¡¯s been 2 minutes.¡¯ Enoch, who concentrated on the series of tasks, prepared to leave. Of course, he didn¡¯t forget what he had to do before that. Sweep-! His sword aimed at the defenseless children lying on the ground. Geniuses gathered from all over the continent to receive the teachings of the Hero. Those who could rightfully be called the future of humanity. Just stepping on them would be an enormous feat. First, this one. Shwick-! Enoch swung his sword towards the bright red hair that was clearly visible in the darkness. ng-! But the expected fatal blow did notnd. A sharp metal sound reced the expected disintegration noise. ¡°Ha.¡± Enoch¡¯s face twisted in displeasure as he confirmed the identity of the interference. ¡°A dying man resists.¡± Enoch¡¯s sword abruptly changed direction in the air, heading towards the stumbling Ban. He had already gone through and absorbed Lucas¡¯ memories. He found out that Ban froze and couldn¡¯t wield his sword properly in realbat. ng-! Enoch urgently blocked the sword aimed at his neck. ¡®¡­Initiative?¡¯ ng-! ¡­Ban controlled the rebound force of the sword and immediately thrust it again. ¡®Faster. Stronger.¡¯ He had to relentlessly press on. ¡®Completely different from Lucas.¡¯ Just one exchange was enough to reveal it. The force in the sword was terrifyingly powerful, and the control was malicious. At the current state, or rather, even in his best state, he couldn¡¯t defeat such an opponent. But¡­ ¡®I can buy time.¡¯ Ban held onto his strained body and continued to advance. Swick-! The heavy de passed by his shoulder. The feeling of demonic energy seeping through the opened wound was simr to salt being sprinkled. However, Ban didn¡¯t pay it any attention and faced the sword head-on. ¡®More!¡¯ Ban actively used the cloak with the enchantment magic received as a gift during the festival for defense. To avoid fatal injuries, he had to keep moving without a break, delivering strikes with his sword. ¡°¡­Ha.¡± Ban nced behind him every time he felt exhausted. The dense fog descended, and although nothing was visible, asionally, red hair, small cute horns, freckles sprinkled on the nose, and an annoying yet warm smile passed before his eyes. If he crumbled now, everyone would die. To him, who seemed to only disy a pitiful appearance, they first reached out their hands to help him. Friends who pushed him forward, preventing him from giving up, might disappear from the world. So, he couldn¡¯t afford to copse just yet. Ban took a deep breath and stood up immediately. In that moment, Enoch¡¯s eyes glowed eerily. ¡®How can someone who seemed about to die endure this?¡¯ The momentum was surprisingly vigorous. Eventually, Enoch made a decision. There was no time to waste. Although the demonic energy for escape would decrease somewhat, it was an unavoidable situation. Enoch raised his sword. Woo-woo-woo-woo-! The crimson mana gathered around the sword and formed a vortex. A tremendous power emanated from the magic structure into the air. ¡®¡­It¡¯s a wide area spell.¡¯ Ban, who was trying to avoid it in a hurry, realized something and stopped. ¡®Ah.¡¯ That attack wasn¡¯t targeting him. If he dodged, his friends who were lying behind would be swept away. If he intercepted, he would definitely die. It was more likely to survive by embracing the bomb with his body. His abdomen. Seeing the frozen Ban, Enoch burst intoughter. ¡°You pathetic creature. Can you muster courage even in the face of death?¡± Enoch already knew the answer. Regardless of any lofty principles, dazzling virtues, once pushed to the extreme, revealing the ugly face was what defined humanity. For a very long time, the dream-eater who peered into human desires was convinced. The boy would avoid the attack and save himself. And, looking at his friends who died tragically, he would explode with an unknown resentment. That¡¯s what he was convinced of. . . . However, the boy hesitated. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Ban naturally understood. It was impossible to intercept that. He would be crushed by overwhelming magic and die. ¡­But. If he gave his all, he could use his body as a shield and offset the explosion so that it wouldn¡¯t affect the entire shelter. ¡®That should be enough.¡¯ Ban looked at the iing sphere. By the way, it was a strange thing. When prepared for death, the mind bes strangely clear. Memories long forgottene back so vividly that it¡¯s as if they were just now recalled. ¡°Well, courage is¡­ a pledge to ovee despair.¡± ¡°A determination to choose a difficult option rather than an easy one.¡± ¡­Even though she shouldn¡¯t be here. Yet, the fragrance that made him feel relieved seemed to envelop him. Ban took a deep breath. ¡°So, a brave person is someone who chooses a difficult path.¡± ¡°And those who make such choices be an example to others at a crossroads.¡± I¡­ ¡°¡­I hope my son grows up to be brave and helps others find courage.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know! It¡¯s difficult!¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, you can find it difficult now. It will definitely be like that. Whose son are you!¡± ¡­Now, easy choices are tiresome. mes leaped vigorously from the boy¡¯s brown eyes, and his foot deeply prated the ground. Now, he chose this difficult option. The courage he showed in this moment would undoubtedly remain immortal to his friends. ¡°I¡¯m going.¡± And at the same time, as the most perfect sword strike extended. The condensed magic exploded in front of Ban with a roaring sound. Kwaaaaaang-! Intense light and heat swept through the shelter. . . . And then, a sword named ck Hope stood in Ban¡¯s path. The Hero looked at his disciple. With a body covered in blood and sweat, the appearance of a hero with a firm grip on the sword. His eyes, filled with unwavering determination, stared back. Indeed, it was a figure like that of a Hero. ¡°Ban.¡± The Hero, lifting the ck hope that had burned red from the ground, spoke. ¡°Well done.¡± The boy smiled faintly once and then fell backward. The Hero turned his gaze forward again, facing the distorted expression of the demon. Now, it was his turn. . . . ¨‹ Understanding of Ban Dietrich deepens. Understanding Level: 22/100 -> 25/100 Additionalments are added for Ban Dietrich: ¨C The one who perseveres. ¡ø HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 109 Chapter 109 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Humans enchanted by Monma exhibit tremendous power beyond their usual abilities. This is because the unconscious lock on the nerves, usually in ce to protect the human body, is released. Of course, significant aftereffects inevitably followed, but Monma wasn¡¯t particrly concerned from his perspective. The control center employees, who moved so quickly and fiercely that even Yussi was taken aback, were examples of this. If an ordinary human were enchanted like this, what would happen if a martial arts expert was possessed by the Monmamander himself? When Enoch possessed Lucas, not only did his physical abilities rapidly enhance, but he could also harness surrounding mana as a power source, simr to demons. Considering the high concentration of mana near the evacuation center, the mana capacity had increased several times more than usual. ¡®Bing stronger than most demons.¡¯ However, Ban managed to withstand against Enoch, who was in a near-death state. It was due to Dietrich¡¯s sword being exceptionally specialized in defense. There was also the reason Enoch used mana to escape. It was a moment beyond the reach of a prosecutor¡¯s entire life, a moment of ¡®enlightenment.¡¯ ¡°Ah¡­.¡± The boy, afterpleting his mission, slumped as he looked at the broad back blocking his way. For a moment, he felt a heavy sense of responsibility mingled with relief on his expression. The hero quickly realized that Ban¡¯s condition was far from normal, even ignoring the wounds. The insides were in a mess,pletely torn apart due to using mana to the fullest without any resistance. ¡®The others¡­.¡¯ Though better off than Ban, the situation wasn¡¯t much different. They were all breathing heavily with painful expressions. ¡®There¡¯s not much time.¡¯ The hero looked at Enoch again. He faced him with a mixture of vignce and hatred in his appropriately blended expression. ¨‹ Lord of the Abyss, Enoch ¨C Monma who upies a position among the sevenmanders ¨C Specialized in nting minions, contributing significantly to copsing the eastern continent ¨C Also a demon who has caused great harm ¡ø ¡­¡­ Enoch, ten years ago, was expelled due to the pursuit of the enraged Felson immediately after the Nubes Salon incident. Perhaps that¡¯s why, unlike usual, there were noments in the Iris of Lace that seemed to be written by the ¡®Original.¡¯ Only a fewments seemed to have been written based on the knowledge of Zero Requiem. ¡­One of them came to the hero¡¯s mind and disappeared in his eyes. Thement that suggested a certain strategy was remarkably simr to his own thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s better to just let me go.¡± Enoch¡¯s ck eyes gleamed. He pointed around with his long-nailed hand. A nauseating twist lingered on his lips. ¡°Can¡¯t you see that your disciples are being consumed by demonic energy and dying? It¡¯s urgent. I¡¯m surprised you can afford to waste time trying to punish me. A Hero who prioritizes annihtion over salvation¡­ .¡± Crafty and malicious, but notpletely wrong. If I was the ¡®Original¡¯. At present, I couldn¡¯t easily suppress Enoch with force alone. ¡®Even in an iplete state, he¡¯s stronger than the guy I faced in Lonkers, he won¡¯t be weak.¡¯ It would take quite some time. That was not all. If he prepared for his death and attacked the children, the damage would be immense. ¡­ ¡­However. Despite these negative calctions, the hero¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t particrly dark. Instead, a simr twist to Enoch¡¯s was spreading on his lips. ¡®¡­?¡¯ It was a moment when Enoch felt an inexplicable unease in the sarcasm. The hero whispered into themunicator. ¡°Noubelmag. Deploy it.¡± [All right, I was just waiting for those words!] Boom! An unusual explosion echoed in the sky. It sounded like fireworks going off. Enoch¡¯s gaze reflexively turned upward. ¡®¡­What¡¯s this?¡¯ ¡­It was a highly unusual scene. What started to fall with light movements looked like pollen. Tiny glimmers. Even in the ominous darkness, the light didn¡¯t fade away. On the contrary, it began to shine more intensely as it interacted with the demonic energy-filled atmosphere and friction. Enoch realized the nature of the power it contained and muttered incredulously, with an expression of disbelief. ¡°¡­Holy power?¡± No answer. Instead of responding to that question, the hero ran towards Enoch, gripping the ck hope. Whoo-! A fierce charge generated a strong wind, causing the ¡®Powder of the Blessed Stone¡¯ to flutter in all directions. It was a considerable amount, enough to densely fill the airspace near the shelter. What Noubelmag had dispersed in the air wasn¡¯t just the Powder of the Blessed Stone that the hero possessed. It also included some parts of the Blessed Stone kept in the academy. Responding to the hero¡¯s request, Noubelmag, who had been working tirelessly on the processing, seeded in refining several pieces into powder imbued with the power of exorcism just a few days before the start of the test. ¡°That day. Regardless of the situation, we need a means to protect the children.¡± The hero didn¡¯t anticipate that the minionmander who had been subdued long ago was associated with Monma at themandant level. But he had prepared multiple safety devices to protect the children from any demonic presence that might appear. It was the moment when that preparation emitted light. ¡®To engage in such antics¡­.¡¯ From Enoch¡¯s perspective, it was a staggering sight. Divinity was one of the representative abilities that humans lost at the end of the first era. The gods who had been watching over humans until then opened a ¡®gate¡¯ themselves and abandoned the humans who had brought beings from the demon realm into this world. Of course, asionally, ancient relics made from Blessed Stones, created by the divine power, appeared and caused trouble for them. But this method was unprecedented. ¡®¡­Powder, huh.¡¯ Who would have thought that someone would casually scatter an ingredient much rarer and more precious than gold like this? ¡­One-time use of the Blessed Stone. It was a concept that hadn¡¯t existed until now. But the effect was clear. Partsutututu-! Upon contact with mana, the Powder of the Blessed Stone emitted a dazzling light like a meteor breaking through the atmosphere. It disappeared. Of course, an equivalent amount of demonic energy also disappeared. ¡­In other words, Enoch¡¯s power that bound the children was weakening. However, Enoch had no time to thoroughly examine the situation. It was because a huge lump of iron was about to crash down right in front of him. ¡®¡­Insane!¡¯ Enoch¡¯s face twisted in confusion. Honestly, he was somewhat relieved. After all, the hero¡¯s disciple was none other than his host. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª No matter how much he harbored hatred for demons, as a professor, he wouldn¡¯t tear apart his disciple¡¯s body. ¡®He¡¯s also the descendant of a duke.¡¯ He expected him to show some mercy, but¡­ this was unexpected. ¡®Doesn¡¯t he care about his disciple¡¯s life at all?¡¯ That sword strike was real. The pressure alone felt like it would tear the skin. The momentum attached to the sword made it seemingly unstoppable. Moreover, the indifferent gray eyes on the other side of the massive and imposing de proved the severity of the attack. Kwaaaang! Enoch blocked the attack with his maximum power¡­ and for a moment, his entire skeletal structure felt like it was dislocating, causing a shiver of horror. ¡®¡­I need to escape.¡¯ There was no chance of winning head-on. In the first ce, even when his main body was intact, facing the hero was an impossible task. He was a man who hadn¡¯t given up his position even once among the sevenmanders, including three of the most terrifying ones, for centuries. Even if he was presumed to be in a ¡®less than perfect state,¡¯ it was still impossible to confront him directly. Kwaaaang! With such thoughts in mind, Enoch barely managed to block the sessive sword strikes. Faint cracking sounds echoed from the sword he held in his hand. Perhaps in the next strike, he would be bisected along with the sword. ¡®No way!¡¯ ¡­If the host died while possessing, it would also be a significant blow. It would be a decisive hit in an already unstable state. Most likely, he would lose even the demonic energy required to transform his body into the form of a host. There was also a high probability ofplete annihtion. That¡¯s why the decision was quick. Just like ten years ago when he escaped from the enraged Felson¡¯s sword. Enoch¡¯s face twisted in anger. ¡®¡­To experience this humiliation again.¡¯ The way humans and demons viewed each other was fundamentally simr. Even if the hero was an exceptional individual among them, the feeling of fleeing from the threat couldn¡¯t help but be miserable. He lowered his head with a bitter heart. ¡®I will definitely. Definitelye back and make you pay for this.¡¯ Wuuuuung! That¡¯s how Enoch tried to separate his spiritual entity from Lucas¡¯s body. ¡°¡­.?¡± At the same time, the hero, who seemed about to attack him at any moment, suddenly halted the pouring sword strikes. ¡°¡­.¡± While Enoch looked at him with confusion, the hero¡¯s mouth slowly opened. ¡°Do you n to run away again without finishing the fight?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°I guess the time of shameful evasion spent like a parasite was quite to your liking. You seem to want to repeat that.¡± What followed was truly an unpleasant insult. However, there was no eruption of boiling anger from Enoch. Something astonishing was happening, almost to the point of doubting his own eyes. The hero added with a sneer. The hero added with a sneer. ¡°Sure¡­ there¡¯s no need to run away. I¡¯ll fight you on the battlefield you desire.¡± ¡­From Enoch¡¯s perspective, it was an utterly iprehensible situation. The mental barrier that thickly enveloped the hero¡¯s mind had disappeared. As a being halfway between spirit and flesh, Enoch could feel it distinctly. Voluntarily disarming while facing an opponent. In the face of the hero¡¯s unexpected action, Enoch couldn¡¯t help but be somewhat perplexed. ¡®What kind of scheme is this?¡¯ The mental barrier is the sum of an individual¡¯s innate willpower, mental strength, determination, and the like. The barrier could be strengthened or weakened depending on the experiences one undergoes. It was one reason why humans were challenging to manipte as their mental barriers were not easily broken. Therefore, weakening it through a medium, nightmares, or overwhelming demonic energy was amon method. Once the barrier was breached, whether through enchantment or possession, it became easier to manipte the individual. The core inside the barrier was minuscule and insignificant. The soul of a human who couldn¡¯t live for even a century was like a speck of dust in the face of the immortal lives led by the demons. However, right now, the hero had dismantled the barrier with his own hands. It was an action almost equivalent to surrendering in front of a demon like Enoch. Although he wondered if there might be a trap, he couldn¡¯t think of any reason or validity for it. If he could enter the mind, a ¡®human¡¯ could never be an opponent for a demon like him. Sip- Enoch swallowed his saliva. As his thoughts organized, desires began to boil up. The most tempting physique he had ever seen was right in front of him,pletely unguarded. In such a situation, thinking was meaningless. A whirlwind of the greatest desire he had ever felt in his long life erupted. ¡®If I could possess that body¡­ that body!¡¯ Escaping the immediate crisis was not a problem at all. It was a powerful physique that even threatened the mighty demon king. It was natural that it would be much stronger than when his main body was intact, and furthermore, he would gain the admiration of thousands of demons for defeating their most threatening adversary. It was an achievement and power that could surpass being amander and establish him as a new demon king. ¡®¡­Ah!¡¯ Despite having useful abilities, Monma had always been the one who never received admiration among the n due to his low directbat power. A long-standing desire born out of prolonged deprivation. The savage craving for those loathsome eyes¡­ The hero simply gazed at him in silence. No, in fact, he wasn¡¯t looking at Enoch. The hero¡¯s gaze was fixed on a translucent line that only he could see. It was thement that appeared earlier. ¨‹ The most surefire way to eliminate a high-ranking monma is to achieveplete suppression in the mind rather than reality. ¡ø In fact, it was an almost impossible task for humans. Considering the capacity of the mind, humans could never defeat demons. The power umted over the long ages of their existence was reflected directly in their minds. Confronting them would only result in being crushed by the overwhelming mass of the soul. However, the hero thought, ¡®I¡¯m built different.¡¯ As a doppelganger who had replicated and stored countless humans, he believed that he could probably stand against Monma. Our gazes crossed for a brief moment while contemting like that. Enoch¡¯s spiritual body, steeped in joy, seeped beyond the Hero¡¯s mental barrier. [TL/N: FOOL.] HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 110 Chapter 110 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The imaginary world takes various forms depending on the owner. Enoch stood tall in a nk white space with nothing. ¡®¡­Ho, a vividndscape.¡¯ This ce is where the boundaries of time and space arepletely blurred. A world where flesh does not exist, only spirits. Inside the mind of the hero. Enoch, realizing he had entered safely, grinned from ear to ear. ¡°I never thought you wouldn¡¯t set up a mental barrier until the end. Foolish one.¡± What can wepare his current feelings to? A miner who discovered a gold vein? A pilgrim who sought an oasis at the moment of dying of thirst? No¡­ It cannot bepared to any situation. ¡®I can¡¯t believe the hero came into my hands voluntarily.¡¯ Once he set foot here, his victory was already certain. There is no human in the dream world who can defeat him. In the real world, the hero may overwhelm him with force, but here, the logic of spirit¡¯s power prevails. There is a significant difference in the mass of spirits between the demons who live for eternity and humans who cannot even live for a hundred years. Therefore, the victory of the hero is out of the question. Enoch, filled with anticipation, walked through the white space. ¡®First, I have to devour his memories.¡¯ To perfectly possess the target, it was a necessary procedure. He looked at the sparkling particles of light flowing beneath his feet. The memories of the hero. The moment he thoroughly searched through them, the hero¡¯s body wouldpletely be his. It wouldn¡¯t take long. After exhaling a breath filled with anticipation. Enoch reached out his hand. . . . Tap. There was a small boy running through a narrow and dark alley. Avoiding skillfully ced debris and their owners, he stopped. An entrance leading to a main road. In front of it, a neat and bustling world unfolded. The boy looked at the lively street with narrowed eyes, then ran out and collided with a middle-aged man in unusually colorful clothing. ¡°Ouch!¡± ¡°Sorry, sir.¡± ¡°You dirty rat. Won¡¯t you just disappear!?¡± The middle-aged man wrinkled his nose as if there was filth in front of him. The boy hurriedly retreated and returned to the back alley. ¡°Hehe.¡± And hiding in the shadow of a partially copsed stone wall, Enoch confirmed the gains of the adventure. A bright smile lingered on the face of the boy who discovered several shining silver coins scattered throughout the fairy tale. ¡°Wow! With this much, I can feed all the kids.¡± Ignoring the strong stench wafting from below, the boyughed happily. ¡­Enoch, who had been silently observing the whole process, couldn¡¯t help but feel amused. ¡®Ha, a pickpocket. I never thought his youth would be so ugly.¡¯ After that, it was simr. The boy gathered more aplices and engaged in pickpocketing, asionally getting into fights with kids from other viges. Enoch watched it all with a leisurely mind. Until the sturdy boy, caught using tricks in a gambling den, was beaten and left in a dirty alley¡­ at least that¡¯s how it went. ¡®¡­What?¡¯ Enoch felt a deep sense of disappointment. By this time, shouldn¡¯t the hero have enrolled at Rosenstark and started to show his promising potential? ¡®Should I wait a little longer?¡¯ However, even after examining the memories more, there was no sign of any improvement in his pathetic life. Stealing, fighting, gambling, women, and alcohol. That¡¯s all there was. Enoch, puzzled, hastily traversed through the memories. Believing that there must be some mistake, he desperately wanted to see the end of the memories. At the edge of one memory, Enoch was once again taken aback. ¡°Again¡­ there¡¯s more?¡± As soon as one memory ended, another one began ying immediately. Enoch stared at the particles of light beneath his feet in disbelief. ¡®This can¡¯t be.¡¯ It was impossible. There is only one path for the memories that can exist in a human mind. It was natural. Humans embark on a linear journey towards their birth and death. Therefore, all stored memories must have continuity. But in this imaginary world, there was another¡­ independent path of memories, different from just now. For Enoch, who had experienced the imaginations of countless humans, it was the first time. ¡®What the heck¡­?¡¯ Before he could utter another word. A new memory unfolded in front of him. ¡°¡­No, this is not it!¡± A young man, sweating like rain, was sitting in front of an easel. Mixing paints, he continued to paint with a fervor bordering on madness. ¡®¡­An artist?¡¯ His face, pale from not seeing the sun, showed a contradictory mix of a desperate desire for thepletion of the work and doubt about its value. The young man didn¡¯t stop painting for several days. Despite the physical pain of hunger and cold, he sometimes looked unbelievably happy. ¡°I have to create a masterpiece¡­.¡± ¡­What kind of memory is this, anyway? Enoch opened his mouth in astonishment. There was no need for deduction. It was evident to anyone that this wasn¡¯t the hero¡¯s memory. ¡®How?¡¯ How could the hero have several independent paths of memories? No, rather, a more fundamental question needed to be asked. How could he harbor the ¡®life of another person¡¯? The moment he pondered such a question, the scene changed again. ¡°For the charges of creating and selling seven forgeries, guilt has been proven based on clear evidence, the defendant¡¯s confession, and statements from relevant parties. Defendant, do you have any final words?¡± ¡°My stomach hurts, I was just hungry. Please, have mercy. Please.¡± ¡°The verdict is in. The defendant, Delian Cruze, is immediately expelled from Colliard Art Academy.¡± The young man looked at the dean handing down the verdict with empty eyes. Frustration and anger weighed heavily on his shoulders like a burden. Enoch, who had been watching, was bewildered. ¡®¡­Delian Cruze? Who is that?¡¯ He must have entered the imaginary world of Ted Redymer for sure. But for some reason, memories of apletely unfamiliar painter were ying after the pickpocket¡¯s scene. Enoch was terribly confused. And even this wasn¡¯t the end. ¡°Come,e. Take a look at this shiny otter fur.¡± A passionate street vendor. ¡°Hey, damn! Where¡¯s the rookie? The front line is empty!¡± ¡°Get a grip! If you finish this request well, you¡¯ll have a blessed life!¡± Mercenary. Smuggler. Farmer. Hunter. Free knight. Carpenter. cksmith. Martial artist. Tavern owner. Almoner. Minstrel. Magician. No matter how he advanced through the particles of light, only the memories of these unknown individuals fluttered in and out. Ironically, the memories of the hero, Ted Redeemer, did not appear. ¡®¡­This can¡¯t be.¡¯ For centuries, he had observed countless humans. When he demolished the mental barriers and meticulously examined their essence. Heroes, kings, priests, nobles, knights, peasants, everyone seemed the same. A human could only have one memory path. That¡¯s why he could crush it with the mass of the soul, dominating the opponent¡¯s mind. ¡®¡­Something strange is definitely going on.¡¯ In the end, Enoch¡¯s conclusion was denial. The centuries he had lived as a demon blocked him from epting the reality before him. A mere human couldn¡¯t possibly have such a mass of the soul. It¡¯s a trick. Tsu-tsu- Enoch withdrew from the memories and returned to the white space. He surveyed his surroundings. ¡®What in the world¡­?¡¯ The end of the light rays flowing beneath his feet was not visible. No matter if he was a demon, his mental strength was not infinite. There was clearly a limit. In contrast, those brilliant particles shimmered as if there were no limits. He had to admit it. It was impossible to examine all of them. ¡®¡­ There was a part of me that believed in it.¡¯ He hadn¡¯t opened the mental barrier without any n, after all. Enoch stared at the waves of light pouring from all directions with a puzzled expression. Jebuk- Then a silhouette approached him. * * * Enoch was the first to move. A giant sword strapped to his back, towering height, and a stern face. Recognizing the identity of the silhouette, he called out with joy. ¡°To appear on your own ord!¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª For Enoch, who had been choking on the memories of unknown origins, he had no choice but to wee this. It was a golden opportunity. Once he subdued the spiritual entity, the rest would be easy. Of course, the standard approach in mental warfare was to gradually invade the memories and then target the spiritual entity. But now that one individual had tantly revealed themselves, the order could be reversed without any problem. ¡®No, taking control of the initiative in this space will be more certain.¡¯ After such a brief calction. Enoch roared, pouring all his remaining strength. ¡°Even hiding is not enough at this point. Your arrogance has gone too far!¡± Tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu-! In the white space, the form of smoke spread irregrly. It was the shape of his lost original self. While imperfect in reality, in the imaginary world, Enoch could exert his full influence. Omnipotence surged from his toes. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Erged to the point where the hero felt smaller than an ant, Enoch looked down and burst intoughter. Yes, this was it. This was the difference in status. Whenever he revealed this form, no one could help but kneel without any hesitation. The hero would soon be the same. Enoch¡¯s distorted form uttered the words of the curse. ¡°¡­Witness how the things you love crumble so miserably. I will present terror and despair to thisnd through your body. I will kill, tear apart, and burn everything.¡± Each word carried such a powerful force that it could immediately copse the mind of any ordinary human. However, instead of responding, the hero drew the ck de behind him. And with eyes that were as dull as when he first appeared, he faced Enoch. ¡®¡­Arrogant bastard.¡¯ Even in the presence of such a huge threat, the hero¡¯s eyes showed no emotion. Even Enoch, confident of victory, felt a tingling sensation. But the brief unease vanished with the subsequent provocation. ¡°Perhaps you enjoy speaking such dream-like nonsense in dreams.¡± ¡°Ha, a pierced mouth!¡± ¡­All that remained was difort. It felt like watching a bug crawling on his own skin that refused to run away. Enoch rushed towards the hero. Kuuuuung-! Arge mountain made of smoke seemed to copse towards the hero. Enoch¡¯s n was simple. Crush the hero¡¯s mind with overwhelming power, take over his body, and dry up the seed of humanity. He intended to leave the arrogant one¡¯s ego intact so that he could witness the spectacle with his own eyes. ¡®He will regret it for eternity.¡¯ How would it feel to trample on the things he wanted to protect? Just thinking about it filled him with ecstasy. Today, he would be reborn. Kwaaaah-! Thick smoke rose in the white space. Enoch, intoxicated with the feeling of victory, waited for it to dissipate. But what appeared before him was¡­ The hero, standing unharmed with the ck hope. ¡®Blocked?¡¯ It was strange. The overwhelming attack that should have crushed any fragile human¡¯s spiritual entity was unexpectedly blocked just before the direct hit. At that moment, Enoch realized that there was an unpleasant change in this space. His pupils trembled slightly. ¡®Memories¡­?¡¯ All the light rays were flowing towards the hero. The massive de the hero held, dense with particles of light as if maic, attracted them. Seeing that scene, Enoch involuntarily opened his mouth. ¡®¡­Those can¡¯t be the hero¡¯s memories, right?¡¯ The hero, just like Enoch had done earlier, was boosting the power of his spiritual entity. It was something logically impossible. Raising the power required utilizing one¡¯s own imaginary world. Merely blending in memories brought by deception wouldn¡¯t boost the power. ¡®Surely¡­ it¡¯s a trick.¡¯ But why? The Hero¡¯s aura was rising in real-time, as if mocking him. To a level of spiritual size that an ordinary human cannot handle. When Enoch was bewildered and unable to do anything, the Hero spoke. It was a calm voice, just like before. ¡°¡­So it turns out like this.¡± He raised the golden-tinged sword wrapped in light beams. Woo-woo-woo-woong! Even at that moment, light particles were constantly pouring towards the ck hope. What was now in his hand was no longer a simple sword. An enormous pir of light, emitting radiance, was increasing in size in his hand. A power that cannot be exined bymon sense. Leaving that alone would not be wise. Enoch summoned all possible powers and rushed forward. Kwaaaah! He shed with his ws, struck with his tail¡­ He unleashed every method of attack he could. It was also a blow that he struck with all his might, without thinking about the aftermath. Kwaaaah! The space shook as a whole, and light particles fluttered like a storm had hit. It was a power that could scatter the spiritual body of a dragon, dozens of times more difficult to manipte than a human. ¡°¡­Ah.¡± But the light that the Hero wielded did not lose its vitality. Although the darkness that Enoch embraced momentarily dimmed its radiance, it was only for a moment. No matter what attack was made, the light beams continued to grow in size and brightness. ¡­Enoch seemed to realize something at that moment. ¡°You.¡± There was no desire or anger in the hazy eyes. Only fear of a presence that surpassed his understanding. ¡°You¡¯re not¡­ human.¡± ¡°Yeah, not really.¡± There was no need to deny it. The Hero nodded. And he fixed his sword. ¡°But the thing that kills you is a human.¡± Immediately after that. The Hero¡¯s sword descended towards Enoch. ¡­There was no explosion. Just as the wave of light quietly approached. All the negativity disappeared. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The Hero stood upright, looking at the light falling into the void. Unbeknownst to him, cracks were forming in the white space. Particles of light in front of him were now breaking into smaller fragments like grains of sand. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Tiny and insignificant. Now, even the traces of humans, who were rare to remember, were gone. If it were one by one, they might not have dared to stand against the legionmander of the monma. But when they came together, their power was by no means small. They became light, they became swords, and they became pirs. ¡°¡­It wasn¡¯t a meaningless journey.¡± The Hero took in the multitude of light before his eyes. As they gathered together, they were shining brilliantly. ¨‹ The Lord of Illusions, Enoch, has been subjugated. ¡ø HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 111 Chapter 111 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Lucas fell forward. I caught him to prevent his nose from breaking and read thements that appeared in front of me. ¨‹ Firewood ready to burn. After what seemed like an eternity, Through the darkness, a spark ignited. ¡ø ¨‹ ¨C Glimpsed Enoch¡¯s Dream world. Understanding of Enoch deepens. Understanding Level: 0/100 -> 10/100 ¨C ¡®Enoch¡¯ has been added to the list of polymorphable subjects. ¨C By acquiring an understanding of the subject through an iplete path, only some abilities can be replicated. ¡ø ¨‹ The First Era ¨C Part II is now avable for viewing. ¡ø Facing the Demon Legion Commander in the dream world. Honestly, it wasn¡¯t an easy choice. But sadly, I had no other means to target a spiritual form besides this. If Enoch escaped like this, the situation could lead to unpredictable consequences. I had to embark on a bold adventure. ¡­Of course, there was a reason. Through various experiments and encounters with the ¡®Original,¡¯ I realized that my mind remained unaffected by all kinds of mental attacks. It was proven when I faced Magorn barehanded. If the power of the spirit is determined by the umted memories and years lived, then my soul, which has undergone numerous replications of human experience, would never lose to that guy¡¯s calctions. ¡®Actually, it was true.¡¯ Bucks and Delian, among others. Humans I had connected with before. I knew that I hadn¡¯t just replicated their appearance. As polymorph evolved, I could feel the existence of the ¡®core.¡¯ ¡®Although thebined power was more powerful than I thought.¡¯ Even so, I didn¡¯t know I could send Enoch away with just one blow. ¡­Anyway. The ie from the adventure seemed sufficient. ¡®I never thought I would gain an understanding of Enoch¡­.¡¯ The strange thing was the moment he touched the memories I replicated. Whether the mental barrier weakened when examining my memories, I could also explore his memories. The amount was too vast, so I only skimmed through, but I could find meaningful clues about the demons¡¯ next ns. ¡®Next target decided.¡¯ Understanding the subject through an iplete path, only some abilities can be replicated. Even if it¡¯s only some, it¡¯s the abilities of the Legion Commander. Interference with basic dreams and enchantments will be given. The ability of the Doppleganger, which bes stronger as the understanding level rises, is a good match. It can explore the subject¡¯s imagination as if constantly triggering a nightmare. Very useful for me, who needs frequent information warfare. ¡®If used well, it will be a very useful weapon.¡¯ Besides, meaningful rewards like memories from the First Era were given. I wanted to tear them apart and investigate each one, but unfortunately, I didn¡¯t have the luxury to do that right now. Tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu-! The mist that had settled densely in the shelter cleared. The children who had been captivated in dreams were waking up, looking around in confusion. ¡°What is this? Was I asleep?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­ Oh? It¡¯s the professor.¡± ¡°I feel like I had a really weird dream¡­.¡± ¡°I feel weak¡­.¡± However, it seemed like everyone was still having difficulty moving due to the aftermath of exposure to demonic energy. Noubelmag quickly rushed over, holding high-performance relief items that had been stored in the backpack. Discovering a ck-haired girl with short hair stumbling out of the tent, he sighed with relief. Some of the children still hadn¡¯t awakened. Lucas, directly affected by Enoch, and Ban, who was in a battered state. I wondered if Noubelmag had provided first aid while I was dealing with Enoch; bandages were tightly wrapped around Ban¡¯s body. But his expression was asfortable as ever. ¡°Oh? Why is he still lying down?¡± Children nearby noticed Ban¡¯s condition and murmured. ¡°He¡¯s injured¡­.¡± ¡°He, he fought, didn¡¯t he? Come to think of it, Lucas seemed a bit strange.¡± They couldn¡¯t guess the exact circumstances. But it seemed like the children realized that Ban had protected them from some kind of threat that almost overwhelmed them. Perhaps when they woke up, Ban would be quite popr. Thinking that, I looked at Noubelmag, who was sitting down and catching his breath. ¡°¡­Phew, it¡¯s exhausting. Damn, at this age, I have to chase after these bloody humans.¡± He, who had been puffing on a pipe, seemed to notice my gaze toward Ban and added a word. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t affect his life immediately. If left like this for about an hour, who knows.¡± ¡°Fortunately. Thank you for your hard work.¡± ¡°¡­By the way, that Dietrich guy. He must have really sweated it out.¡± The bandages wrapped around him excessively seemed to contain the intention of sparing hisrades from experiencing the same sorrow. While looking at the thick sweat droplets running down Noubelmag¡¯s cheek, I took away the pipe he was holding. ¡°Stop smoking. You have to live long.¡± ¡°This crazy guy!¡± Swish! Just then, themunication, which had been blocked by the dense demonic energy, resumed. Urgent voices simultaneously echoed in my ears. [Hero! The medical team you requested is about to arrive at the shelter! Vehicles for transporting the injured to the main ward are also waiting. Are you okay, Hero?] HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Leader, Ban, my son, is he safe? What about the demons!? What happened to that guy?] While looking at the children, I slowly opened my mouth. ¡°The situation is over. Enoch has been dealt with.¡± And raising my voice a bit more, I continued. ¡°All the children are safe. Thank you all.¡± It wasn¡¯t a perfect defense. We did our best to prepare, but we couldn¡¯tpletely avoid big and small crises. But in the end, we protected the children. There were those who were hurt, and considering the long-term exposure of demonic energy to them, we have to keep an eye on them for a while¡­. The heavy burden on my chest felt like it had been lifted halfway. [All¡­ are safe?] [Ha¡­ Thank goodness. Really, thank goodness. Thank you, Leader.] Tension and anxiety were rapidly dissipating from the voices beyond themunication device. I looked around while sighing in relief. Beside me, Nyhill who was standing unsteadily. Pia, who had appeared at some point and was running around with the arriving medical team. The children who discovered me and brightened up. In between them, the bright noon sunlight was seeping in. ¡°¡­Yeah, really fortunate.¡± * * * Immediately after the attack by Enoch, the Demon Legion Commander, was concluded. The Imperial pce and Glendorpany and Rosenstark mobilized all avable means to track down those involved and restore the damages. Consequently, the following processes urred in a blink of an eye. Those who were mesmerized by Monma were all detained in istion wards, where they underwent interrogations by specially dispatched investigators. Additionally, those who were even slightly exposed to demonic energy received special medical supervision in istion wards. Unprecedented amounts of constion funds were provided to the families of the deceased and victims. Due to identity verification and surveince issues with the staff, the recovery process was slightly dyed, but the academy gradually returned to its original state. As the midterm exams that had not been held were postponed to early next month, some children secretly enjoyed the dy. In the midst of this chaotic situation, Jeremy Eitrobin, the host of Enoch and the instigator of this incident, gained unprecedented notoriety as a coborator throughout the continent. Of course, thanks to the intervention of the hero, the scale of the damage was lesspared to other major ¡®coboration incidents,¡¯ but the nature of his crime was the problem. He had colluded with Monma and sold the future of humanity, the children. -So what happened to him? ©¸ Did The Perfect kill him? ©¸ Was it a scene of him being killed on the spot? ©¸ Well, even I would have killed him if my son was in danger. -Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be more painful for him and he should¡¯ve suffered more before dying? Eitrobin, who was reported to have been killed by Felson¡¯s furious sword externally, responded¡­ ¡°Everything you¡¯ve said so far. Is it all true?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ it is true.¡± In fact, Eitrobin was detained in the underground of an obscure Rosenstark building. The interrogation ended more easily than expected. Eitrobin seemed to have lost all will, and he detailedly confessed from the beginning to the end of the incident. The process of sumbing to poverty and ambition, leading to bing a coborator. Very detailed, and vividly painful. Through this process, the hero was able to secure a list of humans who had helped each other. For example, a mercenary leader who manipted the ledger, iming to have eliminated monsters appearing in the iron mine owned by the Eitrobin family for arge sum of money. A peddler who, despite knowing that the ¡®Droplet of dreams¡¯ was a suspicious substance, distributed it without asking for its origin. He found the bugs that shared the sweet fruits gained through Eitrobin¡¯s coboration. Eitrobin¡¯s sincere repentance was not only because of his grudge against Enoch. ¨‹ ¨C Glimpsed Enoch¡¯s Dream world. Understanding of Enoch deepens. Understanding Level: 0/100 -> 10/100 ¨C ¡®Enoch¡¯ has been added to the list of polymorphable subjects. ¨C By acquiring an understanding of the subject through an iplete path, only some abilities can be replicated. ¡ø The hero used the newly acquired ability without hesitation. The replicated abilities were not as powerful as expected. It had a minimal impact, as it was almost negligible against an opponent with an intact mental barrier. ¡®Approximately at the level of an intermediate Monma.¡¯ But Eitrobin¡¯s mental barrier was nothing short of a rag. Moreover¡­ ¡®Perhaps it¡¯s because of Enoch¡¯s ability, but there¡¯s not even a resistance.¡¯ Eitrobin responded to the question obediently, as if I were Enoch. ¡°Well, one more thing.¡± With a cold gaze, the hero tasted the scene he had seen in ¡®Enoch¡¯s memories.¡¯ ¡°¡­Is it correct that Enoch¡¯s next goal was to coborate with the Demonic Church, alienate the elven races friendly to humans, and absorb the hostile elven races?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°If you have more information about this, tell me everything.¡± In this way, the hero transcribed Eitrobin¡¯s muttering. Significant clues emerged. When the hero¡¯s questioning ceased, Eitrobin, like a puppet with its strings cut, stopped moving. His bony forearm was spread out on the bed like a piece of wood, making one wonder if there was any point in handcuffing him. The hero looked at his face covered with deep wrinkles, the twitching body, and the discolored eyes. ¡°¡­It¡¯s quite fascinating.¡± In response to these words, Eitrobin showed a faint reaction. Humans are indeed fascinating. There are those who unhesitatingly dedicate their one and only life for the happiness of the present and the brilliant future for humanity. And then there are those blinded by glittering gold coins, selling out their own kind. Is there another species that shows such a vivid contrast between individuals? ¡°¡­¡± Perhaps it was an impulse. The hero reached out. ¨‹ ¡®Delirium¡¯ manifests. The ability to delve into the other person¡¯s subconscious and automatically project desired desires has manifested. ¡ø ¡°Aha, haa¡­.¡± Joy briefly spread across Eitrobin¡¯s face, gradually fading away. Drool flowing down his ckened mouth and eyes gradually moistened with tears. If the ability were to be exerted further, it could reveal what he was seeing, but the hero didn¡¯t want that. The hero turned away and left the room. That night, Eitrobin, mmed his head against the wall and ended his own life. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 112 Chapter 112 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The emperor looked back on that day. A friend came and soon announced his impending death. The day she had to go to the victory celebration before recovering from the shock. Even she, who boasted of a strong mind due to experiencing various court struggles, could not help but crumble in that moment. ¡®¡­ Victory celebration? Is this a victory celebration?¡¯ We won in battle, but what¡¯s the point if we lost in war? Looking at people who chatted andughed without worries, she was engulfed in a strong urge to spit out words lingering on the tip of her tongue. The hero, Ted Redymer, is dead. Therefore, in this long war, humanity has finally been defeated. For mankind, there is now only the slow path of dying¡­ so they say. If the hero had not stopped her from making the announcement of his death, she would have immediately stopped the unfolding skit and organized a mourning ceremony. ¡®Why not announce death? What¡¯s the point of dragging it out?¡¯ As she endlessly drank alcohol, she discovered a familiar face entering the banquet hall and spat it out on the floor. ¡°Wow! It¡¯s the hero!¡± ¡°Huh, the hero at the banquet? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Look over here just once!¡± ¡°Ted Redymer! Ted Redymer!¡± A fake with the same dignity and confidence walks over. Under the sparkling lights. A guy smiling leisurely. Even as the emperor who knew his existence in advance was momentarily fooled, it was a ¡®heroic¡¯ appearance. ¡­ And so it began. ¡°Because humans still need heroes. That¡¯s the reason.¡± Despite listening to all the exnations and greetings, she was skeptical. Because she had seen how ¡®Ted Redymer¡¯ became a hero. The thought that someone could rece the great man didn¡¯te easily. She thought it couldn¡¯tst long. The system burns, subjects are torn to death by monsters, and a fake who is discovered is hung on the gallows. Waking up from such nightmares with a body soaked in sweat multiple times. It was like walking on a tightrope, or rather, on a precarious de. Half a year passed like that. But¡­. The fake brought news of the punitive expedition of the corpsmander. ¡®How on earth did this happen?¡¯ The emperor looked at the hero sitting in front of him. It was an illusion implemented through ¡®multiplemunication,¡¯ but it felt vivid as reality. ¡°You¡­.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± With a slightly awkward expression, he suddenly apologized. Perhaps he thought she would me him for the magnitude and danger of this ¡°traitor incident.¡± However, Euphemia had no intention of reprimanding him. ¡®No, rather¡­.¡¯ After the emperor let out a short sigh, she looked directly at the hero. And for the first time in six months, she spoke words of praise. She was a bit awkward, so she skipped over the first syble with a muffled sound¡­ Anyway, it was a clearpliment. ¡°Did well.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°¡­You did well.¡± Ah. The hero¡¯s eyes widened a bit, and soon, a wriggly movement of hesitation appeared on his lips. ¡°I thought I was in trouble.¡± It was absurd to see ¡®Ted Redymer¡¯ughing like that, so Euphemiaughed along without realizing it. ¡­Realizing the embarrassment, she quickly regainedposure. ¡°Well, what¡¯s the matter?¡± It was none other than the hero who called for today¡¯s meeting (though only two had attended so far). Looking at him with eyes urging for an answer, he shrugged. ¡°Let¡¯s start when the rest of the attendees arrive.¡± Pa-aaa- Tiger, even a tigeres when I speak, and soon Noubelmag and Yussi appeared on one side of the meeting room. [TL/N: This was used before but i forgot to add a note lol, it¡¯s simr to ¡®speak of the devil¡¯, its literal meaning is ¡®The tigeres when you mention it¡¯ ??It is used when someone appears who has just been the subject of conversation.] Noubelmag, upon entering, scanned the surroundings with one eye and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Well, it¡¯s been a long time since I attended a meeting here.¡± Then he raised his wrinkled hand towards the emperor. ¡°You too, it¡¯s been a while, and you¡¯ve aged a lot in the past three years. It¡¯s not easy to deal with the Leader and the troops, is it?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± The emperor responded with a sigh. On the other hand, Yussi, after giving a respectful nod to the emperor, continued to rub the dark circles under her eyes. ¡°¡­But is Felson not here yet? It¡¯s unlike him to bete.¡± ¡°Felson is in the infirmary right now.¡± At the hero¡¯s answer, a moment of silence fell in the meeting room. ¡°¡­.¡± The Extreme¡¯s children were currently hospitalized in the infirmary. Most had almost no trauma, but as they had been directly exposed to high-concentration demonic energy, the responsible therapist had said they needed to observe their progress for a while. Especially Ban and Lucas. Since they were individuals who had directly contacted Enoch¡¯s ¡®Derilum,¡¯ they were moved to istion wards. Noubelmag asked cautiously. ¡°Felson¡¯s son¡­?¡± ¡°There was just news that Felson¡¯s son regained consciousness without any problems.¡± ¡°Huh¡­.¡± The expressions of everyone, who had been dark, brightened simultaneously. They all knew how much pain Felson had endured after losing his wife. The same pain should not be repeated. Especially Noubelmag showed a very relieved expression. ¡°¡­But what about the other one who was taken along?¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Not yet. It will probably take some more time for Lucas to regain consciousness. He yed a direct role as a host, after all.¡± The emperor, who was listening to the conversation, interjected with a solemn face. ¡± Ah, I forgot.¡± ¡°¡­Forgot what?¡± ¡°Duke Wellington has left for Rosenstark. It seems he wants to see his son¡¯s condition with his own eyes. He seemed unable to ept the situation, so be prepared.¡± ¡­It probably wasn¡¯t a desirable condition to see. Lucas¡¯s fate was still undecided. Although his actions were influenced by Monma, he was also at fault. Like the saying, ¡°Even the sound of pping requires both hands.¡± The weakening of the mental barrier to the point of being ¡®possessed¡¯ was due to his prolonged contact with Monma. Whether he maintained that rtionship for the sake of blissful dreams or for other reasons, Euphemia wasn¡¯t sure. One thing was certain: there was undoubtedly an opportunity for help until this cmity urred. ¡®I hope Duke Wellington is a more rational person than his son.¡¯ The hero advanced to the center of the meeting room with such thoughts. It was time to get into the main topic. ¡°The reason I called for this meeting today is simple. Once the situation here is settled¡­ I n to return to the Front line for a while.¡± The emperor, being the first to react to this unexpected statement, followed by Yussi. ¡°Return to the Front line? Why?¡± ¡°So, what about the academy? What about sses¡­?¡± As questions poured in, the hero answered them one by one. ¡°While fighting Enoch, I realized that their conspiracy is not limited to Rosenstark. So, I thought it necessary to personally examine the whole situation.¡± Although he considered sending a spy, since the mimicry of Enoch¡¯s ability was traceable, there was no other choice. ¡°And the academy will probably be on a break for a while. Midterms must be over by now. It¡¯s a rtively rxed time during the semester. Of course, there may be one or two makeup sses¡­¡± The hero¡¯s gaze turned to Noubelmag. The old man, who had been enjoying the reduction of tasks due to the new of absence of the Leader, suddenly stiffened. ¡°I¡¯m not worried at all because there¡¯s someone who can handle it.¡± ¡°¡­ Me? No, what ss does a cksmith teach? huh?¡± ¡°The prototypes of auxiliary weapons are nearingpletion. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± ¡°Well¡­ yes, it¡¯s in the final stages.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s you, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve added extraordinary features to the weapons.¡± Noubelmag mumbled, then closed his mouth again. The hero smiled slightly. ¡°It would be nice to introduce those features when we reinforce them. The kids will be very pleased.¡± ¡°¡­Hmph.¡± As the hero seemed to have already decided on going to the Front line, no objections were raised. They knew from long experience that once he made up his mind, it was impossible for anyone to stop him. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± It was then that Yussi let out a deep sigh. A somewhat affected and exaggerated sigh, not seemingly a result of disappointment. It felt more like a device to emphasize what was toe. ¡°Hehe, I tried to keep it a secret until the end. Well, I guess I should tell you now.¡± Seeming tired at first, Yussi¡¯s face began to exude confidence to the point where it felt like a lie. Even those who were watching became expectant. ¡­Was there some good news? Even the hero¡¯s eyes were tinged with curiosity. ¡°As the situation is what it is, hiding such good news wouldn¡¯t make sense. It will be a ray of light. Hehehe¡­¡± Perhaps annoyed by Yussi¡¯s dragging, Noubelmag suddenly raised his voice. ¡°Enough of the boring talk, why is this taking so long? Let me speak for her.¡± ¡°No, wait!¡± ¡°Yussi found the blessing of Zero Requiem Borningenheim. It¡¯s the rumoured eighth blessing.¡± ¡­The hero briefly doubted his own ears. ¡°¡­What did you just say?¡± * * * The medical team at Rosenstark was generally busy. Due to the academy¡¯s policy of pursuing practical training, there was a steady stream of patients every day. Intense workload. On days with events like the party arena and academic exchange conference at the end of the year, the vast ward would be filled to the brim with the lively scene. That¡¯s why Minerva Barson, a therapist who had been working for about 10 years as a student counselor, had confidence that she wouldn¡¯t bat an eye at ordinarymotions. ¡­Until a few days ago, before being assigned to the special ward. Now, in front of Minerva¡¯s eyes, scenes she had never seen in her therapist career were unfolding. ¡®How does the hero handle these kids?¡¯ Recovery room. This was where patients stayed until they were well enough to be discharged from individual rooms. In other words, this was where the majority of extreme kids ended up¡­ ¡°Thirty-five¡­ thirty-six.¡± A rough sound of breath echoed through the expansive ward. The therapist knew the girl well. Leciel Hiyashin, who copsed from exhaustion until she fainted while wielding a sword just before being transferred to the special ward. Her dedication to training seemed to have intensified in the meantime. ¡°Fifty.¡± Surprisingly, she was doing push-ups while holding the bed frame. Tight-lipped, her fine face was as red as her hair. Influenced by Leciel¡¯s passion, other kids began standing upside down one by one. Minerva, seeing the spectacle, shuddered at the strangeness. ¡®I¡¯ve seen them exaggerate when they say they¡¯re in pain¡­¡¯ Of course, there were some calm ones too. ¡°Where is the kitchen here?¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s currently 1 o¡¯clock in the morning.¡± ¡°Oh, then what time does it open?¡± ¡­The kitchen is not a restaurant! Shivering at Cuculli¡¯s audacity, Minerva finally realized. That¡¯s the hero for you. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 113 Chapter 113 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Yussi ims to have found the blessing of Zero Requiem. It¡¯s about the rumored eighth blessing.¡± While the hero was in confusion, the multimunication was quickly concluded. The fact that he obtained ¡®evolution¡¯ was a fact he did not share with anyone, not even the emperor. Naturally, Euphemia, who knew nothing, was delighted by Yussi¡¯s unexpected discovery and praised her. Yussi raised a ss and said, ¡°I will Inherit the blessing well. When the hero returns to the front line, I will return with him.¡± ¡®¡­How on earth did Yussi find out about the whereabouts of the eighth blessing?¡¯ The hero tried to grasp the details while acting as expressionless as possible, but it was not easy. In the end, there was only one conclusion. They had to meet right away and hear the whole story. Woooong- Awakening from the illusion ofmunication magic, back to theboratory. He immediately activated the Asteria Vision to find Yussi. ¡°¡­Noubelmag¡¯s workshop?¡± At thiste hour, she, who should be in her quarters, was in the shopping district. The words Noubelmag had said before shed through his mind, back then. ¡°Well, there¡¯s an excuse to tear it apart thoroughly.¡± ¡°She¡¯s doing something quite cute.¡± Next, what came to mind was the ¡®Weird machine that flies in the sky,¡¯ which was useful in rescuing children from the Forest of Martial Arts. The puzzle pieces had finallye together to form a shape. ¡®..It was made at Yussi¡¯s request.¡¯ It was a bted realization that came unexpectedly. During the confusion of fighting the coborator, he had thought of it as just one of Noubelmag¡¯s new attempts. But looking back, its purpose was clear. It looked shabby at first nce, but upon closer inspection, it was a very sophisticated item. Not the kind you could make casually. Surely, astronomical funds were involved in the design and production. ¡®She¡¯s certain it¡¯s in the sky.¡¯ Given Yussi¡¯s calcting personality, she wouldn¡¯t have made such an investment without being sure. The problem was delving further into thebyrinth. The eighth blessing, ¡®Evolution.¡¯ Wasn¡¯t that something Zero Requiem had prepared for the salvation of humanity? ¡®Could there be more artifacts like the Iris of Lace?¡¯ How did Yussi know about that clue, and even the precise location in the sky? ¡°¡­¡­¡± Regardless, he intended to stop Yussi from going to the sky. In the process with no apparent benefits, spending astronomical funds and bearing risks would be inevitable. ¡®The problem is how to persuade¡­ though.¡¯ If, in this situation, there were sudden discussions about the presence or absence of blessing, it would be very suspicious. Lost in such thoughts, he found himself in front of the workshop. Wheeeeng-! With a loud mechanical sound, the machines positioned at the entrance all turned to look at the hero. In the past month, thanks to Yussi¡¯s extensive material support, the workshop had transformed into a fortress-like structure. ¨C Verified. He had been on the authorized entry list for a long time, so there was no threat to him. However, the hero walked towards the distant voices and listened intently. ¡°¡­When is that damn machine going to bepleted?¡± ¡°This ignorant alchemist. Does she think I¡¯m wielding some magical wand? It still needs more work! We have to experiment while the mana stone is still pouring in.¡± ¡°It flew well in the forest.¡± ¡°Back then, the altitude was low, and the flight time was short. Do you want it to crash into pieces in the sky hundreds of meters above?¡± ¡°Do you think so? I¡¯m anxious because there¡¯s no time.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you design it better from the beginning?¡± The squabbling ceased as the hero¡¯s footsteps approached. Yussi, who appeared in the doorway, looked at him with rabbit-like eyes. Disheveled hair and swollen eyes. She stood up abruptly. ¡°Hero? Why would youe to this humble and wretched ce¡­?¡± Sigh. Meanwhile, Noubelmag, perhaps interpreting the hero¡¯s visit as he pleased, groaned and got up. ¡°Did youe to see the unarmed prototypes? Well, even if you¡¯re looking forward to it, what will happen if you grill an old man like me in the middle of the night?¡± ¡­The hero cut to the chase without hesitation. ¡°Yussi, how did you know about the existence and location of the blessing?¡± . . . Seeing the hero¡¯s expression, Yussi answered directly, excluding any nonsense. ¡°Zero Requiem¡¯s disciple. I found it in the journal he left behind.¡± It was a confusing answer for the hero. Zero¡¯s disciple. It was a story unfamiliar even to someone who had lived for many years. The fact that Zero disappeared without passing on his vision to anyone was a well-known legend. Everyonemented the disappearance of Zero, which caused a significant setback in magical advancements. If there had been someone to whom he passed something, they would have left traces in history long ago. In response to my gaze filled with puzzlement, Yussi added further exnation. ¡°I, too, found it suspicious. I collected and analyzed rted historical records, nonfiction stories, and even scattered documents in the streets for the past few years.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°I specte that Zero deliberately concealed the existence of his disciple. Only after he disappeared did asional traces of the ¡®secret disciple¡¯ emerge. But one thing is certain.¡± Yussi raised her hand. ¡°Zero Requiem¡¯s disciple existed, and he was pursuing his master¡¯s eighth blessing.¡± Excitement, knowing a secret that no one else knew, was pushing fatigue away from Yussi¡¯s face. At the same time, the hero suddenly recalled a clue he had long forgotten. ¡°The name of the ¡®secret disciple¡¯ hidden behind that veil is¡­¡± ¡°Depikio Lugo.¡± ¡°Deph¡­ ex.¡± A gasp echoed. * * * ¡°¡­Hero, do you also know Depikio Lugo?¡± Yussi stumbled and asked, her face now filled with astonishment instead of excitement. Well, he was an unknown figure to the public. It was natural to be surprised when the name of such a person was revealed all at once. ¡®¡­Depikio Lugo.¡¯ It was a key to solving the current problem. ¡°Of course, I know.¡± There wasn¡¯t precise information about him. After obtaining the namete in the cave of protection, the hero had searched for his name in the information repository but found nothing. ¨‹ The current information is in an undisclosed state. ¡ø No information could be obtained. But the important thing was that no one could know how much he knew about Depikio. ¡°This is¡­.¡± Yussi¡¯s eyes widened. Seeing the namete of Depikio Lugo, she was gaping in astonishment. Thinking it was an important item rted to Zero, he had kept it in the key to Valber. It turned out to be helpful like this. ¡°I, too, have investigated Zero Requiem¡¯s activities. Thanks to that, I could learn about Depikio Lugo¡¯s existence.¡± Feeling uneasy, Yussi¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°¡­Is that so?¡± ¡°To get straight to the point, there is no blessing at that location.¡± No further exnation was needed. The namete of Depikio Lugo in his hand was evidence enough. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª As an alchemist, she would instantly realize that this wasn¡¯t a counterfeit. Of course, if it were someone else who imed to have evidence, he wouldn¡¯t have been easily believed. ¡­¡¯Hero¡¯ was the person she trusted the most. The lie was too easily woven. ¡°No¡­ that can¡¯t be.¡± Yussi blinked with a bewildered expression. Her hand fell weakly to her knees. ¡®¡­What is this?¡¯ It was a different expression than usual. Although he had seen Yussi disappointed before, this depth¡­ was unusual. It wasn¡¯t just the disappointment of not gaining the expected benefit; it seemed to be a reaction to facing a huge crisis. Feeling an immediate need to address it, he opened his mouth. ¡°Yussi.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± After a moment of silence passed. Yussi reluctantly answered. ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s just household matters that I need to attend to¡­.¡± ¡°Yussi.¡± She had an expression that conveyed apologies for causing inconvenience. However, with a determined gaze that showed he had no intention of retracting the question, she eventually opened up. ¡°¡­It seems like my family is trying to cast me aside.¡± * * * ¡®Forest of Martial Arts coborator Incident Emergency Meeting.¡¯ Before entering the conference room, Yussi took a deep breath, anticipating the unfolding meeting. ¡°It¡¯s called a meeting, but it¡¯s basically like an interrogation.¡± The documents in her hand were filled with the damage report of the current incident. [Forest of Martial Arts coborator Incident Damage Report] Unir Course, ¡®Extreme¡¯ damage situation: 2 seriously injured, other minor injuries. Infrastructure and building damage: Approximately 25,000 gold. Compensation for casualties: Approximately 8,000 gold. Reconstruction and repair costs: Approximately 40,000 gold. Personnel and equipment costs for rescue and investigation team: Approximately 10,000 gold. Medical and treatment expenses¡­ Since Yussi assumed the position of principal, this was thergest amount of loss she had faced. What was more unfortunate was that this document had fallen into the hands of academy professors hostile to her. Of course, the attack by Enoch was like a natural disaster, not anyone¡¯s fault. Still¡­ ¡®As the highest authority figure of the academy and the majority shareholder of the school corporation, I can¡¯t avoid responsibility.¡¯ Opinions among the faculty would probably be split. Those who were antagonistic toward her and the hero. Friendly young professors. And those who tried to remain neutral with ambiguous positions. If she yed her cards right, she might conclude the meeting without too much damage. Yussi made that conclusion and entered the meeting room. ¡­And she faced a more intense confrontation than expected. ¡°Given that the principal visited the control center just before the incident and that Professor Felson surreptitiously entered Rosenstark, doesn¡¯t it suggest that Professor Redymer and his associates were aware that such an incident would ur?¡± [PR/N: It seems they¡¯re calling Felson a prof bc he was a guest faculty maybe?] We didn¡¯t know about the incident in advance, but prepared for it, you conspiracy theorist! As mentioned before, the recent activities of the demons were not normal. ¡°If you had given us a heads-up, our faculty could have handled this incident more smoothly.¡± What nonsense is this person talking about in a situation where we don¡¯t even know who the coborators are? ¡°If Professor Redymer expected a disturbance, why did he choose Forest of Martial Arts, a location far from the central part of the academy, as the testing ground? He must have known it would be difficult to handle.¡± Isn¡¯t it fortunate that such trouble didn¡¯t happen at the central part of the academy? We made efforts to minimize the damage and achieve the best results, right? As Yussi was responding, she realized something was going wrong because the aggressive questions didn¡¯t stop. Even neutral professors were censuring her with raised voices. ¡®What is this¡­?¡¯ Various hypotheses and countermeasures came to her mind, but Yussi couldn¡¯t follow through. ¡°At this point, there¡¯s one rational suspicion.¡± ¡°Rational suspicion?¡± ¡°Professor Redymer, who knew about the coborators, used children as bait¡­¡± That was enough. Everyone has their limit. Those were the words that she couldn¡¯t keep calm about. The irritation and fatigue that have umted over the past few days. Old-fashioned people who don¡¯t even know the situation and only know how to make a fuss. And the joyous expressions on their faces as if they had found a way to damage the hero. The anger quickly rose to a critical point. bang-! Yussi¡¯s fist mmed the table. It was an action that shouldn¡¯t have been taken in a meeting, but there was no other option. The meeting room fell silent instantly. The emotional toneless voice continued as if emotions were excluded. ¡°Who is the ultimate decision-maker for this academy?¡± ¡®Well, they obviously want¡­¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s you, the principal.¡± ¡°So, if there are any demands, don¡¯t pass the responsibility to some distant ce; tell me.¡± The professors¡¯ eyes sparkled at those words. The topic was quickly redirected to the calction of recovery costs. ¡®¡­It won¡¯t be an easy amount.¡¯ Surprisingly, Yussi was in a financially tight situation. This was due to the copse of the ¡°Craftsmen Expo¡± and the substantial purchase of magical stones for the expedition for Zero¡¯s blessing. Unusually for Yussi, her wallet was sort of empty¡­. Just as Yussi finished her calctions and was about to speak, the meeting room door forcefully opened. ¡°I¡¯m a bitte, aren¡¯t I?¡± A self-assured voice. Following that, sharp and clear footsteps. Everyone¡¯s gaze turned towards the unexpected visitor who stood in front of the table. ¡®¡­What¡¯s going on?¡¯ As Yussi quickly adjusted her expression, the unwee guest took their ce. A woman, simr to her but with a few more wrinkles and much more venomous eyes, smirked. ¡°Hello, Yussi.¡± ¡°¡­Merian.¡± With her arms crossed, Merian raised her chin and looked down at Yussi. Her small and sharp jawline was something Yussi had always looked up to since childhood. ¡°You¡¯re weak, as always. Right now, it¡¯s not just about the recovery costs.¡± Merian Glendor. Apetitor and an intimidating sister. She was the co-chairman of the Glendor Educational Foundation. The appearance of an adversary carried significant implications. Merian leaned in, tilting her upper body deeply towards Yussi¡¯s ear. ¡°What¡¯s this about? Seems like your recent actions aren¡¯t sitting well with Father?¡± Her whisper resonated like thunder. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 114 Chapter 114 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Merian is my half-sister and also a half-cousin. ¡­You don¡¯t understand? My mother is said to be the younger sister of Merian¡¯s mother. It was the result of her father meddling with both the sisters, unable to control his overactive lower body. ¡®I guess old folks¡¯ tastes don¡¯t change.¡¯ Thanks to that, my birth was surrounded by all sorts of sordid rumors, and naturally, my childhood was terrible. Merian¡¯s mother was the favorite of my father. Thanks to that, Merian, being her only daughter, was firmly establishing an overwhelming hierarchical rtionship among dozens of siblings. In Merian¡¯s eyes, I was probably a mongrel who made her mother cry all the time and a reactionary element dirtying her kingdom. All of my siblings and servants tormented me under Merian¡¯s orders. I grew up being bitten by guard dogs, hitting my head on the toilet, and being abandoned in the middle of the street for no reason. Mother couldn¡¯t help at all. At some point, she started to waver. ¡°Yussi, you have to live as if you¡¯re dead. Never stand out. If you do, a terrible fate awaits us.¡± And it continued. ¡°But, even though you inherited his blood, does it make sense for this idiot to say such things?! Yussi! Go do something useful.¡± ¡­So it went. Poor mother. I left her behind like escaping to Rosenstark. Of course, Rosenstark was no different. Her elder sister, the soon-to-be sessor, had enough influence to mess up her younger sibling¡¯s school life. ¡°Merian says she entrusts taking care of you to me.¡± That was the first thing I heard after entering school, and that pretty much summed it up. I studied hard and ran around desperately to survive, fought. It was a life disconnected from leisure and far from easy, to the point where I didn¡¯t even know the existence of the famous person who stirred up the academy at the time. A malicious and capable rival. Thanks to my father, who almost seemed to enjoy pitting his children against each other, I¡¯ve been colliding with various things for decades. ¡­Damn it, Merian. . . . Yussi focused on reality again. It was an emergency situation when that damn sister appeared. Look at that annoyingly smirking face. ¡®Thrown out of father¡¯s favor¡­¡¯ Yussi could be the head of Rosenstark, thanks to the emperor¡¯s implicit support. It was also thanks to contributing arge sum to the educational foundation in Glendor for the acquisition of Rosenstark¡¯s shares. Due to this, Merian, who became the co-chairman, also had considerable ambitions for the position of head at that time. Unfortunately, even after some time had passed, that desire seemed undiminished. On the other hand, Yussi¡¯s roots of power were in a precarious situation. ¡°This time, the damage Rosenstark suffered¡­ No, the damage our foundation invested in Rosenstark incurred, do you think it¡¯s limited to just recovery costs?¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°Naughty Yussi. I wonder who taught you the habit of pretending not to know while knowing the answer.¡± While continuing the conversation, Yussi subtly observed the professors. There was a clear difference in their attitudes towards Yussi and Merian. If they were openly hostile to Yussi, there was a subtle nodding agreement with Merian¡¯s words. She had already noticed that the majority of them had been swayed by Merian. ¡°Fine, since you seem unwilling to speak, I¡¯ll do it for you.¡± In a dominant atmosphere, Merian leisurely sat on Yussi¡¯s table, smirking. Yussi gritted his teeth. ¡°Recovery costs are a very minor part of it. Given that such an incident urred in the middle of the academy, the biggest problem is the sponsorship funds.¡± Some professors sighed quietly. Rosenstark was basically tuition-free (though students with poor grades had to offset it through work, etc.). ¡®For those with no money but full of talent.¡¯ It was because of the academy rules personally created by Zero. Instead, Rosenstark managed its finances through donations and support from influential individuals and parents who wanted attract existing graduates and future talents. ¡°If it¡¯s a ce where the safety of their child is not guaranteed, why would they believe and open their wallets?¡± A decrease in sponsorship funds would be a fatal blow to Rosenstark. Merian sneered. ¡°You should also take responsibility for that part¡­ But is it possible? You spent a lot of money recently.¡± ¡­Well, even digging into my financial affairs. However, she wasn¡¯t caught up in her cheap provocation, she had be an adult who had gone through all sorts of hardships. ¡®I¡¯m no longer a child trapped in a warehouse.¡¯ After regainingposure, Yussi looked at his half-sister. She also had an ace up her sleeve¡ªinformation about the blessing. After years of steady tracking, the situation had finally be clear. Although it was a painful realization that Merian had simultaneously fortified her position and the academy¡¯s location, if she could obtain the protection of Zero Requiem, this tilted power dynamic could be reversed in an instant. ¡®If my father hears this news, he will surely support me.¡¯ Dewis Glendor loved money, but he was even more obsessed with fame, having enough wealth already. When she became a Dawn Knight, he had dismissed Merian, who was practically his sessor, and showered her with wealth and power. Naturally, he would be very willing to discover the blessing. Yussi, after making such calctions, confidently shouted at his longtime rival. ¡°Wake up from your dream and get out of my conference room.¡± . . . ¡­If she had known there was no blessing, she would have been a bit more cautious in her words. * * * Having concluded the story, Yussi nced briefly at the Hero. His expression seemed usual, with nothing particrly different. However, Yussi could read the emotions hidden within. ¡®Ah.¡¯ It was a face that made memories of their first meeting sh through my mind. Late at night. A secluded warehouse somewhere on the campus. A training enthusiast who sneaked out of the dorm. A freshman girl who was locked in a warehouse by her older sister¡¯s bullies. The moment they met. Even for Yussi, with a tough temperament, panic had quickly set in when she found herself trapped in the pitch-dark warehouse with dozens of creepy bugs. An unbearable itching sensation coursing through his body. Senior students, ssmates, security personnel, professors¡ªall seemed to have been bribed by Merian. Desperately screaming for help, but no one came. ¡°Is anyone there? Please get me out!¡± In the moment of despair, the iron door locked by those bastards was shattered, and someone bathed in moonlight appeared. Then, with an indifferent and calm expression, he said. ¡°Get up.¡± Yussi grabbed therge hand extended to him. The hand was rough but surprisingly warm. ¡°Th¡­ thank you.¡± He didn¡¯t respond. With a swift motion, he pulled her out of the warehouse and turned away. It was an unbelievably cold attitude, as if questioning whether he hade to rescue a person. Watching the retreating figure, she thought, she was thankful but that¡¯s truly an inhumane man. The next day. It was said thatl the ringleaders suffered the same fate, if not worse. If Professor Labin hadn¡¯t intervened, it would have been at least a suspension for the Hero. ¡­ Thanks to that experience, Yussi could now easily understand what that indifferent expression meant. ¡°Yussi.¡± In response to the Hero¡¯s call, Yussi slowly looked straight ahead. At that moment, the hand was reaching out again. A hand that had be a bit more calloused, rough, and thick with more scars. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± He didn¡¯t propose any specific ns or measures. Just that one statement¡ª ¡®I¡¯ll handle it.¡¯ Even with just that, the anxiety and restlessness that had been weighing on her for the past few days slowly faded away. Through years spent together, it was a learned sense of security. ¡®Huh.¡¯ Yussi bit her lip to suppress a smile. Laughing widely here would make her look too shameless. ¡°Always, I¡¯m always thankful to you.¡± ¡°No need for thanks. Your help is necessary for the n to seed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m needed? That¡¯s even more wee to hear.¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Only then did Yussi burst intoughter. . . . ¡°In such a difficult situation, yourughter makes you stand out, Yussi.¡± ¡­It would have been better if the muttering that ruined this precious moment hadn¡¯t been heard. ¨‹ Understanding of Yussi Glendor deepens Understanding Level: 17/100 -> 20/100 ¡ø * * * The Hero made up his mind. It couldn¡¯t be without Yussi. Even if, by some chance, she stepped down from the position of Principal. No, if her influence diminished even slightly. It would make things difficult in his life as a professor. Moreover, he was partially responsible for her current predicament. So, even if it required a somewhat ruthless approach¡­ ¡®I have to resolve it from this side.¡¯ The first target was the professors who had fallen for Merian¡¯s schemes. Swish- The Hero raised the stack of documents piled in front of him. For the past few months, he had been tirelessly collecting data. ¡®¡­It seems like I¡¯ll have to use it earlier than expected.¡¯ As much as he was a Hero, openly confronting ¡®Glendor¡¯ would be an unwise act, yielding no benefits. Because Glendor was a group responsible for dealing with aspects that couldn¡¯t be resolved by force alone. If he intimidated them thoughtlessly, as he did during the time of Momont Andrea, irreversible consequences might arise. However, from the beginning, he never intended to charge recklessly. There was a much better way. ¡°Maybe because they have lived in peace for a long time, they are so clumsy andcent.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Nyhill answered briefly in front of him. Today, it was the face of an agent suited to a cold-hearted mission. ¡°They seem to be taking no measures in the information war.¡± ¡­The professors were unaware. They didn¡¯t know about the eyes of a doppelganger watching them, the ears of a ghost listening to them, or the hands of a puppet feeling them. ¡®Inexperienced fools.¡¯ With just a piece of information, one could trace a person¡¯s movements. Not only their daily life and expenditures but also discern their preferences. Even create traps to exploit weaknesses and ws. ¡­Yes, information warfare like this was one of the main tasks of the intelligence department. Nyhill was the third most capable agent there. ¡°If we embarrass just a few as an example, they¡¯ll handle the rest themselves.¡± Sergei, the janitor of the professors¡¯ quarters, had turned the stench-ridden trash that Nyhill¡¯s doll had collected over the semester into an efficient trap. ¡°Set off the appropriate ones, and for critical matters, bring them to the negotiation table depending on the situation.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Hero¡¯s cold gaze shifted beyond theb window of the correctional facility. He was aware that there were many professors who weren¡¯t favorable to him. He hadn¡¯t bothered them much until now, but¡­ If they were trying to push Yussi aside for their petty gains. He couldn¡¯t tolerate that. It wouldn¡¯t be a problem to deal with people who would ultimately be a liability rather than an asset. ¡°¡­Merian won¡¯t just step back. Since she came to Rosenstark, she needs to show results inpetition to Dewis.¡± ¡°Yes, ording to the analyzed personality, there is a high probability that she will act ordingly.¡± ¡°¡­We need to set traps appropriate for her caliber.¡± The Hero¡¯s eyes gleamed. Before heading to the institution. He would root out all the sources of concern. . . . The next day. Merian was having a luxurious breakfast with some professors she had ensnared. The attendees seemed delighted to have a connection with her, smiling warmly. Unlike the inexperienced andcent principal without any influence, this skillful and well-connected co-chairman would surely be of help to them. Merian suddenly spoke. ¡°Do you all know what Yussi and I have inmon?¡± The professors couldn¡¯t discern the intent of the question and continued with awkwardughter. ¡°It¡¯s that we have a lot of money.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s the difference?¡± Merian, as if not expecting any response, immediately answered. ¡°The difference is in the amount.¡± The reason she could be so confident was as follows. After the first era, following the copse of Holy power. Humans became extremely vulnerable to ¡®disease.¡¯ Diseases that were easily ovee with the reliance on Holy power had be threatening disasters that could kill an entire family in an instant. It was a tragedy for humanity, but for alchemists like Glendor, it was an unprecedented opportunity. ¡®The development of various medicinal treatments and drugs.¡¯ It was enough material for a rural alchemy workshop to be a grand merchantpany epassing the entire continent. Centuries had passed, and Glendor¡¯s roots were still in alchemy, even though they had expanded into various business fields in a tentacle-like manner. They continued to earn the most money in that field. Merian oversaw a private pharmaceutical manufacturing business, a sector specializing in producing medicinal treatments. This business, handling the production of civilian medicine, was the reason Merian couldpete with Yussi, who had the tremendous merit of being the panion of the Hero,¡¯ and continue the sessionpetition without being overshadowed. *p* Merian pped her hands to draw attention. ¡°The essence of what I¡¯m saying is that all of you made an excellent choice.¡± A sociable smile lingered on everyone¡¯s faces at that moment. *Ding* *Vroom* Simultaneously, alert sounds and vibrations echoed inside the room. Some professors urgently sought permission and checked theirmunication beads and connectors. ¡­Their faces turned pale, as if they were corpses. Some of them even let go of their devices in a way that suggested they might be about to faint. ¡°Well, excuse me for a moment. I need to use the restroom.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m not feeling well¡­.¡± ¡°My mother is sick!¡± Professors hurriedly left their seats. Merian watched their backs with a perplexed expression. ¡°¡­?¡± The room was filled with an awkward silence, as moments ago, it had been a lively dinner gathering. *Ding* *Vroom* No, even that silence didn¡¯tst long. ¡°Oh, look at this.¡± Merian¡¯s lips twisted. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 115 Chapter 115 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª No matter how clean it looks, there¡¯s no one who doesn¡¯t release dust when they shake themselves. So, what if you shake someone who looks like they have a lot of dust? Inevitably, a clump of dust would fall. Last night. Some aspects of the private lives of professors carefully selected by the hero were exposed. The aftermath could be discerned through an anonymous bulletin board. -Wow, is it possible to indulge in such luxury with a professor¡¯s sry? There¡¯s a lot to say, but let¡¯s cut it short here. ?Ha, I should tell my family to reduce the sponsorship. ?There must be a reason why the ss quality is so bad. -Congrattions, Professor ¡ö¡ö¡ö, on bing a VIP at the bar. As a disciple responsible for the local economy, I can¡¯t help but admire. ?Professor~ If you know a good ce, let¡¯s go together! ?Some are fighting against the demon army¡­ Some are fighting against hangovers. Rosenstark is doing well. -A retired professor who seduces his students with all his might, this is interesting. ?It¡¯s only a temporary break, but how will he face people with that face again? ?Forced sabbatical, should I take it? Someone with professional skills spread gossips with clear evidence. No one suspected the mastermind. The target was clear. The victims were only those who had caught the strings of Merian. ¡­Of course, money is good. But the situation must preserve basic honor for its utility. The professors were greatly embarrassed as the looks in the eyes of the students they encountered as they walked around campus changed. ¡°Tsk, truly unmatched in viiny.¡± ¡°When did they gather such information? How on earth?¡± The surviving professors could do nothing but be on guard. ¡­And that waspletely unwee news for Merian. Tuck¡ª Silence fell in the prestigious guesthouse. Only the sound of a striking match quietly echoed. Her attendants, fearing they might offend Merian¡¯s feelings, remained silent, lowering their heads. After a while, Merian spoke. Her voice was calmer than expected. ¡°Hmm, what should I do about this?¡± Unfortunately, the same method couldn¡¯t be used to repay them. The professors on Yussi¡¯s side were rtively clean. It was difficult to explode gossip on the same scale, and they hadn¡¯t gathered enough information yet. Merian¡¯s lips dried up. ¡®¡­Interesting.¡¯ If it was a monochrome information war, it could be repaid in her own way. ¡°I also know something about you.¡± The reason Merian rushed to Rosenstark was not only the informant incident but also because she had identified suspicious fund flows. ¡®Yussi¡­ Do you think such arge sum of money can beundered so easily?¡¯ She soon understood the destination of the funds. ¡®Hiring a magician from the school of gravimetry, purchasingrge quantities of high-grade magic stones and ores¡­.¡¯ There were more suspicious parts. Even the retired Dawn Knights¡¯ Noubelmag suddenly caused amotion in the academy. ¡®¡­That stubborn dwarf is not going to produce mainstream goods, but still, something feels fishy.¡¯ After Yussi retired from the Dawn Knights due to an unexpected ident, Merian seized the opportunity and worked tirelessly to increase her influence. Thanks to this, her father¡¯s scale, which had been tilted towards Yussi, was slowly regaining its original position. Yussi was not unaware of that fact. Yussi¡¯s move this time would be a decisive move to turn the tables again. If she only prevents this, she will ultimately be the winner. ¡®¡­Gravity magician, high-grade magic stones, various ores¡ªhigh-intensity but rtively lightweight.¡¯ ¡­It was a moment that seemed to grasp something but remained uncertain. Thud¡ª! Loud footsteps echoed in the corridor. Merian, as if surprised, chuckled and reached out her hand toward the whip under her feet. But the whip did not strike. ¡°Y-Y-Yussi, Miss Yussi!¡± The hand that gripped the handle of the whip paused at the urgent tone. ¡°¡­What about Yussi?¡± ¡°She opened a conference, saying she found the whereabouts of thest blessing of Zero Requiem!¡± Merian narrowed her eyebrows. * * * The auditorium was bustling with people after a long time. Uuuung¡ª As it was a hastily arranged conference, the seats were not fully upied. Instead, dozens, hundreds ofmunication orbs were transmitting images with bright lights. ¡°I am confident in the existence of the blessing and was able to roughly determine its location. The process is as follows.¡± Yussi calmly exined, looking at the data screen, unfolding the story of the past few years. Discovering the journal of ¡®Depikio Lugo,¡¯ tracking his actions, decoding the code he left, and so on. Evidence proving the existence of the ¡®eighth blessing¡¯ was shared one by one. A plea-like tone followed. ¡°In the exploration and preparation process, it is expected to require an astronomical amount of funds, so I would like to receive your investment.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­.¡± As expected, the audience in the auditorium showed a skeptical attitude. Over the years, there were many who imed to have found the eighth blessing. Although it spread as a massive issue, every single one of them turned out to be false without exception. That¡¯s why interest in the eighth blessing had long since faded. The reason they didn¡¯t leave the venue was solely because the presenter was ¡®Yussi Glendor.¡¯ ¡°The materials submitted by the principal as evidence have been confirmed to be genuine, not manipted in any way.¡± Even with a renowned historian verifying the authenticity of the data, the response was lukewarm. It was a natural reaction. Under the guidance of the hero, this conference proceeded without revealing decisive evidence. Originally, their purpose was not to attract investment. The real goal was¡­ ¡°Before exining the investment agreement, let¡¯s take a short break.¡± Yussi stepped back from the stage, and the lights in the audience were turned on. The auditorium instantly buzzed with people sharing their impressions. ¡°Are you going to invest in this exploration?¡± ¡°Well, I think I need to hear more about dividends and equity descriptions before making a judgment.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit strange? Principal Yussi doesn¡¯t necessarily need to borrow our hands.¡± ¡°There have been some issues at the academy recently. There might be a shortage of cash right now.¡± ¡°Hmm, when you think about it, Yussi Glendor, a giant, wouldn¡¯t spread uncertain information for no reason¡­.¡± ¡°One, the data is too scarce. Let¡¯s watch a bit more¡­.¡± Amidst the confusion of the majority, There was one person with burning eyes ring beyond the curtain where Yussi had disappeared. It was a confident look. * * * In the waiting room after the presentation. A faint voice echoed in the darkness. ¡°Well done.¡± ¡°Thank you¡­ It seems I have talent even in this kind of scam.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not exactly a scam. It¡¯s money we¡¯ll eventually return anyway.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Yussi nodded slowly. ording to the hero¡¯s words, it was money that would soon return to its owner. -Total fundraising limit -Individual investment limit -In case the fundraising amount falls below the standard, or if the exploration is cancelled due to unavoidable circumstances, a full refund will be provided. These were some of the uses they specified in the investment contract. This exploration would naturally not proceed as it is a mere illusion. Therefore, there was a need to prepare for the possibility of notter facing the wrath of the merchants. ¡®This should be enough to avoid criticism.¡¯ The core of this n was to inflict considerable damage on Merian. It was meant to make Dewis reconsider who would be more suitable as the sessor. ¡°Is there anyone among the giants who will invest right away?¡± ¡°No one among the giants. Maybe because the information is only partially revealed, everyone seems hesitant.¡± The hero smiled faintly. ¡°But Merian must be convinced of the existence of the blessing.¡± ¡°Yes. Since my sister knows that my funds have been steadily flowing somewhere for the past few months.¡± Investigations into her whereabouts must have been conducted. Merian would be aware that Yussi had been consistently purchasing expensive high-grade magic stones and lightweight but high-density ores. ¡°Yes, Merian would never think of this exploration as a bluff.¡± She had seen evidence ofrge sums being secretly spent over a long period. Add to that the sudden joining of the skilled craftsman Noubelmag. The probability that Yussi judged the situation as urgent and challenged her to a showdown was much higher. ¡­An unintentional trap that could be set. Therefore, it was even more deadly and discreet. ¡°It must feel like having a fire under your feet. If you get hold of the blessing, the problem won¡¯t be the Principalship but the potential changes in the session structure.¡± Therefore, Merian had only one choice. ¡°To obstruct it for now, She will secretly obtain the materials I¡¯ve been collecting. She will also try to intercept the ongoing contracts one way or another. Whether it¡¯s offering extra money or making threats, she will do it in her style.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why your role is crucial from now on.¡± Yussi could intervene appropriately in the process, gradually passing on the quantities that couldn¡¯t be ovee. Each contract that passed this way would be a loss for Merian. It would be even better to discreetly throw away the quantities collected before, taking advantage of the inted prices that wouldeter. The price difference would be quite substantial. ¡°Once your sister¡¯s funds are appropriately invested¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll reveal all the remaining information about Depikio Lugo.¡± Announcing the presence of the blessing in the ¡®sky.¡¯ ¡°¡­If it¡¯s your sister, she won¡¯t just stop obstructing but will try to get hold of the blessing herself.¡± It would lead to substantial spending. After reaching the sky at the end of countless trials and tribtions, the scene she would witness might only be an empty cave. ¡°Well, all that¡¯s left is to wait until the bait is taken.¡± And then it happened. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Y-Yussi-nim! Something big happened!¡± One of Yussi¡¯s subordinates rushed into the break room urgently and began to report. ¡°Some of the upper-tier individuals who were supposed to trade magic stones have unterally dered contract termination!¡± The movement was faster than expected, about two or three times faster. Their temperament was also hasty. The hero gazed at Yussi with a smirk. ¡°Seems like there¡¯s a resemnce between you and your sister.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s a bit too much to say.¡± ¡°Just kidding.¡± As long as the Principalship wasn¡¯t threatened right now. There wouldn¡¯t be any pressureing in for a while, considering the sponsorships and recovery costs. ¡®If I can buy time and use the money from selling off the quantities, it should work.¡¯ Yussi, now feeling a sense of relief,ughed heartily. . . . The hero left the waiting room right after that. Curious about the unusual haste, Yussi asked. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°The istion ward.¡± ¡°Oh, today was the day? It¡¯s the day when Ban Dietrich is transferred to the regr ward. Felson should already be there.¡± ¡°Yeah, as thanks for keeping the promise so well, I n to give him a reward.¡± ¡°A reward? What kind?¡± Yussi, who had a very curious expression at the mention of a reward, but¡­ no matter what, it was impossible to publicly dere a vition of school rules in front of the Principal. The hero just smiled without saying a word. The bronze key in his pocket gave a faint jingle as it silently provided the answer. * * * ¡°Professor Dietrich?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here. What were you thinking about being so absent-minded?¡± Felson opened his mouth slightly and then closed it. It was indeed a difficult question to answer about what he was thinking. ¡°Professor Dietrich?¡± It was fine to call him Felson when the two of them were alone. They were soon graduating, so wouldn¡¯t it be okay to treat each other morefortably now? This rather uplicated suggestion had been lingering in the air for several weeks. ¡®Really shameless.¡¯ Felson considered himself someone who had adapted well to the aristocratic mentality. Due to the responsibilities associated with his lineage, he never prioritized personal emotions. Thoughts and actions always aligned with the family¡¯s interests. Logic and analysis. Coldness and objectivity. These were roughly the feelings thatposed him. ¡­That was until he met the heiress. Felson looked at his disciple, Jenny, who was smiling brightly in front of him. Let¡¯s evaluate objectively. She was undoubtedly a person who could easily gain others¡¯ favor. A face that was not only cute but also adorable. Her personality was consistently bright without shadows, making her popr on campus, both among professors and students. But that¡¯s about it. Even if he attended just one social gathering of the nobles, there were much prettier and well-connected youngdies lining up. Not to mention his fianc¨¦e, whom he had seen a few times, was considered a beauty in the noble society, and she came from a prestigious family. The benefits that her engagement with Felson could bring to the Dietrich family didn¡¯t need to be mentioned. ¡­But. His heart, which was always indifferent to others, felt irregr in front of this modestmoner girl. Things that he thought would be meaningful became meaningless. Things he considered worthless began to have value. ¡°Am I toote, and are you angry?¡± ¡°No. Absolutely not. Never.¡± ¡°Uh-huh, that¡¯s a relief.¡± In other words, something like that. A clear and cheerful smile. Felson thought she resembled the puppy he raised when he was young. The little one that would brighten up, wagging its tail energetically when approached¡­ the softfort that made all worries disappear when hugged. ¡®Hmm¡­.¡¯ Looking again, she seemed much more beautiful than the youngdies of the noble society. No, she was definitely prettier. Felson tried to maintain hisposure as much as possible and changed the topic. ¡°So, what memories did you bring back?¡± Graduating students were allowed to freely ess the Library of Memories for a certain period and store their memories. Just yesterday, Jenny suddenly decided to store a memory and requested Felson to apany her. From that moment, he became intensely curious about what memory she wanted to keep. Jenny, as if she had nothing to hide, opened her mouth. ¡°Hmm¡­.¡± Then, she looked up at Felson with a long, trailing end to her words. Her neatly arranged chestnut hair gently swayed in the spring breeze along her eyebrow line. Felson couldn¡¯t even blink his eyes. ¡°¡­I stored memories about us.¡± ¡°I see.¡± At the end of the anxious wait, Felson pretended to be indifferent, but he was quite satisfied. However, Jenny¡¯s words were not finished yet. ¡°Someday. Sometime in the distant future.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Someone might want to know our story, right?¡± ¡°¡­Someone?¡± ¡°So, please take care of me from now on, Felson.¡± Felson stood still, staring at Jenny¡¯s approaching lips with a nk expression. The feeling at that moment was unforgettable. Laughter that naturally burst out, a happiness that seemed to intensify the colors of the world around them. A vow to protect her no matter what happened had followed. ¡°¡­Ah.¡± In front of the tightly closed Library of Memories, Felson blinked, snapping out of his reverie. It had been almost twenty years since the day filled with his wife¡¯s warmughter. The unchanged scenery of this ce had pulled out long-buried memories. ¡®Ban, is he watching well?¡¯ As soon as he received the key from the hero in the ward, Ban had pestered him toe here. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back, Father!¡± And as soon as he got off the bus, Ban, unable to walk properly, rushed into the library. There was no time to stop him, and Felson didn¡¯t want to stop him. Sighing, Felson leaned against a bench. ¡°Phew.¡± Children grow up so quickly. He started to realize this slowly about six months ago. ¡°Father, I¡­ want to enroll in Rosenstark.¡± Since Ban showed enthusiasm for something after a long time, Felson allowed it without asking or investigating. He promised full support. However, more than expectations, there were more worries. After his wife left. As much as he was broken, or even more, his son was a mess. ¡®It was all my fault.¡¯ There were times when facing his son, who was in a ce full of his wife¡¯s traces, was difficult. So, he continued to wander outside. Chasing after dreams, he roamed the battlefield. He didn¡¯t even go home, to the point where colleagues and superiors begged him to take a break. He couldn¡¯t be by his side during the most critical times. What would Ban have felt during those times? For the past few days, Felson recalled the praises that had poured in from acquaintances. ¡°Facing the Demon Army Commander as a student. Unimaginable.¡± ¡°Perhaps because he resembles his father, he¡¯s different from the start.¡± ¡°Hehe, I believe he¡¯ll be the best disciple of the hero without a doubt.¡± Felsonughed bitterly. Ban was not like him. He was a coward. The noble courage hidden within Ban¡¯s kind heart belonged to someone else. ¡®¡­ I thought she disappeared without a trace.¡¯ For the first time in a long time, Felson keenly felt his wife¡¯s presence. He finally realized the connection with his wife and what she left behind. . . . ¡°Father.¡± Suddenly, Ban, who hade out of the library, called him. Felson gazed at his son in silence for a moment. Children do grow up quickly. The less immature, anxious brown eyes were now drawing afortable arc. Looking at the appearance that vividly contained the figure of his most loved one, Felsonughed heartily as he did twenty years ago. And then, he lightly tapped his buttocks and stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± . . . ¡°But, Father.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I was d to see Father¡¯s new appearance a lot.¡± ¡°¡­New appearance?¡± ¡°Are you not good with the opposite sex? There¡¯s another person I know who¡¯s inexperienced with love. He¡¯s one of my friends¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡­Jenny Dietrich! Felsonughed awkwardly, then discreetly put his hand on his son¡¯s shoulder. And he made up his mind. To the leader who gifted them with precious changes. To give something precious in return. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 116 Chapter 116 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Healer Minerva Barson conveyed sad news with a pained expression. ¡°Hey, guys, sorry. Discharge has been extended by 3 days. This is really thest time, so please don¡¯t get angry.¡± ¡°¡­Ugh.¡± ¡­No strength to get angry. The extreme children, upon hearing the news, sprawled on the beds like semi-dried squid. Their earnest eyes were directed towards arge window in one corner of the ward. The beautiful scenery of the academy was unfolding, but unfortunately, they couldn¡¯t go there. ¡°When are they going to discharge us already!¡± Their physical conditions had long since improved. As evidence, everyone left their private rooms and gathered in themunal recovery room. However, the academy insisted on dying their discharge, stating that they needed to observe the progress since they were directly exposed to demonic energy from the demonmander. Normally, it would have been great. All lectures were canceled, troublesome refinement exams were postponed or reced with assignments. Any student would dream of such a situation. However, the children¡¯s expressions were not so bright. ¡°¡­Feels frustrating.¡± ¡°I want to move.¡± ¡°I need to train.¡± ¡°How long do we have to lie down? It¡¯s a waste of time.¡± ¡°I feel like I¡¯m losing all my muscles.¡± This reaction may have been a bit awkward for themselves, but it was a natural response. ¡­They unexpectedly experienced a threat to their lives. The magic of the Demon Army Commander exploded right in front of them like a bomb, and if not for Ban being a hero, most of them would have fallen into a deep and static sleep by now. The children felt it. ¡°I¡¯m still far away.¡± In a few years, they would have to face some demons. They felt a part of that. Their hearts couldn¡¯t help but be anxious. So, they tried to train their bodies at least¡­ ¡°No! How long do we have to do push-ups!¡± There were limits to physical training in the ward. Raising and lowering the body, squats, nks, simple unarmedbat¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s knock it out!¡± In the end, the children could only sit and practice mana maniption. ¡­Amidst the noticeably umtingints. The one who seemed most ufortable was Luke. ¡°How can I practice mana maniption in a ce like this.¡± His method of manipting mana was somewhat unique, so he couldn¡¯t do it in front of others. It was possible if he really wanted to, but¡­ he didn¡¯t want to. Frustrating. Luke eventually stood up. ¡°Luke, where are you going?¡± Next to him. Evergreen, who was squeezing the iron frame of the bed like a stress ball, looked at him. ¡°The lounge. Just going to get some fresh air.¡± ¡°Oh, okay. Be careful!¡± Luke couldn¡¯t properly see Evergreen smiling brightly. ¡­Embarrassment. It wasn¡¯t about the tingling emotions between men and women that he had felt for the past few months. ¡­It was profound embarrassment. Luke walked quickly and entered the lounge. The lounge had a balcony. He wanted to cool off his overheated head while feeling the wind. ¡®Ah.¡¯ ¡­But there was a ssmate. And not a particrly pleasant one at that. Whoooosh- The curtains swelled in the cool night breeze. When Luke saw the sky-colored hair shining through them, he quickly turned his feet. But the sensitive senses of dragon girl quickly caught that movement¡­ ¡°Whoa!!!!¡± ¡°¡­Logically, isn¡¯t this the position where I should be surprised?¡± ¡°Heh. ying hard to get, huh?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Unpopr guy.¡± ¡­Not just an unpopr guy, but a nonexistent guy. But it was too tiring to continue the banter. Luke just walked silently and leaned his elbows on the railing. ¡°¡­.¡± So, in the silence, they remained somewhat dazed for about 5 minutes. Suddenly, Cuculli opened his mouth. ¡°You smell.¡± At those words, Luke reflexively lifted his arm and sniffed. Big problem. Just now, he had talked to Evergreen, and there was no smell, right? As if puzzled by Cuculli¡¯s words, he chuckled. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡­It wasn¡¯t very pleasant to be treated like a fool by a fool. Luke wrinkled his face in frustration. ¡°Why are you saying I smell?¡± Cuculli sniffed, then casually said. ¡°Imperfect smell.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re ¡®practicing that,¡¯ you¡¯ll easily fall for the Demon¡¯s mental attack in one go.¡± At that blunt jab. The heavy stone that had been pressing on his chest for the past few days made a rattling sound. A turning point. ¡°You¡­.¡± Luke flinched and leaned his body backward. ¡°What.¡± On the other hand, Cuculli leaned in closer. It was a posture that seemed to say, admit that what she said was true. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡­Indeed. When Enoch spread ¡®Derilium¡¯ in the evacuation centre where Lucas was possessed and fought fiercely. All the guys who Luke thought of as rivals for a moment resisted. Cuculli fought without falling asleep at all, and Leciel, despite staggering, fainted while moving the fallen children. Not to mention Ban who engaged in fiercebat with Enoch. But he couldn¡¯t resist. ¡­What he could do was to fall over Evergreen, who had already fallen. It was pathetic. Seeing Luke¡¯splicated expression, Cuculli naturallyughed. ¡°Silly Luke, I also noticed, wouldn¡¯t the hero have known?¡± ¡°¡­What do you want to say?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a student here. Not a mercenary captain.¡± ¡°What?¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Why are you mumbling alone? Hurry up, run over and help! You should.¡± While Luke was at a loss for words¡­ Swoosh- Cuculli pulled out a piece of bread from her arms that looked like she had stolen it from the kitchen. ¡­Now, such behaviour didn¡¯t seem entirely innocent to Luke, and he sighed. ¡°¡­You.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you bothered by what happened this time?¡± It was an impulsive question. But as if giving a predetermined answer, Cuculli immediately responded. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I have no problem because I¡¯m strong. And I¡¯ll get stronger soon.¡± ¡°How are you going to get stronger?¡± ¡°Curious?¡± ¡°¡­I asked because I¡¯m curious, you idiot.¡± Well, in narrow minds. Cuculliughed and stuck her teeth into the remaining half of the bread. Fangs,pletely different from human ones, softly pierced the bread. And in that state, she began to speak. ¡°E, Ee-eo Aeae Ao Aei (Hey, didn¡¯t you say you went to the snowfield before?).¡± ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°¡­Oi Eeaeao Eueoao (Have you ever heard of ¡®baptism¡¯?)¡± ¡°No, if you don¡¯t want to say, don¡¯t¡­ .¡± Just when Luke was about to express his frustration¡­ Bump! Someone rushed down the corridor in a hurry and found them. ¡°Cuculli, Luke!¡± It was Evergreen. A bright smile was on her remembered face. Before they could ask what happened, her arms shook vigorously. ¡°The professor is here!¡± ¡­Was that such an exciting thing? ¡°¡­And Ban!¡± At that, Cuculli and Luke quickly adjusted their postures. And they looked a little awkward at each other¡¯s reactions. ¡°Le-let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Phew, I wonder if Ban is all healed!¡± The footsteps echoing in the corridor gradually elerated, soon turning into a loud running sound. In the midst of that, Luke suddenly thought. ¡®Why was she alone trembling with excitement on the balcony?¡¯ * * * The hero looked at the children rushing toward the Ban. ¡°Ban! Is your body okay? Not hurt?¡± ¡°Wow, you still haven¡¯t taken off the bandages?¡± ¡°What should I do¡­ When will it get better?¡± During this time, Ban had a rtively amicable rtionship despite his shy temperament. Because his personalities were generally good. Of course, the impressive background that anyone would want to be friends with yed a role. But if asked whether there were guys who unintentionally ignored Ban¡­ that wasn¡¯t the case. The group of children has a wild aspect like the wilderness. As for Ban¡­ It was like arge, gentle herbivore with a bulky figure. Despite being somewhat shy, he had a somewhat gentle herbivorous image. There were many guys who, taking advantage of the atmosphere created by Lucas, subtly teased or yfully poked at the Ban. ¡­But now. As if such behavior had never existed, it disappeared. ¡°You¡¯re really amazing. How can you be so brave?¡± ¡°How do you even think about facing the Demon Army Commander?¡± ¡°If it were me, I would have surrendered right away and asked to be killed painlessly.¡± ¡°Look at you again, Ban. Isn¡¯t that cool?¡± ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Shut up, Gerald.¡± The fact that a friend stood against the Demon Lord Commander made the children shiver with excitement. Not any monster. Not just an ordinary demon, but the Demon Lord Commander. As they reflected on their powerlessness in those days, the awe only increased. ¡°He¡¯s my friend!¡± Some of them even felt a tingling sensation in their shoulders. Thinking about how Ban confronted such a formidable enemy, they also felt a choked-up emotion. ¡°¡­Hahaha, are you guys okay?¡± The boy blushed suddenly, seemingly ufortable with the sudden attention. But it wasn¡¯t a look of displeasure. When some girls handed him letters they had written during his hospital stay, his face lit up with a subtle smile. Gerald, looking at the scene with a longing gaze, and Cuculli, who eagerly suggested tearing them open (earning sharp nces), were there. Evergreen, examining Ban¡¯s wounds, and Luke, offering a tissue and patting Ban¡¯s shoulder as if saying. ¡°You did well.¡± Even Leciel, watching from a distance with a secretly relieved look. The hero waited until Ban thoroughly enjoyed the aftermath with his friends before speaking. ¡°¡­Attention.¡± The response was immediate. The children stoppedughing and chatting, turning their attention to the hero. Somewhat sternly, he went straight to the point. ¡°The reason I came today is for three things.¡± A gulp¡ª the sound of swallowing echoed in the quiet recovery room. ¡°One, the announcement of the midterm exam results.¡± The children tensed up. Unlike other sses, it was heard that in the extreme ss, grades were scheduled to be given almost at the end of the midterm exams, following the explosion of pictures. Although the public announcement in a gathering ce rather than individual notices was an unexpected point. ¡®Uh, I wonder what rank I¡¯ll be.¡¯ As a student of Rosenstark, one couldn¡¯t help but be sensitive to grades. Especially in the Combat Department. After graduation, mandatory military service awaited them. Except for some special cases, the assignment of duty locations was generally decided by support¡­ Naturally, it was based on grades. ¡®If I don¡¯t get good grades, my life is over.¡¯ They would end up serving in dangerous duty locations that others avoided. The form that ¡®grades = future life¡¯ somewhat harshly shaped academy life. Of course, the children of ¡®Extreme¡¯ were a bit more lenient in terms of gradespared to their peers. ¡®Anyway, we¡¯ll experience all kinds of dangerous duty locations sooner orter.¡¯ Since they had entered under themand of a hero, they had be a kind of ¡®Provisional Dawn Knights.¡¯ It was a clear fact that after graduation, they would go to the battlefield with the hero. There was no reason to pay attention to grades in terms of ¡®priority selection of duty locations.¡¯ But they still had a reason to be attached to grades. ¡®In the end, only a few of us can gain fame and honor as disciples of the professor.¡¯ Extreme students had to stand out somehow among the thirty or sopetitors to catch the eyes of the hero, and the easiest and most clear indicator was, of course, grades. For this reason, from the moment the words ¡®exam results¡¯ were mentioned, the hearts of the children started pounding. ¡°Second, even in the recovery room, we will have supplementary sses for the lectures we missed¡­.¡± Waaaaah! ¡°Supplementary! Supplementary! Supplementary!¡± ¡°Finally! We can attend the lectures!¡± ¡­The hero, who expected a disgusted reaction, was unusually taken aback by the enthusiastic response that unfolded before his eyes. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 117 Chapter 117 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª A few hours ago. The hero was packing for the expedition to the Jedo Path. ¡®Leaving tomorrow morning, huh.¡¯ There were quite a few things to take care of before departure. First and foremost, the urgent matter was the supplementary ss. ¡®¡­Still, I¡¯m d.¡¯ Unlike during the Lonkers, this time there wasn¡¯t much worry about leaving the position vacant for too long. Also, the assignments for the kids. There were excellent supplementary instructors avable for that. The hero¡¯s eyes turned towards the desk. Due to numerous revisions, a notebook with smeared handwriting caught his eye. It was something Felson handed over when he met the ss. At the same time, it was the assignment for the kids this time. ¡°I would like to share the enlightenment I gained through repeated search.¡± Monma. Felson, who had been chasing these elusive beings almost without leaving any traces for a long time, handed over what he had learned in the past few days, which had be somewhat useful. Due to that elusive insight that seemed to be caught and not caught in the meticulous tracking process, he had leaped to a higher dimension with his ¡®sensing.¡¯ Felson organized that insight, left it as a new training method, and proudly presented it to the juniors. ¡°Of course, it might be useless to you.¡± ¡­No, it¡¯s useful. It¡¯s even overflowing. Since my understanding is not perfect, the ¡®Original¡¯ abilities I can replicate are only a small part. Naturally, sensing is also in an undeveloped state. If I delve into this training method, I might be able to supplement that part. ¡°Rather than leaving it as a family vision, it¡¯s better to hand it over to the hands of the next generation. You should be able to tailor it more appropriately for these kids.¡± Through this, I will be stronger, and the kids will be stronger too. ¡®Forge¡¯ and ¡®firewood.¡¯ Both progress bars can be expected to rise considerably. ¡®After going through Noubelmag¡¯s reinforcement, they should all have grown quite a bit.¡¯ There were not only training method booklets on the desk. Noubelmag¡¯s reinforcement n. Considering how vehemently he resisted taking charge of the reinforcement, the contents were surprisingly rich. The artisan spirit was showing itself even in times like this. Among them, the most noticeable item was¡­ ¡®Distribution of auxiliary equipment.¡¯ And. ¡®Understanding and operation of ritual equipment.¡¯ When he was about to examine the detailed contents, Pia hurriedly entered the office. ¡°Sir, Wellington Duke has just arrived at the guesthouse.¡± ¡°Tell him to wait.¡± ¡°That¡­ He wants to go to the special ward first and says he wants to meet Lucas. What should we do?¡± The hero, who was contemting for a moment, let out a brief sigh. Anyway, he was going to the ward. There was no need to be too inflexible. ¡°Tell him to go ahead.¡± ¡°Yes. Oh, and the lecture supplies and the midterm exam ranking list for today are here.¡± Pia left the items and left. The hero immersed himself in his thoughts again. ¡®¡­I have to finish the schedule by today somehow.¡¯ After subduing Enoch. In the Iris of Lace, there were no other markers except for the ¡®memories of the First Era.¡¯ But there were clues. Enoch¡¯s memories. And the disgusting and dirty clues learned through the interrogation of Eitrobin. If I follow those traces,the Iris of Lace will surely start a new guidance. ¡®First, I have to finish the reinforcement and Lucas¡¯s case today and head straight to the library.¡¯ Having organized his thoughts, the hero headed towards the ward. * * * The moment the midterm exam scores were announced. The kids fell silent. In fact, until just before the announcement, most of them had such thoughts. ¡®I should be above average at least, right?¡¯ That arrogance had a valid reason. Even thinking for themselves, the improvement in skills was tremendous. If it had been at the beginning of the semester, they might have been in a desperate situation, but they cleverly coped, gathered beads, and skillfully used the strategies learned in ss to skillfully catch monsters. Naturally, expectations could only be high. ¡°Oh no¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a low achiever, I¡¯ve be the destroyer of grades.¡± ¡­15th ce. Gerald, who received a rank far from his expectations, sat dejectedly on his bed and mumbled. ¡°Why did heaven give birth to me, Gerald, while creating Ban, Leciel, Luke, and Cuculli, and others?¡± ¡°Hehehe, just drop out, Gerald!¡± ¡°Ugh, cursed dragon!¡± ¡°Hah, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s cursed!¡± Cuculli spat out harsh words. On the other hand, in 11th ce, Karen was in a simr situation. Of course, she didn¡¯t expect to be in the top ranks. That was roughly predetermined. 1st ce Ban. 2nd ce Leciel. 3rd ce Cuculli. 4th ce Luke. 5th ce returning student Deindart¡­ and so on. As expected, it was simr to the predictions. But Karen was sure that she would definitely take the next spot. The Forest of Martial Arts was simr to her hometown, Dasurim, in terrain. And during the exam, she had definitely utilized that advantage. She didn¡¯t even think she would fall behind Evergreen (10th ce). It was even more disheartening since they were in the same department. ¡®¡­She trained with Luke all the time, but is it effective?¡¯ I should ask her to join next time. With such thoughts, Karen shook her head in frustration. It was at that moment that Gerald¡¯s eyes sparkled, as if he had caught an opportunity. With a sly voice¡­ ¡°Karen, don¡¯t worry. There are still many practical sessions left, and the final exams too. You¡¯ll do well.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t hear you well when you say 15th ce?¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± On the other hand, Cuculli had no interest in her own grades. She was only interested in the incident where Ban pushed Leciel out of 2nd ce, proiming himself as the top of the ss. Cuculli mimicked Ban, who stuck to her, with a mischievous smile. ¡°Hello, Leciel in second ce. I¡¯m the top of the ss.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Hehehe.¡± Of course, Leciel had a significant share in the fact that Ban was in 1st ce. She had generously given many beads and helped in hunting monsters. But because it was petty to exin that, Leciel kept her mouth shut and silently wished for this annoying fool to disappear quickly. ¡°Huhuhu, how can I be the top of the ss¡­ Keuk!¡± Although she eventually kicked her out in frustration, imitating herself. Cuculli, who copsed on the floor,ughed heartily and got up again. Everyone turned their gaze to her with her bright blue eyes wandering as she looked for the next person to tease her. ¡°¡­Attention.¡± It was then that the hero opened his mouth. The kids, who had been sulking, raised their heads. ¡°Some of you may be satisfied with the current results, while others may not.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°One, it¡¯s only about halfway through the semester. Don¡¯t undermine your own potential already. Regardless of the ranking, your performance in this exam was more than expected.¡± More than expected. For the kids, this was the first time the hero had given such a generouspliment. The eyes of the kids who had been anxiously worried that the hero might be disappointed started to sparkle again. ¡­Minerva, the healer who had been standing watch from a distance, secretly admired the hero¡¯s skill in handling the kids. ¡°I¡¯ve written individual feedback in documents, so read themter¡­¡± Feedback! The kids¡¯ attention was now focused on the document bag the hero brought. ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect feedback to be so weed¡­¡± It was a newfound enthusiasm. ¡®They¡¯ve grown up a bit,¡¯ the hero chuckled softly. ¡°First, I¡¯ll give overall feedback.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Gerald Bryce.¡± ¡°Yes, yes?!¡± At the unexpected call, Gerald snapped his head up. If it¡¯s overall feedback, why me? His expression seemed to ask. ¡°What do you think was the most threatening element to you in the forest that day?¡± ¡­Think, Gerald! ¡®What was the most threatening thing during the midterm exam?¡¯ Gerald exerted all his mental strength, pounding his head. . . . ¡®Ah.¡¯ People can¡¯t be stupid forever. Gerald confidently opened his mouth. ¡°Demonic energy! That day, demonic energy was the most threatening to us.¡± Throughout the exam,bating the intensifying demonic energy consumed a tremendous amount of mana. It was frustrating because even when defeating monsters, they had to conserve mana little by little. Searching for demonic energy stones was also troublesome. The same went for the shelter. Enoch¡¯s overwhelming demonic energy had suppressed them at once, and afterward, they faced life-threatening situations in a defenseless state, exposed to it. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Good answer.¡± ¡°Great!¡± But that wasn¡¯t all. ¡°Now, what is needed to counter demonic energy? Why were most of you exhausted and fell victim to Enoch¡¯s demonic energy, despite trying to resist? What do you think is the difference between the minority who resisted and the majority who couldn¡¯t?¡± Questions poured in. ¡°¡­Um, well.¡± That was Gerald¡¯s limit. The hero¡¯s gaze moved. ¡°Ban, you¡¯ve faced Enoch, exin.¡± Oooh- Cheers followed, and the ss scratched their heads awkwardly. ¡°Mana control and usage abilities were somewhatcking. If we could control and use mana efficiently, even with a small amount, we could dy the intrusion of demonic energy into our bodies as much as possible and expel the iing demonic energy.¡± ¡°Good answer.¡± Yay- The cheers grew a little louder. It was a clear and concise answer, and the reason why Ban could endure the longest among the kids in demonic energy. ¡°An efficient way to enhance both abilities is to train in ¡®detection.''¡± Eyes widened in understanding among the kids. ¡°And we all know the cost of ¡®detection¡¯ is quite significant.¡± With those words, the hero put his hand into his chest. Quick-witted kids sensed an anticipation like breath-holding among them. ¡°For your training, I¡¯ve prepared something.¡± ¡®Oh?¡¯ Among curious nces, a small booklet appeared. ¡®Does he mean?¡¯ A few kids felt a breath-stopping anticipation. ¡°It¡¯s a new cultivation method created by Felson Dietrich.¡± ¡­No way. Now, other kids were also leaning forward. The hero calmly finished speaking. ¡°He contributed it for your training, so work hard.¡± Yayyyyy! A powerful cheer echoed through the ward. . . . The hero conveyed a few more instructions. ¡°I won¡¯t be starting the cultivation method immediately.¡± Felson¡¯s cultivation method had a notable drawback¡ªdifficulty. It wasn¡¯t easy enough to start just by reading the cultivation book. Someone had to teach and guide them. However, at the moment, he had to leave. Therefore, the hero judged that it would be better for the kids to prepare for the cultivation rather than rushing into it before the sses resumed. Thump. The kids¡¯ attention shifted to whatever the hero pulled out. Pia and he jointly created a ¡®test kit.¡¯ ¡°So, your task is to pass this test until I return.¡± For a moment, the kids were tense, not knowing the purpose of these items. They noticed something strange in his words. ¡°Until you return?¡± ¡°¡­Huh? Where are you going?¡± ¡°I have something to attend to.¡± Ah, again?! Leciel stood up abruptly. . . . Why did Leciel stand up at the end? With that thought, he quickly arrived at the istion ward. Strict securitypared to regr wards. The person who seemed to be in charge of security saluted formally. Thump- In the silent space, only the rustling of clothes was disruptive. ¡°Thank you for your hard work, Professor.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. How is Duke Wellington?¡± ¡°Well, that¡­¡± There was no need to find out. Just as the conversation was ending, the sound of a door opening resounded directly in front. Duke Wellington was walking out of Lucas¡¯s ward. I quickly scanned his condition. ¡®Is that blood on his fist?¡¯ Deep wrinkles. Reserved and aristocraticplexion. The meticulously groomed silver-white hair and beard were the most noticeable. Although his posture was dignified, his shoulders sagged as if they were about to touch the ground. Having quickly examined his condition, the first thing I noticed was the bloodstains on his fist. ¡®He really does resemble Lucas.¡¯ Memories of the past, when he attended formal events instead of the ¡®Original¡¯ him. Meeting his gaze, I greeted him first. ¡°Duke Wellington, it¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°¡­Indeed.¡± I stared at the duke. ¡°Why so formal?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the situation different from before?¡± His intentions were quickly discerned. Now, we were not a duke and a hero but a student and a teacher. Duke Wellington did not say anything and just exhaled, seemingly relieved at my choice of address. ¡°Very well, Duke Wellington.¡± The duke seemed to rx at my familiarity, sprawled on the chair. Without saying a word, he took deep breaths. I took a close look at him. ¡®Is he getting older?¡¯ Despite being close in age to Felson, he looked much older. The duke¡¯s breathing became rapid. ¡°I won¡¯t let that kid draw attention again.¡± Before I could respond. Thud. The duke¡¯s knees hit the ground. ¡°Please allow Lucas to return with me.¡± ¡°Uh, ugh!?¡± The observing guard was more surprised. Panicking, he turned his head as if trying to forget the scene that just unfolded. The duke remained on his knees, gasping for air. ¡°I will ensure that he won¡¯t attract attention again.¡± Before I could reply, the duke spoke again. ¡°I am fully aware of the weight of my son¡¯s mistakes. He put his colleagues¡¯ lives at risk, and it could have led to an irreversible tragedy for the entire Rosenstark.¡± ¡°Enough, please rise.¡± ¡°No.¡± His tension eased. He had prepared for the possibility of objections and had even nned countermeasures. Yet, seeing him in this posture was unexpected. However, I have seen this attitude before. ¡®¡­It¡¯s not something I can¡¯t understand.¡¯ The hero¡¯s hatred for coborators was famous. If I persistently pry into issues regarding Lucas, it will put me in a difficult situation. ¡®He¡¯s already made an unfavorable deal with Euphemia regarding thepensation case.¡¯ ¡­In fact, excluding Eitrobin (whose asset recovery was in progress), the responsibility for this incident was not clear. If each person takes at least some responsibility, it bes a situation where the one with the loudest voice directs the flow. The aristocratic-like Duke Wellington immediately understood who that person was. ¡®Nevertheless, to endure this level of disgrace¡­¡¯ I gazed at the room beyond the bowed duke. Behind the slightly ajar door, the reason for the disgrace was present. ¡°¡­¡­¡± I didn¡¯t feel at ease. The measures to be taken were already sorted out when I arrived at the ward. ¡°Please get up.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Duke Wellington remained motionless with his pale head lowered. So, I simply passed by him and stood at the entrance of the ward. Thud- The receding footsteps inside the ward. The faint trembling sigh in the background. The two ovepped. I slowly spoke. ¡°A carriage has arrived. Is the patient ready to leave?¡± The duke seemed to be unable to understand my words for a while, remaining frozen in ce. Then, he touched his knees, stood up, and spoke confidently. ¡°¡­I will definitely repay this favor.¡± ¡­Fair enough. He meant to repay it as a duke. I turned my head and grasped the doorknob of the ward. Separate from the duke. I had to talk to Lucas. After all, he was my student. [Note: Raws have errors in them, more chaps wille when the errors have been fixed by the author. Thank you.] HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 118 Chapter 118 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The hero closed the door and turned away. The first visit to the istion ward. It was clean and well-organized, but there was a prison-like feeling somewhere. He called the trembling boy who couldn¡¯t do anything in front of the bed. ¡°Lucas.¡± The gaze that had been stuck to the floor slowly turned upward. The hero realized how much a person¡¯s impression is influenced by their gaze. As his confident gaze disappeared, he lookedpletely different, or at least different from before. Even if that wasn¡¯t the case, he looked different from before. Almost half of his face was swollen to almost twice its normal size. But Lucas showed no sign of injustice, pain, or anger about his current miserable appearance. What could be seen on his pale face were fear, anxiety, and guilt. ¡°P-Professor. I¡­¡± The boy couldn¡¯t continue his words. Uh, uh¡­ Lucas burst into tears like a child. It was the kind of crying that bursts out because one doesn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The Duke¡¯s prostation was unexpected, but the hero had expected this reaction. All of his ssmates were on the verge of being executed by his hands. His soul had almost been captured by Monma. He had even seen his father kneeling. His own situation was unclear. Even if he avoided whatever punishment now, it was clear that he would bebeled as a ¡®coborator¡¯ for the rest of his life. No matter how arrogant and imposing he was, it was a situation where anyone would copse. Uh, uh- Lucas couldn¡¯t approach the hero, he just clung to the bed and sobbed. Between sobs, he repeated words of crying and apology. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t know. I-I didn¡¯t know it would turn out like this, Professor. I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m so sorry.¡± ¡­Yeah, he probably didn¡¯t know. How could he have known that those influenced by Enoch would purposely approach and feed ¡®dream droplets¡¯? The pride that had been eroded during the semester was probably Enoch¡¯s tempting prey. ¡®¡­.¡¯ Even without the Duke pointing it out, the hero felt some responsibility. But it was also a clear fact that Lucas had ultimately fallen into the trap. Until the sobbing subsided, the hero prepared the words to say to Lucas. ¡°Lucas.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t stay in the extreme and Rosenstark any longer.¡± ¡°¡­But.¡± As if not tolerating dissent, the hero¡¯s eyes sank. Lucas¡¯s hand holding the bed seemed to weaken. ¡°¡­Kuh, yes. I understand.¡± ¡°Do you remember mentioning the ¡®Nubes Salon incident¡¯ to Ban frequently?¡± For a moment, Lucas¡¯s expression stiffened. It was because he realized how unreasonable and malicious the torment had been. ¡°Now you probably know that such incidents don¡¯t happen just because of someone¡¯s mistake.¡± Seeing his pale face, there was no need for a response. Regret and sorrow. ¡­That was it. To someone who feels guilty, the possibility of change is open. Then, a short sigh filled with frustration and regret followed. ¡°Do you think I let you go?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The hesitant boy opened his mouth. ¡°D-Did you not let me go?¡± His voice trembled and broke. ¡°You were only interested in a few, and frankly, you ignored the rest.¡± The hero shook his head. ¡­No. Lucas Wellington. The advantages as a prosecutor were fast speed, the ability to catch the opponent¡¯s ws in an instant, and a high level of mana reserves. ¡°But due to the habit of using tricks and theck of strength and the imbnce of the body, the destructive power of the sword technique is low.¡± ¡°The biggest problem is that the feet are slowpared to the fast hands.¡± Training for lower body agility and strength. It is necessary to perform diagonal and asymmetric exercises before and after swordsmanship training. ¡°If overall strength increases in the future, it would be effective to switch to a heavier weapon.¡± All the feedback written on the documents that Lucas had not properly read and had stuck in the drawer were there. Lucas opened and closed his mouth several times, but his tongue seemed like a stone and didn¡¯t move. The hero¡¯s calm words continued. ¡°I won¡¯t deny that I gave more benefits to those who showed good results. I know that the sight may have been hurtful.¡± ¡­It couldn¡¯t be helped. His goal was not to conduct fair sses, but to nurture hero candidates. ¡°But I have no intention of taking away the opportunity for my students to learn. I already said that you won¡¯t regret choosing me as your professor, unlike other professors.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Lucas understood why the hero had just exined in such detail. This¡­ was the final lesson. Tears started to fall from Lucas¡¯s eyes again. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry.¡± The hero stood up. Lucas, who was afraid to look, couldn¡¯t lift his head to see what expression the hero had. ¡°It¡¯s going to be tough from now on. Resentment and hatred may enter your heart.¡± Tuk- The hero reached out and lightly grabbed Lucas¡¯s shoulder, who had shrunk. ¡°I believe you can handle those emotions correctly now.¡± ¡°Ah¡­.¡± Only now could the boy look at his teacher with a dazed expression. Eyes that were warm with genuine support, which he had never seen before. ¡­No, that¡¯s not true. Perhaps he had always been looked at with such eyes. ¡°P-Professor¡­.¡± ¡°Stay healthy.¡± The boy stared nkly at the departing figure of his teacher. . . . Outside the hospital room, the Duke was still waiting for him. After a brief greeting. As the hero headed towards the library, he suddenly recalled the illusion of Lucas that Monma had shown. ¡­The fantasy of establishing himself as a hero candidate with overwhelming achievements in ss. ¨‹ Understanding of Lucas Wellington deepens. Understanding level: 4/100 -> 7/100 ¡ø The hero looked at thement that suddenly appeared in front of him. ¡®Will there be a day when this understanding leveles in handy?¡¯ ¡­It was uncertain. . . . Lucas left a letter for Ban and left Rosenstark, a story that happened some timeter. * * * To cut to the chase, I did not see ¡®Memories of the First Era Part II¡¯ that day. [Closed temporarily due to internal organization and repair] It was a notice attached to the entrance of the Library of Memories. I tried opening the door with the key just in case, but only an empty space appeared. The antique bookshelves and the librarian were nowhere to be found. I immediately went to Yussi. ¡°Oh, if it¡¯s Rosalyn, they probably took it away for regr inspection. It¡¯ll take about three days, I guess?¡± It turned out to be Rosalyn¡¯s regr maintenance period, despite her human appearance, she was a ¡®magical creature¡¯ that had been around for centuries. ¡­If I had known, I would have gone straight away. ¡®I shoulde back and read it.¡¯ The first part of the memories ended with the scene where Zero was about to persuade the mysterious ¡®him¡¯. I was curious about what events would unfold afterward, but waiting for three days without any information was not an option. Not only the Emperor but also someone special was waiting for me in the capital. Beingte was not eptable. I prepared to leave immediately. . . . It was closer to dawn than morning. The quiet correctional facility, seemingly still asleep. The cold that was vivid until recently had greatly diminished. It must be a sign that summer is approaching. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª I checked my belongings and stood in front of the side gate. The gentle dawn breeze swept past my forehead. ¡­Even though I told them not toe out. ¡°Professor, take care!¡± ¡°Merian and I will somehow manage, so you shoulde back soon!¡± ¡°The leader seems to spend more time outside the academy than inside. Don¡¯t make the kid suffer too much ande back safely.¡± The number of people seeing me off seems to be increasing. One by one, Pia, Yussi, Noubelmag, and¡­. I looked at an unexpected figure. ¡°I¡¯ll follow you soon. If the opportunity arises, I might see you at the capital.¡± Felson. Even though it was early, he looked like he had juste back from somewhere with a neat appearance. ¡°I thought you had already gone back.¡± ¡°Her Majesty asked me to stay a little longer.¡± Whether themand was very wee or not, a faint smile appeared on Felson¡¯s face. ¡°It seems that Her Majesty is worried about you leaving Rosenstark in such an unstable time.¡± Perhaps Euphemia¡¯s intention was not only that. ¡®¡­Vacation.¡¯ She probably gave a few leisurely days as a reward to her subordinate who had fought without rest. Shaking hands with Felson, I said to him. ¡°If this was going to be the case, I should have asked you for some reinforcement.¡± He, the original creator of the Detection technique, would have been the best person to look after the children¡¯s detection training. At my regretful words, Felson smiled faintly. ¡°Noubelmag wasining already. He said, ¡®How can you fill such a long reinforcement time with just equipment exnations.''¡± It meant he would help. I shook his offered hand lightly. ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± ¡°Not at all. I was curious about what kind of friends my son had made. Well, your students will probably be excellent in their own way. Anyway, don¡¯t worry ande back safely.¡± Was this because good colleagues are hard toe by? One by one, as they gathered, they became more trustworthy and reliable. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± Approaching ¨C Yussi came from behind the building with a horse, it was that moment. ¡°Ta-da! Hero, look here.¡± It was a familiar ¡®horse.¡¯ Whether it recognized me or not, it vigorously shook its elegant mane and neighed energetically. ¡°Ted. You¡¯ve seen him before, remember? You should take good care of him again this time.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± I lowered my head. Everyone fell into silence in the suddenly changed atmosphere. Yussi, who was tilting her head in confusion at the static atmosphere, soon realized her mistake and abruptly dropped the reins. ¡°Ah, Hero¡­.¡± ¡°Uh-huh-huh-huh!¡± A cruelughter burst out asrge as it could be. The guards, who were watching from a distance with curious eyes on what heroes would talk about, were startled by the sudden change in the atmosphere. Of course, Noubelmag and Felson started joking without caring at all. ¡°Oh, sneaky Yussi. Did you name the horse ¡®Ted¡¯ by any chance?¡± ¡°Uh-huh-huh-huh, it¡¯s a horse with a splendid name.¡± ¡°Well, the ck ones are simr, right?¡± ¡°Leader, hurry up and get on the horse.¡± ¡°Evil ones of the capital, be nervous. The ¡®Teds¡¯ areing!¡± ¡­Before the honor of the Dawn Knights was shaken, I quickly got on Ted. ¡°Dieeeee¡­.¡± Yussi¡¯s scream, the sound of impact, and the exaggerated scream slowly faded away. The faces of Pia and the guards, who were watching with an expression of confusion, as well as Noubelmag and Felson, disappeared soon. ¡®Why are there no normal people in the Dawn Knights?¡¯ Thinking such thoughts for a moment, my body shivered with a sense of foreboding. Just a moment ago, I felt the same sensation¡­ No, it couldn¡¯t be. I shook my head vigorously. And I ran towards where Nyhill was waiting. . . . ¡­That¡¯s the story up to a little while ago. Nyhill and I, after a peaceful journey, were on the verge of entering the capital. In the moment when the tall walls of the capital were visible in the distance. Onement came up in front of my eyes. ¨‹ ¡­The forge has be a little stronger. ¡ø HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 119 Chapter 119 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Ah.¡± As soon as I unconsciously uttered a sound, Nyhill immediately pulled the reins. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± A fleeting expression of concern crossed the quiet and calm eyes. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re tired, would you like to take a short break?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t afford to rest when the destination is right in front of us.¡± I urged the horse again. After Lonkers. I¡¯m not sure if she¡¯s aware of it, but Nyhill began to reveal her emotions little by little in front of me. Usually, she was indifferent and restrained, but asionally she showed human expressions or gestures. ¡­ Like now. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± I turned my gaze away from the scrutinizing ck eyes. ¨‹ ¡­The forge has be a little stronger. ¡ø The subtle nuances remained, but it was quite satisfying. ¡®Felson¡¯s cultivation technique is indeed effective.¡¯ The reason for the sudden increase in progressments in the middle of the road was thanks to his cultivation technique. The Hero had been practicing forging since leaving Rosenstark. Even while riding a horse. Even while having a meal. Even while standing still. Thanks to that, achievements increased rapidly, and senses were honed like a de. ¡®The detection has definitely expanded and be denser, and that growth is reflected in thements.¡¯ ¡®Now I can prepare to some extent for the uing battle.¡¯ This journey to the capital was inevitably a path where blood would be shed. After all, it was to chase theckeys and followers of the Demonic Church. The problem was that the ns of those we learned through Enoch and Eitrobin wererger than expected. If left unchecked, it would lead to irreversible consequences. I must stop them. ¡®He may be on guard because of the news that Eitrobin died, but¡­¡¯ He probably hasn¡¯t cut off all the loose ends yet. It wasn¡¯t such a simple ¡®business¡¯ after all. Fortunately, capable allies were waiting to help me in the capital. Now was the time to chase these guys. ¡®You must find them no matter what.¡¯ Thinking so, I pulled the reins firmly. Thud, the horseshoe dug into the ground. The body that had leaned forward returned to its original position with a light buoyancy. ¡°Stop, stop!¡± The shadow of a massive castle wall was looming over us. An entrance procession lined up in front of the castle gate. Not only around the procession but also on the castle wall and at the main gate, knights and soldiers were packed. Their stern eyes were directed at me and Nyhill. The capital of Jeros. . . . The vignce was strict, but the entry was easy. There was no need to reveal my identity. I had a ¡®magic pass¡¯ that allowed me to freely enter and exit all territories of the empire. When I showed the magic pass to the knight guarding the entrance, we were guided to a separate waiting room¡­ Beep- ¡°Verificationplete.¡± After a simple verification process, we were allowed to enter the capital of Jeros. It was a tremendous changepared to when I was not recognized as a hero, taking several hours or even more than a day. ¡°¡­¡± ¡­Jujjwajujjwa. The magic pass I possessed was a badge that only VIP¡¯s, including the imperial family, public servants and famous heroes, could have. The eyes of the knight who conducted the verification process widened with curiosity. If it weren¡¯t for the key of Valber, which could store the ck Hope, it would have been troublesome. It was at the moment when I was about to pass by the knight who was shaking his head. Beep beep beep beep beep- A strange alert sounded loudly. It was amunication bead. ¡°What, what?¡± We had no choice but to stop at the knight¡¯s bewildered voice. He could have spoken, but the surrounding soldiers just stared with their mouths wide open, alternately ncing between us and the shingmunication bead. ¡°What, they say there¡¯s a direct contact? Um, please wait a moment!¡± The moment I stopped my feet at his words. A very familiar voice echoed in my ears. [Wait.] Thud. ¡°¡­¡± A moment of silence. In the meantime, some knights and guards seemed to have noticed something unusual. A man with a magic pass who received a direct contact from the royal pce. Chuk- When the knight who seemed to be in charge raised his sword in a salute with an excited expression, the others quickly followed suit. Some of them had faces that looked like they were about to cry. ¡°Thank you for your dedication!¡± ¡°Thank you for your dedication!!¡± ¡­ We received salutes. With their faces lit up with joy like children, I added a word to them. ¡°Please carry on with your duties.¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± ¡­They probably won¡¯t carry on. By this afternoon, rumors that a person who looked like a hero had arrived in Jeros Kyros would spread little by little. It didn¡¯t matter. It was intended. ¡°Oh, please keep the words in the inspection stable. I¡¯lle to pick them upter.¡± ¡°We will take care of them with all our hearts and souls!¡± ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± I sat with Nyhill in the waiting room and waited for the person who would guide us. Tick- Not long after, footsteps were heard at the entrance of the waiting room. But strangely, the knights and soldiers who should be weing the guest were just busy with their paperwork. As if they couldn¡¯t hear or see anything. ¡°Hello, hero. I¡¯vee to escort you.¡± It was a woman with her face covered by a veil. Even though her colorful embroidery, jewels, and borately decorated outfit with various colors would have been noticeable from a hundred meters away. Even after she entered the waiting room, people were still focused on their tasks. ¡°I¡¯ve arranged a carriage, so pleasee.¡± The woman didn¡¯t introduce herself even in front of the hero. Nyhill¡¯s body stiffened, seemingly nervous. Thanks to that, I could easily discern her identity. ¡°Pleased to meet you, Mother Ghost.¡± ¡°I feel the same way.¡± The leader of the Shadows. Ghost No. 0, Mother Ghost. We followed her out of the waiting room. The veil fluttered despite the still air inside. . . . ¡°Huh? When did the hero¡­ I mean, ¡®that person¡¯ leave?¡± ¡°Huh? Really? Where did he go? Did he go to the restroom?¡± There was a moment of turmoil in the back waiting room. * * * A straight road leading to the pce. The carriage quickly crossed the city. The hero looked out of the open window, observing the numerous buildings and crowds on the street. It was the most luxurious and secure street in the continent, despite the vastness of the continent. ¡°Traveler, our amodation has a 2-person spa! Please visit with your loved one! Relieve your travel fatigue!¡± ¡°Our¡­ where you can enjoy a delicious breakfast and a beautiful view¡­¡± Even the hawkers¡¯ pitches were somewhat different. Rather than emphasizing price and safety like in other areas, they first boasted luxury. Cheerful pedestrians were happily entering between the buildings. ¡®¡­The bright side of Jeros.¡¯ But, this time, the ce where he would spend most of his time was not this lively street. It was the other side. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The hero¡¯s eyes stared at a dark alley on one side of the prosperous street. People unconsciously avoided that area, but asionally, hooded figures with covered faces wandered around. It felt like seeing a dark spot in a bright and beautiful painting. That ce was the slums. An entrance leading to the red-light district. ¡®¡­It¡¯s still the same.¡¯ The hero turned his gaze back inside the carriage. Mother Ghost was sitting across from him, and Nyhill was in the adjacent seat. ¡°¡­¡± In fact, traveling with Mother Ghost wasn¡¯t very pleasant. Because of Nyhill. The hero looked at Nyhill, who was sitting rigidly with a straight back. Her appearance, seemingly stiff like a doll, felt as if he had just met her for the first time. Emotions sank below the surface, and her expression was as solid as long-set wax. ¡®Didn¡¯t they say she was raised by a mentor¡­?¡¯ Back then. Soft lips under the veil drew a gentle curve. ¡°Do you have any questions for me?¡± ¡°No. What about Euphemia?¡± ¡°Her Majesty is waiting at the separate pce.¡± Before I could ask which pce, the answer came. ¡°It¡¯s the pce where she resided during her princess days.¡± Ah, that pce. The hero briefly reminisced about the past. The scenery of the charming pce shed through his mind, where everything began. ¡°By the way¡­.¡± Mother Ghost¡¯s head turned towards Nyhill. Jjang- The essories attached to the veil made a sound. ¡°Are you satisfied with the performance?¡± ¡°¡­Performance?¡± ¡°It¡¯s No. 3. If you want, I can rece it.¡± ¡­Performance, recement. The hero slowly spoke. ¡°Nyhill is doing well enough. If there¡¯s one thing I wish for¡­.¡± ¡°Yes, please tell me anything.¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired so please shut up.¡± After that, I could reach the separate pce quietly. * * * Nyhill and Mother Ghost said they would wait outside the separate pce. Creak- The hero opened the iron gate of the main entrance and entered. A deste and lonelyndscape met his eyes. From the entrance to the distant pce, there is not a single ant in sight. It was a ce that gave the impression that it had been neglected for a long time and was recently cleaned up. ¡®Euphemia¡­.¡¯ He was able to find her quickly. Surprisingly, it was not outside the pce, but in the garden, sitting on a cut garden bench. ¡°¡­¡± Sitting on a garden bench with a cut garden tree, the silver-haired emperor was gazing nkly at the sky. Thud- Deliberately making a sound with his footsteps, the golden eyes of the emperor turned towards the hero. Although it wouldn¡¯t be possible, she looked somewhat pleased. ¡°You¡¯re here. Did youefortably?¡± ¡°Except for the annoyingpanion.¡± ¡°Ha¡­ Our tastes are the same, it seems.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s nothing.¡± She stood up and approached the hero, brushing off the dust on her body. For an emperor, her gestures were excessively simple. She walked slowly and stood beside the hero. And she brought up the main topic. ¡°As you know, we also captured and interrogated Eitrobin¡¯s Gazols and their coborators.¡± ¡°There probably wasn¡¯t much sess.¡± ¡°You know well. Dealing with a tangled web is always like that.¡± A faint sigh escaped the emperor¡¯s lips. ¡°In truth, we could hold those directly involved ountable, but¡­ we failed to find the connections.¡± Honestly, there was no point in interrogating. ¡­Gibberish. Like someone under the influence of a drug, memories were chaotic, and the inability to distinguish truth from illusion was to me. The hero shrugged his shoulders. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re here. Without a proper n or solution of what to do.¡± ¡°Nothing will change whether I speak first or not. If the Shadow moves recklessly, it might turn into a ho¡¯s nest.¡± ¡°Can you handle such a difficult problem?¡± The emperor scrutinized him. However, her expression was one of anticipation rather than reproach or suspicion. The hero nodded slowly. ¡®Organizations operated thoroughly based on points. It¡¯s indeed challenging to trace.¡¯ But Enoch¡¯s ability connected those points. The emperor may be a bit anxious because he did not mention the Enoch¡¯s abilities, but he can track down the coborators. The emperor looked at him slowly, and soon, her gaze turned back to the front. ¡°¡­We said we would investigate the Harlem.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m nning to start searching immediately after leaving the pce.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re not asking for the assistance of the Shadows. Harlem isn¡¯t an easy ce to roam around just because you want to.¡± The hero lowered his head. Certainly, the Shadows werepetent, but¡­ ¡°Within the slums, there is someone with a more sophisticated informationwork, especially concerning the internal matters of the impoverished areas.¡± ¡°I expected that¡­ Well, I n to meet Barun.¡± [TL/N: In a prev chap I TLed her name as Varun instead of Barun¡­and after being scolded by my lovely PR, I¡¯vee to ept that her name should be Barun and not Varun since that¡¯s supposedly a manly name and Barun is a female.] The hero¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡­Barun. A member of the Dawn Knights known as the Saint of the Lowest, who had been guarding her position in Harlem for decades. Also known in some circles as the ¡®Great Mother.¡¯ HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 120 Chapter 120 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Because you look kind and smart, be a saint!¡± And so, Barun became a saint. The second era where the divine power had vanished. The Holy order barely continued its lineage, and it was a time when no one cared about the selection of a saint. The daily life of a saint from a failed order was not impressive at all. No, it was rather boring for her, to the extent that she decided to run away as a young girl. Barun, wielding a mace for holy Heros, ran to her destination ¨C the slums. ¡°If you can¡¯t believe in God, believe in this hammer!¡± Barun raised the name of the divine in a different way. Had she not changed her mind and returned to the Inds, she would probably have had a higher reputation as a Hero than as a saint. As everyone paid attention to Barun¡¯s next move, she opened a ¡°Free Clinic¡± in the slums. And she sessfully operated it for decades. ¡°You¡¯ve never met her in person, have you?¡± The Hero shook in response to the emperor¡¯s question. ¡°Because she rarely appeared at banquets or official events.¡± ¡°Still, I¡¯m sure you heard about what kind of person she is from Ted.¡± ¡°The invible symbol of Harlem. Isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°She¡¯s more than that.¡± A skilled healer could easily help someone, but they could also easily earn resentment. Imagine thinking you¡¯ve finally killed someone, only for them toe back alive and well. How frustrating would that be? That¡¯s why, usually, Harlem healers relied on one faction and took care of only their members. But Barun was different. She treated everyone who came to her. Evil or good. Rich or poor. There were even stories that she cleanly treated a hitman who had tried to kill her. If an ordinary healer treated everyone without discrimination, within a month, their body might be rolling in the alleys of Harlem. Yet, Barun survived all those threats for decades. That was enough time for the children she had treated to be formidable figures in the underworld. ¡®That¡¯s how the ¡®Great mother¡¯ was born.¡¯ The Hero was convinced. With the abilities of the Monma and Barun¡¯s cooperation, they could catch those guys¡¯ tails before sunset. The emperor threw something at the Hero who was smiling satisfactorily. Thud- ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± The Hero reflexively caught it. Beyond the package, he could feel the weight of a solid ss bottle and the light touch of a box. ¡°The finest tobo, the finest whiskey.¡± ¡°¡­But she¡¯s a saint?¡± ¡°A saint who loves cigars and whiskey. She¡¯s favorable to the ¡®Hero,¡¯ so there¡¯s no need to worry about cooperation. But it¡¯s still good to give a gift.¡± ¡°Hmm. I¡¯ll keep it for now.¡± The Hero put the package into the Key of Valber. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll go soon. There¡¯s not much time.¡± ¡°Barun is Barun. Don¡¯t bete tomorrow. Having a meeting alone with ¡®him¡¯ is nauseating.¡± At those words, the Hero chuckled quietly. ¡°Whatever. I can¡¯t let a guest I¡¯ve called be blown away by the wind. See you tomorrow.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± The emperor seemed to hesitate for a moment, then added a word. ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down. It¡¯s a messy ce in many ways.¡± The Hero smiled slightly. This time, it was a smile different from that of Ted. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know the ce well.¡± * * * There is no city as distinct in light and shadow as the crossroads of Jedo. This was a fact known to anyone who had visited a few times. Once you ventured a little away from the morous main streets and into the deep alleys. It was like a maze in the slums that was hard to escape without a map. The city, as chaotic as it was, had be like this due to its rapid expansion. In the early days of the second era, Jedo was nothing more than a small vige where only a few survivors from the east had settled. However, with the settlement of a powerful group of survivors (the Hiyashin family and the former emperor¡¯s family) who had fallen in love with its location, Jedo underwent a sudden change. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s a super safe vige!¡± ¡°There must be a paradise-like ce in the west too!¡± ¡°I thought I would wander the wastnd helplessly and die, but thank you, gods.¡± Due to the eastern takeover by the demons, people were exploring the deste west. People weed the appearance of a safe haven and naturally flocked to Jedo. Thus, Jedo became the most prosperous city on the continent and the breeding ground for all kinds of crimes. ¡®Harlem also started up at the same time.¡¯ It was an era of unnned poption explosion for Jedo. Most of the city¡¯s areas, hastily created in disorder, became the residence of the poor, and under such shadow, Harlem emerged like a poisonous mushroom. ¡®Previous emperors tried to clean up Harlem in various ways¡­¡¯ But they failed repeatedly. Pushing it away with the army was not possible, as the general citizens residing in Harlem were quite numerous. On the other hand, internal maniption was not easy due to Harlem¡¯s characteristic of extreme rejection of outsiders. Even though they fought and fought like wild animals among themselves, when an external enemy appeared, they moved as one to resist. Even Euphemia poured manpower and funds into pacifying Harlem in the early days of her reign, but the results were meager, so she had to give up. ¡­It was such a ce with a history. The Hero, looking at the illegal structures piled up like matchboxes, turned his gaze to a boy in front of him. ¡°What are you looking for, alcohol? Drugs? Or maybe a woman? We have men too. They are very rough, so I don¡¯t know if they¡¯ll suit your taste.¡± A good pitchman. If a child of his age roamed around with a soiled sleeve, he would usually attract attention, but not in this case. However, that didn¡¯t apply to him. ¡°Nyhill.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Snap- ¡°Eek!¡± The boy who was attempting pickpocketing was caught by Nyhill secretly and screamed. The Hero, without even looking in that direction, pped two cobblestones under his feet. Two young men with clubs, emerging from the opposite alley, lost their momentum. Thud- Tang- The nail-studded clubs rolled on the ground with a dull sound. The happening that Harlem visitors often encountered was quickly over. ¡®Still the same.¡¯ The Hero looked at the wind catcher and the young man running away. Harlem, it was a ce he had spent a lot of time in. Since his days as a recement of the Hero started though he hadn¡¯t visited often. ¡®Come to think of it, I also met Bucks around here.¡¯ The image of the guy caught in the act of cheating and being beaten shed through his mind. ¡°Hey, there! Save me! Aaah!¡± ¡°If I help you, what¡¯s in it for me? Huh?¡± ¡°You bastard! Where do you think you¡¯re going!¡± When he first stepped into human society, he was quite inexperienced in using Polymorph. He had helped him, only to be beaten together¡­ Thanks to that, they became close and learned various things. ¡®Memories¡­ or something.¡¯ Calling it that wouldn¡¯t be inappropriate. After Bucks was stabbed to death, Harlem was his home until he left afterpleting his revenge. ¡­But, thinking about the past wasn¡¯t the only thing on his mind. ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Ugh, are you just going to leave me behind? You bastards.¡± Nyhill¡¯s sunken eyes were fixed on the pickpocket. More precisely, on the swollen wrist due to the beating and colorful body that looked like it had suffered violence for a long time. Old emotions flickering in her restrained pupils. It was only for a short moment, but it was long enough that the Hero didn¡¯t miss it. ¡°Were you born in Harlem?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± Seeing that she didn¡¯t want to talk any further, the Hero averted his gaze. Instead, he grabbed the boy by the cor. ¡°Well, well, what is it! Aaargh! D-damn! Let go of me!¡± The struggling boy was like a caught fish. Nyhill¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Do you intend to kill him?¡± ¡­What does she see me as? The Hero looked at her for a moment as if in disbelief, then shook his head. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then cut his wrist¡­?¡± ¡°No.¡± Nyhill looked puzzled. ¡°Then what?¡± ¡°I need him to guide us. The nearby area is confusing.¡± A weak person forced into wrongdoing in a situation with no options. The crime is trivial. ¡­At that simple exnation, Nyhill¡¯s face shook greatly. Unfortunately, her reaction this time was missed by the Hero, as his gaze was on the boy¡¯s struggles. The Hero let go of the boy and, with his intimidating voice, said. ¡°Guide us to Barun¡¯s clinic.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ fuck, Fuck!!¡± ¡­The boy mumbled a few timid curses and led the way. The Hero, looking at him with a slightly amused expression, hurried his steps. Thud- Following the running boy through the winding alleyways for about ten minutes. A wide open space appeared. In the center was an old clinic. Unlike other buildings in Harlem, the clinic looked worn out. One thing different was that the surroundings were exceptionally clean. ¡®Just a few seconds ago, it was full of trash and filth around¡­¡¯ But, only this area was as clean as the main street from earlier. There were even various flowers ced on the wall near the entrance, as if someone had left them there. The scenery didn¡¯t match Harlem at all, and they stood there, stunned by the unexpected view. At that moment. Thud- Dozens of men began to appear from the alley connecting to the open space. Buk- Men with dirty tattoos all over their bodies surrounded the Hero and Nyhill without a word. Nyhill immediately took out her dagger and aranea and entered a defensive stance. Though they seemed rowdy, the intimidating momentum they emitted was not from ordinary street thugs. All the weapons in their hands were properly sharpened, genuine ones. ¡°Hey, guys, does the clinic look too fine to ransack?¡± ¡°If you came here with shitty intentions, turn back. Do you think there¡¯s anyone here who can mess with us without facing any consequences?¡± Thud-thud-thud- The boy continued his whimpering. The Hero, without any response, simply gazed at the worn-out door of the clinic. ¡®¡­Alright, I¡¯ve found the right ce.¡¯ The patterns on the door were familiar. A snake wrapped around a scale in the left hand. A woman holding a staff in the right hand. Symbols of the ¡®goddess¡¯ that not many people remember now. ¡°Look at this asshole. Fuck, I¡¯m telling you it¡¯s not worth it.¡± ¡°Take him to the back and teach him a lesson. Don¡¯t cause a disturbance when the Great Mother is here.¡± Slowly approaching men. Squeak- That moment. With a small noise, the worn-out door of the clinic opened. The men, upon hearing the door, immediately stopped their movements. Theirposure seemed like well-practiced actions, honed through long training. They all bowed at once towards the door. ¡°Have you had your meal, Great Mother?¡± ¡°Please get inside. We¡¯ll take care of these pests quickly.¡± An elderly nun in faded robes. Standing tall, she held a long staff like a cudgel. Her clouded eyes wandered around, then settled on the Hero¡¯s face. Although unrecognizable due to the disguise, she was arade he had spent a lot of time with. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The Hero nodded slightly. It was the same face he saw during the Dawn Knights¡¯ meeting. ¡­Although the attitude was a bit different. ¡°Get lost.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Since there¡¯s no bed for you bastards toy on, just get lost.¡± There was no one to argue. The thugs disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. In the blink of an eye, only Nyhill, the Hero, and Barun were left in the open space. ¡°Tsk, bringing such ominous things into a safe ce.¡± Grumbling once, she soon closed her mouth and walked towards the Hero. Step by step. It was a gesture of courtesy. The Hero, without saying anything, stared at Barun. ¡®¡­The saint of the lowest.¡¯ The moment he saw her, he seemed to understand why she had earned that nickname. The roughnguage, the stern gaze. Even the faint smell of blood and tobo. Even the deep wrinkles and the dark circles under her eyes. She couldn¡¯t hide the sanctity and holiness that permeated her entire being. In a world without divine power, the saint seemed to have acquired her own sacredness in her own way. That¡¯s how Barun stopped in front of the Hero. ¡°¡­¡­¡± And with wrinkled hands, she gently ced them on his shoulders. For a moment, the Hero was taken aback by the unexpected reaction. Because of her petite stature, Barun, clinging to him, looked like a praying mantis on a tree. But it wasn¡¯t funny at all. In her firm grip, he could feel an indescribable emotion. ¡°¡­Bted greetings, noble Hero.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°I am relieved to see you alive and well¡­¡± ¡­It must be about the Great battle. The fake closed his eyes. And slowly nodded his head. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve returned safely.¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 121 Chapter 121 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The soft glow of the faint sunset seeped through the neat white curtains covering the window. The interior of the clinic was just as one would imagine it to be. Beds and medical chairs marked by the deep traces of time, various medical devices, and even medical books that exuded an old-fashioned feel. However, there was one unexpected element that the Hero had not anticipated. ¡°There¡¯s a patient¡­¡± Before Barun could respond, a sudden exmation interrupted. ¡°Ah!¡± The patient who had been lying quietly on the bed suddenly sprang up and rushed towards the Hero. No, she tried to rush. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Thump- But the shackles stopped her in her tracks. The tight iron chains made a disturbing sound as they rubbed against her ears. Unfocused, cloudy eyes and saliva flowing from her mouth. ¡°Step back.¡± Although Nyhill¡¯s dagger was dangerously close to her throat, the woman simply shook her head with vacant eyes. The Hero asked Barun calmly. ¡°Drug overdose?¡± ¡°¡­ Acute poisoning.¡± Acute poisoning. It was a rare urrence in Harlem. The residents here were cautious about drugs. While they didn¡¯t abstainpletely, they didn¡¯t use them recklessly. Outsiders who ended up in Harlem due to twisted circumstances were the ones who usually ended up like this. The Hero could deduce the reason for this rare incident by the warm and elusive scent that he could sense. ¡°The one who used the dream droplets.¡± ¡°Yes, we found out through the recent incident with Rosenstark.¡± ¡°Has it spread widely?¡± ¡°¡­Once you¡¯ve experienced a dream, it¡¯s not easy to satisfy with ordinary doses.¡± Dream droplets. The new medium developed by Monma was first sprayed in Harlem. After all, Harlem was the easiest ce for dream droplets to spread. The people here were more tired of reality than anywhere else. They were the ones most eager to indulge in dreams. ording to Eitrobin¡¯s memory, it seemed that Monma Enoch had conspired with them, using them to form an alliance with the Demonic Church. It was still uncertain, and if the spection was correct, it was a plot that could turn the world upside down. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, their time is running out. We need to understand the truth as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± As Barun administered the sedative, the patient fell into a deep sleep. Her face, looking at the patient, distorted. It was and that had maintained order for a long time. Invading such a ce couldn¡¯t be a pleasant experience. She nodded silently and asked me. ¡°There¡¯s no need for an introduction.¡± ¡°¡­What do you want to know about Harlem?¡± The Hero pulled out documents from his pocket. It was a list of upper echelons who had coborated with Eitrobin. ¡°We need to find organizations that meet the conditions I¡¯m about to tell you. The more intersections, the better.¡± He quickly listed the conditions. ¡°Organizations that have traded with these upper echelons at least once in the past six months.¡± ¡°Organizations that have rapidly expanded in the past few months but have recently withdrawn.¡± ¡°Organizations located in areas with a concentration of addicts.¡± ¡°And today, organizations showing suspicious movements.¡± A square¡­ Barun¡¯s pen, which had been running on the memo paper, stopped. ¡°Organizations showing ¡®suspicious¡¯ movements, did you say?¡± ¡°Yes, the news of my arrival will be spreading slowly.¡± He hadn¡¯t revealed his identity at the checkpoint for nothing. Eitrobin, Enoch, Harlem¡¯s coborators, and the Demonic Church¨C they had cooperated systematically for a long time. The fact that I, who had shattered that axis, had arrived at the heart of it was something they couldn¡¯t ignore. ¡°If there¡¯s any remaining evidence, they¡¯ll try to destroy it, and there¡¯s a high probability they¡¯ll prepare for escape.¡± Capture those movements. After hearing the instructions, Barun tapped her cane with a frowning expression, as if making some calction. It was a littleter that she opened her mouth. ¡°I think it will take about six hours to find the target.¡± ¡°Good.¡± The Hero took out the package given by the emperor from the Key of Valber. ng- The sound of bottles hitting each other was loud. ¡°It¡¯s a littlete, but please take this.¡± Rustling- Age-spotted hands held the package tightly. A faint smile appeared on the saintess¡¯ face as she checked thebel on the ss bottle and the cigar packaging. But soon her sense of duty was overshadowed. ¡°I will do my best.¡± The Hero nodded his head and stared at the wall clock in the corner of the room. Six hours¡­ . ¡°Midnight¡­ ¡°It¡¯s perfect.¡± . . . ¡°Bring the charts of the patients who came to the hospital. You¡¯ve also figured out the distribution of addicts, right?¡± ¡°Summon the bar staff located in the area as well. Let¡¯s see if anythinges up.¡± ¡°What about areas where things are for sale quickly or where cash is suddenly circting?¡± ¡°First of all, bring me some of the most recent ledgers.¡± ¡°Organizational genealogy! Bring back the records of the organization¡¯s genealogy!¡± When Barun gave the order, many people hurriedly moved. Harlem residents started their operation from the clinic as their base. The distinctive personalities of each person fascinated the Hero. ¡°I never expected Harlem to move so efficiently.¡± The riffraff he had encountered when he first arrived were just a few of them. From healers to hustlers, pickpockets, merchants, beggars, and even nuns ¨C they all followed Barun like chicks following their mother. The sight of dozens of people moving at the gesture of the nun was truly impressive. ¡°Hero. Since this ce is too noisy, please wait in a nearby ce. We wille to you as soon as the investigation results are out.¡± There was no need to stay at the clinic, so I followed Barun¡¯s words. The Hero followed the guide towards the nearby ce, recalling the interrogation with Eitrobin. ¡°Factory, Enoch clearly said he was building a factory.¡± ¡°What kind of factory?¡± ¡°A factory that can continuously supply high-quality demonic energy.¡± ¡°How does that rte to capturing hostile races to humans and excluding friendly races?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. When Enoch was active, he often used the bodies of hosts other than his main body. All I know is that he schemed with the Demon King¡¯s Church.¡± Even when I essed Enoch¡¯s memories in the mental world, the vast amount made it possible to confirm only fragmented scenes. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Red and dark walls and ceilings, long corridors, noisy noises, screams, sounds of metal shing, and murmurs, stained windows with blood. I didn¡¯t know exactly what kind of ¡°factory¡± it was, but all the clues were unsettling. ¡®Could it be¡­¡¯ It was a moment when my face tightened. The guide spoke. ¡°Here.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°No, your expression is serious.¡± ¡°Expression?¡± I¡¯m wearing a robe, what is he talking about? ¡°Impassive. Your expression is frozen, hehe.¡± When I looked closely, I saw that he was the man who had asked me what the purpose ofing to the clinic was in the first ce. Sunburned skin, a confident posture, and refreshing features. Although his thick and messy beard covered half of his face, he had quite a handsome face. The men passing by him all bent their waists 90 degrees, as if he were a mid-level boss of a gang. ¡®There is a system in ce.¡¯ He showed an attitude that was not as rough as before. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. I can find any information you want.¡± ¡°You¡¯re pretty confident.¡± ¡°Since our eyes and ears are everywhere in Harlem.¡± Continuing with his self-confident tone, he said. ¡°There is no one in Harlem who doesn¡¯t drink, doesn¡¯t take drugs, and doesn¡¯t gamble. Those things have been ingrained in our lives since birth.¡± His way of speaking didn¡¯t sound like a gangster. Did Barun teach him? A bitte, I noticed a rosary hanging from his wrist. ¡°But we are different. Thanks to the Great Mother, we¡¯ve been out of that slum for quite some time. It¡¯s different from those struggling in the slums even now.¡± He suddenly changed the topic after boasting about Barun¡¯s greatness. ¡°By the way, what¡¯s your identity? I think I know who you are.¡± At his words, the Hero stopped and looked at the man. Suddenly, the man¡¯s eyes were also on him. ¡°Today in the morning, news spread in Harlem that the Hero came to the capital. And not long after, you appeared.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Without answering, the man confidently continued his hypothesis. ¡°You are the Hero¡¯s subordinate. You came to convey his request to the Great Mother!¡± ¡°¡­Right. You¡¯re quite smart.¡± ¡°No need to be surprised. If I hadn¡¯t been born in Harlem, I would have been able to wear a Rosenstark sticker or something.¡± The man chuckled, and the Hero noticed that he was missing a single front tooth. ¡°¡­I will cheer for you.¡± They continued walking. Barun¡¯s base was in a high ce. Climbing the hill, the Hero suddenly stopped and looked back at the old clinic. Because summer is approaching, the days are long. A gentlendscape with a bright red sunset. The man also stood side by side. ¡°You know what? There is no king in Harlem. No one can rule this ce. It has been that way, and it will continue to be that way.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Harlem may break, but it will not bend. ¡°If you ask who is the person who embraces Harlem? If there were 100 people here, everyone would pick Godmother.¡± ¡°¡­You respect her very much. ¡°Of course. She is the one who has healed our torn flesh for decades.¡± These were words that conveyed pride, affection, and trust that could not be hidden. Receiving a lively greeting from the guide (see you next time, servant!), the Hero entered the safe house. The inside of the well-appointed safe house was filled with items for infiltration, including night clothes, masks, boots with rabbit fur on the heels, and hooks. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take a quick look.¡± While Nyhill searched inside, the Hero looked outside. Many people wereing and going around the old clinic, with overly bright expressions for Harlem residents. The Hero asked himself. ¡®What is the probability that Barun is a traitor?¡¯ Not very high. She has been abatant on the front lines for a long time. Even during the major battle, she stayed in the rear. However, the possibility cannot bepletely ruled out. This time, he received help¡­ ¡®This is also a kind of bait.¡¯ If by any chance Barun is a traitor, it would be a situation where a lot of misinformation can be spread. So, if something unexpected happens during today¡¯s operation, it might be for the better. It could be a clue that she is a traitor. Identifying a traitor is as important as uncovering the conspiracy of the Demon King¡¯s Church. ¡°Thank you foring back safely¡­ I¡¯m relieved.¡± ¡­ But, can such an expression be made falsely? The Hero shook his head with a bitter smile. He didn¡¯t want to be fascinated, but it was an awkward situation. ¡®Even long-timerades must be suspected.¡¯ If the Original were here, how would he behave? ¡°¡­¡± The Hero couldn¡¯t know, not anymore¡­ Exactly 4 hours and 37 minutester, the saint who infiltrated the nightlife appeared with a list of organizations that met the criteria. * * * Barun and her subordinates handled things impressively. ¡®The situation in Harlem may not be great.¡¯ With the Demon King¡¯s defeat, the mes of war had somewhat subsided. Many armed individuals would have lost their jobs and infiltrated Harlem. It was an unexpected turbulent time. ¡®It was a perfect opportunity for organizations to expand their influence.¡¯ Mergers, newly established groups, and many organizations would have quickly spread their influence. But within the overflowing information, Barun managed to find the targets I wanted, and even faster than expected. ¡°¡­How is it?¡± Barun whispered. We were on the rooftop overlooking the Harlem alley. More precisely, the hideout of one organization. At first nce, it looked like an ordinary pub, with a fairly fancy signboard. But the more you examined it, the more strange it felt. Despite being in full operation hours, no customers came and went. ¡®The guards¡­¡¯ Two guards at the main entrance. Both were not your typical pub guards, as their momentum seemed unusual. ¡°The ones we encountered in the auction house, perhaps.¡± They seemed a bit stronger. As I extended my detection more precisely, I found surveince artifacts and security artifacts at the entrance. For them to be installed in a pub in a poor neighborhood, they were excessively high-quality. ¡°Thirty-two.¡± Soon, I could also detect the presence of people moving inside. ¡°Ah.¡± And the deepest part of the building. I almost stood up without realizing it. There was a very simr aura to what I felt from Eitrobin. The lingering scent of monma, the stench of a traitor. It was much stronger than the patients in the clinic. Without direct contact with monma, such a smell couldn¡¯t be emitted. ¡®I found it.¡¯ I turned to Barun and Nyhill. There was no need to say anything. With just a nce, they seemed to understand my intentions. ¡®There¡¯s no way there¡¯s only one exit for such a secret hideout.¡¯ So, the entry and suppression would be done alone. The two would wait outside and eliminate any potential escapees. Barun mentioned that this ce was part of a well-organized sub-organization. She was worried that capturing them might not provide any clues, but I was confident. Given their coboration with the Demonic Church, they would likely operate meticulously like a point. ¡®Capture the boss first.¡¯ Tak- As I stepped onto the railing, the voices of men chatting below prated my ears. Traitors who sided with demons. ¡°I will go first.¡± While floating in the air, a dizzying sensation apanied the wind brushing my ears. The search is over. Now, it was time for condemnation. ¨‹ ess ¡®Subspace¡¯ Key of Valber. ¡ø The de, a color darker than that of the Harlem night, struck down in a curved line. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 122 Chapter 122 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The patrol was too boring. A monotonous time to the point where one couldn¡¯t bear it without engaging in small talk with the person next to them. Guard, scratching his head, struck up a conversation with the senior next to him. ¡°Hyung-nim, just finished delivering the goods.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Did you hand over everything without missing anything?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Ace.¡± At those words, the face of the junior guard twisted. The senior chuckled. ¡°You disappointed, kid?¡± ¡°No, you said we were in charge until next week, so why the sudden fuss?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know. If the higher-ups say so, we just have to follow.¡± ¡°Sigh, I was looking forward to some fun.¡± The man exaggeratedly bounced his hips. Rxed posture and a tone full ofughter. In their expressions, an unmistakable cruelty couldn¡¯t be hidden. The senior guard spat on the ground. ¡°Do you want to be in a unit with those not even human?¡± ¡°¡­Oh, pretending to be clean, huh?¡± Laughing and joking, he pulled out the pipe he had tucked behind his ear. Ashes scattered on the floor. Evidence of how they were spending their boring time. ¡°Tsk, what a joke this border is.¡± He scanned the surroundings but couldn¡¯t find a single ant. ¡°There can¡¯t be any big shots aiming for this ce.¡± With recent business going well, their organization had a firm grip on this area. More funds. Better-quality members. Their organization, now significantlyrger, had nothing to fear in Harlem. ¡°¡­.¡± Well, there was one thing. That crazy nun. But she was someone with too many people to protect. As long as you didn¡¯t mess with her first, it was fine. Ten minutes until the shift change. The man spoke again. ¡°By the way, where did they use all those goods?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe setting up something in Harlem.¡± ¡°For something so secretive, do you not have any info from the boss? I still don¡¯t know who we¡¯re dealing with.¡± The face of the senior guard hardened. ¡°Don¡¯t ask unnecessary questions; focus on the job or construction. As long as we get paid, that¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°Alright¡­ let¡¯s quickly finish this and head to ¡®Canis.¡¯ Okay?¡± Before he could get a response, something hot sshed on his face. A familiar smell. The sound of copsing. He reflexively reached for his scabbard but stopped. ¡­Who was that? ¡°Ah.¡± Thunk- The ck greatsword that had knocked down the senior guard resonated through the air again. The gaze under the robe was of a kind never encountered before. The man immediately regretted his actions. ¡°Sec, security artifact¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t working. Why? As if it were a broken record, no matter how many times he pressed it, the rm didn¡¯t sound. Various mana that should have been aimed at the intruder remained silent. He slumped down. ¡°S-spare me¡­¡± Whoosh, the man pierced by the ck-hope shouted but couldn¡¯t finish his sentence. The Hero threw him against the wall, then took a moment to catch his breath. Whirr- Aranea, flying from behind, collected the bodies in the alley. Perfect teamwork. ¡°Before entering, take another look. The boss of this branch is this guy. He may not be here to oversee the whole organization, but with his ck hair and average height, you¡¯ll easily recognize him. Check if you see him.¡± Before the assault, the Hero confirmed the appearance of the person he needed to capture through the paper given by Barun. All inside the building had to be subdued, but this person couldn¡¯t be put down right away. A sprawling criminal organization. If they didn¡¯t capture someone at the top of the organization and extract information, they wouldn¡¯t be able to cut off the tail properly. Perhaps, they should be prepared to repeat this a few times. ¡®In the end, it¡¯s a race against time.¡¯ Considering the leaking of information, they needed to move as quickly as possible. In front of the spiral staircase leading underground. The Hero took a deep breath and prepared to enter. ¨‹ Space, would you like to connect to ¡®Valber¡¯? ¡ø The greatsword hid its form, and a ck spear with a sinister aura took its ce in the Hero¡¯s hand. Shadow spear, Umbra. An artifact that could attack the main body through shadows; there was nothing better in a confined space. Whoosh- After sending the signal, the Hero stepped down the stairs. The stairs were deep, and with each step, the stench grew stronger. The smell of sweat. The tangy scent of alcohol. Even the bitter odor of drugs. All kinds of smells mingled. But soon, the lingering scent of monma overwhelmed everything. Squelch! The Hero exerted force on the hand holding the spear. ¡®¡­It¡¯s certain.¡¯ The Hero¡¯s hand opening the door at the end of the stairs showed no hesitation. Clunk- ¡­The uninvited guest has arrived. First, the vibrant and spacious interior entered the Hero¡¯s sight. Followed by scattered piles of cards, bottles, and ashtrays in every direction. Men adorned with chaotic tattoos stood up like armor. ¡°What the hell, that guy.¡± ¡°How did you get in?¡± ¡°The attire¡­ looks suspicious as hell.¡± Some impatient ones had already drawn their weapons. Whether to talk or not, the Hero first shot a detection spell. ¡®There¡¯s a secret space inside.¡¯ The scent of monma from there was the strongest. Must be where the boss is. As the thugs gathered in front of that room, the Hero felt more and more of them approaching. ¡°Well, doesn¡¯t look like someone from the trading partners¡­¡± ¡°Trading partner? We delivered all the goods today, why are they here!¡± ¡°Hey, who are you!?¡± Twenty in total. Approaching while asking questions. Instead of answering, the Hero reached for a light stone embedded in the wall. The thugs¡¯ patience finally ran out at this mysterious action. ¡°No, someone¡¯s asking a question.¡± ¡°Still, what an impertinent guy in this neighborhood.¡± Three increased their speed, while the rest hadn¡¯t moved yet. A rxed attitude. Probably relying on numerical superiority. ¡®I don¡¯t have time.¡¯ Before dawn today, meaningful clues needed to be obtained. These guys were just a part of the underworld organization manipted by the Demonic Church. To reach the main body, several more organizations needed to be exposed. ¡®So, I¡¯ll go all in.¡¯ Chi-ji-ji-jik- A blue ripple rose from the Hero¡¯s feet. Only now did the thugs at the back sense something and start rushing. One, toote. Dispel. A light spread, and all the light stones inside the hideout lost their function in an instant. ¡°Uh, uh!¡± The interior was shrouded in imprable darkness in an instant. No light from outside in this deep underground. The only light source was the light stone that the Hero had pulled out in advance. ¡°manaian! Don¡¯t let him get away!¡± ¡°Stick together! Quickly!¡± ¡°If we stick close, he can¡¯t do anything!¡± Thugs rushed towards the Hero. Their movements were agile, and the edges of their weapons were sharp. To him, who activated Nova, they seemed like stationary targets. ¡®Just a little more¡­.¡¯ Because a human body has volume, it¡¯s impossible to pierce through several at once. But¡­ ¡®Shadows are different.¡¯ Wooooong- Waiting for them to get close enough, the Hero raised the light stone. In an instant, light spread, and the shadows of the organization members ovepped. Quajik- The first thrust from the stationary position pierced eight shadows. Screams erupted from various directions. ¡°Uwaaah!¡± Quajik- Next were five. Now it was a chaotic battle. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Quaang- The charging Hero thrust his spear towards every shadow in his field of vision. The various weapons wielded by the organization members couldn¡¯t even graze his body flowing with energy. After several fierce charges. Quaaaaaang- The Hero¡¯s fist tore through the wall. It didn¡¯t take long for a hole big enough for one person to pass through to appear in the wall. ¡°Uuee¡­.¡± Entering the dim room. One man was trembling. The Hero recalled the description of the organization boss that Barun had mentioned. ¡®ck hair, average height, beak-like nose.¡¯ The Hero grabbed his hair without bothering to engage in conversation. ¡°It¡¯s you.¡± There was no need for a conversation. He was already intoxicated by Enoch¡¯s miasma. The mental barrier was already in a shredded state. ¨‹ ¡®Derilium¡¯ manifests ¡ø Even with an iplete ability, it should be able to thoroughly explore the mind. * * * Meanwhile, Rosenstark was gradually regaining the lost peace and vitality. The sight of studentsughing and heading to the correction seemed to signal the end of the strenuous midterms. ¡­Unfortunately, the extreme kids had no time to enjoy it. Gathered in the indoor training ground, the kids asionally screamed and shot their swords in all directions. ¡°Uwaaaa!¡± ¡°No, how are we supposed to do this!¡± ¡°I¡¯m trash.¡± ¡°Sure, something went terribly wrong.¡± They remembered the challenge the Hero had thrown at them a few days ago in the reinforced ward. With words that would ignite their enthusiasm (although it had now dwindled). ¡°Passing this assignment will be the minimum qualification to train in Felson¡¯s detection technique.¡± After finishing speaking, the Hero took something out of his bag. With dozens of sks containing a shimmering transparent liquid and hundreds of white papers whose purpose was difficult to guess, the children wore puzzled expressions. Sensing their confusion, the Hero picked up one of the sks without dy, and as usual, he went straight to the point. ¡°It¡¯s the venom of a snake infused with mana.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± The faces of the five who guessed its origin all instantly fell. Cuculli, Luke, Evergreen, Leciel, and Ban ¨C they were the ones who had engaged in a pursuit with ¡®a snake.¡¯ ¡®No way.¡¯ ¡®Is this extracted from that snake?¡¯ ¡°Huh?¡± Gulp¡ª There was no need for further exnation. The children watched in awe as the Hero drank the snake venom. The sk was empty in an instant. Without waiting for the stunned children to react, the Hero casually continued speaking. ¡°It¡¯s diluted to a minuscule amount, so there¡¯s no burden on the human body. The safety has been verified through several experiments, and ording to the assistant, it actually helps¡­ in boosting vitality.¡± ¡°S-Safety verified through experiments?¡± ¡°Professor Kasim Pierre willingly provided assistance.¡± For some reason, Kasim was extremely enthusiastic. Anyway, after finishing the exnation, the Hero unexpectedly extended his finger¡­ Tock¡ª A droplet smaller than dew fell from its tip onto the white paper that the Hero had brought along. Hwack¡ª In an instant, the white paper turned as ck as ink. ¡°It¡¯s a marker that reacts to mana.¡± The children could now gradually understand what the ¡®assignment¡¯ was about. ¡°It detects and controls the minute amount of mana entering the body and expels it. Considering your growth so far, I believe you¡¯ll produce results by the time I return.¡± With those ambiguous words, the children earnestly devoted themselves to solving the assignment. About a week passed¡­ ¡°I won¡¯t do it! I won¡¯t!¡± Only three managed to pass the assignment unscathed. Ban, Leciel, and the enrolled student Deindart. Surprisingly, Cuculli and Luke struggled, and the rest were not worth mentioning. ¡°Please! Please! This time!¡± Cuculli, with an earnest gaze, held the 73rd marker. There was no miracle change in the color of the paper. It remained pure white. Or, strictly speaking, it had be slightly darker. Watching, Leciel muttered. ¡°Just blindly using a lot of mana¡­¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°¡­Help me?¡± ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Incidentally, Leciel passed on her second attempt. The first was a recoloring, and the secondpletely dyed the marker pitch-ck. Ban, needless to say, had no problems. Deindart, who had attended Rosenstark a year earlier than the rest, proved that it wasn¡¯t in vain. ¡®He was the only one selected among the enrolled students.¡¯ In the end, Cuculli¡¯sst hope was Luke. ¡°Luke~ Want to join forces against those idiots?¡± Under normal circumstances, it would have been a yful remark telling her to shut up. However, he just stared at the marker on the ground, showing no response. Typically, Luke¡¯s paper remained as white as ever. No, to be precise, it had be slightly darker. Watching his nk eyes, Cuculli thought: ¡®Look at that expression.¡¯ The moment light returned to Luke¡¯s vacant eyes was when Deindart approached Evergreen, who was grumbling. ¡°Hehehe, do you have any difficulties?¡± ¡°N- No, just a bit¡­¡± ¡°Shall I teach you?¡± A universalnguage. A man approaching his crush is always a threatening act. Cuculli amusingly watched Luke¡¯s real-time change in expression. Sharp, well-defined eyebrows. Lips pressed into a straight line. Luke himself seemed embarrassed by those strong emotions. ¡®What action will he take?¡¯ With a keen interest, Cuculli watched Evergreen, still oblivious, receiving advice from Deindart while Luke hesitated. Suddenly, the boy stood up. When everyone¡¯s attention was on him, a single word slipped out. ¡°¡­Drink.¡± Certainly, it was not an eloquent choice of words. It must be a terribly awkward expression. Cuculli chuckled while observing Luke¡¯s brisk steps as he left. His slender silhouette disappeared from the training ground in no time. ¡°Oh, that fool. Tsk, tsk.¡± An immature kid who just broke out of his shell would probably be more skillful in romance than Luke. Filled with interest, Cuculli focused on the 74th paper. ¡­That was the case until the sound of the door was heard again. Thud, thud, thud¡ª Luke, who had been showing an absent expression earlier, was returning faster than before. ¡­Well, it¡¯s difficult to watch even if he avoids it. After all, when things go out of sight, they be more anxious. Cuculli yawned, her eyes drooping as she watched Luke squeezing in the space between Deindart and Evergreen. ¡­It was early summer in Rosenstark. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 123 Chapter 123 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The exploration of Harlem took longer than expected. Tsutsutsutsu- The sixth illusion was ending. The man who had been the target still stared at the Hero with a vacant expression. It was because the Hero had not yet reaped the power of the monma. ¡®Is it over with this guy?¡¯ The first organization he subdued. After finding clues about another organization in the memories of that boss, the Hero immediately pursued it. Suppression ¨C interrogation ¨C tracking. After repeated actions, he realized that the organization cooperating with the Demonic Church numbered as many as six. And this man was the leader of the sixth organization. ¡®¡­Such a thorough underground organization.¡¯ They did not know each other¡¯s existence. They just fit together like parts of a machine, each performing their own function. The first organization was a branch responsible for suppressing and kidnapping demi-humans. The next organization consisted of individuals who approached demi-humans, built friendships, and lured them into traps. The following organization provided the necessary drugs and goods in that process. It was a well-organized division ofbor. And the ones he had just annihted were the organization members responsible for ¡®extraction and delivery,¡¯ the core of delivering demi-humans directly to the Demonic Church. ¡®Thanks to them, I was able to see the most clues from the illusions of the Dream.¡¯ Demi-humans trapped within us. Carriages carrying them, moving. An isted forest. A man wearing a skull mask weing with open arms. Even the symbol of the Demonic Church clearly drawn on the back of his hand. A series of images quickly shed through his mind¡­ and they were definitely imprinted. Enough puzzle pieces hade together to see the overall picture. Thepletion would continue with the forting statement. The Hero¡¯s gaze fell on the man who was swaying his body back and forth in a dazed manner. ¡°Answer me without a hint of falsehood.¡± ¡°¡­Understood.¡± The secrecy spells had already been dispelled. With the power of the monma in effect, falsehoods could never interfere. ¡°You handed over the demi-humansing to Harlem to the Demonic Church. Was it for a sacrificial ritual?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± A slow nod. ¡°Why specifically demi-humans?¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s simple.¡± A brief exnation followed. There is no harm even if you touch them. Few would look for them even if their neighboring demi-humans disappeared from their house. Most would assume they had returned to their hometown and wouldn¡¯t bother searching. There were various reasons why demi-humans migrated to thend of humans. The harsh environment of their homnd was one reason. Curiosity about human life was another. ¡­But the main reason was their ¡®weakness.¡¯ Many tribes of demi-humans followed the logic of the strong. Individuals born weak couldn¡¯t adapt to such a culture and tended to choose to integrate into human society instead. Among them, the lucky ones met good humans and sessfully settled in human society. But if luck was not on their side¡­ ¡®To meet such a bastard.¡¯ Since they left the tribe, they were strangers everywhere, making it difficult for them to be protected. The man continued his statement. ¡°The higher-ups had everything nned out. What could be difficult?¡± The ringleader was, of course, Enoch. The dream droplets spread throughout Harlem. He arranged the organizations that became hosts for the Church, providing massive support for the supply of demi-humans. The Hero calmly asked the next question. The only unanswered question remaining. ¡°Is the ¡®factory¡¯ in that forest? Tell me everything you know about the factory. Where it is, what it does.¡± ¡°The forest¡­ Yes, it¡¯s probably there.¡± ¡­Probably? ¡°I don¡¯t know the exact location. Meeting that man was always done outside the forest. The forest is¡­¡± He must be referring to the Demonic Church member with the skull mask. The Hero noted down the name of the forest. There was another factory besides that, and that one was quite distant from the capital. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but there seems to be another factory in the north. Kanis¡¯s friend delivers to a different ce. We¡¯re the only ones here.¡± The man willingly shared everything he knew about the ¡®factory.¡¯ However, what followed was shocking, in stark contrast to his monotone delivery. ¡°As for what the factory does¡­ Well, breeding and giving birth.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°A kind of breeding ground? Depending on the species, it could be a hatchery. Those Demonic Church guys¡­ seemed to want self-sufficiency.¡± He continued rambling. ¡°If you offer the most pure soul of a newborn demi-human, you can produce a lot of demonic energy.¡± That was as much information as he could obtain. The Hero¡¯s jaw slowly clenched at the shocking revtion. Tsutsutsutsu- The power of the monma was also withdrawn. ¡°Hu, huk!¡± Simultaneously, life returned to the man¡¯s eyes. He immediately backed away, kneeling on the ground. Remembering what he had said, the color drained from his face. ¡®This guy, what the hell¡­?¡¯ He used the power of the dream illusion. If so, he must be on the same side. But then why did he invade the hideout and kill all the organization members? ¡®Shit! Is he trying to cut off the tail?¡¯ But the questions he asked were too suspicious for that. ¡®Damn! What the hell!¡¯ Jebuk- The Hero approached the trembling man against the wall. And he asked the final question. ¡°I met the organization members who took charge of the kidnappings. They handed over the demi-humans they captured a few hours ago to you. Where are they?¡± ¡°A, they left for the forest just a while ago. They asked us to hurry and bring them! What can we do?¡± ¡­A pathetic smile. The Hero took another step forward. As the distance closed, the man reached out his hands defensively, desperately shouting. ¡°W-why are you doing this between fellow humans!¡± ¡°Fellow humans?¡± ¡°Are you angry because I earned some pocket money from selling demi-humans? I didn¡¯t touch any humans! There¡¯s that crazy nun; do you think I¡¯d do such things in Harlem?¡± The Hero stopped abruptly, as if persuasion had worked. For a moment, a sense of relief flickered across the man¡¯s face. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª However, he didn¡¯t realize that the emotions the Hero had suppressed for efficient interrogation were slowly bing uncontroble. Of course, now there was no need to hold back. ¡°H-Hey! W-wait a moment!¡± Squish- The giant greatsword split the man in half. . . . ¡°Hu¡­¡± The Hero, having retrieved the ck Hope, stood still for a moment. The interior of the hideout was a mess. But what his sinking gaze focused on was not bloodstains, scattered bodies, or broken valuable items. It was the cramped space behind the wall. Full of iron bars, iron tools, rusted dishes, and mold. The unpleasant smell of despair lingered there. Jebuk- Staring at that space for a while, the Hero turned and climbed the stairs. It was already morning. The bright sunlight slowly seeped into the streets of Harlem. As Barun and Nyhill, who had been waiting, rushed towards him, the Hero wiped his face. ¡°¡­It¡¯s a good time to track.¡± The bloodstains turned into fine particles after a quick wash with cold water. However, he felt no fatigue at all. * * * In addition to the conspiracy of the Demonic Church and the whereabouts of the two factories, the Hero gained significant information. From minor suppliers connected to the organization to the list of some corrupt guards, he obtained a variety of information. ¡°Monitor their movements and apprehend them at the right time.¡± With these words, he handed the organized data to Nyhill and abruptly left. Nyhill followed the Hero¡¯s orders, contacting the intelligence division to summon members and coborating with Barun to continue the investigation and clean-up. Barun¡¯s eyes narrowed as she observed the diligent girl. ¡°¡­From Harlem, right?¡± Suddenly, Barun spoke, and Nyhill¡¯s movements stopped. Her ck pupils stared piercingly at Barun¡¯s wrinkled face. As if signaling not to be cautious, Barun extended her hand. ¡°It¡¯s not that surprising; people who know how the intelligence division recruits members are well aware.¡± ¡­Nyhill hesitated for a moment. After the Hero ordered her full cooperation with Barun, he left. Would the answer to such a question fall within the scope of ¡®cooperation¡¯? After a moment of contemtion, Nyhill spoke. ¡°Yes, I was born here.¡± ¡°Seems like you joined the intelligence division at a young age.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Since the moment Barun saw her entering the clinic with the Hero, she was surprised. Honestly, she was astonished. The Hero usually preferred to operate alone or with a small number of colleagues during missions. ¡®How did this little girl earn that much trust.¡¯ It must have satisfied the Hero¡¯s strict standards, considering his discerning eyes. Moreover, when Barun saw the dagger strapped to his waist, her curiosity grew even more. A familiar touch emanated from the weapon. ¡®A ghost who has even captured the entric cksmith¡¯s heart.¡¯ Barun smiled awkwardly at Nyhill, who blinked ufortably. Despite her attempt to ease the tension with a smile, the twitching of the sword hanging by her side did little to alleviate the wariness. ¡°Please understand. When you get older, you be curious about young people¡¯s stories for no reason.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Can we take a break for a moment? My new robe is chafing.¡± ¡°Yes. I understand.¡± In the shadow of the wall, Nyhill stood still. Barun continued her thoughts while looking at Nyhill¡¯s side profile. Typically, the Shadows recruited very young children and trained them as members. Even infants were eptable. Starting training before individual personalities and values took root was efficient. In the past, she, who had directly introduced children suitable for the covert operatives, knew better than anyone. ¡­She judged that it would be better than begging on the streets. Whether it was right or wrong was still a difficult judgment to make. Chichik- The remaining hourss caught fire. ¡°Perhaps it might have passed by at some point.¡± ¡°It could be. I don¡¯t know for sure.¡± The conversation paused for a moment. Meanwhile, Nyhill, too, cast a sidelong nce at Barun enveloped in the smoke of the hourss. ¡­If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Since hearing those words from the Hero, she had developed a rather bad habit. After hesitating for a while, she finally opened her mouth. ¡°May I ask a question?¡± ¡°Ask away. Old people naturally prefer telling their own stories.¡± Encouraged by the words that eased her difort, Nyhill asked what she had been curious about. ¡°Why are you not feeling well?¡± ¡°¡­Ah.¡± Barun raised her eyebrows significantly. ¡­This time, she hit the bullseye. ¡®Sharper than expected.¡¯ Following Nyhill¡¯s words, she was not in a good mood at the moment. To be precise, it was very bad. It was because of the demi-humans sold for the purpose of the sacrificial ritual. ¡°Hu¡­¡± Although she had given her the freedom to ask questions, Nyhill only received smoke instead of an answer. Her goal was to save everyone. That was an exaggeration and a delusion. During her long stay in Harlem, she had learned a valuable lesson. Of course, she had considerable influence in this ce. But there was no power to stop all the inhuman atrocities happening in this vast space. ¡®You just have to do your best within the possible range.¡¯ Living with that lesson in mind, she had gradually distinguished between what to protect and what not to. And like the majority of people in the world, she acted ording to those guidelines. ¡­Yes. The residents of Harlem, whom she had connected with over the years, were what she had to protect. The demi-humans in Harlem were not. Of course, she didn¡¯t think it was wrong. There were limits to human abilities, and focusing on certain aspects was essential to maximize utility. But facing the results, she couldn¡¯t help but feel bitter. ¡®¡­The Saint of the Lowest.¡¯ The ironic title bestowed upon her by the actions of penance was truly amusing. With such thoughts, Barun sprinkled water on the fire and looked at Nyhill with a tired expression. Then, with a gaze filled with resignation, she spoke to Nyhill, who was staring back. ¡°Hey. You should keep an eye on the Hero.¡± Nyhill, puzzled by the sudden remark, nodded vigorously. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s get back to work.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Barun stood up, supporting her aching knees with her hands. As she did, she remembered the Hero¡¯s broad back, tirelessly running through the dark alleys of Harlem all night. The Hero, Ted Redymer. Unlike ordinary humans, he was someone who hardly gained any lessons. And that was the reason Barun respected him. . . . Meanwhile, at that moment, the Hero was leaving the organization and heading alone towards the nearby forest. After interrogating the boss of thest organization, he obtained rough information about the locations of the ¡®factories.¡¯ ¡®I need to thoroughly search the vicinity to pinpoint their exact locations.¡¯ Under the Demonic Church, all cooperating factions had been dismantled. Fortunately or unfortunately, the demi-humans had been handed over unharmed. Although they might not realize it immediately, discovering this fact was only a matter of time. However, he couldn¡¯t afford to mobilize arge number of personnel for location searches. ¡®I have to move quickly and discreetly.¡¯ That¡¯s why he had left Nyhill behind and hurried here. The location where the factories were established was quite distant on foot, but that wasn¡¯t a concern for him. The Hero began drawing a non-human figure for the first time in a long while. ¡­ Kkirururu- At that moment, the Hero was approaching the edge of the forest, ready to delve into the area. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 124 Chapter 124 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Huuuuung- Riding the rising currents, the hero ascended swiftly into the pitch-ck sky. The evolution of Polymorph seemed to make the transition to a non-human form more skillful. His beak clicked together in satisfaction as he measured the speed. ¡®Alright, I¡¯ll be there in no time.¡¯ ording to thepiled information, the two factories they established were both located in remote ces far from civilization. One in the forest, the other near a cliff. Even if they built a factory in such a secluded ce, they couldn¡¯t escape the gaze of people. Certainly, they must have taken measures using magic. ¡®It¡¯s probably not a camouge spell.¡¯ Disguise, an advanced magic that applies the conceptual power of ¡®hiding¡¯ to the target. The effect is good, but implementation is very difficult. Covering an entire giant structure like a factory with disguise and maintaining it is a daunting task even for those called grand wizards. Therefore, the options they could choose would be limited to what he could estimate. ¡®Obvious. They probablyid illusion magic and attention-dispelling magic in the surroundings, and then applied disguise magic to the magical signatures.¡¯ Concealing the factory with illusions and preventing outsider ess with barriers. After that, using disguise magic to hide only the magical signatures of the spells. In this way, they could avoid the eyes of both ordinary people and those who manipte magic at minimal cost. A kind of secret technique known only in the shadows. ¡®It must have been quite an effort¡­.¡¯ For him, who had created and lived in many hiding ces along with ¡®Original,¡¯ it would be useless. Illusion and attention-dispelling. Ultimately, the targets of those spells are humans. Naturally, the application range of the barrier would be limited to the entrance path on the ground. Expecting an overview from the air and spending a considerable amount to extend the range of the barrier? It was absurd. ¡®If I can pinpoint the location, I can thoroughly investigate the interior.¡¯ With that conclusion, a whileter, the hero arrived at the edge of the forest without any issues. The midday forest seemed somewhat different from the dim forest he had seen from a distance¡­. ¡®That way.¡¯ The hero could easily spot the factory in a single nce. A clear-cut forest. The densely arranged pale white buildings were noticeably alien. Kiiiruru- The hero hurriedly pped his wings and headed upwards. ¡®Swiftly and precisely.¡¯ He recalled the two rules of reconnaissance. The things to be identified were as follows: The location and size of the troops, their movement patterns. The presence of security artifacts. The structure and entrances of the buildings. If possible, the size and health status of hostages, and their locations. Since he had to check another factory, he had to find out all of this in a short time. The hero quickly surveyed the factory site, cramming everything he saw into his mind. Fortunately, the excellent vision of the hawk quickly captured the panoramic view of the factory. ¡®¡­Bringing the troops here is impractical. It needs to be dealt with by elites.¡¯ Although he didn¡¯t have Iris of Lace before, he was an expert in the field of security. During the time he was with the hero, he had to study various security methods to protect his hiding ce. Examining such defense structures for him was easier than anything else. ¡®They prepared well for suppression.¡¯ There was a visual artifact overlooking the entire entrance and detection and blocking barriers. It was effective against arge number of enemies. Although its power was not remarkable, it poured out petty spells to catch the enemy¡¯s feet and dy them to help the escape of key personnel. ¡­The army would be more of a hindrance. The moment he reached this conclusion, he felt something strange. ¡®But I don¡¯t see any guards.¡¯ Not only guards, but there was not a single person moving in this vast space. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ In the face of clear abnormalities, the hero lowered his altitude. It was to examine the surroundings more closely. Soon, thergest building came into view. ¡®This is probably the prison that confines the demi-humans.¡¯ Iron bars covering every window. Unfortunately, even if there was a way in, it was unreasonable to immediately enterbat. ¡®Just in case, I made preparations by turning the key of Valber into a ne, but¡­.¡¯ He hadn¡¯t yet urately assessed the opponent¡¯s forces. Rash actions would onlyplicate things. The hero cautiously circled the building. It was unlikely, but beyond the thick walls in front of him, faint cries and moans seemed to seep out. A torture chamber, and perhaps also a ce for breeding. He flew back behind the building. ¡®People are still not here.¡¯ But there was something new he discovered. ¡®Instead, there are corpses.¡¯ ¡­More precisely, living corpses. The hero stopped his hovering flight in front of a surveince outpost, peering inside. ¡°Uuueeee¡­.¡± One demi-humanal zombie covered in decay and pus shook its body with vacant eyes. Next to it stood a skeleton soldier. A green light shimmered behind the skull. Simrly, it was not human bones. ¡®Are they victims¡­.¡¯ Finally, the hero could understand how this factory operated. ¡­Necromancer. An appropriate administrator for maintaining such a secretive facility. Kiiiruk- The hero ended the hovering flight and soared once again. Watching mindless undead was not particrly meaningful. If possible, he needed to confirm the one controlling them. ¡­There were also signs. Kiiik- At that moment, the main gate of the prison opened without warning, and two men walked out. The hero quickly changed direction. There were only a few living humans here. They must have proper information. ¡®I need to listen to that conversation.¡¯ As expected, one of their faces was familiar. The hero stopped at a position where the conversation could barely be heard. It was the rooftop of the prison. ¡°The goods?¡± ¡°We received them well. We¡¯ll arrive before sunset.¡± ¡°When will the preparations beplete?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll somehow finish by tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Good¡­.¡± A voice that seemed chilling and dry at first. But upon closer listening, it trembled with uneasy excitement and madness. ¡­It was him. The man wearing a skull mask, whom the hero saw in thest organization boss¡¯s vision. In his hand holding a white cane, the emblem of the Demonic Church emitted an ominous light. ¡°If we start the ritual right at sunset, it should be fine. Also, contact the Voltar branch.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll proceed with that as you know.¡± ¡°¡­After a long wait, it¡¯s the day when the unfaithful flesh of non-believers is graciously utilized. Carry on without a hitch.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± At sunset. Ritual. Voltar branch. Flesh. The day graciously utilized. These crucial keywords pierced through the hero¡¯s ears. ¡°¡­Ha?¡± Piiiiing-! The hero swiftly avoided a sudden attack with acrobatic movements. Sharp bone fragments passed by, grazing his wings. If he hadn¡¯t avoided it, his neck would have been pierced. Twisting his body once again, he soared higher as the factory buildings quickly turned into dots. ¡°Ah, I was curious about the skeletal eagle.¡± HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª A Demonic Church officer, observing the scene with dry eyes, muttered quietly. ¡°I wonder if it can fly.¡± ¡­The hero streaked across the sky like an arrow. There was not as much time as he thought. * * * The hero headed straight to the meeting ce with the Emperor. A secludedkeside near the capital. Ake surrounded by a green like watercolour spread in all directions. It was a picturesque scene beautiful enough to stop and admire, but unfortunately, he had no time for that. The hero deliberately made noise with his footsteps as he stood in front of the cabin. Rustle- Although not visible, dozens of distinct presences scattered. Squeak- The door opened. The Emperor, wearing a robe, appeared. She looked extremely tired, probably from dealing with state affairs all night. The usually well-groomed silver hair hung loosely on her shoulders today. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The hero¡¯s gaze wandered behind her as if searching for someone. ¡°Where¡¯s ¡®him¡¯?¡± ¡°The appointment was hastily rescheduled; he¡¯ll be here soon.¡± The hero nodded his head. Although he had not arrived yet, discussing the current situation with the Emperor first would be the right thing to do. The Emperor, who had forgotten herposure and was stretching like a cat, was led back into the cabin by the hero. ¡°Heh, it¡¯s dreadful.¡± Eithercking strength or aim, the Emperor copsed onto the table. The hero told her the facts he had learned today, speaking methodically. The organizations in Harlem coborating with the Demonic Church. The secret kidnappings of demi-humans that had been urring. Since she had received briefings from the intelligence department, the Emperor nodded indifferently. Hadn¡¯t she just dealt with rted matters and note back just now? But with the hero¡¯s words that followed, shepletely forgot about the fatigue weighing on her. ¡°There¡¯s a ¡®factory¡¯ in the forest.¡± A facility solely for breeding and offering. A Demonic Church officer dispatched to manage it, a necromancer. Arge-scale proposal scheduled for tomorrow at sunset. As the story continued, the Emperor¡¯s expression became increasingly serious. ¡°Fortunately, we were able to urately identify the locations of the two rtively close factories near the capital.¡± ¡°It¡¯s urgent to deal with those ces first. Mobilize the army¡­¡± ¡°We can¡¯t use the army.¡± The hero firmly shook his head. The Emperor, btedly realizing something, sighed lightly. ¡°If the troops move, they will be noticed. And they¡¯ll likely use the kidnapped demi-humans as sacrifices to escape.¡± Moreover, due to the distance, using the army might not be timely. The Emperor nodded. ¡°Indeed, with a necromancer on their side, it¡¯s appropriate to mobilize a small elite force.¡± The Emperor¡¯s forehead wrinkled as if she sensed something. ¡®Wait, a small elite force.¡¯ ¡­Sure enough, the hero stared at her intensely. It was the expression of someone seeking approval¡­ No, not seeking approval at all. It was the expression of someone who had already made a decision and was informing others. A face she had been annoyed with for a long time. ¡®¡­Copying this far.¡¯ The Emperor called him in a mocking tone. Yet, the hero responded as if he expected it. ¡°You!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already considered various strategies for a one-to-many assault. If we utilize artifacts, we can even rescue hostages.¡± ¡°Interrupting the Emperor and talking so freely. You might not get away with it¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go on one side for now. The other side¡­¡± ¡®No, he interrupted me again.¡¯ At that moment, the Emperor showed signs of irritation. ¡ª¡ª-! A small vibration started from a very distant sky. The hero and the Emperor both looked outside the window simultaneously. And as if they had made a promise, they went straight out of the cabin. It was the appearance of a special guest they had been waiting for. Ssuaeeeeeak- The faint vibration and noise that had been heard spread into a terrifying sonic boom in an instant. Ssuaeeeeeak- It was a type of sound the hero had never heard before. Thicker than an arrow. But something much faster traversed through the air. What looked like a small dot took on a certain form in the blink of an eye. And after a few more seconds, it had already arrived in the airspace above thekeside. It was faster than any existing aircraft. Whoooooosh- In the dizzying heights of the sky. Without hesitation, the giant creature plunged vertically. ¡­And just before its wings with a diameter of several meters collided with the surface, they unfolded. Chaaaak- It was truly an artistic hover. The mere pressure of the air caused by the descent created a fierce water storm on theke¡¯s surface. Plop plop- The Emperor apuded with a solemn expression. There were a few water droplets on her face. ¡°He came faster than expected.¡± The hero stared at the mysterious being with narrowed eyes. A horn three times longer than Cuculli. Blue scales covering the left half of the body sparkled like jewels in the noon sunlight. Flutter- The ice dragonkin smoothly flew over theke surface. The hero gazed at the majestic creature, slowly pronouncing his name. ¡°Dorempa Evans.¡± The leader of the Ice Dragon Tribe. The great tribal chief who unified the demi-humans beyond the northern border. The ruler of the Great Snow Ocean. And the father of the troublemaker. Dorempa opened his mouth. ¡°Hero. What¡¯s the matter that called for me?¡± [TL/N: Hey guys! I¡¯ll be taking over this series from now on as the prev TL is kinda busy. I¡¯ll be in your care. Also next two chaps kinda crazy ngl] [PR/N: Another fool.] HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 125 Chapter 125 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª A question I heard from Cuculli once came to mind. ¡°Professor, are you acquainted with my father?¡± ¡­In fact, we were acquainted, though I had never met him as the Hero. This was a story from before I started working as a substitute. ¡®¡­It was a strange coincidence.¡¯ It was a time in the distant past, when I couldn¡¯t settle down and roamed the outskirts. The deste snowyndscape, untouched by human footsteps, was a perfect ce to soothe a weary soul. I had taken refuge there for a few months. It was a day when the snowstorm was particrly fierce. I had just finished hunting and returned to the cave, my hiding ce. Unexpectedly, an unwee guest was already there. ¡°Oh¡­ humans have stockpiled so much food in the snowy wastnd.¡± ¡­Mumbling while chewing on jerky (which was mine), his pronunciation was muddled, but that was roughly what he said. He imed to be a member of the Ice Dragon Tribe, and he hade to the snowy wilderness for a mission. Thinking back to the time when Dorempa had be the warchief covering the north and I was now teaching his daughter, it was a truly strange encounter. He looked at me, bewildered, and casually spoke. ¡°Is that a snow rabbit in your hand? I¡¯ll roast it for you! Just give me the ears to the torso!¡± At that time, he was, how should I put it¡­ He was like the male version of Cuculli, in a way. I remember feelingpletely exhausted in just half a day until the storm passed and Dorempa left. ¡­During that long time. There seemed to be a lot of change in Dorempa as well. Not just in personality but also in appearance. ¡®What are those huge wings and horns?¡¯ They weren¡¯t there before. ¡®There were only cute horns like Cuculli¡¯s.¡¯ It was not a good time to reveal old memories and new curiosity. I looked at the indifferent eyes that were staring at me and Euphemia. ¡°I have an important story to tell.¡± We stood side by side on thekeside and talked about the information we needed to share once again. ¡°¡­.¡± While listening to the story of the conspiracy nned by the Demon Lord Church and Harlem, Dorempa¡¯s expression remained unchanged. It was unexpected. I thought he would be furious. However, his eyes remained calmly focused, and his breathing was slow and steady. Dorempa finally spoke. ¡°It¡¯s a checkmate.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It has been amon urrence for the exiled tribe members to leave the snowy wastnd. No one paid attention to the whereabouts of those who became outsiders. But I never thought such a thing would happen.¡± His tone was monotonous, as if reading a book. But that didn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t angry. The warmth of early summer faded, and the air around us rapidly cooled. It was not an illusion. Chill¡ª Even thekeshore froze with the frigid wind. ¡°There are more factories besides the two we discovered.¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t pinpointed their exact locations yet, but it¡¯s certain. Simr abduction activities are happening in thewless city of Canis, ording to the information.¡± ¡°Most likely, they are mostly in the north. Those factories, I mean.¡± I nodded. The residences of the two tribes were broadly divided into two locations. The northernmost North Hale (Snow Wastnd) and the southernmost Great Forest. The Great Forest tribes, under the rule of the Fairy Queen, maintained an extremely closed culture. ¡°They rarelye out of the forest. Even when they do, they act in groups.¡± The northern tribes of the Snow Wastnd were a bit more free-spirited. More animalistic, one could say. Although they were grouped by tribes, individual personalities were stronger, and their affection and sense of kinship for family and rtives were much shallower than that of humans. The Demonic Church exploited that weakness. Euphemia, who had been listening to the conversation, interjected. ¡°For now, let¡¯s set aside the northern factories and deal with the urgent ones. I¡¯ll investigate the northern factories myself.¡± ¡°Alright. If we destroy those disgusting ces, additional clues will surely emerge.¡± As soon as the conversation ended, Dorempa spread his wings forcefully. Whoosh¡ª The strong wind made our hair flutter violently. His voice echoed like a low echo in the cave. ¡°I¡¯ll take charge of the Voltar branch. You destroy the other one.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± I could see the Emperor¡¯s expression wrinkling, as she was trying hard to suppress it. ¡­Ignoring it, I continued talking. ¡°Wait.¡± His pir-like legs, which had been about to strike the ground, came to a halt. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move first.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°We need to act simultaneously. The proposal for the alliance will begin at sunset tomorrow, and it¡¯s wise to keep an eye on that scene.¡± I too felt like I wanted to attack right away. However, for a perfect rescue and suppression, it was necessary to thoroughly sweep everything in one go. To ensure that no one could escape, careful preparation was needed. ¡°¡­.¡± Dorempa silently looked at me with his transparent eyes. In the past. The mischievousness that used to resonate within him was nowhere to be found now. I wondered if Cuculli would end up like that someday. A thought that didn¡¯t suit the current situation suddenly crossed my mind. Whoosh¡ª Turning his head, the Great Chief, with his towering legs, spread his enormous wings and disappeared beyond the sky. ¡°Huh.¡± I exhaled a breath I had been holding, turning away from the Emperor who seemed to have a lot to say. As if she had been waiting, Euphemia spoke. ¡°So, you¡¯re going to face the army of corpses alone?¡± ¡°First, listen to the story.¡± ¡°Seems like you¡¯ve forgotten, but this isn¡¯t the Lonkers¡¯ territory; it¡¯s Jedo. Don¡¯t act like the real Hero and ask for help. You don¡¯t have to bear everything alone.¡± I held up my hand to tell her to calm down as she tilted her head crookedly. ¡®There are many people who can help¡­.¡¯ As far as I know, there aren¡¯t many elite forces that can secretly move on Jedo Kyros right now. Most of the Dawn Knights and heroes were away due to Euphemia¡¯s special mission (dealing with the Western Frontier while the Eastern Conquest was underway). Furthermore, the Captain of the Royal Guard, Felson, was in Rosenstark, and the covert members of the Shadow Unit were scattered and busy with various activities. Euphemia seemed to hope for Barun, Mother Ghost, or other knights to apany me, but unfortunately¡­ Regrettably, my skills were not yet at a level where I could confidently present myself as a ¡°hero¡± in front of others. ¡®Of course, there¡¯s the option of urgently calling the heroes who are on other missions¡­¡¯ But leaving others to save the demi-humans while leaving others felt meaningless. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡®¡­It seems odd for a hero who has directly uncovered the Demonic Church¡¯s conspiracy to entrust it to others.¡¯ So, it was appropriate for me to step forward with the exnation now that the time hade. After the exnation, Euphemia seemed to be pressing her temples, as if her head was throbbing. ¡°Given your personality, you¡¯ll try your best to save the demi-humans as well.¡± ¡°You know me well.¡± ¡°Do you think you can handle a necromancer and rescue hostages alone?¡± ¡°¡­I can. Trust me and wait.¡± Pong¡ª Instead of a response, the Emperor threw a pebble into theke, creating a small ripple. . . . Before returning to the pce, the Emperor left with these words: ¡°Be aware of your worth. If you die, who knows what will happen.¡± ¡°I know better than anyone. So, I won¡¯t fail.¡± ¡°¡­Alright, I believe you.¡± Euphemia must have felt awkward about the trust she expressed for the first time, so she frowned at him a few times, then turned around and disappeared. I also prepared to leave. The ns were already set in motion when I arrived here. Thud¡ª I stopped my steps at a crossroad with dense vines. A little further to the left was the entrance to the hideout, and in front of it was the protective barrier stone. That was the purpose ofing here. ¡®It¡¯s not just an ordinary security artifact.¡¯ For the Original and the fake, they had numerous hiding ces. One differentiating factor was the protective barrier stone. The performance of the barrier stone was simple. First, it sent powerful magical waves that distorted perception, blocking the approach of ordinary people. If someone who could manipte magic tried to forcibly prate the set area¡­ Various destructive spells of different kinds would be unleashed. ¡®The embedded spells disappear after one use, but¡­¡¯ For a single battle, it would be more efficient than an ordinary mage. No need to maintain it, and it was portable. The artifact that the ¡°Original¡± obtained during demonic realm exploration. It was a ce filled with memories and guarded by a protective barrier stone. This time, however, it seemed necessary to use it. If the Original one knew the situation, then he would surely understand. ¡­Understand. ¡­Stand. ¡­Meaning. That was as far as it went. The thoughts of the hero stalled at the edge. It couldn¡¯t go further. ¡®What¡­?¡¯ The hero stood still, looking down at the shattered protective barrier stone thaty limp on the ground. At that moment, all sounds and movements around him ceased. Someone had arrived here. The hero ran. There was no time for other thoughts. He climbed up the hill, tore through the vines and branches, and in an instant stood in front of the dimly lit cave. The handle of the iron door was gripped and released again. As expected, it was open. He realized that his entire body was soaked in sweat. ¡®Let¡¯s stay calm.¡¯ Brushing away the sweat beads on his forehead, he took a deep breath, but breathing felt suffocating, as if water had filled his lungs. Who? How? When? From the moment he saw the broken boundary stone, words floated through his mind without forming sentences. But there was one thing. One thing was certain. ¡­They had to be killed. Anyone who intruded here had to be killed. essing the subspace of the Key of Valber, the hero, wielding a greatsword, ran through the narrow and elongated corridor. Swish- Suddenly, Nova¡¯s blue glow enveloped his body. ¡®Close!¡¯ The intruder seemed to have no intention of hiding their presence. Chasing the clearly revealed signs, he reached the innermost part of the hideout. A square-shaped room, where the ¡®Original¡¯ had met his end. And there, he encountered¡­ ¡°You¡¯vee.¡± Facing him was a white-haired sorceress. Without even turning around, she greeted him. There was no sign of hostility, but his heart sank gradually. ¡­He knew the identity of this unwee guest. A mage, the longest-servingrade of the hero and a representative sorceress of the Second Era. Miracle, Larze Gion. She had finally turned her head to look at him. Why? It was an overwhelmingly advantageous distance to deal with a wizard. However, I couldn¡¯t swing the sword. Swish- The Iris of Lace, for the first time, poured out the mostments it had ever made among the people it had encountered. ¨‹ Recorded Individual: Larze Gion Miracle Archmage Seeker of all things Aspirant of the First Era Insatiable thirst for knowledge Sessor Unpredictable * Previous user messages are still present ¨C Make a deal with her¡­ ¡ø Swish- ¡°No, no.¡± Larze waved her hand as if shooing away a fly. Then, the guidance window shattered into pieces and¡­ disappeared without a trace. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to be our first meeting, and you should see me in person.¡± A sticky liquid filled his eyes, and his vision turned progressively red. ¡­ In the midst of that, Larze, with an iprehensible bright smile, spoke. ¡°Hello, Doppelganger.¡± [TL/N: OH FUCK.] [PR/N: Bro¡¯s cooked¡­or not?] HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 126 Chapter 126 HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª My stomach hardened as if I had swallowed a huge piece of ice. ¡°Hello, Doppelganger.¡± . . . The secret that should never have been exposed was exposed. It was clear that those words were not just a simple spection. The gaze directed towards me seemed to hold no suspicion, as if it was unwavering. ¡­Take a deep breath. From now on, I must control every physical response. It¡¯s a conversation with someone who holds my secret, but I don¡¯t know what they want. No clues should be revealed. ¡°Hmm¡­.¡± Suddenly, Larze¡¯s fingertips lifted my chin. ¡°No answer? Were you surprised?¡± Let¡¯s recall everything I know about Larze Gion. A real senior of ¡®Original.¡¯ Founding member of the Dawn Knights. The only magician in the Second Era to partially inherit magic from the First Era, earning her the nickname ¡®Miracle.¡¯ Even Ludwig Bosman, the current tower master and a magician of the Beyond rank, couldn¡¯tst 10 minutes against her in a duel. The most powerful magician alive. ¡­Therefore, there is no option for overpowering her. ¡®¡­I need to recall more clues.¡¯ When the ¡®Original¡¯ described hisrades, he added something like this. ¡°The best way to define someone is through their desires.¡± ¡°Larze¡¯s desire can be said to be ¡®I want to know.¡¯ A pursuit of all unknowns in the world¡­ an obsession with truth. Greed for knowledge. Truly a person close to the essence of a magician.¡± ¡°But other than that, she¡¯s just an empty shell.¡± As I recalled those words,ments that appeared when I faced her seemed to pass before my eyes. ¡­Alright. I lifted my head and met her red eyes. Beneath pupils that sparkled like they were made of ss, mes of madness flickered. I felt like I knew her true identity. Let¡¯s start with a preamble. ¡°Larze Gion. You seem indifferent even to the death of ¡®Original.''¡± ¡°¡­Is that so.¡± The hand holding my chin exerted firm pressure. A disappointed, slightly murmured sound reached my ears. ¡°Doppelganger. I didn¡¯te to talk about such boring stories.¡± It wasn¡¯t just talk. There was no hint of pity in Larze¡¯s face, as dry as a response could be. It was brimming with provocation, but I endured it. ¡°Oh? How about this topic then?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°How you ¡®knew¡¯ about my existence. I¡¯d appreciate an exnation of that.¡± Only then did her expression brighten. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s a reasonable request. Whether you like it or not. ¡®The want to know¡¯ is the most superior desire, a sublime and beautiful emotion. I¡¯ll fill you in now.¡± Larze spoke and acted like an actor on a stage. ¡®It seems like an inhuman being pretending to be human.¡¯ After letting go of my chin, she took a few steps back, her long hair swaying with each plump step. Larze started her story while showing her back. ¡°The First Era. The beautiful First Era. We were chased out of the endless golden age and crashnded in the primitive and chaotic Second Era. Unfortunately, modern humans, busy with survival, showed no interest in our past and simply lived.¡± Swoosh¡ª She turned her head. Disgust and thirst slid across her face at the same time. ¡°But I¡¯m different.¡± ¡°What¡¯s different?¡± ¡°I chased. I was always chasing. How could I endure it? Once I learned about the existence of the First Era, I had to somehow grasp the things that time and tragedy had hidden. I couldn¡¯t stand ¡®not knowing.''¡± The madness in Larze¡¯s eyes became more pronounced. It seemed like the present held no meaning for her. Her fervent gaze burned with a desire to correctly arrange and ce the scattered fragments of the past. If eating, sleeping, and reproducing are instincts for humans, Larze¡¯s desire for knowledge is probably within that realm. Talking with Larze, I could understand why ¡®Original¡¯ had given her that epithet. Along with how to approach her. ¡°One day, as I chased the knowledge veiled in mystery, I realized that one man held the key to everything¡­ and he intentionally concealed some records.¡± Larze approached again and reached out her hand. ¡°You, Doppelganger.¡± Her fingers traced a curve along the edge of my neck, stopping at the approximate location of my heart. ¡°He was also part of the abnormality that existed in the First Era.¡± Then, with a mixture of affection and madness in her tone, she whispered in my ear. ¡°You see, Ted couldn¡¯t defeat the Demon King.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°No matter the scenario, circumstance, luck, or miracle, it was impossible. Yes, unless he activated the Seventh Form, pledging his life, victory was impossible.¡± ¡­Seventh Form? ¡°But he defeated the Demon King and boldly returned to Rosenstark.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°At that moment, my knowledge realized the contradiction and found the correct answer. That Ted Redymer was a ¡®fake.''¡± Larze smiled gently. ¡°A being that can pretend to be real even if it¡¯s fake. A ¡®Doppelganger.''¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Now, do you have the answer?¡± Trying to absorb the information she spat out felt like my head was about to explode. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª But before all those questions, there was one that came to mind first. So, was Larze the betrayer who trapped the Original? But if she were a betrayer, she would have immediately informed the demons of my existence. There could be no more perfectpletion of betrayal than that. There¡¯s no need for me to engage in conversation like this right now. Even though I knew Larze would be willing, I couldn¡¯t stop myself from being immersed in that curiosity. As expected, she smiled contentedly. ¡°No, I¡¯m not a traitor. So, there¡¯s no need for that pitiful expression. Ted terminated our ¡®deal.¡¯ I became nothing more than an observer and couldn¡¯t intervene in the experiment.¡± She poured out iprehensible words and then stood upright, stepping back from me. ¡°Alright, the knowledge I can offer as a favor ends here. Now, let¡¯s start the deal.¡± ¡°A deal?¡± ¡°Yes, a deal. Just like Ted did.¡± Her exnation continued. ¡°It¡¯s a story from our childhood. Ted hoped that I would use my power for humanity, and in return, he became my loyal sword and key. We explored the demonic realm together, seeking secrets and truths. We had to stop midway, but¡­¡± ¡­A coborator who had been involved with ¡®Original¡¯ in exploring the magical realm. I wondered what she knew about the First Era. ¡°So, think carefully about the terms of the deal, Doppelganger.¡± Larze approached me with cheerful steps. ¡°You can demand the preservation of secrets and cooperation with humanity, just like Ted did. No, you must demand it.¡± Then she broke into a dangerously yfulughter. Unknowingly, we were close enough to hear each other¡¯s breaths. ¡°What can you offer in return? What unique experiences and knowledge have you gained from living such an extraordinary life? What have you obtained from those special sses? What mysteries have you delved into? Tell me everything you know!¡± As the almost screaming questions came to an end. I threw one essential question of my own. ¡°If you¡¯re so curious about Zero and the First Age, why don¡¯t you kill me and use the Iris of Lace yourself?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯d love to do that.¡± Larze said matter-of-factly. ¡°But unfortunately, not just anyone can be a ¡®user.¡¯ If that were possible, I would have plundered all the legacies of Zero in this world. Zero is not that careless. It might be possible to interfere, like just now, but usage is impossible.¡± Larze held my hand to her face with a expression filled with regret. It was as cold as ice. ¡°You¡¯re lucky. If not, the deal wouldn¡¯t have been established.¡± She took a deep breath again. ¡­It¡¯s done. The recent conversation, the knowledge and information I gained while negotiating, and the puzzle pieces I collected during my journey. As I pieced together the puzzle, I could realize something. A ¡®grand design.¡¯ ¡®Perhaps¡­ no, it¡¯s certain.¡¯ The excitement, worry, and tension that had been overwhelming my entire body slowly subsided. For the first time sinceing here, I could calm down. No need to be overwhelmed by Larze¡¯s madness and power. The only clear thing now was one. ¡®¡­I have material to trade with Larze.¡¯ When I returned from Lonkers and read ¡®Zero¡¯s Memories Part 1,¡¯ I thought ¡®Original¡¯ must have seen it without a doubt, as he had achieved much more progress with the Iris of Lace than I had. But looking back, something was strange. The day I first told Rosalyn that I would read the memories and was rejected. Rosalyn confirmed my qualification. Her strict gaze, which lingered on the Iris of Lace then moved to zero¡¯s robe, vividly remained in my memory. ¡­Yes, Rosalyn confirmed whether I possessed Zero¡¯s Robe. It was an item that was hidden in a ce where evolution was concealed, something that ¡®Original¡¯ did not have. An enlightening realization struck me. ¡®Ted Redeemer couldn¡¯t read Zero¡¯s memories¡­ or the records of the First Era.¡¯ Certainly, Larze, who was also a ¡®deal target,¡¯ would be the same. This was enough to present as bait. A seeker of the First Era. An explorer of everything. How attractive would Zero¡¯s memories, left by Zero himself, be to someone with an insatiable thirst for knowledge like her? Now was the time to confirm it. I firmly presented my conditions. ¡°Alright, Larze. I demand unconditional silence to this secret and active cooperation with humanity, and furthermore, your assistance for my personal needs.¡± Upon hearing my words, Larze widened her eyes for a moment and then burst into augh that urged me to leave the hiding ce. Laughter echoed like thunder, reflecting off the ceiling and walls. Amidst it, a distinct mix of interest and anticipation could be felt. ¡°A bold demand. What¡¯s the price?¡± The only thing I could give her, right away. An opportunity to see the First Era through Zero¡¯s gaze, and thest puzzle piece that recorded what happened to humanity at that time. ¡°Zero¡¯s memories.¡± ¡­Larze¡¯sughter abruptly ceased for a moment. HEL SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 127 Chapter 127 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] You. After a moment of silence, Larze slowly opened his mouth. Do I seem ridiculous to you? Can I be deceived by such absurd lies? No one has been able to ess the records of Rosalyn for hundreds of years. But rather than doubt, the meaning behind those words sounded more like ament for something that was longed for. A fear of being lied to, due to excessive desire. The hero could read it. If youre offering such absurd conditions just to avoid an immediate crisis, youll regret it. Your role in this world is not important to me. Youre making the words looking forward to it sound threatening. He knew a way to extinguish that doubt in an instant. Cast Memorize. Hooo I will prove that my words are not false. Memorize. A magic that preserves the memories of the target in a certain form, allowing a third party to ess them. It was a high-level magic that even most wizards found difficult to implement, but it posed no problem for Larze. Just be deceived for now. Larze put her hand into her pocket. What came out with her fingertips was a very worn and shabby pendant that didnt suit Larze. Soon, a bright white light poured over it, and the hero instantly filled the pendant with the Memories of the First Era Part I that he had seen. Pa-a-a-at- As soon as the magic was implemented, Larze immediately connected to the memories without saying a word. Her body stood upright, motionless as if asleep. What will it be like. The heros sunken eyes looked at Larze. Now she would see overwhelming views of the cityscape from the First Era, the disputes between the Master of Magic tower and Zero about the Gate, and Zero vowing to find him. He couldnt be sure how Larze would react. In the worst case scenario, this memory might not be of much value to her, considering she had been exploring the Demonic realm for a long time. Squeak- Suddenly, the heros hand holding the ck Hope tightened. His gaze shifted between Larze, who was peacefully closing her eyes, and the ck Hope. This might be the only chance to take advantage of the powerful wizards vulnerability. If I made a surprise attack. He could easily eliminate the threat. But as Ted had done previously, Larze could be a tremendous force for humanity if used well. Above all, he couldnt be sure if she was really defenseless. Should he eliminate the threat when the opportunity arises, or take the risk and aim for a return? Larzes closed eyelids slowly opened at that moment. Hoo. The hero, confirming her expression, finally released the tension in the hand that held the sword. And he was grateful for his caution. Sigh. Larze was savoring the aftermath of delicious food, her lips slightly curled. A moment of urgency and poignant emotion passed over her. This is really, how should I put it. Her hand rested on her chest. It was a gesture as if she was trying to confirm her own heartbeat. The heat flower bloomed on her pale cheek. Now, it was time for appreciation. The red eyes turned towards the hero. Memories, theres more, right? I want to hear if my conditions for the deal are suitable before you tell me that. Doppelganger, you have a mischievous personality. Do you want to know how this memory was? Larze expressed her appreciation with a calm and respectful tone. It was quite different from her ecstatic appearance earlier. Like a deaf man hearing sound for the first time, a blind man feeling light for the first time. I would have been happier if those moments of wonder werent so brief. If she wanted to secure a favorable position in the deal, she might have said it was nothing, even if it was a lie. But the excitement and satisfaction burning inside Larze were too immense to be concealed by a spontaneous lie. The hero added more pressure. Yes, I have one more memory. And I will be able to secure more in the future. It was the truth. He had already unlocked the First Era Part II by defeating Enoch. He just hadnt read it yet. As he raised the progress, he would eventually obtain the next parts as well. I see. Fine. Larze nodded satisfactorily after hearing the heros exnation. She seemed eager to confirm the deal as soon as possible. Okay, Ill keep your secret for now, just as Ive been doing, and cooperate with humanity. What about assistance for me? That needs negotiation. I cant provide my power to you limitlessly. So, it sounds like youre agreeing to the deal. Larze smiled widely as if there was nothing more to discuss. One time cooperation for one memory. Shall we settle it like this? There was no reason to refuse. After all, Zeros memories naturally came to him as he grew. If he could get assistance by providing them, it was a good deal in the current crisis. The hero shook hands with Larze, who extended her hand as if to say there was nothing more to discuss. Then, first, Ill ask for your cooperation in exchange for the memory I just showed you. Theres a ce we need to go right away. But Larze was not easy going. That was to keep your secret and cooperate with humanity, as the price for that. The hero could only force a bitter smile. Unfortunately, he didnt have time for negotiations right now. Fine. Then Ill share one more memory as payment for your cooperation. Follow me. Where to? A factory. Larze didnt ask anything further. She just nodded her head. The hero stared at her silently for a moment. A double-edged sword. The barrier stone had been broken, but he gained a wizard much more powerful than that. Of course, the benefits, potential threats, and future ns must be carefully reviewed. But now was not the time for that. Thud- They were in a hurry. After reaching the forest where the factory was located, they needed to observe the enemies and carefully n the attack. Follow me. The hero turned his back to Larze and headed towards the entrance of the hideout. However, she seemed to be stuck in ce, not moving. What are you doing? What about you? Hurry up and get to the destination [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Larze had a somewhat displeased expression. For some time now, she had been holding a pure white cane in her hand. Unlike his sword, which was covered in demon blood and turned ck, her pure white staff seemed to be free from any worldly dirt. Zzzzz- As Larze swung the White Despair vertically, arge slit appeared in the space at the same time. It felt as if an invisible sharp w had brushed past. A slowly widening gap. Larze, backlit by the intense light pouring through the opening, spoke. I hate riding. I hate walking even more. Teleportation. The hero recalled Larzes nickname. The only Second Era wizard who inherited the magic of the First Era. Thus, she was called a miracle in the mortal world. . . . Understanding of Larze Gion deepens: Understanding Level: 0/100 -> 3/100 * * * Meanwhile, at Rosenstark. The 3rd and 4th reinforcements were handled by specially invited members of the Dawn Knights, Noubelmag and Felson Dietrich. Even when it was revealed that the contents were about the unarmedbat andbat techniques personally created by the two, other students lost even the will to envy them. -Wow, the crazy affection for The Perfect in his alma mater. My father-inw does have a lot of influence. Father-inw! ? Crazy bitches. -Noubelmag made weapons for freshmen? Didnt he usually reject requests from even ordinary heroes? Its because the kids skills have been proven. We took the midterms together. To be honest, there was a big difference. Maybe its because of the heros request. Why are you so reverent? Stop riding lmao. Idiots. -Oh, is Noubelmags weapon really that great? Theres a story that when Noubelmags weapon reaches the end of its lifespan, the previous owneres to greet it. I really like that story. What the *** are you trying to say even? What story? -During the semester,, is it okay for,, the responsible professor to be,, absent from the seat,, so often,, questioning the professors qualifications. Are you that student? Theyre at it again. Anyway, today was the long-awaited third reinforcement day. Ban stretched and yawned as he headed towards the training grounds. He didnt sleep wellst night. Its not something to brag about, but after facing Enoch in battle, his mailbox was filled with numerous letters. Ignoring the sincerity of those people and not replying was more challenging than facing the Commander of the Demon Legion. Ill have to write replies in my spare time. By the way, among them were some letters with eerie contents. Like the one hes holding now. I want to test your mental magic resistance. Please drop by when you have time. -Beatrice Monro, Freshman of the School of Mystics. Wow, another letter? Who is it this time? Gerald, who was approaching with envy-filled eyes, stopped in his tracks. It was because of the senders name written on the envelope. Geralds eyes widened to about twice their normal size. Um Beatrice Monro. Do you know her? Well, its more surprising if you dont know her. Shes the top student in the School of Mystics. Karen, who appeared out of nowhere, interjected abruptly. Oh, I know her too. She studied abroad in our territory when she was really young. Karens hometown was Lindel, located near Dasurim, the only ce in the Empire that traded extensively with the fairy race. She continued her exnation. Shes incredibly beautiful, you can guess that just from the fact that Gerald knows her name. Isnt that amazing, Ban? Its not a letter for that purpose. Hmm, is this the power of poprity? I think he looks handsome. Gerald grumbled. Hey, didnt you decide on the route with Luke? Heh, hes too stubborn, its not fun. Besides, hes been acting a bit strangetely. What about me, then? Since there was a moment of silence, Ban felt the need to change the subject quickly. Anyway, have you guys finished your assignments? Uh we barely finished yesterday. Gerald sighed deeply and shook his head. Still, its fortunate that you finished before your fathers reinforcement. Everyone else is making progress inbat techniques, but if I were the only onegging behind, it would have been a disaster. Ban hesitated for a moment and asked. What about Luke? I think he hasnt finished yet. Im kind of scared to talk to him. Youre close to him. Why dont you ask directly? . Ban sighed with concern. Luke began to avoid them when the number of people who seeded in the task exceeded half. He didnt even allow Evergreen to approach. It would have been nice for him to be helpful, just like Luke helped him (even though he received arge amount of gold coins). However, Lukes thoughts seemed to be different. Looking at Luke, who was carrying a sk and potion, his eyes were getting darker, Ban wished he could help in some way. He was well aware of Lukes pride, so it was difficult to approach him recklessly. Hell manage. Gerald also nodded. Oh, I didnt expect Luke to struggle like this. Leciel, who stained the potion ck on her second attempt, is admirable. While Gerald had started his unexpected worship, they had already arrived at the training ground where Noubelmag was waiting. Gradually, the number of words decreased, and the childrens eyes began to sparkle. Noubelmags Unarmed Combat! Expectations had already reached their maximum a long time ago due to the students making such a fuss not only from the Finement ssmates but also from the Connector. Some parents even contacted each other, saying they should keep it as an heirloom. Is that it!? The armors that the children had longed to see so much were piled up like mountains on the floor of the training ground. As soon as they entered the entrance, they focused their mana on their eyes. Soon, to catch a glimpse of the masterpiece that would be their future weapons. Heavy sighs echoed right after that. What is this crap? Geraldsint, representing everyones feelings, reached Noubelmags ears on the wind. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 128 Chapter 128 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] A sword created directly by a legendary cksmith. Naturally, each child had an image in their minds that they had drawn for themselves. Shining brilliantly, emitting a cool aura, adorned with decorations symbolizing courage and glory It could be described as a ssical treasure, exuding a dignified presence. However, the reality they faced was quite different from such a splendid fantasy. Weapons that seemed fit for a local cksmith no, even a local cksmith might not disy them on the shelf and would probably hide these weapons with an appearance that seemed unworthy. Rough and devoid of decorations. Only the handle and de, or the tip and minimal safety features. The sword wasposed only of essential parts, and even the color was as dull as charcoal. Haha, I like it. Uh, wouldnt it go well with spider webs? But despite their teasing reactions, Noubelmags expression showed no change. He waited until the children each picked up their supplementary weapons and then spoke. You probably know, but supplementary weapons have two main roles. First, a substitute when the main weapon malfunctions. Second, an auxiliary weapon that adds functions not present in the main weapon. For example, lets take Gerald. He originally owned a basic form of spear made up of a de and a shaft. For him, a suitable supplementary weapon would maintain the shape of the spear but have additional functions such as cutting or pulling with a halberd. And considering individual physical conditions and temperaments, I made subtle adjustments. Noubelmag observed the children closely during the Day of Exhibition and was able to create custom weapons toplement their shorings. It was simr to the process of a skilled designer understanding the fabric, colors, and length suitable for a customer and making clothes. Despite looking simr to the clothes in the market, there was an overwhelming difference in performance. But instead of exining it in detail, Noubelmag hoped that the children would realize it themselves. Oh, our tastes and aesthetic sense are simr. . Moreover, the appearance they were dissatisfied with was just a prototype. The weapons they would wield on the battlefield would be different. No need for long words. Just take a look for now. Ill exin the detailed functionster. The children began to swing their supplementary weapons into the air without much expectation. Even Gerald looked at the halberd in front of him with suspicion. Is this a suitable supplementary weapon for me? It had an axe de, spearhead, and a small tassel at the end of the long shaft. Of course, he knew that the halberd had more diverse uses than a basic spear it could be swung to cut, thrust with the spearhead, or pull the enemy with the attached beak. But! The fact that it looked no different from what the household guards used, at least in appearance, didnt please the boy. Hmm. In appearance, it was almost embarrassing topare it with the Bryce familys crest, the Dragon Spear. Gerald held a spear in his left hand and a halberd in his right, testing them in various ways. And like a child receiving a new toy knife, he casually shed his left and right hands. ng! A small dent appeared on the spearhead of the Dragon Spear, colliding with the halberds de simultaneously. W-What!? Gerald looked at the result with a puzzled expression. To my dearest disciple Gerald. With love and support. On this proud inscription. To my dearest disciple . With love and support. An irreparable dent had urred. Coincidentally, it was on the part where the name was engraved. Gerald slumped down. N-No, no, no! On the other hand. Without going through such a foolish process, other children were gradually realizing the value of their supplementary weapons. Its different. The length of the handle. The thickness of the de. Overall weight distribution. Subtle details were different from the weapons they used to. But those small differences seemed to work entirely to their advantage. Like a long-tamed pet. It moved as if it were an extension of their hands. Especially formoners or those from humble noble families, the difference from their original weapons was clearly felt. The expressions of the children, who had been indifferent, became serious in no time. . However, in a corner of the training ground, where the enthusiasm was beginning to rise. One child stood without moving, just staring at his given supplementary weapon with an expression of iprehension. It was Luke. Whats this? He was the only one among the children who received something entirely different from his usual main weapon. Sputter- Noubelmag stood in front of the boy. Luke Selsood? Would you like me to take a closer look at that friend? Sure. Wait a moment. If its Selsood, then surely. Selsood. At the familiar surname, Noubelmag narrowed his eyebrows. The Hero nodded. Yes, hes Raviass sessor. I see. That makes sense. That giant who swung that huge thing, right? He even uses the same weapon as his father. Not only the weapon but also the martial arts are the same. What? Noubelmag fell silent. Hes crazy. Is he nning to pass on his madness directly to the sessor? Hes out of his mind. Noubelmag had been active as a frontline cksmith for many years. Of course, he had a face-to-face encounter with the mercenary king who roamed all over the battlefield, driven by the gleam of gold. They had a bad rtionship because Noubelmag never took any requests from him. The Hero nodded. Of course, Ravias is also an outstanding martial artist. Its difficult to reach that level starting as a mere mercenary. However He asserted. The limitations of his approach are clear. Thanks to that, Luke is unable to fully utilize that talent of his. Hmm it must not be pleasant from the leaders perspective. So, its better to fix it before its toote. Since the moment I first saw Luke, this was a nned action. Starting with the wed martial arts, influenced by the Mercenary King, to the weapons. To be a Hero in the future, improvements were necessary. First, lets change the weapon. Something like a halberd doesnt suit him. Are you saying to create a different type as a supplementary weapon? I was thinking of that already. Yeah, there should be a more suitable weapon, right? As Noubelmag nodded in agreement, the Hero smiled lightly. Maybe hell like it. Seriously? Hell suddenly like changing weapons? That was the end of the Heros advice. Noubelmag carefully examined Luke. Hmm, Raviass sessor. The boy looked quite bewildered. It seems there was a mistake. My main weapon is a halberd I know. Still, he said it would be good for you to practice with this supplementary weapon. Really? Professor? Lukes confused expression became a bit moreposed. Noubelmag nodded slowly. In my opinion, this might suit you better than that crude weapon. You think it might suit me better? Luke looked at the giant greatsword in front of him. It had a size and material more specialized for crushing than shing. A straightforward structure that might seem rough and clunky at first nce. After seeing a simr shape for the past few months, it felt very familiar. Squish- Luke slowly reached out and gripped the hilt of the greatsword. The same weapon as the Hero. It was a very strange feeling. * * * The craftsmans hand finely polished the kindling. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 As the sunset approached, such ament came to mind. It seemed that the reinforcements in Rosenstark were progressing smoothly. I should start preparing as well. I had spent quite some time exining various things to Larze, but now it seemed that the time hade. Although it was early summer and the days were long, we were in the forest. It would be dark in less than thirty minutes. I set down themunication bead and stood up slowly, leaning against a tree. Larze, who had been leaning against another tree, spoke as if throwing it at me. You there. What. Youre not receiving as much disdain as I thought. The reason Larze said that was probably because of Euphemia. Until just an hour ago, the Emperors continuousmunication had continued. Is there any problem on-site? You asked the same question twenty minutes ago. . You say you trust me, but you have a lot of worries. My nonchnt words seemed to leave Euphemia momentarily speechless. Her eyebrows trembled. If youre going to treat me like a naive fool who you can easily ignore, stop it. If you leave without properly exining how to capture the factory, it might make me quite angry. Unable to bear it any longer, feeling that she just might send additional reinforcements, I added a brief exnation of the situation. Dont worry too much. Theres apetent ally with me. Apetent ally? Larze suddenly thrust her face into themunication bead, and at that moment, the Emperors expression subtly changed. Greetings, Your Majesty. Huh. Since theres me by the side of the Hero, you dont have to worry. Even with the sudden appearance of the Grand Mage who had left for a mission, the Emperor maintained an almost expressionless face. I, who had been watching her for several months, was able to capture her emotions as they emerged in a moment. Anxiety. The emperor seemed to have noticed something from the fact that Imunicated with her without hesitation in front of Larze. Larze decided to help? There was a deal. Ill exinter. Communicate immediately after the operation is over. Euphemia looked at me intently, and then she ended hermunication with a short sigh. The emperors next few hours would probably be filled with worry and worry. Ill have to reassure her with a detailed exnation soon, but now is not the time. Because suppressing the factory was an urgent priority right now. I stood looking at the gray-white building in the distance. Actually, there was a bit of a problem with the n. Mr. Doppelganger. You look a little embarrassed? I wont deny it. Just 3 minutes ago. Suddenly, a huge dome-shaped barrier rose up and surrounded the factory. It was a type that was not identified during reconnaissance. Theposition is very detailed and powerful. The magic that was the main axis of the barrier was spread everywhere, so it was impossible to go and dispel each one. The problem was that they were not even trying to hide the sign of their ominous magic power and were just spewing it out. The intention was obvious. They are thinking of offering all the offerings at once and then leaving. The Demons seemed to have noticed that the situation was not going well. Larze continued calmly, as if he knew what I was thinking. As I said before, Ill only provide minimal assistance. Good. It was a valid judgment. Zero Requiems memories were given as a reward for progress. Receiving full firepower support from Larze would make the factory suppression much easier, but there would be no increase in progress. So, I only asked Larze for protection of hostages and intervention in situations where her life would be at risk. After hearing the exnation, she readily agreed. Whatever. Work hard and quickly secure Zeros memories. The magical power was tightly condensed, impervious even to significant attacks. I have to break it in one go. If those guys outside sensed the intrusion, suppressing them would be much more difficult. Therefore, the options were limited. I have to release Halo at maximum output to break the barrier and immediately enter Nova. Originally, the n was to conserve magical power to confront the necromancer and the undead army, but the situation left no choice. Satisfyingly protecting the demi-human hostages with Larze was the only thing that could be done. Here I go. Wooooooong- The moment I pushed half of the mana in my body into the ck Hope. Larze spoke with her usual leisurely tone. Youre here. You mentioned duplicating Teds abilities to some extent. So? You havent reached Third Form yet? What? I mean, if you had reached it, you wouldnt be hesitating in front of such a messy and sloppy barrier. Unable to argue with that, I had to withdraw my gaze from the direction of the factory. Larzes field of vision, tinged with the setting sun in the background, shimmered faintly. Mr. Doppelganger. Your growth undoubtedly affects the progress, as you said, right? Dark shadows slowly covered the ground. It was just before sunset. The Grand Mage did not wait for my response. A hand that was raised without any warning. A white staff soared into the sky as if piercing the spider-web-patterned heavens. Watch closely. Ill exin how the Third Form works. I couldnt say anything more. Wooooooong- With a fierce vibration, something moved. For a few seconds, I couldnt believe that it was mana. Wooooooong- The mana that had been flowing calmly in the atmosphere just moments ago scattered so intensely that it felt ferocious under Larzes control, it condensed and condensed again. The density of mana It was truly abnormal. The mana waves endlessly swirled around her, and soon, the immeasurable amount of mana condensed into a mere fist-sized lump. Larze whispered quietly. If First Form Halo is a strong mana eruption, and Second Form Nova is rapid transmission A dazzling sphere that had been lingering at the tip of the staff floated down, gently settling onto her hand. It looked like the sun reappearing behind the mountain range that had just disappeared. The principle of Third Form re is condensation. Overwhelming concentration. . If you get used to it and apply it, you can use other salvation forms more powerfully. After finishing speaking, Larze sighed, blowing wind from her hand. It was a light movement. The floating sphere, like a dandelion seed, stopped near the dome-shaped barrier and- . . . Kwaaaaang- It exploded. I instinctively covered my ears. The noise was so huge that it felt like all sounds were engulfed and annihted. With a tremendous mana wave, the barrier tore apart in an instant, crumpled, and melted away. Thud, thud, thud, thud- The shockwave vibrated through the forest. A cluster of white light pierced through the dark background, spreading in all directions. There you go. Larze, who remained as calm as if she had nothing to do with the chaos she created, turned to me. This is a stage for you. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 129 Chapter 129 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 There is no paradise where you can escape. He was well aware of this age-old saying. Even if there is no paradise, he didnt know that hell would be waiting him. The snow fox tribe member, Lev, reminisced about a few months ago. Im sorry! I have to fulfill my quota. I wont go back to that hellish ce again! He never thought that a fellow tribesman he met in a foreignnd would betray him. Two months had passed since they were brought and trapped in this hell. Lev realized that something unusual was happening. His tail, which was now only half remaining, trembled. Hurry, we need to escape. In the narrow prison where they were confined, there was a small window. Beyond it, the world was dyed in red. A barrier made of unpleasant and sticky energy, the sensitive senses unique to the demi-human race rang an rm. In the past two months, there was enough time to learn that prisoners were being killed one by one. At dawn, there were always sounds of dragging apanied by screams or pleas. The next day, the faces he encountered in the torture chamber would gradually disappear. And a few dayster, they would appear as half-dposed corpses. Yes, in the form of zombies or skeletons. When he discovered the fellow tribesman who had betrayed him among the corpse crowd. Lev resolved to escape from this ce no matter what. We are demi-humans We areplete outsiders here. No one will save us. We have to move on our own. Fearful, Lev stood up. Ilya, a snow rabbit tribe member who shared the same room, clung to him. Still in her youth, she was just past the age of adolescence, and even if she jumped, she only reached Levs waist. Le-Lev. Im scared. Shh, its okay. Ill find a way for us to escape from here. In their homnd, they were sworn enemies, a fox and a rabbit, but here, they had be like a family, relying on each other. Leaving the hell alone was not an option. Wait. Theres a way. Lev took out a bone hidden by the previous upant of the cell, unfortunately turned into a moving corpse. If I use this, it might work. Levs round eyes alternated between the bone and the rusty lock on the door. It was sufficient for picking the lock. Click- He silently approached the door, inserted the bone pick into the lock, and gently turned it. There had been no signs of patrolling guards for the past few minutes. Now was the time. Please, please. Stay calm. Dont tremble. You can do it. When the snow fox tribe faced a food shortage, they raided the food storage of neighboring tribes to fill their stomachs. Lev had participated in thefts with the adults several times. Desperately recalling those faint memories, he struggled with the lock. He didnt know when the guards would appear, and his heart felt like it was about to burst. Just a few more minutes. ck- The sound of the lock aligning and opening echoed. Lev let out a silent cheer. Ilya, quickly! Thunk- Ilya jumped up and fell to the ground. Sorry. My muscles havent healed yet. Its okay. If running is difficult, let me know. Ill carry you. Yeah! Lev held onto Ilyas trembling hand, and together they stepped out of the room. He didnt know where the exit was. But for now, they needed to get out of this building. Outside was a forest. There must be a ce to hide somewhere. Lets go! The rabbit and fox, relying on each other, started running forward. The red glow from the barrier outside stained their patchy fur as if soaked in blood. Just a little more! Lev didnt know. That there were magical artifacts on the ceiling watching them. It was right after passing through a corridor intersection. Hey, look at these guys. They managed to get out of their cell. A guard with a deeply pressed robe was waiting for them. The face that had tortured them in the torture chamber, hitting, tearing, and causing pain. Their bodies froze in learned fear. But when the guard lifted Ilyas ear, Lev instinctively rushed forward. Let go of Ilya! Thwack- But with one kick, he was thrown further than the distance they had covered running. The body, tormented by prolonged hunger and torture, had no strength left to fight. Ugh. Lev clutched his stomach listlessly on the ground. Soon, Ilya also received a p and fell, whimpering. Thud- The guard slowly walked towards them. Tch, the sticky spit he spat dribbled down Levs cheek. Good. We can take them to the ritual ce like this. Ritual? Someone, someone please help us Help me. Save me. Send me back to my hometown. Lev desperately struggled, but words didnte out. Who woulde to rescue them, bipeds, in this hellish ce? Lev swallowed his tears. I want to go back. Not to the air filled with the stench of blood and pus in this hell, but to the refreshing breeze of the snowy ins, even just once. At the moment when Levs hair was being lifted. Suddenly, Ilya whispered softly. Lev, White Night. White Night? How could a natural phenomenon seen only in the Great Snow Sea appear here? Lev raised his head at Ilyas sudden words. Huh? But it was true. The once red sky was now dyedpletely white. As if time had passed swiftly, it felt like it was noon. Am I hallucinating now? Lev stared nkly at the sky. At the end of his gaze. The sun that had disappeared behind the mountains earlier was visible again. What, what is this!? Even the guard stared outside, frozen. Wooooo- The sphere that was as bright as the sun expanded with a tremendous sound and exploded. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Kwaaaaaaaang- All the ss windows of the building shattered at once, and a gust of wind swept through the corridor. Lev felt the grip of the officers hand on his hair loosen. Ku, cough. Perhaps because the barrier was forcibly broken, blood flowed from his nose and mouth. Lev realized that this was an opportunity that wouldnte twice. A hot heat surged from deep within his body. Run! Lev grabbed Ilyas hand and dashed through the brightly colored corridor. Someone began to break through the main gate of the factory at that moment. * * * Wooooo- Even after the explosion, the mana thatposed the re slowly descended, cutting through the dark night sky like shooting stars. Perhaps because of the powerful waves of magic, most of the security artifacts and enchantments in the factory were either disabled or weakened. Thanks to that, the Hero could pass through the main gate without any hindrance. However, just as he set foot inside the premises. It seemed that the other side was ready to wee the intruders. Grrrrrrr- When an iprehensible noise echoed, the Hero stopped walking. It was an entrance with buildings lined up. There was something to do before the battle. Wooooo- As magic shot out and wrapped around the factory site, the Hero felt a strange tension. It was much more than expected. It felt like I had opened a shovel and looked into the entrance of an ant cave. The swarming figures were gathered together in a disgusting manner and were approaching him at high speed. In one minute, he will meet them. . However, what was more worrying than the battle that was about to break out was the ominous demonic energy flowing from all over the site. [It seems like the ritual has started.] Ritual has started? Wasnt the protection of the hostages our condition for the deal? [Yes, no one has been sacrificed yet, and no one has died. The promise is being faithfully kept.] Larzes voice came from a palm-sized cloth doll attached to the Heros waist. Larze had made a doll that represented her, with an exaggerated head and a shrunken body, quite cute but [You know, rescue is your job. Raise the progress.] The words she spat out were merciless. The Hero turned his gaze back to the front. Grrrrrrr- The undead hordes noise was getting closer. Now, the collision was in 40 seconds. At that moment, he could identify the gathering ce of the demonic energy. There were three of them. Is this where the ritual is taking ce? The presence of necromancers and hostages was detected in the vicinity. Indeed, there is more than one necromancer. Then, where is themander? The Hero anxiously expanded the range of his mana perception. The man with the skull mask that he encountered during reconnaissance. That ominous and creepy presence could not be felt anywhere on the factory premises. However, it was unlikely that the person in charge had left during the ritual. Is he hiding? It was a somewhat awkward situation. If he used a camouge spell to hide, it would be difficult to find through detection, and he had no choice but to go around and confirm with the insight of the Iris of Lace one by one. The doll began to murmur words that the Hero couldnt understand. [Hmm, a spell using trust structures, quite well-woven for something created by those pests.] What? [The three on the surface arent the main ones. Just conditions. Is the real ritual location underground? With sacrifice and summoning You have to hurry, Mr. Doppelganger.] Tell me in a way so I can understand. Swish- The doll shook ufortably with a displeased expression. [So, if you want to live, stop the ritual on the surface quickly and go to exterminate the summoner underground.] Themander seems to be hiding underground. He needed to find the entrance. 20 seconds until the sh. The Hero took a deep breath and organised the information he had collected so far. Three rituals were taking ce on the surface. It was assumed that the main consciousness serving as the core was progressing underground. Perhaps the summoner was that officer. So, as quickly as possible, he had to break through the undead horde, stop the three rituals on the surface, and then go underground. Got it. Since he had sensed it through reconnaissance, he already knew the overallyout of the factory premises. The Hero marked a few points on the mental map. Now, 10 seconds. In the distance, several unpleasant shadows began to move. Thud thud thud thud- In fact, even before that, loud footsteps had reached the Heros ears. [Theyre here.] At the same time as Larzes words ended, the field was filled with moving corpses. The undead horde, stackedyer uponyer like a giant wave, rushed forward. It was a uniform movement, resembling a single organism rather than individual creatures. Swish- A massive swarm of undead, with a mixture of not yet rotten, half-rotten, andpletely rotten bodies in the right proportions. Grrrrrrr- The sh was in 20 seconds. In an instant, all the ns and thoughts in his head became empty. The Hero, with a sinking feeling, looked at the approaching corpses with ash colored eyes. How many are there? No. He corrected his question. How many have died here? Swish- The Hero slowly raised the ck Hope, and Paaaat- As the light of the halo swept away dozens at the forefront, the battle began. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 130 Chapter 130 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Grrr-! Originally, it was difficult to deal with the undead using des. It wasmon sense for martial artists. However, the ck Hope was an exception. sh! With one horizontal swing, the upper bodies of six undead were crushed. The Hero swung the massive sword like a hammer, and any undead that even grazed it were shattered and torn apart. Every time the sword swung, at least three undead fell to the ground. Grrr-! But the Heros expression gradually hardened. They are surrounding me. Undead whose heads werent shattered rose again, groaning. Click- Click- Skeletons picking up bones and reassembling them with their own hands. After pushing away the attacking undead with a powerful swing of his sword, the Hero assessed the situation. This ce was one of the locations where the ritual was taking ce, closest to the starting point. His gaze focused on the center of the open space. There was a structure made of solid stone. Its an altar. The sacrifices Dozens of torches surrounded the altar, creating an eerie scene where shadows and light blended. Several tied-up demi-humana with regal appearances came into view one after another. Tied to the stakes They moaned in shallow agony, overwhelmed by heat and fear. But soon, their cries were drowned out by the undeads roars without a trace. Grrr-! The Hero took a deep breath. Up to this point, it had been easy to reach here by navigating the alleys where the undead couldnt easily follow. However, now it was an open space. He had to break through head-on. Heresy, heresy! A hysterical voice split the air, and it was at that moment. You are not worthy to step here! It seemed to be a necromancer overseeing the ritual. He was wildly waving a thin arm in front of the altar, chanting something. Perhaps under the influence of something, his gaze was hazy. Kill him! ng- The paper attached to the necromancers staff made a sound as it shook. The undead in the open space turned their bodies towards the Hero in unison. The Hero realized that he had to make a decision soon. Ive been surrounded. Now was the moment to decide, the first ritual site. The legion of moaning corpses. If they fought over time, he could handle them without injury, but now was not the time for such leisure. Larze whispered. [How will you handle this? nning to sweep them all away with the halo? Then you might run out of mana. If you go for a melee] What to do. The answer had already been decided. Meanwhile. Seeing the frozen Hero, the necromancer, judging him as paralyzed with fear, exploded intoughter. Still unaware of his identity, he made such a misconception. Foolish. How can an individual like you handle the legion of the undead! The necromancer and his undead. Theirpatibility was indeed the worst. It was useless to crush his limbs. As long as the head wasnt destroyed, they wouldnt stop moving. Monsters with wounds that wouldnt make a person hesitate to copse and scream. But The Hero, who held the ck Hope, exerted more strength in his hand. Its the same on this side. Kwaang- The Hero flew. He headed straight for the altar, the shortest route. It was also the ce where the most corpses were densely packed. Huh, suicide? A fitting word for a heretic. The necromancer, seeing the Hero being swept away by the wave of undead, was confident of victory and turned his head. It was right after he realized that he had made a hasty judgment. Phoo-! Blood spurted out simultaneously. But the Hero paid no attention to the spurting blood; he ran towards the necromancer. Avoiding only fatal attacks. He dealt arrows and shes without hesitation, as if his heart were made of iron. In an instant, his entire body was covered in blood. [Oh] Larze sighed quietly. In the time avable for evasion, he added another attack, crushing the undead. He was a doppleganger who could restore his body with polymorph. It was an efficient method if he endured the pain. If he endured the pain. What, what!? Beyond the horde of undead, the necromancers confusion was clearly felt. It was understandable. This wasnt a way humans fought. On the contrary, it was simr to what he had often seen. An area without pain or fear. So, the distance to the altar shortened in an instant. Explosion, Copse Explosion! As the Hero approached, the necromancer resorted to hisst resort. Corpse explosion. Implementing powerful magic at the cost of sacrificing troops. Kwaaaaah! The corpses around the Hero simultaneously expanded and then exploded. Bone fragments and flesh shot in all directions with the force of processing meat. The fragments had a destructive power different from the attacks the Hero had endured so far. If hit directly, even with all his skills, he couldnt avoid a fatal injury. But, it was fine. He had already reached outside that range. Twitch- From the beginning, the Hero had been saving his mana, anticipating the corpse explosion. As soon as the necromancers mana fluctuated, he activated Nova. Now! At the moment when the undead were stiffening in anticipation of the explosion. He closed the remaining distance in one go. [Ho] Larze, impressed by the proficiency that seemed to have experienced multiple battles with the necromancer, sighed again. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 What, what is this! Who are you!? The Hero, enveloped in a blue glow, reappeared right behind the astonished necromancer. Thump- The head of a man fell under the altar, leaving a moist trail. Simultaneously, the undead on the open ground copsed to the floor like severed dolls. The Hero stood upright, resisting the pain, and took a deep breath. . . . In a short time, he dealt with the necromancer and his legion. But there was no time to feel a sense of aplishment. sh- The Hero smashed all the unholy items on the altar and then proceeded to demolish the altar itself. As the demonic energy that filled the surroundings gradually dispersed. He freed the demi-humans trembling with fear and hatred, who had been tied to the stakes. The subsequent process was a repetition of a simr pattern. The Hero headed to the remaining two ritual locations. The necromancersmanded the legion of undead, desperately resisting. Not only necromancers but also some cultists of the Demonic Church were present. The ck Hope relentlessly swung towards them. Although it sometimes cut through soft flesh and vivid screams instead of bones or rotten goo. To him, there was no significant difference. Hu And at some point. The Hero stopped. Silence surrounded him. The only noisy thing was the buzzing of the swarm of flies attached to the corpses that no longer moved. No, there was something simr buzzing a bit. [Arent you not able to feel pain?] Pulling an arrow from his side, the Hero responded to the absurd question. Of course not. Just as he finished his sentence, the hole in his side disappeared. [Then, no sense of smell either?] Instead of answering, he smeared the rotten blood flowing down his robe on a doll. [!] Did you get an answer? The doll shook with dissatisfaction once, then spoke again with an excited voice. Presumably, observing this fight had sparked curiosity in him. [Have you always fought like this?] [What were you doing before bing the Hero? Tell me.] Various things. The Hero answered vaguely, meticulously removing arrows and broken de pieces embedded in his body. And then, he asked the question that had been on his mind. Are all the demi-humans captured on the surface unharmed? [Yes. All 57 are safe.] Quite a few. [I can also tell you how many undead there were in total.] Ill pass. He took a deep breath, and his body, pierced and scratched everywhere, mostly healed. Now it was time to search for the entrance to the underground. Before taking a step, he looked at the gathered demi-humans trembling with fear. They were the ones he had rescued from the third altar. Even though he had saved them, they didnt let their guard down around the Hero. Gathering together, they stared at him with eyes filled with distrust, hatred, and fear. Ah. The Hero felt a sense of dj vu in their expressions. A moment when he chased the light of human society but encountered shadows and felt disillusioned by the vile and dreadful malice towards the weak. Therefore, he knew that he couldnt do anything more for them now. Quietly leaving was the best option. It was the moment when the Hero turned without saying a word. Wait a moment. A dirty furball rolled down to his feet. The Hero looked at it with curiosity. Something too small and skinny. [Oh, a snow fox tribe?] Snow fox tribe? It took a few more seconds to recognize it because its unique white fur was covered with sticky dirt and dried blood. Lev, Lev! Dont go! Come back! The demi-humans reached out their hands as if to prevent him, but as soon as the Heros gaze reached them, they quickly retreated back into the shadows. The Hero shifted his gaze to the boy with the arrow embedded in his side. Snow fox tribe. They were known to be timid, cautious, and extremely guarded. In a situation like this, he wouldnt expect them to approach first. In the Heros eyes, Levs tearful eyes, sparkling in the moonlight, were visible. Soon, a sorrowful cry followed. Waaaah, help, please save Ilya. The Hero knelt down, aligning himself with Levs eye level. Tell me slowly and in more detail. Who is Ilya? I- Ilya is a snow rabbit tribe girl. They took her away. S-shes young! Young. The word echoed in the Heros ears. The contents of the interrogation in the Harlem Organizations hideout shed through his mind simultaneously. He felt that there was something waiting in the hidden underground, not just the executives of the Demonic Church. Although he had confirmed their existence through interrogation. Something that wasnt visible on the factory grounds on the surface. Where did they take Ilya? Lev didnt stumble in his response as much as he did before. I know. I heard it all. The snow piled up in the snowy field swallowed the sounds of prey. Therefore, the foxs hearing naturally had to develop. Even in a situation where vision and smell were blocked, it never missed its target. Lev pointed with his fingers, scarred and wounded. Over there. I heard Ilyas voice suddenly stop on the first floor. The Hero turned his head slowly. The ominous shadow of the pale white building stretched long. It was the central prison on the premises. Thud- Arge palm touched Levs trembling shoulder once before moving away. Lev stared nkly at the retreating figure of the man. At close range, he could see part of the strangers face hidden under the robe. The clenched jaw and distorted lips. Why is he getting angry? They are just demi-humans. While Lev was pondering such questions, Thump- The Hero entered the building. Later, through the Iris of Lace, he found the entrance to the basement covered with an illusion spell. Dispel. When the illusion spell was nullified, he could detect it clearly. The presence of a member of the Demonic Church who was more powerful than all the previous necromancersbined. Likewise, a monster that exudes more powerful demonic energy than all the undead he defeated todaybined. And the faint presence of young lives, as if about to be extinguished. He felt everything. Larzes doll shook. [Hmm, it seems a quite useful fellow has been summoned despite you ruining their n.] Nothing would change. Defeat them all and rescue the hostages. The Hero pulled open the basement door with determination. A cold air filled with a foul odor prated his nose. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 131 Chapter 131 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 It wasnt just Luke who received a different secondary weapon from Noubelmag, but Why suddenly a bow? Im a swordsman. Because you have that sword. Noubelmag pointed to the sword hanging from Leciels waist. Shape Shifter. A famous sword that has cut down countless enemies in the hands of the Hiyashins throughout history. It possesses a rare ability to transform into any desired form without revealing its de to its owner. Even in the manufacturing process, the Holy power was infused by adding a Blessing Stone. Noubelmag nced at ShapeShifter without blinking. Its still the same. A sharp, straight-edged sword. The finely engraved magical symbols and patterns along its length were still as beautiful as a work of art. The solidity and powerful force were felt just like in the memories. Shape Shifter was a masterpiece created by Ahir over five years, she was the elven cksmith, teacher and mother of Noubelmag. Even he, at the time an apprentice, had contributed to its creation. Leciel interpreted Noubelmags gaze differently and discreetly hid the sword behind her. Only then did she take a few steps back, feigning a cough. Anyway, a secondary weapon in the form of a sword was meaningless to Leciel, who already possessed one of the most renowned swords on the continent. Besides, Shape Shifter had the ability to nullify both meanings of secondary weapons from the beginning. Noubelmag recalled the Heros request once again. Focusing on one thing is good, but Leciel relies too much on swords. So, I thought of using this opportunity to make her practice with a bow. A great martial artist should be proficient in long-range weapons as well. It was a valid point. He had witnessed swordsmen proficient only in swords standing idly in open fields, sucking their fingers while watching approaching enemies multiple times. Thus, a practice bow was created for Leciel. Leciels lips puffed up slightly. I will defeat the Hero with a sword! How ironic to her aspirations to wield a bow. Moreover, didnt even her grandmother dislike Leciel showing interest in other weapons? Of course- The Leader has been practicing archery for about an hour every day. Although she quickly epted that fact. A new practice bow. Leciel had headed to the indoor archery practice area in the middle of the night for this reason. At the entrance, she was discovered trembling by Karen and Evergreen, two archers who were usually dedicated to their practice. Target acquired. One rule. Men like pretty women. But in fact, women also like pretty women. Second rule. Those who have excelled in a certain field willingly offer advice to beginners. A beginner and a pretty woman. Leciel, representing the intersection of these two, attracted the passionate gazes of Evergreen and Karen. Unlike the hesitating Evergreen, Karen, with her straightforward personality, rushed forward. Her quick steps made her ck-dyed hair beneath her ears shake vibrantly. Hello, Leciel. Hello. How about the new bow? Its different from a sword, isnt it? Thats right. If its okay, want to practice together? A conversation consisting only of clear matters. Karen naturally became Leciels daily coach. When Karen demonstrated her archery skills, Evergreen also approached and helped with various things, and the three could practice archery together for a couple of hours. Watch closely, Leciel. Swish! -Thud! Karens arrow pierced the target, cutting through the air. Leciel, and even Evergreen, marveled quietly at the seemingly ordinary scene. It was because the arrow smoothly curved to hit the target, avoiding obstacles. Hows that?! In Lindel, this is considered basic. She said it was a skill honed for hunting andbat in a hometown full of dense trees. It seems useful even in actualbat. Leciel diligently took notes on the techniques Karen taught her. Meanwhile, if Karens impressive archery skills ignited Leciels enthusiasm for learning, Evergreen modified Leciels basic skills. Hmm, spread your feet a bit wider and loosen your wrist a bit. Thats right. Pull your shoulders back a bit. Dont hold your breath too tightly! No matter how brilliant a swordsman she was, she couldnt be proficient in a bow she was using for the first time in his life. Leciel learned with sweat pouring down. It was then that Karen unstringed her bow and prepared to leave the practice range. Hey, guys, goodbye. It was fun today. I have to go now. Why? Leciel, who was enjoying archery, immediately asked. Karens eyes slightly narrowed. shes cuter than I thought. I have a date. More adorable reactions followed that statement. This time, Evergreen was also there. Instead of the sound of arrows tearing through the air, the enthusiastic voices of the children began to fill the practice area. A, a date? At thiste hour? Does Karen have a boyfriend? Ah, its not even the First Era, and who has a boyfriend to go on a date with at this hour? Then? Gerald? No way! What an unexpectedly unpleasant remark. Karen hurriedly exined. I agreed to take a walk with a senior. Senior? How do you know that person? Isnt he a bad guy? In ss. I dont know if hes a bad person yet. Ill find out gradually. Youre going on a date without knowing him well? Hes handsome. Well, Leciel nodded in agreement. A beautiful face is usible. As Karen happily gathered her training tools. Hey, guys, training is good, but we should enjoy what we can at our age. The reddish-brown eyes full of charm turned towards the two girls in turn. You too, try getting along with Luke soon. You should also get along with Luke quickly. I-Its not like that. No, its not. Karen smoothly brushed off the words. Leciel, you ah, never mind. ? Well, if it were me, I would havemanded Rosenstark. Im not interested in that. Hmm, are you sure? Karen, as if knowing something, made a subtle expression. Leciel responded calmly. You seem quite cheeky right now. Such rude words. Thump- Karen, who hadposed herself, soon disappeared with lively steps. It seemed like she was eagerly anticipating the date. The training resumed that way. After Karen, who had upied about 80% of the conversation share, left, the practice room naturally fell into silence. Instead of the sound of voices, the noise of arrows being drawn, the swish of pulling the bowstring, and the sound of arrows hitting the target regained dominance. Surprisingly, Leciel didnt find the silence ufortable. Whizz- She drew the bowstring and subtly nced to the side. Evergreens emerald green eyes, shining like jade, were seriously fixed on the target. In the past two hours, Ivee to realize how kind and gentle Evergreen is. And it was enough time to understand how she treats people without calction. No, actually, watching her over the past half-semester, I gradually realized. So, regret for the past Ping-! Ah. Is this the price for being a beginner who judges at a nce? Leciel looked at her swelling index finger. Leciel! Evergreen, who quickly approached, looked at Leciel with worried eyes. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 In her hands were bandages and ointment. Are you okay? Does it hurt? What should I do. Right, this. This kindness and neatness. The feeling unique to someone who grew up receiving love. I envied it. Leciel, feeling such emotions, was not surprisingly surprised by herself. Who wouldnt like this child? While silently observing Evergreen carefully wrapping her hand with bandages, Leciel, who had been circling the words in her mind since earlier, finally spoke. Im sorry before. Huh? What for? During the orientation. I behaved rudely for no reason. What is she talking about now? Evergreen tilted her head for a moment but soon seeded in extracting a faint memory. Oh, hello! Im Evergreen. Evergreen Solintail. Well, you probably wont remember even if I say Haha. Ahaha, youre Leciel, right? The granddaughter of Swordmaster!! Ive heard a lot about your story. Its really amazing. Could you not talk to me? Yes! Leciel was expressionless, but her ears turned very red. So much that it couldnt be distinguished from her hair. Evergreen, smiling faintly, tied the knot of the bandage. Hey, I just barged in without thinking, sorry. Leciel stood up again and picked up the bow. Evergreen also stood in front of the target with a smiling face. The girls practiced archery together like that. Leciel, Ill go first! Take it easy! See you at the dorm! Goodbye Be careful. Yeah! You too! Even after Evergreen left, iming that she needed to prepare for the Pinnacle Lecture, Leciel remained alone in the indoor practice room for over an hour. Getting proficient in archery. It may be the task the Hero gave her. To not disappoint, to do her best to meet expectations. Lets shoot a hundred arrows and go in. Leciel made up her mind like that. Swish! -Thud. As the target became densely packed with arrows, Leciels finger protection, given by Evergreen, started to tear apart. Leciel suddenly lowered her bow. It was because of the presence. In fact, there were many people who approached her when she was alone. Students with trembling hands handing her love letters, or boys confessing their love recklessly. However, this time was a bit different. Leciel turned around and spoke to the uninvited guest. Evergreen just left. I came to see you. Entrance of the indoor practice room. Luke, looking a bit more troubled than usual, stood there. * * * The undergroundmon area covered with stench and dust. Knock- knock- Droplets of moisture formed were dripping regrly from the ceiling. A man nervously wiped away the water that fell on his neck. What kind of nonsense is this. It was on the central altar. A white skull mask that shone vividly even in the darkness. A robe much more extravagant than those of other necromancers. The symbol of the Demonic Church was engraved on the wrinkled back of his hand like a seal. The man in charge of the Azure Branch was currently facing a very strange phenomenon. Why? Whoong- A hand that cut through the air. The sacrificial dagger, used for rituals, precisely struck towards the heart of the bound sacrifice. It was something he had done countless times in the past few months. There should be no margin for error. Kichikikik- However, the de of the dagger, just one inch above their bodies, automatically brushed aside and went off to the side. The man let out a deep sigh and lowered the ritual dagger. For someone who had just discovered that all his subordinates on the surface had been ughtered, he had a surprisingly calm attitude. This is truly an absurd matter. Pl-please spare me. Quiet. His index finger pressed down on the lips of the sacrifice. That wicked thing is blocking your salvation. However, dont worry too much. Beyond the skull mask, a glowing light was directed towards the surface. Whether he had grasped the location of this ce or not, he was approaching in a straight line. A demon who had ruined the sacred rituals on the surface. He had plundered offerings dedicated to the demons, trampled on holy relics with his filthy feet. The one whomitted unforgivable sins. Pain will only purify us further, so as a shepherd, I will somehow return you to where you belong. The mans hand wiped away the trembling face of the sacrifice. So, dont worry. First, he had to deal with that demon. If he left it like this, all the offerings he had umted so far would be taken away. The Church would be angry if the n went awry, and the high priest would be perplexed. Those who strive for the purification of the world, the holy people, should not experience such failures. The man made a decision. He would sacrifice himself to make that demon kneel. Buchak- Without hesitation, he left the offerings behind and headed for the innermost room of themon area. It was where the umted offerings were stored. TsuTsuTsuTsuTsu- The magic circle engraved under the altar, as if alive, wriggled and emitted a sinister red light, chasing after him like a shadow. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 132 Chapter 132 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 [Theres something Im curious about.] Larze suddenly asked. We were descending a dark and damp staircase. I walked silently without bothering to answer. Since the questions would continue regardless of my permission. [Come to think of it, its strange. Youre not human, right? From a human perspective, arent you just a monster?] Yeah. [Having the heart of a human but not being human. A monster that must live by taking away and imitating the appearance of others.] Larzes voice continued calmly. [Your life must have been so unhappy. Why are you so devoted to humans?] In truth, this was a question I had received before. [Huh? Why do you love humans so much?] Why are you so passionate about humans? I shook my head, dismissing the ovepping voices. Now the end of the stairs was gradually visible. Soon, the floor. There was no time to get lost in contemtion. I reached the underground, lifted my head, and faced the scene before me. The doll fluttered up once again. [This is just what it means being a human, isnt it?] What should I call this ce? A breeding ground, a hatching ground, a reproduction ground? It seemed like there should be a more dreadful word. A spacious undergroundmon area, shabby cages lined up in a row. Squelch- I took a step through them. Whooosh- A swarm of flies buzzed annoyingly in response to my movement. They were the ones that clung to the decaying food in the feeding bowls. Plump flies hovered a bit in the air before settling on the tiny demi-humans that had copsed beneath them. The corpses were arranged as if with some intention. Bones protruding under the skin, the smell of excrement, gruesome wounds, and sagging bodies. They all looked like children, not even reaching the age of ten, and some were well past thirty. Demi-human beings with a childhood much shorter than that of humans. Perhaps their actual age was much younger. Empty eyes gazed pitifully at those lives that had fallen apart, unable to shed tears. I asked Larze. Werent protecting the hostages part of the deal? [Hmm, Doppelganger. Did sympathy and anger blind your eyes too?] Larze imed that the promise had been properly fulfilled with a nonchnt voice. [Look closely. They were already dead before we arrived. I protected all the offerings who were still breathing. Theyre over there.] In the thick shadows of the iron bars, I could see some of the demi-human children crouchingte. I felt the hand that was squeezing my heart loosen a bit. I looked at them closely. The doll shook again from side to side. [There might be something you need to check before them] It was just as Larze said. It was supposed to be waiting for me here, but there was something I couldnt see. I stopped and turned my head, staring at the opposite side of the chamber. There was a secluded room. And inside it. I could distinctly feel the presence of a necromancer and a demon. Are they trying to avoid a battle? Wooooong- A defensive barrier surrounded the door. It looked simr to what Larze had broken just before entering the factory. However, the magic constituting it was much denser and stronger, given the narrower range it defended. Why arent theying out? [Wizards by nature burrow into theirirs when they sense danger.] The necromancer sensed danger? [Its only natural.] The existence of me, who single-handedly annihted the troops on the ground, and Larze, who neutralized the ritual at once. She exined that it was natural for a magician in their right mind to try to sit in their own territory where various techniques were prepared, rather thane out and fight. [Hmm, not just a siege perhaps assimtion? Fusion? Well, the followers of the Demonic Church are consistently insane as well.] Ignoring Larze mumbling iprehensible words, I approached the surviving demi-human children. As I got closer, their trembling intensified with each step. There were those desperately pretending to be corpses and others who defiantly stared at me with rebellious eyes. Larze spoke with a somewhat fatigued voice. [Did you confirm that they are all alive? Then Ill lift the defensive magic.] Why dont you just leave it? [Remote casting defensive magic on dozens of people through a medium is not easy, and my mana is exhausted.] When you recover, cast it again. [Youre using harsh human-like expressions too, huh?] So, in front of the iron bars, they approached. I drew out the ck Hope. Lie down. ng- I cut the iron bars that confined them in one go. As I looked at their faces, which looked at me with expressions of disbelief, I uttered the name I had heard from Lev earlier. Here you go. No one moved. Lev is looking for you. Even though I said that, it was the same. One, I could soon find her. Kelloc, Kelloc. A tuft of dirty fur rolled around on his tongue, letting out a shallow cough. Thin breath, cloudy eyes. I knelt down and made eye contact with the messed-up harefolk girl. Her bright red pupils couldnt look directly at me and wandered in the air. Her body trembled relentlessly. Um, excuse me. Its, its cold Its too cold. Hug me. Please hug me. Harefolk are inherently less cautious and love humans very much. I reached out and embraced Iriya. And I whispered to her ears, which were more than half cut off. Iriya. Lev is waiting. At those words, Iriya seemed to regain a bit ofposure. The trembling subsided. Le-Lev. Is Lev safe? Of course. He should be in a safe ce by now. Thats a relief. Inappropriate emotions surfaced in the current situation, so I suppressed them and put my hand into my embrace. Connecting to the Key of Valber. [Ho ho, key of Valber? Long time no see.] I poured out the potions that I had prepared in the extradimensional space. They were types that promoted wound healing and boosted energy. I gave them to all the demi-human children, including Iriya. And with a firm tone, I dered. Get out of here. Go far away without looking back. Although hesitant and stumbling, the children hurriedly left. It didnt take long for them to disappear from sight. Sigh Calmness is needed in battle. I took deep breaths, inhaling all sorts of foul smells that prated my nostrils to the point of pain, but I had to continue. Suddenly, Larze seemed somewhat pleased for some reason. [There it is.] What? [Its natural to have such doubts at least once.] . [Indeed, is a human a being worthy of protection?] As soon as those words ended, a loud explosion echoed. Kwaangg-! The barrier surrounding one of the rooms dissipated, and dozens of tentacles rushed towards us. Each tentacle was thicker and sturdier than a beautiful Andr tree. An offensive move rather than a defensive stance? Squish- The iron doors and bars that blocked the path were torn apart like paper, flying in all directions. The sight of it being imprinted vividly in my retina. The speed and strength of those tentacles were beyond imagination, a fact etched into my mind. Swish-! It was a sudden attack, but my body responded promptly. I swung my sword vertically to cut down the leading tentacle trying to wrap around my waist. Hooong-! Meanwhile, another tentacle coiled around the surroundings lunged towards me from above, trying to impale me. Since I was still recovering my sword, I had no choice but to roll to the side. Kwah-! Due to the consecutive falling tentacles, there was no opportunity to correct my posture amidst the dust cloud. Waves of dust and debris obscured my vision. Six tentacles were wriggling like snakes, approaching me. As there was no way to avoid the attack that was unfolding, Nova was reluctantly activated, pushing me backward against one side of the chamber. Even though the tentacles were fast, they couldnt match the speed of Nova. With a noticeable widening gap between us, I regained theposure to assess the situation properly. The number of tentacles Dozens of tentacles with red patterns were swaying in the air, released from the chamber. Under the fiery light emitted by Nova, the shadows of the tentacles swayed like seaweed. And right in the center. Yo-ou-ou-ou. Foouullll beeeeinggggg. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 A man with only the upper half of his body and the rest buried under an endless sea of tentacles. If it werent for the skeletal appearance, I might not have recognized him. Beyond the broken half of the skeletal shell, a distorted face dominated by ck veins was visible. Larzes cheerful voice, which was out of ce in the current situation, prated my ears. [Swallowing the demonic energy obtained by sacrificing the offerings and then merging with the summoned demon. Somehow, they always exceed imagination.] [Indeed, the demonic energy born from newly born lives seems to be purer. Their smell is even more pungent than regr demons, dont you think?] Even without Larzes exnation, it felt dangerous just by the touch of his skin. It was clear that the demonic energy emanating from him was much more powerful than the Malekia tribe encountered in Lonkers. The problem was that with each passing second, his momentum was bing overwhelmingly powerful. Larze warned. [It will be dangerous for you once the digestion isplete.] But charging in recklessly would be foolish. For now, lets find a way to attack and evade. I took a defensive stance with my sword raised at an angle to make it easier to escape. There was a part of me that believed. No matter how powerful that guy bes, I will never die. Larze, who needs to share Zeros memories, wont let that happen. Above all, I felt at ease because the sacrifices had already been secured. Lets endure while recovering mana and find an opportunity to finish him off with Halo. At that moment, however, I felt something strange. The tentacles that were about to charge at me didnt move from their positions. Their cloudy eyes were clearly focused on the ceiling. Ajeeek, Yaaandeega, Mookjas, Pooomuul, Bureoseeonaajii Anaatguuun, Wake up, Wake up!. The pronunciation, clearer than before, made it understandable. A flock and a shepherd. I threw away all my previous resolutions and rushed straight towards him. How dare you! Do not interfere! Kugugugugu- Some of the tentacles formed a sturdy barrier in front of me. Skk-! Without slowing down, I ran towards him while shing vertically to cut through. One by one, I kept shing relentlessly, not stopping even when one shoulder came off. The tentacles continuously regenerated, blocking my path. However, I couldnt afford to let my guard down. I continued to move without giving him a chance. In the meantime, he pulled the remaining tentacles close to his body. It seemed like he was preparing for a powerful strike. Wuuuu- As the tentacles contracted, the crimson magic covered the entire area. Faster! And finally. Just as I overcame all the tentacles blocking my way and reached the entitys core. Kwaaaang-! In the nick of time, the tentacles struck the ceiling of the chamber. At an unimaginably fast speed, massive tentacles with tremendous mass wereunched. The hastily constructed underground space couldnt withstand it. Kuguguguguqu-! With an ominous vibration, dust and debris rained down. Before I could even look up, the copse had begun. -! Rocks of various sizes poured down like rain. The shapes were so massive that one could crush a person without leaving a trace. Huuuuung-! I swiftly swung my sword. [You reckless fool!] Larze unusually raised her voice. My sword wasnt aimed at the falling rocks but at the creature crawling between the copsing ceiling. As if a spider, it crawled through the copsing ceiling. I had to somehow prevent it from reaching the surface. Kwaaaaah-! Just above my forehead, boulders narrowly slid aside. It was Larzes protective magic. She scolded me with a tone of annoyance. [Youre quite clever.] However, there was no time to respond to her dissatisfaction. The rocks kept pouring incessantly. Larze only blocked them, neither breaking nor clearing them away. If this continues! Dealing with the copsing terrain was proving to be a futile effort. The arm swinging the sword grew increasingly sluggish. Despite receiving wounds from my attacks, the creature managed to exploit the opportunity and vanished from sight. And soon after, heavy rocks and soft soil poured down uncontrobly. In just a few more seconds, everything would be obscured from view. I stood silently in the dark center of the chamber. . . . Larze, with a tone suggesting she thought I had given up, scolded me. [Quite clever, Doppleganger. You fought very efficiently.] Perhaps even she didnt have enough remaining mana to teleport me remotely at the moment. Having depleted my mana significantly, I had to block those colossal falling rocks myself. [You said youd continue Teds legacy to save humanity. But to be held back by such lower beings like them.] [If you fight like this without any standards, I will have to worry about when you will die rather than getting Zeros memories.] Saving humanity. I looked at the ceiling before its final copse, and its structure was engraved in my eyes. In doing so, I realized one definite fact. To escape from here, the physical strength of the Hero alone wouldnt be enough. Suppressing my boiling breath and mana, I spoke. You asked me earlier. [What?] Why do I love humans so much, especially when I am a monster? Why am I trying to protect them? [Is that important now?] Im not unaware that humans can be evil. Like the demi-humans on the surface. I too saw the shadows of humans clearly. Evil deeds and all sorts of wickedness. Yet, there was light. Yes. There was light in any pit. Wise, kind, strong humans whoughed, shouted, fought, loved, and lived fiercely. I learned about humans through them. I learned from them, enduring in any pit, that there was warmth and radiance. I had expectations. To protect that light, and if I pursued it, wouldnt that warmth and brilliance eventually pour down on me as well? That expectation made me chase Ted Redymers back. Larze. They are not all just lower beings like those Demonic Church bastards. [] The target I wanted to protect. The true target I and the Hero wanted to protect wasnt only humans. Human. Every existence that shone brightly during its finite life was human to us. And those humans, now in the cold and dark shadows, were waiting for me. But how could I step back? Larze fell silent. Or rather, she made a somewhat pleasing remark. [You resemble him.] Preparations wereplete. I closed my eyes while taking a deep breath. Concentrate. I had already thought about what to do. The path I had walked. Under that path, there was an answer. I stopped replicating the essence of the Hero and, in the midst of my innermost thoughts. I grasped the essence, emitting a cold presence. Replicating Cuculli Evans. Thus, I replicated Cuculli up to the limits of polymorphs capacity. Jweeeeeong- A massive ice pir erupted from the ground, supporting the copsing ceiling just before it copsed. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 133 Chapter 133 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 A factory site enveloped inplete darkness. On the uneasy path in front of the prison entrance, Levs ears perked up as he anxiously paced around. Tap, tap. Familiar footsteps echoed. Over here! Lev! Relieved, Lev supported the limping Iriya with a face that seemed on the verge of tears. Seeing her, who had been taken separately because she was young, Lev had worried about all sorts of things. Although the dust had messed up her appearance a bit, seeing the unharmed Iriya made Lev forget even his own lingering injuries. Where is that person? Hes still below lets get out of here quickly. Yeah, lets do that. Indeed. The vibration of the earthquake continued. Lev couldnt even guess how fierce a battle was taking ce underground. One thing was certain, they had to follow the instructions to leave as quickly as possible. With Iriya in one hand, Lev rushed towards the main gate. It was at that moment. Excuse me! Snow Fox youth, please help us! Someone called out to him. It was one of the wolf people who were still wandering around the factory site. He looked desperate and sad, as if searching for something lost. Lev quickly realized what had happened. Most of the wolf people captured in the factory hade alone. However, there were rare cases where entire families had fallen into the hands of humans. The old and haggard wolf person was probably searching for a lost family. Tears streaming down his face, he urgently called out to Lev. Your kind is good at tracking, right? Lev, waiting for Iriya, keenly felt his desperation and anxiety. Lev couldnt bring himself to move. Iriya, who was in his arms, whispered softly. Lev, can we help him a little and then go? The middle-aged wolf person who confirmed that they had stopped looked relieved. But at that moment. Crack, crack! The splitting ground swallowed him. Without even collecting the bright expression on his face, the man was sucked into the underground without mercy. As Lev and Iriya were left without a chance to react, a loud noise followed. Kugugugugugung! As if a giant monster was roaring from deep underground. Powerful earthquakes swept through, buildings tilted in an instant, and the ground irregrly rose. Oh no! Levs face turned ck. The sensation of the hand that had been sped together disappeared. Iriya! Struggling to stand on the shaking ground, Lev looked around. And then, he found Iriya, who had been thrown forward and was lying on the ground. Fortunately, she didnt fall through the cracked gap, but the situation was still dreadful. Whooosh! Giant tentacles began to reveal themselves from below the ground. As if eyes were attached to their ends, they approached the fallen Iriya directly. In the thick shadow hanging over Iriya, who had not yet gotten up, Lev felt like he was about to vomit. No matter what he did, he realized he wouldnt reach Iriya in time. No Should he close his eyes? Should he open them? Still, someone had to remember herst moments. Summoning courage, Lev looked straight ahead with eyes filled with tears. Zzeooooong- An unexpected event unfolded. In the ce where the acrid dust settled, a massive ice wall separated the tentacles from Iriya. Lev stared at the ice block, emitting a moonlight-like glow, with amazement. The transparent crystals shone like jewels in the moonlight. Piercing through the sticky and unpleasant air, the refreshing scent of a snowy in wafted in. It was the scent of his hometown. Cackling! The tentacles that aimed for Iriya broke more than half of the ice wall but ultimately failed to prate. In the gap created by the tentacles. Someone grabbed the fallen Iriya and approached Lev. A strong scent of blood and rough breathing. It was the man. Lev noticed that he looked much more exhausted than before. Although his jaw, clenched with anger and determination, remained the same, the muscles around him trembled from fatigue and tension. A gentle voice followed. The children of the Great Snow sea really dont listen. We, we Leave this ce. Quickly. As the ice wall blocking the tentacles melted, a deep blue aura began to emanate from the mans body. Thunk! The thick hand pushed Levs back. Lev, holding Iriya tightly as if promising not to let go again, ran. But even though he knew he shouldnt, he had to look back. The tentacles were covering their benefactor like a wave. Even though a pitch-ck greatsword shed and shed again, the tentacles endlessly regenerated, trying to bury him. It looked precarious. But there was nothing he could do. Feeling helpless, he was running through the alley. At that moment, anguid voice called out to Lev. Hey, little fox. ? Come here. At first, he tried to ignore it. But her voice had an irresistible charm. A gut feeling that something very bad would happen if he didnt listen. Lev stopped in his tracks. She was entirely a white woman. From her hair and eyebrows to her skin, the robe she wore, and the long staff she held. The only color she had was the blood-red pupils shining like jewels. Who is she? Is she human? Lev stared nkly at the womans hair, which shimmered like silver in the moonlight. She seemed dissatisfied with something, and even her slightly wrinkled face was very beautiful. Her pale and slender fingers pointed somewhere. She pointed with her pale, slender fingers. Over there, you see that building across? If you go into the innermost room on the first floor, there should be a Life Vessel or, well, a vessel. Quickly, go and break it. Yes, yes? Quit babbling and get going. You should at least repay the favor to the one who saved your life, shouldnt you? Pushed forward abruptly, Larze confirmed that he entered the building across. Larze finally let out a deep sigh. Since she had deactivated all defense artifacts and barriers, there shouldnt be any danger. Maybe I made a deal thats not worth the trouble. With a rare and exhausted expression, Larze looked towards the battlefield. She had faced mostly undead in the factory area. No, it might have been since she set foot in the hideouts of the organizations in Harlem. The escaping werewolves looked at her with eyes mixed with curiosity and wariness. But Larzes gaze was solely directed towards the fake engaged in battle with the tentacles, showing no hesitation in his eyes. In this boring and superficial scenery, it was the only thing worth seeing. Kaga-ga-gak! There was no sign of hesitation in his charge towards the wriggling tentacles. Save and protect. That desperate desire seemed tosh out at him like a whip. Both his stamina and mana seemed to be at their limits; his movements were much more sluggish than before. As one fake utilized its uniquebat sense, it somehow managed to keep the battle on equal terms. Sgak! Activating the Domain ability of the ck Hope, he lightened the greatsword, conserving as much mana and stamina as possible. Then, at the right moment to deal effective damage, he momentarily increased the mass of the greatsword, maximizing its destructive power. Hes making good use of what he has. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release updates! /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Among all of his abilities, what caught her attention the most was the timely substitution of replicable abilities while relentlessly pressing the necromancer. Ho. Larjes eyes widened. Secretive records about the Doppelganger that she acquired long ago came to mind. Hes maintaining the shell and only changing the essence. It was a considerably evolved state of the polymorph. Could it be that he reached that stage through guidance from Gaho and the Iris of Lace? It surely wasnt an easy process. Her eyes sparkled with interest. Its bing intriguing. * * * Chiiiiiiing- A sizzling sound arose as the scorched metal met flesh. The heat generated from excessive use of Nova was the cause. The continuous burning of fluids within the body made it seem like ss shards were flowing through his veins. He was well aware that if he wasnt a Doppelganger capable of self-recovery, he would have died several times already. It was painful. But the hottest and most painful heat was brewing due to another reason. When he saw the half-severed tail of the Foxfolk child. Perhaps it was the moment when he faced the undead in the factory area, or maybe even earlier. No, it might have been since he set foot in the hideouts of the organizations in Harlem. Feeling the eruption of pent-up emotions, the Hero ran towards the necromancers main body buried in the tentacles. Tuung-! Swinging the sword, he deflected one tentacle that shot directly at him. Then, using the rebound, he rotated a half-turn and severed it. The tentacles were incredibly tough, thick, and slippery. Unless the attack was precise in timing and target, no matter how powerful the attack, it would be deflected. With precise timing, with precise aiming, the Hero moved, fully concentrated. Pada-da-da-dak- The two tentacles that were targeting him writhed for a moment before falling to the ground. But he couldnt rx yet. Zhaaaa-! The violent wriggling of the tentacles only ceased after the tentacles were covered by the frozen surface cut by the Hero. This follow-up action was necessary because if it was simply left cut, it would bebined with the main body in the blink of an eye. In an instant, his vision was spinning with the disappearing mana. The Hero breathed heavily and stood up straight. The soil floor soaked in ck blood was damp enough that no more dust would rise. How much is left? He tried to estimate with his hazy eyes. Now about thirty steps until the necromancers main body. The tentacles he had incapacitated were about twenty or so. It seemed to be a much weaker state than when they first encountered in the underground. The problem was that his condition wasnt that great either. Nova or Halo activation, maybe once. The remaining mana was enough for only one decisive blow. The restorative power of the Polymorph was not infinite. Because he was currently in a state of simultaneously duplicating several essesnces, the limit was approaching. The fortunate thing was that the necromancer seemed to feel even more desperate. Oh, irrational monster! You should know how far youve deviated from the path of God! He seemed to want to finish the fight quickly, releasing almost all the tentacles. One thick, red tentacle, which looked about three times thicker than the others, curled protectively around the main body, guarding its position. It was the biggest obstacle. Swaaaaack-! Swooosh! First, he erected an ice wall to block the front from all directions. As wide as it was, it couldntpletely stop the tentacles due to its thinness. One, he just needed one opportunity to open a momentary gap. Quajik-! The ice wall was quickly shattered. The tentacles swiftly overcame it and approached. It didnt matter. Since he had already covered the ground with ice, he slid, avoiding the tentacles. Youre quite skilled! Now, just twenty steps to the necromancer. The tentacles swirled, ruthlessly striking the Hero on the ground. The Hero, holding the ck Hope like a shield, continued to slide forward. Despite the tentacles raining down like a drizzle, they rarely hit him due to his fast sliding speed. Each blow, however, was forceful enough to leave deep imprints in the ground. Thud! The infrequent hits were powerful enough to shatter the bones in the Heros arm and shoulder, causing him to feel dreadful pain. ! Connecting to the Key of Valber. Acrimson liquid-filled sk descended from the void. It was abat stimnt obtained in Harlem with excellent effects. Although it had severe side effects and couldnt be sold openly, it was perfect for the current situation. Madness and intense rage surged through his body, washing away any traces of pain, fear, and hesitation. AAGHHHH!! The Hero shouted angrily, rising from his position. Now, just ten steps remained. However, he sensed something strange at that moment. The movement of the tentacles They became abnormally agitated. The necromancers face, faintly visible, seemed unusual as well. It disyed a look as if receiving a decisive blow. The details were unclear. But one thing was clear: he couldnt miss this moment. Hoo. The Hero took a deep breath, adjusting his grip on the sword. Unbeknownst to him, all the remaining tentacles had been retracted, forming a barrier in front of the necromancers main body. In an instant, a wall of tentacles resembling a tangled mass of snakes appeared. He needed to break through it. What to do and how to do it, he had already witnessed a few hours ago. The mage standing in the background as the sunset painted the sky, the continuous flow of mana surging around her. He remembered the concentration and condensation that produced an unimaginable destructive force. Wooooong! The Hero poured everything he had into the ck Hope. At the same time, he released all the other essences and focused on one. The force gathering around the sword began to surge. In an instant, the power reached its threshold, and he refined andpressed it. [Impressive imitation. But, are you okay? Using the body on the verge of breaking like that] Anguid voice echoed, a voice reminiscent of Asrai. [PR/N: Asrai are aquatic fairies that are often depicted as female and live inkes. They are simr to mermaids and nixies, and can live for centuries. Asrai are associated with freshwaterkes, rivers, and ponds, and only surface to bathe in the moonlight.] The damaged body expressed agony due to the excessive use of mana. The heated de burned into the flesh. In the midst of the haziness, the Hero recalled memories to surpass the pain. The face of the demi-human girl with cheeks filled with food,ughing heartily, and the wrinkled, scar-covered face dripping with sweat. Hoo. The Hero took a deep breath. Beyond the pain, the recollection of memories seemed to blur. Its not different. They are not different. Whats different is the Swoooosh! A wave of pure white light, an unbelievably powerful Halo was shot out using mana that was on the verge of depletion. The radiant sh engulfed the tentacle wall and extended into the dark night sky over the factory grounds. That was the end of it. Thud! The necromancers upper body, stained with blood, detached from the tentacles and fell to the ground. The Hero stood upright, looking at thements filling his vision. In the darkness and cold, those who had wandered gathered in front of the mes. Ted Redymers Memory Some of the rted seals have been removed. Recorded character: Rosalyn Requiem Through her, you can ess memories that were previously restricted. Salvation Ritual: Third re has been unlocked. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 134 Chapter 134 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu- The pressure that demonic energy exerted on the factory site is lifted. Thend that was roaring and emitting a strange noise fell silent in an instant. In the tranquility contrasting the previous chaos, the Hero stood up, exhaling hot breath. Since taking on the role, it was the most ominous battle. There was more demonic energy produced using the demi-humans than expected. The necromancer who absorbed them was horrifyingly powerful. The predictions of him and the emperor, thinking that the influence of the Demonic Church, which had copsed once and risen again, would not be so formidable, were off the mark. Yet, without any significant damage, they rescued the hostages and punished the enemy, a truly miraculous victory. Jebuk- The Hero, with a tired body, approached the necromancer. Shoulders swaying, footsteps unsteady, but there was something to check before resting. The necromancer was muttering something without a break. Oh in your embrace please take me. The Heros expression distorted slightly. Fanatic. The ecstasy, joy, reverence on the face of a person standing on the threshold of death. The pitch-ck, oily blood flowing from the body fused with demons. It was a scene that showed more about the Demonic Church and its followers than any exnation could. The Hero didnt like that the necromancer didnt fear death. The tranquility he felt was repulsive. At that moment. A domineering and cold voice echoed from behind. It was a sharp and imposing voice that could not be uttered unless one considered the other person to be far below oneself. Before the magician dies, seeking a god who is neither truth nor secret. Pathetic. As her words finished, a strange change began in the necromancers body. First, the blood that was flowing incessantly stopped. The life leaving the body moment by moment was captured by an invisible force. The necromancer, who suddenly returned from the ecstasy of death, seemed greatly perplexed. Trembling, he groped his own body, eyes wide. This, what is it? Meanwhile, the Hero watching was also quite surprised. What did you do to him? Healing using divine power was out of the question. Even if it was Larze, who had mastered the visions of the First Era, handling both divine power and magic was considered impossible. Upon closer inspection, the necromancers wounds werent healing; they were just frozen. Larze shrugged her shoulders in response. Judgment, a kind of freeze. An achievement obtained while developing Ted and 7th form together. Once again, Larze mentioned the 7th form. Just as he was about to inquire about the exact details. The necromancer red at them and spoke maliciously. Dirty heretics, unbelievers! The high priest will soon Noisy. Zzeoeeong- A cold air extended from Larzes hand, striking the necromancer. He turned into an ice block without finishing his words, and Larze casually tapped on top of it with the menacing White Despair. If he dies right away, it could be troublesome in various ways. He should be able to endure this state for a couple of days. That should be enough for Her Majestys skilled torturers to achieve results and survive. How does it feel? I saved you from an undeserved death from this scum. He would have regretted believing in a foolish religion for two days before dying, right? It would be a lie if I said I wasnt satisfied. But the Hero asked about Larzes intention. Whats your motive? Motive, you say. How cunning. Youre not the type to show kindness without reason. Yeah, thats an urate observation. Larzes gaze was fixed directly on the Hero. I added one more item to trade. I greased the wheels of our rtionship for smooth transactions in the future. You seem curious about me. Yeah, Ive be curious. Fine. If I can answer, I will. Thanks! The trade item with Larze increased. It was a significant gain for him too, so the Hero nodded satisfactorily. This could be discussedter. There were more urgent matters to attend to now. The Hero looked at the unwee guests appearing on one side and clicked his tongue. Are only disobedient people gathered in the Great Snow Sea? Hmm, a fox and a rabbit? Larze chuckled lightly and took a step back. Lev and Ilya. The two stumbled and clumsily approached him after crossing the overturned ground. The Hero looked at them in disbelief. Arent you guys scared? D-Didnt you defeat all the bad guys? They looked at the man turned into an ice block, then quickly averted their gaze as if recalling something terrible. The Hero sighed again. What if Im a bad guy too? I know youre not! It was a bold rebuttal. What brought you back? Well, we thought we should at least give our regards before leaving. When Lev lowered his head, Ilya also ttened herself on the ground. The hero looked at the two bundles of fur, seemingly at a loss for words. Being treated like that He was about to say, after being treated like that, how can you note to your senses? but the hero just remained silent. Thank you so much for saving us. On impulse, he reached out and ruffled the messy fur that seemed to be their heads. Lev and Ilya, embarrassed by the dirty fur, cowered for a moment, but soon they rxed and allowed the heros touch, wearing content expressions. He understood. This was truly an action unworthy of Ted Redymer. Yet, it was right after a very difficult battle. This level of reward seemed eptable. The Hero briefly felt the sensation of the lives he had saved with his fingertips. And he mumbled the words he wanted to say. Be cautious and careful but I hope you dont hate them too much. The fox and rabbit, who had a bewildered expression, soon smiled faintly and hopped away with short legs. At the alleys end, a few demi-human adults were waiting for them. When their eyes met, they too nodded slowly. The Hero silently watched the shadows of the demi-humans, which were gradually moving away. Suddenly, Larze, who had approached, whispered. Do you like cute things? In the spot where he turned, he saw young Larze, a chubby girl was spinning around. The Hero burst intoughter at the absurdity. I cant tell who the doppelganger is. Ah, this is just an illusion for the eyes. Its iparable to your mysterious shape-shifting ability. Phew! Returning to her original form, Larze, looking tired, stretched. The Hero also felt the fatigue creeping through his entire body. Lets go to the hideout for now. The hideout? Since we cant return to the capital through this mess. It will take some time. Oh, before that, Id appreciate it if you could hand over this captive to Euphemia. Also, please tidy up the traces left here appropriately. The traces left in the factory area, where the Hero personally participated in the extermination, were excessively messy. Its better to make sure theres no unnecessary suspicion. Larze smirked. Hmm, you handle things quite well. Whats the cost? The Hero responded promptly. I have something. You wont be disappointed. Good, then lets first visit the pce. With that, a burst of light erupted from the air. Larze, along with the ice block, disappeared in an instant. Thunk! The Hero inserted his greatsword into the ground and leaned on it. He was left alone in the factory area. There was no need to be resolute anymore. Hu He exhaled a long and deep sigh. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The cold touch of steel felt on his back. The sharp pain in his tired body. The gentle night air lightly touching his skin. Though the connection between these sensations was unclear, they seemed to fit well. Uheheum. And at some point, a faint humming seeped in between them. Larze grabbed the Heros hand stained with fatigue. You did well. Lets go back. Yeah. The Hero slowly nodded his head. It was a long night. * * * Inside Harlem, there were many coborators, but surprisingly, there were also those who secretlymunicated from outside. When their one-sidedmunication with their trading partners was abruptly cut off, they sensed something ominous and desperately sought hiding ces. And to those fleeing, Harlem seemed to be the most suitable ce to conceal themselves. Little did they know, a massive of encirclement had already been set up around Harlem. Hunters more capable than anyone else are targeting them. Ugh, get out of the way! You scoundrels! The wretches who wouldnt even dare to look me in the eye if we were outside! Come at me! At dawn. A man, d only in his underwear, swung a sword wildly, as if about to break down the door of the hideout. The rough-looking men surrounding him chuckled. With his current disheveled appearance, it might be hard to imagine, but this man was none other than the current captain of the guard. The crime? Knowing about the illicit activities of the Harlems organizations, yet epting bribes and turning a blind eye. Get out of the way! Whoosh! The sword, adorned with the royal emblem, glowed ominously under the moonlight of the harem. Get lost! Whoosh! However, determined to break through the encirclement at all costs, the man who had somehow managed to pierce through the recklessly sprinted down the alley. All he had to do was escape this ce, as long as he got out of here, hed be fine. Harlem was a vast,plex, and endlessly entangled space. He could hide anywhere. He harbored hope and ran. In his eyes, at the end of the alley, he saw two figures standing. Whats this? An old woman and a girl. To meet them at the dawn in Harlem, it was an oddposition. One thing overshadowed by desperation was the unfamiliarity of the situation. Get out of the way Ah! The security chief, recognized even within the guards as quite formidable, was now helpless against the sudden attack. Swoosh! Suddenly, a sword de protruded from the seemingly ordinary staff of the old woman, piercing through the mans knee as he screamed. Kkueuk. In less than a second, a clean suppression. The old woman, after swiping the sword beneath her robe, put it back into the staff. Then, she inserted the staffs head into the mans forehead, who was writhing in pain. Groan. I guess we are done around here? It seems roughly settled. Wasnt it too hard? Was there even anything hard for her today? All she did was follow around Barun. Ugh, think of it as a vacation. Did the Hero tell you to get your hands stained with blood? With those words, she prevented her from even moving her fingers. Thanks to her, Nyhill performed the mostfortable mission she had ever done. Good job. Tuk tuk After finishing themunication with the Captive Collection Team, wrinkled hands tapped Nyhills shoulders. This warmth andfort. Although it should have felt strange, it didnt. It was the same sensation she felt not long ago. Nyhill instinctively thought of the elderly dwarf remaining in the academy. Now, she was immersed in an unfamiliar emotion. Is he eating well? Is he overworking himself? Even though theres no one to help him. She must be in a sleeping state before she can control her doll directly. Naturally, during that time, there was no ovep in the movements of the doll and Noubelmag, so Nyhill had no way of knowing Noubelmags current situation. By the way. Barun, who had been scrutinizing the girls expression, spoke. Hows life at the academy? The mission is progressing without any issues. No, thats not what I meant. It was at that moment when Barun carefully chose his words. She closed her mouth and turned around at the sudden appearance behind her. Thank you for your hard work. A clear sound echoed as the ornaments hanging from the veil collided. At the same time, the expression vanished from Nyhills face. Barun greeted with a gentle voice. Its been a while. Yes, have you been well? Im the same as always. Take care of your health. You need to live a long life. Nyhill was too tense, not noticing the subtle atmosphere between them. Mother Ghost quickly brought up the main topic. Barun, Her Majesty has ordered your audience. Her Majesty? The leader of the Frost Dragon Tribe and the Hero have just returned. A meeting is scheduled for the morning. Barun immediately asked. Are both of them unharmed? Nyhill also perked up her ears. Mother Ghost briefly nced at her and nodded. Yes. They were very easy tasks for both of them, werent they? Even in an easy battlefield, people can die or get injured at any time. Oh my, I always think too lightly, as usual. Leaving behind words filled with meaning, Mother Ghost turned around to face Nyhill. Can Number 3e and see me? [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 135 Chapter 135 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The hero entered the conference room. The dazzling lights on the ceiling cast a brilliant glow over the entire space. In front of therge ss window, the majestic scenery of the bustling imperial pce was reflected. The emperor, seated on the throne, had an unusual look of anxiety on her face. No, it wasnt really unusual. It has be a familiar expression since getting involved with that fellow. Truly a situation worthy of astonishment. You! The emperors eyebrows trembled upon seeing the hero. What on earth happened? Where is Larze? She said she was tired and would take a rest. Could you at least answer the first question? How should I exin this? The hero opened his mouth with a brief sigh. For now, just know that we have one more aplice. Exin it properly. The emperor immediately closed his mouth. The hero pointed to the entrance with a nod of his chin. Footsteps were echoing in the corridor. Thump, thump, a loud, heavy stride. Tap, tap. It was an old woman with a staff. Your Majesty, Leader. Apologies for the dy, I have returned. Im back. As Dorempa and Barun arrived, the meeting began immediately. Dorempa started the situation briefing first. From how they subdued the Voltar Branch to the ominous suggestions that were beginning to surface. The hero couldnt help but be shocked when he heard about freezing the entire factory. Although he had be stronger, there was still a considerable gappared to the Dawn Knights. Wait, what about the hostages? Even if they were frozen, it wont cause significant harm to their lives. . The Demonic Church followers were shattered in that state, and the person in charge was arrested and handed over. We dont have a torture specialist in our tribe. Coincidentally, both the hero and Dorempa captured the Demonic Church bastards in the same way. Meanwhile, Barun also shared the results ofst night. She had apprehended the conspirators who had infiltrated Harlem and gained some useful information called Tyler. The emperor, having received the report, formted ns for the future and summoned them to discuss it. For now, Ive sent the secret agents to the north. Even if they moved secretly, once evidence of the kidnapping is discovered, we should be able to trace them. Everyone nodded in agreement. In a few days, we should be able to roughly figure out where the factories are hidden. Ive already sought cooperation from the Mages Tower. Wizards skilled in locating spells will pinpoint their locations. The problem is Wandering through the vast north to exterminate the factoriescks manpower. Isnt that right? Dorempa interjected with an expressionless face. Euphemia nodded with a serious look. Indeed, that was the case. She was currently advancing the ns for the Eastern Expedition, and extensive preparations for that were underway. Numerous heroes and troops were tied up with their respective missions. Ill help. Dorempa, with an assurance as if saying not to worry, looked straight into her eyes. It was a firm attitude like a rock. This incident is my responsibility as the Chief. I feel the weight of it. Ill select some elite warriors to join forces. This is the season when North Hales severe cold weather subsides. There wouldnt be much difficulty in mobilizing the tribe members. Euphemia straightened up with a satisfied expression. The burden on her shoulders seemed much lighter. Alright, lets move together with our greetings. Fortunately, theres someone who suits you well. Someone who suits me? Only then did they realize why themunication bead was ced on the conference table. Thud, thud, thud. A few connection sounds followed, and a lively voice echoed in the room. [Oh, Your Majesty! Oh, Barun! Oh! Leader, oh Are you the rumored Chief of the tribe? Nice to meet you for the first time. d to meet you!] However, contrary to the boyish voice, the owner had a truly fierce appearance. A massive, bare-chested figure without a single trace of silver hair. Numerous tattoos painted with crimson dye adorned the powerful physique. He wore a hat made of feathers of different colors. His mboyant presence made Euphemias crown look rather shabby. From the pulsating veins throughout his body, a beastly power mixed with determination could be felt. The giant god, Ivar Waitanka. His tribal name is Roaring Wind. The tribe member of the indigenous people near the Great Mountain Range. Although he had experienced the disgrace of the tribe being obliterated by the Demon Army in his youth, He was a member of the Dawn Knights sent by Euphemia to investigate the Stagnum prison incident in the north. With a statureparable to Dorempa among humans, he revealed sharp teeth in front of themunication bead andughed heartily. Euphemia listed Ivars strengths as if making excuses. Even if he looks like that, he has excellent intuition, good physical strength, and is one of the top Dawn Knights in terms ofbat skills. Well, he seems that way. Nice to meet you, Ivr. Ivar, as if measuring Dorempas stature, nced at him with pitch-ck pupils, then burst into heartyughter. [Truly a reliable partner, indeed. Ill be counting on you.] The conversation progressed rapidly. Ivar stated that he had nearlypleted tracking the Stagnum Escape Incident. He had also made some progress in investigating the Demonic Church active in the north, making him a suitable candidate for this incident. [Well then, lets meet at Biren Fortress in two days. Until then, Ill tidy up the remaining matters here.] That sounds good. Ill also summon the warriors of the tribe. [Ah, the tribe, huh] Ivar, for a moment, wore a nostalgic expression. He was also a member of the indigenous tribe that resided near the Great Mountain Range. In his childhood, he had been forced into a nomadic life by the destruction of the tribe by the Demon Army. Okay then. Once the meeting concluded, Dorempa stood up first. After scanning the audience with his mysterious azure eyes, he quickly left. Although the color resembled Cucullis, it felt strangely different, almost alien. May I excuse myself as well? Barun, requested permission to attend to the wounded organization members, who had sustained injuries during the nights search and suppression. She was about to leave the room but paused for a moment, turning to look at the hero. Hero. What is it? Its about the girl you brought with you. Nyhill? Has something happened to her? No, its just Barun, about to say more, closed her mouth, feeling like she might be overstepping her bounds. Time changes things. It makes one hesitant to step forward into things they cannot take responsibility for. In truth, it wasnt quite appropriate to bring up such matters in front of the emperor who oversees the shadows. So, she pulled out different words that were on her mind. She seems like someone Id like to treat warmly. The hero, who had been staring at Barun for a moment, nodded. I understand what you mean. Go ahead and see her. Thank you. With a deep bow, Barun showed respect to the emperor and stepped back. Now, the conference room was left with only the two of them. Chin-! The emperor, who had just shown a stern expression as if it were a lie, suddenly stood up, approaching the hero with a thoughtful face. So, what happened to Larze? I went to the hiding ce to retrieve an artifact and she was waiting for me. She already knew my identity. What? How? The hero proceeded to exin, but the emperors expression remained unchanged. While investigating the demonic realm, she obtained records rted to a doppelganger Thanks to that, she was able to discern our deception. Could this information potentially expose the presence of a doppelganger to other investigative teams? As the emperors face became more rigid, the hero raised his head, reassuring her. Even with ess to all the worlds information, you didnt know about the existence of a doppelganger until the real one spoke of me. Obtaining such essible records wouldnt have been easy. And she acquired this information not too long ago. The doppelganger was a forgotten entity. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The hero could be certain. Everyone who remembered him had died, and even they didnt know exactly what kind of entity he was. He could be wandering in some remote region through oral traditions. However, he couldnt have any connection to the current me. Well, Im relieved but. The emperor, dishevelled her hair in a manner that seemed uncharacteristic, then wiped her forehead with a warm hand. By the way, there was no information about you in the imperial archive. If youre concerned, keep an eye on the information circting in Canis ck market or other informationworks for a while. Isnt that what you should do Why are you so calm? The hero chuckled. One panicked person is enough, dont you think? With that confidence, the emperor was left speechless. The two remained silent for a moment. The first to speak again was the hero. By the way, about Dorempa. Why the Chief? It seems his personality has changed too much since before. His appearance and all. Any idea whats going on? Changed from when? Euphemias expression became peculiar. She had been in constant contact with Dorempa since her coronation. There hadnt been much change in the unresponsive and cold Chief. When was it changed? During the time he was not yet the Chief. There was a brief encounter. Euphemia lost words for a moment. How old are you anyway? Does that matter? No, forget it. Its better not to know. Anyway, if it was about that old time, there might be some spection. Although I dont know about before, bing the Chief and receiving the baptism must have changed him. Both in appearance and in his heart. Closer to a dragon. Baptism? Closer to a dragon? Ah, you might not know. Euphemias brief exnation inferred this: ording to the legend, the distant ancestors of the Frost Dragon tribe were dragons. Not subspecies like Wyverns, but real ancient dragons. Living for hundreds of years, wielding infinite mana, and having a length of tens of meters from head to tailsuch was the creature in the legend. Among the descendants of the Frost Dragon tribe, some were born with a very faint trace of dragon blood, and there was a ritual called baptism to transform it. Its said to take ce in the dormant sanctuary of the Frost Dragons. A ce known only to the Frost Dragon tribe. This is the first time Ive heard of it. Its not widely known. Rather, its kept quite confidential. Only the chieftain could undergo the baptism. Depending on ones aptitude, the extent of transformation towards the dragon was determined. Dorempa, ording to reports, achieved the closest resemnce to a dragon among all the previous chiefs. Usually, it ends with a change in one arm or leg, but he underwent aplete transformation of wings and the entire left side of his body. So, did his personality change like a dragon as well? Like a dragon precisely? Im not sure, but he certainly must have changed. Transforming the body like an ancient creature that lives for centuries, its hard to believe the mind would remain unscathed. Euphemia looked at the hero with an uneasy expression. In one of the records, it was expressed as devoured.'' The heros face subtly frowned. It reminded him of what Cuculli had said before. I am the strongest among my thirty brothers! In that case, she was likely a strong candidate for the next chieftain. Will she also be baptized? It was a good thing for her to awaken dragon blood and be stronger. It meant an increase in the forces to resist the Demon Kings army. However, thebination of her innocent appearance and the dryness Dorempa had just shown created an indescribable frustration in the hero. Why is that? No, its nothing. . . . Afterward, brief discussions about future ns ensued. What about the cooperation initiative the Demonic Church is proposing with the hostile races? In this incident, there were no clues but I need to be vignt Still, in the heros mind, there was a lingering thought to talk with Cuculli. * * * On the other hand, discussions on countermeasures were not limited to humans alone. Creak- This ce was once a thriving location filled with human hopes and vibrancy. Now, only the ruins of copsed and decaying magic streets were left. It was close to noon, yet the sunlight couldnt pierce through the thick fog and dispersed into the surroundings. The entire area was tainted in a deep ck hue. A silhouette slowly moved through the wreckage, crossing the deste streets. Ah She sighed softly, stopping in front of a peculiar structure at the end of the road. The building was made of fleshy substance, trembling as it emitted an eerie noise. A gust of sticky wind tousled her faded hair. On her forehead, a sinister pattern was embedded. If someone witnessed this pattern in any human city, it would likely be met with countless des within minutes. Enter. The structure, made of flesh, trembled and emitted a strange noise. The irregrly shaped red glows blinked from the entrance, and the shadows distorted from impossible angles. Quaack- Wooong- A gruesome sound echoed from inside, as if someone were chewing on something tough. Despite the unsettling atmosphere that would make anyone with a shred of courage turn away, the Church leader didnt hesitate. She confidently stepped forward. Creak- Passing through the narrow and pulsating corridor, she reached the innermost room. At the entrance, she kneeled and prostrated herself with all four limbs. The thorny spikes on the floor burned her flesh, stabbed her bones, but she continued without uttering a word. And she whispered. I, your humble servant, offer insignificant pain to request a momentary revtion from the great Third Apostle. The blood trickling from her knees flowed into the scorched floor. Then, at a certain moment Blink- A sound of eyelids opening resonated from the dark shadows. The Queen of Agony, the Third General of the Demon Kings army, Malekia, gazed upon her servant. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 136 Chapter 136 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 One Demon King. Seven Archdemons. Ny-one High-Level Demons. When the Gate was first opened, they were theposition of the demons invading this world. Later, the seven archdemons were called Legion Commanders. It was because the Demon King assigned them suitable legions considering their characteristics. It was the moment when humanitys archenemies, which must be eliminated first, were established. Many human heroes and soldiers sacrificed their lives to subdue them. Some seeded. Over the past few centuries, there had been changes in legionmanders, and vacancies urred several times. It wasnt just because of humans. There were also legionmanders who lost their lives at the hands of fellow demons. Since the Demon King did not intervene in the conflicts among demons, it was possible. Except for one, the longest three. The Queen of Agony, Malekia. The Elder of Loss, Theo. The Knight of Death, Yol. Among the remaining three of the original seven archdemons who first crossed over. These three never yielded their positions even once. Not even the Dawn Knights led by Ted Redymer could kill them. Originally, the strength of demons was proportional to the demonic energy they umted. Naturally, the power of the three longest surviving ones was significantly strongerpared to the other four legionmanders. It was to the extent that even Kalend, the most outstanding potential among the former leaders of the Demonic Church, couldnt dare to confront them. Tsutsutsu- Just standing in front of them made ones own existence infinitely diminished and feeble. It felt like facing some immense natural phenomenon like a flood, earthquake, or volcanic eruption. Kalend bowed deeply before Malekia and finished her report. Her tone was that of apology. Her voice and speaking style were clear and clear, just like that of a child. Im sorry. I didnt expect him to take action so quickly. It was literally like that. Kalend, the leader of the Church, still couldnt fathom how the Hero could strike a blow to the factory in such a short time. No matter how much she thought about it, it was strange. The Harlem organizations didnt even properly understand each others existence. A thoroughly decentralized organization through role allocation. Enochs meticulous design made it so. Even if they caught one, they could never have aplete view of the whole. Torture? Persuasion? Coercion? No. No matter what method the Hero used, reaching the factory was almost impossible. The location of the factory was so strictly kept secret that not even the members of Harlem or Enoch and his host knew. Its not like he can peer into peoples minds. To understand everything in just one day and start subjugating them What method did he use, exactly? Kalend pondered with doubt and naturally recalled the sight of the Hero she saw at the auction house a few months ago. The things that were curled up inside him that she encountered through the Magic eye. That eerie sensation still haunted Kalends nights. It was an impious thought, but their collective power seemed far more overwhelming than what Malekia presented now. Kalend hesitated to report on the strange experience she had at the time to her superiors, but ultimately didnt. She too had to have an ace up her sleeve. As long as you are a human, you cannot be in the same boat as these people until the end. Kalend was sure of that fact, unlike other members of the Church. It was then that Malekia broke her long silence. Child. Kalend immediately responded. Yes. Come closer. She did asmanded. As she crawled further into the room, she felt a chilling heat. It felt like approachingva. The moisture on her skin evaporated in an instant, making her skin shrivel. Kalend endured the pain and lowered her head again. Your doubts and anxieties are visible. No, theyre not. Theres no need to listen to minor disturbances. Everything is proceeding ording to n. Just by seeing the half-sized dragon from the north leaving its nest, cant you tell? Surprisingly, Malekias voice was calm. No, it seemed rather pleased. Theres no change in what you have to do. .Abduct them and extract information. Thats how you offer your pure power to us. The gate will open again soon. The source will be restored. And Your Majesty will return to us even faster. Uguk- I will send assistants soon. Uguk- After the speech ended. A strange sound, as if chewing on something, began echoing inside the room again. Kalend slowly got up and retreated. The floor had returned to its normal state. The scorching iron thorns that caused excruciating pain with every touch were nowhere to be found. Huff Only after leaving the sanctuary did Kalend find her breath. Meeting transcendent beings with the Glimpse of Mana was always painful. She could feel their intense presence more than anyone else. She shuddered, expelling the pain and terror that remained on her body like burns. Then, she gave instructions to the shadows gathered around her. Operate the factory normally but disguise it more thoroughly. Mobilize all the power of the Church to prepare for attacks by heretics! The voice that followed was full of confidence. Dont worry, because Ill take care of the leader of the Ice Dragon Tribe. For someone giving orders that would cause a huge disturbance on the continent, she looked remarkably innocent. * * * Meanwhile, in Rosenstark. The Extreme Children were facing a quite mysterious sight. A pair that seemedpletely ipatible was constantly together, day and night. Luke, did you change the route? Its not like theyre being all buddy-buddy, is it? Hmm, surprisingly, those two seem to get along well, dont they? In one corner of the training ground, Luke and Leciel were devoted to their training, getting along well. Luke was sitting, sweating profusely as he practiced hisbat techniques. Leciel watched him attentively, asionally offering advice, which seemed somewhat endearing. Their facial expressions match so well If its Luke then its eptable I guess Luke, with his sharp facial features, and the cool, aloof image of Leciel seemed toplement each other quite well, causing some of the children to already start gossiping. Of course, as they say, from a distance, itsedy, but up close, its tragedy. The reality of their rtionship was unfolding somewhat differently from the childrens expectations. Do you not understand the meaning of concentration? I dont know how to exin something so simple any further. Untalented. Ipetent. These were criticisms Luke had never heard before in his life. It was more painful to hear these words, which were not filled with malice but rather honest observations. In fact, upon closer examination, it was understandable why Leciel was feeling so frustrated. Luke was a very special case when it came tobat techniques. In this era, among a hundred fighters, ny-nine were trained in the same basicbat techniques. Even third-rate mercenaries and renowned heroes had the same basicbat skills. This was because centuries ago, Zero Requiem developed and widely disseminated the most universal and efficientbat techniques. Compared to any previous methods, Zerosbat techniques were unparalleled. To put Zerosbat technique in a word, it was as follows: A timeless technique with high bottoms and high peaks. In terms of stability and efficacy, it was iparable to previous techniques. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 So among fighters, there was a certain trend that had firmly taken root: Train in Zerosbat technique, which has no drawbacks and high versatility as the basicbat technique, and learn additionalbat techniques ording to your purpose. For example, Gerald learned the Bryce familysbat technique, which gave explosive properties to mana, for his devastating spear techniques. On the other hand, Nyhill learned the Shadowbat technique specialized in mana disruption and weakening opponents, and Karen learnedbat techniques focused on agility. All of them were built upon Zerosbat technique but with additionalbat techniques added on top. However, Luke was different. He hadnt learned Zerosbat technique at all. What Luke had learned as his foundation was Raviass exclusivebat technique. It was called thebat technique of madness. He became the top hero known as the leader of the Arum Mercenary Corps, which was called a group of mad warriors, under the King of Mercenaries. Thisbat technique drove the practitioner into a state of rage, as if possessed, without feeling fear or pain. Luke showed a remarkable aptitude for thisbat technique, attracting Raviass attention, who quickly made him stronger by teaching him directly. However, Raviassbat technique made the practitioners mana nature rough and erratic, which made it difficult for Luke to handle the tasks of a knight that required precise control, operation, and detection. Your mana flow is too rough. You need to slowly scan your body with mana to capture magic, but youre not even detecting it, youre just letting it pass by. Treated like a foreigner. Luke regretted his past impulsiveness a little. It was quite miserable and embarrassing to be in the same position. Where can I learn? He recalled a few days ago. The reason Luke sought out Leciel, who was secretly practicing alone, was to ask for help. Initially, the thought of asking someone for help was extremely ufortable. Of course, he knew that Leciel was much stronger than him. However, receiving teachings was a different story. Luke had his pride. Pride that he had experienced a much harsher past and faced many more trials than his peers. It felt like denying those times to bow down and ask someone his age for help. But A perfect enhancement is imminent. He remembered. The number of people who sessfully dyed the paper ck was already over twenty. His peers were all ready to learn newbat techniques. He couldnt just sit there twiddling his thumbs alone. If he let his pride get the best of him now, he would soon find himself in even more humiliating situations. So he found Leciel. The genius of the century. A peer who he wouldnt be ashamed to ask for help from. He nced at the girl analyzing his mana flow with a serious expression. I didnt know she would willingly help me like this. To be honest, he expected to be rejected. But Leciel didnt reject him outright and instead asked several curious questions. They were quite unexpected questions that were difficult to interpret. Why are you avoiding Evergreen? How would someone feel if they were chased and given attention only to be ignored in an instant? Leciel, who suddenly expressed frustration without cause, promised to help Luke after a brief exchange of words. Dont do that. Of course, I wouldnt do that. The reason I avoid Evergreen is because I dont want to show my ugly side. Woong- Luke refocused on hisbat technique. Hes not a genius for nothing. After listening to Leciels mixed advice for a few days. He finally started to get used to capturing and releasing magic little by little. Luke took a deep breath and reached out his hand. Thud- Huh He looked at the vial of potion, which began to turn ash-gray and then jet-ck, with widened eyes. Is this the eightieth piece? This was the first time he had seen such a distinct color change since starting the assignment. Wow, wow. It felt like a thrilling lightning bolt was piercing through him from head to toe. For the first time in a long time, he smiled widely, and jumped up from his seat. Hey, Leciel! I did it! Hmm The girl nodded satisfactorily, and they exchanged a high-five with a loud p. It was a gesture of pure joy, unaware of the watching eyes. Hmm . . . Well, Leciel is honestly better-looking. Much prettier, isnt she? In fact, other students were also very interested in the extreme kids. Each individual was like a celebrity at the academy. There were quite a few fanatics who knew everything about the children, from their names and faces to their daily activities. And some of them, without realizing the presence of the subjects nearby, crossed the line with their remarks. Is it just about being prettier, or is the background more important? Young mercenary friend, wanting to make a name for himself, huh? Oh, if I knew Leciel would stick to him like that, Id try to get closer too. As Karens face twisted in frustration, she brushed aside the neers chin that had just opened her mouth. Hey! Um, who Oh, oops. Um. Karen, stop it. Evergreen, who was nearby, shook her head and intervened to stop Karen. But even her face was already darkening with shadows. This feels weird. Is it because of those tantparisons? Or because of Luke, who seems to get along well with Leciel while making it obvious that hes avoiding showing interest in her? Ugh, Im so tired. Ill go in first and take a break. With those words, Evergreen slowly turned around and left the training ground. Evergreen! Hey, Evergreen! Oh, shoot, um, hey, Luke. You guys watch outter. Theyre all dead. Even as Karen called out desperately, she didnt turn back. Why is he like this. Even though he had disappeared from sight, he kepting to mind. Luke, smiling widely as he showed the paper, and Leciel, nodding her head satisfactorily while smiling softly. It should be a good thing Luke, who had been tormented for days because he couldnt solve the assignment, was finally feeling good. But why does it feel like something is burning in a corner of his heart? The daughter of the Solintail family. She was always busy with the affairs of the territory and wrestling with her peers, so she had little interest in romance. It was an emotion that was difficult for her to understand. Ah. Evergreen stood up straight. It was because she saw her own reflection with a nk expression in the buildings ss window. She usually had noints about her appearance. She didnt think she was exceptionally pretty, but she thought she was wless enough. But today, even these frizzy strands of hair, freckles, and mismatched green eyes felt Theres nothing wrong with what they said. Evergreen burst into tears. Evergreen? Someone called out, and she hurriedlyposed herself and turned around. It was a boys voice. It sounded low and soft, so she hesitated for a moment before realizing that it was someone else as she turned around. Are you okay? Half-tilting his head, he looked at her. For a moment, Evergreen hesitated to say she was okay. Because his eyes were very simr. His gloomy face, not suitable for the most popr neer among the freshmen for the past few days, reflected in the buildings ss window. Its like Like a decal reflected in the ss window, Evergreen let out a bitterugh. Then, the boy who had been looking worried soon started to smile. Hahaha. Ahaha. After a while, with her shoulders almost touching the ground, they looked at each other as if they had made a promise. Want to grab something to eat? It was time for a strategy meeting. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 137 Chapter 137 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 By the time the meeting was over and the conversation with the emperor was over, the sun had already set in the sky. The Hero turned back to the hideout. There was still work to be done in the shadows for Nyhill, so she said she would join them at night. They had decided to return to Rosenstark tomorrow evening. It was the first time they had leisure time since arriving at the ind. However, the Heros expression was anything but rxed. Baptism. He mulled over what he had heard from the Emperor. Baptism. The awakening of the dragons blood. Changes in appearance and personality thate with it. Some forgotten memories shed through his mind. It was back in school, when he came out of the Library of Memories after seeing Originals memories. He distinctly felt the presence of both Ban and Cuculli in front of the library. Ban was because of his mother. Then why was Cuculli lingering in the library of memories at such ate hour? At the time, he thought it was just curiosity but now, he seemed to know the real reason. Did she want to leave memories of herself when she was whole? Before and after baptism. Can those two really be considered the same person? The Hero slowly shook his head. Even if she receives less influence from the dragon than Dorema, personality changes due to external forces. After baptism, she might resemble her or even that might not be the case, apletely different being might appear. In other words, the previous Cuculli was disappearing. Whew. The Hero let out a long, deep sigh. I should talk to Dorempa about the details at the banquet. Tonight. A small banquet hosted by Barun was scheduled to be held at the Imperial Pces guest pce. It was an opportunity to converse with members of the Dawn Knights and other important colleagues, so he epted the invitation. He said he would attend, as Dorempa had decided to stay nearby until the day after tomorrow when he was ready to go out. He was about to hear from him in detail about Cuculli and her baptism. Jeopp- At that time, he was stopped suddenly at the entrance of the hideout. His habitual senses caught an anomaly. Whats this? There were two familiar presences inside. One was undoubtedly Larze, and the other one Why are they here? Although it was a familiar presence, it was someone who shouldnt be in the capital. The Hero hurriedly headed inside. . . . Hmm. The innermost room. Larze was lying on the bed, fiddling with the namete of Depikio Lugo given by the Hero. It contained something rted to Zero, so Larzes eyes sparkled intensely as she examined it. The Hero stood in front of her, seeming calm. Hmm. Larze, although she must have clearly felt his presence, didnt turn her gaze. The robe was crumpled. Silver hair spread out like a fan on the sheet. A pair of white legs half-protruding from the nket swayed rhythmically. Uh, uh! The problem was that faint moans could be heard from under the nket Larze covered. They even wriggled slightly. The Hero sighed. What on earth are you thinking? Huh? Her red pupils, hidden behind long and thick eyshes, finally turned to the Hero. She looked extremely excited. It was a face that a child might have just before opening a present. Well, you see. Waiting was just too boring. So you did this out of boredom The Hero lifted the nket with a dumbfounded expression. Inside Uh, uh! There was the librarian who should have been busy organizing books in the Library of Memories. Her mouth was gagged, and she was tied up tightly. This was truly an unimaginable scene. Rosalyn. Uh, uh, uh! Feeling dizzy, he quickly untied Rosalyns restraints. At the same time, he spoke firmly. Larze, exin. At that moment, he found himself admiring Ted Redymer, who had been with Larze for a few years, a little more. * * * So, what happened was To summarize Larzes exnation, it went like this. She already knew that Rosalyn was a vessel containing Zeros memories. To be honest, it was obvious. So I visited a few times in the past. It wasnt just a few times, was it? Since you were an undergraduate. Shush. Rosalyn looked at Larze with eyes that seemed more weary than a magical being usually wouldve had. With her perfect face, as surreal as her white hair. They looked quite alike. Anyway. No matter what Larze tried, she couldnt ess Rosalyns memories, so she eventually gave up. It was natural because she didnt meet the qualifications set by Zero. The Hero, who had been listening to all this, intervened. Its going around in circles. So why did you kidnap her? Larze replied as if asking why he was asking the obvious. Youre too busy. What? Youre going to have to wait until you finish your business here and return to Rosenstark, so how could I wait until then? . The Hero nced at Rosalyn. The expression on her face when she realized that the reason for the kidnapping was Larzes impatience was quite something. The archmage spoke, spinning her words as always. Well, lets hurry up and ess the second memory. Rosalyn seemed to have made up her mind to ignore Larzepletely. Turning her body towards the Hero, she spoke. There are no specific restrictions from the owner regarding sharing memories rather than essing them. But? Wouldnt it be better for you to consider the subject a bit more carefully? The Hero also sensed this fact. In fact, Larzes intervention in the current situation was not particrly wee. Even if she had been of great help this time, she was still an uncontroble variable. However, whats done is done. To overturn this deal now would be suicidal. Thanks for your concern. Lets start essing the memory. Yes, understood. Fortunately, Rosalyn didnt vomit after that. Flutter- Even though there was no wind inside, Rosalyns hair began to flutter. Well then, have a pleasant reminiscence. At the same time as Larzes subdued cheer, everything went dark before me. Viewing Part II of the First Age. It was only after a while that I realized that the shback would proceed in a slightly different way. * * * When I came to my senses, it was a pitch-dark space with nothing in it. In my moment of confusion, a familiar voice was heard. [I have invited the user to a temporary space created for guidance.] It was Rosalyns voice. Her figure was not visible, only her voice echoed. [Starting from Part II of the First Age, some of the users emotions and knowledge will be synchronized with the user to facilitate understanding.] Rustle- At that, the doll hanging from my waist shook once. Rosalyn continued speaking. [As I mentioned earlier, there are no restrictions from the master regarding sharing memories after essing them.] [However, unauthorized ess to memories by someone without qualifications is strictly prohibited. Therefore, I will take expulsion measures against the uninvited guest.] As Rosalyn finished speaking, a distant scream was heard, then it faded away. Aaah! Youre such a bitch! The doll hanging from my waist fell silent at the same time. It seemed that someone had intruded into the memories without waiting for Rosalyn to share them through Memorize. Although they were immediately expelled. Even if it was Larze, within Memorize, she couldnt trespass on the authority of Rosalyn, the subject. [Once again, have a pleasant reminiscence.] Rosalyn concluded her words with a slightly brighter tone. I blinked slowly. Gradually, the surroundings began to brighten. . . . The room was warm and cozy. Soft leather sofa. Shelves filled with books on one side of the wall. Plush carpet. It looks like a home, is this Zeros house? At first nce, it seemed like an ordinary scene, but I observed my surroundings quickly. These were memories left by Zero. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Not a single clue could be missed. Who is that? Underneath amp with appropriate brightness, a woman with a serene face could be seen. Her voice, so pure and beautiful, resonated in my ears. You, do you have to go? Im so worried. Irne, its necessary. The conversation is already over. But still If I dont bring back results, the fools of the Tower will soon cause terrible things. I cant just stand by knowing that. The Zero in the previous memory was extremely stern and angry. However, now his tone and attitude were surprisingly gentle. His hand tenderly brushed against the womans long ear. Shes a demi-human. Moreover, she was a fairy, a sight only seen in the Great Forest now. Pure admiration followed. I thought I was used to seeing beautiful faces, but She was a beauty captivating enough to make anyone forget themselves. Her skin glowed like jewels, and her flowing golden hair was as beautiful as spun gold. The unfamiliar emotion emerged at that moment. It was intensely tender, and every moment of seeing her seemed to melt my heart, and no matter what storms this world might bring, I wanted to protect her above all else. It was a type of emotion I had never felt before, so it was quite bewildering. Is this emotional synchronization? First of all, it seemed certain that this fairy was Zero Requeims lover. In the First Age, a human-centered trend took root due to the influence of the Holy Church, and the previously unknown knowledge that the demi-humans were despised and discriminated against also emerged. Its knowledge synchronization. Irne approached Zero with a worried expression. Isnt it dangerous? Everyone fears the monster. Even if I think about it, do you really need to go see him? Itll be fine. I promise he isnt the monster everyone knows. Its just that things went wrong from the beginning. Zero, as if intending to leave somewhere, was wearing his outdoor clothes. There was a firm resolve on his face. He took a few steps towards the door, then turned back and kissed Irne on the forehead, slightly bulging her stomach. And as if pledging, he muttered. Ill protect you. Somehow. I swear. As soon as he finished speaking, everything went dark before my eyes. Since I had experienced this phenomenon before, I immediately felt that the next memory would be yed. . . . The sun was setting. Zzzz- The first thing I felt was an incredible sense of speed. The surroundings became so distorted and blurry that they were barely recognizable. Zero was casting flight magic with all his might. This damn! The calmness from when he was with Irne seemed to have vanishedpletely. Instead, a fiery anger bubbled up inside him. The noble Heros heart also churned with rage. Those damn Holy Church bastards!! Zero roared with frustration. His gaze was fixed on the army below, densely packed like ants. The symbol engraved on the gs they were waving was familiar to the Hero. The symbol of the gods drawn on the door of the Baruns clinic. Although it was now a defunct religion with its lineage cut off, in the First Age when divine power existed, it was thergest religion believed by over half of the poption. Ah. Tingle- His head ached. It was that feeling again. Unknown knowledge prated the Heros mind. The Holy Church, after he appeared. They were the first and most actively hostile group to reject him. To them, who believed that humans were the most superior beings, he was an uneptable existence. So they sent punitive forces whenever they had the chance, and today happened to be one of those days. Zero couldnt help but be furious. Just a few days ago, he had warned the Holy Church not to take rash actions until he had a chance to talk to him. It was deliberate disregard for each other. In a situation where even gentle soothing is not enough ! Moreover, it was a full-scale punitive force. There were countless holy knights, and the gleaming white radiance that only high-ranking priests could emit seemed to number in the dozens. I have to stop this advance before he arrives somehow. It was his area of responsibility. It was the moment Zero desperately flew over the ranks of the Holy Church. Whoooo- He could only abruptly stop flying. Zero, standing straight in the air, looked with trembling eyes towards the wastnd on the other side. More precisely, towards the silhouette wearing a ck robe. I-Imte. From below came cries like screams. There! That devil! The devil of the oracle has appeared! Meanwhile, even to the Heros eyes, the military power of the Holy Church was formidable. It was a force capable of quickly annihting even formidable high-ranking stakes. However, the presence radiated by him was so sinister that it made even the numerical superiority and the faith of the fanatics pale inparision. The fighting spirit of the Army is fading away. The leadership of the Order, aware of this, shouted with a booming voice. All forces, charge! Destroy the demon in the name of the gods! The pdins were the first to go. They galloped through the wastnd on the finest breed of warhorses. All sorts of blessings poured down upon them. They were the type that not only increased strength and stamina but also cultivated various resistances. Wuuuuuung- Ovepping blessings. The silhouettes of the pdins elongated, then shot towards the man at a speed that was hard to perceive. At that moment, with the sun setting in the west and the wastnd covered in shadows, the light they emitted in the darkness was incredibly radiant. Wuaaaaaah! The gods are watching over us! Even the foot soldiers, emboldened by that divine sight, advanced with blessings. Ziiiiing- From the waiting ranks of priests, bursts of white light erupted. The cluster of light coalesced into the form of a giantnce in the blink of an eye, floating in the air. The Holy Spear. In this era where divine power had disappeared, it was difficult to gauge its exact strength. However, in terms of momentum, it was no less than any top-tier destruction magic the Hero had seen. It was an attack that was overwhelming to pour onto one person. However, Zeros expression as he watched was dark. Wrong. Zeros gaze shifted back to him. He was slowly walking forward, undaunted even in the face of the massive army before him. A god? A voice tinged with bitter hatred echoed through the wastnd. It was a voice so powerful that it seemed unbelievable that only one person could produce it. The ground trembled as it reverberated. If there really were gods, you wouldnt have met me today. Wuuuuung- As soon as the words were spoken, the footsteps of the Holy Church charging with momentum abruptly stopped. Thousands, tens of thousands of eyes shook as if they were one, focusing on him in the distance. There, an unbelievable scene unfolded. The priests were casting spells of evil. Its the devils trickery! Its just a deception. Dont be swayed! Dare you impersonate a god! A magnificent light poured down on him as well. It was the same type of divine radiance that enveloped the Holy Church in blessings. No, it was even denser. That, thats the devils power. Ziiiiing- Then, when the Holy Spear floated above him, the advance of the Holy Church could not help bute to a halt. For a moment, a deathly silence fell over the wastnd. H-How many are there I-It cant be, you devil. Oh, Lord. There were as many as thirty of the Holy Spears. The flowing radiance illuminated the dusk wastnd as bright as midday. Although it was the light they had followed and believed in all their lives, it seemed more sinister than anything else. Swoosh- Hepleted the replication, and his hand slowly rose. The Sacred Spear rose above his head. Some of the leading holy knights couldnt help but turn their heads and scream. However, even their anguished movements couldnt stop him. I. His hands descended. Hate. The light enveloped the wastnd, obscuring everything for a moment. You humans. Zero closed his eyes. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 138 Chapter 138 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 In the first blow, 30% of the Holy Army turned into blood. He did not stop there and massacred an additional 20% with various abilities. Although his face was hidden by a deeply pressed robe, twisted delight could be felt in his movements. Please, spare us! Oh Lord! Have mercy on your servants! The remaining half lost all will to resist and scattered into the wilderness, fleeing to the back. He seemed bored with such a sight, stretchingzily as he watched then turned his gaze upwards. Lifeless pupils fixed on the zero of the sky. For the first time, a deep smile crossed his lips. ! There was a great distance between them. But at that moment, Zero was certain they were gazing at each other. And he realized what he intended to do. From the back of his neck to his lower back, shivers ran down his spine. Good materials havee to me. Stop Vvvvvvvv- The holy power covering the battlefield vanished. Heh, heh. What, whats happening! Nows the time! Run! The survivors of the Holy Army looked up at the silent sky with a truck-like hope. Was that demon going to show mercy? If so, they didnt know if they could return home alive. No, perhaps that monsters power had reached its limit. However, how could such destructive force be sustained? But one thing was certain, it was too early for optimism. Vvvvvvvv- Instead of holy power, what filled the sky was magic. Mana from all over the world surged fiercely, and hundreds of magic circles appeared in the air at once. Zero looked at them with bloodshot eyes. The forms thatposed the destruction magic were too familiar. No, they were so familiar that he could draw them with his eyes closed. Zeros Dark Arts. However, the one replicated was much more powerful than the original. Vvvvvvv- Magic circles aimed at the ground. It was a moment when even the fleeing soldiers had no choice but to abandon even the slightest hope of survival. No!!! Zeros cry was drowned in a terrible roar. He poured out all his magical power to erect a barrier and barely managed to block the initial attack. But afterward, the magic circles the replicated hundreds of destruction magics continued endlessly. Kwaaaaaah- This was against the order of things. It was irrational. How could one person possess such power? Zero murmured in dismay. Error, this is an error. Words, people, machinery, holy power, the desperate voices seeking divine mercy. They all disappeared without a trace amidst the endless barrage of destruction magic. In less than ten minutes, there were no living creatures left on the wastnd. There was only Zero standing still in the air and the approaching monster. Zero realized that he had be much stronger than before. And that terrifying growth seemed to apply even to the grudge he harbored against humans. Swoosh- As he approached, Zero finally removed the robe that had covered him up to his chin. The moment I saw that face. Whether the shock and despair he felt now belonged to Zero or to himself, the hero could no longer tell. Its been a while, magician. Mocking like a mirror reflection, a man who looked exactly like himughed. The shback ended like that. Understanding Zero Requiem deepens. Understanding level: 2/100 -> 10/100 * However, it is an object that cannot be replicated. Understanding of ??? deepens. Understanding level: ??? * * * After sending Rosalyn back to the Library of Memories, Larze stood before the hero. . It had been thirty minutes since he shared his memories with Memorize. The hero sat in the same posture as before, staring only at the ceiling of his hiding ce. Although his expression was as calm as usual, his eyes seemed strangely empty. Larze chuckled softly and then sat beside him. She had no intention of speaking to him immediately and harassing him. She needed to give him some time to sort out his thoughts. Ah, how thrilling it is to delve into the unknown. Even Larzes satisfied smilested only for a moment before she decided to reconsider her harvest. First Yes, it would be good to focus on Doppelganger. The first time she learned about the weird monster capable of polymorphing was when she discovered a record. A secret document hidden deep underground in the 48th district of the Demonic World, the headquarters of the Holy Church. Among the numerous records Larze explored and discovered, it was the only data that mentioned the existence of Doppelgangers. Its clearly strange. If that wretched creature in Zeros memory is a Doppelganger, there shouldnt be so few traces rted to it. As if someone deliberately concealed the records, they disappeared. Its needless to mention who the culprit might be. With an excited expression, Larze nced at the hero sitting beside him. Zero, he, the fake hero. How are these three rted? The two Doplgangers didnt seem like the same person. First of all, their unique energies were subtly different, and their performance was also quite different. Unlike this Doppelganger who struggled even with just replicating the 3rd salvation form. That Doppelganger, with just a nce, replicated not only countless priests but also Zeros abilities more powerfully than the original. Larze gleefully mumbled the facts she had gathered so far. It is highly likely that the doppelgnger is a species rather than an individual, so are there any other entities hiding besides those two? Delve into the unknown, and another mystery appears. Larzes whole body trembled with excitement as her excitement peaked. While Teds death was somewhat regrettable (because his help would have been needed to explore the depths of the demonic realm), now she only thought it was for the best. His death had be an opportunity for her to encounter such an interesting entity. If she had known it would turn out like this, she would have personally killed Ted long ago. Anyway, could the destruction of the First Age be the work of that Doppelganger and the Demon King? By looking at both sets of memories, she could roughly organize the situation at the time. The sudden appearance of the Doppelganger, a threat from the unknown. The sorcerers of that time opened a gate connected to another world to gain the power to eliminate it Inviting a new enemy named Demon King to this world. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Humans, Doppelgangers, demons. As a result of this three-sided conflict, the brilliant civilization perished. Larze chuckled. Its ironic, too ironic. This Doppelganger was striving to save the lives of humans in the Second Age. In reality, his kind had caused the disaster that led to the destruction of the First Age. She scrutinized the silent Hero with her red eyes. She was so curious about what he was thinking right now. It seems like its his first time encountering his own kind. Ah, countless question marks poured down like rain. Larze felt like a withered flower in the desert. The winner of the three-sided war is the demons. But with the power of that Doppelganger, the Demon King and the Archdemons couldnt have easily defeated them. They must have suffered a blow. Thats why the survivors who crossed to the western continent were able to rebuild and prosper once again. Now that she had found him, countless questions that had been swirling around her began to be answered. Larze couldnt help but shake the shoulder of the Hero sitting beside her. The brilliant knowledge of unanswered questions. The key to the truth. They were waiting for her! Lets go find the third memory, lets go! Her urgent urging broke through the long meditation and awakened the Hero. Ah. The Hero blinked slowly. In fact, he was just as caught up in countless questions as she was. No, perhaps even more so than Larze. Why? Why did his kind have such animosity toward humans? Why? Why did Zero Requiem want to show him these memories? Why? Did he wake up on the edge of the Second Age rather than the First Age like his kind? In addition to these, there were dozens, hundreds of other questions flooding his mind. Yet, as always, the Hero tried not to be swept away by them but to pursue clear milestones. Alright. The calmly regained colored eyes met the crimson eyes glowing with strange desire. We should quickly look at the third memory. And the ones after that, of course. Of course! I thought youd be very curious about this back story too. In order to do that, what do we need? At his words, Larze chuckled aloud. This fake Hero, the more she found out about him, the tougher and cleverer he seemed. Rather than agonizing over the frustrating situation surrounded by questions, he seemed to be thinking about gaining benefits. Quite, no, very much to her liking. Yeah, we need to make progress. Is there a way? There is a way but unfortunately, I dont have any more memories left for now. Still, will you cooperate with me? Ah. Larze grinned broadly and leaned her forehead against his. Dont worry. Because you can pay in advance. . . . Looking back on itter, it was a moment when the second turning point of growth came after evolution. * * * Rosenstarks publicmunication room closed at nine in the evening. As a result, Evergreen was forced out without being able to continue hermunication with her parents. Except for themunication immediately following the Forest of Martial Arts incident, it had been almost a few months since theirst contact. They were usually busy managing their territory, so she wasnt particrly upset Hows your health? Its starting to get warmer in the west, so be careful with your food. Honey, do you think Rosenstark is like our territory? Im sure the chefs there will take good care of her. Hmm, isnt the training too hard? Dont overdo it. Well be proud of you even if youe inst ce. Honey! Our daughter wouldnte inst ce! Evergreen bit her lip. Anyway, Evergreen, hang in there in the foreignnd. If you need anything, let us know anytime. Yeah, dont worry about the territory! Were managing just fine. Ill pass on your regards to the kids. Seeing the faces she missed so much after a long time made her worried, as they looked unusually pale. She sighed heavily and sat down on a bench in the park. It had been quite a while since she felt the warmth of breath not freezing even at night, thanks to the significantly warmer weather. It was so cold when I first left Solintail. After passing through winter and spring, summer was now upon them. I wonder if Solintail is still cold. Following the refreshing scenery of the grasnd, the dry faces of her parents shed before her again. Solintail was a very challengingnd to manage. Adjacent to the Great Mountain Range, it had a higher density of monsters than any other territory on the western continent, and the climate was harsh. Therefore, although Evergreen was technically a noble, she had never experienced a truly noble life. The lords of other frontier areas seemed to be looking out for their own interests quite well even under adverse conditions. However, unfortunately, the Solintail family has not been good at such tricks for generations. If they had money to spare, Evergreens parents would repair the territorys walls or give constion money to the families of deceased guards. Well have to endure this years Wave as well. Evergreen gazed at the sparkling night view of the academy. Each day at Rosenstark was so enjoyable. The food was delicious, the bed wasfortable, and of course, the training was tough, but Real sadness and hardship rarely urred. But at moments like today, when reality hit her all of a sudden she felt ufortable thinking that she had just escaped from her hometowns difficult situation. Three and a half years until graduation Was I too ambitious? In the past, when she felt depressed like this, she would usually joke around with her friends to change her mood. Buttely, even that didnt seem to work. Her closest friend was avoiding her, which made it awkward to even try to talk. Oh, I suddenly remembered something I needed to do. You guys go ahead and eat first. Ill practice a little more before joining you. Night training? Im not really feeling up to it today. It was so obvious that she was being avoided that it would be embarrassing to insist further. Luke Evergreen inadvertently thought of the boy. His jet-ck hair and towering height shed before her eyes. Hisrge and strong hands. Although he seemed sharp at first nce, his face would be silly when he smiled. Thest image was of him standing side by side with Leciel. What if he keeps smiling like that! Thud- Frustrated, Evergreen kicked a pebble beneath her feet without thinking. And in the next moment, she froze. Ah The pebble, which had been rolling along, stopped in front of someones foot. Luke, with a very awkward expression, was looking at her. Hello. Oh, hi. It was a bit different from the ufortable atmosphere of the past few days. It seemed somewhat awkward. Do you have a moment? Uh, yeah? I-Im not sure if I have time? Why was that? Evergreen felt a strange sense of pride for the first time in her life. And then immediately regretted it. [PR/N: Its okay Evergreen, I dont have any luck in dating either ] Fool, this was an opportunity to mend things. She hastily tried to pick up where they left off, but Luke beat her to it. He bravely asked for a little more time. Just a moment. I have something to show you. It was only then that Evergreen realized the boy was holding something. The sk and instructions that the hero had given as an assignment, tightly gripped in his bear-like hands. Ah. The corner of Evergreens mouth twitched as she looked up at him. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 139 Chapter 139 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 [PR/N: Too gross. Ew. I hate yall. Fuck valentines.] Gulp- With a determined expression, Luke downed a whole sk in one shot and reached out his hand. A tense atmosphere hung in the air, making it hard to breathe. Evergreen silently watched over him, cheering him on. Phew. Plunk- Droplets of water fell from Lukes fingertips. As soon as they touched, the potion inside the sk instantly turned pitch ck. It was undoubtedly a sess,pleting the task of expelling the snake venom from the sk perfectly. Only then did Evergreen exim in admiration and apud enthusiastically. Luke, feeling awkward, nced at her and muttered softly. So, I wanted to show you this. Why? Now that we can attend sses together. What can I say, it was truly an innocence that was unbing of a mercenary. That was what Evergreen liked about him. Evergreen realized she was smiling. In fact, the frustration and difort she had felt for the past few days since seeing Luke struggling with his assignment with those massive hands had evaporated by about half. But there was still the other half to deal with. I just felt like sometimes you dont stick to proper techniques. Recalling their conversation during lunch, Evergreen took a step closer to Luke. But, Luke, Im curious about something. Huh? What is it? Why did you avoid me all this time? Wait, was she asking so directly? Luke, taken aback, began to make excuses, waving his hands. No, its not that I avoided you To be honest, I was a little hurt. I was hurt. That statement echoed in Lukes ears like thunder. Two conflicting emotions wrestled in the boys heart. One, the joy of having a presence that could make Evergreen feel hurt. Two, self-loathing for being stupid enough to make Evergreen feel hurt. These conflicting emotions subtly twisted the handsome boys face. Caught off guard by the girls demanding expression, Luke stammered as he tried to exin. I mean, its just that. You know? Huh? I just dont like showing ugly sides. Ugly sides? What ugly sides? Feeling embarrassed to exin further, Luke shifted his gaze to the potion in his hand. This assignment he probably came close tost among the top students. As someone who always achieved excellent grades, this incident had really bruised his ego. It was then that Evergreen let out a quiet sigh. In terms of interpersonal rtionships, she realized she was more mature than Luke. Luke. Yeah? Among friends, its normal to show your ugly sides and be understood. Who in the world would only have good sides? Hero, Leciel, etc. As counterexamples immediately came to mind, Evergreen cleared her throat and continued. Maybe there are such people somewhere but anyway, if youpletely avoid showing your ugly side because its embarrassing, it feels like I did something wrong to be ignored Sorry, that wasnt my intention Building friendships by only showing off and admiring each others good sides isnt real friendship, right? Ugh, I hate the thought of having such ufortable friends. Luke looked at Evergreen with a serious expression. After a moment. The girl seemed to realize how impassioned her speech had been and btedly blushed. Anyway! Everyone has some ugliness or mediocrity. So, from now on, dont do that, okay? I doubt that. What? What ugliness or mediocrity do you have? Evergreen was speechless at Lukes sudden question. Oh, uh? My mediocrity? It wasnt that the question was difficult. She was always aware of her own ws, so listing them was easy. It was just that she hesitated for a moment in the face of the unfamiliar desire that crept up on her. As Evergreen pondered, Luke chuckled before her. If were friends, were supposed to share those things, right? So, that means Evergreen looked seriously at Luke, who was looking down at her. Maybe its okay to say it. She would never have said it under normal circumstances. More than anyone, she knew her own ugliness. That too was a part of her, and denying it was impossible. There had always been a desire to confide in someone and be understood. And if that someone was Luke Its okay, so Ill tell you. With a strong desire to be honest with someone, Evergreen didnt resist. Yeah. Since Luke had finallye close, it was only fair for her to take a step closer too! The girl reached a conclusion and opened her mouth. There were about twenty minutes left before curfew in the dormitory. Ugh Ill keep it brief. Luke, you know what our territory is like. I know. Luke nodded his head. As the Mercenary King had a good rtionship with the lord near Solintail, he had visited the area several times. As the boy recalled old memories, he realized that the sunny girls face had darkened. It was a sharp expression, as if she had been pierced by something. I Yeah? I shouldnt say this, but sometimes I feel fortunate. For what? That I can leave our territory. Her tone was deliberately devoid of emotion. Do you know why? Even now, there are small graves being dug behind the Solintail lords mansion. Whose graves are they? My friends. Evergreen couldnt help but be gloomy. It wasnt just because her chest felt tight aftermunicating with her parents. She was concerned about the well-being of the children, whom she had grown up with like siblings since childhood. But she couldnt bring herself to confess her guilt. I was only better than them because of my bloodline. Thats why I got the opportunity for education. Even now, while my friends are probably fighting against monsters eyeing the territory, Im here livingfortably, eating and sleeping, sometimesughing and chatting as if Ive forgotten my hometownpletely Its lucky that I can attend the academy. Evergreen bit her lip. It would be too melodramatic to cry here. Its really unfair. Its not right. Luke didnt respond. But he kept listening. Sniffling, Evergreen sniffed, making excuses. I spoke too randomly. Sorry. I guess I just wanted to vent to someone. Actually, I just finished talking to my parents and was on my way here. He knew. He had been waiting for the right moment to speak since dinner, lurking around her. Luke looked at the teary-eyed Evergreen. Actually, there were many things he wanted to say. Anyone could have such thoughts. If you were truly selfish, you wouldnt have seen the Solintail in your dreams. Was your diligence in learning day and night for the sake of your hometown? Impressive and admirable. Many words offort passed through his mind. Will suchforting words really resonate? Luke resented his profession. If he were not a mercenary but rather a poet or writer, he could havee up with more beautiful words to provide properfort. For now, all he could do was to promise something that would make her happy. When I be the Mercenary King. Yeah. Ill take on your requests for free. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Although it was a bit uncool, it could be considered a sess because it made his depressed friend smile. * * * It was two hours before the banquet hosted by Barun began. Okay, shall we organize the situation? Where did shee from? Larze brought a whiteboard to their hideout and stood in front of it like a professor. The chalk in her hand was a bonus. The Hero looked at the writing she was doing with the feeling of being a student again after a long time. Surprisingly, she had bad handwriting. You said the Iris of Lace hasnt shown the next milestone yet, right? Yeah. Hmm, I dont think just destroying one factory will be satisfying. We probably need to raise our progress to receive the next goal. So? Ive been thinking, and I have a way to increase the progress of your Forge. At the mention of his progress, the Heros eyes lit up. How? Would you let me borrow your sword? Without a word, the Hero handed the ck Hope, which had been hanging on his back, to Larze. Ugh. There was a momentary hup as she struggled with the weight, but the exnation quickly resumed. Larze looked at the de of ck Hope as if she were a master cksmith. It seems like youve seeded in awakening part of the Domain, right? Ive unlocked the first stage. It can only affect the weight of the greatsword for now. Then do you know what the next functions are? The Hero nodded. He knew this part from the Original. The first stage of the Domain only ends with momentarily adjusting the weight of the sword to maximize destructive power or maneuverability. He was currently at that stage. The second is creating a gravitational field. It creates an extremely powerful gravitational field centered on arbitrary coordinates, blocking various projectiles or attacks. It was extremely useful as even flying monsters could be mmed into the ground. Thest is gravitational interference, which adjusts the attraction and repulsion forces between objects. When mastered, its possible to instantly approach distant enemies or flee from nearby threats. This was an iparably powerful ability, unlike the previous two. It allows one to fly through the sky like a magician and perform one-sided attacks without suffering any damage. Larze continued. The main ingredients of the sword are gravity magic and iron, which have a good affinity. Probably a much better cksmith and alchemist than Noubelmag and Yussi coborated with a magician who is slightly less skilled than me. She continued, folding her eyes into crescents and smiling. I wondered why such a decisive weapon was made in such a peaceful era, but it seems it was because of your kin. So, whats the point? It means that I can fix the magic sealing circle that is ced in each stage so that it can be liberated ording to the skill of the owner. The Hero narrowed his eyes in amazement for a moment. If what Larze said was true, it was an achievement on par with opening another salvation. The enemies youll face soon seem to be stronger than expected. You cant afford to die, right? So how does the unsealing work? Larze twirled the pure white staff in her hand. The Heros gaze naturally followed it. The name of this staff is White Despair, and your swords name is ck Hope. Now, what do you think? They must be rted. Theyre not just rted, you know? They were found in the same ce. Found in the same ce? When? A long time ago. Ted and I found them while exploring the demonic realm, and theyre the most precious and powerful loot weve ever obtained. Loot from the demonic realm. The Hero looked at White Despair with narrowed eyes. A long staff shining pure white throughout its body. It exuded an immense power that was on par with some of the rare artifacts he had seen. A bright red crystal simr to Larzes eyes was embedded in the head. It is known to have the ability to positively affect all kinds of magic. When casting fire arrows, it sends out beings more powerful andrger than fireballs. They were even called three Divine Tools in the First Age. Whats the other one? Ashen Peace. Its an artifact in the form of armor, but nobody knows where it is yet. Having finished speaking, Larze brought White Despair over ck Hope. Anyway, take a good look. Can we do it now? Like this, right away? As a great magician, I have no reason to hesitate when I have artifacts of brotherly nature. Tap-tap- It was right after the red crystal of the staff tapped the surface of the sword a few times. Wooooong-! Instantly, ripples spread across the jet-ck de. It was like scattering white paint on a ck canvas. The white pigment, spreading out like human veins, soon formed geometric runes. It was a type of magic that disappeared in the Second Age. Ah. The Hero let out a small groan and released the heated handle. Despite no one holding it, the massive mass of the ck sword floated in the air. Paaaaah-! The faintly trembling de began to emit bright light and wind in all directions. Isnt it truly beautiful? Looking straight at the Hero, Larze, with her disheveled bangs from the aftermath, smiled mysteriously. It wasnt her usual formal and lightugh. It was a deep and moving expression she often made when she truly got what she wanted, like in the memory of Zero. I love moments like this where the breath of past eras meets the present. I love you. That was the moment when thest word dispersed into the air. Recorded Artifact: Unique Ability of ck Hope Forced to unlock by unknown power of Domain A powerful mystery dwells in the forge. And the Iris of Lace presented the next milestone he was waiting for. Reim the stolen blessings. The hero stared intently at thatstment. There was something to be guessed about this. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 140 Chapter 140 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The banquet was modest and humble, not what one would expect in the imperial pce. It was because Barun had borrowed the kitchen of the Star Pce and personally prepared the dishes. Simple foods were ced on luxurious tableware, yet no one among the attendees expressed any dissatisfaction. Even the Emperor was silently savoring the food. This is because they knew very well what kind of feeling Barun had in making food for them. It was then that I made eye contact with Barun, who was looking at the empty tes with a proud expression. Is the food not to your liking? I wouldnt say that. All the dishes served were ones Ted Redymer had enjoyed during his lifetime. After the Hero took a few bites, Baruns gaze shifted as if relieved. In truth, he was preupied with thoughts of the task given by the Iris of Lace. The clues were more intuitive than those before. The Iris of Lace didnt throw clues randomly; it analyzed the situation the user was in and provided an appropriate guide. Just like activating the Astera vision and tracking down traces of the demons, instructing to hunt down aplices. This clue must have been about something he already knew or possessed. Therefore, there was a guess. A dangerous treasure left by an infamous adversary lies here. It was a phrase written inside the mechanism of the Wolf Statue. Presumed to have belonged to the Demon Kings possession. The god worshipped by the Demons was the Demon King himself. Hence, there werent many who could be referred to as his infamous adversaries. Among those who had actively engaged on various fronts and continued the pulse of humanity, Zero Requiem was undoubtedly one of them. The Wolf Statues treasure likely refers to Zero Requiems blessing. The Hero instinctively recalled the remaining seven blessings known besides evolution, such as insight, growth, manifestation, and so on. While some blessings were currently possessed, many remained elusive. There might be something useful among them anyway. If it was a type not needed by oneself, it would be fine to give it to one of the children. The Hero set down the tableware. This task might end more easily than expected. Thanks to Nobelmag, he had already unlocked the mechanism of the Wolf Statue and obtained the coordinates of the hidden treasure. The coordinates pointed to one of the undevelopednds at the eastern edge, a forgotten ce in the Demon Realm. It would be difficult for him to search immediately, but if it was Larze, she would surely be able to do it. If he shared the coordinates with her Hmm. Maybe I should be a little more cautious. The Hero nced across the table at Larze. She was sitting without touching the food, but their eyes met soon after. Her lips curled up. Larze, who covets everything about Zero. She might be more tempted if its a blessing. Although it seemed unlikely that Larze, who needed to ess memories through him, would make such a shortsighted decision, one couldnt entirely rule out the possibility. It seemed like he needed to think a little more carefully. It was in that moment of contemtion. *Swoosh* Suddenly, a refreshing breeze swept through. As he turned his head, he spotted Dorempa squeezing his huge body into an empty chair. His eyes seemed fixed on something, indicating he had a clear purpose. Well, this works out nicely. In fact, half the reason he attended the banquet was because of Dorempa. The Hero initiated a casual conversation. Youre not eating at all. Doesnt it suit your taste? Dorempa replied in his dry voice. Ive long forgotten the pleasure of eating. I can replenish my strength for movement andbat using ambient mana. It was a response quite contrary to the Heros old memories. Is that a snow hare youre holding? Ill roast it for you! Just give me the ears to the torso! Was his voracious appetite stolen away as well? It was a remark befitting a creature truly close to a dragon. Observing Dorempa, the Hero slightly furrowed his brow. I cant read his thoughts at all. Dorempa maintained a stoic expression, as if no sociable words could break through his austere demeanor. In this case, it might be better to get straight to the point. The Hero spoke with a brief sigh. Do you have something to discuss, Chief? Seems like you do too, Hero. Then Ill start. Go ahead. The Hero turned to face Dorempa. It seemed that the other attendees were gradually moving away, perhaps out of consideration for a parent-teacher meeting. Even Larze, who had been wandering, was now gone with the Emperor, leaving only the two of them. The Hero began. I want to ask about the baptism. Ask away. The question was already decided. Will Cuculli also undergo baptism? Eventually. A straightforward answer. Dorempa nodded without hesitation. Once I die or weaken, Cuculli will probably undergo baptism. Shes the child with the strongest dragon blood among my offspring. So not immediately, I see. Cant say for sure. These are cold and dark times. The Hero stared at Dorempa. His robust physique and hard-to-gauge mana were impressive. Once I die or weaken As far as he knew, Dorempas strength surpassed the average of the Dawn Knights. His mastery in martial arts was stronger than Ivars, and his ice magic wielded through the power of the Ice Dragon had destructive potential rivaling that of any great mage. Moreover, he could fly, making him nearly invincible except for high-ranking demonmanders. He still had plenty of life left in him. The difort that had been weighing on the Heros heart seemed to ease slightly. Have there been any who refused baptism? Ah. Dorempa hesitated momentarily before answering. Thank you. What for? The Hero asked, looking at him. The Hero could not help but be surprised when he saw a faint smile spreading on Dorempas lips, which had been as frozen as ice until now. For the first time, he saw Dorempa, who had always had the same expression, smile faintly. Because it was a question that only someone who knows Cucullis personality well would ask. Impressive student, isnt she? Indeed. Dorempas eyes, which had sparkled, quickly dimmed again. Unfortunately, baptism is not a choice. It is an inevitable ritual. Why? What do you think baptism is? [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Isnt it a ritual to awakentent dragon blood and be stronger? Ive also heard that it involves inheriting the memories and wisdom of past chieftains. Thats not entirely wrong. However, those are more like secondary aspects. The real purpose is something else. The real purpose? For a moment, half of Dorempas face covered in scales seemed to glow faintly under the lights of the banquet hall, reflecting something deeply thought-provoking, and a firm expression stood out. However, Dorempas contemtion was brief. Originally, it was a secret known only to the Frost Dragon tribe, but if he was the Hero, there would be no problem in sharing it. Our Northern tribes have been fighting over limited resources on harshnds for a very long time. They have be strong through struggle, but as a result, they have be exceptional ande to resent each other. Therefore, no matter how strong an individual might appear, the North could never truly unite. The Hero raised an eyebrow in puzzlement. It was a fact that most people knew. The tribes are fundamentally individualistic and reluctant to belong to anything beyond their own tribe. Thats why Dorempas unification of the North was praised. Although some noise (referring to the tribes that couldnt adapt and fled) followed, he sessfully united them under one banner. Its strange for the one who aplished such a difficult task to say such things. Indeed. I did it. Through the power gained from baptism. What? Dorempas azure pupils shed. The next chieftain who receives baptism gains dominance over the other tribes. Dominance? Think of it as supernatural authority and influence. I was the one who most strongly developed this ability among the past chieftains, and thanks to that, I was able to easily unify North Hale. The Hero finally understood why Dorempa called baptism an inevitable ritual. It was a ritual that created a focal point for the North, making it possible for them to unite. If someone who has not received baptism leads a tribe, the unity of the North will weaken. Ultimately, it will disintegrate. You should know what that means. The Demon Army will have one more invasion route. When Dorempa was still on the verge of bing chieftain. The demons had almostpletely overrun the North. Even if the harsh climate and rugged terrain had be a natural fortress. If those who were supposed to protect it were divided, it would easily crumble. Dorempa stabilized the endangered North. The secret to how he could do thaty in baptism, something no one could have guessed. Currently, humans trust the North and only concentrate their defense forces near the Great Mountains. If another invasion route opens up, the damage you will suffer will be astronomical. Indeed, thats true. In this way, Dorempa quickly convinced the Hero of the necessity of baptism. It was a matter closely linked to the survival of the North and, beyond that, the safety of humanity. The Heros expression darkened slightly. As the leader of the North, he protects the tribes and homnd. That was their domain, and it was not something he could interfere with, no matter how much he cherished his disciple. . Meanwhile, Dorempa looked at him carefully and then suddenly said something out of the blue. I know why you asked me these questions. What? Cuculli seems to have met a good teacher. . The Hero responded with a small sigh. My business is done for now. What about yours? I had one, but it disappeared with our recent conversation. What? With those enigmatic words, Dorempa rose from his seat. Judging by the way he was facing the entrance, it seemed like he was about to leave the banquet altogether. The Hero impulsively called out to him. Dorempa. Speak. After hesitating for a moment, he asked a question. Do you remember what you were like before baptism? Before baptism. Dorempa stood still in his ce and looked out the window. His gaze seemed to be fixed on something very far away. A moment. A handful of seconds. He absorbed not only the memories of his ancestors but also of the Frost Dragon, the supreme being. No matter how vast his ego might be, he couldnt fully preserve them. No matter how much he tried to recall and engrave, the moment he existed as Dorempa was faint and blurred. He answered calmly. Like a long winter, a fleeting moment when a flower blooms and withers quickly gets buried. I see. The chieftain handed his final words of advice to the Hero and turned away. Please help my daughter to enjoy many things. Every strong emotion, whether its a small happiness or anxiety. The Hero looked at his retreating figure and suddenly recalled an old memory. Lets meet again, friend! Even though the Great Snow Sea is ridiculously vast, the ties of fate are strong, so well see each other someday! It was a very strange feeling. * * * The preparations to depart for Rosenstark were quicklypleted. Or rather, there werent really any preparations to speak of. Since Larze had agreed to teleport us. After finishing our business at the hideout and reuniting with Nyhill who had returned. I picked up the two horses that had been left at the guard stable (I hadpletely forgotten about them), and we headed to the meeting ce with Larze. Come to think of it, although I had brought Nyhill here, unlike during the Lonkers, we mostly moved separately. I thought of it as giving her some time off. However, the child I hadnt seen in a long time seemed somewhat off. At first nce, she seemed as expressionless as usual. But somehow, a sense of frustration seemed to linger like a shadow. What happened? Your expression is dark. No, its just a bit tired. Really? Its not because Mother Ghost was babbling nonsense? No, its not. Thank you for your concern. It didnt seem like it was nothing. However, Nyhills lips remained firmly sealed. Since she didnt seem to have any intention of speaking right away, there was nothing I could do but observe her more closely. As a result, I clearly concluded that something had happened. Ill have to investigate thoroughly after we return. I felt guilty for being negligent. Suddenly- Thats when we arrived at the meeting ce. With the exception of some areas, the pce had a dense barrier blocking magic, so we decided to depart from thekeside cabin where we first met Dorempa. Were here. The emperor wearing a robe and an old woman with a cane came out to meet them. Meanwhile, Larze, who was a bit away from them, stared nkly at the shimmer of theke until she noticed me and her expression fell. There wasnt a word about moving the horses. She grunted, telling him to wait as it would take more time to cast magic to move such arge group all at once. Can we talk for a moment? Just a moment Thats when Euphemia and Barun both approached me simultaneously. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 141 Chapter 141 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Cabin. The thick fog by the deepke scattered hazily through the window. Euphemia, who had been gazing outside the window, turned her gaze back to the Hero. Intently scanning from head to toe, her sharp gaze continued. Why? No, lets deal with the matter at hand first since you seem busy. The Emperor looked weary as usual, but her gaze flickered alive like a freshly honed de. She seemed like someone determined, as if facing an important matter. Hence, the Hero could discern what the Emperors matter was. Is it about the East? The Emperor nodded silently. Yes, a specific n was established yesterday. Soon, a primary vanguardposed of members of the Dawn Knights, a few elites, and heroes will set out. The departure date? It will be around the time Felson returns and joins. The Hero, who had been listening quietly, furrowed his brow. Its much earlier than scheduled. As the Hero knew, the East n roughly looked like this: A vanguard would secretly depart, first piercing through the Great Mountain Range, clearing and upying the outskirts of the enemy territory, while the following rear troops would establish a forward base and stabilize the area. It was a simple military operation, but the preparation process was inevitablyplex. Various information gathering and control, as well as solving problems such asmunication and supply, and preparing for the unstable situation in the western region due to theck of troops. Because of this, the Hero expected the vanguards departure to be no earlier than autumn, even if it was rushed. After all, the Emperor had mentioned that timeframe. But such a sudden change in schedule. Why the rush? The enemys movements are bing increasingly unpredictable. I judged that if we hesitate any longer, we might miss the opportunity. But the pacification of the west is not yetplete. If the troops suddenly leave, civilian casualties will be too high The Emperor interrupted with a dry expression. We have no room to spare for civilian casualties when a rare opportunity hase. As you know, those damn demons who we thought would submit after the Demon Kings defeat are now going crazy. The Hero nodded slowly. Indeed, that was the case. They are not fools. Although not as much as the Demon King, the Hero too must have suffered in the major battle to some extent. Thats why the main demon army retreated, but guerri attacks by some high-ranking demons were bing more frequent. It was evident from the fact that the number of stakes being driven into the western continent had not decreased at all. Most of the demonic energy production was being used for western containment and the Demon Kings recovery. However, because of that, their army and the defense line of enemy territory have be unusually weak. They wouldnt even think wed attack in reverse. Its something that hasnt happened in centuries, so its natural. Yes. I understand the necessity of the East. But why the sudden change in schedule? Because of anxiety. The Emperor slowly closed her eyelids. Like the factory. I was anxious whether there were more unexpected demonic energy production methods we hadnt anticipated. I was afraid that the Demon King might return even faster than four years and sweep us away unprepared. I rushed the schedule out of fear of missing the opportunity we gained at the cost of Teds life. Weve always been a step behind by just chasing after their tails. I judged that its better to advance the schedule and break through head-on, even if it requires some sacrifices. The Emperor deliberately ended her words while looking directly at the Hero. In fact, this was a matter that sharply divided opinions internally. There were those who opposed, fearing that the expected damages would be greater than anticipated. And there were those who believed that rushing out was advantageous when considering the big picture. It was a tiresome but reasonable story of sacrificing the few for the sake of the many. He will surely criticize. The Emperor knew she wouldnt be weed with this story. Its like the situation with the Lonkers. At that time, she was aware of the damage but didnt send troops. There were more important things than preventing disasters in a few secluded rural viges. But this time, although the context was simr, the scale was different. The damages caused by the unexpectedly early conquest of the east will likely be much greater. She expected a few words of criticism and cold stares about her humanity. If he wore Teds face and uttered harsh words, it would certainly be unpleasant. But for him, who had exerted himself for the salvation of everyone without rest for the past few months, he had every right to despise such words. But. Understood. ? The Emperors puzzled expression at that dry response. The Hero also nodded casually. Why are you doing that? Is it over? Hmm Ill pray for good luck. The Emperor briefly opened her mouth, then closed it again. Why? Whats going on? She hadnt imagined such a response from the impostor after observing his behavior all this time. Seeing the Emperors questioning gaze, the Hero let out a small sigh. It was only then that he figured out what she was thinking. Euphemia. Why. Theres something I didnt sayst time. Last time? From Lonkers No, from before that. Euphemias eyebrows narrowed at the sudden remark. No, it wasnt just the content that was sudden. Even the tone and choice of words were strangely out of ce. Rough and unrefined word selection and pronunciation. She soon realized that the impostor wasnt impersonating the Hero. You But he continued without paying attention to her. Over the past few months, Ive been truly happy and proud to y the role of the Hero. It was the first time I rescued so many people with my own strength. So? But soon, I had many thoughts. The impostor looked at the Emperor with sunken eyes. Did I really do my best? What? The sluggish voice picks up pace. What if I had spent a few more months busier and more diligent in Rosenstark? So that I could replicate the real Hero faster and be stronger. So that I could suppress Desmond at the auction house faster. So that I could find Noubelmag and go to Lonkers faster. So that I could arrive at Jedo faster. So that I could kill Harlems bastards and track down the factory faster. What if? Would things have been different if I had been a bit more cunning and bold? It was agonizing, and thats why I kept having these thoughts. It was the first time in a few months that she had heard the Doppelgangers inner thoughts. Euphemia stared at him intently. Having had many simr thoughts long ago for simr reasons, she knew the answer to the question the impostor posed. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 To gain power. Because of gaining power, right? Power widens the range of choices but also makes one keenly aware of the responsibility. The impostor nodded. Thats right. Still weak, but now he had enough power to reach out to some of the unfortunate events around him. Living parasitically in human society, the Doppelganger hade to wield influence over many peoples lives. And that influence would undoubtedly grow immeasurably in the future. It was a realization that was bing increasingly apparent. Pressure. It was an emotion I had never felt before in my life. Naturally, I had these thoughts. Then what about the Emperor, the ruler of this empire? What weight is she carrying in her heart? Euphemia replied casually, as if throwing it out. Seems like youre thinking of something pretty grandiose. All thats dulled a long time ago. Is this kind of emotion something that can be dulled? Its simple. Weigh the options and make the choice that seems more rational. Thats all. Right. The impostor spoke in a t tone. Because you thought your scale was more urate than anyone elses, the real you made the decision. A choice she couldnt even be sure of and felt guilty about. The Emperor bit her lips tightly at his words affirming that choice. It was also the moment when the impostors tone softened. There was a warmth that was hard to find in Ted, and it lingered around him. So I wont second-guess your choice. Ill just help make the other side of the scale feel lighter, just like the Original did. By the time the fake had finished speaking, the emperor had turned her head halfway. He continued his words, looking at the side of the emperors face. Remember what I told youst time? What. I asked you to tell me if there was a stake of the right grade. I will have the children subdue it in order to gain practical experience and increase their progress. I think its too early for them now. No. My children and I grew much faster than expected. Now I can handle quite a few variables. So lets try to reduce civilian casualties caused by the troop gap as much as possible. By removing some weight from the opposite side of the scale, Ill help make your choice a little less painful. Thats what the Doppelganger was saying. His boldness and kindness didnt even amuse her. Quite presumptuous. They really are simr. The Emperor chuckled softly and decided to quickly end this conversation. Okay, enough grandeur. Lets get to the results. Although her mouth had never stumbled before, it was causing trouble now. But the impostor, full of consideration, didnt point it out and simply nodded calmly. Indeed. After that, the conversation proceeded quickly. The Emperor conveyed several matters in a very businesslike tone. Shee mentioned that the regr reports on the northern pacification process would be sent to Dorempa and Ivar, and Shadows would be tasked with finding suitable targets for pacification and passing them on to Number 3. As soon as the brief conversation was over, the Hero left the cabin. No, he tried to leave. Until the Emperors calm words struck him in the back. You. You almost died at the factory. What? It seems like the report of someone who imed to have safelypleted the subjugation was false. The Hero felt sweat trickling down his back. How did she know? And at that moment, the image of Larze and the Emperor conversing in one corner of the banquet hall shed through his mind. As expected, shes acting on his own. Perhaps the Emperor wondered how he viewed the role of the Hero, sparking this strange curiosity. The Hero sighed and prepared a few excuses. . . . After all themotion, or rather the conversation, had ended, the Hero headed back towards thekeside. Whether the conversation had ended or not, Nyhill was standing in front of Larzes magic circle with Barun. Earlier, Barun had requested to have a brief conversation with Nyhill. I feel somehow drawn to this child, so Id like to exchange a few more words. Feeling it would be odd to refuse, I granted permission. The Hero carefully observed Nyhills expression. He couldnt quite tell what they had talked about, but there seemed to be a slight lifting of the shadows that had been cast heavily on her face. At that moment, Larze suddenly butted in. Are the chatterboxes done yet? Thank you. For what? For personally delivering my exploits. I would have been disappointed if you hadnt mentioned them. Oh, that? No problem. Larze retorted sarcastically and waved his staff. Shall we start heading back now? Suddenly, a bright light emanated from the magic circle in front of thekeside. Intricate lines and symbols intertwined in front of him, enough to evoke admiration. It had only been two weeks since leaving the academy. Moreover, thanks to Larze, the return was much faster than nned. However, the Hero felt as if he had been away longer than he actually had. The quiet and calm correctional facility, the silent and warm researchb, the voices of the children chattering they all came and went like a hallucination. Yeah, lets go back. To Rosenstark. Wooosh-! Soon, a white light enveloped two horses and three humans. Only the old woman and the Emperor remained by thekeside. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 142 Chapter 142 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Hmm The two stood silent for a moment, gazing at the fading light. Both Euphemia and Barun looked lost in their own thoughts. Breaking the brief silence, it was the Emperor who spoke first. Its time to go back. She tucked her silver hair, tousled by the wind, into her robe and turned away. Towards the entrance where the attendants were waiting. Barun voiced her subdued observation then. It seems the hero has brightened up. Just like old times. The Emperor stood tall, turning to look at Barun. The old womans wrinkled eyes still faced where the hero had disappeared. She looked closely at her eyes to see if she had noticed something, but it didnt feel that way. Relieved, the Emperor responded. Brightened up like old times? Of course, Your Majesty. Euphemia tilted her head. I wonder what makes you think so. The old woman burst into a clearughter as if feeling ageless at thement. Both of you wereughing as you walked out of the cabin. Ah. As the Emperor reflexively touched her own face. Barun leaned on her staff, continuing in a gentle tone. Ive always thought there was a ce more suitable for the hero than the battlefield. Didnt know it would be the academy though. I dont think Ted would appreciate that sentiment. He wouldnt be one to take offense at an old womans small observation, Your Majesty. Barun imagined Ted Redymer standing at the lectern. Passing on the strength and wisdom to navigate through these turbulent times to the young sessors. Surely shining brightly. In the past, everyone was drawn to that light. Even young heroes would undoubtedly be the same. She hoped even the young ghost who had been hiding in the darkness all her life would find that light. Sometimes I imagine the two of you born into a peaceful and tranquil era. Thats an odd imagination. After a pause, the Emperor asked again. What do you think? The same. That you two would end up bing friends after all the fighting. Euphemia smirked. Mocking the Emperor, Barun, thats quite irreverent. Please take pity on the old sheep who will soon go to the Lord even if she is not hung on the gallows. Your majesty. What. After showing off her Harlem jokes, the saint again shifted her cloudy eyes to the western sky. And then she murmured softly. I pray for the day when both of you will be freed from all obligations and responsibilities. Euphemia murmured quietly, feeling the mingled scent of water and wind. Thank you. . . . Meanwhile, Felson was fully focused on reinforcement. Being able to detect everything isnt the panacea. Everyone, try sending a detection spell at me just as you learned. The children who followed the instructions let out amazed sighs. Ohh Felson was clearly there in front of them. But no matter how far they extended their mana, his presence couldnt be detected. Its one of the applications of detection, called reverse detection. It captures the mana of the opponents detection and disrupts it to conceal their presence. Special agents, like those in the Dark Division, often specialize in this technique. In the demonic energy-filled battlefield like the Demonic Realm, it was one of the essential skills for performing operations. Additional exnations followed. As the power and precision of controlling mana grow, the effectiveness of reverse detection bes even more outstanding. Gerald raised his hand eagerly. T-then, in arge-scale battle, isnt detection useless? When Felson, who had stopped exining, looked at him nkly, he flinched and shrank back. Afraid he would be ridiculed for asking a stupid question. However, Felson exined in a very gentle tone. Not quite. Even if youre a master of reverse detection, its not easy to maintain it during movement orbat. So, always habitualize detection You should naturally extend it like breathing to immediately detect and respond to unexpected attacks. To the unexpectedly kind answer, the boy, who was ustomed to disdain and scorn, melted with emotion. Other children who had the same question nodded in understanding. They were fully concentrating on Felsons reinforcement, and there were several reasons for that. First and foremost, the reputation of being perfect. Felson Dietrich was a highly renowned hero among the Dawn Knights. Some of his achievements were still selling well in bookstores and novels, and his romance story with his wife who transcended status was still asionally talked about decadester. Moreover, he was also the father of a fellow ssmate (a result of that great romance). It was inevitable that they would feel close to him in many ways. His very gentle and kind teaching methods also yed a role. On a side note, It was the moment where Ban suddenly realized how his father, who was a guest lecturer, was able to seduce and marry his mother, who was an undergraduate student. He was so strict at home! Ban trembled with a slight sense of betrayal Felson, who detected his sons restless mana, deliberately ignored it. So, Ill give you a short break. If anyone wants to ask personal questions,e forward. Me, me, hello! Im your sons ssmate, Evergreen Solintail!! [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 As he answered the enthusiastic blonde girl who rushed forward with a notebook spread out, Felson also found himself immersed in small reflections. In fact, the reinforcement he had unexpectedly taken on was a very enjoyable experience for him as well. He wanted to do it a few more times if given the chance. The level of the children is much higher than expected. They seemed stronger than the high school students he taught at the time. If it were for wartime, they could be polished a little more and put into action. It might be a testimony to how well the hero had taught them. Frankly, it was a bit surprising. Did the Leader really teach so well? Not every genius is capable of teaching everyone. In fact, there tends to be gaps in teaching methods due to cognitive differences. Because their ways of thinking arepletely different. So thats why he was involved in the training of new recruits for the Dawn Knights. Of course, the talents of the children were extraordinary, but they would surely fall shortpared to Ted Redymer. There must have been some areas where they fell short. So, Felson tried toplement those shorings whenever he noticed them. It was unnecessary worry. It seemed like the children, who seemed to have risen from the ground up, were closely taught by the practical expert. All the elements necessary for young geniuses were fully satisfied. Yet, the shes of brilliance and individuality were not overlooked either. So, for Felson, who didnt have much expectation as a teacher from the hero, it was enough to be surprised. Besides, theyre all so diligent and enthusiastic! There was also plenty of extracurricr fun in the ss. That was natural because Felson was roughly the same age as the childrens parents. Some of them were directly acquainted with him. For instance, he was arade who had shared the same barracks with Rnd Bryce, the father of the handsome boy who looked dazed over there. Comparing the appearance of acquaintances from their youth with their children was an enjoyable experience. They were his sons friends andrades, so they were even more special. Lets see. Felsons gaze gradually turned to Ban surrounded by children in one corner of the ssroom. He would soon be drafted into the vanguard for the East. A son he may not see for a very long time. Ban didnt know, but Felsons eyes turned to him whenever there was a gap during the ss. That boy Felson smiled to the point where wrinkles formed around his eyes. He immediately realized that his sons rtionship with his ssmates was very amicable. It was a more than willing experience for Felson, who remembered the gloomy boy who used to only go back and forth between the barracks, library, and corner of the room just a few months ago. Especially when he discovered a few female students who were somewhat distant and nced at him, his smile intensified threefold. Hes like me. He also had an extraordinary poprity in his youth Huh? It was then that Felson realized that his sons gaze asionally wandered to the side even as he chatted with his friends. It was very fast and discreet, but he couldnt avoid his fathers watchful eyes. The red-haired girl sitting by the window at the back. Her sunlit hair sparkled like brilliant mes. She was alone in the ssroom where everyone else was gathered harmoniously, but it seemed clear that it wasnt out of dislike. The granddaughter of the Sword Saint Her name was Leciel. She was the only one who seemed to have a talent superior to his sons. The overwhelming talent was of a magnitude that even he could not fathom. He has eyes like me, looking at her Unfortunately, the girls eyes did not turn towards his son. She seemed lost in thought, repeatedly scribbling with a pen on one corner of her notebook while looking out the window. Seeing the drawing on that corner, Felson couldnt help but secretly sigh deeply. His sons talent was truly formidable. He doesnt resemble me at all. He couldnt help but feel a pang of regret. Because he had never failed. While Felson was contemting what advice he could give to his son as a life mentor and as a love mentor, a cheerful voice rang in his ears. Bans father! Hello! With cheerful sky-blue hair and cute little horns popping out. Felson greeted him with surprise. Ah, Ms. Evans, would you like to Would you like to spar with me after the lecture? Is this a failure in etiquette education? As Felson pondered how to politely decline his sons friends challenge, someone came in. He blinked his eyes with a puzzled expression several times. Hes already here? The hero was smiling faintly, looking at the children from the back window of the ssroom. He was in a position where he could clearly overlook the ssroom, although he wasnt visible to the children sitting in their seats. His expression Even Felson, who had never seen it several times, was struck by the bright face. His eyes were filled with constant interest and affection. It was a sight that was very reassuring as a parent and as a teacher Haha, the members who are obsessed with the leader would be jealous if they saw this. Whether he was using reverse detection to conceal his presence, none of the children seemed to know that the hero hade. When Felsons eyes met his, the hero quietly ced his index finger on his lips. Secret observation, huh. Felson chuckled at the unusual and cute idea. Then he would have to show his achievements so far. p- Felson pped his hands, gathering the scattered attention of the children. And he took out the prepared items. It was a blindfold, earplugs, and a bag of marbles. So, were going to do a simple exercise, is there a student willing to volunteer? Someone raised their hand before anyone else. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 143 Chapter 143 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The children murmured, looking at Leciel heading towards the podium. Oh, whats this? Whats going on? Oh, I was going to do that. Everyone was surprised by the unexpected resource. Of course, everyone knew that Leciel was very enthusiastic about ss. But it was the first time they had seen her take the lead like this. She usually avoided attention. But for some reason, Leciel, with eyebrows narrowed in displeasure, continued to walk confidently towards the podium. In her mind echoed a conversation she had with Evergreen a few days ago in the indoor archery practice hall. Howe youre so popr with the professors? Uh am I? Hehe. I havent really thought about it. Evergreen was modest, but it was a well-known fact. All the professors of the lectures she attended adored Evergreen. Some had already offered her a teaching assistant position. Of course, Evergreen declined due to circumstances. Anyway, in response to Leciels repeated questions, Evergreen revealed her secret. Its nothing special, really. Um, ask lots of questions? Do assignments well Oh, if they need a demonstration, I always volunteer. Um. But are you doing it to impress a certain professor? Most professors would already like you. Although it wasnt a lecture directly hosted by the Hero, it was a supplementary lesson entrusted to a close colleague. When the Hero returned, they would be the first to ask about the ss. There was no way they wouldnt mention a student who performed the demonstration perfectly and wlessly. Leciel calcted as she met the curious and expectant gaze directed at her. Do you know how the demonstration will proceed? Wearing blindfolds and earplugs, using only detection to avoid the dummy? Exactly. The demonstration willst about 5 minutes Felson nodded, picking up the dummy. If it seems difficult to avoid, put mana on the hit area. Ill swing gently, but the dummy may hurt more than you think. That seems about right. Leciel silently stared at the sturdy dummy. Even when wrapped in her hand, it seemed like it wouldst a while. It will take some time to adapt to the absence of senses, so when youre ready, let me know. Yes. If you want to stop, just say so. That would never happen. Leciels hand reached for the blindfold and earplugs on the desk. . . . Wooong-! As the mana prated her eyes and ears, Leciel staggered for a moment. At the same time. Felson swung the dummy and stretched his body. The bright sunlight streaming into the ssroom through the window. The ticking of the clock on the wall. The childrens murmuring voices all instantly faded away. As expected, the blindfold and earplugs were artifacts. Leciel hesitated, opening and closing her mouth several times. I cant see or hear anything. Despite the abnormalck of vision and hearing, she wasnt surprisingly panicked. It was because of the unexpected sensation. It was when she stayed at the main house. Dont do anything useless and go to bed early. It helps with recovery. In her small room, everything that disturbed her sleep was cleared away. Thick curtains that didnt allow a handful of moonlight or starlight. In the quiet darkness, she would lie still, afraid of feeling nothing at all, sometimes pinching her own arms before falling asleep. Its simr to that. Wooowooong-! After a brief shback, Leciel slowly extended her mana forward. With her vision and hearing excluded, her mana felt sharper than ever. Her control was also more precise. The ssroom was vividly drawn before her, even though she couldnt see. She felt she understood why senses were restricted in detection training. Okay, this should be enough. Leciels mouth opened. Im ready. Although her tongue and lips moved, no sound could be heard. Even the slight head movement in response to the strange feeling was brief. Leciel stood up straight. A good performance. A perfect performance. Avoid everything without missing a single one. In that moment of determination. Tsstststst-! Something was caught in the threads of mana spread out like spider silk. The vivid illusion of the dummy emerged from the pitch-ck darkness. Leciel quickly turned her body in the opposite direction. A strong wind brushed past her shoulders. Its fast. Dodging attacks without seeing or hearing was more difficult than she thought. A push towards the abdomen. A thrust towards the head. A kick towards the legs. The dummys attacks were cunningly timed, and Leciel hurriedly moved her body ording to the information provided by her detection. She was moving so quickly that she didnt even think about letting her hair, which was floating in the air,e down. Hold on for 5 minutes? Thud- As she stepped back and her back touched the wall, Leciels expression twisted. Focusing only on the front detection had blurred her spatial awareness. And Its risky. No blows were allowed. But one kept hitting her body. Leciel bit her lip. Actually, even just doing this much exceeded Felsons expectations. In the first ce, hearing and vision are essential elements in evasive maneuvers. To avoid attacks perfectly with only detection, while binding these two, was a task even seasoned heroes found difficult in realbat. Moreover, with Felsons exceptional skill, and wielding the dummy, it said enough. Yet, despite swinging loosely, Leciel skillfully avoided nearly thirty attacks without major danger. I thought Shed get hit once or twice. If Dietrich is to uphold reputation as the master of detection, Ill have to work harder. Both Felson swinging the dummy and the children in the ssroom were amazed by Leciels movements. Cheers, admiration-filled faces, sporadic apuse were directed at the girl. But Leciel couldnt know this. Because she couldnt hear anything or see anything. In fact, she anticipated peoples disappointment. I need to do better. Leciel grew increasingly anxious. Unfortunately, anxiety was an emotion that didnt help with detection. At a moment when her entangled mana became loose. Thud- Ugh. The dummy lightly tapped her forehead. It wasnt terribly painful, like Felson had feared, but it was somewhat humiliating. Gritting her teeth, Leciel leaped to the side. Thud- Ow. One, then followed by a poke to her stomach. It was a thrust with minimal force, but the hit was painful due to the vulnerable area. The abdomen. There was a world of difference between allowing an attack while being aware of it and being hit without knowing it. A feeble cry escaped her lips as the soft abdomen was pressed against the dummy. Even though she couldnt hear it, it must have been pathetic. Leciel shook her head irritably. Whats going on? Something felt a bit off. The sensation of the attacks was different. It felt as if someone else was holding the dummy. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Initially, it felt like a demonstration, but the attacks became faster and more relentless over time. Did professor Felson change his attack pattern? Leciel pondered this question as she narrowly avoided the next few attacks. However Thunk- Ah! Thud- Ugh! Thwack- Eek! Thud- Ow. She had dodged them all until now. But since the change in the attack pattern, it seemed like she was getting hit three out of four times. Moreover, the one she missed at the end hit her square in the nose. This one hurt a bit more. It hurts. Leciel remembered that even a slight hit to her nose would make her eyes water. But what hurt more was her shattered pride. I messed up. Due to her dizzy mind, her detectionwork became even more sloppy. Continuing like this would only further tarnish her reputation. Leciel bit her lip again. I should have practiced detection more. It was a problem that arose from hearing that the Hero spent an hour practicing archery every day, so she removed two hours from her schedule. The thought of what the professor might say to the Hero as a result filled her with dread. Ill stop. Leciel removed the blindfold and earplugs with a dejected expression. It took a few more seconds to adapt to the suddenly brightened vision and the noisy sounds assaulting her ears. Wow, how did you avoid the professors attacks so many times? Was it four hits? Leciel is truly a legend. Hey, I tried sensing with my eyes closed and ears covered too. How did she do that? Difference in detection Did you make holes in the blindfold? Gerald. Yeah, Ill shut up. The children who she had expected to be disappointed were unexpectedly eximing in admiration. Their reaction was quite pleasing. Leciel silently gazed at the Hero dressed in travel clothes. She just watched. Coincidentally, he had also put down the dummy. Disappointment? Relief? Embarrassment? She couldnt tell. When she noticed a whirlwind of emotions swirling within the Heros eyes, Lecielpletely forgot how she had been feeling just a moment ago. Satisfaction. Even she, who was insensitive to others emotions, could distinctly sense satisfaction emanating from the Hero. In fact, as the Hero, he couldnt help but be satisfied. It had only been two weeks since he left Rosenstark. But to achieve such results in such a short time. At a nce, the Hero realized that Leciel had learned Felsons techniques well and achieved significant progress. For him, who felt pressured to deploy the children into realbat in a few months, there couldnt have been better news. As the Heros voice reached Leciel, who was pursing her lips slightly. You did well. Leciel didnt know what to do for a moment but eventually bowed her head. She had even forgotten that her nose was hurting. . . . Theboratory, which had been quiet as if time had stopped, was filled with a sense of tranquility. Pia must have taken good care of it, the documents that needed approval were neatly arranged on one corner of the desk, and the floor was free of dust. The feeling of emptiness came from the fact that someone who should have been sitting there with tousled hair and tired eyes was absent. Pia The Hero discovered a note and unfolded it. Neat handwriting caught his eye. [Have you safely finished your tasks? Thank you foring earlier than scheduled, and Im sorry I couldnt wee you in person Why did there have to be an Awaken clinical conference today of all days! I wanted to have a meal together at least. Ille see you early tomorrow morning.] p.s Theres my favorite bakery bread in the drawer, so eat it if you want to. See you tomorrow. The Hero tucked the note into his pocket and sat down at the desk. He lifted the pen to finish the remaining paperwork, but soon lowered it again with a shallow sigh. Unknowingly, his mind was upied by the afternoon scene in the ssroom. Did I really do well? Leciel, whose hair and nose color had be identical. Wow, Professor! Wee back! It was so boring without you here! All of us sessfullypleted our assignments, isnt it amazing? Despite it only being two weeks, his students greeted him warmly as if they hadnt seen him for months. Felson watched them with a proud smile on his face. The Hero tapped the bread bag on the desk with his finger. Crunch- It was from a popr shop where you had to wait in line for quite some time. A strange feeling enveloped him, one he had never experienced before. The Hero chuckled in disbelief. I didnt expect this. When he first came to Rosenstark, the students were more like tools to him. They were resources that needed to be developed and essential elements for the goal of human survival. In other words he considered them merely as means to an end. Thinking that way made it easier for him to put a heavy burden on their shoulders. But it was an absurd thought. However, now it was impossible for the Hero to think like that. The past few months had been enough time to get to know the children individually. He had seen their human side, their pain. The means to protect had turned into the purpose to protect in those moments. Now, the thought of deploying the kids into realbat made him uneasy. Realbat The word felt unusually heavy today. Considering the timing, they would probably go outside the academy with the children at the beginning of the second semester. Naturally, memories of the real battles he had experienced shed through his mind. From the auction house, Longkers, Harlem, to the factory. None of them were easy. No matter how carefully we choose the targets for extermination and supervise them, well inevitably encounter unexpected dangers. Thats why he needed to get stronger. Controlling the variables and protecting the children was the only way. Fortunately, the means and methods for this were already avable. Following the guidance of the Iris of Lace. In other words, they needed to find the treasures of Larze and the Wolfs Statue. But were not ready yet. The coordinates of the treasure pointed to the depths of the demonic realm. When he asked Larze about it, she said that even she couldnt freely roam around in a ce with such heavily infested demonic energy. Demonic energy affects all judgments of mana negatively. Demonic energy is like poison to delicate and advanced mana like teleportation. I see. But why are you asking about this? The treasure of the Wolfs Statue was presumed to be the blessing of Zero. He didnt mention it to Larze because he thought it was premature to talk about something rted to Zero to someone like her who was obsessed with it. Someday Ill have to ask for her help, though. Anyway. To obtain the treasure, they would have to travel on foot from a point where teleportation was possible to the depths. However, his strength was somewhatcking for that. No matter how strong Ive be, its difficult to face the twisted monsters in the depths of the demonic realm alone. Thats why more training was needed. They needed to quickly get the treasure of the Wolfs Statue to maintain their current rapid growth. There was no time to waste. The Hero clenched his fist. Its foolish to trust in four years of time and becent. In fact, the anxiety felt by the Emperor had been harbored by him since before. The demons always threatened humans with methods far beyond their expectations. They might be pulling some strange trick this time too. It was calm before the storm. Those who were unprepared would be swept away by the raging wind. As his thoughts reached that point, the Hero postponed the paperwork for a moment. He had nned to outline the next lecture, but it didnt seem easy in this mood. He wanted to have confidence that he had grown and could be even stronger. And for that, the Iris of Lace were the most suitable. The Hero activated one of the functions of the Iris of Lace for the first time in a long while. Would you like to view the list of avable avatars? Wooooow- Countless names appear in the translucent notice. Among the list that was full of enemies that Original had experienced, there were now a few enemies that he had defeated. But there was something else he decided to deal with today. The Hero began manipting the settings in detail. Factory of demi-humans has been added to the list of deployable battlefields. Loading saved battlefield: Factory of demi-humans Setting up a sparring avatar. The target has zero chance of winning. The target cannot be perfectly replicated. Depending on the function, only a portion of the originals power will be reproduced. Would you like to proceed with the training? The Hero nodded silently. There was no better opponent than this to intuitively realize how much he had grown. It was someone who had always been strong, even when he was infinitely weak. Setting up the avatar: Battle with Ted Redymer. It was time to sh swords with him for the first time in a long time. [TL/N: Damn. They all miss him a lot.] [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 144 Chapter 144 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 When I closed my eyes and opened them again, a forest that looked exactly like the one in my memory stretched out before me. The sun was setting faintly in the western sky. Twilight was creeping closer from the depths of the forest. The only difference from my memory was that the outskirts of the forest were surrounded by a hazy mist-like substance. Perhaps this was the limit of the space that could be created by avatar training. Whew. I took a deep breath and faced forward. Whooong- A crimson dome-shaped barrier enveloped the white buildings. This barrier was a challenge that needed to be dealt with before confronting Ted Redymer. If I go out for external suppression activities, Ill encounter many barriers like this. Even the pile inside the stakes were like that. In fact, it was rare to be able to easily enter the interior of a pile like during Lonkers. Back then, because Malekia, who was the administrator at the time, had pulled all the demonic energy for demon and monster production, the stake had be an empty house. Usually, strong protective devices were installed outside the stake as valuable cores were located inside. Such barrier formations were the mostmon examples. Whooong- At the end of my extended senses, I felt an abnormally dense concentration of mana. Its definitely sturdy. Just a few days ago, it was only possible to break it by using Halo at maximum output. I had to hesitate because I had to leave some strength to fight the enemies inside. Once I open the Third re, it would be different from back then. Now, then. It was time to test the new technique. Whooong- As I drew mana as guided by the core, a strange sensation pierced from my temples to my toes. It was evidence that the mana within my body and the mana in the atmosphere were resonating. This is the preparation stage for the Third re. Originally, for a warrior to substitute the mana in the atmosphere with their own mana. They had topress and refine it for a long time and umte it within their body. However, Third re was a method of temporarily controlling and condensing the mana in the atmosphere and pushing it into the body. Its simr to how a mage borrows mana from the atmosphere through a magic circle. Thats why it was temporary, but it allowed for much stronger output than usual. In fact, it was beyondmon sense for a human, not even a dragon species, to manipte mana in its natural state without any magical assistance. Mana sensitivity was an art that only Ted Redymer, who transcended even geniuses, could achieve. Tsstsstsst- Mana, which should not be visible to the naked eye in its natural state, appeared in the form of faint shimmering light. Dozens of meters of mana around me temporarily came under control, giving rise to a thrilling sense of omnipotence. However, I must not be swept away by this. I suppressed and condensed the surging mana, then forcibly pushed it into my body. Ugh. A truly ferocious power surged through my entire body. Refining it into the opposite attribute, when it collided, a nova would be manifested. However, what was needed now was not speed but overwhelming destructive power. Just a little more. Then, at that moment. All the energy poured out suddenly, and the sensation of pressure that had been pressing on my body evaporated in the blink of an eye. Ah. I sighed in admiration as I looked at the shining ck Hope beneath the darkened sky. Whooong! It was simr in size to the previous Halo, but the color had changed. Boiling incandescence, The strength of the aura swirling around the hand holding the sword was enough to make it tremble. Condensed Halo. After that, it was the same as a few days ago. I pushed away the condensed Halo just like Larze had done. The beam that cut through the night sky like a shooting star collided head-on with the barrier. !! All I had to do was watch. As the mes rose into the sky, devouring the surface of the barrier, leaving nothing behind. When the explosion and sh subsided, the ominous barrier that had surrounded the factory site was nowhere to be seen. Its stronger than I expected. If I had generated this much destructive power on my own, I would have not only consumed most of my mana but also been exhausted. However, thanks to using nearby mana, my body felt strangely light. Enough to perform the second battle without any difficulty. I didnt hesitate and struck the ground. Inside, he was waiting. * * * For the past few months, whenever I had free time, I consistently conducted avatar training. I sparred with disciples who were now capable of being manifested and even fought against formidable opponents that I wouldnt have dared to face before. However, except for the initial few times driven by curiosity, I hardly fought Original. The reason being It was useless anyway. The Iris of Lace had revealed that due to the limitations of their functions, they couldnt fully replicate his abilities. Therefore, the avatar was probably much weaker than the real Ted Redymer. But I couldnt even withstand a single sword strike from him. Even after awakening Halo. The same was true when I awakened Nova. As soon as I faced him, I suffered fatal injuries, and the training ended. Even when pushing Nova to the limit, I could only see faint traces. The attacks were ruthless, impervious to any defense or evasion. It was a strength that was fundamentally different from the leisurely sparring and duels I had while learning the sword at the former hideout. The intention to peek at techniques, methods, and know-how, and to rehearse the level I would reach in the future, became meaningless at that moment. But itll be different now. Ipletely liberated the domain of the ck Hope with the help of the 3rd Form and Larze. I should be able to engage in several battles at least. With such hope in mind, I walked slowly out of the alley. It was the very battlefield where I had defeated the demon-worshipping cultists fused with demons. In the center of it all. A man stood conspicuously. Step by step, Ted Redymer turned his head and stared in this direction at the sound of footsteps. It was a sight I saw every day in the mirror, but seeing it as an avatar was different. A thorough poker face. . Seeing that figure, several thoughts crossed my mind, but I was able to suppress them. After all, that wasnt Ted in the first ce. It was just an avatar activated for training. As evidence, he didnt recognize me at all. Only his expressions and posture were those that Ted would take. Focus. He hadnt grasped the ck Hope behind him yet, but I couldnt rx. After all, he was at a level where preparatory actions were meaningless. I slowly drew out my greatsword. However, even after gripping the weapon, the tension only increased gradually. Tock- Cold sweat slowly trickled down my cheek. How should I express this? It was impossible to breathe out unless I was very conscious of it. I couldnt easily make preparatory movements, and whenever I tried to move, strange imaginations shed through my mind. If I walked forward, my throat would be slit. If I turned sideways, my waist would be cut. If I retreated, I would be pierced through. Is this what it means to be the hero? The real enemies would have encountered a body much stronger than that avatar on the battlefield. I could understand why demons would detach themselves from Ted Redymer. However, it was time to move now. Tsstsstssts- The second re was a bit smoother. The mana in the atmosphere surged and condensed, being absorbed into me. While I worried about what he might do if he attacked. . Ted simply nced at me as if to say, Do whatever you can. I was fortunate. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Im going all out. For now, Nova was essential to keep up with his speed. Tsstsstssts- It was apanied by a faint sparking sound. In an instant, the world slowed down and fell silent. I realized that this extent was much more severe than usual. The dust particles floating in the air were visible down to each speck. In the midst of it, a bright white lightning bolt streaked through. Unlike the previous blue arc of Nova, the color had changed again. The recoil on my body was as intense as the enhanced effect. Even though I was standing still, I felt a dizzying sensation of falling from a great height and pressure on my body. I immediately realized that I couldnt maintain this condensed Nova for a few more seconds. I had to fight. The ident shot through my body like an arrow. Kwaaaang! A powerful kick against the ground. But that wasnt the end. Fwurrururk! A sharp purple me rose from the ck Hope, twisting like a snake. Unrecognizable symbols and forms emitted light where the mes passed. Wooooong- At the same time, the 3rd stage of the domain was activated, and a strong gravitational force pulled us together. Ted to me, I to Ted. It was a collision. Kwaaaah! The sword strike aimed at my throat stopped halfway in mid-air, unable to reach me. Ted appeared in front of me, as if teleporting, and swung his sword. Byak-! The moment the ck Hopes met, the bones in both my arms were misaligned and broke at the same time. But rather than pain, there was much more joy. Atst! I had blocked the first blow that couldnt be stopped by any means. I recovered from the injuries using Polymorph and kicked his feet as if sweeping the ground. However, as a sinister sensation brushed against the back of my neck, I withdrew the kick halfway and rolled backward. Thunk! Sure enough, the ck Hope was stuck exactly where the leg would have passed through vertically. It was so fast. If I had continued the attack, I would have been skewered like a kebab. Hwoong! I got up as if bouncing off the ground and stabbed with the sword. However, the counterstrike only floundered in empty space. I quickly turned around and retrieved the sword towards my side. I felt an attack approaching through extended senses. Kraang! Thus, I barely managed to block the second attack. I didnt resist the force pushing me away, but rolled in the opposite direction as if flying. Woooooong! At the same time, I set up a powerful gravity field behind Ted, hindering his movement. It was to regain posture and recover. The 2nd stage of the domain, the gravity field exerted a strong gravitational force, causing a sandstorm on the ground. For a moment, a strong wind blew. Kwaddaddeuk! Even the thick, beautiful Aramid trees around me were all bent like bows, pouring out leaves. But Ted remained calm without any signs of shaking. Step by step, he approached with his ash-colored hair fluttering like a lions mane. As if not feeling threatened at this level, he didnt even rush. A strange joy surged within me. [PR/N: Maso?] As expected, theres a long way to go. I had expected that. It wasnt a level I could achieve in just a few months. Even though I was facing an imperfect avatar, I couldntst even a few seconds and was defeated. But today, there was one thing I could clearly understand. That Ive be much stronger than before. That Ive progressed. I had gotten closer to him. I wanted to confirm this. And I wanted to show it. How strong I had be. How much effort I had put in, even in such a short time. Though just a simtion avatar created by magic, I wanted to show it in front of him. This irrational and irrational desire must have been something I learned as I became more like humans. Ted raised his sword. Phew! It was a thrust so precise and sharp that there was simply no way to evade it. It was a deration of perfect victory. ng- My own ck Hope, which had reached out to meet it, fell to the ground. But I didnt look at the ck Hope that pierced my abdomen. Teds gaze didnt fall on it either. Flutter- The hilt slowly falling from the air. I proudly spoke up. Now. Not a bad showing, wouldnt you say? There was no answer. It was natural. It was just an avatar meant to defeat a sparring partner, not one with a consciousness. Wooooong- Instead of an answer, there was a white sh. Perhaps in an attempt to make a proper conclusion, he raised his mana for the first time in front of me, who was about to die. A beacon of salvation. Perhaps due to the radiant halo surrounding him, his figure wasnt clearly visible. That must be why. His face, barely visible, seemed to have a faint smile. Because people, after all, see what they want to see. Avatar training terminated. Training evaluation: D Overall Numerous unnecessary breaths Overall Dependency on grappling techniques Overall Overconfidence in recovery ability, need for restraint Currently assessing overall performance Comprehensive evaluation: Plenty of room for improvement Plenty of room for improvement indeed. It was certainly not a false statement. That was the moment I was reading the finalment. Comprehensive evaluation: One with abundant potential Additionalment: One who walks their own path [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 145 Chapter 145 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The heat of midsummer poured down toward the earth. The scorching air and the lingering humidity were unbearable even for the climate-insensitive doppelganger. It seems like this summer is even hotter. The Hero got off at the magic train station. The sunlight was strong, forcing him to shield his eyes as he looked around. But not for long. He shifted his halted steps. The heat rising from the ground pierced through the soles of his boots, stinging his feet. As befitting a school founded by the greatest mage in history, the interior of the Rosenstark building was magically designed to maintain pleasant temperatures even in this sweltering heat. However, it was impossible to extend thisfort to the vast outdoor grounds. Perhaps thats why, as the final exams wereing to an end. Despite the students having time to rx and enjoy themselves, there was no one in the courtyard. They were probably lounging in the lounge with connectors in hand. But unfortunately, he had ns for today. From the station to the library of memories, just about a five-minute walk away, the Hero hurriedly made his way. And at that moment, he encountered someone he hadnt expected to see here. Professor Labin? On the other side, Professor Labin was walking towards him. With an ageless, robust physique and a stern demeanor. He too seemed to have spotted the Hero, his eyes slightly furrowing. The Hero also narrowed his eyes. Of course, for slightly different reasons. In this weather, wearing a suit? Labin was dressed in a sophisticated ck suit. It was a refined garment that exuded dignity and solemnity, but it felt overly formal for everyday wear. It was suitable for important appointments or formal asions. However, the Hero knew there were no such grand events or gatherings at Rosenstark today. Especially since there were no buildings nearby except for the library. Are you on your way to browse your memories? Sweat beads dripped down the old mans wrinkled face, but he only wiped them away with a handkerchief without taking off his coat. After a very brief nod (which went unnoticed), Professor Labin walked past the Hero. . . . A romantic and tragic person. A romantic what? I looked at Rosalyn, who was uttering epithets that didnt suit Labin at all. She smiled as she dusted off the dust from the stack of books with a duster. Oh, about 30 years ago. Mr. Labin beganing to the library every year to record his memories. Mr. Labin Hawk to Rosalyn. At times like this, he was reminded that she had been an ancient magical being since the beginning of Rosenstark. But about ten years ago, he stopped recording new memories altogether and just reminisces, thats the story. That exnation will do. Oh my, youre not even going to dig deeper, Ted? There was a hint of suspicion. A few months ago, Yussis step-sister was plotting to seize the position of headmaster. He asked Nyhill to investigate the professors. He had received various data, including Labins. Rosalyns words were enough to bring back the forgotten contents. Hmm. Rosalyn seemed to lose interest in cleaning and sat down on the stack of books on the floor. By the way, Ted. Youve already read all the memories, so why are you still here? Recently, a few genuine memories had been unlocked with slight progress. Though disturbing, thankfully they werent as horrific as the first one. They were more like what I expected. Memories of his days as a student, for example. Memories with hisrades in the Dawn Knights. Thanks to recalling those mundane memories, hisprehension had increased slightly. Ted Redeemer: 63/100 Ted? Cant you hear me? Why am I still here? Didnt you tell me toe find you anytime if I wanted to discuss future ns? Hmm, do you need advice even with that great magician around? It was necessary. Larze had recently joined the allied forces. By now, she would have crossed the Great Mountains and reached the outskirts of the Boundary. It wasnt the right time for a conversation. Moreover, discussing future directions with Rosalyn, who wont go anywhere, was wiser than trying to predict Larzes actions. Anyway, she already knew I wasnt real. She wasnt showing it, though. Click! When Rosalyn snapped her fingers, a fancy tea set appeared before them. She handed him a cup of warm tea, leaning toward him as if to suggest they talk. With iced tea. As I sipped the ice tea, I reflected on the past two months. Since returning to the capital, time had passed surprisingly quickly due to various misceneous tasks. First, Felson. He had returned to the capital and joined the vanguard of the allied forces. By now, he would have crossed the Great Mountains with Larze. It was difficult to receive real-time news in areas with dense demonic energy. ording to Euphemia, everything seemed to be going smoothly. Meanwhile, Yussi had sessfully avoided Merians threat for the time being. Merian, who fell into a trap and suffered heavy losses, had returned to Glendor. It was also thanks to unexpected help. I want to repay the Headmasters kindness. Please ept it. Pias generous donation from Awayken research relieved Yussis financial burden. It was a moment when her decisive action, despite the frequent failures of the Awayken project, shone. It was said that the final clinical trial of Awayken would begin around the start of the vacation. Thanks to that, Pia became much busier. To the extent that it is difficult to concentrate on teaching assistant work like before. So eventually, Ipromised with the auxiliary employment that I had previously ruled out as absolutely not allowed. Hey, didnt you ask about hiring a student to help with my workst time? So-called work-study students. Since Rosenstarks tuition was already free, they were hired in the form of stipends. Nyhilll and Evergreen were assigned. Nyhilll seemed somewhat disheartened since returning to the capital, so I wanted to keep her in a more visible ce. And since Evergreen seemed eager to send money back home, I epted her. The work-study program started in the second semester. I was hoping that Evergreens cheerful personality would have a positive influence on Nyhilll. So naturally, my thoughts turned to the children. Since recovering the Wolf Statues Treasure set by Iris of Lace as a goal was difficult to proceed with, I focused on progress for about two months. The firewood side was progressing smoothly. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Since the Forest of Martial Arts, the disciples seemed to keenly feel the need for strength. Thanks to that, they made efforts to keep up with rigorous lectures and quickly grew stronger. Their performance in the final exams a few days ago was even more impressive than expected. Among them, there were particrly noticeable changes in Ban and Luke. Banpletely shook off his fear of swords. No, he seemed even braver than the other children. It must have been a gift from the skirmish with Enoch. Hey, now that Im all healed up, lets have a match! Sure. Follow me to the training ground. Huh? He had improved explosively from his previously timid state, to the point where he could hold his own against Cuculli. He was no longer the same person who trembled and fainted in front of stuffed demons at the beginning of the semester. Luke, too, was mastering the new weapon faster than expected. Considering how difficult it was to handle the oversized greatsword, it was indeed a talent recognized by the Iris of Lace. His peak must have risen much higher. Piken-like cavalry. The bizarre madness martial arts of Ravias. In fact, both were close to tricks. They didnt help the practitioners reach a level suitable for the title of Hero Candidate, but they did help them reach a certain level of proficiency much faster than normal progression. In that sense, changing weapons and passing on Felsons martial arts was an excellent choice. Anyway, as all the tasks were progressing smoothly, the only problem was Yes. Rosalyn nced at myplexion and spoke. It seems that the development of the seasonal cycle is not going well. I nodded silently. That was the beginning of the incident. Additional Comment: Those who walk their own path Thisment held special meaning for me. I am a doppelganger. I have lived my entire life imitating the abilities of others. But now I have my own path. Is there originality at the end of replication? The thought urred to me during the season. The umtion and acquisition of experiences in unarmedbat,bat style, and beliefs, eventually culminating in a decisive move. In other words, techniques imbued with each individuals life. If I also have my own path, and thement indicates that I have embarked on that path. I might be able to develop my own seasonal cycle. It was like a solution that came as a blessing in a drought, especially when it was difficult to make clear progress on the tasks. I immediately began developing my own seasonal cycle. But as expected, it wasnt easy. Developing a seasonal cycle wasnt something that could be done quickly or easily. It required facing the depths of ones self and constant reflection and contemtion. Of course, holders of monstrous talents like Leciel could inherit the seasonal cycles of previous generations through bloodlines and early education, but that wasnt applicable to me. It was a moment when the growth trend that had been steep sinceing to Rosenstark reached a standstill. Naturally, I couldnt help but feel impatient. But even after hearing about these circumstances, Rosalyn was very calm. Time will solve everything. I was astonished by her words and retorted. Your advice hasnt been very useful sincest time. But Rosalyn didnt get angry as before. She just looked at me with her calm white eyes, filled with immense knowledge and inner peace. Her gaze was one of observing and understanding the situation from a macroscopic perspective, like that of a life form that had lived for a long time. She repeated her earlier words once again. Youve put in enough effort, so time will solve everything. Theres an old saying that goes, the more haste, the less speed, you know? I wish I had the luxury to feel relieved by such words. For a moment, Rosalyn fell silent as if pondering something, then she suddenly spoke out of the blue. The festival ising soon, isnt it? Thats right? This week marks the end of all final exams for all sses. Next weeks weekdays will be filled with the festival, and summer vacation will begin right after the festival ends. After such a densely packed time, its the first break for everyone. If there are any changes, theylle then. I tilted my head with a skeptical expression. Well, well see if its really a break. The festival is a major event. Various events andpetitions are prepared for the children who have been struggling through a curriculum akin to the military. But where is the fundamental change? Even those events andpetitions are quite intense in their own right. Just on Monday, the Battle Arenas intra-school preliminaries are scheduled. Apetition to select representatives by grade divided intobat and mystery divisions. Students who win in the final round will earn the qualification to participate in the external match scheduled for the end of the year. So theyllpete against students from other academies at the capital. With huge prizes and artifacts at stake, it was clear that even the extreme disciples would surely participate. Since theres nothing for the professors to do until the intra-schoolpetition, itll definitely be a break for Ted too. Once we solve one more headache, that is. Headache. Someone I had forgotten about came to mind, and I frowned. Come to think of it, there was one more ce I needed to go despite this scorching heat. Kadena. The academys prison. One of my students was imprisoned in a correctional facility that one couldnt even see until one graduated, unless one was a serious troublemaker. For the crime of unauthorized entry and damage to property in the Library of Memories. Rosalyn squinted yfully and said, as if teasing me. You should go there soon. The visiting hours at Kadena are short. I had already been thinking about it. I got up from my seat. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 146 Chapter 146 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 A heavy, stark steel door. Traces of corrosion and rust. The foul smell of stagnant water and the agonized, regretful moans of prisoners Such a typical prison scene could not be found in Kadena, of course. I expected it to be like this. Kadena didnt seem as much like a prison as I thought. Since it was my first time stepping foot here (I had only seen the exterior during a school field trip at the beginning of the semester), I looked around from the entrance. Of course, being a prison in name, there were no grand orvish interiors like other buildings. Its decent enough, almost like a good inn. The floor was covered with soft carpeting, and the walls were equipped withrge air conditioning units that circted cool air. Even the cells were isted not by barred windows but by doors with wide wooden grilles, through which plush beds could be seen. More, give me more! But one inmate somewhere seemed dissatisfied with this luxurious prison. A troubled voice followed. I-Im sorry, but I cant give you more food. This is the regted amount. I feel like Im going to starve to death. Sob, sob, wouldnt it be troublesome for the guards if the inmates starve to death? Considering that, you seem quite lively. Ugh, suddenly feeling dizzy Ah. That sudden dizziness felt like it transferred to me. Hey, hey. Snap out of it. Hm? The friendly guard in Kadena looked across the door at the inmate, clueless about what to do. By the way, Cuculli was pretending to be unconscious. I have to spend several more days with that girl. I should suggest a raise in employees sry to Yussi. Bump- When I pretended to stagger, the guard looked back at me. She looked like she was in her thirties. Her face was flushed with embarrassment, and hot tears were welling up in her eyes. When I gestured, she heaved a sigh of relief and quickly moved away. Im going in. W-Wait a moment, Professor! If it seemed like I was seeking your approval, I apologize. As we pushed in, Cuculli, with a shocked expression, squeezed her cheeks. You barbarian! How dare you How dare you enter a refineddys room so rudely! Ignoring the self-proimed refineddy, I pulled out a chair and sat down. It was a small room. Perhaps the sense of unease stemmed from memories of visiting Lucas in the istion ward. Of course, the atmosphere was much lighter than back then. Cuculli. When I gestured towards the bed, she hesitantly came and sat down, as if she knew she had done something wrong. I cant escape from here, can I? In fact, facing Cuculli like this one-on-one was quite rare. Since learning about the intricacies of baptism from Dorempha. I immediately called her over to discuss relevant matters. But Cuculli, like a cornered cat, always managed to escape with strange excuses whenever I found her. Although I could have caught her and made her sit down Discussing matters in such an unprepared state would be meaningless. Like trying to thaw a frozen board from long ago. So, I was waiting for an opportunity. Its kind of a blessing in disguise. Unauthorized entry into the Library of Memories. It was so obvious that bringing up the topic was easy. She seemed to know she was in trouble, rambling on more exaggeratedly than usual. Hehe, thank you for not forgetting anding to see me, Professor. I was afraid Id disappear like Lucas without a trace That cheerful expression now seemed somewhat empty, perhaps a bit sad. As I stared at Cuculli, several facts about baptism came to mind. Those who inherited the great power of the dragon with a mere demi-human body, as a baptized, had their lifespan cut in half. That was also why Dorempha had tried to hasten the session with numerous concubines. It had been many years since he had ascended to the position of chief. So, Cucullis day of baptism might be closer than I thought. Are the kids doing well without me? Feeling lonely without me Because of the baptism? Kekk. Cuculli coughed violently. Eventually, the excuses began. But I just did it because I was bored? Isnt it because you wanted to leave a memory after baptism? Thats why you intruded without permission, isnt it? Hehe, not really. Facing Cucullis fabricated lies or usible excuses, I furrowed my brow and brought up the main topic. Dorempa asked for you. Ah. For a moment, she looked as if she had been stabbed by something sharp. Ha. Then, she turned into a face I had never seen before and stared at me. Intent on calmly sealing her emotions and protecting her vulnerable inner self. For some reason, I felt like my pride was hurt. Cuculli hesitated for a moment, then responded with a sharp tone that didnt suit her at all. Its none of your business, Professor. Right. I nodded. I dont have a say in your baptism. The faint expectation in his eyes, which had been clouded by his immediate response, disappeared. Yeah. In terms of principle, baptism was definitely not within my purview. It was a longstanding tradition of the Ice Dragon Tribe, and the lives of the Northern tribes were at stake. Furthermore, it also had an impact on the safety of humanity. But youre a disciple within the range of my interference and responsibility. Cuculli awkwardly smiled. Ah, thats just a joke. When I didnt join in theughter, Cucullis eyes, the color of the sky, looked at me cautiously. She seemed to realize that I wouldnt change the subject of the conversation. That was when Cuculli began to change. Not as rebellious or excessively cold but revealing what was inside the shell. It was an expression of willingness to engage in conversation. Perhaps this topic wasnt to their liking, wanting to finish it quickly. You know, Professor. A calm voice, unexpected from Cuculli, resonated in the small room. After all, isnt every life bound to end someday? To die? Thats right. I dont think theres any need to be sad just because the endes in a different form and a little early. Especially if it guarantees the benefit and safety of your loved ones. Didnt you, Professor, stand on the battlefield with that kind of determination? [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 I looked at Cuculli intently. And I had to admit, there was one unexpected thing. I didnt expect Cuculli to ept baptism so readily. This wasnt a decision made hastily. There were traces of much deliberation, anguish, and hesitation in their expression. Yet, in the end, it seemed she had epted the responsibility and duty. Her steadfast determination was the kind that couldnt be swayed by others persuasion. But I cant stop you. Cuculli shrugged, adding with a sigh. I apologize for lying about the Library of Memories. Yes, I went there to store my memories. These days, one should generally be happy, right? Hehe. Seeing Cucullis detached face, something I wanted to say to them finally came out. Yes, youre right. Everythinges to an end. Yes. Thats obvious But Cuculli, the end is sad. Cucullis expression became uncertain at the unfamiliar words. I repeated with more emphasis. The end is sad. If the journey toward it was meaningful, and if it was filled with joy, then its inevitable. They shouldnt be aloof like they are now. Ah. She blinked herrge eyes quietly. As if making a vow, I continued. Ill make it that way for you. When youre receiving baptism, feeling too regretful and sad, to the point where your firm determination wavers. Ill make it a joyful time. Just as Dorempa requested. If thats the case, fine. Cuculli finally smiled brightly Thats what I wanted to hear! . . . I clenched my fists as I watched Cuculli eating the food I had packed. That was just a little lie of mine. The reason Cuculli needed to be baptized is due to the existence of demons. If they were gone, there would be no need to maintain the cohesion of the north in the first ce. Just like the people of the First Era when demons didnt exist, there would be no problem living in peace. In other words, until Dorempas lifespan is over. If we settle the matter with the Demon King, Cuculli can continue to live as Cuculli. Just another reason added to what needs to be done. Of course, it was a gamble with a slim chance. A gambler would shake their head from the start. But I was ustomed to such adventures. Thats why Ill seed. I bid farewell to Cuculli and left Kadena. Understanding of Cuculli Evans deepens. Understanding: 20/100 -> 40/100 Additionalments on Cuculli Evans. Frost Fire * * * Huhhhh. The vast lounge was filled with sprawled-out kids. The golden weekend after the final exams of various sses held in the sweltering heat. No matter how diligent they were, they all wanted nothing more than to rest today. Senior Deindart, how did your exams go? Youre asking even though you know the ranks. Just teasing. The kids personalities seem to be getting weirder. The only second-year student, Deindart, leaned against the sofa. The final exams were of an extreme difficulty, with a mix of practical and written tests. It seemed like it would be better to venture into the Forest of Martial Arts, ruled by the Lord of Dreams, once again. My rank is almost the same as the midterms, sigh. The topper of both the practical and written exams was Ban. Leciel, who narrowly missed in the written exam, was second ce by a slim margin. Even after switching to a greatsword, Luke, who showed prowess in swordsmanship, was third Karen, checking the rankings announced through the Connector, shook her head. But why did Cucullis grades get so wrecked? It was then that a song with off-key tunes and rhythms filled the air. Heroes~ dont~ study~ at all~. Gerald, who had be close friends with Cuculli, waved his hands vigorously. Oh, Cuculli, youre back. Ugh, prison life was too hard. Cuculli, standing amidst the greetings from the kids, spread her arms wide andined. Lets forget about everything, everyone. Exams are over, so why are you all so down? There are more exciting stories to tell. If you say more exciting stories Everyones eyes sparkled like stars. Festival! Karen said with an excited voice. Did you all see the Presidents pledge? Since it was already a hot topic on the Connector, everyone nodded. Due to the incident in the Forest of Martial Arts, this years festival had restricted ess to outsiders, with only a few receiving invitations. In essence, with more than half the scale reduced, booths from externalpanies were not allowed, so the kids didnt have much expectation. However, the brilliant genius, their student president, Yussi Glendor, came up with an amazing solution. If we create booths among ourselves and make a profit, the Glendor Foundation will pay us ten times that amount It was an amount that even noble children would be amazed at. It was the beginning of a festival that everyone could participate in and enjoy. The quick-witted ones had already started brainstorming ideas and gathering team members. Karen, who was sticking close to Leciel with her usual boldness, was one of them. Leciel. Want to serve at the tavern? Ill take off 30%. No, 40%! Ill handle the cooking, so you just have to stand there! Me too, include me, Karen! However, despite Evergreen joining in and Karens bold proposal, Leciels gaze remained fixed solely on the Connector. More precisely, on the announcement that came in the morning about the Battle Arena. Battle Arena (School Preliminaries) Participation Guide Hello, this is the administration office of Rosenstark. First of all, thank you for your enthusiastic interest in the Battle Arena (School Preliminaries). Below are important guidelines that you must check before participating in the tournament. 1. Date and Venue Date: Year 297 of the New Empire, August 21st, 10:00 AM Venue: Arta Hall 2. Participant Confirmation and Registration On-site registration is possible until the start of the match. Please make sure to bring your student ID when registering. 3. Tournament Rules and Safety Precautions *Attached. All participants must be familiar with the tournament rules and act ordingly. Please be informed that vitors of the rules may be forcibly expelled for safety reasons. 4. Types of Arenas Party y (4 yers) Commentators: Kasim Pierre, Ted Redymer Single Combat (1 yer) Commentators: Kasim Pierre, Ted Redymer Team Combat (2 yers) Commentators: Kasim Pierre, Ted Redymer Wizard Combat (1 yer) Commentators: Iveta Jambelo, Harman Bernard Wizard Combat (2 yers) Commentators: Iveta Jambelo, Harman Bernard *Duplicate participation is not allowed. 5. Inquiries and Assistance Please direct all inquiries about the tournament to the Rosenstark administration office. Assistance is also avable at the information desk on the day of the tournament. 6. Awards and Souvenirs Qualifiers will advance to the finals. Winners of the finals will receive a prize (500 gold) along with the award ceremony after the tournament. They will also qualify to participate in the Battle Arena (Academy King of Kings Tournament), which will be held at the end of the year. Please familiarize yourself with the above information before participating in the tournament for a smooth experience. Thank you. Rosenstark Administration Office, Chief Eve It was a hefty sum indeed. And the tournament offered an opportunity to participate in the Academy King of Kings Tournament at the end of the year along with the responsible professors. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 147 Chapter 147 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 First, we definitely have to open the pub. Oh, what concept should we go with? Of course, it has to be romance for it to work well! Sales will be handled by us. Senior Deindart, what did you do during the festivalst year? Um we had a y, a haunted house, and a cross-dressing contest which was quite popr. If only we could dress the professor up in a dress, we would be the top sellers at this festival. Its not much different from saying that if you cut off the Demon Kings head, the war between humans and demons will end. Hmm, it seems like there will be too muchpetition for the pub, should we try opening a fortune-telling house instead? Wow Karen, you can do that too? I learned a bit from the wandering fairies in the territory. Tarot cards and stuff. The lounge quickly turned into a marketce with children discussing their festival ns. Luke, who had been lounging on a corner sofa to avoid the heat, grimaced as he got up to leave. Hey, wait a minute. ? Are you going to the battle arena? Gerald approached with a piece of paper, presumably an application form. Luke nonchntly nodded his head. No. Huh, why? I thought you were going to. Sorry, but I dont have time for that. Aw, I was going to support you in the 2-on-2bat then who will you go with? Even if I were to go, I never nned to go with you. Luke had gained a fair bit of sociability over the past few months of academy life. Luke twisted his sore body and got up from his seat. Anyway, since Im not going, find someone else. He was one of the few students who werent excited about the festival. He simply didnt care about things like the festival. Recently, he had been dedicating his nights to training with newbat techniques and weapons. Theres nothing to be gained by participating inpetitions where first-year students fight against each other. It might have been quite fun if the entire academy had been the subject ofpetition, but if it were apetition held by grade, the most extreme ssmates would win it anyway. Fighting with these guys would be enough in ss. I dont feel like fighting in front of others with weapons Im not fully ustomed to Above all, ever since he received a letter from Ravias a few days ago, Luke had decided to skip the festival as soon as the rted notice came up. I should train. Being idle only makes my head moreplicated. Luke quickly left the lounge. So, he didnt notice Evergreen retreating with a disappointed expression. Nor did he notice Deindarts eyes gleaming. . . . Is something wrong with you? What. You seem different than usual. Even though his broadsword missed his forehead, Ban didnt retaliate and simply backed away. A look of confusion appeared on his sweat-drenched face. Luke replied as he massaged his sore shoulders. Whats so different? Hah, its the same as always. His breathing was slightly ragged. Surprisingly, recently, Ban had often been the one with the upper hand in their duels. It was difficult to defeat the eldest son of the prestigious Sword n in swordsmanship, unless he was using the halberd. No Even if I use the halberd now, I cant guarantee victory. At first, he was deeply wounded by the narrowed gap in skill. But eventually, Luke quickly acknowledged and epted it. Ban had the qualifications. Luke knew how much effort Ban had put in to be stronger, and how much pain he had ovee. Having experienced simr pain himself, and oveing it with even greater intensity, Ban deserved respect. Turned out to be quite a guy. Luke took a deep breath and lifted his sword again. But for some reason, Ban didnt seem to have any intention of fighting at all. Whats wrong? Its nothing, just put your sword away. Its a waste of time. Hmm, seems like its not nothing. Ugh, now youre talking back? Luke raised his fist. Memories of their extreme training from the past resurfaced, causing Ban to shrink. Of course, it didnt take long for smallughter to fill the air between the boys. Ban slumped down. Seeing his stubborn friends demeanor, Luke chuckled. Tell me. Were friends. . In the end, Luke put away his greatsword and briefly exined the situation. A letter came from my father. In summary, the letter mentioned that the Mercenary Corps had suddenly received a new request. The client was none other than the royal family. Although the letter didnt provide detailed instructions, it was obvious that the danger level would be considerable, given the client. And the destination is near the east. While Ravias was a man who could survive even in the depths of hell, not all of his mercenaries were like him. Many members were likely to die. For Luke, who couldnt offer direct help to them right now, it wasnt wee news. Maybe I should join them even for a short time during the vacation. After hearing a rough exnation, Ban remained silent. In fact, it was because he was feeling simr emotions to Luke right now. Before Felson left, he told him that he had be part of Easts vanguard. No matter how powerful he is, this is mankinds first subjugation of the East. As his son, he couldnt help but be worried. . Although the circumstances were different, the boys, who had simr feelings, stared at the setting sun beyond the military parade ground in silence. Noise wasing from all directions. A slightly different kind of noise than usual. Its probably a preparation process for the festival to be held tomorrow. Amid the loud talking and shouting, Ban blurted out something to change the topic. Are you going to the battle arena? Not going. How about you? Well, Im still considering By the way, surprising, isnt it? What is? I thought you would go. Do I look like I would? Luke shrugged. Both Gerald and others, why did they all think he would go? Ban smiled brightly. You like being in the spotlight. . I should have beaten you even more when you were down. As Luke regretted that, Ban added. The group training sounds fun Its a pity since youre not going. Should I just go? Group training? Whats that? Huh? Ban looked at Luke with a look as if asking, What are you talking about? Havent you read the attached guidelines? I havent. Um Where should I start exining? Do you know that the winning teams of the preliminaries participate in the arena main event? Its the Academy King of Kingspetition against other academies at the end of the year. I know that. Luke nodded. The party y 4-person winning team. The unarmedbat 1-person winning team, 2-person winning team. The magicbat 1-person winning team, 2-person winning team. A total of 5 teams were said to qualify for the off-campuspetition. Ban nodded thankfully. The main event participants will go to the facility separately at the end of the year. Theyll also have group training there. You knew Evergreen was going, so I thought you knew. Lukes movements abruptly stopped. Evergreen is going? Yeah, she said shes going for the 2-person match. Didnt she ask you? She didnt ask. Huh Really? Why didnt she ask? Group training. A long-distance trip to the facility. Memories that can be made in busy streets. After calcting, Luke stood up without a word. When is the deadline for registration? Um Theres still time, right? I think on-site registration is also possible. Bang! Lukes figure, who stood up suddenly, swiftly moved outside the training ground. There was no need to ask where he was going. It was obvious. With Evergreen and Luke theyll easily win the 2-person match. With that thought, Ban resumed training alone. But there was one situation he hadnt anticipated. You. Be my partner. 30 minutester, Luke, who returned with a heavily reconsidered proposal, said. Even if Ban had improved his courage, he couldnt muster the courage to refuse when he saw his face. * * * Meanwhile, in the Heros Research Lab. The three of them were all together after a long time. But despite the trio being gathered, the room was very quiet, as if a mouse had died, perhaps because Kasim was sitting quietly. Pia and the Hero nced at him from time to time. Whats wrong? Whats going on? What are all those documents? Kasim, holding a pile of documents, was reading them through and through. Considering that the finals were over, it was definitely a strange situation. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The sight of Kasim concentrating like that was only seen when he was dealing with matters rted to seducing maids. Curious, the Hero asked indirectly. What are you working so hard on? Oh, Im preparing for thementary. The Hero chuckled at that remark. Commentary? Preliminaries allowed on-site participation. Even if the number of participants hadnt been confirmed yet, the preparations made at this point were limited. Kasims voice, full of determination, continued. Iveta Jamvelo. Since I cant present amentary that falls short in front of that guy. The Hero remembered that name. The professor in charge of magicmentary? It seems like you dont get along well. Its not just a matter of not getting along. Professor will surely criticize Iveta harshly. Because of the peculiarity of magic research, the Department of Mysteries was located on the outskirts rather than in the central area of the campus, unlike thebat and manufacturing departments. The education of department students followed almost entirely independent curric, and as a result, there was very little interaction with the professors of the Department of Mysteries. In other words, it was unlikely that a professor from the Department of Combat would dislike a professor from the Department of Mysteries to the extent that it was difficult to imagine. Moreover, it was the moment when Kasim, who was good at hiding his emotions, revealed such strong resentment toward someone. It was a moment when a small curiosity about Professor Iveta arose. Who is he to make you react like that? Kasim, still looking ufortable, responded while staring intently at the preparatory materials. Hes an extremely arrogant bastard. If I were to describe him,hes an egoistic misanthrope immersed in magical superiority. It was at that moment when Pia, who had been listening from the other side, interjected and stumbled over. Oh he didnt seem like that kind of person. Kasim turned to her with a deeply shocked expression. Oh my, Pia. It seems like your already feeble ability to empathize has deteriorated even further. Pia retorted, blushing furiously. No, thats not it. Its just that when I went to ask for cooperation rted to the lecture, he was very kind. Hearing this, Kasim became even more disheartened. Of course she was. That guy wears a different mask in front of females! Ah, hatred. The tension betweenpatriots. Deciding to simply dismiss it, the Hero turned his attention away from Iveta Jamvelo. The moment he regretted not paying more attention to Kasimsment came two dayster. The day of the opening of the Battle Arena preliminary rounds. * * * The Battle Arena preliminaries consisted of the following order: 1-person magic match 1-person martial arts match 2-person magic match 2-person martial arts match Party match (4 people). The Hero entered the waiting room formentators with Kasim. Here, they waited and alternated with the magicmentary when it was time for unarmedbat. Since the first turn was magic, administrative staff were busy exining various things to the magicmentators. First in line was the magic battle, so the administrative staff were giving various exnations to the magicmentators. Thementator for this match is Iveta Jamvelo. Kasim pointed with his chin to a young man. The Hero scrutinized him slowly. Hmm, he looks somewhat simr yet different from Kasim. Neatly slicked back golden hair. Well-maintained, shiny skin. Consistently upwards-trending mouth corners and eye features that seemed somewhat arrogant. After observing, the Hero listened in on the conversation between him and the administrative staff. For some reason, the staff member seemed very embarrassed. Because the audience entered faster than scheduled Could you please stall for time with some remarks until the participants are ready? Thats my specialty. Dont worry, do your job. Phew, thank you. Professor. His tone and expression were surprisingly kind and courteous. As the relieved staff member stepped back, Ivetas green eyes turned towards the Hero. Approaching confidently. The Hero quietly observed as Iveta bent his waist. Its an infinite honor to meet you, Professor Redymer. Ive deeply admired your exploits even from afar. Thanks, Im expecting goodmentary from you today. As nervous as I am to have the professor watching, Ill do my best. After finishing his words, he exchanged a brief nod with Kasim, then disappeared into the corridor connected to thementary room where his fellow professors were waiting. He had the most courteous attitude among the magicians the Hero had encountered recently. . The eyes directed at Kasim seemed to seek an exnation. Kasims ears turned red. T-that was acting! If you indulge in gossip about fellow professors, it wont do. Ugh Even the professor doesnt trust me. The Hero shook his head slightly, then looked straight ahead through the transparent ss. He could see the circr arena below. Despite restricted ess for outsiders, it was packed with students and faculty members, almost everyone. It was then that Ivetas booming voice, amplified by the sound system, resonated throughout. [Now, we will start the 1-on-1 magic battle in 3 minutes! Dear audience, please be patient! Please look forward to the overwhelming power of the pride of Rosenstark, the Department of Mysteries!] Thementary sounded quite familiar, and his voice was full of ease. Kasim buried himself deeper into the backrest, seeming to heave a sigh of relief. But sadly, Ivetasmentary was just beginning. [I believe this match will be more anticipated than any other. I dont mean to disparage unarmedbat, but in terms of aesthetics, magic certainly takes the lead.] [Magic and art intersect in some aspects. The beautiful wonders created by the magicians hands! You may feel as if youre standing in front of a work of art.] [In other words, theres much more to discuss about magic than unarmedbat. It will be enjoyable to watch.] [Haha, thats why the opening of the preliminaries is always decided by the magic battle! I cautiously predict, wouldnt our esteemed audience agree?] . It was the moment when Kasims hunched shoulders straightened confidently. What did I say, professor? He certainly seems like a magician advocate. The Hero thought somewhat ruefully. Magicians naturally take great pride in their fields of expertise. But that was just for a moment. The subsequent remark managed to slightly stiffen his calm expression. [This year, there were particrly remarkable freshmen. One of them is the student from the Department of Mysteries who is undoubtedly the pride of the distinguished Hero. Evenpared to the Extreme students, they will not fall behind! In fact, one could say that our Department of Mysteries is more suitable for providing the festival with dazzling spectacles! Wahahaha!] Why are they making such a fuss about our kids? The Heros brow twitched. Meanwhile, among the audience, there were both jeers and cheers. Those subtly hinting at rivalry and the students from the Department of Mysteries burst intoughter and cheers. The unintentionally formed dynamic of the confrontation seemed very intriguing. As if in response to this, Iveta continued hismentary. [Although they wont face off due to different fields, I was disappointed because I thought they would. But Im very excited about this opportunity. Its like an extra match, isnt it? Please wait for the 2-on-2 match that will take ce shortly!] Whats he talking about now? It was when the bewildered eyes of the Hero caught sight of the list of participants in the magicpetition that the administrative staff left behind. [Alright, finally the pride of the School of Mysteries! The top student, Beatrice Monroe, is entering!] [The second miracle, also known as the second Larze, the genius among geniuses!] [I feel like I should apologize to you all on behalf of the organizers! While there are many outstanding individuals in the Combat Department, if you feel a little dissatisfied after seeing Beatrice, I understand. Hahaha!] [Please wee her with a big round of apuse, as she will bring you the superiority of magic and overwhelming mysteries!] The top freshman of the School of Mysteries enters the circr arena. Despite the grandiose praise, Iveta showed no signs of nervousness. Clunk- Whether it was because she was short, had long hair, or both. Her rare purple-colored hair swayed near her ankles. Interestingly, she was wearing a dazzling dress instead of the robes favored by wizards, a type suitable for noblewomen attending salons. If it werent for the levitation magic, herce dress would have dragged on the floor. She didnt look like someone who came to fight at all. While the attention-grabbing appearance and entrance were noteworthy, the Heros gaze didnt linger on her. More precisely, it was fixed on a particr spot in the magic 2-on-2 section. Team 13. Ban Dietrich, Luke Selsood. Despite his exceptionalprehension, he couldnt figure out what was happening. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 148 Chapter 148 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Karen informed Luke that Evergreen and Deindart had formed a team and decided to participate in a 2v2 martial arts match. Huh? Werent you supposed to not participate because you didnt have time? Thats what Gerald said. No, thats ugh Hmm, a bitte to the party, arent you? Luke had no choice but to ept it. Why Deindart, of all people? Of course, Deindart, being someone who rarely used a shield in extreme situations, wouldplement Evergreen, who was an archer, very well. Unless they encountered a major variable, they could aim for victory. It was a great opportunity for Evergreen. But for Luke, it was like a bolt from the blue. Why hadnt he thought of suggesting going out together with Evergreen first? Luke felt an urge to go back a few hours and thoroughly scold his past self for being so thoughtless. Training together. Traveling to other academies. While Deindart would be building a strong bond and more with Evergreen, Luke would just be twiddling his thumbs. It couldnt get any worse. Recalling Deindarts skillful maneuvers (from Lukes perspective) around Evergreentely, Luke felt a vein throb on his forehead. So, he made a decision. To enter the Battle Arena. Shrrrrp! Luke printed out a paper containing all the rules of the Battle Arena and stuck it on the wall of his dormitory room. Currently, he had three types of matches he could participate in. 1v1 martial arts. 2v2 martial arts. Party y. But Leciel had already taken the party y. They said she just picked anyone on the spot and submitted the application. No matter how elite a team I form, theres no chance of beating Leciel. Party y out. Luke crossed it out heavily. So what about a 1v1, which is one of the remaining options? Hey, Im participating in a 1v1 match. Would you like to have a fight with me? That was Cucullis charge. This one was less sessful than Leciel, but the odds of winning were equally slim. Luke moved his pen boldly. Then what about the remaining option, the 2v2 martial arts Hey, Luke Gerald and Ban, who were watching, were stunned. They continued to criticize Luke. Theres no way youre thinking of going into a 2v2 match, right? Im scared. Will you destroy things if you cant have them? Then Evergreen will miss out on the prize money and the trip. Even if youre jealous, thats a bit Luke haspleted a world where everyone gets hurt Luke looked irritably at them. You guys. Theres no way Id do that. Ban and himself. If they went out together, winning the 2v2 martial arts match was a given. However, if that happened, Evergreens victory would be lost ording to their words. What was the point of trampling on a kid who was filled with hopes and dreams about the prize money? Even if they won. His original goal wasnt just the joint training; it was joint training with Evergreen. Or rather, it was preventing Deindarts moves. So. As Luke opened his mouth, he pointed at one of the densely written Battle Arena rules with his finger. My n is Mercenaries always had to devise ingenious solutions and strive for survival with quick judgments. Just like now. Ban. Uh, yeah. Were going into the magic 2v2. *Eligibility: All those who have mastered magic. Once the decision was made, a detailed n (which Ban did not agree to) was quickly formted. . . . Ban looked at Luke with bewildered eyes. Are you, by any chance, an idiot? There was a big w in Lukes n, to a degree rare for Ban to criticize. That the two of them couldnt use magic at all. No, hear me out till the end. Lukes face turned red. He, too, knew that this was a hopeless n. But there was no other way. Otherwise, Evergreen would fall victim to Deindarts moves. Even though Evergreen had no thoughts about it, Luke, whose rational judgment had flown out the window, did. But as a boy whose brain was half eaten away by jealousy, he could see the ws in the rules of thispetition that others couldnt see. It says qualification for magic battles. It means anyone who can use magic can participate. And? You just have to fight with magic. You dont necessarily have to be good at magic. Then Luke briefly exined his n. Geralds mouth hung open. Was that the creativity of a mercenary who had survived in the wild? Thinking up and executing such absurd ideas, a neer like him would be unprecedented in the history of Rosenstark. Is he a genius? No, ha. Is this even right? Initially, Ban was greatly puzzled by Lukes sophistry. However, upon reconsideration, there was nothing wrong with what he said. Once you could use magic, you qualified to participate in magic battles. Its not a contest to evaluate thepleteness of magic. In other words, as long as you could fight with magic, there shouldnt be a problem with qualification. The boy, half convinced, cautiously asked. But we cant even do basic magic. What about that part? Luke looked at Ban defiantly. Well learn. What? The Battle Arena will be held in two days. We still have time to learn basic magic. Novice, Apprentice, Ars, Elegancia, Genius, Calidus, Maester, Beyond, Zero. Thest one was practically non-existent, so magic is divided into a total of seven ranks. As you go up the ranks, acquiring them bes increasingly difficult, but the situation was different for the lowest rank. Just as a trained person could quickly learn the basics of swordsmanship, magic was a subject that could be learned quickly if one was prepared. Moreover, Luke and Ban had been umting mana from a young age, dealing with it. For them, who could sense and control mana, entering the novice rank of magic was a piece of cake. In fact, among the students of the Combat Department, there were several magic users who had learned shy spells like Fireball just for fun. Of course, for those considered proper magicians, starting from the Ars rank, which could be said to be impossible to simultaneously pursue with martial arts, most of them remained at the beginner level. After finishing his thoughts, Luke strode towards the dormitory door with determined steps. If its learning novice rank magic in an appropriate field Theres plenty of time. Yes, acquiring eligibility was the priority for now. The rest could be thought aboutter. With that in mind, Luke led the dazed Ban and set out to find a fellow student who could use magic. . . . However, there was one aspect that he, in his haste, had failed to consider. While there were indeed fellow students who could use magic it was extremely rare to find someone skilled enough to teach beginners the basics in just a day. At best, they were at the Novice or Apprentice level, so it was only natural. What? You want me to teach you magic? Even Karen, whom he trusted, shook her head, saying it was impossible. Although she had acquired simple wind magic during her time with the elf tribe and could assist in archery, she was by no means skilled enough to teach anyone. The same was true for other exceptional magic users. Returning to the dormitory for another strategy meeting. Luke looked at Ban with trembling eyes. Ha, dont you know anyone in the Mystical Studies Department? Suddenly, Ban remembered a letter he had received a few weeks ago. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 It was from the top-ranking freshman of the Mystical Studies Department. Id like to test your resistance to mental magic. Drop by when you have time. However, not only did they not have any close acquaintances to ask for help, but somehow, the contents of the ominous letter bothered him. Ban shook his head with a darkened face. I dont. Well, I guess we have no choice. But Lukes expression wasnt so despairing. Because he still had onest resort. In the end, theres only one answer Excluding the fact that he was extremely reluctant to ask that person, she would be the most suitable for the position of teacher. Luke dragged Ban to a corner of the lounge with determination. Whoosh-! Right in front of the air conditioning artifact blowing out strong cold wind, some nkets were rolled up one by one. Ugh. Someone enjoying a nap inside groaned. Hey. Ugh, this annoying voice is it Luke? Just wake up for a moment. I dont want to. With animal fur scattered all over the green towel like hair, Ban could immediately recognize her identity. Ah, its urgent! As Luke grabbed the end of the towel, it coincided with her waking up. Swish-! Geez. As she rolled off the towel onto the floor, Cuculli ced her hands on her waist as if protesting. What! Do you know how to use magic? Cuculli looked at Luke with skeptical eyes. Dont you think its too pathetic to ask that of a descendant of a dragon? Im asking if you can use any human magic besides dragon magic. Of course. What do you think the master of magic is? Luke nodded satisfactorily. Then teach me any of those roughly. Cucullis expression became subtle. Something was strange. Luke was asking for instruction from none other than himself. Wasnt he the guy who, due to his pride, had gone to Leciel to learn aerial techniques? What do you need magic for? For a magic 2v2 battle. Pohanghang-! Indeed, it was worth the anticipation. Cuculliughed, rolling around on the towel. Luke wanted to leave immediately due to embarrassment but he held back. If he didnt endure the current irritation, he would be even more irritated in a few months. Ha this was the funniest thing I heard this year. Cuculli, who had beenughing heartily, wiped away tears from the corners of her eyes and got up. Although she detested bothersome tasks, she wasnt the type to get involved in something that seemed fun either. But offering help outright didnt really suit her either. A sly grin crept onto Cucullis lips. Mercenary, isnt it a rule in your industry to set a fee when making a request? Luke nodded in response. The fee had already been considered. Ill cover all your food expenses for a month. Oh, not afraid of bankruptcy? Ive made some money recently. Ah, so the riches of the Dietrich family are flowing to you! Cuculli yfully retorted, then straightened up and chuckled. Once you ept that. What else do you want to say? Help me out when I need itter. Luke hesitated for a moment. He could help out when thatnky fellow needed it, like sneaking into the kitchen or ying a mischievous prank. Those kinds of demerits could easily be offset by a few bathroom cleaning sessions. Okay. Lets do that. The love-struck Luke, in an uncharacteristic manner for a mercenary, epted the abstract terms of the contract. All right! The party to this agreement will be none other than Ban, the legitimate son of the honorable Dietrich family! Only then did Cuculli suddenly jump up and beam with a broad smile. Everyone, greet Professor Evans! And so they headed to the empty ssroom. . . . At the most basic level, the transmission of magic skills continued. During this process, there was one unexpected aspect for both Ban and Luke. Namely, Cucullis teaching talent. She smoothly conducted sses so that even they, who had sparse knowledge of magic could easily enter the world of magic, a far cry from Leciels rigid teaching methods. Even the grass roller has a talent for it. Luke, have you ever eaten multiple servings of course meals at once? Just thinking about eating like that is really exciting. Sorry. Thus, they seeded in masteringpletely useless and shoddy magic in just two days. * * * Glitter- Jace, a staff member who was present at the Battle Arena site, looked at Ban with an incredulous expression. A light the size of a fingernail floating in the air. Despite a few clouds gathering, it was a brightness that wouldnt have been visible on a typical sunny day. Ban buried his head in the ground with a reddening face, as if about to explode. On the other hand, Luke was confident. Hes using a shy spell, while Im using reinforcement magic. Eeeeeee- With a mosquito-like buzzing sound, the stiffness of the stick Luke was holding increased by about 1.05 times. See, havent we met all the eligibility requirements? The employee, facing the boys ominously glowing dark red eyes, had no choice but to slowly nod. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 149 Chapter 149 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The Rosenstark School of Mysticism is fundamentally open to all branches of magic. Their thirst for knowledge was remarkable, to the extent that they even studied dark magic diligently. Among them, there was a particr field they especially encouraged learning in. Fire and gravity. The most efficient and effective pair in countering magic. Fire, undoubtedly, due to its destructive power, and gravity, for its unparalleled versatility. Because there was ack of gravity magic in suppressing flying monsters that martial artists couldnt quite handle and in defending strongholds. As a result, magicians adept in these two branches were highly esteemed wherever they went. and Beatrice Monroe was a monster who could manifest fire and gravity magic up to the level of genius. A neer rivaling seasoned professors in skill. Because of this, any other neer who faced her had already halfway conceded victory from the moment they entered the arena. Woooooo-! Beatrices gravity magic of the Ars hierarchy instantly immobilized her opponent, leaving them unable to move. Uh, ahhhhh! Then, a fireball aimed directly at their head collided with the makeshift barrier, causing the opponent to panic and raise both hands above their head. Despite the barrier beingpletely neutralized, fireballs continued to manifest around Beatrice. I surrender, I surrender! A professor from the School of Mysticism, acting as both a safety officer and judge, raised a white g. Cheers and apuse erupted from the audience. Simultaneously, the excited voice of Ibeta echoed through the arena. [Did you all notice? Since Beatrices entrance into the arena, she hasnt set foot on the ground even once.] [Lets call it Multicast! Combining that obscure flight magic withbat. Truly, it must be an overwhelmingputational ability. Lets give her a round of apuse!] [Many applicants for the magic individual tournament indeed, but you should avoid the monsters, Amyo!] Beatrice gracefully bowed towards thementary booth pouring out praises, then nced briefly at the audience before leaving without further ado. The Hero noticed her implementing cleaning magic, instantly removing the dirt from her clothes. Kasim murmured quietly. Hmm, feels like a snobbish nobledy. Monroe Ive never heard of that family. Her skills are definitely remarkable. Even after Beatrice, the magic one-on-one battles continued. From neers to seniors. Each disying their long-practiced magic freely, engaging in fierce exchanges. As the festival approached its end, it was easy to identify who the ace of the School of Mysticism was in each grade since it was a teampetition. The Hero observed them closely. No, he attempted to observe but gave up. A faint frown appeared on the Heros face. Its impossible to concentrate. Originally, his n was to carefully observe the skills and characteristics of the students of the School of Mysticism while waiting in thementary booth. Because they might be the ones to form parties with the extreme children in the future. It was with that intention that he asked Yussi to take her ce in thementary booth. However, two names from the participant list distracted his focus. What are they thinking? But how did they even qualify to participate? There were a few magic swordsmen among the students, but they werent Luke or Ban. [Alright, that concludes the magic individual tournament. Soon, the martial arts individual tournament will begin Please stay until the end. After the martial arts, an exciting magic two-on-two battle awaits!] The Hero sighed and headed to thementary booth with Kasim. . . . The martial arts one-on-one tournament was, as expected, dominated by Cucullis solo performance. Even without using the long-term ice magic, none of the other children could be her match. One could say that she disyed an overwhelming presence even more than Beatrice. Most matches ended in just one or two bouts. It was a rare fight, and the Hero expected it to be enjoyable, but it was somewhat unexpected. As if finishing a homework she didnt want to do, Cuculli swiftly knocked down her opponents. I wont have to face her in the preliminaries, but even if I did, the participants from the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades would easily defeat her. The only opponent who somewhat persevered was Gerald, attention! Ugh, frustrating! It was Gerald. He seemed to have integrated his familys strong and straightforward Bryce-style spear technique with a new one. Disying significantly improved movements, he managed to withstand Cucullis attacks for over a minute. It was the longest survival. Gerald seemed satisfied as cheers erupted from the audience, lying down andughing heartily. In fact, the Hero expected the audience to be disappointed by the quick oue. But they seemed to find Cucullis overwhelming presence even more appealing. To be more precise, their expectations for the Heros disciples and the top students of Rosenstark were fulfilled. Wow, amazing! You have to be at that level to learn from the Hero. Could they have reached that level by learning from the Hero? Its fascinating. How can she achieve such destructive power with such a delicate body? Its the difference in species. As the audience cheered fervently, the Heros concluding remarks followed. [The level of the new students in the Combat Department is higher than expected. It was a good match.] It was a message intended for someone in the waiting room. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Reading his thoughts, Kasim murmured. Looks like were in trouble. The Hero nced at him and finished his speech. [I hope everyone enjoyed the show.] Amidst louder cheers, Kasim smoothly continued. [With that, the preliminaries of the martial arts individual tournament have concluded. After a 10-minute break, the magic two-on-two battle will continue, so please stay in your seats!] . . . Meanwhile, a screen was set up in the participant waiting room, showing the arena. The contestants expressed their admiration, discussing their impressions of the martial arts one-on-one tournament. Luke, who was sitting in the middle of the waiting room with his arms crossed, muttered quietly to Ban. Hes improved a lot, to the point of being amazing. Yeah hes been working hardtely. Hes been visiting the professors researchb for spear advice. Oh really? Luke tilted his head slightly. I thought he was just a guy who chased after women. Hes not bad. . Ban, at a loss for words, remained silent with a crestfallen expression. Lukes face crumpled. Well. Why. Ha ha, just thinking back on why we ended up here. . Ah, a heavy sigh followed. They were currently in the Magic 2v2 Participant Waiting Room. As a result, they were receiving ufortable nces. Moreover, Luke and Ban were particrly diligent in training their bodies among the martial artists. Their bodies were also quiterge. Naturally, a strong sense of hostility was inevitable. Those are the extreme kids, right? Theyre magic swordsmen. Feels like they came to the wrong waiting room. Even though the School of Mysticism was located on the outskirts of the school grounds, and its students, being magicians, were not interested in the outside world, they were aware enough of the extreme that had been hot potatoes throughout the semester. Ban, the protagonist and son of Felsion Perfect Dietrich, the enemy of Enoch, and Luke, the sessor to the mercenary king. Whispers continued incessantly. Are they really participating in the magic battle? I dont see any magic tools. Do they think this is a joke? Beatrice should have participated in the 2v2. If she did, they wouldnt even think about entering. What nonsense. Were enough. Some looked at them with curiosity and kindness, but animosity and resistance were prevalent. Its not going to be easy. Ban just avoided eye contact. Understandable. He would have felt bad if outsiders easily watched and recklessly challenged martial arts. But Lukes understanding was the kind that only applied to Evergreen. What are you looking at? First time seeing a magic swordsman? Hey, hey. Youve been chirping since earlier. Luke, Luke! Arge mercenary with a ferocious appearance was not an easy task for the nosy wizards. As the waiting room fell silent as a mouse, Luke finally turned his head with a satisfied expression. Ban sighed again and opened his mouth. Well be fine, wont we? Just stick to the n. That n is too reckless, though. Dont feel too burdened. Do you think the School of Mysticism would give us the spotlight unless they were crazy? Theyll all be focused on them. We just need to quietly secure our spot in the finals. At that moment. Without realizing it, ten minutes had passed, and the voice of thementator began to echo through the arena again. [I have a surprising fact to share with all of you who have been waiting patiently!] For a moment, a sense of anxiety gripped Luke and Ban simultaneously. [Its unusual for two students from the Combat Department to challenge each other in this magic 2v2 battle! Theyre none other than the Heros disciples!] Ah. They reflexively turned to look at the screen in the arena. No one here would fail to wee an unexpected event. The crowd in the arena erupted in noisy cheers without anyone prompting them. The enthusiasm was so intense that the floor of the waiting room trembled. [I wonder how this reckless challenge will end, dont you?] [Moreover, the match in which these students willpete will be speciallymented on by Professor Ted Redymer!] [It could be considered the highlight of today, wouldnt you agree? Please show them your enthusiastic support!] Luke muttered calmly. Well, thats screwed. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 150 Chapter 150 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 10 minutes ago. Iveta, with a big smile, approached the Hero who had just finished hismentary, and began to express his thoughts on the nonbat event. However, anyone with a bit of observation would have noticed immediately that his smile was slightly different from a few hours ago. As the nonbat event unexpectedly gained poprity, the judging seemed somewhat biased. In fact, some professors in the department of mysticism harbored a chronic sense of inferiority towards thebat department. In recent decades, the output of thebat department had far surpassed that of the mysticism department. Rosenstark, founded by Zero Requiem, the greatest sorcerer of all time, was the reason for this. From their perspective, the situation was nothing short of unsettling. Even this year, I thought it would be different. When Beatrices admission was confirmedst winter, it was believed that this year would mark the era of the mysticism department. To elevate the status of a group, one must have a mascot. Beatrice was a genius who entered for the first time after the graduation of Larze. But then the Hero was suddenly appointed. Thanks to him, top talents flocked to thebat department, and naturally, all attention from society shifted to thebat department. As Iveta, there was no choice but to harbor resentment, not out of spite. And today. He seized the opportunity to assert the dominance of thebat department. Haha, it seems there are quite a few talents in thebat department as well. In particr, Professor Redymers disciples showed remarkable abilities, and I am quite excited about it. Of course, the Hero didnt necessarily take his praise at face value. If he hadnt needed the help of the mysticism department in the second semester, he would have brushed it off. Just when he was about to ignore it altogether. Iveta threw a topic that couldnt be ignored. Do you happen to like bets? What did you say? I said bets. I happen to like them very much. With a confident expression, Iveta brought up the main topic. In fact, my disciples will be forming a team and participating in a 2v2 battle soon. Benedict and Fiona, the children I have been diligently teaching. The Hero nodded. So? Coincidentally, they were matched against Professor Redymers disciples as the 14th team. The Hero narrowed his eyes. He understood Ivetas intention. When our disciples coincidentally meet in the battle arena, wouldnt a simple bet be appropriate? Kasim intervened with a frown. Iveta, betting so suddenly. Dont you think its a bit rude? Haha, Kasim, you are as quick to intervene as always. But isnt it you who disrupts the conversation thats rude, not me? What do you think? Well. Before Kasim could retort, Iveta shrugged and concluded the conversation. After all, isnt this a festival? Even wementators should enjoy some fun. Do we really need to be so serious. The Hero faced Iveta, who was speaking carelessly, with a tilted head. His eyes were filled with unwavering confidence in victory. Bets I dont think I have much to gain from you. Ivetas face momentarily turned red. But he quicklyposed himself and shrugged. Haha, you never know. I am quite apetent professor. It wasnt a lie. Iveta was quite respected within the mysticism department for his skills. Thanks to reaching the level of Calidus, his position among the professors was solid. It was evident from Kasim being unable to offer Unir lectures yet. Thanks to that, the Hero could figure out what to demand from Iveta. A bet, then. Thats fine. Are you interested? As if intrigued, his eyes sparkled. The Hero calmly continued. First, let me hear my conditions. Momentster. Upon hearing the Heros conditions, Iveta eagerly nodded. For him, who wanted to prove the superiority of the mysticism department at all costs, it was a very appealing offer. Very, very good! It seemed like he didnt even consider the possibility of losing the bet. In fact, Ivetas confidence in his disciples victory was natural. This was a magical battle. The participants had to use magic in the battle without exception. Moreover, flying and other aids, as well as the use of weapons, were strictly prohibited, and they had to fight only with magic tools. Even if the Heros disciples are excellent fighters, they cant fully demonstrate their skills in this situation. Try drawing a star with one hand and a circle with the other. Combining magic andbat was a much more difficult simultaneous task. It wasnt for no reason that the swordsmen of thebat department rarely participated. The arena is spacious enough. This is an absolutely advantageous condition for us. Iveta said excitedly. In that case, may I make a suggestion as well? Of course. How about having thementary for the 13th team, including my disciples, with me? Well, Kasim can join us if he wants. Iveta strongly hoped that the Hero would ept his proposal. This was an opportunity to greatly enhance his reputation. Its much easier to take someone elses reputation than to build it from scratch. With the Hero, who was perplexed by his disciplesckluster performance, by his side, and himself continuing the eloquentmentary! He could surely engrave his and his disciples names firmly in everyones minds here. Whether the Hero knew Ivetas true intentions or not. The Hero looked at him silently for a moment, then nodded lightly. Let it be so. Having achieved what he wanted, Iveta left with a broad smile tomentate on the 2v2 battle. It was right after they were alone in the waiting room that Kasim cautiously whispered. To be honest, Im a little worried. I see. The Hero slowly shook his head. He trusted his disciples whom he had seen all along. Luke had a cunning nature surpassing anyone at the extreme. There was no way he would recklessly participate in a magical 2v2 battle without any ns. Moreover, isnt he the type who values coolness above all else? He wouldnt make a fool of himself. Ban was also smart enough to be disappointed at being second in extreme cases. He must have had a clever n. Felson also had a rare affinity for magic. The Hero, holding onto that belief, gazed down at the slowly filling arena. . . . Time passed. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The entry of the 13th team was imminent. Wee, professors. The Hero entered thementary room where Iveta was waiting, apanied by Kasim. Without dy, Iveta grabbed the voice amplification device and eximed in an excited voice. [Wee, everyone. Youve been waiting for this moment for a long time. Todays highlight of the Battle Arena is finally here! Lets get started!] ng! The giant doors of the arena opened. [Team 13! Ban Dietrich! Luke Selsood! What will the disciples of the Hero show in the magical battle] Dozens of video artifacts in the arena instantly captured the childrens appearance. Luke entered confidently, followed by Ban with awkward steps. Both of them were empty-handed. They only had backpacks slung over their shoulders. The Heros eyebrows slightly furrowed. [Opposing them is Team 14! I, Iveta Jamvelo, proudly present my disciples with infinite affection! They are prodigies who reached the Elegancia hierarchy at a young age. Wee! Benedict Yurel and Fiona Yurel from the Department of Mysticism! The future of our discipline!] Two silhouettes in robes suddenly emerged from the opposite door. Their stature was so diminutive that it was questionable if they would even reach Ban and Lukes chests. However, their appearance was quite threatening, thanks to their attire. They really look like proper wizards. No, they probably were real wizards. Having reached the Elegancia hierarchy, they would be esteemed even if they were only at the Ars level. Considering their age, one could guess how exceptional they were. Robes tightly wrapped around them. Staves and magical orbs radiating powerful energy. They appeared quite formidable, despite wearing only robes. Iveta dered triumphantly. [Let the 7th match begin!] At that moment, blinding light emitted from the twins magical orbs. Whether Iveta had prompted it or not, they seemed to go all out from the beginning. [It seems they specialize in water attribute mana! We might witness a quick match!] Wooooom! Mana coalesced in an instant. But the two prodigies from the extreme department just watched as magical preparations seemed to go awry without taking any action. Well, Luke did step forward just a single pace ahead of Ban. This action, seemingly disregarding everyones expectation of a close-range fight disrupting magic implementation,pletely missed everyones anticipation. [Are they giving up already? Team 13 seems to show no signs of movement!] Ironically, the twins, appearing desperate, shouted with renewed vigor, perhaps irritated by Ban and Lukes calm demeanor. You ignorant fools who dont understand the greatness of magic! Kneel before the power that brings imagination to reality! Swooosh! The elemental orbs fired by the twins emitted de-like streams in all directions. A mere touch could cause wounds akin to being cut by a de. It was the attack magic of the Ars hierarchy, Starlight Water Droplets. Ack! W-what do we do! Brief exmations and screams echoed throughout the arena. Among those voices were those of someone rolling their feet nervously in the participant waiting room, observing. And. Swoosh- Luke stood still in the same spot. He just murmured quietly, reaching into his backpack. Enhance. Zing! Right after that. The reinforced Iron Staff swung. Crunch! The sound of the collision between the starlight water droplets and the iron staff reverberated throughout the arena. The spectators attention was drawn to the blue orb streaking through the sky with a powerful spin. It was a moment that seemed to freeze time itself. The Hero was speechless. Iveta was no different. [Thisthis is absurd.] In the face of scenes beyondmon sense, Iveta stuttered instead of presenting eloquence as before. Of course, the Hero was just as dumbfounded. However, the audience was waiting formentary. Iveta needed to strike first. [Excellent.] The Hero tightly shut his eyes. [Its great magic.] Only then did cheers erupt from the stands. Indeed, highly developed muscles are indistinguishable from magic. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 151 Chapter 151 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Iron staff. It was a very unfamiliar concept for the wizards. Usually, the material for a staff was chosen to be much more suitable for mana transmission, such as wood or crystal, rather than iron. However, Luke and Ban each packed only five iron staffs in their backpacks. Iron Arrow! Swoosh! The iron staffs shot out quickly, breaking through the barrier the twins had erected. Years of rigorous training had honed their flexible and powerful shoulder muscles, enabling them to throw iron staffs at speeds difficult to discern with the naked eye. Crack!! Of course, there was no such thing as an Iron Arrow spell. But those watching couldnt help but wonder if there really was such magic. After the fierce sh, inevitably, the twins magic was shattered. Iveta was beside himself with frustration. [What on earth is this! This isnt magic!] But in front of Kasim and the Hero who had already decided to act shamelessly, his protests were futile. [Choosing to enhance attack power with reinforcement magic is a wise choice. It would have been impossible with just bare hands.] [What kind of sophistry is that] [Professor Iveta, focus on thementary!] Some of the spectators nodded at Ivetas words, but soon they all began to enjoy the match. In fact, they didnt know if what Luke and Ban were disying was magic or martial arts. They were already providing enough entertainment. Imprable shackles! Bind the enemy before you! Purple magic coalesced into rings, ensnaring Luke and Bans limbs like handcuffs. It was Fionas binding magic. Haha, without dispelling magic, youll never escape from these bindings Thud! As Luke and Ban approached, Benedict raised his staff with a scream. Halt! Rise, Stone Wall! Crash! The seemingly sturdy stone wall now bore marks resembling human shapes. Despair filled the twins eyes. Luke, dusting off stone powder from his shoulders, smirked. Iron Arrow! Thud! Unprotected, Benedict was struck by the iing magical (physical) attack and fell instantly. Fiona couldnt help but lose herposure. Aaaah! Her frail body began to rise into the air. Flight magic was one of the most mana-intensive magics, boasting a mana consumption that even Fiona, who had been trained in magic since a very young age, couldnt sustain for more than a minute. But with her brother already lying on the ground like a frog, she had no choice but to make her move. I have to get out of the range of that brutes staff throwing. No matter how strong they were, what could they do if she unleashed magic from a distance? She soared into the sky, preparing the most powerful magic she could cast. No, she tried to. Blink! Before the light burst right in front of her eyes, she had ns to do just that. Ah! Its blinding! Kasim correctly interpreted. [Ah, the brilliant use of magic by Mr. Dietrich!] [Thats just a re spell] [Indeed. His skills as a magic swordsman are excellent.] In the midst of their discussion, Fiona, who had lost her concentration, fell powerlessly to the ground. And at the point of impact, the most menacing-looking boy she had ever seen awaited her. S-s-scary! Originally a handsome young man, Luke was now elevated by the use of Raviass martial arts. With crimson veins bulging all over his body and eyes emitting a dazzling light, he was in a terrifying state. Trembling with fear, Fiona hunched down. But If youck strength, your head will suffer. For some reason, he didnt approach any closer, instead stopping and muttering strange words. Beyond her field of vision, she saw a white g raised high, just in the next moment. Oh. Only then did she realize that she was lying outside the arena, having been scared off by Luke, aside from her brother. Fiona looked up at the sky, her body trembling against the backdrop of the blue sky. [The 7th match of the Magic Tournament, which opened a new horizon for magic warfare, is drawing to a close like this.] [] Thus, the duo of Ban and Luke secured their spot in the Battle Arena finals. . . . Cuculli, who was watching this behaviour from the stands after her solo exhibition, muttered quietly. Ignorant bastards. * * * Magic (Physical) Was a muscle-using magic user. Is this okay ording to the regtions? Whats the problem with using magic for a fight? If I were a student of the School of Mysteries, Id feel so unjust that I wouldnt even be able to sleep. Youre quite innovative. Lets have a drink~ I guess therell be new regtions starting next year. Iron Arrow!! New marbell hero? Ban, examining the connector, sighed briefly and handed it to Luke. I feel kinda sorry about this. Luke, lying on the bench, endured the pain coursing through his body. His once fair skin was now red all over due to burst blood vessels. It was the price he paid for using Raviass martial arts for victory. Of course, he didnt push himself to the limit, but perhaps because it had been a while, the side effects were severe. He grumbled in response. Whats there to be sorry about? We fought fair and square. Fair and square? ording to mercenary standards, it was a match without any shame. Oh, I see. Good job, then. Ban exhaled heavily and added. Lets go, Luke. The Battle Arena intra-school preliminaries had ended an hour ago. In the 2-on-2 fights, Evergreen and Deindart secured their spots in the finals after a close battle, while in the party y (4-man), Leciel swept through without any surprises. Somehow, extreme students had managed to win in all neer categories except for the magic 1-on-1 match. While Ban felt proud and pleased, there was a slight difort in his heart. Those guys from earlier The twins? [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Yeah. I hope theyre not too hurt. Why worry so much? We controlled our strength well enough. They should be fine. Even though Luke intentionally spoke firmly, there was a fleeting sense of apology in his expression, so Ban chuckled and replied. Its not like we intended to harm them. Im sure theyre alright. Recently, Ban had been curious about how mercenaries coped with such situations Maybe theyre emotionally hurt. Thats not something I can help with. Unlike the Combat Division, there was no minimum age requirement for admission to the Rosenstark School of Mysticism. While it might be difficult to keep up with the physical demands ofbat sses, there were no such restrictions for magic. The twins they faced today were even younger than them by a few years. It was a strange feeling to win against kids using tricks In the second semester, there are frequent joint sses with the School of Mysticism. I should take the opportunity to apologize. With that determination in mind, Bany down on the bench next to Luke. It was midsummer. The sky, already past six in the evening, was filled with clear and bright colors. The sky, painted with light orange and pink hues, stretched endlessly, with white clouds lightly drifting on the asional cool breeze. Luke suddenly spoke, catching Ban halfway into falling asleep. By the way, what was the professor talking about earlier? What do you mean? What he mentioned to you. After the 2-on-2 magic match ended, the Hero hade looking for them in the waiting room. They were well aware of the nonsense they had pulled that almost embarrassed him. Therefore, Ban had expected to be scolded. Luke had just made his resolve to clean the bathroom in the evening. However, unexpectedly, the Hero, though somewhat bewildered and incredulous, didnt reprimand them. Yeah, widening your perspective like that is one way to learn. Didnt you see something new? Ban and Luke had opposite reactions to his words. Luke furrowed his brow in puzzlement, while Ban nodded slightly as if understanding something. The Hero smiled contentedly. Your father was also a rare swordsman with an aptitude for magic. He had been diligently studying it for several years. Really? I had no idea Not many people would know. Being a mage in a family of swordsmen was probably not eptable to Felsons temperament. In fact, a general understanding of magic was one of the factors that allowed him to develop such precise control over mana. Oh I see. Since youre getting into magic, it might be good to investigate the clues you found today. But dont neglect unarmedbat. Having finished his advice to Ban, the Hero turned to Luke. Of course, Luke lookedpletely clueless. Seeing that, the Hero just gave a brief piece of advice before the conversation came to an end. I knew from the moment she appeared in the dream. ? Its good to pour your heart into things, but dont overdo it. As Lukes face turned red as if it were about to burst, the conversation concluded. Perhaps Luke was curious about what the Hero had said earlier. However, the clue mentioned was still too ambiguous to be exined verbally. So Ban casually changed the subject. Was he talking about Evergreen appearing in your dream? Do you want to get hit by Iron Arrow? Sorry. As theyughed heartily, they realized that it was time to go help out at the bar. It was the beginning of the festival. * * * I ran into Pia as she hurriedly made her way somewhere, just as I was about to enter the researchb to take a break after finishing thementary. Huh, Professor! Did you finish thementary well? How were the kids? Looks like there wasnt time to check the connector. Huh? Whats that about Never mind. The Heros gaze naturally fell on the documents she was carrying. It was about the Awaken. After the sessful conclusion of the final clinical trial during the vacation, well proceed to mass production. Though it was less effective than the Original Awaken I had consumed, it would be much safer, a refined version. Starting with military procurement. It would be a catalyst for a further increase in human power. I looked at the graduate student who was smiling bashfully, as if achieving such a great feat was nothing. You might save countless lives. Oh Its nothing. The clinical trial isnt over yet Is there anything I can help with? Any obstacles youre facing? Pia hesitated for a moment before speaking. Theres nothing specific you can help with, Professor, but I think I should visit the Great Forest area. The Great Forest? What for? Theres a very expensive ingredient for the Awaken. I want to see if there are any alternative herbs I can use. In the Great Forest, where mana flows everywhere, rare herbs that are hard to find outside grow. The chances of finding the adventurous herb Pia is looking for are quite high. I nodded my head and spoke. I understand, but the Fairies are very closed-off. It might be difficult to ess areas where rare herbs grow. Im nning to send a request for cooperation first, but It might be a good idea to discuss it with Noubelmag. With Noubelmag? Pias head tilted in surprise at the sudden suggestion. Because Noubelmags mother is still from the Great Forest. Noubelmags mother, Ahir, a prominent cksmith among the Fairies and the creator of the Shape Shifter, was highly respected among the Fairies. Pias expression brightened after hearing the exnation. I should ask her for help. Thank you, Professor! As she hurried away, she added. Oh, and please tell the kids toe to the tavernter if they can. Ill have plenty of delicious food waiting for them. Sure thing. And feel free to drop by if you have time. Whats a graduate student doing at a festival, haha! With herughter full of mncholy, I entered the researchb. The active cooling artifact circting fresh air helped cool the sweat on my forehead. A tavern Since the kids were good at everything, it would probably be a pretty decent tavern. Thats what I thought until then. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 152 Chapter 152 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 With narrow eyes, Dorempa looked down at thendscape below. Woo-woo-woo-woo-woong! Clouds that seemed close enough to touch were crossing numerous peaks. Rugged and rough rocky mountains. Faint mist drifted below them. Well, looks like theres more to report to the leader. It was then, as the savage Hero, heavily painted for battle, thrust his face in front of him. Dorempa remained silent, displeased with the excited demeanor. But he didnt pay heed to the silence. Well, am I quitepetent, huh? Ive been stuck up north investigating the Stagnum prison break, got to know the local geography better than the natives. Dorempa didnt respond, turning his gaze downwards again. As the mist dispersed. Buildings, appearing toy-like, came into view on the edge of vision. Another northern factory. If Ivar hadnt meticulously recorded the movements of the Demonic Church. And if he couldnt fly. Facilities so well-hidden that they could never have been discovered. Dorempa finally spoke. Like cockroaches. Well, anything else to wait for? Lets sweep them away. Kugugu- Ivar rose slowly, trembling with excitement. Dorempa watched him intently. Encountering a human of simr stature was a first for him. Ivar Waitanka, the giant god. Known among tribes as the Roaring Wind. But if someone saw Ivar for the first time, they would be more reminded of a rock than the wind. Gigantic, solid, and rough as a rock. The natives of the Great Mountain Range were different in physique from ordinary humans. It would be more appropriate to consider them demi-human. Much thicker skeletons and incredibly tough muscles. Naturally, they possessed immense strength. The secret to their survival in the Great Mountain Range, teeming with demons, for so long. Even the nonbatants among them, children and the elderly, were stronger than ordinary imperial adult males. And among them, Ivar was a leading Hero Did they say that he was a powerful martial artist who could rival even the entire Knights of Dawn? Dorempa felt a faint emotion stirring in his heart, something he had forgotten. A sense of rivalry. There had been a time when he couldnt control this intense and burning me But now, it didnt matter. Chieftain, may I lead the charge? ? I know youre angry because the demi-humans are being captured, but I also hate them in the same way. How could a human who couldnt even fly lead the charge? Dorempa pondered this question as he observed Ivar preparing for battle. Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo- Somehow, a strange sound emanated from him. That noise soon became a roar that echoed throughout the mountain peaks. To the members of the Demonic Church on the ground, it would sound like the mountains were groaning under fierce winds. No, in fact, a storm was engulfing Ivar. Aaaah-! With a rough gasp, Ivars body trembled uncontrobly with ferocity. And then, in the next moment. Ivar suddenly flew off the cliff. Kwahng-! Ssh-! With what powerful force he struck the ground, the rocky surface cracked. Here we go! His body, which had been hovering in the air for a moment, plummeted downwards like an arrow. It was like the movements of a hawk targeting its prey. Zzjjjick-! As his body twisted, the wind and air surrounding him created a deafening noise, amplifying the sound of the tearing cloth hundreds of times over, echoing through the rocky mountains. Ivars brave roar mingled in between. The sky, sharp rocky mountains, mist, clouds, and enemies. Everything in sight was mixed up in chaos. At the moment when the chaos reached its peak. Thending followed. Kwaaaaaang-! Like a meteor, Ivarnded squarely in the center of the factory. The members of the Demonic Church, each wielding their weapons, were forming a siege. Intruder! Kill him! While the factory was smaller in scale than what the Hero had previously subdued, there were more guards. Probably because it was a location where people didnt usuallye and go. And the troops consisted not of undead led by necromancers but armed humans and tamed demons. Enemies leaping towards the center of the crater. The space was quickly filled with flying projectiles and the foul mouths of the demons. But Ivar charged at them without hesitation, using his fists. I will crush and destroy you all! Strictly speaking, it wasnt just his fists. The blurry shape of the wind swirled around his right arm. The gale turned into des, hammers, and literally crushed the enemies. Dorempa watched the scene from several meters above. It reminded him of his kin fighting with determination and instinct, but Ivars ferocity was of a much more savage kind. Kwaaaaaak! The overwhelming ughter continued. Ivar pierced through armor with his fingers, causing blood to spurt out, and with his fists, he halved the height of his opponents. Most weapons were deflected by the wind protecting Ivars body, unable to even touch him. The most surprising thing was that at some point, Ivar had taken out a video artifact. From the beginning of the battle, he had been using only his right hand, while his left hand vividly recorded the battle. It seemed as if he intended to show the footage to someone. Jjuuru- The surface of the video bead was gradually covered with sttering blood, sliding down. But no matter how obscured, the image of Ivars raging form would be clearly captured. So strong. Dorempa protected the demi-human prisoners, who were terrified, with an ice wall, watching Ivars fierce movements. Kwaaaaaang-! As his resilient body shot the wind-encased fist forward several times, the bodies of the Demonic Church members and the demons who attacked them burst apart from the air pressure. Without any further incident, the factory grounds fell silent. Hoo, hoo. Ivar stood still, his sweat-drenched upper body tinged with blood. Dorempa slowly spoke up. Do you hold a grudge? Was there anyone who didnt, exist in this era? Amidst the breaths pouring out from his lungs, a deep-seated hatred could be felt. All my tribesmen were torn apart and killed. As the tribe chieftain, you would understand my feelings. A self-deprecating smile. Yellowed teeth peeked through thick lips. But it was only for a moment. Ivar returned to his cheerful demeanor from a few minutes ago. So, how was it? Am I quite strong? Dorempa naturally imagined the fight between himself and Ivar in his mind. And he replied. Youre weaker than me. Ivar seemed disappointed, as if he hadnt expected such an answer. I hope we can fight someday. Well. Before receiving baptism, it would have been a good match. * * * Two hours before opening, the extreme bar was showing its bustle. Cashpensation worth ten times the sales offered by the president. Due to the already fiery festival enthusiasm, it was pouring oil on the mes. However, that wasnt the end of it. This morning, an additional notice was posted. During the five-day festival, the Unir (department) that showed the most remarkable performance (sales, awards in variouspetitions, etc.) would receive an extraordinary reward directly from the Principal. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 It was a reward officially recognized by Glendor. As there was no doubt it wouldnt be anything ordinary, the childrens enthusiasm was reaching the realm of madness. Well be number one in sales! We can do it! However, there was one unfortunate w in that bright outlook. How does it taste? Umm. Most of them were nobles and had never even attempted cooking. How does it taste? Leciel and Gerald, who were assigned as cooks for the first day by drawing lots, looked at the tasters with hopeful eyes. Having made efforts such as searching for recipes in the library for the past few days, they were confident. And a momentter. Tak- The taster set down his utensils on the table and uttered a brief critique. Youve got potential. Ohh. Youve got talent for ruining food! Surprisingly, even Cuculli, who had imed to eat demon meat without hesitation, refused further tasting. It was a shock to Leciel and Gerald. Of course, Cuculli was also somewhat shocked. Muttering with a sullen expression, twitching her horn. How can you turn these delicious ingredients into such tasteless food? This is talent, talent! Gerald, in frustration, burst out angrily. Ugh, then you try it! Ban stopped him as he rushed towards him. Gerald, take a deep breath and count to ten. Heh, he cant count past five. Aaaaah! The children bumped their heads together with serious expressions. Even if they put forward pretty and handsome people to act as attractions, ultimately, what determined the taverns sales was the food. With the quality of the food like this, they would be thoroughly trampled by the other Uniyr in terms of sales. Is there anything edible? Youre stammering after a long time, Ban. After taking a bite of Leciels food, Ban made a face and then offered another opinion, but it was hard to trust. Karen, who had been tearing her hair out (she was in charge of the tavern), eventually resigned herself and poked Lukes side. Since itse to this, go enter the cross-dressing contest and earn some points. ? Its a sacrifice for the greater good. It was at the moment when Lukes terrible imagination unfolded that a savior that no one expected appeared. Thunk- Approaching the discouraged chefs like a ghost, she began to gently scold them. Gerald, care to exin why you adjusted the fire like that? Gerald confidently replied. Its better to finish quickly with a strong fire than to grill for 10 minutes over low heat, isnt it? Why did you think that? What if the orders start piling up while were dilly-dallying? Are you going to jump out of the window just because it takes longer to go down the stairs? Umm. Nyhill, who had convinced Gerald in one go, turned to face Leciel. Leciel, with narrowed eyes, looked at the short-haired girl. It was an unusual sight to see the usually silent girl suddenly stepping forward. Whats the reason for cutting the avocado with seeds? Because its easier to slice? Everyone was momentarily speechless at the foolish remark typical of someone who only knows how to swing a sword. But Nyhill spoke as gently as ever. Dont do that next time. Got it? Yeah. Nyhill. She received an inexplicable mission from the Hero a few days ago to enjoy the festival. But watching over the childrens tavern preparations was torture for her. She had lived in Harlem until she was ten years old, where every meal was precious and akin to a matter of life and death in poverty-stricken streets. Moreover, since leaving Harlem, she had endured exhausting training from the ruthless instructors, who threw a piece of bread and asked her to fight for her life. Nyhill naturally became sensitive to food wastage, and even with her agents restraint, it wasnt easy to suppress it. Shall I show you? Tadadadada- With shy movements, the dagger deftly trimmed various ingredients to their proper use. Simple exnations of how to cook followed. It was a very easy task for Nyhill, who had managed to solve meals in various tactical situations, but to the children, it seemed like magic, like a miracle. Huh? Cucullis eyes sparkled as she was taking a step back. Her interested gaze lingered on the dagger Nyhill was holding. Since Gerald had handled the kitchen knife so roughly that his teeth fell out, it was being used as a substitute. Hmm, whats that? It was a dagger into which Nubelmag had embedded a spirit stone. Cucullis footsteps abruptly stopped as she tried to sneak closer to take a closer look. She sensed someones presence at the entrance. Oh, Professors here! Before the other children could react, Cuculli grabbed a te of food from the table and eagerly approached the Hero. Professor! This is the food Leciel made, would you like to try it? Hey, wait a minute! The Hero, who had been gazing admiringly at Nyhill surrounded by the children, was taken aback by the sudden offer and shifted his gaze. The te of food held out before him. Someone is offering him food. In fact, it was a very special and rare event for the Hero. Having wandered alone in the frontier for many years, he had always managed to scrape by for meals. There was a reason why he vividly remembered Dorempa grilling rabbit meat (although he mostly ate it himself). Furthermore, it was his disciples cooking. There was no reason to refuse. Ill eat it dly. The Hero willingly picked up the utensils. Oh my goodness. Halo, its an eclipse halo! He almost lost his temper and used a salvation form against his disciple. . . . And so, after the twists and turns of preparation, the long-awaited business hours began. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 153 Chapter 153 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 In the heart of the festival street. Luke, wearing a shirt, thought to himself. What am I doing here? But his body moved faithfully as he had been taught by Karen. Hey, you there! Two female students walking down the street nced back in surprise. Judging by the green badges on their school uniforms, they were seniors in their third year. However, they did not seem to mind being called informally by a freshman. Instead, they blushed and yfully nudged each others shoulders or backs. Luke roughly waved his hand towards them. Come hang outter. What? Youll treat us to a drink if we go with you? Depends on the situation. Ha, ridiculous. With that, the girls with flushed cheeks distanced themselves from him. His uncles. So, the members of the mercenary group often called Luke greenhorn. For one thing, thats only because he never once set foot in the brothel they were trying to take him to. In fact, Luke didnt find it particrly difficult to interact with girls. He knew well enough that his appearance was attractive. Why wouldnt he? There was a mirror in Lukes room, and at each territory he was assigned to, women would oftene bearing flowers, letters, and even assault rifles. But such experiences only added to Lukes titles of greenhorn. Like being a leader who protects the weak in a strict manner. Or a Eunuch. What can I do if Im not interested? The problem was that his indifference didnt apply to just one person. Luke habitually nced into the tavern. Is she still in the kitchen? No sign of a pitchman. Its not visible. As Luke returned his gaze to its original position, he spotted crimson eyes staring at him intently. It was hisrade who shared the pitchman duty with him. What about showing just half of this confidence in front of Evergreen? As Luke was taken aback, he hesitated for a moment before replying bluntly. Shut up, Leciel. What do you know? I know too. Youre inexperienced. A brief sigh followed. Why wouldnt Luke want to do that? But it wasnt easy. A height a notch taller than his peers. Broad shoulders and a handsome face. These were traits that often filled him with considerable pride. But they were of little use in front of Evergreen. Not worth mentioning, apparently. Did it mean anything to her? These thoughts often shook his confidence. Swoosh- Someone grabbed the hem of Lukes garment just as he sighed again. Oh, what! Brother. Oppa. They looked about seven or eight years old. They looked up at Luke with round, innocent eyes. Luke looked around in surprise. Why are kids alone at the festival. Fortunately, they werent alone. People who seemed to be their parents were nearby. They seemed distracted, perhaps by the fig wine stew being sold at the adjacent booth, albeit a bit far away. Geez, really. Luke chuckled. As expected, they were sensitive to beauty. They approached strangers with ease. Feeling a bit proud, he lowered himself to their eye level. Whats up, kiddos? Iron Arrow. Iron Arrow, show us! Iron Arrow! Despite Lukes evident disappointment andplete disregard, the children persisted. He looked to Leciel, thinking of asking for help, but she was nowhere to be seen. Even if she were there, that stony character wouldnt be of much help. Lukes face grew increasingly perplexed. How do you deal with kids? Memories of beatings and punishments from his mercenary days were of no help now. As if adding insult to injury, the children surrounded him, chanting. Why wont you show us Iron Arrow! Show us Iron Arrow! Show us! As Luke contemted fleeing from them, Leciel appeared. Luke looked at the iron fork in her hands with a puzzled expression. But Leciel, as if Luke didnt even exist, fixed her gaze on the children. Hey, kids. Hi there. It seemed a definite fact that kids liked beauty. As the attention that was on him shifted instantly to Leciel, Luke felt a little disappointed. Wow, shes really pretty. Sister, do you know how to do Iron Arrow too? Leciel nodded confidently. Of course. Im even better at it. As she finished speaking, the fork she held began to glow. She had an affinity for all mana attributes, but her exceptional aptitudey in fire mana. As mana enveloped the fork, mes flickered, and the children gasped in amazement. Wow, amazing. So beautiful. Leciel smiled warmly and kindly at those who knew her, as if beyond imagination. Take a good look, Iron Arrow!! With an exaggerated skill name, the fork soared into the air behind the crowd. Swoosh- With a tail of azure mes, the fork streaked across the sky. It resembled a firework, or perhaps a shooting star rising backward. But one thing was for sure, it was much cooler than the Iron Arrow Luke had showcased in the battle arena. The children cheered, jumping around and chanting. Sister is the best. Sister is the best! before they were eventually led away by their parents, carrying fig wine stew. Oh, sorry for the trouble. After they disappeared, Leciel suppressed the cheerful smile she had been wearing. Back to her usual expressionless self. She absentmindedly stroked her chin and threw a word at Luke, who was staring at her. You should treat children kindly. Didnt you grow up in the Golden Prison of the Sword Saint Family? Leciel didnt answer. But that served as a response. Tsk, Luke turned away, clicking his tongue. Leciel, Luke! Oh, whats up. Is it time for a shift change? No, Karen says the pitch is packed inside! Take a break, you did well! Ah, finally. Luke unbuttoned his shirt and stepped into the tavern. The break room would be better than this stifling outdoors. But Aileen intercepted him with a bright smile. Oh, sorry, weve used up all the chairs in the break room, so you guys might as well rest outside, okay? So they ended up sitting on a bench across, watching the interior of the tavern. But surprisingly, they didnt mind. It was amusing to watch their colleagues struggles. Gerald, driven by Nyhills help and the childrens efforts, was now serving diligently, sweating profusely. Evergreen and Nyhill were busy cooking in the kitchen, and behind them, someone with spiky hair was swiftly doing the dishes. Karens imposing voice, directing the whole tavern, could be heard from time to time. Noble children, minor nobles, andmoners all mingled together. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 It was a moment that naturally evoked the regtions of Rosenstark. In Rosenstarks fences, everyone is equal or so they say. Unlike festivals at other academies, Rosenstarks festivals encouraged students to set up booths and work themselves. Luke looked at his peers. Thirty-one students, well, now just thirty. When they first faced each other, it was a rtionship filled with wariness,petitiveness, and disdain. Their backgrounds and social statuses were vastly different. Due to their talents and pride in their respective fields, the existence ofpetitors had been precious and annoying. But the past semester had been enough time to forget those initial impressions. The gruelling training sessions. No matter how strong or talented they were, they wouldnt have endured without each other. Even Luke and Leciel, who were somewhat standoffish, couldnt deny the strong bond between them. Luke muttered quietly. Are you going back home for the vacation? No, to Jedo. My grandmother is there. I see. The boy, reminiscing about the stern atmosphere of the mercenary camp, turned his gaze to the sky and spoke. The vacation isnt as weing as I thought. Leciel nodded quietly. But they had no idea. That they would have a much more spectacr break than they expected. . . . Anyway, that week, thanks to Nyhills help and the childrens efforts, the struggling tavern of Rosenstark secured the top spot in total sales. * * * Time will resolve it. She told me to rx for a while. But I had no intention ofpletely letting go of my work on the seasons. In between handling festival-rted tasks and preparing for the Battle Arena main eventmentary, I steadily worked on outlining the seasons. Its not a situation where I can rx enough to be idle. I had to schedule my time down to the minute. So, with about fifteen minutes left until the start of the Battle Arena main event, I delved deep into meditation, or rather, flow of consciousness, as I had been doing for the past few days. My own season, my own originality. My originality was the ability to mimic others, in other words, replication. So, what was the biggest adBantage of replication? The answer came quickly. High-level utilization of various techniques. No matter how talented one was, they couldnt raise the proficiency of every skill as much as their main technique. But I could extract any skill, no matter how minor, with rtively high quality. For example, if I focused solely on replicating Bucks skills instead of all the other essentials, I could execute stealth techniques more superior to any other thief. It was thanks to the upscale. Of course, if I, who had replicated Teds skills to the fullest, fought against myself who had replicated Bucks skills to the fullest, thetter would undoubtedly win. It was a matter of course. The difference in basic abilities was too great. But if it were Leciels skill? Cuculli, Ban, Luke, and so on. The essence of geniuses whose talents and limits surpassed the criminals by tens of times. It would be different. They could showcasepletely different techniques with equally powerful output. It was akin to him I saw in Zeros memories. I remembered vividly how he had obliterated the priests of the church who had mastered sacred magic, by replicating far more powerful and numerous copies of the sacred magic they had invoked. Therefore, the conclusion I reached was Continuous technique. The form of the season should be a continuous technique. Originally, the invention of techniques had to consider the opponent. The Demon King and the Demon Generals. Other high-ranking demons. Monsters who had amassedbat data against humans for centuries, if not millennia, were the enemies I ultimately had to ovee. Even against Ted, who was the strongest among humans, they had experienced multiple battles and survived. In other words, eradicating demons with only human strength was impossible. Teds death proved that fact. Therefore, I intended to pursue the development of techniques that humans could never cast. Such techniques would deal a more effective blow to the demons. The unexpected. It should be the foremost task to be undertaken. I continued to visualize in my mind. If it ispleted, would it feel like this? It was just a rough draft for now, but this was the aspect of the season that I envisioned. The first movement would start with Teds powerful intermediate swordsmanship as usual. It would give the opponent the belief that this battle would flow as if they were facing the past hero. Then, I would incorporate Cucullis ice magic in the middle. Next, immediately deploy Bans delicate swordsmanship to confuse the opponent. Lukes learned Raviass martial technique could also be utilized to mix in explosive and frenzied attacks. Nyhills learned Shadows technique could disrupt the opponents senses, leading the battle in a direction of stealth and ambush. Leciels versatile swordsmanship would be devastating if inserted appropriately. If my understanding of Larze continues to deepen, it would even be possible to step back and engage in a magic battle. The sequence should flow like water, smooth and natural. Refine and polish that sequence into a form of expression. A technique that blends unarmedbat, magic, and assassination. But ultimately, the destination I must reach lies at the end of this direction. To achieve this, I need to raise my understanding far beyond what it is now. Since all other methods for increasing power have been blocked. What I need to do is clear. I must exert all my efforts to increase my understanding of myrades, including the children. Because raising understanding of someone else will have a positive impact on thepletion and limitations of my foundation and strength, the Polymorph. As much as it would be nice to be able to rx for a moment, it wasnt a situation where I could. Currently, the Vanguard of the allied forces has reached the outskirts of the Demon Realm after crossing the Great Mountain Range. If they sessfully clear the way, the main force will also cross into the Demon Realm. After the Demon Kings downfall, the mes of war that had been extinguished are reigniting. The reason why the Emperor took on so many risks and decided on the expedition was to buy time for me. I cannot waste that. Can this Battle Arena also serve as a catalyst for raising understanding? I hoped so. I was getting ready to end my meditation. Because I sensed Kasim cautiously entering as he opened the door. He had quietly given me space earlier when he saw I was meditating. His return now likely meant that it was time. I stood up eagerly. Lets go. The curtain of the Battle Arena main event was about to rise. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 154 Chapter 154 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Martial Arts Waiting Room. Evergreen recalled memories from a few days ago. Brief conversations she had with the hero in the herosboratory. Recently, she had been doing her best to prepare for the Battle Arena. But oveing all the anxiety about the match with just training alone was difficult. So she went to see the hero for advice. As she listened to him for a while, he suddenly said this. Evergreen, what do you think your strengths are? My strengths? As an archer, she was clearly aware of her strengths. She had particrly strong physical strength and good stamina. Thanks to this, she could easily handle a powerful bow with strong tension for a long time. When she cautiously mentioned this, the hero smiled faintly and tilted his head. Of course, thats also one of your excellent strengths. But what Im talking about is something else. What do you mean by that? The hero didnt give a direct answer. He just looked at her as if to find out for herself. Evergreen, who was thinking hard, soon became despondent. Um, do I even have any strengths? Compared to others As she continued her words, the images of her ssmates shed through her mind. Ban, who had exceptional control over magical energy. Leciel, who had an unmatched talent. Cuculli, who could produce output based on a huge mana capacity. Luke, whobined a beast-like sense ofbat with years of practical experience. Evergreen bit her lip. Just generally average? Like being ordinary? Evergreen knew it wasnt an appropriate answer to the question. But the hero didnt me her. Instead, he honestly agreed with her words. Indeed, when you see some outstanding guys, you feel like youre just average and ordinary. Yes But even an ordinary person has their own weapons their own way of fighting. Evergreen tilted her head. Although it was a reasonable statement, it wasnt something a vastly superior hero would say. But the hero continued speaking without paying attention to her puzzled expression. Everyone feels that way. Theres no one as humble as you. Humble? How could that be both a strength and a weapon? Evergreen looked puzzled. The hero exined his thoughts in a low voice. Humility means not having unnecessary stubbornness and not being proud. Pride The hero nodded. Leciel, Cuculli, Luke, and even Ban. They all had a very strong pride in their skills. It was natural for them as they were geniuses. Although they tried to acquire the skills taught by the Hero, who is a much superior being, they implicitly do not ept the skills of other ssmates. But ordinary Evergreen was different. Because she didnt overestimate herself, she looked up to her ssmates more. As a result, she tried to pay attention to and emte the techniques of others, trying to follow them. All the extreme students must have experienced being persistently asked by Evergreen for tips or know-how at least once. Shes someone who can follow well. In a way shes simr. The hero looked at Evergreens face full of worry and finished speaking leisurely. If you dont forget your strengths, there will surely be satisfactory results to follow. Evergreen couldnt understand it well, but she nodded anyway. Thank you Good luck, Evergreen. There are people who want to see you doing well. Ah! Why are you suddenly saying that! Anyway, since then, Evergreen has been constantly pondering over that days conversation. Even the slightest changes in the heros expression and tone were vivid. Green. Evergreen! Evergreen was startled and looked up. Her gaze naturally turned to the person who urgently called her and then to the broadcasting screen showing the arena. Time has passed. Just a moment ago, it seemed like Cuculli was overpowering her opponent in the duel. But now the Magic 1v1 was already over. The arrogant expression of the top student of the Mystical Arts Department filled the screen. Now it was their turn. Youre nervous. Just trust me. Oh, Senior. Deindart smiled slightly as he twirled his shield in his hand. Ill make sure to win the prize money for you. Dont worry. Haha, I hope so. Of course I can. Those guys were never a match for me. Just trust me. Yes, Senior. Yes, objectively, their team had the upper hand in terms of skill. Deindart was evenst years top freshman. A special case who gave up a years worth of credits to re-enroll in the Extreme course. He had even participated in the Battle Arenast year and made it to the finals. Although he didnt win the finals, it was still a remarkable achievement. So she readily epted his proposal for the 2v2 match. Thunk- Deindart, who was checking the condition of his equipment, spoke up again to Evergreen. But what are you going to do with the prize money? Shopping? Haha. It was the moment when Evergreens words trailed off. [Battle Arena Campus Finals! 2v2 Unarmed Combat, 1st and 2nd Year Duel is about to begin! Competitors, please prepare to enter!] Alright, lets go. Thud- Deindart, who had been grumbling, hardened his face and took the lead towards the entrance. Ah. What made Evergreen suddenly stop was at the end of the corridor. Her wandering gaze headed towards the Magic 2v2 Match Waiting Room. If only I could go with Luke It would have been great. Given their much more frequent coordination and his superior skills, victory would have been assured over Deindart. The preparation process would have been less anxious and more enjoyable. But Evergreen clenched her fist tighter. I cant rely on him forever. She shouldnt get too ustomed to Lukes presence and take it for granted. As the daughter of Solintail, she should know how to stand on her own. Luke also took on the challenge and seeded. Participating in the Magic 2v2 Match. Some kidsughed it off as a stunt, but to Evergreen, it seemed incredibly impressive. Suddenly venturing into a new field and even achieving the feat of advancing to the finals. In her eyes, Luke shone brightly. Watch closely. Ill do just as well as you. With that determination, Evergreen turned her back from the waiting room where Luke and the others were, and raised her clenched fist. And she shouted: Lets go! Yeah, fight! Just trust me! Yes, Senior! Do your best! [1st years entrance] A familiar voice boosted her courage. * * * ng-! Two swordsmen with shields shed in the center of the arena. They thrust and shed with their short swords, kicked, and pushed each other fiercely. But undoubtedly, the center of their offense and defense was the shield. Kwaaaaang-! Unlike ordinary shields that only had iron edges, their shields had a very high steel content. An extra-standard weapon that can be handled thanks to intensive strength training and mana. The audience let out joyful screams at the scene where heavy chunks of metal were whizzing through the air at an invisible speed. But the atmosphere in the Magic 2v2 Match waiting room was slightly different. Ban started with a sinking voice. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Senior Deindart doesnt seem to be as overwhelming as I thought. While his skill is undoubtedly superior, the other side seems to have done much analyzing, and done it well. Yeah, it seems like their tactics fit better. Their interpretation was correct. Thats why Deindardt hadnt gained a clear advantage. Kwaaaang-! Amidst the mor, sparks flying, and Kasimsmentary prating through. [The closebat continues! Professor Redymer, how do you see this match?] [The victory will be decided by the archers] [Oh, could you borate a bit more on that?] [Even within the same archer category, the role on the battlefield varies depending on individual strengths and weaknesses] As always, the Hero spoke calmly, his voice instilling trust in the listeners. The children were under the illusion that they had returned to the ssroom. [In thisbat situation, those who can bring out the most suitable strengths first will win] The somewhat uncharacteristic exnation from the hero made some tilt their heads. Evergreens strengths? Is he talking about her physical strength or eloquence? I think I know. Oh? Ban smirked mischievously but quickly stifled it. It was because Lukes expression was very serious. Even though they were having a conversation, the boys eyes didnt leave the broadcasting screen. So what are Evergreens strengths? Things like that. Bans narrowed eyes turned towards the screen. Thunk- As Evergreens bowstring was slowly pulled, everyone watching became puzzled. It was because her bow was aiming at nothing but empty space. The opponent archer, who should have been the target, was hidden behind an imprable cover where Evergreen couldnt aim. Whats she trying to do? Shes just going to expose her position like that. Just watch. After thepetition began. The archers offense and defense became extremely secretive and, frankly, boring. They continued to change positions behind covers and silently waited for the opponent to expose themselves. But now, Evergreen seemed determined to break the stalemate. Ping-! An arrow flew towards an empty spot. The trajectory suddenly turned sharply vertical right above the hidden cover where the opponent archer was. Eek! Thud-! The opponent managed to roll away to evade, but as a result, exposed themselves outside the cover. It was quite surprising. It was a style of archery that Evergreen had never shown in the qualifiers. Of course, the onlookers were equally surprised. What, what!? What was that? Yeah, thats Karens archery. And mixed with my style of perception. As the mana in the arrows created ripples in the air, Karens arrows aimed with precise timing towards the opponents position. Bans eyes widened. Wow, when did she practice that? Theres no way she could have prepared for using it like that in the Battle Arena prep time alone. She must have been closely observing and learning from the beginning. That was the moment when Ban understood Evergreens strengths. Thunk-! Evergreen drew her bowstring again. This time, it was a straight shot aimed at the exposed body of the opponent archer. Kasim excitedly continued hismentary. [Oh, its a curved arrow. Evergreen has been hiding a trick up her sleeve. With this, theres no point in positioning oneself behind many covers. It only makes movement more cumbersome!] [Positioning must be forced to change. In that gap, Evergreen pours firepower onto the enemy front line!] And so, the tide of the battle turned in an instant. As the arrows poured down and the hands and feet of the opposing shield bearer became disoriented, Deindart easily subdued him. The front line soon copsed. With Deindart holding up his shield and Evergreen protecting from behind, the lone remaining opponent archer had no choice but to concede defeat. [I apud the persistence and passion Ms. Evergreen must have put into being able to demonstrate such excellent archery skills. Victory, congrattions] As thementator finished his analysis, Ban apuded. Wow, what a clean victory. But Luke didnt respond at all. As if there was nothing else in the world, he just watched Evergreen running around on the broadcast screen. Ban couldnt help but smile wryly. Seems like our match isnt even making him nervous. In addition to them, senior students from the Mystical Arts Department were also watching with wide-eyed interest. Despite receiving warm gazes from them, Luke seemedpletely unfazed. On the other hand, Ban couldnt help but feel more tense than usual for a different reason Why is she even here? It was an unexpected guest. The person who had sent him a note wanting to conduct experiments rted to mental magic. The top student of the Mystical Arts Department. Winner of the Magic 1v1. The Second Miracle. Even though they had no personal rtionship, the epithets associated with her were extraordinary. Beatrice Monroe. With her long purple hair reaching her waist. Although she was somewhat short, she didnt look young. There was no baby fat on her face, and her expression was dry, perhaps because of her dignity and elegance. She sat there like a sculpture embodying dignity and grace. The problem was that her eyes never left Ban for a moment. Ban had no choice but to avert his eyes first. Moreover, asionally she whispered something to her seniors as if giving advice, which made him feel extremely self-conscious. They must have sharpened their swords already. He didnt think the Mystical Arts Department would lose as effortlessly asst time. This time, it was a matter of their honor. Of course, he and Luke had practiced magic a bit more, but Luke, youre just not talented. For a week of practicing magic all night, there wasnt much to show for it. Ban sighed. [The participants of the Magic 2v2, please prepare to enter.] The announcement echoed in the waiting room. Gripping his iron staff like a sword, Ban recalled the words of the hero. Your father was also a rare swordsman with an aptitude for magic. There was no choice but to give it a try. . . . As Ban left with determination. In the back, a pair of inscrutable purple eyes bid farewell to him. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 156 Chapter 156 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 All matches, including the 4-yer party y, have ended. Thementary room became silent all of a sudden. The Hero, watching the audience flowing out like a tide through the front ss window, reminisced about the previous match. Leciel. As expected, she demonstrated overwhelming skills and obtained qualification for the extracurricr match. Her poprity was incredible. The thunderous cheers still echoed in his ears. However, what satisfied the Hero was not her excellent skills but another aspect. Leciel showed a different side from the beginning of the semester. Although she could have dominated alone, she yielded so that her ssmates could shine. With excellent understanding andbat skills, she showcased organic party y. That was what the Hero had greatly hoped for Leciel, and she seemed to know that, as she looked back at thementary room with a proud expression while leaving the arena. But The Hero couldnt help but smile bitterly. In the end, I failed to find the clue to the seasons. As the battles took ce in different environments, he had hoped for an increase in understanding of the children. Of course, there were minor gains such as confirming new talents, but it was somewhat disappointing. If only I could have gotten stronger before leaving for the demonic realm. After the graduation ceremony, the Heros face stiffened as he recalled the scheduled events. It soon rxed at Kasims well-timed voice from behind. Congrattions on winning the 2-yer magic match, Iveta. The prestige of the School of Mysteries was impressive, wasnt it? Iveta, who had lost hisposure, stood with a grim expression. Approaching them, the Hero spoke. Professor Iveta, you havent forgotten our promise, have you? No, I havent forgotten. Im looking forward to the second semester. After finishing his words, the Hero grabbed Kasim, whose mouth was twitching. Kasim was apetent and excellent professor, but when he acted like this, he couldnt help but feel like he had gained another student. After that, until they left the Arte Hall, Kasim had a smiling face all the time. Are you going straight to theboratory, Professor? What about you? Professors are having a small gathering Wont you join us? For several months now, Kassim has often invited him to drinks with young professors. Its not bad to get to know them, but on a day like today, it would be better to leave them alone to enjoy themselves. They might feel ufortable if I join. Oh, everyone would love it. Its a shame, but lets postpone it to the next opportunity. Several female professors are alsoing. I think its you. With a dejected Kasim, the Hero parted ways and entered the shortcut to theboratory. As they climbed the hill, they saw children passing by, chattering andughing. Faces filled with relief and regret. For the kids who endured harsh training for a semester, this festival was like soldiers vacation. Watching them walk, the Hero felt that his mood had improved faster than expected. Yeah, kids should be like that. In addition to the original purpose of acquiring knowledge and developing abilities, an academy has other meanings. Hanging out with kids of the same age and umting precious moments. Creating memories to look back onter when we enter a tiring and dry period. Even just before entering theb, the Heros eyes contained the childrensughter. It was a rare moment when he forgot that Rosenstark was a ce that imed dozens of casualties every year. * * * * In ordance with the users request,prehension scores are provided. * In ordance with the users request, the subjects are differentiated by affiliation. * Duplicate affiliations are not separately indicated. Ted Redymer: 63/100 Cuculli Evans: 40/100 Pia Joyce: 35/100 Ban Dietrich: 33/100 Yussi Glendor: 26/100 Gerald Bryce: 22/100 Kasim Pierre: 20/100 Evergreen Solintail: 19/100 Luke Selsood: 18/100 Leciel Hiyashin: 15/100 Nyhill: 14/100 Karen: 13/100 Zero Requiem: 10/100 Lucas Wellington: 7/100 Labin Hawk: 3/100 Iveta Jambello: 1/100 Euphemia Cecilia: 17/100 Noubelmag: 13/100 Felson Dietrich: 11/100 Barun: 5/100 Larze Gion: 3/100 Ivar Waitanka: 2/100 Aselin Ezeel: 1/100 Dante Qipaso: 1/100 Galure Zeke: 1/100 Terra Banatoni: 1/100 Bucks: 29/100 Delian Cruze: 25/100 . . . Dorempa Evans: 1/100 The changes inprehension were being recorded each time. Over the past few months, there had been considerable progress in the understanding of those mainly affiliated with Rosenstark. Ban, Cuculli, Yussi, Pia, Gerald, and Kasims core essence had be replicable, and Evergreen and Luke had also reached close. On the other hand, the understanding of the members of the Dawn Knights had been in a state of stagnation. Since most of them were involved in the current campaign, it was inevitable. This made it difficult to engage in conversation or make progress in rtionships. Moreover,munication in the demonic realm was not smooth, and there seemed to be no room for such things. The contacts had been periodic, with almost only her. I took out the doll (depicting Larze as a dummy) that I had put in the drawer and ced it in the center of the desk. Larze. [] Larze. [] Larze! [Ah, I was having such a good sleep] At those words, I looked out the window. The sunset still lingered in the sky. Sleeping at this hour? [Unfortunately, here, theres no distinction between day and night, Mr. Doppleganger] Perhaps due to drowsiness, Larzes characteristic drowsy voice seemed even more drawn out. The soft and calm tone of voice began toin. [I only manage to get a nap during the time when the demons arent attacking. Its a miserable situation.] Youve been through a lot. [All thanks to who!] To summarize the current situation of the allied forces briefly: They sessfully established a temporary base at the entrance to the demonic realm, designated as Zone 1. Looking back, it was indeed a secretive and sudden operation. In just a few days, they gathered all their core forces and swiftly broke through the Central Mountains, then razed Zone 1 of the demonic realm to the ground. Due to concerns about information leaking to internal traitors, even the participants in the campaign were kept in the dark until the end. As a result, the demons had no choice but to suffer passively. While it was anticipated that there would be an attack, no one had dreamed of a full-scale campaign involving the mobilization of humanitys core forces like this. By setting up stakes and securing demonic supply routes, a significant portion of the forces was withdrawn to the western front. A golden opportunity for a genius, where the defense line was not properly prepared. Taking advantage of that gap, the allied forces seized Zone 1 of the demonic realm. They utilized all the materials they brought back (such as artifacts made by Noubelmag, construction stones, etc.) to fortify the base. [Well, it was all good until then.] Has there been no attempt to retake the base? [The smell of rotting demon corpses is enough to twist my nose] The doll grabbed its nose, making a wry face. Hasnt the base be more dangerous? [Yeah, it seems the higher-ups among the demons are just observing for now, perhaps waiting for orders from above.] As if I had anticipated it, I nodded. It would be burdensome for them tounch a full-scale attack hastily. If by any chance they fail, theyll lose more territory, and the return of the demon king will be significantly dyed. Euphemias n worked out well. [Im sure theyre wondering what kind of n youre cooking for you to remain in the West. Well, anyway, thats the end of this story] [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Gradually, vitality returned to Larzes voice. [Since you contacted me, does that mean youre almost ready?] I nodded. Yes, all preparations areplete. I did my best to be stronger during the given time and reached the limit of my abilities. The halted growth can no longer be postponed. Even if its dangerous, we must cross the demonic realm and obtain the treasure of the Wolf statue. We cant fool around anymore. Its time you guys put your lives on the line. [Admirable. Alright. Shall we finalize the n?] The doll stood up and picked up the pen on the desk. Rectangr- I focused on the words being written down by her no, it. While the doll began to draw a map of the demonic realm on the parchment. [As I mentioned before, its impossible to teleport someone within the demonic realm. Even teleporting alone is heavily restricted.] Additionally, long-distance teleportation is also impossible within the demonic realm. Even regr teleportation consumes a significant amount of mana, so it must be cast very cautiously, as Larze mentioned before. If by any chance a magic-savvy demon interferes, it could pose a great risk. [Thats why I suggested going together from the beginning Tsk, I didnt expect you toe out like this.] Considering the priorities, its natural. Well meet at the designated point as agreed. Initially, Larze said she would wait at the entrance to the Great Mountain Range and enter the demonic realm with me. Despite her kindness, I could only give a negative response. After all, what she is participating in is the campaign that determines the survival of humanity. Furthermore, she was not just a regrbatant but the most powerful force of humanity. It would be absurd for her to leave her post for my growth. Therefore, I made a decision. Theres no turning back. Ill go to the midpoint of the demonic realm on my own. There, I will briefly meet Larze and quickly reach the coordinates of the treasure map. [Hmm, whatever you say.] The dolls head, muchrger than its body, nodded as it spoke. [But are you sure its okay? If you identally end up in the mouth of some nasty demon whileing here, Id feel really sad.] Her concern was valid. I also know that prating the demonic realm wont be easy. Its a ce where dangers and horrors lurk. Its an area with a higher concentration of demonic energy than anywhere else on the continent. Although I had been nning thoroughly for months, it wouldnt guaranteeplete safety. Seeing my determined expression, Larze, using the dolls hand, patted my knee. [Dont worry too much. Ive prepared a little gift for you.] A gift? [Youll find out what it is when you arrive at Canis.] I raised an eyebrow. Just tell me in advance. [Mr. Doppleganger, curiosity is like an unsown seed, it yields fruit the more its hidden.] Thewless city of Canis. A ce mentioned by the informants of Harlems henchmen, it is a city known for its alliance organizations and notorious criminals, located right next to the Great Mountain Range. One notable aspect is that its the only entrance among the sixteen entrances to the demonic realm that is not under imperial jurisdiction. Sometimes it serves as a base camp for illegal demonic exploration teams formed spontaneously. Before entering the demonic realm. After entering. I chose Canis as the entry route to avoid drawing too much attention. It seemed that Larze had hidden something there. Having experienced her stubbornness before, I decided to give up neatly. Then well contact each other just before departure. [Okay, but] Larze rarely trailed off. A dangerous curiosity flickered. [Do you still not know the identity of the treasure?] I remained silent for a moment. Not yet. [Hmm] The Iris of Lace designated it as the target, so it must be something that will help with my growth. [Is that so?] If it was rted to Zero, then revealing the identity of the treasure, which could be assumed to be a blessing, to Larze, who was crazy about anything rted to Zero, seemed premature. But even now, breaking through the depths of the demonic realm without Larzes help was impossible. So I opted for apromise. Iplete sharing of information. Therefore, at the moment, Larze only knew the fragmentary fact that the treasure was hidden at those coordinates, but she didnt know that it was likely to be Zeros blessing. If she realized, it was uncertain what her reaction would be, but that would be something to think about after arriving at the treasure. At least I wont be intercepted. I naturally recalled the seven blessings of Zero. Growth, Insight, Substitution, Severance, Efficiency, Paradox, and Prescience. While the names were not known to anyone, most people spected that they were named after the processes that Zero Requiem had gone through until reaching its unique state. Among the seven blessings, four had unknown owners and intermediaries. Insight, Severance, Paradox, and Prescience. If what was hidden at the coordinates was an intermediary of the blessing, it would likely be one of these four. I briefly recalled the moment I obtained Evolution. The tremendous rise in growth. I then thought about what the individuals who obtained the blessings had left in historical records. I must obtain it before this vacation ends. If that timees quickly, I might be able to lend a hand to the campaign. Euphemia might hate it, but there was no other way. As I envisioned such a bright future, I realized that the doll had been quiet for some time. Larze? [] It seemed to have fallen asleep again. Thud- The dollsrge head was buried in the desk. . . . Thus, the day of the graduation ceremony dawned. Coincidentally, it ovepped with Teachers Day The Hero was so busy that hepletely forgot about it. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 157 Chapter 157 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Panting- The hero stared nkly at the ashy bundle of fur nudging him. What was so good about it? It hurriedly sniffed around with its short legs, taking in his scent. A nose poking through the gaps of a suit jacket. Panting- The hero reflexively reached out and grabbed the scruffy fur of the creature. A soft grung! sound was heard. So whats this? Its a present for Teachers Day! Amidst the childrens chorus, the hero grabbed the twitching tail. . . . Approximately 5 minutes ago. It was the moment he was about to grab the ssroom doorknob. The hero sensed someone hiding right behind the door. It was highly secretive. And wouldnt you know it Whoosh- As soon as he opened the door, a cake flew towards his face at ferocious speed. But the hero wasnt one to just take it. He first subdued the arm holding the cake, then returned it right back at the assant. Bleh! A cacophony ofughter poured onto the cream-coated culprit. The crouched figure on the floor red back with a furious expression. Hey, Leciel! I said something like that wouldnt work. But, we agreed to do it together! You promised! Hmph. Leciel, with a snort, quietly ced another cake she held onto the desk. The hero, listening to their silly conversation, suddenly realized that the ssroom looked somewhat different than usual. Thud! Balloons of various colors adorned the room. Decorations seemingly made by the children were ced all around, with somewhat sloppy ribbons, crumpled paper flowers, and tattered cards. Though their skills were far from perfect, their sincerity was evident. Different handwriting on the ckboard conveyed gratitude. Among them, one stood out. The hero cleared his throat, feeling his throat getting choked up. His gaze was fixed on a painting that filled one side of the wall. These are Oh, Leciel asked a known painter to draw them. A known painter, huh. The hero remembered Leciels artistic style he saw at the beach of dreams. The entrance ceremony. Orientation. Various sses including demonology and simcrum. Training sessions continued at the barracks. Encounters in the Forest of Martial Arts, bravely fighting against Beriel and Enoch. Even scenes from the still-drying paint of the battle arena and the lively festival tavern. The entire semester of Extreme was encapsted there. The known painters skill is remarkable. Uh, yes. Leciel, seemingly embarrassed, hung her head low. Her earlobes were as red as her hair, almost indistinguishable from it. Delving deeper into Leciel The heros understanding of Leciels impending ability replication increased. But for almost the first time, the hero ignored thement. Now, it wasnt the gaze of this suspicious artifact. He wanted to capture this moment with his own unadulterated eyes. Hehe, you must be hungry! Arent you! At that moment, Cuculli, wiping off the cream, dragged a desk over. On the desky the heros favorite tea and pastries, neatly arranged. Oh, so thats why Pia The hero btedly understood the significant smile he saw on Pia in theboratory. He also realized how diligently his disciples had prepared for this day But that wasnt the end of it. Whine From the back of the ssroom, an unexpected sound was heard. Evergreen appeared with a huge bundle of fur, not long after. Thats A scene where he returned from the auction house. The moment she handed the wolf doll. Although what she held was not a doll but a living creature, there wasnt a noticeable difference. Evergreen proudly eximed, with a twitch of her nose. Professor really likes wolves! The gaze shifted to the wolf dangling from Evergreens hand. For a cub, it was unusuallyrge. About the size of an average adult dog. The hero continued to observe. Soft and short fur was the same color as his hair. A sleek and agile body. Short legs and a long tail. A somewhat elongated face withrge pumpkin-colored eyes. As their eyes met, the creature surprisingly made a subtle smiling expression. Aooow- A sound between a whimper and a howl, with teeth peeking through the gap of its snout. Though small and underdeveloped, the sharp teeth could tear through parchment. The hero slowly spoke. Its not just a wolf. Yes, its a Rune Wolf! The hero chuckled. A Rune Wolf, a wolf of the Great Mountain range, growing up to three meters, close to a monster. A creature rumored to have been imbued with the secretive magic flowing through the mountains. Intelligence and loyalty were remarkable traits, which made Rune Wolves highly prized. Hehe, little one. Now go to your master. Evergreen released the wolf. The creature, who had dashed over, seemed to please the hero greatly Whimpering- It tried to rub against him and sniff his scent. Its long tail wagged from side to side. Considering the kids finances, it must have been quite expensive. Karen indicated a victory sign with her fingers, providing an answer to the question. We were top in tavern sales, hehe. It was only natural to remember the sight of the kids cooking and cleaning disheste into the night. He was speechless. The hero kneeled down and embraced the Rune Wolf. As if it had been waiting, the creature leaped into his arms, and the children cheered. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 It looks like you, it looks so good! You two suit each other! We should give it a name. Maybe youlle up with something cool. How about Gerald? Ugh, shut up. Well, anyway . . . The students simultaneously shouted as if rehearsed. Happy Teachers Day! Bouquets, fireworks, and cards were extended to him. The hero stood still, gazing at the respect and affection surrounding him. And he realized. That someday all these lies woulde to light. And when the time came to leave this ce. He was experiencing the moment he would miss the most right now. For the first time since his appointment, the hero smiled brightly. Thank you. . . . The fire caused by the firewood heated the brazier. The furnace is ready. Starting seasonal production. * * * As days passed since the graduation ceremony, the campus fell into silence, almost unrecognizable. Most of the students had left the academy. Being their instructor, he had been able to receive information about their destinations in advance, and most of them headed home without any particr incident. Ban went to the capital, Leciel and Evergreen to their family estates, and Luke to the camp of the Aureum Mercenaries. But Cuculli chose to stay at the academy, seemingly unwilling to return to the north. She said she would do some sightseeing nearby if she had time. A deserted campus. Not even a small sound could be heard. The quiet space was filled with tranquility, and the tranquility turned into a slight loneliness. I thought it would be nice to have peace and quiet. The emptiness was amplified by Pias absence. I looked at the emptyboratory. With Pias belongings gone, the sks and beakers, it all felt terribly empty. Pia had left for the Great Forest just yesterday. Surprisingly, three others had joined her: Noubelmag, Kasim, and Nyhill. Noubelmag had decided to join her because he also had business in the Great Forest. Kasim, following the advice I gave him, said he would leave too. He said he would find good opponents there, with his newfound swordsmanship. Finally, Nyhill, I had sent at Noubelmags request. She wants to find a way to awaken the spirit of the dagger. She wants to take the spirit, which is the master of the forest, to the Great Forest. Let it be so. I was worried about sending you alone, but it turned out well. Well, she seems to want to go along with your journey. I shook my head horizontally. Of course, Nyhill was a very capable agent, but I didnt expect her to operate smoothly in the depths of the demonic realm. Going to the Great Forest with Noubelmag was probably the better choice for her too. I will go alone. I decided that from the beginning. Anyway, everyone left over the next few days. Creak- Except for the baby wolf rolling around on the carpet of the foyer. It hadnt been long, but it seemed to have grown a few more centimeters, perhaps due to my mood. Considering how much meat it devoured every day, a few more centimeters wouldnt be strange. Shadow. Growl-! The wolfs tail wagged from side to side. Wherever I went, it followed me closely, so I named it Shadow. In just a few days, it seemed to havepletely recognized me as its owner and was quite affectionate. I have to leave you. During my absence from Rosenstark, I nned to leave it to Yussi. She was good at taking care of animals, as evidenced by Ted alone. She would take good care of Shadow too. I scratched its back a few times before getting up from the chair. It seemed to sense that I was about to leave, quietly watching me with itsrge pumpkin-colored eyes. I guess its time to go. I nned to travel to thewless city of Canis within a week at most. Although it was the farthest distance of the journey so far, I didnt think it would be impossible as long as I changed horses at every ry station. There was no need for pace adjustment without a party. I had no separate luggage. Only a golden key hung in front of my chest. Everything needed for this passage through the Abyss was contained within this pocket dimension. [Well then, Mr. Doppelganger. See you in the demonic realm.] As I heard the whisper from the doll strapped to my waist. I left theboratory and soon departed for Rosenstark. . . . It took exactly six days to reach the eastern edge. Alone, but it was a relentless march without a moment of boredom. Thewless city of Canis. A city where people live hoping there is now. Ouws, criminals, fugitives, recluses The residents here refer to themselves as freemen, calling Canis a free city, but No one calls it that outside. After passing through a highly formal, seemingly unnecessary inspection, After walking a few minutes inward, I could reach the entrance to Canis downtown. [Always the sad scenery, huh.] The doll hanging from the inner pocket of my jacket murmured. As Larze had said. The scenery of thewless city was dyed entirely in ash gray. Matchbox-like buildings without windows, contrasting with vibrant signs. Intense lights and noise flowed through the dusty streets. The crowds wandered aimlessly, making heavy footsteps, and the main difference from other cities was that the majority of them were alone withoutpanions. A sinister smirk, or apletely nk expression, asionally a bright smile passed by me. Andscape mingled with pleasure and danger. For neers, their bodies would likely stiffen, but I had no such concerns. I had spent quite some time here. Thanks to that, I could immediately sense that the atmosphere of this city was different from usual. I became incredulous and took out the doll. Is this what you meant by a gift to understand when you arrive in Canis? [Yeah, do you like it?] I might need to redefine the meaning of a gift for you. Fluttering- As I was about to say that. A yellowed piece of paper stuck to the wall fell before my eyes. Underneath the torn paper was a very familiar map, and below that, written in crude letters, it said: To the exploration team or individual who brings the treasure at this coordinate, a substantial reward awaits Guild deposit 50,000G From afar, I could hear someone shouting. Alright, lets turn our lives around! Woohoo! Lazje muttered calmly. [I guess we need to hurry. Just now anotherpetitor was added.] I couldnt possibly ever guess her intentions. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 158 Chapter 158 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Thewless city, Canis, seemed to have taken only the Harlem from the system and spread it out. No, it was more than that. Unlike Harlem, Canis didnt even have the minimum security for civilians to continue their daily lives. In simple terms, there are no normal people here. Most of the people encountered here were thieves, thugs, wanted criminals, prostitutes, deserters, gangs, illegal explorers, etc. Everywhere you looked, there were ck markets, brothels, opium dens, and the like for them. The filthy and chaotic beginning of the street. The hero entered a moderately crowded bar. A young man with a face covered in bear traces and scars nced at him. You can sit anywhere. An almost dismissive response. But as the hero entered the bar, there was a momentary silence in the air. And he felt dozens of eyes brushing against him. Most of Canis residents had more enemies than friends. The stranger had to be cautious, and they returned to their lively conversation with theirpanions only after confirming the heros face (which was distorted by polymorph). [Hmm] Larzes doll swayed at her waist and crawled up onto the table on its own. [That ugly face doesnt appeal to me, but polymorphing is a good choice.] Wearing a robe here is practically asking for trouble. The words ended abruptly. ng! Where the hell is this bastard wandering like a rat! A young man wearing a robe, wandering around the bar, suddenly received a blow from an outstretched fist and tumbled to the ground. He seemed bewildered, perhaps unaware of the implicit rules. The hero clicked his tongue. Its fortunate it was just a punch. The young man, amidst mockery and curses, hurriedly left the bar. Showing such immaturity in front of people. Perhaps it would be better to leave Canis before sunset. ng- Unexpectedly, there were a few men behind the young man who put down his drink, heading towards him. The hero nced at the familiar figure and roughly ordered a drink. And he began the conversation he had postponed with Larze. I should have mentioned my original n. [Join an appropriate exploration team and discreetly prate the demonic realm. Isnt that it?] The hero sighed softly at the casual response. Yeah. But when I came to Canis, the coordinates of the treasure we should have known about were openly disclosed to the public. It seems like hundreds of riffraff are about topete. [Doppelganger, you dont understand my intentions? Disappointing.] The hero slowly nodded. The initial surprise had long since subsided. He could roughly guess why Larze had disclosed the information. Hide the tree in the forest, isnt it? However, there was an ufortable aspect. The hero dryly remarked. Are you nning to act unterally like this every time? It would be inconvenient if you treat me like a toy just because you found my weaknesses. Larzes doll paused for a moment at the warning. Even she, who had always done as she pleased, realized it was time to step back. [Feeling bad? Sorry. But this time, it wasnt just for fun. I judged that it would be more beneficial this way.] The hero let out a brief sigh. I can guess why you thought that. [Yeah! You know too. Your n. The idea isnt bad, but the details arecking. The demonic realm is nothing more than their front yard. Even if you disguise yourself well and hide thoroughly, the chances of being noticed by the demons before reaching the joining point are high.] It was a valid point. [Youve be much stronger, and even if its not Teds form, its still dangerous. What if you encounter a legionmander? Are you confident youll win?] Considering that the location is known, the Demonic Church will move. What are the countermeasures for that? [Oh, dont worry about the Demonic Church for now] Then it happened. Thunk- Suddenly, a waiter approached and loudly ced a beer mug on the table. It was a rough service, enough to rattle the table with its contents. He nced contemptuously at the hero and the doll alternately before shaking his head. Now even the trash ising into Canis. Only now did the hero realize how he appeared to others. Sitting at the table with a female doll and drinking. It wasnt surprising that it raised eyebrows. He grimaced and tucked Larze into his pocket. Of course, her voice continued to echo in his ears. [Ahahaha] . [Anyway, the risk Theres no need for you to bear it alone, drawing all the attention of the demons.] So youre suggesting we throw all the trash into the demonic realm. [Yes] Thunk- The doll twitched once inside the pocket. [To ordinary people, the demonic realm isnt as scary as it used to be. The Demon King has fallen, and humanity has been flourishing for the past few centuries.] Larze said in an indifferent tone. [Thanks to that, many fools are thinking of going into the demonic realm to try their luck. I just added fuel to the fire. Of course, I know what you dont like, but] But? [Most of those who are lured into my trap to enter the demonic realm are hopeless trash fromwless cities. Is it necessary to have a conscience burden?] Finally, Larze uttered a word. [Those blinded by gold, they be your meat shields, dont they?] The hero recalled Tedsment about her, scanning the interior of the bar. Certainly, there were far more thugs than in the Canis he remembered. Larzes bait, her spread information and the promised unimaginable riches must be the reason. Sharing the risk. Originally, exploration and excavation of heritage in the demonic realm were national projects. For unauthorized individuals to wander around the demonic realm and acquire something was strictly illegal. But since actual enforcement was difficult, illegal demonic realm exploration had been secretly carried out. Unauthorized individuals exploring the demonic realm and acquiring something is strictly illegal. However, due to the difficulty in actual enforcement, illegal demonic realm exploration has been ndestinely carried out. Especially in Canis, it was even more prevalent because severalrge organizations dominating the area had made demonic realm exploration their main business for a long time. They support and mediate exploration in various ways, acquiring shares in exploration teams. Whether they were explorers or organizations, it was a win-win business. Sometimes there were exploration teams that struck it big with thousands of gold coins, and those goods were also consumed in the markets within Canis. So whenever arge number of discoveries urred like this time, there was always a huge crowd flocking in. And the fact that they would be efficient bait, the Hero couldnt deny. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 As if Larze had read his mind, she added. [So these guys are just garbage. But] The me burns just as hot, right? [Correct! Now, what do you n to do?] The Hero sighed briefly. It was useless to argue about what had already happened. Given the situation, one should just do their best. Since wevee all the way to Canis, I intend to join a decent exploration team. [Hmm, how?] I need to prove my skills and build a reputation in Canis. Whirr. The doll in Larzes pocket trembled. It was a reaction to the interesting spectacle ahead. [There wont be time for that. Is there a way to build a reputation quickly?] The Hero chuckled. Here, infamy is reputation. As he finished speaking, he arrived at the counter. The waiter and the thug who had been harassing him earlier stared at him with hostile expressions. Whats your business here? HuhIsnt this the guy who was talking to a doll earlier? What? A doll? With that, their guard softened and derision crept in. Huh, ying with dolls isnt my taste. As a few jokes were exchanged, other patrons began tough raucously. But the Hero remained unfazed. The small metal badge on their chests, fixed with a sickle-wielding ghost, was all that mattered. Reapers. One of thergest organizations in Canis, dealing primarily in narcotics, human trafficking, and other illicit activities. As famous as they were, they would surely attract attention. Hey, this bastar*. Why do you keep acting like this? Sshling! The swords of the clerk and the giant were drawn. It was at the same time that other customers were leaving the bar. Five or six more guards opened the inner door and appeared. Look at him. As the Hero showed no signs of fear, their eyes narrowed. Who are you really? Did the arrow send you? Damn, did you stick a d*ck in your ears? Who are you! After a moment of consideration, the Hero replied. Kasim. There was no need to draw a sword. St! The fist that shot out like lightning shattered the waiters front teeth and jawbone into pieces. . . . Its Kasim, the doll-loving guy! Im Kasim, a doll collector! Run away! By the time they had smashed up a few more taverns andid waste to all the reinforcements sent by the Reapers, the expected scouts had arrived. Our boss would like to see you. If its convenient for you, pleasee with us. Naturally, they were not from the Reapers. The polite invitation came from anotherrge organization, the ck Arrows. They were in a hostile rtionship with the Reapers and were the ones investing most actively in demonic realm exploration. I hesitated no further and went straight to meet their boss, who greeted me warmly. To think that someone with such exceptionalbat skills is unknown. Are you Kasim, the doll-loving guy? Yes, thats me. If youre as skilled as you are, you probably have an idea why I invited you. As expected, the conversation unfolded just as predicted. Youvee to pursue the treasure in the depths of the demonic realm, havent you? But reaching the depths is nearly impossible even for most heroes alone. We have many experienced veteran explorers who treat the demonic realm like their own backyard. So dont fuss alone, join the exploration team. Well take care of you separately, and when we reach ancient ruins, well conduct explorations for additional profits, and so on. After the exnation, a thick and surprisingly proper contract was handed over. Understand. Dealing with those as dark as ink requires a lot of ink. Of course, I dont think youll be rash or overly greedy Greedy? For example, making very wrong judgments due to being too tempted by that treasure. Such foolish greed. The boss of the ck Arrows gave a sinister look. Dont do that. Eventually, the ck Arrows always hit the target. To the residents of Canis, it seemed like a proverb akin to a death sentence. Of course, I didnt care much. I just nodded without saying anything, and the bosss expression brightened again. Hahaha Kasim. Since weve struck a deal this time, I hope our rtionship will continue to be good in the future. I hope so too. Well depart in two days, and weve already searched for some excellentpanions with our funds, so lets share some camaraderie until then. Of course, they werent particrly excellentpanions. As soon as we reached the point where I agreed to meet Larze, I wouldnt have to see them again. I spent a few days at the exploration teams lodging, keeping a reasonable distance from them, and we were able to set off into the demonic realm without any trouble. We spent three days traversing the Great Mountain Range. On the evening of the third day, the goal of the exploration team was to reach the entrance of the demonic realm before the sunpletely set, and we were runningter than expected. As the earth spider rapidly descended, we noticed the first signs of abnormality. Thud, thud Most of the exploration team members were looking down. It was because asionally mutated wild animals or monsters hid in the ground covered withyers of rotten leaves and then attacked when someone stepped on it. It was such ground that made a soft sound when stepped on, along with an unpleasant sensation as if stepping on someones flesh. But with my senses spreading in all directions, I could detect it in advance. Stop! Stop! Whats that? Oh, shit. Sharp orders to halt were issued from the front, and everyones gaze followed the finger of the exploration team leader, Zeon and then moved to where it pointed. The dark, tall treetops. There, broken pieces of something were hanging in a row. It seemed as if someone was disying them proudly, or as a warning. Thud Blood trickling down the tree trunks. Due to the dry bark greedily absorbing the liquid, the amount reaching the ground was surprisingly smallpared to the number and condition of the corpses. With narrowed eyes, Zeon examined their attire and let out a bitterugh, waving his arm. Record this. 17th Exploration Team, wiped out just before Point 0. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 159 Chapter 159 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Record this. 17th Exploration Team, wiped out just before Point 0. Silence fell at Zeonsmand, but it didntst long. Soon, suppressedughter began to spread among the members of the expedition team. Haha-! Hehe-! The demise of the inexperienced expeditionary members before even entering the demonic realm became a subject of ridicule among them. There was no sign of pity or mourning. Instead, there was almost a willingness to rejoice at the decrease inpetition. The reason for not showing any grandeur was solely due to the danger of the ce. The Hero sneered covertly. He had always felt it, but humans from Canis often evoked a physiological disgust. Shall we descend for now? It seems like harvesting fruits. As soon as someone started throwing a grappling hook, everyone followed suit. Swish- thud! Bodies fell to the ground. It was a gruesome sight, but no one flinched. They were ustomed to seeing bodies in disarray. Rather, what caught their attention was something else. Lets see, maybe there are some useful things to take. Tsk, its because they are inexperienced. They are all dressed in trash. Oh, this guy. He used to act arrogantly in the gambling den. Now hes lying on the ground without a fight. Nice. Meanwhile, the Heros attention was focused on something slightly different. As he looked at the scars remaining on the bodies, he muttered quietly. Didnt you say we dont need to worry about the Demonic Church for a while? Thump- The doll strapped to his waist trembled slightly. [That was a story about executives. It doesnt matter about the leftovers left behind for a surprise attack, right?] Where are the executives? [Most of them are in the first sector. It seems like the leader is not in the demonic realm.] The annihtion of the expedition team was not because of demons. Judging by the scars, it was presumed that they had fallen under human hands It was obvious who the perpetrators were. They could be targeting us too. [Its not scary.] Indeed. Not only had their power increased to the point where they hardly paid attention to remnants of the Demonic Church, but in some aspects, they were even associating with viins stronger than them. The leader of the expedition team raised his hand again, then. All right, lets go. Dont ck on your guard; there might be ambushes. Rest will be taken after entering the demonic realm. It didnt take them long to leave the ce where the stripped corpses were lying until they were out of sight. The Hero followed behind, lost in thought. He belonged to Expedition Team 26. Among the expedition teams dispatched from Canis, they were the most elite group, directly under the ck Arrow. In other words, they wereposed of individuals as strong, cruel, and experienced in demonic realm as their reputation implied. So, it wasnt easy to fit in with them. I needed to prove myself. The Hero recalled the aftermath of the departure. The moment they first encountered demons in the Great Mountains. Oops! My mistake! Swoosh- A crossbow bolt grazed his ear as they fought in formation. If he hadnt dodged, his head would have been pierced through. The eyes of the man whoughed apologetically while shaking hands. His greedy eyes were fixed on the spear, Umbra, held in the Heros hand. Until the Hero approached him, he was busy chatting andughing with hisrades. You made a foolish choice. Huh? Uh? Aaaaah-! The man whose knee was broken by a kick writhed in pain on the ground. A sh kick that no one around could witness. It was enough to show the gap in their abilities. Therades who had been chuckling all shut their mouths and looked into the air, pretending not to see, wearing an air of indifference. Crunch-! Then the Hero crushed the crossbow the man had been holding underfoot. He nced at Zeon, the leader of the expedition, who had approached. Tsk, he caused trouble. He looked back and forth between the man who was still screaming and rolling around and the Hero. Im leaving him behind. As everyone expected, he dered the resumption of the expedition without any sanctions. That moment marked the vivid impression of Kasim on Expedition Team 26. Heh, hes a face we havent seen in Canis, but hes skilled like a native. Kasim. I should remember that name. . . . Come on, lets enter quickly. The expedition team reached the entrance to the demonic realm without any major incidents. There was no ambush from the Demonic Church they had feared. Although the Hero extended his senses throughout, the only movements he detected were those of ordinary demons. So, it didnt take long for Expedition Team 26 to reach their destination, Sector 4 of the demonic realm. It was a zone situated considerably lower than Sector 1, which was upied by the Eastern Allied Forces. Sector 4, Fortress City Piroa Ive been here before. The Hero raised his head and looked at the scenery of Sector 4. Tall and long stone walls stretched towards the Great Mountains. There was no sign of life. Only traces of fierce battles from centuries ago were buried amidst the dust and bushes. Its so deste here whenever Ie. It was someone passing by while walking along the debris-filled path in front of the ruined castle. As he spat on the ground, the expedition member walking in front muttered. Indeed, the scenery of Sector 4 of the demonic realm was unparalleled in its destion. Wuuuuu- The air,den with demonic energy, blocked the sunlight, making it dark all around, as if it were just before dawn, and an uncharacteristic chill prated the gaps in the armor. A ce where past glory and prosperity had withered away without a trace. All that remained were the ruins of a crumbling castle and ruins that seemed to be haunted by ghosts. Despite the dismal sight, Sector 4 was considered a shelter for the expedition teams. Since it was at the entrance of the demonic realm, the frequency of monster appearances was significantly lowerpared to the areas near the core of the demonic realm. After the expedition leader Zeon finished the preparations for camping, he gathered the members in the center of the campsite. Thank you all for your hard work. Now that weve entered the demonic realm, let me remind you once again of the purpose of our exploration team. Zeon, a middle-aged man with striking silver hair and beard, was a direct member of the ck Arrows organization. It was said that he had received a red grade in the distant past and fled, eventually hiding in Canis. Over the years, dozens of bounty hunters hade to Canis, aiming for his life, only to be prey themselves. The Hero nced at Zeons rugged appearance before turning his gaze away. Even to him, Zeon seemed like a much stronger individual than Desmond he had encountered at the auction house. It was evident that even the rough members of Canis listened quietly to his words. The goal of our 26th exploration team is to collect pieces of the key that can enter the location where the treasure is hidden. You all should know this if youve read the official document. The key pieces. The Hero had learned about it a few days ago. While staying at the exploration teams lodging, Larze had exined the reason for sending out the official document. I actually went near the coordinates. What? Despite the Heros objection not to leave the spot, Larze said she had gone to the coordinates after thepetition began. One, he couldnt get angry. Because it wasnt an unreasonable attempt. She realized the significant fact that even if she reached the location of the treasure, she wouldnt be able to enter it without solving the hidden gimmick. You have to gather scattered pieces of the key throughout the demonic realm and put them together. You have to gather a certain amount to unlock the lock. If you tried to force your way in, the internal defense magic would activate andpletely destroy the contents. Well, theres a pretty high-level magic on it, right? You might be able to force it, but theres also a low chance of being blown away. The Hero pondered. In fact, he vaguely suspected that there might be something wrong with the treasure. He, too, vaguely guessed that the owner of the treasure was none other than the Demonic Church. But ironically, the Demonic Church didnt even know the coordinates of the treasure, so the Hero spected that there might have been variables in the hiding process. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 And thus, he deduced that the high-level magic (gimmick) that Larze had found might be the result of that noise. So Larze first traced the pieces with exploration magic, then found the location and spread it out with an official document. If we try to gather alone, it will take forever. Think about it. Whether its the Demonic Church or the exploration team, the pieces of the key will eventually gather at the coordinates. Well wait for that moment, snatch the pieces, and gulp down the treasure. Got it? In short, Larzes arbitrary actions were quite appropriate. Difficult and cumbersome tasks are left to others, and only the credit is taken. Plus, by using the trash of Canis, they could even contain the Demonic Church. It was a clever move. The Hero finished reminiscing and turned his gaze back to Zeon in front of him. The boss promised a big reward for the exploration team that collects the most pieces. So lets gather as many pieces as possible and head to the rendezvous point. The treasure belongs to our ck Arrows. You all know what to do if we encounter scoundrels aiming for it, right? Well take it and kill them! Dont worry. Well get paid for our troubles. The members of the exploration team responded energetically, shaking their weapons. ng- The doll on his hip shook. [Lets get organized! If we work hard to gather pieces while fighting each other, well carry them to the coordinates. If were short of pieces, other exploration teams will do the same. Agree?] At that moment, Zeons gaze also turned towards him. Newbie, did you understand? Any problems? The Hero replied with a smirk. None. He quite liked this Canis-like n. * * * The week passed like that. The process of collecting the pieces as I crossed the demonic realm was not as difficult as expected. Honestly, I thought it would be a tough journey at first. No matter how elite the 26th expedition team was,posed of those with plenty of desert exploration experience, the desert was still the desert. But. Its easier than I thought. The crisis didnte until I collected as many as four pieces. asionally, lower or intermediate level demons led monsters, but they could be easily dealt with even if they didnt step forward. Whether the enemy concentrated all their forces on the Eastern Front, Or focused on other expedition teams, Or concentrated on the West. Maybe all three. Both the frequency and danger ofbat were much lower than anticipated. The high level of the expedition team also yed a role. Experienced criminals showed powerparable to knights. Thanks to them, they seeded in reaching Sector 25 of the demonic realm, preserving more than two-thirds of their forces. Even considering that the real demonic realm began in the 30s, it was a remarkable achievement. However, the problem arose unexpectedly not from encounters with demons or monsters, but from other expedition teams. This so-called battle for pieces erupted as they entered Sector 10. These damn bastards, weve met them well today. Therge organization dividing the Canis. Harvesters, ck Arrows, Blind Spot. The grudges they had umted were enough to make any enemies flee, and the demonic realm was a perfect ce to settle scores. Moreover, with the clear profit of treasure at stake, there was no reason to hesitate to kill each other. Why are there so many of these bastards? Ah, damn it If this goes on, were done for. The members of the 26th expedition team muttered with frustration. The enemy has too many numbers. In terms of skill, they might win. But if they lose strength or get injured in the process, theyll fall behind in thepetition. They stood with grim expressions, watching the encroaching siege slowly tighten. Hehe, have you collected the pieces diligently? Weve been busy beating bastards. Well take it. At that moment, the Hero made a decision. He decided to quickly subdue them, even if it meant showing some skill. If themotion escted, it could attract more troublemakers. This was the worst-case scenario for him, aiming for a swift passage through the demonic realm. Wooooo-! He wielded the Shadow Spear, Umbra, and advanced. The mixed gaze of concern and expectation from the 26th exploration team members poured onto him. Whos the newbie? Why does that bastard have a doll on his hip? Shh, maybe thats The Hero leaped into the fray without a word. Amongst the flock of sheep, there was a wolf no, a tiger. Whiiiiing- Boom! The spear skills of the Bryce family unfolded mercilessly in the middle of the demonic realm. Swift and ferocious attacks. With each rotation of the spear, heads exploded one by one. Wha, what!? Whiiiiing- Thud! Shielding with shields, rolling backward, and leaping proved futile. The sharp end of the spear relentlessly chased them, leaving gaping holes in arms, legs, or torsos. Oh, no! Ive never heard of such a guy in the ck Arrows! As roughly ten people fell like scarecrows, the members of the Blind Spot affiliated exploration team fled frantically. For the 26th exploration team, who had been somewhat tense while watching the situation, it was a very wee moment. Look at that merciless bastard. Hes not working alone for no reason. Will anyone be left around? So, is he talking to the doll? Heh, he was quite insane, wasnt he? Kasim! Kasim! Oh my goodness, he still looks hungry! Heh,e on in with the ck Arrows. Im sure youll perform well! The Hero, fed up with the entanglement, replied. Get lost. Boisterous! Very Canis-like. . As this process repeated several times while breaking through the demonic realm, the Hero (Kasim) gained considerable trust from them. Of course, there were still those who were on guard. Sideways nces that felt like they could pierce through. The leader of the exploration team, Zeon. From a certain point, he had requested to stand at the forefront with the Hero, revealing his inner thoughts. Hes suspicious. That was the correct answer. Of course, Zeon also acknowledged the Heros prowess, but there were more than one or two suspicious points. It was a moment when Zeons eyes moved nervously up and down as he scrutinized the Hero. His spear skills were exceptional. Is he from a noble family? His face looks like that of amon thief. But why did he stay quiet with such skills? And why the hell does he carry a doll? As the unresolved questions deepened Zeons forehead wrinkles, a whizzing sound was heard! The Hero pulled out Umbra. Zeon also drew his weapon with a curse. This bastard! Shh. What? Its an ambush. The Heros gaze was fixed ahead. As Zeon hesitantly raised his fist, the entire team stopped in their tracks. Kasim stopped. Get ready. Heh, his performance is reliable. Soon, even they sensed something amiss. Huh? Whats this And then, Zeon momentarily forgot about his previous suspicions as intense vibrations were felt from within their midst. Woooooo-! The four pieces of the key that the 26th exploration team had searched for had gathered into a clump. The pieces seemed to stick together as if maized, vibrating when they approached each other. Just like now. Zeon smiled slowly. Its another exploration team. As the vibrations of the iron clump grew stronger, Zeons creepy smile widened even more. By the time he finished speaking, his mouth was almost at his ears. With pieces. The weapons of all members of the 26th exploration team were drawn. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 160 Chapter 160 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Just before the sh of the investigation teams. As the hero had suspected, there were numerous Canis investigation teams rushing into the demonic realm. Although the scale of the investigation team affiliated with the ck Arrow was thergest. There were considerable numbers of rival organizations, the Harvesters and the Blind Spots, as well. Even the minor organizations had raided their coffers to assemble investigation teams. A reward of 50,000 gold. A treasure worthy of such an unprecedented amount of money. Bounties hanging around the necks of swarming fireflies. The equipment they were wearing. For those involved in all sorts of illegal activities, it was a windfall they hadnt encountered before. Even if we cant eat, well go! Anyone who backs down from such a deal is an idiot. However, they soon realized that their anticipated windfall n had encountered a major obstacle. The ck Arrow investigation team, gathering key fragments at an unmatched speed, was the cause. We cant just let these bastards have it easy. Therefore, the investigation teams of each organization, momentarily forgetting past grudges, Reached a temporary alliance for the sake of striking at the ck Arrow. Thus, the alliance leader, Jonathan, the captain of the Harvester investigation team, chuckled as he fondled the lump of fragments in his pocket. These guys. It seems theyve been diligently collecting. They were waiting for the 26th investigation team while upying a favorable position for ambush. This surprise required tremendous effort. They had to spend a whole day preparing the terrain for the ambush. To gain such time, they had to rush through the demonic realm. The 26th investigation team were veterans of the demonic realm, and it was inevitable for them to make unexpected surprises. Thanks to them, we lost many members. But it was okay. They were being replenished one by one. A few days ago, about twenty members of the Blind Spot investigation team, who had been routed and fled from the hero, joined them. In addition, twenty more investigation teams from minor organizations joined. With the addition of the existing thirty Harvester investigation teams, it was arge-scale force totaling seventy. Jonathan raised his head and looked in the direction the 26th investigation team wasing from. Look at those fragments vibrating. There must be at least three. He currently possessed three fragments. Those guys must have a simr number. Jonathan blinked. In the manuals, it says if you gather about ten fragments, you can ess the location where the treasure is hidden. In other words, if they snatch those fragments, they can ess the treasure faster than anyone else. If they achieve such results, the organization will reward him with at least thousands of gold coins. No, judging by the situation, it would be okay to just take the treasure and run. Damn, its a turning point in life! Excited by anticipation, Jonathan suddenly nced at the adjacent seat. There, the members of the Blind Spot, as well as other misceneous groups, were silently preparing for the ambush. Hey. He called out to the leader of the Blind Spot investigation team, who was among them. Hisplexion was strangely pale. Heh, youre getting old too, it seems. Why are you worrying so much? No matter how elite they are, they can never overturn this difference in numbers. Kasim. What? Have you heard that Kasim likes dolls? Jonathan grinned. Kasim, Kasim I think Ive heard of it. Is this the neer that ck Arrow recently recruited? Tsk, he even came up with a nickname. Without responding, the leader of the Blind Spot trembled once. Jonathan scanned him with a contemptuous gaze. Hes like an old scared dog. Behaving like that, he might end up rolling in the back alleys with only his bones left soon. He chuckled at the scattered subordinates. With such a force at my disposal, why worry. As the encirclement waspleted, he advanced without hiding his presence. The preparations for the surprise attack proceeded smoothly. Regardless of who they met, victory was not only assured but overflowing. . . . It didnt take long for him to realize that it was a fatal mistake. * * * Techniques that risk being identified cannot be used. Halo, Nova, none of them work. I wonder if I can apply just a bit of re. Moreover, his main weapon, the ck Hope, was securely tucked away with the Key of Valber. The only things he could use freely were the weapons he retrieved from Valber. If he had been standing here a few months ago, he would probably have been surrounded and beaten by them in an instant. Each of them was of the caliber that had faced at least the minimum at the auction house, and some were even stronger than Desmond. But now, having inherited nearly half of Teds martial arts, the Carnis Alliance looked no different to the hero than stationary wooden figures. Regardless, the morale of the 26 investigation team members seemed to be diminishing in real-time. What, what is this! Why are there so many! Damn, isnt this excessive? The opponents numbers were overwhelming, and the terrain was unfavorable. Moreover, the encirclement was almostplete. Due to the demonic realms demonic energy, detailed detection was impossible. It was a surprise attack aimed at exploiting that weakness. Theyreing from behind too! Dammit, how many are there! At that frozen moment. Bang-! The hero spurred the ground and rushed towards the encirclement. The enemies could only watch in astonishment. Hey, whats he doing? Has he gone mad with fear? Hes reckless! He must be suicidal. Such voices echoed in his ears btedly. However, the heros mind was calm. Its perfect timing. I should use this opportunity to test the kids skills. He surveyed the battlefield as he ran. It was time for his analysis, his long-practiced skill, toe into y. The distance between him and the enemy front line was roughly 80 meters. Half consisted of melee fighters and the other half archers. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Half of this formation blocked the front while the rest nked and encircled from the sides and rear. The biggest problem was the steep slope in the front. They paid attention to details. The terrain was dotted with rocks of various sizes, making it difficult to gain speed. It was a highly disadvantageous terrain, leaving the members of the 26th investigation team unable to even contemte movement. If he hadnt been there, they would have been left unable to move, stuck in a hail of arrows. They would have been decimated by the reinforcementsing from the nks and rear. It took one second to assess the entire situation. And even less time toe up with a suitable breakthrough strategy. Evergreens archery should be effective. The archery of Solintail had evolved over centuries, guarding the realm againstrge-scale monsters crossing the mountains. As a result, it was highly specialized in rapid shooting and multiple targets. As he ran, he drew the bow on his back, Lute, the bow of atonement, which was the 17th weapon of Valber, possessing the unique ability to increase gravity on the target upon impact. Hey, you idiot! What are you doing alone! Heh heh,e on and try your luck! Eat this! Jeers and arrows rained down from the slope. However, the hero ignored them and focused on replicating Evergreens essence. Swoosh- Arge hand delicately moved through the quiver at his waist. With four gleaming arrowheads nocked, aimed at the enemies almost simultaneously. By then, their faces still bore mocking smiles. That guys drawing his bow on that incline. Hes all show. By that point, even the allied investigation team members didnt look at him. They were just busy finding their ways to escape. Ping-! Thus, amidst indifference and ridicule, Lutes siege was unleashed. And in the next moment, Everyone felt as if they were seeing an illusion and blinked repeatedly in disbelief. A rain of arrows? Whats that? There was only one person holding the bow. But the quantity of arrows fired wasnt just one. A rain of arrows arced through the air. They hastily raised shields or hid behind nearby rocks. They realized something was off as the arrowsnded on the slope. Thud- Thud- Thud- Thud- The sound of arrows hitting the ground was too scarce. The hero murmured quietly. Well done, Larze. [Illusion magic is basic.] A free turn seized. In the skirmish between archers, what that meant didnt need to be explicitly stated. Unable to aim at him due to hiding behind cover, the enemy archers couldnt even retaliate. He made the most of that brief moment of freedom. Bang-! The hero spurred a rock and leaped into the air. For an instant, they were at the same height. Again, the bowstring,den with arrows, was tightly gripped in his hand. Twang- Twang- Arrows were fired in groups of five at once. With such a short interval between shots, it felt like being suppressed by several skilled archers at once. The problem was the remarkable uracy, making it hard to dodge. Argh! When one brave archer exposed himself and got hit in the head, they couldnt stay hidden behind cover anymore. Their negligence was severe. All they could do was watch the hero climbing the slope with his fingers moving swiftly. The moment the 26th investigation team moved was then. Charge! Break through the front! As expected of Kasim! I knew we could trust him! Originally, they wouldnt have dared to charge straight ahead. But thanks to the heros actions, a gap opened up, and the veterans of the 26th investigation team didnt miss the opportunity. Ignoring the nking and rear forces, they surged forward. When the hero reached the top of the slope, Geralds replica were ready. Crunch-! It was an extreme disy of spear technique. Thick leather, hard steel, and even softer flesh and bones were all shattered and torn apart. Already, the heros spear technique had surpassed the original due to the upscale. The spear strikes that tore through the united investigation team now were more fitting of Rnd Bryce, the head of the Bryce family, than Gerald. When Commander Jonathan couldnt hold out any longer, the enemies on the slope lost their will to fight. Run away! Damn it, what did I say? I warned you about Kasim! He looks like a damn thief! Carrying dolls around! The 26th investigation team that followed easily seized the high ground. With no other option due to the terrain disadvantage, the forty enemies fled. As expected. Watching their backs, the hero turned his gaze to the newment. The seasonal production is proceeding smoothly. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 161 Chapter 161 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 There was another ie. It was a windfall. The hero picked up the pieces rolling under his feet. Perhaps feeling regretful, even in death, the owner couldnt let go of it. He muttered as he pried off the stuck fingers. So now there are seven. Meanwhile, the overwhelming dance of the hero left the 26th exploration team in awe. They had acknowledged his strength up to the 25th level. However, in this battle, the heros rampage among the other exploration teams far surpassed the dignity of Captain Zeon. Kasim. Damn, the atmosphere is getting tense. Where did such a monstere from? It looks like it easily fits into the ck grade. Damn, hes so charismatic. Brother! A scene of massacre. A bloody spectacle. Transcendent power. These were what the men of Canis loved and followed more than anything. In the center of it all, the hero stood with an indifferent face, eliciting respect rather than fear. Thanks to that mans strength, they barely survived at the threshold of death. Some already had expressions of loyalty. Of course, the hero was avoiding eye contact and trying to evade somehow. But there was one person who seemed ufortable and tense. It was Captain Zeon of the 26th exploration team. He hesitated greatly before finally approaching the hero, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. Kasim. What? If you return, I will definitely inform the boss about your exploits so that you wont be disappointed. So, the piece in your hand. Please hand it over. Before Zeon could finish his sentence, the hero willingly handed over the piece. Here, take it. An act of trust. Zeon, who had been unable to stop his dreadful imagination since earlier, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Thank you. In fact, even if he wanted to kill everyone here and take all seven pieces, no one could have stopped him. There wouldnt even be any repercussions. This was the deep depths of the demonic realm, and there were many reasons for theplete annihtion of the exploration teams besides internal conflicts. Thank goodness. With trembling hands, Zeon merged the piece the hero handed him with his own. At the same time, his gaze towards the hero softened significantly. Hes a rare man with a sense of trust even in Canis. I must propose him for scouting when we return. Perhaps he could be the card to end the tiresomepetition between the three organizations. Kasim. Im really looking forward to continuing our close friendship in the future. Whats this criminal guy saying? At Larzes silent sneer, the hero frowned. But even that fierce gesture now only made Zeon see him as more of a man. Alright, alright. Attention! With a smile on his face, Zeon looked around at his team members and raised the doubled piece high. By this, it seems our exploration team has secured first ce. The summit is within reach. In response to Zeons deration, the team members cheered in unison. It was natural, considering they already had all seven pieces. This meant they didnt need to continue this dangerous demonic realm exploration for long. Now, they just needed to head to the rendezvous point first and wait for other exploration teams to arrive. The ck Arrows exploration team numbered over thirty. Even if they captured a few pieces, they could easily bring back at least three. Of course, the hero was more than satisfied. I might dy the encounter with Larze a bit. Maybe we could meet near the gathering point, around sector 40. Originally, it was time to join forces with Larze. The initial point of contact was sector 30. It would take a few more days to reach there. However, unexpectedly, the demonic realm had opened up easily, so he was thinking of suggesting for Larze helping stabilize sector 1 of the demonic realm before joining. Its not dangerous enough yet to require Larze. If she leaves, there will be casualties even if the enemies are few. Its only natural for me to bear the burden from this side. Feeling the mental burden of bringing Larze out of the urgent situation in sector 1, the heros mind became considerably more relieved. Alright, lets head straight to the rendezvous point from now on. Oooh! We n to avoid conflicts as much as possible and gather nearby allied exploration teams for protection. You can go a little morefortably. Wooo! Thank you for all your hard work. When we return to Canis, the boss will surely give a substantial reward. Uwaaa! With Zeons assurance, the 26th exploration team members forgot their fatigue and marched forward vigorously. However, there was a fact that everyone had overlooked. It was the inner thoughts of Kasim (the hero) whom everyone believed in. Rustle- In a moment when nobody was looking. The doll hanging from the heros waist trembled. [Get ready slowly.] The time for a betrayal was approaching. * * * There are a total of 50 sectors in the demonic realm. Starting from sector 1, adjacent to the Great Mountain Range. From the Great Mountain Range adjacent to the first sector to the deepest 50th sector, at the center of each sector, a stake is driven, and the distance between these stakes seems precisely measured, dividing the Eastern continent into 50 parts. Of course, these stakes, mostly relics from the First Era, are empty, without any overseers, considering theres no need to confront external threats for demonic energy production, which would have been a natural oue if resources had been allocated to the West. However, theres one exception: the stake in the 50th sector. Referred to as the Devils Castle its thergest and tallest stake, nestled among the ruins of the once-prosperous Magic Empire, serving as the spawning ground for all demonkind from the otherworld. The overseer is the Demon King. In his absence, his generals handle the administration. Naturally, no human has ever set foot in the 50th sector. However, the other 49 sectors asionally wee exploration teams. Among these sectors, the 43rd sector holds the treasures of the Church targeted by the Canis exploration teams. But that doesnt mean the 40th sector is easy. Until the 30th sector, even rogue exploration teams could return safely if they treaded lightly around the stakes. However, once they enter the 40s, the chances of safely returning without being an elite exploration team dispatched directly by the empire are slim. Since this area is where high-ranking demons frequently appear, its somewhat expected. Yet, many rogue exploration teams still persistently aimed for the higher-numbered sectors, as the potential rewards outweighed those of the lower-numbered ones by far. Cities from the prosperous past, adorned temples of the sacred sects, dungeons filled with precious artifacts and research documents of the mages, all lie heavily skewed towards the Eastern depths. Thus, numerous exploration teams that sought instant wealth ended up buried in the 40s, giving rise to the saying, The map of the deep reaches of the demonic realm is written in Canis blood. Im no stranger to the demonic realm, but Ive only been to the 40s once. The moment I went in, I felt like I was about to be torn apart and ran away. I see. Sigh, those rookies are probably in the 30s for the first time. One of the grizzled explorers pointed to a few rookies who were now hesitantly following alongside them. They were the ones that Zeon had called to act as their escort. Tsk tsk. They make quite a fuss, but theyck substance. It was amidst their casual conversation that an explosion urred. Kaboom! Though it was a small st, it was enough to send chunks of flesh flying. One of the explorers copsed to the ground, missing a leg, unable to even scream. Yet, no helping hand reached out to him. Hmm, hell be dead in three minutes, wont he? Nearby exploration team members circled around him like vultures. The rings mine. Then Ill take the sword. Damn, wheres the fairness in that? Lets decide with rock-paper-scissors. The people who were chatting calmly now were much more veterans than the one who had just been killed. Surely someone among them must have realized in advance that a trap was lurking. However, no one took the trouble to give advice. . As they leisurely discussed dividing the belongings of the still-living member, the hero inspected the aftermath of the explosion. The demonic realm naturally generates all sorts of traps, but this was different. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 This is a trap set by the Demonic Church. There were countless traps like these since they entered the 30s. Following their entry into the demonic realms core, the pressure from the Demonic Church had begun. Subtle trapsid out along their route and ambushes day and night were some of the examples. Ugh, fuck, these lunatics are really going all out. Ugh, lets sleep a bit, guys. While some of the seasoned explorers shrugged it off, not everyone could. Ugh Like the explorer who had just breathed hisst. Suddenly, the memory of him, gleefully brandishing the ring of a fallenrade killed by a monster, shed through his mind. The ring was now ced on the ring finger of the expedition member with whom he had spoken. The hero turned his expressionless face directly towards them. After observing them for the past week, he couldnt discern any difference between them and the things scattered around in the demonic realm. Now that these dead weights havetched onto us, our speed has significantly slowed. Alright, decision made. Tonight, the exploration team will leave. However, the hero couldnt execute his n due to an unexpected variable. * * * The camping ground had been unusually quiet for the past few weeks. Looks like everyones stocking up on energy. Since entering the 30s, the demonic energy concentration had risen sharply. The concentration of demonic energy increased sharply from the 30th. Even when activating purification artifacts, it was so thickly condensed into the lungs. Mutated fauna and flora began to appear gradually, and exploration members with low mana reservesined of initial symptoms of intoxication. Dizziness, vomiting, chills, and so on. If left untreated, it would lead to confusion, hysteria, mutation, and ultimately death. Therefore, periodic cleansing operations were necessary to discharge residual demonic energy from the body, and this was by no means an easy task to do whileughing and chatting. Thats why silence fell over the campsite. Im rather fortunate, actually. Ugh- Of course, he was diligent in the cleansing as well. The hero cleansed his body with magic, checking his n once again. The n was very simple. Subdue Zeon, steal the fragments, then flee. There was no need to wake the exploration members to fight against this number. Dealing with this amount was both bothersome and unnecessary since the demonic energy would engulf them even without his intervention. The remaining three fragments would be found after joining forces with Larze and heading towards route 43. It might take a bit of a detour, but there was plenty of time. The 26th exploration team was undoubtedly leading among the exploration teams, and the rest were far behind to catch up. By the time the trailing yers collected all the fragments and reached 43, he would already be carrying the treasure outside the magic realm. Alright, theres no need to wait any longer. The hero stood up abruptly. His current position was in the center of the campsite. Zeons tent was right in front of him. It would be a breeze to steal the fragments and escape. Mmm- essing Key of Valber. It was the moment when the hero, drew out the dagger Eternal Silence, Galot, one of the 17th of the weapons. Sssssshhh- Sharp, piercing noises struck his ears. It was the outskirts of the campsite. Enemy attack! Enemy attack! All the lights in the campsite turned on, and armed exploration members rushed outwards, gathering in less than 30 seconds. They looked around with grim eyes until they spotted the hero standing awkwardly with the dagger. And then, their expressions of suspicion turned into relief. Oh, Kasim! Your instincts are sharp as always. Did you sense something suspicious? Did you anticipate the attack in advance? Whether it was an assassination or theft of the fragments, it was right to resolve and settle this situation. The hero released the explosively gathered magic and. Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummm- Instead, he spread it in all directions. It was immediately after he detected dozens of presences rapidly approaching the campsite. His eyes narrowed. Human? No, he quickly corrected himself. Demons. It seemed they would prate into the campsite in a matter of seconds. And it wasnt the guerri style they had been ustomed to, but rather a full-fledged assault. They exceeded fifty, and above all, the momentum of the leader of the advancing group was extraordinary. Much stronger than the necromancer lieutenant encountered in the factory. There was no doubt it was an elite force of the Demonic Church. Even concealed in his current state, it wouldnt be easy to deal with them. Of all times, why now? The hero sighed and withdrew Galot, taking out Umbra again. . . . There was no need to wait any longer. Whoosh- As if a fierce wind blew, all the fires in the campsite extinguished instantly. Not only the campfires and torches but also the magical lights. Except for the intermittent moonlight piercing through the demonic clouds, there was no light left in the campsite. Darkness. Due to the demonic energy, even the night vision of the experienced members momentarily faltered. Tadadadak- Dozens of figures in masks surrounded them one after another. The fluttering of nocturnal robes loudly beat against their ears, and thete wind cooled the sweat on the exploration members faces. It was evident at a nce. The Demonic Churchs elites. There was nothing more to say. The hero grasped Umbrar tightly and bent his knees to charge forward. Ivee to propose a deal. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 162 Chapter 162 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Jet-ck night clothes. White masks. Darkness as ck as ink. Whooo- A chilly wind blew through the members of Exploration Unit 26 and the congregants surrounding them. The warrior squinted his eyes and surveyed the surroundings. The masks, numbering in the forties, were now equipped with dense encirclement, ring at them. Some had even climbed onto tents and crouched like predators, and there were those who seemed to be approaching as if stalking the ground. Agile like beasts. The warrior, who remembered each position distinctly, turned his gaze back to the front. A congregant who appeared to be a leader was repeating the words he had just said like a parrot. came to propose a deal. Perhaps due to the darkness of the night, the masks seemed to float alone in the darkness. It was the moment when he noticed that the eye holes were curved like crescent moons. [Shinwoldans people] Shinwoldan? [Direct armed group of the Demon Kings High Priest] It was a name mentioned by Ted at some point. Larze spoke with an interesting tone. [Well, well, this is interesting. I thought Ted had killed them all when we subdued the Demon Kings cult, but it seems like some are still around.] Unlike the necromancer they encountered at the factory, this one was a martial arts type. With each gust of wind, a metallic sound could be heard clinking beneath the robe. Its actually going well. And It wasnt just weapons they had. The warriors eyes sparkled as he felt a faint vibration. A deal? Did you just say a deal now? You bastard? Meanwhile, Zeon, as if energized, stepped forward towards the leader. With that remark, the members of the Exploration Unit began to shout insults and jeers individually. It was a natural response. For the past few days, they had persistently attacked and set traps, so what kind of frozen deal was this? Moreover, the Demonic Church was a trash among trash that even the human race was reluctant to deal with. With theirrades firmly behind them, there was no need to suppress their resentment. Leader! Do you want to hear more? Lets kill them! Youve got the wrong guys, you coborator. Do you know whos here? Scores of menacing gazes were cast. But Shinwoldans leader didnt even blink. It wasnt a gesture of tolerance; beyond his curved eye holes, his ck pupils remained still without even a twitch. He continued with his business. Leave behind the pieces you have collected so far and step back. Look at this bastard- ck- A hefty pouch dropped between Zeon and the leader. Zeon reflexively jumped back and drew his sword, but This is. He soon realized that the contents of the pouch were not poison or anything of the sort, but rather something he liked the most. Gold. A considerable amount of gold and treasures shone brightly even under the dim moonlight of the wilderness. Even if divided among all the members of the exploration unit, it was still a substantial amount. However, the leader of Shinwoldan paid no attention to the wealth he had thrown, staring fixedly at Zeon. The treasure you are eyeing belongs to our church. Belongs to the church. The congregants echoed behind him as if in chorus. In the eerie campsite, amidst the echoing noise, the seasoned exploration unit members also wore grim expressions. It is also something that non-believers can never deal with. The prophet has said that he would forgive your greed and ignorance. Leave. Leave. The echo repeated once more. Suddenly, the continuous jeering and cursing ceased. Leave with the pieces youve gathered. Leave with the pieces. They repeated the words with a dry tone in the silence. This, this bastard. Zeon, who until just a moment ago was ready to swing his sword, was now swept away by two emotions. Fear and greed. It wasnt surprising that the hand holding the sword handle was trembling as much as his pupils. So this is how they received the pieces from other exploration units. Judgement was made. The warrior was convinced that now was the most suitable time to execute the n. An unexpected variable had appeared, but it was rather fortuitous. [Yes! Lets do it!] Larzes excited voice faded away. Followed by a sound that hadnt been heard in a long time Zzzzzt! A faint spark sound tickled the ears. A white light rising from toe to head. In the darkness enveloping the campsite, the warrior briefly shone like the sun. The world slowed down, and silence flooded in simultaneously. W-w-w-whats happening? The members rubbed their eyes, wondering what they had seen wrong, in slow motion. The world slowed down dozens of times. As a result, every movement that could have been performed without consciousness was subdivided into dozens. For an ordinary person, under such immense pressure on the body and mind, they wouldnt be able to move a muscle in that position. But the warrior had experienced this immense pressure dozens, hundreds of times, embodying thepression and explosion. Swoooosh- He firmly grasped the spear. Lifted it. At the same time, he pulled his shoulders back. After putting pressure, he squeezed the ground with the soles of his feet. Twisting his hips, shifting his weight to the front of his elbows, he threw his body with all his might. It was the moment when the fastest, most efficient, and most precise thrust in the extreme low-speed unfolded. Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gak-! Here, the warrior could confirm that the leader of the Shinwoldan faction was an exceptional skilled individual. Perhaps even stronger than Zeon. He seeded in reacting to the attack at this extreme speed. Swish- Two short swords crossed, blocking the way ahead. Its toote. One, the spear had already passed the swords. Thete de of the sword collided with the spear, and a blue me engulfed the field of view. The warrior saw the pupils beyond the mask expand rapidly. Boom-! [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release updates! /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The head of the leader burst like a watermelon struck by a hammer. Thud- The people at the campsite watched the leaders body copse, their eyes wide with surprise and confusion. All they could perceive was something fleeting passing by. What, whats going on. In the bewildering silence, the warrior took a deep breath. It was to boost his confidence before the battle. What should I say to intensify this fight the most? His mind quickly turned. He pointed to the coins and loot scattered on the ground. Are you bastards going to have only that? Huh, what? If they are Caniss men, lets not be deceived by tricks and take everything! The treasures! The money! Its all ours! The enthusiasm of the expedition members ignited in an instant. They faced the iing cultists and shouted Kasims name. As expected of Kasim! His ideas are different! The great viin Kasim! The warrior turned around,id down Teds essense, and maximized Bucks. Then he lightly tapped Zeons chest as he approached the loot on the ground. Lets deal with the enemies first. Y-yeah. I was momentarily blinded. Zeon alsoughed awkwardly and then shouted, joining the fight. Okay, lets start pulling out. The warrior smiled as he felt the solid texture of the loot in his pocket. The key fragments from the Shinwoldan leaders embrace. And the storage key stolen from Zeon. Everything went smoothly. The storage must be under his bed. The warrior leisurely left the battlefield and entered Zeons tent. In the chaos of the dark, no one noticed him, as he maximized his stealth skills. Larze murmured in amazement. [What about going to Canis after everything is over? It seems to suit your temperament quite well.] The warrior didnt bother to reply and focused on unlocking the vault. Although Zeon had maintained thorough security with various locking spells and locks on the storage It was all futile before the warrior, who had a robe enchanted with dispel magic of the rank of a Maester and the skill of a master thief. Vrrroooom-! Whats this? [Whats wrong?] The fragments The fragments acquired from the leader suddenly popped out of his pocket as the warrior finished unlocking the vault and lifted the lid. Click- At the same time, the fragments inside the vault also popped out like arrows. The two merged in mid-air with a strong vibration A sphere? The warrior looked at the smooth ck sphere slowly falling into his palm. It was small enough to fit in his fist. With no resemnce to a key anywhere, the warrior tilted his head. Is this the key? [No doubt. Its the same type of magic as the one felt from the coordinates.] Okay, now all thats left is to go to the coordinates. essing Key of Valber. The warrior first stored it in the safest space. He also collected all the odds and ends from the vault. Larze chuckled as he watched, shaking the dolls body. [Now then] Larzes whisper tickled the warriors ear. [Are you going to kill him?] The outsidemotion was gradually subsiding. . . Zeon swung thest demonic cultists head off, recalling the man who he had been staring at since earlier. His confident promation. Men of Canis! Do not be deceived by lies, seize it all! The treasures! The money! It will all be ours! What a splendid mindset that was. He felt deeply embarrassed at almost making a foolish choice blinded by the treasures in front of him. With just a little thought, it was obvious. There could have been more money pouches, and if I had been clever, I might have had other pieces traded with other expedition teams. I really am far from Kasim. Zeon sighed and instinctively felt his chest. The key fragments that would lead to treasures surpassing tens of thousands of gold coins. The key fragments? Gone? Zeon reflexively searched his body. Nothing. Where could he have dropped it? No, he had put it in his inner pocket; why would it have fallen out? Even though he knew it wouldnt be there, Zeon hastily turned over, scouring the ground. As expected, he only found the still-warm corpses and what had spilled out from them. Captain, what are you looking for? Shall we help you search? He couldnt ask for help from his subordinates. Even though they had been together for a long time, in the face of the value of this key, they were all untrustworthy scoundrels. Zeon poured all his mana into his eyes, staring at the ground. He perked up his ears in case his subordinates found it first. By the way, wheres Kasim? Where did he go? Hes probably fine. Damn it, even though hes the one who took down their leader in one blow, why is he worrying about something? Hes probably hiding somewhere, looting the loot. Kasim. Loot? Huh, huh? Huh?! Zeon suddenly rushed to the tent with a thought that had urred to him. It was exactly three minutester that a furious scream burst out. Kaaaasiiiiim!!!! * * * Meanwhile, the Dietrich Mansion on the ind was busy with unexpected visitors. No, to be exact, the visitor side was a little busier. Inside the carriage passing through the main gate. Ban sighed deeply, looking at her sitting in the seat without even thinking about sitting down. He wanted to nag at her to sit down, but It wasnt easy to do so when he looked at her sparkling eyes and lips that were slightly parted. How did I end up spending the vacation with her? Ban sighed deeply, feeling a headacheing on. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 163 Chapter 163 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Master Ban, right? Oh my, I thought you were someone else. The servants of the Dietrich family murmured as they looked at their young master. A boy who walked with a confident gaze, standing tall with his shoulders squared. How much youve changed in just half a year. Truly remarkable. It reminds me of the young master in his prime. It seems bloodlines cannot be deceived. Now I have no regrets even if I die. The servants looked at the boy with admiring eyes. No one disliked Ban, who although timid, was always kind, and there was no one in the mansion. The changes Ban had brought were weed by them as well. By the way, is this your friend from another department? She doesnt seem very friendly, is it because of her mood? Hmmmm- The mysterious purple hair floated magically with each step, echoing in the air. Right next to it, a suitcaserger than its owner was rolling on its own, making a rumbling sound. A dazzling and luxurious dress enveloped the petite figure. It was a rare sight in martial arts families. Um, Beatrice? As all eyes were on them, they stopped in the middle of the hallway. Yes. Ban turned his head. Because of the significant height difference, he almost had to bury his chin in his chest to meet her gaze. Quite new. Most female students in extremes are tall. Ban felt somewhat unfamiliar and looked down at Beatrices forehead. Would you like to see the room where Ill be staying during the vacation first? Then Ill show you around the mansion. Oh, yes. Meanwhile, Beatrice was busy inspecting the luxurious interior of the Dietrich mansion. Its amazing. Being a noble didnt mean they were all the same. The Dietrich family was one of the most prestigious families. They had been a longstanding influential family since the establishment of the Jedos Kyros. Their tradition and history were ingrained in this mansion, so there was nothing elegant or valuable missing from its decorations. For a girl who admired nobility, it was an extraordinary ce. I want to live in a ce like this. It was a world away from her hometown. After marveling, Beatrice lifted her dress slightly and greeted with a noble gesture. The glory of a family stems from dignity and morality Truly a mansion befitting the Dietrich familys tradition. Ban replied, trying to avoid awkwardness. Thank you. Shall we go to the room? Sure, I hope its close to where youll be staying, so its convenient for experiments. Experiments. The boy, who hesitated for a moment, asked. When do you n to start those experiments? Do we need to dy it further? Lets start tomorrow. Ban, with aplex expression, nodded shortly. Yes, lets do that. . . . Is this my room? Without unpacking, Leciel simplyy down on the bed. Her long red hair spread out like a fan on the white sheet. Not to my liking. The bed was as soft as a cloud and as silky as silk. A product of a famous craftsman that took months from order to production. But for some reason, she found such a bed extremely ufortable. Leciel rolled around a few times, then sat up with a grimace. Should have just gone back home. It would have been much morefortable if she had. But then again, leaving without permission wouldnt be good. Currently, she was not at the Hiyashin main house but at the vi her grandmother had recently acquired in the Jedos. And that vi was quite different from what Leciel had imagined. Of course, it wasvish and spacious. Located in the heart of an upscale residential area where only nobles resided, its interior was adorned with all thetest furniture and decorations of the Jedos. It was undoubtedly a mansion where high-ranking nobles could reside, but. No one would think its where the Hiyashin family head stays. There were no facilities for training here. It was a space very different from the Hiyashin main house, with its numerous training grounds, training equipment, and the smell of sweat and iron. Ultimately, it was a disappointing situation for Leciel, who had longed to meet her grandmother and showcase her growth. We evenmunicated that I would arrive around this time. The servants said that there was an important social gathering, so her grandmother had left early in the morning. Important I see. Leciel crumpled and then smoothed out the note she held in her hand. It was left by her grandmother. If she arrived on time, there was someone she would introduce her to, and it contained instructions toe to a salon in the center of the Jedos. Leciels eyes fell on the names and instructions written on the paper. The eldest son of Count Orten and the second daughter of Viscountess Pessler? Dress in the wardrobe ande? Leciely back on the bed. I hate this. Grandmother started subtly arranging such introductions like today, since aboutst year. She said that Ive been too absorbed in my studies, I need to experience the life of an ordinary noble. I remember feeling awkward as she tried to set up a debutante event. Perhaps this gathering is also part of the life of an ordinary noble. . I dont want to go. Even if I go, Ill end up feeling nauseous in the stifling atmosphere, forcing down nd food, only toe back feeling even worse inside. The nobles will look at her like shes some strange creature and exchange banal greetings. Grandmother will pretend to be satisfied with a smile on her face. But in reality, I wont even have a proper conversation with her. It was all too predictable. . . . But when she came to her senses, Leciel was already obediently putting on pretty shoes and clothes as instructed by grandmother and heading out. She brushed off the servant who offered to arrange the carriage and confidently walked into the street, realizing she was already attracting all the nearby gazes. Miss, my carriage A refined salon where you can escape this scorching sun Do you like theater? Leciel sighed softly as she moved into the shadow of an alley. Oh, I really dont want to go. Maybe going to the salon would be even more ufortable than this. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 I want to go back to school. I want to go back to that ce where my body was tired, but my mind was peaceful and happy. With those soft gray eyes. And theughter of friends that makes me forget my worries. I want to face the cool breeze blowing through the school again. Leciel sighed once more. Theres still a long way until vacation ends. Im not sure exactly, but it must be less than two months left. Fortunately, some lucky students received a 13-day, 14-night luxury resort vacation voucher as a festival prize from the principal. The participants who wished to travel agreed to gather at the departure point three weeks before the start of sses. Leciel naturally nned to participate. Everyone wille. Cuculli wouldnt miss it if its about having fun, and Evergreen, who loves new experiences, will probablye too. And of course, Luke will follow along willingly. . As Leciel recalled her friends faces, she suddenly stopped. It was because a familiar pattern passed before her eyes. It was the gate of a certain elegant mansion. As the red-eyed gatekeeper nced her way, she realized he was staring at her ecstatic face with a nonchnt expression, which felt awkward. It was unlike the appearance of a warriors retainer. Um, Miss, do you have any business at the Dietrich Mansion? Oh, the Dietrich Mansion. It was a sudden impulse that engulfed Leciel. I am. What? Leciels eyes sparkled faintly. I am Leciel Hiyashin, a friend of Ban Dietrich, here to see Ban. Youre a friend of the young master? The guard at Dietrichs mansion couldnt help but admire her small masters ability. * * * Meanwhile, while the children were spending their vacation in their own ways. The Hero was diligently exploring the demonic realm. In fact, there was no need to be diligent. Since joining forces with Larze in the demonic realm after striking the back of the 26th Expeditionary Force, there was nothing to worry about. He just chose the shortest route and headed towards Sector 43. Larze, who had been exploring the demonic realm tirelessly with Ted since their student days, was a morepetent and powerful guide than anyone else. Thanks to her, the journey was surprisingly easy. It was the night just before entering Sector 43. The Hero wiped the dark blood on his sword with a cloth and looked down at the border of the area below his feet. As soon as his mana recovered, he was going to charge in. It seems that the only demons well encounter are stragglers. The magician sat leisurely with her arms crossed, perched on a rock that had only the bottom left, as the cloud flew away leaving only its footprints. The air around her flowed like an arch and distorted, a disguise spell to avoid the attention of the demons. Since its a special situation where Sector 1 is under attack, they dont have time or leisure to pay attention to us. That was Larzes exnation, not to spend time on a few illegal expedition groups that had always been there. Of course, their feet were on fire and they were moving in hopes of not losing the treasure of the Demonic Church, but honestly, it would be of no concern to the demons who only saw them as tools. So the Hero coulde to one conclusion. The demons dont know about the Zero Requeims blessing hidden in the coordinates. If they knew the identity of the treasure, they wouldnt leave it like this. They would have at least tried to intercept the blessing by deploying amander-level force. To them, Zeros blessing was an ability that couldnt be underestimated. Then naturally, one more question arises. Why didnt the Demonic Church speak? As the treasure was owned by the Church, they would have guessed its identity to some extent, so why didnt they share it?. The Heros eyes sparkled. For all we know, the new sect leader may have other ideas? If theyre not someone who just blindly serves the demons. It was a rather daunting situation. Unless its a blind loyalty rtionship, there will always be a chance for intrusion. After all, Zeros blessing is too formidable to just pass over. The Hero recalled Zeros seven blessings. They were abilities that had been used by people at least once since Zero unleashed them upon the world. So he roughly knew their power and usefulness. The information recorded in the Iris of Lace also included them. There are four blessings currently without an owner. Severance, Paradox, Insight, and Foresight. Three hours walk from here, one of these mediators is hidden. Summoning the information recorded about the seven blessings. First, Severance. Severance is a martial ability. You gain a sharp sword that cuts through everything it touches. It doesnt seem like anything special up to this point. The story would be different if we told you that the de containing the spirit is invisible and invisible, and that its length and size can be freely increased by infusing it with magical power. If it falls into the hands of an average fighter, it might not be more useful than just an artifact, but in the hands of a skilled martial artist, there was no better weapon for killing. Moreover, it could also cut through not just physical matter but also spectral beings, mental magic, and the like, making it the most coveted blessing for martial artists. The second, Paradox, is a power simr to the words of an extinct dragon species, which creates phenomena by infusing power into words. A mysterious power connected to the origin of magic, the more powerful the being speaking it, the more powerful the effect bes. Doppelganger, what do you think. The Hero turned his head. Under the cloudy sky of the demonic realm, eyes filled with curiosity were gazing at him. A smirk on the lips. It was a gaze that seemed to say there were no secrets between them. What do you think it would be out of the four? So she had guessed, after all. The Hero frowned. Larze seemed pleased with his reaction and let out a small chuckle. No, let me change the question. What would you like it to be? Despite theplexity of the situation, the difficulty of the question was easy. Among Zeros four blessings, there was one thing the Hero wanted the most. . . . Having heard the answer, Larze smiled cheerfully and pointed to Sector 43 of the demonic realm with a sense of anticipation. Well then, lets go check it out now. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 164 Chapter 164 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Demonic realm 43rd Sector, Trade City Ekrut. The warrior leaned closer to the jagged shadow of the copsed building and looked around. I dont see any parishioners. The streets are empty. Would they have guessed that there would already be an exploration team that collected the pieces and reached this point? With the density of the demonic energy increasing, it would have be difficult for even the demon worshippers to enter, except for a few. Following behind him, Larze added casually, They must still be lurking in the 30s. Are we being careless? No. The copsed streets and faint shadows seemed to pulsate with excitement. We were faster than expected. Their arrival was indeed swift. While the Hero had yed a part in gathering the fragments faster than anticipated, Larzes skillful guidance was crucial. Their joining urred at Sector 34. Although it was a section where the Demonic realm became significantly more perilous, the Hero couldnt perceive it. Thanks to Larzes familiarity with the terrain here more than the demons themselves. Ive been collecting and studying anything rted to Demonic realm for decades. Ive even explored it with Ted on foot. This much is obvious, Larze remarked. Strange alleys and mysterious secret passages revealed themselves before them. Of course, information rted to the demonic realm was also recorded in the Iris of Lace. But most ces were inessible without a wizard. Its because these passages were created during a time when magic was much more prevalent. If it werent for Larze, they might still be wandering in Sector 30. Anyway, they reached their destination at Sector 43 almost without engaging in battle. Demonic realm 43rd Sector, Ekrut, a giant and prosperous trading city adjacent to the eastern coast Its enormous. Long before entering the city, the stake nted right in its center was conspicuous. It was at least ten times higher and twenty times thicker than the ones found in Lonkers, towering over the remains of the most prestigious castle in the city. Even when tilting their heads back as far as they could, the top wasnt visible. The Hero left a brief remark, Its like the legs of a giant. Wooooooong- The demonic energy emanating from the unseen upper part of the stake condensed and spread in all directions. As a result, the central part of the city was as dark as if clouds had descended to the ground Keekkk-! Shadows that seemed excessively fiery darted around within it. They were creatures from Sector 40. Having undergone numerous mutations, they were more powerful than most demons. Though the exact number couldnt be determined, judging by the echoes of their cries resonating throughout the ruins, there were certainly quite a few. Shall we proceed then? Sure. But they had to cross Ekrut. For the treasure was hidden at the opposite end of the city. Sssshhh- It was the moment when the Hero, utilizing concealment magic to its fullest, was advancing through the urban area. Larzes gentle voice whispered in his ear. Do you know? Ekrut was the first territory Yol received from the demon king. It was like a grandmother telling stories to her grandchildren. Yol? The Hero asked inquisitively. The Knight of Death, Yol? One of the three surviving demons among the seven great demons who first appeared with the demon king. Yol, Malekia, and Theo. When the name of such a powerful demon, whom no one had managed to subdue yet, was mentioned, the Heros pace slowed down. When he first came here, Yol was a low-ranking corpsmander. So he ended up taking the 43rd district, the 8th. Its something Ive never heard of. Its been forgotten. Its been a long time since Yol left here. Larze shrugged her shoulders. Under the moonlight, her silhouette seemed blurry. Light and darkness, form and shadow blended unrealistically, as if abstraction itself were alive. Perhaps in the eyes of others, she would appear like that too. She had said that even she couldnt maintain it for long inside Demonic realm due to the ultimate camouge magic she had meticulously created. If things go well, youll eventually get to fight Yol. I guess so. Hes the gatekeeper of the Demon Kings castle. Havent you and Ted shed with him several times? Yeah, hes a dreadful one. With that, a moment of silence ensued. To the Hero, it was a wee silence. To stand against the overwhelming demonic energy, expand their senses to grasp the nearby terrain and the positions of the creatures, and then proceed to the destination without being noticedall of these were tasks that even he, who had grown unrecognizably, found extremely challenging. But Larze soon threw another question casually. Have you ever thought about it? About what? Anything. About the traitor of the Demonic Church. The Heros steps finally came to a halt. It was a few days ago. They had seeded in capturing several demon worshippers. It was an opportunity for interrogation. Fortunately, one of them was in a vulnerable state due to the effects of the Dream Illusion, and we were able to hear the hidden history rted to the treasure hidden here. He who betrayed the former religious leader and fled The one who hid the treasure from the Demonic Church was originally a member of the Demonic Church. For some unknown reason, after turning against the Demonic Church, he emerged with the treasure and hid it. ording to the parishioners, the traitor was eventually caught again, tortured, and until the moment of death, did not disclose the location of the hidden treasure. In pursuit of the traitor to recover the stolen treasure, they discovered a clue called wolf statue and had been diligently tracing it for years. Betrayal. In a fanatic-dominated Demonic Church, this was quite an unusual urrence. Moreover, the traitor was a high-ranking official who had received such thick trust that he had been entrusted by the former religious leader to hide the treasures of the church. Why would someone who had devoted decades to serving the demons suddenly stab the church in the back? There are many parts that are difficult to understand. Its because there are many missing pieces. Missing pieces? The traitor stole the treasure, hid it, and then deliberately left clues to find it all over the ce. Do you understand what that means? He probably hoped that someone other than the Demonic Church would obtain the treasure. Someone who will stand at the opposite end of the spectrum. Larze nodded. Thats right. To give the treasure to such a person, the traitor would have left behind various clues, not just the wolf statue. Various clues. The Hero recalled the machinery within the wolf statue. Certainly, it was a structure that could not be approached to the coordinates of the treasure unless something else was obtained. But. But you forced it open with a trick. You arrived at the treasures location with only half the qualifications, unlike the traitors intention. The Hero narrowed his eyes. So? Why bring up this story only aftering all the way to the coordinates? Its like giving advance notice of unexpected obstacles. Advance notice. Hearing it just before arrival, it wasnt a particrly pleasant thing to hear. Even if I had known, it wouldnt have changed anything. The Hero straightened his hunched back. The old ruins of the city had gradually disappeared from view, and the salty breeze of the seaside was brushing against his nose. It had been some time since the sounds of the monsters, which had been causing cold sweats on his neck, had stopped being heard. Thunk- The sand began to be crushed under his boots. In the corner of his vision, the ruins of the old pier, which had beenpletely exposed, could be seen, and soon, as they walked a little further, the destination of this long journey came into view. Is it over there? On the uneven hill by the coast. One worn-out watchtower stood out. It didnt seem particrly special, but ording to the map, there was an underground passage leading to nearby caves. ! The moment the silhouettes lurking around were confirmed, the Hero realized that avoiding a battle was inevitable. About eight of them. The number wasnt as high as expected. But it couldnt be underestimated. They must be high-ranking officials who could maintain reason in this dense demonic energy. They stood a little away from the entrance to the watchtower, as if they hadnt discovered him yet. One, this strange standoff couldntst forever. Just a sec.. What? Just wait a moment. Thud- Cold sweat was flowing down Larzes pale face. It was somewhat shocking, but at the same time, it was a scene that couldnt help but be understood. You must be exhausted. From performing continuous spatial movements from Point 1 to Point 34 without rest, to darting straight to Point 43 after the meeting point, Larze had maintained various high-level magics throughout the journey. And all of this, in the environment of the Demonic realm, which was extremely disadvantageous to wizards. No matter how transcendent she was, she couldnt bepletely fine. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 essing the subspace of Valber Slump- As the camouge magic that had surrounded them was lifted, the Hero took out the Umbra and brought out the ck Hope. Although he was wearing a robe, he also deactivated the Polymorph that had borrowed the appearance of Bucks. It was a situation where they couldnt afford to conserve their strength. The moment a battle ensued, all the threats in Demonic realm 43rd Sector would converge here. They had to push through as quickly as possible and get out. It was while the Hero was organizing his thoughts like that. Ssshh- The camouge magic that had surrounded them was lifted. Surprised, the Hero turned to Larze. It was a faster depletion of stamina than expected. Larze? Larze! She didnt answer. She just stared straight ahead with an expression that couldnt be understood. The problem was that as soon as the camouge disappeared, the high-ranking officials of the Demonic Church who felt their presence were rushing towards them with angry expressions. Destroy the unbelievers! You vultures! How dare you covet the holy relics! Fall into hell! Thud- Five martial artists with various weapons. There isnt a single easy opponent among them. Thunk- This time, the Heros eyes turned towards the back of the hill. Undead creatures were emerging from the ground. Theres a necromancer. And the other two were high-level wizards. Whooo- Crimson magic circles appeared one after another in the cloudy night sky of the demon realm. Their magic seemed to be even more powerful in the demon realm. The Heros eyes flickered slightly. Should I step back? It seemed difficult to overpower them even with full force. If we dy even a little bit, the powerful monsters that were wandering around the city will attack. If, by chance, there are demons left in the city who did not head to Sector 1, even retreat may be impossible. Instead of Larze helping him, he is forced to fight while protecting her. Continuing the battle would be a foolish decision. The Hero maximized the essence of Ted Redymer. For now, condense with Halo to buy time. Swoosh- It was then that Larze, who had been sweating profusely with a pale face, stepped forward. Whats this? The White Despair shining in her hand was dazzling against the backdrop of the dark sea. Larze, standing against the dark night sea, turned to him. The exhaustion that had gued her face was nowhere to be found. She smiled and waved her staff yfully. Whats with that look? Worried that I might have exhausted myself maintaining the disguise? The Hero couldnt answer. Larze narrowed her eyes slightly. Are you serious? Then what? I just needed a moment to concentrate. As her leisurely hand gestures continued, a huge magic circle rose from the ground they were standing on. Whooo- Gradually rising and emitting a strong light towards the surroundings, the magic circle was conjuring a powerful gust of wind, causing Larzes white hair to flutter upwards. Attack! Sensing the seriousness of the situation, the Demonic Church officials elerated. Roughly 10 seconds until collision with the vanguard. The wave of undead closely followed, and the destructive spells they cast were shooting out with devastating force. And then. Boing- A soundpletely unrted to the current situation was heard. This is. The Hero stared nkly at the huge sphere surrounding them. Translucent and thin, its smooth surface resembled a soap bubble. The sphere fluttered with the wind, distorting thendscape on the other side. Without even looking at the enemies, Larze rotated casually. Its one of my original spells. Original spells? Its a bit difficult to wipe out all with attack magic alone. Its about efficiency. Even as the sword of the first arriving Demonic Church official struck the surface of the sphere, Larzes calm expression remained unchanged. Die! Boing- The Demonic Church official looked on with a nk expression as his sword struck the sphere forcefully only to bounce off. The subsequent destructive spells were the same. The thin and seemingly flimsy barrier, as if excessively fragile, bounced off all the attacks poured onto it in an instant. The Hero looked at the trembling sphere emitting a boing- sound with astonishment. It was remarkably stic. It cant be. Even with his considerable expertise in magic, he had never encountered such magic before. It seemed like one of Larzes original spells, as she had mentioned. Alright, lets go. As Larze pointed her staff forward Boing, boing Surprisingly, the sphere began to roll rapidly. At an incredibly high speed. Ugh. Even if youre dizzy, bear with it! Their destination was the watchtower on the hill. Amidst the topsy-turvy scenery. Demonic Church officials with faces like demons were chasing after them desperately, unleashing all sorts of attacks, but to no avail. Even the rusty spears of the undead were the same. All they could do was spew curses. You filthy sorcerer! If we catch you, well kill you! Arent you afraid of divine punishment! Come out and fight fair and square! The eyes burning with resentment were fixed on Larze. Of course, Larze didnt care at all and just chuckled. Shoooooom When they arrived at the entrance of the watchtower, the sphere was automatically deactivated. The Demonic Church gang was running hard, but it seemed they would need another 30 seconds to reach this point. Crash-! Larze swung her staff, blowing away the reinforced iron door, traps, and defensive spells set up by the Demonic Church. Lets go! In an instant, the interior of the watchtower was revealed. The Heros eyes nced at the spiral staircase nestled in one corner. It was the underground passage leading to the hidden location of the treasure. Larze pushed him forward again. The Hero realized her breathing was heavy this time. It wasnt fake. It was then. Kugugugung! In the distance. Giant vibrations urred sessively in the city center. The noise and ground tremors were getting closer. Perhaps the demons and monsters from Sector 43 were heading here. Larze whispered. We just need to get to the entrance. They had thepleted key, and the pursuers did not. Even if the officials chased them as hard as they could, once they reached the destination, the pursuit woulde to an end. Lets go! The Hero grabbed Larzes back and threw himself into the underground passage. Of course, none of them had any idea what they would encounter inside. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 165 Chapter 165 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 [TL/N: A very emotional chap ahead guys ] The passage was damp, dark, and dreadfully long. How many minutes had they been sprinting? When the presence of the enemies was barely felt, the Hero stopped to catch his breath. Sweat dripped from Larzes neck through his fingers. Golden eyes sparkled in the darkness. How long do you n to hold on? Can you keep running? Piece of cake. The Hero lowered Larze while extending his senses forward. The powerful barrier was soon within reach. The destination would soon reveal itself. Hold on a little longer. Were almost there. Be gentle. Tap- The Hero continued running, holding onto Larzes wrist. Larze followed without a word, and the passage echoed only with rough breathing and footsteps. Shoo-ooo-ooo- asionally, the sound of waves from outside the passage would interject. And then it appeared. Wooooooom- It was a wall made of mist. The wall consisted of a mass of smoothly moving gray entities, and the view beyond the mist was hardly visible due to its high density. Thud- It was an instant as they approached. Vision diminished, surroundings blurred, and space seemed to distort. What if we just charge in! Amid Larzes echoing voice, eerie whispers emanated from the blocked path ahead. The Hero staggered back. So, this is the barrier. Correct. Lets get the key out. essing the subspace of Valber As soon as the golden incontinence opened, a vigorously vibrating sphere popped out. The bundle of keys rushed into the barrier and slowly melted into it. Swoosh- Watching it tensely, the Hero rxed as the mist wall cleared, and he walked forward again, reassured. A seemingly ordinary wooden door stood in front. It was when Larze grabbed his wrist. Wait a moment. Why? Just wait. Larze stared at the appearing wooden door with narrowed eyes. The Hero instinctively turned his gaze back, towards the direction they came from. There was no time to rx. Suddenly, from the other end of the passage, the presence of enemies began to be felt again. However, despite the increasing real-time vibrations underfoot, the Hero did not rush Larze. Grooooom- It was because his wrist was held tight. The trembling of Larze was felt vividly, indicating how strongly he was being gripped. Is she nervous? The Hero looked at Larze with puzzlement. Of course, he knew that the one who hid the treasure was a powerful magician rare enough to be of the Beyond rank. Larze had mentioned it, and considering the enchantment on the wolf statue and the intricate gimmicks here, it was obvious that the skills of the traitor were tremendous. But for Larze to feel threatened. The Hero looked at Larze, unable to understand. Just then, her mouth was opening. Huh, she has set up a serious barrier. A barrier? Larze briefly exined. When this door opens, a phantasmal magic simr to the Dream will unfold. The problem was that the rank was none other than Beyond. Moreover, because the soul was sacrificed to raise itspleteness, even she said that interference was impossible. Thats strange. Even if its the same Beyond rank, arent you much stronger? Thats not the issue. Larze shook her head. Opening that door and entering the interior means implicitly agreeing to step into the domain, the unique area of this magician, and obey itsws. In other words, it means surrendering all control. She then gave a simple example. No matter how powerful a shark is, once ites out ontond, it can be torn to pieces by a mere cats w. From the moment we open that door, we can only be at the mercy of this magicians arrangements. I see. The Hero looked back at the passage behind him. The wall in front of him was trembling, showering dust. The demons of Sector 43, including the demon worshippers, were approaching closely. So, should we retreat? It was when the vibration from the wrist ceased. A bright smile appeared on Larzes lips. It was only then that the Hero realized that her trembling was not solely due to tension. No, theres no way. Thud- Without hesitation, Larze moved forward and grabbed the doorknob. With her other hand, she still held onto the Heros wrist. Swoosh- Her hand slowly descended palm down. Its a cautionary tale. Understood. Click- And the door opened. * * * The Hero blinked, rubbing his eyes. Hisst memory was of the door opening, pouring out white light. How much time has passed? His sense of time was in disarray. It felt like days had passed, yet also like only a moment had passed. The Hero took a few steps forward, clutching onto ck Hope. The nauseating cave was nowhere to be seen. All around was an entirely white and empty space. It reminded him of where he encountered Enoch in his mental world. Larze? No answer came. Not even an echo returned, and his words seemed to dissipate into thin air. Instinctively, he patted his waist, but the doll that always squirmed was now still. Square- On the vast expanse of pure white, ck letters began to be written, that was when. What to choose. A fantasy where everything desired is realized. A reality where all desires are shattered. A cradle of unrest and a pit of suffering. The Hero tried to question its meaning. But the first thing was the dazzling white light pouring down from the ceiling. That dazzling light swirled around his body. Ugh. The Heros body trembled. He watched with wide eyes as changes unfolded within himself. I was being corroded away. It felt like someone was opening his mind and injecting white paint into it. Memories began to blur. The death of Ted he witnessed at the sanctuary. The moment of persuading Euphemia at the pce. Arriving at Rosenstark, the children, and defeating Enoch in the Forest of Martial Arts. The Hero felt each of them fading away one by one. Perhaps, such a thing never happened from the beginning. Around the time memories faded like a long-forgotten dream. There was onest voice he heard. Face it. . . . And when he opened his eyes again, he was in Rosenstark. He looked up at the sky with a vacant expression. The pupil, as clear and blue as it could be, reflected the clear and blue sky as if all worries had vanished. Oh, Imte. He hurriedly put away his watch and moved on. It was time to go teach the children. * * * A man was briskly crossing through Rosenstark. Elegant and stylish suit, a pleasant smile on his clean face. He wasnt a strikingly handsome man, but he was a man with a good impression enough that even wary people could approach him without hesitation. His face was smooth and youthful, without a single wrinkle. Except for one thing; his eyes sparkled with the traces and experiences of the owners years. If someone saw him for the first time they would judge him as quite charming. Oh my, Im going to bete. But even as he was runningte, his steps asionally stopped. The beauty of thete spring correction was too overwhelming. A space filled with gentle breeze and warm air. Sunshine filtering through the lush trees. Intermittently, amid the chirping of birds, the childrensughter could be heard. Thats He spotted a familiar face and waved. Yourete. Hehe, Professor, you too. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 But I have no one to give me demerits. Unfair! The face, surrounded by sky-blue hair, was full of mischief. But, today wont be a theory ss, right? Surely not, surely not. Click- The man raised the bag containing the lecture materials, confirming the answer. The girl seemed disappointed, sighing deeply. When will we ever have practical lessons? What kind of practical lesson is there for freshmen? Its dangerous. Hmph. It could just be up north. They continued chatting as they headed towards the ssroom. Oh, its Professor! Hello, Professor! Wheres Professor Ted? Hes ying hooky again today. Wow, hes soid back. About thirty or so students chattered away, brightening up when they spotted him and greeted him warmly. Although the semester had just begun, everyone seemed to get along well without any troublemakers. A girl with short ck hair, who had been smiling all along, stood up as the representative and nodded respectfully. Alright, everyone! Lets greet the professor! . . . About thirty minutes into the lecture, the man chuckled softly as he looked at the childrens heads bowed down. A soft snore could be heard. He was proud of his teaching skills, but it was difficult topletely ovee the spring fever. A brief sigh followed, and the chalk stopped moving. Perhaps taking a short break wouldnt hurt. If the principal caught wind of it, he would probably receive a lecturesting several tens of minutes, but there was no other choice. The weather today made it difficult to focus on the ss, too. The warm sunlight and the clear blue sky beyond the window. asionally, when the wind blew and inted the curtains, the sleeping children made pleasant sounds. Suddenly, he envied the assistant who had gone on vacation. Now, this level of rxation was alright. Rosenstark had be a peaceful ce after Ted Redymer defeated the demon lord in the Great Battle and safely returned. There were no more children being dragged onto the battlefield with a stench of blood. The demons had retreated, and the continent had finally regained peace. And Rosenstark, which had once taught only how to fight and survive, had transformed into a much more moderate form. More fitting for an institution of education. Ding- Ding- As he chatted with the awake children and listened to their trivial conversations, the bell signaling the end of the lecture rang. Shh, bow to the professor! The girl with short ck hair hurriedly got up, her face marked with sleep, and greeted him. She seemed much more rxed after leaving the lecture hall. But it looked better that way. The brown-haired boy and the red-haired girl chuckled as they watched. Meanwhile, behind the ssroom, a tall boy and a freckle-faced girl, holding hands tightly as if there were no one else around, were chatting away. The girl with sky-blue hair and small horns seemed to have already run off to the cafeteria. The man who had been watching them for a while left the ssroom. He had an appointment, too. . . . It was a training ground in one corner of Rosenstark. ng! Two huge swords shed against each other. As if reflected in a mirror, the swordsmanship was identical. But as the exchange continued, the difference in skill became apparent. Soon, the sword held by the man was disarmed and fell to the ground without strength. He chuckled in resignation and sat down leaning against the wall. Hey, be gentle. Thats not how it works. The man looked at his sparring partner. Ashen hair, eyes of the same color. A muscr figure towering over 190cm, with a face so beautiful that it was hard to describe with just the word handsome. The Hero, Ted Redymer, chuckled heartily, teasing yet somehow proud. Still, youve improved a lot since thest time we sparred. Youvee a long way. What do you mean by that? It wasnt that long ago. Still, I think you have a long way to go. The man shook his head in disbelief, but eventually joined in theughter. shing, breaking, and listening to lectures. It had always been like this since before. Ted handed the man a towel and leaned against the wall. I didnt expect you to follow me all the way to Rosenstark. How could I leave as the shadow? You went through a lot ying the fake role. I shouldve sent you on vacation. The man nodded silently. Youre the one who spent months grumbling in the academy. But I didnt expect you toe all the way here from the academy. Well this ce has a lot of significance. Ted smiled again. Relieved of the heavy burden of salvation, he sometimesughed like a boy. The man thought it looked very good. They watched the setting sun in silence for a moment. Rosenstark, now enveloped in the evening glow, was incredibly beautiful. The refreshing breeze that swept away the sweat on their foreheads made the man speak up. Time flies, doesnt it? It had already been half a year since everything had ended. It didnt feel like they had done anything special, yet time had passed in the blink of an eye. He liked the density of that time. Ted nodded in agreement with the mans words and got up from his seat. Lets go to the professors quarters and have a drink. Euphemia sent over some good wine. Sounds good. By the way, what have you been up totely? You must be busy. Even though I retired and am enjoying my days off, I still get scolded everyday through themunicator. They exchanged such small talk and left the training ground, heading towards the professors quarters. They left the training ground, engaging in such casual conversation, and headed towards the professors quarters. Along the way, they encountered a few familiar faces. A stern-looking senior professor briefly smiled and raised his hand in greeting. Even the handsome blond young man, who had been teasing the maids, respectfully lowered his head. Each child they passed looked at them with eyes filled with admiration and affection. The man felt as if everything had returned to its rightful ce. Then, at a certain moment, they stood in front of the entrance to the professors quarters. Amidst the gleaming lights of the building, Ted strode into the darkness ahead. Meanwhile, the man stopped. And as Teds figure grew distant, he seemed to want to store that image somewhere in his mind, gazing after him. Are you noting? The drinking session was undoubtedly going to be enjoyable. It was always pleasant when they drank at the hideout. They would likely get quite drunk and reminisce about old memories. Using a doppelganger for a mission, looking back, it was a reckless and daring lie. One could only imagine what would have happened if they had been caught. There might be some bted resentment about why he had acted so boldly at the hideout. Even if he received a scolding, it would be fine. As they continued to chat about trivial matters, Yussi, who had finished her overtime, would probablye by and suggest setting up another round of drinks. Perhaps even Kasim, who had been rejected by the maid, would secretly want to join in with some of the younger professors. Good heavens. Just thinking about it made him so happy. The manughed heartily. Arge castle, piles of gold coins, and lofty honor awaited him. Everything in this worlds treasure couldntpare to what was waiting for him. But he couldnt go any further. He knew that it wasnt possible. The Hero waited until the emotions that had been shaking him had dispersed like scattered ashes and moved away. After some time had passed, he lifted his head. Before him, Ted was quietly smiling. Are you going back? For a moment, silence surrounded them. There were so many things he wanted to say. Shouldnt you have lived? You should have survived,e back, and enjoyed all of these things, your fair share. Why did you leave so suddenly? Shouldnt there be an ending like this at the end of your road? As a human, you must have been lonely and difficult too. But the Hero swallowed all those boiling words. And instead, he spat out his deepest and sincerest wish. Yes, I have to go back. Why? Because the ce that needs a Hero isnt here. Ted smiled again. It wasnt a boyish smile, but a faint smile from the memories he always carried. Alright, youll definitely finish it. Those words pushed the Hero forward. He changed direction and walked away. There was no looking back. There was no need to look back. Even though he was looking ahead, he could vividly picture Teds face. Kind, honest, noble. Willingly bearing heavy responsibilities and duties. The first Hero of this world. The true Hero of this world. He didnt realize how honorable it was to know him, to be able to follow him. [PR/N: bro ] [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 166 Chapter 166 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Before long, everything around was covered in light and shadow. Space was engulfed helplessly in darkness, and all the sounds that rang in the ears evaporated. Even the presence of Ted, felt from behind, was the same. Oooooooom- In the space where the beautiful correction had taken hold, now only deste swirls of white light remained. Yet the hero continued to walk. Instead of a neat suit, Zero Requiems robe took its ce, and instead of an ordinary greatsword, there was the solid sensation of ck Hope. And finally, the end of the road. There was a silhouette waiting for the hero. The husky voice of a middle-aged man pierced the heros ears. So quickly discerned. Since when did you know? From the beginning. Yeah, I knew from the beginning. The Doppelganger was immune to mental magic. Its an illusion that alters memories. Entering the illusion, one was trapped in a trap of the illusion without even realizing they were immersed in the memories in their mind. But for him, who had undergone countless polymorphs, there were countless memories. In the face of such overwhelming quantity, the power of magic did not manifest much. Yet, the reason he didnt immediately return to reality was Because I missed you. Perhaps he wanted to see glimpses of the world that could have existed. Children in a world without demons3. I knew that this was the only chance I would have to see Ted alive again, so I didnte back right away. Avoiding the deepest longing must have been a difficult decision. I never said it was easy. You have remarkable willpower. The hero let out a brief sigh. The silhouette, made up of faint smoke, still seemed to be interested, peering ahead. Youre a betrayer of the Demonic Church Or rather, is this the legacy he left behind? Thats correct. So, what was this trial for? Though the features were not clearly visible, the blurry apparition seemed imbued with a remarkable level of magic. Huuuuu- The apparition swayed like a breeze and responded. I wanted to find a worthy sessor. Referring to the master of the blessing. Thats also correct. The hero narrowed his eyes. This betrayer was no longer of this world. ording to the interrogated followers of the Demonic Church, he was captured, tortured with the intention of being forced tomit suicide, and then killed. Perhaps he exhausted all his power in creating this space. It felt strange to converse with the apparition left behind by someone who died years ago. But it spoke as if it had been waiting for this moment. I am, as you say, a betrayer of the Demonic Church. I was the one who had no choice but to betray. The hero decided to continue the conversation to gather information. Why? Your followers faith couldnt have been easily shaken. I realized that the visionary,monly called the leader, was nothing more than a shell. What we believed in was an illusion, and realizing that it was a delusion, we lost all justification for the sins we hadmitted. So, only bted repentance could follow. The heros brow furrowed at the unfamiliar nuances of the words. The leader was just a shell? You will learn the details after you pass the second and final trial. The second trial. The words deepened the wrinkles on the heros face. What more do you want from me here? The previous trial was to confirm one of the qualifications I desired. Shuuuuu- Suddenly, the apparition soared several meters into the air. Trials and qualifications. Certainly, the betrayer did not wish for Zeros blessing to fall into unworthy hands. You have passed the first trial excellently. I was seeking someone with the courage to awaken from false happiness and face harsh truths. Having realized the truth, I abandoned all worldly possessions and glory, and left the church as if it were nothing. The voice of the apparition was tinged with regret. The hero was sure that there wereplicated issues within the Demonic Church. But that wasnt immediately important. So, what is the second trial for? Ability. Thats all. The apparition swayed once more. Drdrdrdrdr- The hero tensed his body. Even without looking back, he could feel the ufortable presence emanating from all directions. Immediately after, a thick pressure emanating from various monsters and demons pierced his entire body like spears. A tantly unnatural appearance. But this was a realm of illusionary magic, where the will of the magician was akin to thews of the world. As Larze said, once you have stepped in, it will be of no use to discuss the absurdity of it. Pajijijijik- Therefore, the hero did not hesitate, summoning Nova with the ck Hope. Seeing this, the apparition spoke with satisfaction. Even if one faces harsh truths and bes enraged, one whocks strength can only bow before them. I cannot entrust my legacy to such weak and feeble individuals. I will pass everything on to those who have the power to shatter this filthy reality and reform it. Kieeeeee- The white space was suddenly filled with swarming monsters like a flood. Amidst the stench they emitted and the rough sounds of their breathing, the voice of the apparition announcing the beginning of the trial resounded. If you want to know all truths and obtain the blessing of Zero Requiem, then survive. The hero stood calmly without losing hisposure. It was going to be much easier than the first trial. * * * How did I end up agreeing to this insane experiment? Half in disbelief, Ban looked at Beatrice, who was taking various experimental tools out of her carrier. Unknown (unwanted) liquids bubbling in sks, ult-looking items that seemed ominous, and thick spellbooks thicker thanw books. I should have just refused. Ban recalled the moments right after the end of the Battle Arena Magic 2v2. Beatrice, who came unexpectedly, actively encouraged the boy to participate in the experiment, saying there was a way for him to be stronger. You were born with magic. Born with it? Didnt you just see the match? I did. Thats why I could be sure. It was difficult to shake off the notion of having talent. In hindsight, he was already halfway there from that moment. Do you know about multitasking abilities? Beatrice said Ban was born with the ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. She added that it was a rare and highly suitable talent for a magician like herself. By engaging in fiercebat, automatically unraveling magic, and implementing basic spells even while inexperienced, you can tell that your multitasking ability exceeds that of magicians who have undergone systematic training since infancy. So? I suggest experimenting to maximize that inherent ability. An experiment, huh. Ban stumbled over his words after a long time. W-what experiment? When experiencing certain emotions or facing stress, do you know that the human brain bes more active? [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Its like when ones mind races unexpectedly or when they feel extreme anger or anxiety, the pain diminishes or something along those lines. And theres mental magic that can temporarily manipte human emotions during magic, ording to Beatrices exnation. Ifbined with medication, the effects would be even better. So you mean artificially controlling my emotions while optimizing my multitasking abilities, right? Exactly, to find the awakening points. Beatrice mentioned the expected effects to Bans disgusted expression. If you enhance your multitasking abilities and train systematically, your magic resistance, which you already possess, will be even stronger. Furthermore, you may even advance to be a high-level magic swordsman, something that has never existed before. A magic swordsman? Even if you say magic swordsman, I can only use low-level magic, right? No. Its just my spection but if the experiment goes smoothly, you may be able to acquire magic that can have a significant impact onbat. Ban hesitated for a moment. But no matter how much merit there was, and even if the other party was a senior from the Department of Mysticism with proven skills, he couldnt just ept the sudden invitation to participate in the experiment. Ill look into it more and get back to you Ban was about to refuse when his mouth closed at that moment. It was because of a sudden memory that came to mind. Die! An open field in a dim forest. A swirling crimson magic. Enoch, who urged him to dodge if he could. Friends lying unconscious. For the first time in his life, Ban realized the importance of strength. In this perilous era, strength was necessary to protect something. And for Ban, who is in the midst of breaking out of his shell, there are more and more things he wants to protect. Uponing to his senses, Ban found himself signing the consent form that Beatrice was offering. . . . Come on, dont resist. With Bans excellent magic resistance, my magic wont be able to prate if you resist. Uggggghhhhh. Hmm, even when feeling fear, the level of activation isnt bad. Lets mix in a bit of anxiety here. The moment Beatrices magic was lifted, Ban copsed to the floor, gasping. It was a very strange experience. Nothing had happened, but his heart raced involuntarily, his breathing quickened, and his muscles tensed as if electricity was flowing through them. It feels like Ive encountered some demons in the dead of night. The memories of navigating through the Forest of Martial Arts came flooding back. It seemed as challenging as physical training, if not more so. However, Ban was somewhat willing because he saw this series of events as training to cultivate resilience against negative emotions. Humans are creatures of adaptation. Experiencing various emotions beforehand can be a great asset as the threshold rises with intense emotions. Alright, Im getting stronger. Ban eximed as he sprang to his feet. Next! Shall we try something other than negative emotions? Is that possible? Of course. Beatrice adjusted her sses and replied. They experimented with emotions like anxiety, fear, and frustration all morning. Even though the effects were temporary and the potency was controlled, from Beatrices perspective, she couldnt help but worry a little about Ban. They needed a breather. How about we try emotions like excitement, love, longing,fort, excitement, maternal love Mixing these little by little can create an infinite variety of emotions. Excitement? Love? Maternal love? Ban looked at the diminutive Beatrices violet eyes behind the thick lenses with a puzzled expression. Y-yeah. Lets give it a try for now. Alright, lets start with a light feeling of excitement. Beatrices wand was aimed at Ban. Ban instinctively halted the magic dismantling he had been unfolding. Wooooooom Suddenly, there was a tingling sensation in one side of his chest. Knock knock Master, we have a visitor. A visitor? Ban raised his head with a flushed face. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 167 Chapter 167 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The battle against the apparitions summoned by the traitors consciousness was rough. It wasnt just the number and strength of the enemies that posed a problem. Difficult adversaries began to appear towards the end. Children,rades, even Ted. But the Hero wielded the ck Hope silently. The consciousness wanted someone who inherited Zeros blessing, someone with superhuman resolve and unwavering will. And there was no one more suitable than the Hero, who was prepared for it. Is it over? No more enemies appeared. The Hero stood alone in a pure white space. The numerous corpses that had been defeated had suddenly disappeared without a trace. The foul smell of corpses that had surrounded him, the heavy feeling of blood, quickly dissipated. Blinking several times, he could hear the sound of waves brushing against his ears. The damp air clinging to his skin. The voice signaled the end of the test. Both the first test and truly remarkable. . It seems there is no such thing as hesitation in your emotions. Its fortunate to leave a legacy for someone like you. While the consciousness was moved, the Heros eyes quickly scanned the surroundings. It was the same coastal cave where they had entered the apparition. Clunk- The wide-open wooden door creaked from behind. What about the pursuers? Strangely, even though he extended his senses, he couldnt feel any presence. The barrier is still active, so theres no need to worry for now. Surprisingly, the consciousness still existed even after the apparition had been dispelled. A silhouette wavering at the level of the Heros eyes. Magic that can leave behind a fragment of consciousness even after death. It was truly Beyond magic. But for some reason, the consciousness seemed to be in a hurry. Its better to wake up yourpanion first. Hearing that, the Hero looked down at his feet. There, Larze was muttering happily with a very satisfied expression. He instinctively listened. Indeed, they are quite different from the creatures of the Second Age. How could youe up with such an idea its touching. Huh, youre lucky to have talent like mine among the sessors. You tter me. Her cheeks turned red. The Heros expression gradually worsened at her cute tone mixed with aegyo. The consciousness added, Dont misunderstand. The illusion magic was dispelled with your passing the test, but since she has no will to escape from it, she remains in that state. How can I wake them up? Just wake them up from their sleep as usual. Thwack! Without hesitation, the Hero kicked Larzes buttocks. Ouch. With a very disappointed expression, she got up, ring at the Hero. Mr. Doppleganger. Do you know how rare it is to experience such high-quality illusions? Without bothering to answer, the Hero turned to the consciousness. Does this mean Ive passed all the tests? Yes, now its time to give you your reward. The consciousness hurried again. Creak- The copsing stone wall inside the cave. As the dust settled, a small altar made of wood appeared. The dim light stones around it cast a faint light over it. This is It was a strange scene. It briefly ovepped with the moment when he obtained evolution in the cave of blessing. The only difference was that there were two spectators. Larze, who had been sitting on the ground, suddenly stood up like a spring, looking at the altar. Oh theres more than just a medium? There were two items on the altar. A diary with all its corners worn out and arge ck jewel without any gloss. Although it was difficult to tell from the outside, one of them immediately responded to the Iris of Lace. That jewel is the medium. No. What? Its not a jewel, whats the proper name for it? Larze raised her head with an interested look. The Hero corrected himself. Yes, its the Dragon Heart. The heart of a dragon species that became extinct long ago. The mana that used to be contained in it was no longer to be found, but its mysterious appearance was iparable to any craftsmanship in the world. The Hero murmured quietly. If its the Dragon Heart does that mean the identity of the blessing is paradox? The consciousness affirmed positively. Yes, are you surprised? I thought it would most likely be severance.'' Thats possible. However, the blessing owned by the Demonic Church was two in total. The paradox is the blessing that the former head of the Church hid until the end. The Hero asked, So is severance now in the hands of the current Demon King? Yes. The former head of the Church passed on the power that returned to her as a medium when she died. The Hero pondered for a moment. Since Zero Requiem created the blessing and distributed it to the followers. There had been active research on this for a while. During that process, severalws were revealed, one of which was that when the user dies, the power does not disappear but returns to its original medium. Another was that inheriting two or more blessings carries significant risks. Although blessings are categorized as one, each has vastly different abilities. There had been attempts to inherit two or more blessings. Mostly they failed. Some couldnt even save their lives, and even if they seeded, they couldnt fully live due to the heavy burden on their bodies. Thats why the Hero had been considering whether to inherit this blessing, depending on what it was. Just in case, I was thinking of giving it to my children if it was a blessing that I had little room to use. On the other hand, the blessings the Hero deemed worth the risk were paradox and severance. Coincidentally, both of their whereabouts were discovered this time. If the head of the Church is killed, severance can be obtained. It was good news. Severance was a top-tier blessing that could be given to any novice disciple without hesitation. The Hero approached the altar with a satisfied expression. As the consciousness floated beside him like mist, it continued to exin. Paradox is simr to rhetoric in essence. Its a power contained in words an extra ability that can intervene in the world and cause phenomena without any spell or incantation. Like other blessings, paradox also possessed conceptual power. In simpler terms, it was words thate true. At first nce, it seemed like the most powerful type of blessing, but in fact, paradox was not considered a particrly powerful blessing in the world. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release updates! /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 It was because the person uttering themand was a human being andcked the strength and power of the soul. In other words, it couldntpare in output to rhetoric that could overturn the earth and copse mountains. But that doesnt mean its useless. Even if the souls power is weak, ones own enhancement is sufficient. ording to records, previous owners were said to tear metal tes with their bare hands and break rocky mountains with a single punch. So the previous owners of paradox used it as a kind of enhancement technique with outstanding effects. Thats probably why the former Demonic Church head chose severance instead of paradox. . . . Meanwhile, the expression in Larzes eyes as she alternated between looking at the Hero and Dragon Heart became increasingly mysterious. Okay, its paradox. Her most anticipated blessing had finally appeared. As its a rhetoric cast by a doppelganger that has embraced countless humans, I wonder what kind of power it will have? Curiosity was inevitable. Even Larze, who had researched Zeros blessing extensively, couldnt anticipate this part. Since there could be a power failure weak to even extinguish a candle light. On the contrary, it could bring out much more powerful benefits than a human. It was paradox, a power activated through the soul. Larze was very curious about how a doppelganger, who might not even have a soul, would utilize it. And finally. Just as her gaze full of expectations, the Hero stood before the altar. Ah. Flutter- It was right at that moment when it seemed like the consciousness would disappear. The Hero realized that the density of that smoke-like body had significantly decreased. The desperate tone continued. This diary is now yours too. Having finished speaking, the consciousness floated over the worn-out notebook on one side of the altar. It contains all the ideals of betrayal that I followed throughout my life, and those despicable truths are recorded in detail. Is it rted to what you mentioned about the head of the Demonic Church being a mere shell? Yes. Thats exactly right. A voice filled with intense anger and disappointment followed. Who would have thought that the head, whom I thought was a divinely appointed prophet, would turn out to be a mere human creation? The Heros brow narrowed at the unexpected sound. A human creation? It sounds like youre saying the head of Demonic Church isnt human? No. At least not this time. Then? A moment of silence. If the consciousness had a face, the Hero thought it would have looked grim. Shes a Homunculus. Both the Hero and Larze couldnt help but exim. What? Homunculus? Especially Larzes reaction was intense. Ha, thats ridiculous. Theres no magician or alchemist in the Second Age who can create a homunculus. If I cant make one, who else can? All relevant information and the production methods were put in practice already, Larze continued. At the same time, the Hero tilted his head. For some reason, the face of Rosalyn, who guarded the Library of Memories, crossed his mind. She was the only homunculus he knew, the creation of Zero. Is there a possibility that it was made in the Second Age? However, it was still spection. Detailed information could be confirmed after checking the diary. Youll be able to find out the remaining mysteries by reading my diary. Ive written down my story there. My allotted time is gradually running out Now, inherit the blessing. The statement that time is up may not be false; the consciousness became transparent enough to see through to the other side. Perhaps the barrier that binds the enemies has also weakened. The Hero soon realized that a battle would soon ensue. There was no more time to dy the inheritance. . Naturally, the Heros gaze turned to the biggest obstacle. Larzes eyes narrowed. What are you looking at? Worried I might covet the paradox? Isnt that it? You want anything rted to Zero. If it were another blessing Well, I couldnt guarantee a concession. She shrugged and stared straight at the Hero. But thats the paradox. The ability to interfere with the world and manifest phenomena was solely acquired by my own power decades ago. To seek a duplicated ability Would you like to see something more interesting? Very well. Approaching, Larze whispered into the Heros ear. As a doppelganger who is not even human and already possesses one blessing, what kind of effect will two blessings have within you? Arent you curious? It sounded like a taunt, as if hoping to instill fear or make the Hero shrink back. But it was of little use. The Hero calmly dismissed Larzes provocation, saying, In any case, you wont covet the blessing. Thats enough. Turning away from her discontented grimace, the Hero pocketed the diary first. I can put off understanding the detailed circumstances forter. For now, with the medium in hand, the first goal was achieved. Now, it was just a matter of escaping from the dangerous area. To do that, this ability would be necessary. The enemies outside the barrier were the strongest the Hero had faced so far. With determination, the Hero gazed at the jewel on the altar. The side effects of epting the second blessing. It was a moment reminiscent of the pain of tearing flesh when epting evolution. Perhaps it would be even more intense, never lessening. The body might break down, or the life force might scatter. But none of that mattered. With determination, the Heros rough hand seized Dragon Heart without hesitation. Contrary to expectations, the surface of the jewel, which was thought to be cold, was unexpectedly warm. It begins. Tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu- Clusters of characters appeared, iprehensible symbols just like when the Hero acquired evolution before. A mysteriousnguage that no one, even he who traveled across the continent, could recognize. The small, squiggly characters inevitably rose through the Heros body, and all three focused on that scene without taking a breath. Excited voices echoed in the cave. Ah, finally I hope you wont be a cowardly bystander like me So the consciousness slowly disappeared with a single word. . Larze remained expressionless, her gaze fixed on the Hero. Guh. Finally, the Hero focused all their nerves, struggling to control the immense power flowing through their body. A suppressed groan escaped through clenched teeth. He had mped his teeth so hard that his gums were damaged and blood flowed out of the corner of his mouth. Despite the intense pain, the Hero did not stop epting the blessing. The steel-like mentality nurtured over a lifetime, thepulsion to be even stronger, maintained an incredible level of control. And a momentter. The trembling of the body gradually subsided. And in that moment. The Hero realized how absurdly powerful he had be. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 168 Chapter 168 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Is it all over? The Hero calmed his rapid breaths. Though sharp pains still lingered throughout his body, they didnt hinder his movements. Fortunately, he didnt feel any immediate side effects. Neither the shortening of life, nor the maniption of mana, nor weakness of the body. It was all thanks to the regenerative abilities of the dopplegangers body. Considering the impending battle, it was indeed fortunate. Drumming sounds echoed as consciousness faded, and the barrier of the coastal cave disappeared. Soon, the enemies that had been wandering in the illusion woulde rushing in. Realizing he didnt have much time, the Hero hurriedly read thement that appeared before him. The recovered me blossomed in the hearth. . . . ess to Chapter III of the First Era is now avable. Comments regarding various rewards appeared, likely due to fulfilling the goal set by the Iris of Lace. But now wasnt the time to check them. The recalibrated Iris immediately moved to the nextment. Blessing of Zero Requiem: We rmend linking this artifact with information regarding Paradox. It was the samement as when he obtained Evolution in the Blessings cave. Initiating link. Paradox: A blessing that can speak to the target in ancientnguages, giving meaning and interference. Retrieving a list of targets that the current user can influence with this blessing. The Heros eyebrows twitched slightly as he checked the list of targets affected by this blessing. Larze suddenly raised her head. How is it? Looks useful? The Hero silently grasped onto ck Hope and stood up. Woooo- He cast a dense of detection. He sensed the presence of the demonic church followers he had encountered earlier at the forefront. They seemed to have naturally realized that their relic had been stolen. A sinister aura from a different dimension pricked his skin. The infidels had plundered their relics. To them, it would be more than just a humiliation; they would attempt to kill him and Larze at all costs. It seems reinforcements areing nearby. The numbers had significantly increased. Beyond the immediate threat, he could sense the presence of monsters. Those who had roamed Sector 43. Even if their rank was low, they were at least superior. And the numbers The range of detection is filled to the brim. Not only did it fill the underground passage, but it also hinted at activity near the surveince tower. Well, what do you think? But Larze, his only ally, seemed reluctant to fight. Perhaps she was also exhausted, but she seemed more interested in seeing the performance of the Paradox he was casting. If youre not going to fight, step aside. Okay! Amidst all these unfavorable conditions, the Hero gazed towards the end of the passage. The ominous shadows were gradually approaching. His long-standing habit of observation began. Its definitely not in our favor. This coastal cave. It was not a favorable battlefield. Of course, the advantage of the narrow passage was that it allowed for one-on-onebat rather than many-to-one. If one-on-one time drags on, you run the risk of depleting your stamina. But this is enemy territory. They can endlessly reinforce. Engaging in prolonged one-on-one battles would only risk exhaustion. Using area attacks like Halo would be reckless He nced down at the slippery mud beneath his feet. The cave floor was unstable. If he recklessly unleashed his sword, the passage itself might copse, burying them. That would be catastrophic. Nova is even worse. Charging ahead recklessly in such narrow confines would be akin to running into a barrage of countless des. In other words, the only way was to methodically eliminate the opponents one by one and break through The problem is that the enemies are not so easily dealt with. It would take time. Eventually, overwhelmed by the pouring numbers, they would be pushed back. It would be a disadvantageous battle. However, instead of disying a troubled expression, the Heros face was filled with a sense of anticipation. Once again, he read the exnation of Paradox. Speak to the target, giving meaning and intervening. The target is addressed, meaning is bestowed, and intervention urs. And then, he lifted his head. There! T-theyve stolen the relics of the Church! Kill them! In the name of the Masin, purge the unbelievers! Suddenly, distorted faces like demons were looming right in front of him. Ssshhh- Crimson des shot out like fireworks from their swords. What would be an appropriate response? After pondering, the Hero uttered a word. * * * It was a desperate and earnest voice. Stop! The voice echoed back and forth beyond theboratory door, resonating through the corridor. Leciel, who had just reached the door, raised an eyebrow. Its Bans voice. What urgent matter could it be? Meanwhile, the maid who had guided Leciel briefly showed a puzzled expression, then fell into contemtion. She hesitated for a moment, then removed her hand from the doorknob. Could it be? Was it not the right time to bring this pretty girl here? Even amidst the servants pale face, cries like Stop! or Donte in! continued to echo. Meanwhile, Leciel sensed that there was someone else with Ban, thanks to her detection ability. Is there a guest? W-well, you see Yes? With eyes squeezed shut, the servant answered. A friend from academy came a few days ago and has been staying with us. A friend from academy? Leciel narrowed her eyebrows. That unfamiliar presence didnt belong to any of the extreme students. It was the moment she was about to call Ban again. Click- The door opened. And then, the fading sound of footsteps. Suddenly, Ban was pressed against the opposite wall, panting. Ban? What are you doing? L-Leciel. Why are you at my house? Just passing by. Whats up? Thats Red eyes passed by the window wide open for venttion, the cluttered desk with a window wide open for venttion, and the small, pretty girl sitting in front of it. She was looking at what seemed like a control panel, and something about her seemed familiar. A mage? Memories of the Battle Arena waiting room came flooding back, followed by The top student of the Mystical Arts Department? How does she know Ban? It was hard to guess the connection. Leciel instinctively turned her gaze back to Ban. He seemed dumber than usual Leciel realized that expression was something Evergreen and Luke used to make. It was the moment when only one conclusion could be drawn. Does Ban like her? Ah. Leciel took a reflexive step back. Perhaps the girl who hade without notice hadnt known she was interrupting their intimate time. No, she probably had. Thats why he must have asked her not toe in. She immediately spoke the word of apology. Sorry. W-what!? Just As Leciel spoke, she felt a mncholic feeling. The reason was obvious. If it were Ban, he would surely have weed her as he always did. What an unexpected intruder she had be. A short sigh followed. Its a day when no one wees me. Should she go to the bustling salon full of ufortable people, or return to the empty vi? Debating between the two options she didnt like, Leclerc spoke up. Ill leave. See you after the opening. It was at that moment Ban, emboldened by the potion, mustered the courage. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Lets grab a bite before you go. Beatrice, who had been focusing on the control panel, also shed her eyes. Sir Ban! Right now! The multitasking ability is rapidly activating! What on earth is she talking about? Leciel blinked and looked at the two. * * * It was well after the incident that the tragic news from Sector 43 reached the head of Demonic Church, Kalende. All except one are wiped out? Yes, Your Highness, the Seer. Thud! The believer mmed his head to the ground. Kalende looked down at the mess that had be of his emaciated face. Lets see. His right arm was severed from the shoulder, and his body was full of deep wounds. The untreated injuries emitted a nauseating stench. Surviving to this point with such injuries seemed like a miracle. Even though he must be in excruciating pain, the believer remained expressionless, as if unaffected. Of course, Kalende was no different, paying no attention to the wounds. Its strange. Theyre not the ones to be easily wiped out like this. Tap tap. Long, thin fingers slowly tapped the sunken cheek. Retrieving the Paradox was a crucial task for Kalende, not just for the Demon Church No, it was important to her personally to get closer to her source after the Disconnection. Thats why Kalende mobilized all her direct subordinates, except those managing the factory in the north. But a total wipeout. Perhaps she hadnt known she would have to intervene personally. In fact, when coordinates were scattered in Canis, she had nned to go to Sector 43 herself. If it hadnt been for Malekias secret mission, I would have done it. However, she had just received a mission that had to be carried out far beyond the Abyss, and she couldnt dare to defy it. I felt uneasy for some reason. Kalende was about to ask for more details about the situation, but she closed her mouth. Her dry gaze descended upon the clergyman, who had be unable to fight back. Ssshhh- At the same time, the white eyes began to turn red from the edges. One of the abilities possessed by Kalende as the leader of the Church. It was the Insightful Eye. Kkuuhhh. The clergyman, who had kept his mouth shut even with serious injuries, groaned shakily. But Kalendes eyes no longer focused on him. They just sifted through a series of memories in her mind. There! Theyve stolen the relics of the Church! Kill them! In the name of the Demon King, purge the unbelievers! High-ranking priests and blood knights of the Demonic Church rushed through the narrow corridor. They were powerful enough to make up half the power of the Church, totaling as many as fifty. Theirbined strength could turn even a moderately fortified area into ruins before half a day had passed. You would have to be at least a member of the Knights of Dawn to be able to face them. The true identity of the overwhelming force that had annihted them in an instant Ah. Confirming the silhouette of the opponent, Kalendes expression turned nk. The Hero? Memories of seeing him at the auction house shed through her mind. A huge sword. Muscles that could be seen even under thick clothes like armor. And the things crouched inside it. Although all his facial features were hidden under the hood, she couldnt be fooled by his presence. There was only one person in the world with such presence. Kalende harbored the exact same doubts she had at the auction house. Is he really human? At that time, she had been so overwhelmed that all her attention had been on fleeing, but now, fortunately, she was peering through someone elses memories. As Kalende concentrated intensely on observing the Hero. A scene unfolded where the shadow of doubt grew deeper. Stop. It was a in and monotone voice. It almost sounded like a whisper. No, it must have been a whisper. It was such a low volume that it could easily be buried under the noisy footsteps and the clinking of weapons. However, paradoxically, Kalende was confident that the voice would have been heard by everyone in the corridor. A scream escaped from the mouth of the man who had been charging at the front. His pupils, which had frozen upon confirming his immobilized body, shook violently. My My body? What evil tricks are you carrying out? It looked like a stuffed pumpkin. It was only for a moment that my movements were restricted. However, in thepetition between those who reached the top, even that brief gap was fatal. Puahhh- The front copsed without any resistance. It was inevitable. They cursed and resisted until sweat poured down, but eventually, they had to stop even for a moment. Thud-thud- Scenes unfolded as if frames of a video had been cut. Joints and muscles that had been moving organically now moved separately. They could only stagger like novices learning how to handle a sword. Any sharp attack lost its destructive power the moment it connected. Crackle-! In contrast, the Hero easily seized the opportunity to cut them down. It felt like I was watching a butchers ughter operation, seeing how easily those powerful people died. This power is. Kalende immediately recognized that this phenomenon was due to the Paradox. But at the same time, it was hard to believe. The utility of the Paradox recorded in documents and the scene unfolding before her eyes were on different levels. I dont understand the difference between paradox and a spell. The effect of the Paradox extended not only to spellcasters but also to others. Even she, who had strong protection and alignment, would find it difficult to utilize it in such a way. Squelch- The clergyman in front was fortunate to be at the back, seemingly saving his life. At the corner of his eyes, as he desperately fled. Kwagwagagang-! Simrly, there were monsters being massacred while frozen in ce. Their resistance tomands was even lower than humans, so they experienced longer pauses. Not only that. His speed increases. His strength increases. Every time the Hero exerted his will, his body became faster. The sound of wind wrapped around the greatsword intensified, and the giant lump of iron struck precisely at the most critical moments, even with casual swings. It didnt take long for the densely packed creatures to turn into a pool of ck blood. It took about 5 minutes to deal with fifty clergymen and thirty monsters. Kuueeeck. As the clergyman writhing in agony breathed hisst, the yback of memories stopped. Jurrururk- The blood flowing from the corpses gleefully painted the ground. However, Kalende did not move from her spot until her boots were soaked. She just continued to scrutinize one hypothesis that came to mind. Surely. Surely. It was the moment Kalende was tilting her head. Crunch- The pattern engraved on her forehead burned red and began to prate the surrounding flesh. It was a signal sent by Malekia. . Kalende suppressed the pain and focused on the voice ringing in her ears. Begin. Only then did Kalende move her halted steps. While her doubts about the Hero were growing, there was no time to investigate them now. The curtain was about to rise on Malekias n. By the time this design waspleted. Humans would pay a hefty price for their recent months ofcency. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 169 Chapter 169 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The bright summer sun shone vividly along the dirt road. The path leading to Solintail was as beautiful as a painting. Rustle The gentle breeze that seeped into the carriage swayed the two girls hair back and forth. Ah, the smell of manure. Cuculli chuckled. Evergreen, who had been hesitant for some reason, finally opened her mouth. Well, there. Huh? Our territory, you know, there might not be much to see, being quite rural would it be okay to spend the vacation in a ce like this? It was a worry that persisted throughout the journey from the beginning. Ah, this adorable child! Cuculliughed heartily and patted Evergreens back. Even if its quite rural, would it be worse than North Hale? My hometown is all about snow. Its all just grass here. Even monsters asionally pop out. I dont know, anyway, dont be too disappointed. Evergreen leaned back with a deep sigh. And she looked at the girl with blue hair, which perfectly matched the scenery of the pasture. . . . Although the semester ended and vacation began, Cuculli did not return to her hometown. [What would I do here? Its midsummer. The tribal people would have moved deeper into the northern regions, where they would be engaged in training and hunting. The routine that had continued without fail for a dozen years. There was no desire to repeat it again this year. And dads not there. He was absent for some reason. There were a fewmunications after the vacation started, but As long as nothing goes wrong. Take care of yourself. It ended shortly due to being very busy. There was no exnation as usual. Anyway, for various reasons, Cuculli didnt want to go back to the north. But its not like staying at the academy or heading to the capital. Its too peaceful. There were no sses, so it would be boring. The moment she was pondering, Evergreen came into her view. Solintail. Located in the northeast of the continent, its cool even in midsummer. Being near the Great Mountain Range, monsters sometimes appear. Moreover, specialty products include various livestock raised in the pastures! Ive decided! Thus, Cucullis journey to Solintail was decided. Although Evergreen was momentarily embarrassed, she eventually epted the invitation. For her, it was the first time a friend hade to visit her distant and secluded hometown, and she was very happy Maybe Cuculli could help with monster extermination? Naturally, such expectations followed. Although Evergreen felt a bit calcting, she couldnt help it. The safety of Solintail was her top priority. Huh? At that moment, Cuculli, who was sticking her head out of the window, made a sound. Why? Hey, those two, arent those your parents? Upon hearing that, Evergreen jumped up from her seat. Bang She hit her head hard on the ceiling, but without showing any signs of pain, she bounced off. The carriage hadnt even stopped. Mom! Dad! Evergreen ran to them and hugged her parents tightly. Oh, our daughter. Look how thin your face has gotten. Honey, her cheeks are still chubby, what are you talking about. Wasnt the journey tiring? Didnt you feel sick? What sickness riding and shooting arrows while flying anyway, arent you hungry? The couple conversed back and forth while hugging their daughter tightly. Cucullis azure eyes began to sparkle as she watched the three who had suddenly be lively. They resembled Evergreen a lot. Even their fair blonde hair and rosy faces. And the fact that theyughed so freely and warmly, as if they were not nobles at all. Parents huh. If Evergreen had turned her head to look at Cuculli at the right moment, she might have noticed a surprisingly envious expression. But that faint envy disappeared quickly. Cuculli also jumped off the carriage and cheerfully shouted. Mother! Father! Hug me too! Oh, our daughters friend. Thank you foring all this way. Wee to Solintail. How wonderful our daughters friend is, they praised And various grand weing greetings followed. Hurry inside. We have a cow waiting. Wow! Cuculli happily entered Solintail. * * * A man of uncertain identity, whether a guard or a bandit, approached. Youd better be careful. The urban atmosphere these days is quite unpredictable. Ill keep that in mind. With a sigh, the Hero passed through the main gate of Canis, reminiscing about the past ten days. After receiving protection from Larz, they soon parted ways in District 43. She departed for District 1, and he embarked on his journey back to the Western Continent. The journey was rough. He was followed by remnants of the Demonic Church, and both bandits disguised as scouts and demons threatened him persistently. Until he returned to the Great Mountain Range from the Demonic Realm, there was no day without bloodshed. However, thanks to that, he adapted to the practices of seasons and paradoxes much faster than before. The production of seasons is progressing smoothly. Suchments were received several times. Indeed, replicating and using the abilities of the children had be much more proficient than before. Since each of them possessed differentbat skills, thebinations of techniques were endless, and the Hero could establish quite a few newbat styles. Now, he could find the most advantageous way to fight under any conditions. But it wasnt just that. His blessing is indeed a blessing. The paradox had benefits far beyond their expectations. It could be described as a kind of extensive buff/debuff ability. However, unlike conventional curses or enhancement spells, it didnt confine itself to a specific form but weakened or strengthened in every form imaginable. Strength increases. Body feels lighter. Pain disappears. Senses sharpen. And various enhancements like that. Heaviness increases. Sensory loss. Loses control of mana. And debuffs like that. Of course, the effects werent always 100% effective against formidable opponents, but it didnt matter. Amidst the fierce back and forth of battle, the ability to immediately affect oneself and the opponent greatly increased their power several times over. If I end up fighting with childrenter, it might be a good idea to use it to strengthen them. That was one of the abilities he needed most right now. For just investing one month, the results were good. Moreover The First Era Part III is avable for viewing. If they were to return to Rosenstark and confirm Zeros memories, there would be ways for further growth. However, the Hero had no intention of returning straight to the academy. There were still matters to be resolved, the punctuation mark of this journey yet to be written. Above all, the need for a bath and well-cooked food was urgent. With a sigh, the Hero headed for the inn. Returning to Canis after a long time, it remained the same. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Suspicious sounds and screams echoed and disappeared in every alley. People moved about with gloomy faces, casting nces in all directions. But there was one noticeable change Hear ye, hear ye! A young man with a mischievous face ran down the street. Paparlak! One of the paper bundles fluttered towards his face in the air. The Hero reached out and grabbed it. The words DEAD OR ALIVE were the first thing that caught their eye. Come to think of it, the surrounding walls were covered with simr papers. Wanted Information Name: Kasim Gender: Male Age: Estimated to be in his mid-thirties Physical Characteristics: Southern appearance, nondescript skin, tall, brown hair, brown eyes Notes: Uses various weapons such as swords, bows, and several types of spears; owns a doll the size of a palm Frequently engages in conversations with the doll Rather than attempting to subdue immediately due to his formidable strength, prioritize reconnaissance and reporting Bounty: Dead or Alive 1000 gold Critical tip 50 gold False tips and jokes declined Arge ck arrow symbol was drawn at the bottom of the wanted poster. In fact, on his way back, he had encountered scouts from the ck Arrow Faction searching the Demonic Realm. Swish- The Hero reflexively felt their face. Large pupils and straight, angr features for a man. His excessively pale skin didnt quite fit the southern appearance. The essence of Delian Cruze, the painter, emanated from him. 1000 gold? We could just catch him right here and now, couldnt we? Stop dreaming. Hes soaked the ck Arrow in blood. Do you think hell just let us catch him? At least we can provide a tip. The residents chattered about the windfall without even realizing the protagonist was next to them. The Hero entered the inn with a wry smile. . . . Afterpleting all preparations, the Hero locked the door and drew the curtains. Then, sitting at the desk, he opened an old diary. Despite his hands beingpletely ck, there was nothing written on the pages. From the first page to thest, it was all nk. However, the Heros expression remained unchanged, thanks to the fact that the owner of the diary was skilled in illusion magic. Reveal yourself. Intervention by the paradox urred in the diary. A sound like hallucination was heard, and the letters began to appear on the page. The Hero, with his eyes half-opened, followed them. I swear by my soul and magic that there will not be a pinch of falsehood in the content to be recorded below. The height of the letters was very irregr and twisted. Tears seemed to be visible among the faint dust stains on the paper. This is my diary and testament. It is a confession of a man born as a clergyman who lived solely for the prosperity of the church. . . . All tragedies began when the church seeded in excavating one of the ancient researchbs. Archmage Zero Requiem. It was theboratory of his disciple, Depikio Lugo. The appearance of an unexpected name made the Heros eyes tremble slightly. The handwriting became rougher. The clergyman who supervised the excavation of theboratory had told everyone. He said he had obtained data on hundreds of iplete homunculi and their production process from Depikio Lugosboratory. After numerous reinterpretations and experiments, the leader presented us with a homunculus that was no different from a puppet. He called the homunculi the visionary who would lead the next generation. If it werent for thete confessions of those involved, I wouldnt have known anything. . . . Wasnt the most faithful servant, the most qualified person whom the Demon King looked down upon, to be the leader of the Church? How can the dregs of Zero Requiem, the unholy adversary, stand over us? The paper was crumpled, and the marks of the pen strokes were visible. The conclusion was clear. This religion was wrong from the foundation. The leader who led us was not the representative of God, but just an ordinary human being. We were not the people who boarded the ark, but a flock of false shepherds. It was too harsh a truth for a sinner who hadmitted countless sins under the guise of faith to admit. There would be no salvation for believers. I will fall into the fires of hell. . . . This damn false group must be eradicated. . . . Theyve caught on to the n. Were not fully prepared yet, but we must proceed. . . . Theyre making a fuss outside. Theyre madmen who cant expect sympathy for formerrades. It would be wise to end my own life before their swords tear me apart. All possible arrangements have been made. Finally, I attach the location of Depikio Lugosboratory. The remaining truths I failed to confirm will be revealed there. . . . It was a sinful life. I was deceived by false faith and obedient to wrong teachings. I want to ask forgiveness from everyone Ive harmed. To whoever is reading this record. I was a sinner, but I repented in the end. Rather than sumb to fear of the future, I tried to take responsibility for my past actions. I made an effort to find the truth beyond the illusion. I earnestly hope that you have the same courage as me. Sigh- The Hero closed the diary and rubbed his tired eyes. In summary The betrayer realized that the demonology was a wed religion due to the appearance of the homunculi, and he had stolen some of its power to prevent the atrocities of the church. It also serves as an act of atonement. It was a narrative that made sense. However, the problem was thement that appeared after reading all the contents of the diary. The Heros trembling gaze repeatedly read the brief words. Dig out the roots. The roots? The coordinates of Depikiosboratory pointed to the outskirts of the Great Forest. Interestingly, it was near where Kasim, Nyhill, Pia, and Noubelmag were headed. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 170 Chapter 170 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The Great Forest was not a ce where outsiders could easily set foot. If there were no authorized ones among the party, it would be impossible to enter. Even with skilled guides, it was useless. Eventually, they would lose their way in the dense trees and vines. Thanks to its characteristics, The Great Forest had been a dwelling ce for the elves even before the copse of the First Era. But now. Step by step Three humans and a dwarf were crossing the forest without hesitation. In the tranquil silence, only the sound of stepping on grass echoed. Because of the thick trees and their lush leaves, it was dark all around. For those who walked inside, it was more mysterious than gloomy. At that moment, Kasims cheerful voice broke the silence. So, without this, youre saying wed end up as corpses, starving to death while wandering around the same ce? Noubelmag nced down at the permit of passage in his hand and replied briefly. Yeah, this is whats keeping us alive. Its amazing, looks like an ordinary branch. Pia interjected with a sigh. Professor Pierre? You think this precious item looks like just a branch? Are you serious? It was then that everyones attention shifted to the branch Noubelmag was holding. Although it must have been cut for a long time, the branch was full of vitality as if it had just been broken. There were even tiny sprouts in the middle. The only way to nullify the magical barrier of The Great Forest. To have a part of the World Tree with oneself. However, this was a very difficult condition to fulfill. The leaves or branches of the World Tree were highly symbolic items to the elves. Naturally, they were not avable on the market at all. Therefore, for ordinary people to enter The Great Forest, they had no choice but to join the elf delegation departing from the nearby territory of Lindel once a month. The selection process for joining the delegation is so meticulous. Fortunately, for them, who had Noubelmag, the son of Ahir, the Leader cksmith of the elf n, as theirpanion, such cumbersome procedures were not necessary. As they extended the branches of the World Tree, the dense roots under their feet wriggled like living snakes, clearing the way for the party. Threatening creatures such as venomous insects and various predators, even carnivorous nts, hid their traces. The forest became a safe and beautiful space like that. Noubelmag turned his stiff shoulders and handed the branch to Kasim. You carry it for a while. Yes, Ill just carry it all the way! Watching Kasim eagerly ept the branch of the World Tree, Noubelmag smirked. Now I understand why the Leader is taking care of this youngd. At the beginning of the journey, he regretted traveling with such a noisy and chaotic group. However, as they headed south, his initial negative impression gradually faded. Kasim was not someone easy to dislike. From the perspective of Kasim, a powerful fighter, Pia and Noubelmag, as ordinary people, might have been quite cumbersome, but he never showed any displeasure. He dealt with the asional bandits and handled various chores withoutint. It was especially satisfying for Noubelmag to see him intervene every time Nyhill tried to do something dangerous. Hes quite skilled. With a few more years, hell be a great asset to the Leader. Noubelmag thought he should make a weapon for him when he had time. By the way, is the reason youre heading to The Great Forest topete with the elf swordsmen? Yes, Professor Redymer told me to do so. He said I might gain something from the sparring with agile and nimble individuals. Kasim chuckled, tapping his rapier on his waist. He seemed quite expectant. In fact, the four of them had different reasons foring to The Great Forest. Noubelmag was looking for a way to awaken the dormant spirit and meet his mother, while also seeking elemental stones for additional weapon crafting. Pias goal was to find rare herbs to strengthen the Awaken. Kasims aim was to gain practical experience while serving as their escort. Nyhill, being the owner of Spirit Weapon, naturally had to apany them. By the way, if your mother is in the elf residence, is your father also there? Why do you ask? To inquire about some techniques. Kasim said with sparkling eyes. Noubelmag raised an eyebrow with a puzzled look. What techniques? What are you talking about? Arent you the protagonist of the unprecedented event where the dwarf and the elf had a mixed marriage? I have a maid I really want to tease. Nyhills footsteps, which followed, paused momentarily, simultaneously. Surely hes not talking about Sa. Noubelmag smiled as if amazed. If you want to ask for expertise, you should be looking for a necromancer. What? What do you mean Ah! The moment when Kasim couldnt make up his mind, a sudden interruption urred. Beep beep beep At the sudden sound of themunication bead, Noubelmag groped around in his pocket. His eyebrows narrowed quickly as he checked the sender. Leader? At his words, the team gathered around. Pia, Nyhill, and Kasim quickly crowded into the narrow space. Three heads formed a triangle above Noubelmags head as if by agreement. A soft voice echoed in their ears. [Everyone seems to be doing well, Im d.] At the nostalgic voice, the party smiled broadly. Nyhill was no exception. And without anyone needing to prompt, there were cheerful greetings,ughter, and jokes exchanged. The weing sight of theirrades made the Hero smile warmly. It felt like all the fatigue umted from the journey melted away in an instant. [I think I need to join you all.] Everyone was initially pleased with the unexpected statement. But shortly after. Naturally, there were inevitable questions raised. Noubelmag asked on behalf of the group. Well, why are youing to The Great Forest? And when? The Hero responded only to thest question in a solemn tone. [One week. I hope you all finish your business by then.] What? [To resolve my matter, I need your help.] The poor assistant, who didnt expect to be working against a deadline even during vacation, staggered. * * * A friend of the daughter who had gone to study in a distantnd came to visit. There were many things they wanted to ask, but they mainly wanted to give her a grand reception. Because of this, the Lord and Lady Solintail had prepared various luxurious dishes in abundance. Oh, what should I do? Evergreen looked somewhat anxious as she nced at the table. Considering the state of Lord Solintails wallet, those dishes were clearly overspending. The bigger problem was that the amount was ridiculously small. Knowing Cucullis extraordinary appetite and eating habits, Evergreen couldnt help but feel uneasy. Oh, she must be starving today. Amidst such trivial concerns, Cuculli constantly engaged in lively conversations with the Lord and Lady. So youre the daughter of the great Chieftain, huh? No wonder you exude grace. Hehe, I cant keep up with you two in terms of gracefulness, but I wondered who Evergreen resembled, and now Ive found the answer. Oh, my, oh my. We rural nobles dont have gracefulness. Cuculli behaved like a mischievous imp, but she was definitely the daughter of the Chieftain. She could even be considered a princess of the demi-humans. The Lord and Lady responded to the girls praise. By the way, isnt the food to your liking? You hardly touched it. Oh, Im so full, I might burst, thats why. Evergreen looked at Cuculli with surprised eyes. Wasnt there still food left on the table? But the girl had already put down her utensils with a satisfied expression. It didnt take long for Evergreen to realize that she had considered Lord Solintails situation, which was far from generous. Cuculli. Moreover, Cuculli was showing the appearance of a perfect friend. Do you know how popr Evergreen is? Theres no one who doesnt like her. Even the Hero praises her hard work every day and everyone wants to be friends with her. There are no parents who wouldnt be happy to hear that their child is having a good time at school. The Lord and Lady Solintail looked at Evergreen and Cuculli with a moved expression. Oh, really? Youre not just saying that to please us, are you? Hehe, I thought our daughter wouldnt adapt well because she stayed in the countryside, but she seems to be doing well. The father, Damon Solintail, who had reddened eyes, added softly. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 You mentioned her poprity, and I was just wondering if shes popr among the boys too. Dad! Evergreen, who was protesting, looked at Cuculli with a sense of foreboding. Hehe, Father. Shall I show you? How popr Evergreen is? She smiled broadly, as if she had been waiting, and took something out of her arms. A, Amunication bead? Beep beep beep With her mouth agape, Evergreen looked at themunication bead that was already sending a signal. But there was no time to stay stunned. Being prompt inmunication is essential for a mercenary. Before she could stop Cuculli, themunication was connected. [What.] Hi, Luke! What are you doing? A voice tired from fatigue replied. [What else? Just finished a hunt for demon hides. What do you want?] Take a guess. Who am I with and where? [I have no interest whatsoever, can I hang up now?] That was just now, Cucullis answer, which made her smile even wider. I wonder if youre not curious at all, hehe. Before Luke could ask why, he was interrupted. Tada! Cuculli threw a bomb at Evergreen. Hello, Luke! Its good to see you How have you been? [E, Evergreen? Why are you with her? No, more importantly, its nice to see you, Evergreen.] Luke hastily cleaned his face, covered in sweat, dust, and the blood of demons. And yet, he was still handsome. Evergreen forgot that her parents were watching and smiled widely. But Cuculli, who didnt leave her peaceful appearance alone, was not the same. She picked up themunication bead again And here are Evergreens parents! Lord and Lady Solintail. She threw a bomb at Luke. Hello, Luke! You look like youve had a rough time. Oh, uh, are you my daughters. [] A short silence that felt eternal followed. Cuculli chuckled as she looked at Lukes pale face. It seemed whiter than the snow of her hometown. [Hello! Father! Mother!] Everyone looked at Lukes forehead. The boy finished his powerful greeting by lowering his head to the floor, and gritted his teeth invisibly. Cuculli greeted cheerfully. Well, see you at the resort! Take care! Y-Yeah, take care, Luke! Luke murmured quietly. [Well see] Huh? See what? [Lets just wait and see, my precious friend!] Thud- Themunication bead returned to Cucullis arms. She looked at the cheerful lord anddy and brought up the main point. Well, shall we go pay for the meal? Huh? A payment for the meal? Even Evergreens face brightened simultaneously. * * * At the same time, at the Auereum Mercenary Base Camp. That crazy girl! Themunication bead screen darkened. Luke, who checked several times if themunication had ended, finally screamed. But even then, Cucullis face kept swirling in his mind. One lucky thing was that, thanks to having separate tents from his subordinates, he didnt show this mess in front of them. Well. There was one more lucky thing. Luke momentarily made a stupid expression, as if forgetting his anger. I envy you, Cuculli. If he were at the Solintail estate. Walking on the meadow with Evergreen, meeting his parents, having a meal together. How nice would that be? Kkkeeeeek- The noise of the demons echoing beyond the tent injected reality back into Luke. Currently, the mercenary group he belonged to was performing a mission given by the royal family at the foothills of the Great Mountain Range. They werent just dealing with the Allied Forces quietly. They judged that the western continent had be vacant and were organizing separate guerri units to send them to the western continent, and the Auereum Mercenary Group was in charge of part of the preparation. Hmm. Luke looked at the pain in his side. How long had it been since he went there, and blood was still spreading on the bandage. It was a wound obtained from an afternoon battle. It was from a flying demon with a hook w, and if it had been a little deeper, his intestines would have spilled out. But I won. Luke sprinkled pain-relieving powder on the wound with a proud face. He had seeded in subjugating the demons with only his short sword. He realized that he had be significantly stronger than before. Unlike before, when he was always engulfed in madness, he was very satisfied to maintain his sanity from the beginning to the end of the battle. Father didnt seem to like it very much, though. Thumps- Luke threw his tired body onto the bed. Strangely, sleep didnte right away. See you at the resort! Take care! Y-Yeah, take care, Luke! Themunication content kept reying in his mind. Resort trip. Luke calcted the date. It would be around three weeks from now, departing near the Ind of Jedo. An artificial ind and a luxury resort made by Glendor Company. He would definitely experience fun that he had never experienced in his life. But the boys expression was far from excitement. Will you let me go. The camp was not in such a precarious situation at the moment. Even if he was missing, he would be able to defend the defense line smoothly. But he couldnt imagine his father allowing him to go on such a resort trip. Luke bit his lips. What should I do. How can I go on a trip? He came up with a way to think about it, just before falling asleep. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 171 Chapter 171 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The destination of the Hero was theboratory of Depikio Lugo, located on the outskirts of The Great Forest. Therefore, he instructed his colleagues to finish their respective tasks and meet in the vicinity. He was currently heading towards the agreed meeting ce. While walking briskly, the Hero focused on recalling the contents of his diary. ording to the informant, the magical and mechanical devices protecting theboratory were highly sophisticated and strict. Creating magical life forms like Homunculus was not an easy task. The value of the relevant data and materials was immeasurable. It would be strange if the security wasnt thorough. After the transfer of the data wasplete, the Church thoroughly concealed theboratory. On one page, the traitor had meticulously recorded the coordinates of theboratory. It was located within a few hours walk from the entrance of The Great Forest. If Noubelmag had the token, he could easily find it. The Hero recalled the contents of his diary once again. All the information obtained from Depikiosboratory had be nourishment for the Church. This was also why the Church could make significant advances in areas such as demon taming or indoctrination recently. However, I suddenly had one question. If they had taken all the relevant data, why did they just conceal theboratory instead of destroying it? The reason was obvious. The Church didnt acquire everything in theboratory. Perhaps the countless security measures were the reason. They left something behind due to the ipetence of the excavators. If there was even a little time to confirm this, it would be good. Questions were swirling in the Heros mind as he confirmed the contents. But how on earth did the Demonic Church know about the existence of theboratory in The Great Forest? If there were any relevant clues, Larze wouldnt have missed them. It was suspicious that they found theboratory before anyone else, and it was also unclear how they managed to take that data outside. No, its strange from the beginning that they could enter and leave. Even if its the outskirts, The Great Forest is under the jurisdiction of the Faerie Tribe. The Demonic Church couldnt have freely roamed around without their permission. Perhaps there were coborators within the Faerie Tribe who conspired with demons. The thought made the Heros chest tighten. Once I get to theboratory, there will probably be additional clues. That was one of the reasons for bringing Pia and Noubelmag along. He could also get help from them in unfamiliar fields. Dig out the roots. He recalled the meaningfulment that came to mind in Iris of Lace. Then he soon stopped in his tracks. It was the agreed meeting ce. Professor! There was a looming shadow among the dense trees. Zombie? The Hero almost drew his sword in an instant. If he had, it would have been a big wound to Pia. Haha Why are you so startled? A graduate student who seemed out of ce in the lively forest weakly smiled. Then Kasim, carrying arge bundle of herbs, appeared. Kasim? The handsome appearance that had once been popr among Rosenstarks female students was nowhere to be found. His glossy hair was disheveled, and his face was covered with scruffy stubble. His bloodshot eyes hinted at how exhausted he was. Oh Professor. Its nice to see you here The Hero couldnt bear this question. Why do you all look so out of ce? Resentful looks poured in from both sides at his words. Haha, I wonder whos to me. The schedule was originally generous. Pia nned to leisurely collect and analyze herbs. Since it might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, she was also considering sightseeing if there was spare time. It wasnt for nothing that her bag was bulging. I wanted to see the beautiful and handsome Faerie Tribe However, once the Hero joined, there was no room for leisure. It was as if the supervisor hade to inspect the summer vacation spot for work. Kasim also had his share of grievances. He ended up with a much tighter sparring schedule than nned. The problem was that there was only a week to face all those people. Morning sparring, then another one after lunch. Another one after dinner. Onest one before bed. It greatly helped improve his skills, but honestly, Kasim was in a state where he wasnt sure if he was awake or asleep right now. They looked at the warrior with pitiful eyes, saying that they had suffered such hardships, and the warrior nodded his head indifferently. Thank you for your hard work. Just a little more hardship today. .. But what about Nyhill and Noubelmag? Its still difficult to lead people, leader. It was then, from behind, that a deep voice was heard. Noubelmag was approaching like a cksmith carrying his hammer. He seemed quite exhausted as well. A ck-haired girl peeked out from behind him. It seemed that sticking with Noubelmag was the right choice, as her expression was much better than when she left the academy. Have you had a safe journey, Professor? She approached the Hero with an almost expressionless face. The Hero could easily detect the fingers fidgeting with delight and the ornate essory resembling a crown on her small head. Why did you alle separately? We had a few tasks left. We sent the World Tree branch with the kids first. Noubelmag looked where the Heros gaze was directed and added, A tiara made from the first leaf that fell on New Years Day. Why give that to Nyhill? Noubelmags thick hand tapped Nyhills back. It was a gesture to let her speak. Nyhill awkwardly touched the tiara and then spoke up. Its said to increase the resonance and affinity with spirits. I wore it as a means to awaken the spirit of the dagger. It must have been quite a valuable treasure. Noubelmag added, Its a gift from Mother. Anyway, if she uses that well, it wont be long before the spirit awakens. Its good news to hear. And weve also obtained several spirit stones, so as soon as we return, we can start making armaments for the head disciples. The Hero was impressed by the remarkable achievements. However, Noubelmag shrugged indifferently, as if it were nothing. Anyway, weve roughly seen everything we needed to see. Now its time to hear your business. Why did you walk all the way to this distant The Great Forest? The momentary silence was to figure out how much should be said. The Hero spoke up. . . . The Hero told quite a lot of things truthfully. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Depikio Lugo Thepanions realized that the name was mentioned at Yussis investment briefing. An unknown disciple of Zero. Noubelmag nodded with a serious expression. There was indeed a time when the Demonic Church aggressively proselytized. It may be because they unearthed the legacy of the First Era. ording to the clues I obtained, it seems that they didnt take everything. The remaining legacy may be stored beyond the unopened locks. Kasim, who seemed excited about something, chimed in. Do we need to dy any longer? We have an expert here. Lets go ande back quickly. He seemed very pleased to be involved in the Heros adventure. The Hero nodded. He also wanted to go without dy. But there was one thing to solve before that. His gaze fell on the girl quietly checking thebat equipment with her reddish eyes. Nyhill. Yes. You should go back now. Ive arranged for a ship heading west to Lindell, so you can just join them. Nyhills eyes shook umonly. Before she could misunderstand, the Hero added, You wont be toote if you leave now. A resort trip. A rare opportunity to make memories with friends. He didnt want to leave her out while everyone else went on the trip. Nyhill seemed to want to say something, but soon she bowed her head and disappeared into the forest. * * * To make a long story short, entering theboratory was very smooth. When they reached the location recorded in the diary, Iris of Lace detected magic. Although high-level disguise magic was cast, it was useless against Zeros Robe. There was a happening with Noubelmags surprised look. However, an excuse had already been prepared. Looks like an extraordinary artifact has appeared. Received it from Larze. Anyway, after dispelling the disguise magic, it was Noubelmags turn, an expert in mechanical devices, to take charge. The Demonic Church hasid their traps where there used to be traps. Will it take long? I doubt it. He meticulously but swiftly dismantled various traps set up by the Demonic Church. Thanks to him, the group could enter the interior without a scratch. Pias cry of surprise erupted just then. Eek! This is The passage leading underground was filled with traces of a battle long ago. Scattered bone fragments and fragments of celestial artifacts. Noubelmag muttered quietly. These are devices that even decent knights would have trouble passing Yet the scoundrels of the Demonic Church managed to pass through. As the Hero examined the traces, he realized that there had been a strong intervention from someone. A high-ranking member of the Demonic Church? No, much stronger. Did the Church leader move directly? In any case, all the defense mechanisms were neutralized by those who passed through here about a decade or so ago. The group safely reached the end of the passage without any threats. Thats how they arrived at Depikio Lugosboratory in the depths sooner than expected. Noubelmag expressed his first impressions. It doesnt look like its been left for centuries. The Hero nodded in agreement as he looked around. Perhaps preservation magic had been cast, but it seemed to have been undone when the Demonic Church invaded. Traces left behind for about a decade. The interior, plundered by the Demonic Church, was in a mess. ss shards buried among piles of dust. Broken table legs and torn wallpaper strewn around. The tall and wide bookshelves that filled two walls were all empty. The legs of the sturdy table and the shattered pieces of wallpaper. The two walls, entirely filled with tall and wide bookshelves, were all empty. As Kasim, who had been looking around here and there as customary, cautiously spoke up. Um, Professor? It doesnt seem like theres anything left? His words were true. It seemed like all the valuable items such as books and experimental tools were taken by the members of the Demonic Church. The space felt deste. There might be a hidden chamber. The Hero carefully looked around, extending his senses. However, he felt nothing. Suddenly, Pia, who had been quiet all this time, dashed forward. Everyone was startled and looked at her. However, Pias mouse-gray eyes, filled with unknown excitement, were fixed on a corner of theboratory. Pia? Her hand groped the wall. So, this is When she saw something on her palm, her expression brightened. I was right! She said to the puzzled group waiting for an exnation. This is a rare potion that changes color when water is added. Its transparent when dry but has a sparkling characteristic when moistened. Itspletely different from natural sparkle, so I was able to recognize it. Upon hearing this, Kasim promptly handed her a water bottle from his waist. Ssh! Water streamed down the wall, revealing gradually emerging letters. Before the anointed one Meanwhile, the Hero was trembling after realizing something. To see this phrase, one must be proficient in magic. They had to unlock the spell. They also needed a good understanding of alchemy and mechanical devices. They had to unlock the locks. They needed to be skilled in martial arts as well. They had to fight in the passage. They also needed to be adept in alchemy. They had to recognize the secret markings. As far as the Hero knew, such a being was extremely rare. They just happened to have the right partyposition to uncover the secret. But Would a typical alchemist, wizard, cksmith, and martial artist form a party toe here? If so, could Depikio Lugo be none other than someone who could do all of this, a Doppelganger, hoping toe here? It seemed like an absurd spection, but the Hero couldnt stop thinking about it. . . . Woooooo- Until a portal appeared in front of them. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 172 Chapter 172 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Time passed quickly in the Solintail Territory. It was already the night before departure for the 13 Nights, 14 Days Luxury Resort Trip, as if in the blink of an eye. During this time, Cuculli, along with Evergreen, had pulverized a couple of troublesome dens in Solintail, swiftly repelled a horde of monsters invading the territory, and established herself as permanent guest of the territory. Well then, get some rest without staying up toote, and see you in the morning! Evergreen waved with a bright smile in front of the door. It was a face that seemed truly happy. Cuculli yawnedzily and returned the greeting. Yeah, dont stay up toote because youre excited, and go to sleep quickly! And really, thank you sincerely. Ill definitely repay this kindness. Oh, dont mention it. Tap- The sound of Evergreens footsteps fading away was particrly brisk, perhaps because she was hurrying back to her room to pack for the trip. The destination of the trip arranged by Principal Yussi was an artificial ind located to the north of the ind, called Dream Haven. It was a resort created by Glendor Company, equipped with all kinds of facilities for perfect rxation, including spas, luxury restaurants, cocktail bars, theaters, casinos, galleries, and more. It was a lineup that any girl in her prime couldnt help but be excited about. Of course, Cuculli was also looking forward to the unique experiences she would have with her friends. I cant sleep. Cuculli, who suddenly sat up, eventually took out amunication bead. Beep- After several beeps, a deep voice echoed. [Cuculli? Why are you awake sote?] Im about to go to sleep! I wanted to hear Dads voice before going to bed. Hows the mission going? Everything okay? A faint smile appeared on Dorempas lips at his daughters incessant questions. [Yeah, Im doing fine. Are you alright?] Cuculli grinned. Yeah! Now, Im leaving for a trip with my friends. Its supposed to be a really nice ce, Dream Haven, the artificial ind. [Alright, be careful.] While it might sound somewhat gruff to others, Dorempas tone was familiar to Cuculli. Her smile only deepened. Although it was said that receiving the Baptism dimmed ones humanity, she had never doubted her fathers love. Even if it wasnt obvious, behind his dull expression and tone, there was a warm and responsible heart that cared for her well-being. Yeah, Dad! When I go back home next vacation, then. A strange voice was heard, then. [Hey, isnt it too cold for your daughter?] Cucullis ears perked up. Immediately after, a massive figure approached themunication bead. [Hello, so youre the daughter of this grumpy man. Im Ivar, call me Uncle Ivar.] Her sky-blue eyes sparkled. Ivar Waitanka of the Great Mountain Range. Even though she scored close to zero in memorization subjects, Cuculli knew the names of the strong. Among the Dawn Knights, he was especially famous as a master without peer. Wow, Uncle Ivar. What are you doing with my dad? [Im on a very important mission. I cant tell you what it is.] Dorempa looked at Ivar conversing with his daughter with a puzzled look, but didnt object. Hehe, Uncle Ivar, lets have a match when we meetter. [Alright, first Ill have a match with your dad] Hmph, youlle without an arm or leg. [Well, the crab said its easier] Ivar shrugged andughed, then handed themunication bead to Dorempa. Dorempa ended themunication with a solemn voice. [Take care of yourself in everything, Cuculli. Your body isnt yours alone.] Yeah, I know! But for some reason, themunication didnt end immediately. Dorempa looked at Cuculli in silence, then said something unusual. [Enjoy your trip and make lots of memories.] Cuculli seemed slightly surprised by his words, but soon responded with a bright smile. Huh. Thanks! Once again, silence fell in the guest room of the Solintail Castle. Thinking of her fathers faint smile, Cuculli fell into a deep sleep. . . . Thud- Ivar stretched and got up from his seat. His long, thick hair fluttered as he whipped his massive upper body like a whip. Ugh, its so cold in the north even in summer. Youve been here for months and stillining about the cold. Ivars body trembled. You, who grew up in the north, wouldnt understand. I grew up on the southern tip. Southern tip? Werent you said to be from the Great Mountains? Because my tribe was wiped out, I had to take refuge in the southern forest. Even beyond his heavybat makeup, his distress and pain were clearly evident. Heavy memories seemed to weigh heavily on his shoulders. When Dorempa fell silent, Ivar reassured him with a p of his hands. Come on, lets go now. We need to strike before they escape. Yeah, lets do it. Dorempa also put themunication bead in his pocket and spoke. Wasnt it said to be thergest factory among the factories weve encountered so far? Yeah, an enormous battle awaits us. But you know, Ivars pitch-ck eyes stared at Dorempa. What do you mean by saying that your daughters body is not hers alone? Dorempa spread his wings but hesitated. Why do you ask? No, its just weird to say. . The wind rustled between their scales, and a silence engulfed the stillness. Cuculli was destined to follow in his footsteps and receive the baptism one day. A qualified individual destined to freeze the north with the power of the Ice Dragon and gather the tribes. Therefore, naturally, her body was not her alone. If by any chance she fell in battle and couldnt inherit the power of the Ice Dragon, she would give the demons a new path to advance into the north. Of course, that would be a story for after his duty was fulfilled. I hope it happens aste as possible. Regardless of the fact that he had fought side by side with him for the past few months, revealing the secret shared by only a few in the tribe to an outsider was out of the question. Dorempa remained silent and spread his wings fully. Ivar also prepared to dash without further questioning. Hah! Charge! The excitement before battle gradually ignited a fire in his chest. Ivar smiled broadly at Dorempa. This might be thest time. Lets finish quickly and go see your little girl. With that, the two imposing figures shot off like arrows toward their destination. * * * The group looked on in confusion at the portal that had suddenly appeared. Witnessing a portal in the Second Era was a very rare urrence. Even Noubelmag, who was rarely surprised, hesitated and stepped back. Swish- It was then that Kasim, pulling out the new rapier made by Noubelmag, stepped forward. His expression was unusually serious. Everyone, step back. It might be dangerous, so let me go first. Without waiting for any objection, he rushed in. Tap- In an instant, a golden trace traversed theboratory. Perhaps the battle with the faerie tribe had given him some insight, as his movements seemed particrly agile. Argh! But to no avail. Thunk! Caught by the intangible force emitted by the portal, Kasims body was bounced back faster than his charging speed- Ugh! Kasim rolled on the ground like a fallen leaf. Although he wasnt seriously injured, he felt quite embarrassed, as his ears turned red. Noubelmag clicked his tongue quietly. I should snatch back the sword. Hum- The portal, warningly tinged with red, gradually returned to its calm blue hue. Noubelmag sighed softly. It seems we need to bring a wizard. The four of us are useless with magic. . Leader? [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release updates! /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 I didnt answer and stared at the wavering portal. I couldnt fathom why the portal would reject me outright. As I pondered the inscription on the portal, my thoughts solidified. It must open before the designated user. Ever since the Iris of Lace became mine, it had always referred to me as the designated user. If I couldnt enter that portal, who else could? I walked straight towards it without hesitation Professor! Leader! The urgent voices of mypanions quickly faded away. A white light enveloped my entire body. Experiencing teleportation magic several times before, I immediately realized that the portal had functioned normally. Hmmm- And in that moment. The reality around me dissolved like melting ice, and even the damp atmosphere of the Great Forest was no longer perceptible. As the light bent, the boundaries of space distorted and were sucked in somewhere. In the midst of a dreadful dizziness, I recalled thement that had led me here once again. Dig out the roots. There had always been a question tormenting me. What did the roots really mean? No, what on earth does the root mean? I made some guesses. The Iris of Lace had always pointed me towards the path of my growth, so thisment must also be rted to me. Then, could the roots be referring to my own roots? Suddenly, the image of him from Zeros memories came to mind. He was the only doppelganger other than myself that I knew of. Perhaps this was an attempt to provide information about him through the research of Depikio Lugo. He, me, the church leader, roots, Homunculus. Something seemed to be grasping at me yet eluded my grasp. Among the tangle of many questions and thoughts. Hmm- Finally, the transfer wasplete. . . . Stumbling, I quickly stood up. Although I had held the sword tightly prepared for any potential danger, I soon realized it was unnecessary. There was no sense of danger in the surroundings at all. Putting the sword away, I looked back. The exit is Hmm- Fortunately, the portal was functioning normally. With reassurance, I turned my gaze back to the front. Anotherboratory was unfolding before my eyes. However, it felt different from theboratory beyond the portal. For one, the items were neatly in ce. On the long metal shelves, various dusty experimental tools and materials were visible. I tilted my head. It seems the demons of the Demonic Church havent plundered this ce. As it was aboratory within aboratory that couldnt be easily found, these items were likely much more valuable data. For now, I started gathering items into the pocket dimension. There were too many to examine in detail right away. I only confirmed that the contents were rted to Homunculus. I could look into itter with Pia or Yussi. Larze will be thrilled. Perhaps this data could serve as another negotiation condition with Larze. It was necessary to gather as much information as possible. My steps naturally quickened. Thud- The metallic floor made a dull sound with each step. The interior was so vast that it couldnt be seen at a nce. However, it was terribly dark. Since most of the light stones embedded in the ceiling were not functioning, only a few thin beams of light served as the only illumination. Was this where the Homunculus experiments were conducted in earnest? As I thought so, something peculiar caught my eye as I turned a corner. The Iris of Lace poured out a description in small letters. Bio-reactor: A device used to regte and control biological processes in the study and production of magical life forms. Using catalysts, various chemical reactions urring within organisms are performed externally Perhaps I could recognize the first device I had ever seen because of Zero Requiems knowledge. I scrutinized the bio-reactor with narrowed eyes. It wasrge and organic in shape. A cylindrical vessel made of metal and ss was located at the center, surrounded by various sensors, pipes, valves, and otherplex connections. It resembled arge aquarium containing underwater creatures at first nce. But Crunch- There was nothing inside the cylindrical vessel. Crunch- I alternated my gaze between the scattered ss shards on the floor and the empty interior of the bio-reactor. And then I realized something. It wasnt empty from the beginning. There was something there. Thanks to the scattered ss fragments on the floor, it was evident that the ss had shattered from the inside. Did the Homunculus stored in that reactor break it ande out on its own? I tilted my head. The question led to more questions. What on earth was being cultivated? It wouldnt be the Demonic Churchs leader. ording to the traitors words, she was a Homunculus created using the failures. Then another Homunculus? But that didnt make sense either. Homunculi are magical lifeforms that unconditionally obey their masters will. Just look at Rosalyn, who had been following Zeros orders to guard the library for centuries. It seemed impossible for an unfinished Homunculus inside the reactor to break out on its own. I recalled the bleached bones I had seen in the Blessings cave. If those bones were Depikios, then its even more absurd. Until the master breathes life into them andpletes them, Homunculi are nothing more than flesh. Then another entity besides Homunculus? But all the data in bothboratories was about Homunculi. I sighed briefly. Either some clues were missing, or everything was contradictory. I carefully scanned the surroundings, thinking that I might have missed something. And soon, I found something. A piece of paper? It was a small piece of paper attached to one side of the reactors broken ss. It was almost unreadable due to the sshed culture medium just before it was wiped away. Restore. There was no problem. Squeak, squeak, squeak I watched eagerly as the floor quickly cleaned itself. 1st Transnt Experiment: Failure 2nd Transnt Experiment: Failure 3rd Transnt Experiment: Failure 117th Transnt Experiment: Failure A transnt experiment? It seemed like a clue, but it only made things more ambiguous. My deductions can only go so far. I packed all the equipment in theboratory into the void. It was too early to be disappointed. Who knows what an expert in emotions and intuition might discover? Besides, I was fortunate enough to have a close rtionship with one Homunculus. Rosalyn. The only Homunculus created by Zero, Rosalyn. Sharing the newly discovered clues with her might reveal something more. Empty- I headed back through the portal. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 173 Chapter 173 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Meanwhile, the remaining party members were searching the surroundings while waiting for the Hero to return. Ah, theres nothing here. Kasim muttered despondently. Just now, both Noubelmag and Pia had experienced rejection from the portal once each. Due to the violent shaking of the ground, they gave up entering the portal and focused on searching. This side is just a pile of dust, too. They really swept through here. Of course, even if they searched theboratory thoroughly, they couldnt find any useful clues. Covered in dust, they naturally started idling with the portal in front of them, puffing on their pipes. Pia initiated the conversation with a light question. But why exactly can only Professor go in there? Kasim answered without much thought. Because hes an extraordinary person, isnt he? Uh, do you think thats a sufficient answer Professor Pierre. Well, anyway, what difference does it make who among us can go in, haha. Noubelmag, with deepening wrinkles, interjected while puffing on his pipe. Hmm, it doesnt seem like such a simple matter to think about The old man, gazing at the shimmering portal, then shifted his gaze back to the inscription above it. Before the anointed one It was hard to understand. Why was the leader called the anointed one, meaning the one who atones for others sins? Of course, it was true that he bore an immense responsibility that ordinary humans couldnt handle. But cant we see all of this as a process of someone paying off someone elses sins? There isnt a person who doesnt know that Ted Redymer, far from atoning, strives for the salvation of humanity out of voluntary will. Sigh- Noubelmag tried to continue his thoughts, but soon sucked deeply on his pipe and lowered his head. Am I being too sensitive? Seems like Im overthinking. He shook his head, dispersing the hazy smoke in front of him. The leaders inexplicable actions How many times had he been in ambiguous situations like this? Each time, it was perplexing, but ultimately, those actions were all for the greater good. Hell probably exin everything about itter. Noubelmag temporarily put aside those recurring questions. Woo woo woong- The portal began shimmering again, at that moment. Pia and Kasim jumped up. Hero. Professor! The Hero appeared before them, looking noticeably more tired than before. His expression seemed deeply lost in thought. We shall return now. Before they could ask anything, the Hero murmured quietly. Noubelmag inquired. What do you mean by return? The Hero replied. To Rosenstark. What? Pia and Kasim eximed. Why? Well, I dont know when we cane to the Great Forest again. Pia and Kasim pleaded with as pitiful expressions as possible. Even the staff members urgently needed a vacation. Going back to Rosenstark after working tirelessly all along, thats uneptable. Moreover, Kasim had only achieved one of his two goals foring to The Great Forest. He had improved his skills but Faerie maidens! All this time, he had been engrossed in training, looking like a beggar, unable to speak a word to them. If they were to return without any memories like this, it would be a lifelong regret. Not much different from kids. The Hero sighed deeply, lowering his head. We shall depart in two days. Watching them like that, Noubelmag smiled faintly. He felt reassured. Yes, if hes the leader, hell exin everything someday. Wererades. The four returned amicably to the Faerie Maidens enve. * * * The Faylun River is a river located northeast of Jedo, thergest and widest river in the entire continent. So massive that when the survivors from the west first encountered it, they mistook it for the sea. The artificial ind Dream Haven, created by Glendor Companu for tourism purposes, was located at its northern end. With its breathtaking scenery, cool breeze, theres no better ce to escape the heat. Because of this, by this time, reservations for Dream Haven were usually booked a month in advance, but this time, the owner had cleared the reservation schedule for the resort annex upon request. We should be arriving soon. Yussi Glendor yawned while looking at the path leading from the dock. Heh heh- A grayish tuft of fur was briskly moving around her ankles. Its name was Shadow. It was a runic wolf, apanion specially entrusted to her by the Hero. Unable to leave it alone in Rosenstark, she had to bring it along. Shadow, who had grown drastically in just one monthpared to before, now had a muchrger build than an averagerge dog. With an average height of 3 meters, he would continue to grow at this rate for the next year. Hell be big enough to rideter on. Impletely in the role of a babysitter. What the Hero entrusted to her wasnt just the wolf. As he left for important duties, he also asked Yussi to supervise the childrens 13-night, 14-day trip. Youre the only person I trust. Um, wont the Heroeter? When the timees? Yussi was not suited for taking care of children. Well, it wasnt as annoying and unpleasant as before. It was because she knew how the Hero regarded the extreme kids. The Second Dawn Knights. In a way, they could be said to be her juniors. It was a moment when Yussi was reflecting on the aspects of the extreme kids. Whoosh- Glendors Pickup Service arrived with its first passenger. A muscr boy with blond hair no, a young man, jumped off the carriage. Yussi wrinkled her brow as she looked at the stubbly beard on his chin. Hello, Principal! Please take care of me on this trip! What on earth happened during the vacation? Gerald no longer looked like a student in any way. Even if they were the same age, it was hard to believe. The rest of the friends havent arrived yet? But his voice was as cheerful and energetic as ever, which was extremely annoying. Yussi replied with a sigh. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Theyll be here soon. So please, stop talking. Yes, yes? If youre bored, y with him. Oh, Shadow! Thunk-! Do whatever you want. Gerald, turning red, ran towards Shadow. It seemed he was genuinely pleased to see him after a long time. Lets y, Shadow! Anyway, the extreme kids going to Dream Haven totaled sixteen out of thirty. The rest couldnt attend due to personal reasons. No, maybe its seventeen if things go well. One person said they might be able to attendte, even though it would be difficult to make it on time. Whoooosh- Whooosh- Dust clouds were rising in the distance. Carriages arriving one after another. Though they had only been apart for about a month, the kids greeted each other warmly as if they hadnt seen each other in years. Oh, Gerald? Did you eat something bad? Hey, arent you a monster? Geralds dad, right? Im Karen, a close friend of Geralds. You rascals. Fortunately for Gerald, the conversation quickly moved on to other topics. Why are you guys here together! As they got off the carriage with Leciel, Ban scratched his head with a pure expression. Huh? We were just together at our house, so. What? As Ban continued his spirited exnation, Leciel watched with a face twisted in surprise. Karen observed the rtionship between Ban and Leciel closely. Hmm, whats going on? Did they get closer during the vacation? It seemed like something had changed between them during the semester, but it was hard to pinpoint exactly. She nned to subtly probe about what had happened during the vacationter. Scandals were Karens favorite topic. However, amid the cheerfulmotion, there was one girl who quietly looked around. What should I do? They were about to depart soon. She couldnt help but approach Yussi, a difficult situation for an ordinary student. Evergreens courage was considerable. Um Principal. Excuse me, but is Luke Selsood absent from the trip? Yussi recalled amunication from a few days ago. It hasnt been decided yet that I can go, so if someone asks me if Iming, can you tell them I cant go? Got it. Yussi nodded up and down. Hes absent. Ah. Evergreen hung her head dejectedly. Are you really busy with requests? Maybe he was hurt. Or perhaps he didnt like these kinds of leisure trips. Still, when theymunicated from Solintail, he had agreed to meet at the destination. It was a moment when thoughts like these swirled around in her mind. Deindart approached with a swoosh-. Evergreen, Im here. How have you been? Oh, Senior. By the way, did you hear that the resort has a swimming pool? Do you know how to swim? Did you bring a swimsuit? Uh, not really. Im not good at it. I grew up in the mountains. Thats great. Big brothers nickname is a seal. Haha! Meanwhile, a step behind, Nyhill quietly watched all themotion. Unlike the other kids who were dressed up for the trip, she wore her usual dull-colored clothes. The only difference was that she had woven the leaves of the World Tree into a tiara and wore it on her wrist. She had thought about putting it on her head, but it was too conspicuous, so she gave up. Even though she was skilled at hiding her presence like a ghost, wearing a bright blue leaf crown would make her invisibility useless. Nyhill was continuing the thoughts that she couldnt shake off recently. Why does the Hero keep excluding me from dangerous missions? Whether in Harlem or during this expedition in the Great Forest, even though I infiltrated as a student, I am still an agent dispatched by the Shadows to assist the Heros activities. Being continuously marginalized like this is a problem. Maybe my abilities are not sufficient. If I am not helpful, if I cannot prove my usefulness, there is no reason for me to be here. At some point, another agent who can rece me coulde to the academy as always. As Nyhill imagined another agent recing her, she felt a difort in her chest. It was at that moment. Hey, girl! Why do you look so down when the trip is right around the corner? Cuculli. Nyhill instinctively stepped back. Cucullis narrow eyes were observing her intently. Since the festival, Cuculli had be quite curious about her. Hehe, you feel the same, huh? About what? Just when we were starting to be close, the vacation came! Lets strengthen our friendship on this trip. Yussi gathered everyone then. Alright, now that everyones here, lets depart! Fluttering- From bow to stern, it was an all-white cruise ship. Under the sunlight, the sparkling hull slid smoothly towards the dock and came to a stop on one side. With its white and clean sails, wide deck, and neatly painted hull, against the backdrop of fluttering cloth in the wind, the contours of the beautiful artificial ind were faintly visible. It was a very smooth departure. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 174 Chapter 174 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The great forest was the only ce the Hero could not visit when he was wandering the continent. Initially, it was impossible to enter without possessing a part of the World Tree, and it was difficult to build an understanding of the faerie tribe exclusive to others. The closed society peculiar to minority races was a stark contrast to the doppelgangers. However, visiting as the Hero was a new experience. It should be okay to rx for a moment. The information about the faerie tribe camp was basic. It was the habitat of extremely rare herbs, hence there were many skilled alchemists. There might be those who know about Homunculus. Additionally, due to the nature of their species, there are quite a few spirit warriors who are extremely rare in human society. Most of the tribe members were also skilled in martial arts and archery. In short, they were an elite minority. If there were Frost Dragons in the north, there were faeries in the south. It wasnt for no reason that they maintained their autonomy despite their small numbers. Perhaps unexpectedly, I might encounter a strong opponent and gain dueling experience. With such thoughts, the Hero looked back at the seemingly excitedpanions. Kasim was trimming his bushy beard while walking. It seems well finally engage in productive activities rather than dueling. As the rapiers de grazed his chin, the image of a handsome man appeared in his memory. Noubelmag was gaping, wondering if the sword he made was being used for shaving. Kasim chuckled heartily. Noubelmag, where do you think the ce with the most faeries of my age group is? Noubelmag looked at Kasim as if he were pitiful. To meet faeries of your age, youd have to go to the cradle. What? Even the children running in the streets are all over 50. Really. Whether Kasims exaggerated reaction pleased him or not, Noubelmag spoke contentedly. Its not surprising. There are faeries who have lived for over a thousand years. A thousand years? Even if they are long-lived faeries, is that possible? It is, whether you believe it or not. The wrinkled eyes of the dwarf elder nced beyond their heads, over the branches of the trees. Naturally, the group also looked up. The sky was clear blue. A towering and mystical tree stood as if supporting it. It was a tree sorge that it could be seen from anywhere in the Great Forest. Its size made one believe in the legend that all life in this forest originated from there. Swoosh- The wind swept through countless leaves. The sound made the group momentarily feel as if they were standing under a falling rain of spears. Swoosh- Because the source of the sound was so high, the rustling of the leaves flowed down with a short dy. The faerie who nted the World Tree and the oldest living faerie. Noubelmags low voice pierced through the midst. The protagonist known as the Guide of Time is none other than Lace. Pia interjected suddenly. Oh, Ive read about him too. Wow, a thousand years its unimaginable. Do faeries age after a thousand years? I dont know, Ive never seen one. Lace. At the mention of that name, the Hero suddenly recalled the conversation he had with Ted. But why is the artifact called Iris of Lace? Its spected that its named after the faerie who resides in the Great Forest. A faerie? A sage close to omniscience ording to rumors, his prophetic abilities are so great that he can foresee the future as easily as reading the palm of his hand. It was unbelievable then, and its unbelievable now. Foreseeing the future, its hard to believe. Even the great Zero Requiem was called a prophet, but theres no known case where his prophetic abilities were properly demonstrated, right? Its just a rumor. Have you met Lace, Hero? No, although Ive walked through the Great Forest, I couldnt meet him because hes been in seclusion for over a century. It was a natural question. If you did meet him, what would you ask? The fate of humanity. His answer was so prompt and Ted-like that it remained vivid in his memory. The fate of humanity. Of course, the Hero didnt expect to meet Lace on this journey at all. There was no one among the living humans who had met him. He had been in seclusion for over a century. Even Noubelmag, who spent part of his youth in the Great Forest, had never met Lace. But, naturally, he couldnt help but specte. If I were to meet him, what should I ask? He didnt believe in the vague ability of foreseeing the future. However, he did have an artifact called Iris of Lace thatpiled information about the past and present, assisting with insights into the future. If the faerie sage was a prophet, then surely it would be that kind. There was no harm in seeking enlightenment. There are so many things Id like to ask about the future. Or the destination of this precarious lie. . . . While the Hero was lost in such thoughts. The topic of conversation among the group returned to seducing the faeries like a recurring tide. Snap out of it. The way faeries look at other races is not much different from how youd look at a mouse or a chicken. But didnt your father seed in marrying your mother? My parents case was a bit special. Noubelmag continued with a brief exnation. Being a cksmith who deals with fire was the least preferred profession for faeries. Alchemy required sacrificing a part of nature for results. Noubelmags mother, Ahir, took on that burden for the tribe, but as a result, she spent her life lonely without understanding. On the other hand, my father was a weirdo who was overly interested in dwarves living in caves and spirits, so he came to the Great Forest. They were each others only understanding. Whether you, who only seek superficial beauty, can seed in such love, I dont know. Noubelmags rustic remarks silenced Kasim, and Pia admired. Oof. That hit the mark. Its so cool. But could a graduate student have such love? Rich reactions are a way to excite the elderly. Starting with stories about his parents, Noubelmag brought up more old memories. The various stories about the veiled faerie tribe were fascinating, and the group enjoyed listening to his tales. Until Noubelmag suddenly stopped the story. Noubelmag? Shh. There was a hush. The group closed their mouths as if they had made a promise, and looked at the silhouette walking ahead. She suddenly appeared without anyone noticing. The Hero stared at the unfamiliar figures back. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 When did she? He was always activating his senses externally. He wouldnt miss any signs from this distance. Just a moment ago, she wasnt here. She looked like an ordinary traveler at first nce. In her hand was a weather-beaten robe and a staff, traces of sunlight and wind. She carried a light backpack on her shoulder. Amidst the straw-like hair fluttering, the characteristic long ears of a faerie were revealed. Tap- Even though they could clearly feel their presence, the faerie did not turn back and walked forward without looking back. They were about to reach a bend in the forest path. In a few seconds, the mysterious silhouette would disappear. Suddenly, the Hero felt a strong urge to call out to her. It was an irresistible urge. Stop. That one quiet word reached the unfamiliar figure on the wind. The mysterious being turned around. A faint smile adorned her face. Capturing everyones attention, her lips slowly parted. It is as you said, Master. Please follow me. * * * The luxury resort Dream Haven had everything imaginable. But above all, there was one facility that captured the childrens attention the most. A swimming pool! Wow! Were the only ones here! Surrounded by ake on all sides, but the swimming pool had its own charm. Wide-open parasols, sunbeds, and various sweet drinks. Some children went back to their rooms as they hadnt recovered from travel fatigue, but most of them rushed out as soon as they unpacked. And in the boys locker room. Three hundred thirty-six! Three hundred thirty-seven! Unexpected push-ups were being performed. They were extreme boys who had already sculpted their bodies through rigorous training, but they were working hard to show off even better bodies. They were at their prime. A swimming pool with girls of the same age. They couldnt help but expect a thrilling and exciting experience. But the high stimtion they were expecting came in a slightly different way. Hey, you crazy! Gerald jumped out of the pool, trembling with anger. The incident began with Cuculli. . . . Hey, guys, want to make a bet? A bet? About what? Well, somethingplicated might be difficult to do right away, so how about something simple like diving and holding your breath? What are we betting? Well how about a wish ticket? A wish? W, what? With an ominous smile, Cuculli pointed to a shop on one side of the swimming pool. More precisely, to the various swimsuits disyed outside. Well, something like that, would you wear it? Currently, all the girls were in simple swimsuits or regr clothes when they entered the pool. They looked very gloomypared to the expectations of the boys. So, they were in a very sulky state Gerald grasped his chest and asked. Y, you mean those swimsuits? The swimsuits that caught the boys eyes with their bright colors and unique patterns were very elegant and sophisticated, stimting the males romance. Gerald stuttered. You, in those swimsuits With dreamy sky-blue eyes and hair, and skin as white as snow, she sometimes caught others attention with her innocent smile, causing them to lose focus. Although all the male students would deny it, saying, Who would like that weirdo? secretly, about five of them harbored feelings for her without realizing it. One of the five, Gerald (of course, he considered all female ssmates as potential love interests), found it nearly impossible to refuse her proposal. All right! Its a challenge! Ill hold my breath until my lungs burst! What determination, like a beast! Thus, Gerald epted Cucullis challenge, and they both dunked their heads simultaneously in the middle of the swimming pool. Ssh! The freezing began around Gerald in the next moment. What?! Crack! Breaking through the frozen surface like a dolphin, Gerald, with lips turning blue, sprang out of the ice-cold water. A burst ofughter followed. Hey, you crazy! Hahaha! Did you fall for it, Gerald? Even Gerald himself found the situation amusing, as he grinned sheepishly. Leaning against a sunbed and watching this spectacle, Leciel jabbed the arm of the boy next to her. Are you like that too? Like what? Like Gerald, all worked up Recognizing that it was too strong an expression to say to a friend, Leciel corrected herself. Are you feeling impatient? You dont seem like the type. Oh, feeling impatient? Why? Because youre kind. Not feeling quite satisfied with the calm look in Leciels eyes, he blurted out words he wouldnt normally say. I I like swimsuits too. It was the truth. But there were truths that didnt need to be spoken out loud sometimes. Leciel blinked rapidly. Ah, I see. What rescued Ban from the dilemma of pondering eternal submersion was none other than Cuculli. Ban! Lets go order food! I heard from the Principal earlier that everything here is free, you just have to ce an order! If only he could get away from here now. Ban got up in a hurry. Ill, Ill be right back. Okay. As Ban, with his head down, walked toward the restaurant, he failed to notice that Leciels gaze was directed toward the swimsuit shop. So, side by side, Cuculli and Ban headed for the restaurant. Oh, the restroom! What? Hehe, make sure to order well! Cuculli went in the exact opposite direction of the restroom. It would be tiresome to catch her and ask what she was up to. Ban sighed and continued toward the restaurant. I should practice now. Ban realized that his multitasking ability was most activated when he entered a state of excitement about experimenting with Beatrices multi-roundbat. So, right after contacting Leciel, now, he could function excellently as a Magic-swordsman. He had been continuing his training of integrating martial arts with magic throughout the vacation. The situation was finally bing clearer. Even though they were on vacation, he had no intention of giving up practice altogether. Beatrice told me to practice whenever I had the chance. Hmmmm First, he spread out the techniques of martial arts, detection, and counter-detection in all directions. Its about surveying the surroundings while neutralizing mana tentacles attempting to detect his own presence. Swoosh The sensing from the colleagues in the swimming pool brushes past him. Nextes magic. He implemented Sneak, a lower-level magic he learned from Beatrice, which reduces his presence. With this, a synergistic effect urs, allowing him to move without being detected even by higher-level martial artists. Utilizing magic in martial arts, even if its not directbat magic, was limitless in its applications, and Ban was greatly interested in this training. Extend the detection a bit further Ugh Ban abruptly stopped. Ugh, Ooof This time the sound was louder. A suppressed groan that didnt fit at all with this peaceful resort. Without a moments thought, Ban dashed toward the direction where the sound was detected. Whats going on? His heart pounded. The resort where his friends were in a vulnerable state. Even if it was close to the capital and Glendor had constructed the best defenses, could one really guaranteeplete safety? Even Rosenstark had been breached. Ever since the incident in the Forest of Martial Arts, Ban had been reacting to such sudden situations neurotically. But what was clearly different now was that he had enough power to deal with it. Ban drew in a lot of mana whilepletely suppressing his presence. Tap Now, just around that corridor corner, was the origin of the sound. Who the? Ban couldnt finish his sentence. It was because Nyhill, whom he thought to be the most quiet among his colleagues, was beating up someone unexpected. He called out the name of the victim in disbelief. The name he thought he wouldnt mention for years toe. Lucas? [TL/N: Noubelmag, what have u taught cutie nyhill???] [PR/N: Nah he was probably peaking or sum other sus shit] [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 175 Chapter 175 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 .! Nyhill seemed greatly surprised by the sudden appearance of Ban, without a sound. Her usually silent eyes trembled slightly as they confirmed the presence of the boy. But the actions continued. Thwack-! Urgh. Using her elbow, she pushed Lucas against the wall and took a step back at the same time. Thus, Nyhill stood between Ban and Lucas. Although she was a girl who was more than a hand shorter than both boys, for a moment, they were intimidated by her presence. Ban, step back. Her usual gentle expression and tone were nowhere to be found. She appeared cold and distant. Her eyes, devoid of emotion, constantly shifted between Ban and Lucas. The Hero had ordered her to prioritize the protection of theirrades at all times. Just a few months ago, Lucas, who had be a coborator, posed a serious threat to the extreme children. Nyhill was in a state of high tension. In her haste, she hadnt checked the list of resort guests, and self-me began to creep in. Coborator Lucas, what brings you here? Why are you loitering near our resort? Well, I just Reason. Lucas froze under the agents piercing gaze. Huh? At the same time, a realization dawned in Bans eyes. If it were the Lucas he knew, he would have been absolutely furious at the current situation. Once they wererades, but Nyhill was just amoner, and aside from his sense of privilege, Lucas was no different from a corpse. Moreover, this was not Rosenstark, and Lucas was no longer a student of Rosenstark. It would be appropriate to suppress her with noble authority. However, Lucas was just faltering, not even meeting Nyhills eyes. No way. It was then that Ban remembered the letter Lucas had left before he left. The letters of apology that had been stuck in the mailbox every month. Ban swallowed hard. Could it be was this a case of genuine repentance? Just a moment, Nyhill. Ban. Stay back. That kid poses no threat to us. You know that. Lucas, who seemed to have been swimming, was half-naked in swim trunks. Of course, he had no weapons, and his hands were raised as if to prove hisck of hostility. No, even if hes armed, it doesnt matter. In fact, whether Lucas was armed or not made little difference in terms of danger to Ban. The natural talent gap and the rigorous training over the past few months had created a huge disparity between them. And everyone present was already aware of that fact. Ban spoke softly. Nyhill, let me talk for a moment. If youre still uneasy, you can report to the Principal. Nyhill, who had been hesitating for a moment, took a few steps back without saying a word. Of course, she maintained a distance that could subdue Lucas in an instant. Ban nodded gratefully and approached Lucas. Why were you loitering near our resort? I just came here for a vacation, and when I heard you guys were here Sorry. I didnt expect it to be so ufortable like this I didnt think about it. Lucas, who was about to continue his exnation, closed his mouth. If he didnt know, it would be a lie. The extremerades were in danger because of him. Especially Ban, who was the biggest victim in front of him, and Nyhill almost died. Even though he had been taken over by Enoch, the moment he tried to harm Ban and threaten hisrades remained vivid in his memory. So why did youe to see us? You know we wont be pleased. I felt like I had to apologize. Ban stared at Lucas intently. Lucas stuttered as if rehearsed. Sorry. For what happened in thest Forest of Martial Arts, and in the past, and for speaking ill of your mother All of it. I wanted to say this to you. Ban hesitated for a moment, unable to decide what to say, and closed his mouth again. What can I say? It didnt feel good or bad. It felt a little disappointing, and Lucas looked pitiful. He remembered the distant past when he was afraid to go to school because of this tormentor. Ban could now feel his own growth. Did the professor note with you? Why would the professor? No Lucas bit his lip tightly. Thanks to the encouragement and discipline from the Hero in the quarantine ward, he could reflect on himself. He had lived properly since he was expelled. He apologized for his past wrongdoing and made reparations. And in the process, he realized how lucky he had been. If he didnt want to show his changed self to his former teacher, it would be a lie. Ban roughly guessed his feelings and let out a sigh. Hes not here. The Principal came instead for some business. Oh I see. Lucas. Yeah? Yeah. Im fine. Everything you did to me doesnt matter anymore. Ban spoke with that meaning in mind. Lucass expression brightened suddenly, but Ban still had something to say. But I dont know about the other friends. Whether theyll ept your apology or not is up to them, not us. There are many who would feel ufortable just looking at your face. Ah. I believe you understand what I mean. So youre saying I shouldnte to the resort. Lucas lowered his head again. He looked deeply discouraged. Though it made him ufortable, there was nothing he could do. Yeah, this is just right. Ban turned away. Help It was then that Lucas showed an unexpected reaction. If you or the others ever need help, just let me know. What? If Im not enough, Ill use the power of my family to help as much as possible No matter how much you hate me, please dont refuse this. Lucass smile was a type that Ban hadnt seen from him before. Ban nodded slowly. . . . Arriving at the restaurant, Ban ordered barbecue and drinks for the pool and stood in the corridor on the way back. Coincidentally, Cuculli was also finishing her business and walking cheerfully towards him. A mischievous smile she often made when sessfully fooling someone. Ban muttered to her with a grin. I just met Lucas. Ah. Cucullis smile vanished as if washed away. Whos Lucas again? Before she could finish speaking. Cuculli giggled as she followed behind Ban, who was walking with a diplomatic air. Joking, joking! Why would that idiot be here? Did he know we wereing? I dont think so. He probably just came for vacation since the resort was nearby. It was just a little north of the artificial ind, close to Wellington Manor. Hmm, anyway, whats up? He apologized. Cuculli chuckled. Ate and futile apology. Ban nodded in agreement. But still better than not doing it at all. Suddenly, he added an exnation, recalling Lucass offer of help. Cuculli didnt seem too pleased. Hmm, what could we possibly need his help for? [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 True? Yeah. Ban and Cuculli returned to the pool amicably. It was too precious to waste time dwelling on awkward topics. Meanwhile, in the Great Forest. As my master said, please follow me. The Hero looked at the approaching hand with reluctance. Normally, dont they tell you the destination before asking you to follow? The unidentified fairy didnt answer. She just smiled beautifully, pointing to the World Tree. Noubelmag narrowed his eyebrows. Are we going to the main trunk of the World Tree? Yes, thats right. Thats absurd. The main trunk of the World Tree was a ce even the residents of the forest, the fairies, couldnt easily ess. It was a forbidden area that was only open on special asions likeing-of-age ceremonies. Only the fairy priests who managed the growth of the World Tree coulde and go there. And it was also where the fairy sage Lace had taken refuge. The Hero opened his mouth with a strange premonition. Is your master by any chance Yes, Master Lace is waiting for you. This was the moment everyone decided to follow her. Surprisingly, the transportation was done by tree roots. It might sound strange, but it was quite literal. Grrrrrumble- Just after the fairy shook her wand. A small light at the end gently descended to the ground and suddenly the ground began to sway softly. What rose from the cracked crevice were huge tree roots. Oh my Noubelmag, who was watching the twisting roots, widened his eyes. He realized that they werent just extending from nearby trees covered with small flowers and nts, but they were from the distant World Tree. Then Grrrrrumble- As soon as the fairy tribe said something, the roots wrapped around everyone and burrowed into the ground again. From then on, it was a continuous series of exmations. The massive mounds of soil, like living creatures, made way for the roots advancing on the path, and the group watched the mysterious spectacle unfolding before their eyes, relying on the small light the fairy had levitated, in awe. The first to speak was Noubelmag. It seems you go through all sorts of things when youre with the Leader. He didnt show it, but the Hero was just as confused. In the past, when Ted visited, Lace did not reveal himself, remaining hidden. But why is he now breaking a century-long seclusion to find them? No, thats not it. Lace isnt looking for us. Yes, Lace is waiting for you. The guide fairy clearly stated that it was you she was looking for, not you all. What business does he have with me? It was bing more ambiguous. The fairys gentle voice pierced the silence. If youre bored on the way, would you like to have your fortune told? Do you also know how to see the future? I learned a bit from my master. Ive traveled the world and practiced enough. I may not be as good as my master, but I think I can entertain you enough. The fairy smiled innocently and took the hand of Kasim, who was standing nkly next to her. Well then Kasim was surprised, but couldnt pull away from her touch. The Hero frowned slightly. Palmistry Is she going to read the palm? Chatans, known as fortellers, weremon among wanderers. Most, if not all, were nothing more than frauds. And palmistry, palm reading, was one of the mostmonly used methods among these fortune tellers, even though it didnt require any special tools. Despite the suspicious looks from everyone, the fairy paid no attention and closely examined Kasims hand. Haha, it might be ufortable to see because of the calluses. Its okay. Kasim didnt say anything, but he chuckled softly, perhaps enjoying the touch of the fairys breath on his palm. Her smile remained until she spoke her first words. Your rtionship with your family doesnt seem good. I can see love and hate. .! Hmm. Before Kasim could say anything, Nubelmag chuckled. He was like a dwarf forging a path with a single hammer. If it were a prophecy directly from a great sage like Lace, then palmistry and simr divinations were nothing but petty superstitions to him. Isnt it natural for a family to be bound by love and hate? Despite obvious skepticism, the fairyughed once and lifted Nubelmags hand. Due to decades of hammering, his palm was not suitable for palmistry, but she continued to interpret. It seems youve recently suffered a great loss. Youve lost someone precious. Nubelmag stiffened for a moment before lowering his head. Losing a son is indeed a great loss. But its been over three years. I havent experienced any loss recently Perhaps from the perspective of a fairy, three years is recent, but dont try to twist words. There are losses that one may not recognize. Tch, what kind of idiot would not know if he lost someone precious to him? Nubelmags teasing words made Pia and Kasim chuckle. But the Hero couldntugh. It was true that Nubelmags precious someone had died recently. The Hero looked piercingly at the unyielding fairy. Even after that, the fairy continued to predict simr fortunes for Kasim and Pia. But she didnt say a single word to the Hero. She didnt even gesture for his hand. Just as the Hero was feeling puzzled. As if she had read his thoughts, the fairy murmured softly. Your past, present, and future will be seen by the master. It was a statement that couldnt help but raise expectations. And finally. Creak- The roots that were carrying the group stopped. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 176 Chapter 176 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The group arrived at the deepest roots of the World Tree. ording to the guide fairys words, the formal name of this ce is the Immortals Realm. It is said to be the ce where Lace first nted the seeds of the World Tree. It was hard to believe that before the World Tree sprouted, the surroundings were nothing but a hot wastnd. Wow. Of course, the Immortals Realm now was the ce where the densest greenery settled in the Great Forest. As the group looked around the fairy folks living spaces, they couldnt help but utter words of admiration. It waspletely different from the outskirts they had visited a few days ago. Noubelmag muttered quietly. Ive never seen anything like this before. Even considering the vast expanse of space, there was not a single artificial structure in sight. The treesposing the homes of the fairy folk were neither bent nor twisted. It seemed as if the pure mana of the World Tree had spontaneously transformed them into suitable dwellings. Where sunlight was needed, there was sunlight. Where shade was needed, there was shade. Even underground water sources flowed gently, forming small rivers whose origins were unknown. Kasim left an impressionablement. Its like a peaceful dreamlike space. Cozy and serene air circted everywhere within sight. The group felt a sense of tranquility here that they could hardly feel on humannds as they traversed through numerous branches, leaves, and roots. It was then that Pia called out quietly to the guide fairy leading the way. But why is nobody even pretending to notice us? It was extremely rare for outsiders to enter the Immortals Realm. Yet the fairy folk here didnt even spare a nce at the group. They just went about their business. The guide fairy exined briefly. A ritual is currently underway to rejuvenate the forest with life force. Its forbidden to bring external disturbances during this time. Once the ritual is over, you will be warmly weed. The Hero looked upon the fairy folk kneeling in prayer with reverence. The fairy folk residing in the Immortals Realm were referred to as priests. The solemn voices chanting prayers and the reverently kneeling knees were scenes rarely seen in the world devoid of sanctity. Noubelmag grumbled. Disturbance, huh. But he dared not approach the fairy priestesses. A ritual. Wooooo- A faint glimmer, so small it could be mistaken for dust, floated among them. The group could see green sprouts blossoming wherever the descending light passed. Ssshhh- Even some of the lifeless branches began to wriggle like living snakes. The guide fairy continued in a calm voice. The forest breathes life into us as newborns. We grow, nurturing its blessings. This is an inevitable and beautiful cycle of returning the blessings to the forest. The cycle of life. It was also the reason why the Great Forest could remain lush without fail. Having heard the exnation, the group proceeded with even more caution. Even the Hero, who had lived for many years, found the current scene very unfamiliar. The ritual only takes ce while the sun stays in the sky. By nightfall, you will receive the residents wee. Wait. So, we cant meet your master right away? Unfortunately, my master is overseeing the ritual. When the timees, they will seek you out. Until then, please rest. Youve had a difficult journey. The guide fairy nodded towards one side of the vige simultaneously. There, tree houses intertwined with the power of the World Tree basked in sunlight, emitting an aura of mystery and beauty as if from a fairy tale. Thats my home. Please make yourselvesfortable during your stay. Once preparations for you areplete, I wille to fetch you. Preparations? Noubelmag immediately asked. What preparations are you talking about? We will assist you in fulfilling your duties as guardians. Guardians? What does that mean? As the guide fairy left, leaving behind cryptic words, everyone watched her retreating figure in bewilderment. . . . A littleter, the group hesitantly entered their house. As if on cue, they scattered to explore the cramped interior. Kasim raised an eyebrow. Huh? But there are exactly four beds here? Just one bed and three makeshift ones. One of the makeshift beds seemed to be slightly smaller than the others, perhaps considering the dwarfs height. The group fell into silence, feeling goosebumps creeping up their arms. But even that was momentary. Lets just rest for now. Noubelmag was the first toy down on the bed. Though the guide fairys words had marked the past few days journey as quite arduous. Having pushed through their schedule, the group was exhausted, and the Hero, who had traversed the East, West, and South tirelessly, was no exception. Hmmm. It didnt take long for everyone to sumb to sleep. Though initially leaning against the wall, even the Hero eventually settled onto the bed. The brief silence, lulled by the soft touch, was broken first by Pia. The guide fairy called us guardians earlier. What does that mean? Kasim replied with an unusual seriousness. Well, if we go by the literal meaning, its just people who share and support the same values or concepts Huh? Are you saying I support the same values or concepts as Professor Pierre? Pia grimaced, causing Kasim to look a bit hurt. Noubelmag chuckled lightly. Rather than values or concepts, think of it as supporting a person. After all, dont we all passionately support someone? The gaze of everyone in the room turned to the Hero simultaneously. It was a neat summary. Kasims eyes brightened. It was a quite proud expression. Earlier, that fairy clearly said she would assist us in fulfilling the duties of guardians. So, does that mean shell support us as attendants to Professor, ensuring weck nothing? Most likely. Perhaps we might even gain unexpected connections. Meanwhile, as the group continued their lively spections, the Hero was lost in slightly different thoughts. Your past, present, and future will be overseen by your master. To know the future. Does that even make sense? Of course, among the blessings left by Zero, there was one called Precognition. But strictly speaking, it was a highly limited ability, a form ofbat precognition predicting the opponents moves in urgentbat situations. . The Hero looked at the slightly smaller bed where Noubelmagy with narrowed eyes. Was there truly genuine precognition an ability to predict specific situations or events? If that were true, wouldnt it imply that every individual is bound by fate? [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 From the moment he first heard about Laces existence and when the guide fairy mentioned preparations for him. It was fascinating and intriguing. However, he did not believe in the concept of fate. No, he didnt want to believe in it. All phenomena are the result of countless choices or mere coincidences. Nothing is predetermined from the start. Life is made of freedom and its responsibilities. After inheriting the title of Hero, he hade to embrace such beliefs. What determines the future is none other than my own will. Tragedy oredy, all of lifes aspects belong solely to oneself. Therefore, no matter what prophecy he heard, he remained steadfast. He didnt want to waver. All he had to do was always give his best in any situation, thats all. With that determination, the Hero could finally shake off his troubled state. His calm, reassured eyes scanned the interior of the room. Silence fell- Everyone had already fallen asleep. The Hero looked at the sleeping figures, breathing deeply like children, resting their heads on pillows. It was a moment when the thought of not wanting to entrust his and his loved ones futures to some transcendent unknown entity firmly took root. * * * Night fell. But the guide fairy did not show herself. Unable to wait any longer, the group, who had been waiting for her toe, decided to venture outside. Kasim ran his hand through his hair briskly and said cheerfully. Well, didnt they say that those rituals end at night? And we dont see any priests praying outside. And she didnt tell us not toe out, so it should be okay, right? By the way, earlier the guide fairy said that the residents would wee us when its night. What does that mean? Noubelmagughed heartily at Kasims mixed tone of anticipation. It probably just means theyll acknowledge us a bit more than they did earlier. Do you think those lofty fairy folk, even the priestly ones, woulde out barefoot and say, Wee!? . . . In conclusion, thats exactly what happened. Crack- As Kasim pushed open the door with a burst of energy, he froze, not even taking a few steps forward. It was all thanks to the dozens of pairs of shining eyes he met behind the vines, in the bushes, or up in the trees. Whoosh- Eager voices surrounded Kasim. Oh, he finally came out. Wow, its my first time seeing a human man. Am I the second one? Arent humans generally considered ugly? Hes not bad, though. Maybe Muriel lied. Bad Muriel, definitely lied to trick us into letting her go out alone. Giggles followed. Kasim, too, was dumbfounded by being surrounded by so many women, especially fairy beauties, for the first time. Moreover, most of them were sending curious gazes and cheerful smiles, making it seem like heaven to him. What, whats going on? Am I dreaming? While ordinary fairy folk had minimal interaction with humans, there were still some exchanges. They engaged in trade with nearby territories, gained the trust of diplomatic envoys, and a few humans who gained the trust of ambassadors would asionally visit. Noubelmag was one example of those who spent their youth on the outskirts of a tribe. However, the deep realm fairies strictly prohibited interaction with the outside world. They spent their lives in istion from the outside world in the Immortals Realm, in order to preserve the existence of the World Tree. As a result, they relied almost entirely on media for information about the outside world, and in reality, only a few of Laces disciples who were allowed entry and exit had met humans. Most of them retained their childlike innocence. Naturally, their curiosity about humans was boundless. That person is a Hero? He defeated the Demon King! Hes surprisingly young. Is he around 100 years old? Forget 100. Humans rarely live to be 100, you know? Hes handsome. Are all human men like that? What, now I want to go outside too. As the Hero, Pia, and Noubelmag followed, they stood there with wide-eyed amazement. The fairies quickly surrounded them. In their hands were various fruits, jams, pies, and more, in the blink of an eye. Try it! Its delicious. Do you know that the fruits of Immortals Realm have rejuvenating effects? Theyll even make dark circles and wrinkles disappear from human women. Wow, I smell fire from that grandpa over there. And herbal scent from that woman. Men smell like perfume and iron. The fairies chattered away, diving into the midst of the group. Before the Hero could intervene, the group was swept away by the crowd. Noubelmag, Pia, and Kasims faces quickly faded into the distance. The area was now bustling with tantalizing curls of hair, smooth white skin, and fragrances of grass. It was dizzying. What The Hero reached out his arm to grab Pias hand, who was the closest. But the hand that grasped his wasnt hers it was a fairys. Muriel, the guide who led them here, smiled as she looked at him. As the Hero looked puzzled at Muriel, Pia disappeared into the crowd of fairies. Feeling no signs of threat or cries for help, the Hero rxed his body. Whats going on? You dont need to worry about the guardians. Theyll all get what they want and return. Her calm and leisurely tone didnt seem to contain any falsehoods. The Hero was about to ask a question, but Muriel spoke first. You have a different destination to head towards. So, theres something specifically prepared for me. Yes. Muriel tightened her grip. Just now, a prophecy has been prepared for you. The Hero replied calmly. Ill need guidance then. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 177 Chapter 177 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Ssshh- Muriel, who had been walking for a while, suddenly stopped. The fairies that were sporadically visible around had all hidden their traces. A sudden silence enveloped us. I looked around and spoke up. Where are we? This is the heart of the fairy colony, known as the center of the Great Forest. The pir of the World Tree was so close you could touch it with your hand. Ssshh- A pir so thick and massive that it brought to mind the ancient tales of giants holding up the sky. Its bark wasnt much different from other trees, but its size was truly staggering. It even overshadowed any artificial structures I had seen before. Even the walls of the fortress would seem like sandcastles inparison. A sense of awe, as if looking at an endless horizon or a massive mountain range, overwhelmed me. And its also the hiding ce of Lace. On one side of the pir, there was a huge cavity big enough for a few people toe and go. Muriel nodded, pulling me along again. Thats correct. At the entrance of the cavity. A door made of several petals was hanging, and as Muriel whispered something, it trembled and split apart. The dark interior revealed itself. The Master is waiting for you, pleasee in. There was no reason to hesitate. Step by step, I walked inside. And then I looked back again. Arent you going with me? The prophecy was prepared for only one person. Slurp- Through the closing petals, Muriel saw me off with a soft smile. . . . As I continued through the cavity. The ground was dry and solid, with no obstacles in sight. Its strangely bright. Despite being inside a giant tree, it should have been dark, yet it was bright in front of me. Soon I could see why. A swarm of fireflies flickered at the edge of my vision. As if beckoning me, they circled the air once before Buzz buzz buzz- They faded away with the sound of wings. They kept a certain distance from me. They moved faster when I ran and slowed down when I walked. It seemed they had taken on the role of guiding me. Step by step. I followed the fireflies and extended my senses forward. But the dense web of magic only swirled through empty space. Nothing was caught at the end. No signs not even the wall that should have been there. I chuckled bitterly. How vast is this interior, really. Where is Lace? I hastened my steps. . . . As I progressed. What I encountered when I reached the pierced ceiling was a thorough drenching in sweat from walking and running. What is this? The pale moonlight seeping through the branches was sparkling on the pond. I chuckled in disbelief. A forest within the tree, and a pond inside it. It seemed impossible. But it didnt feel like a fantasy either. Neither the illusion of a dream nor the hallucinations created by traitors felt as tangible as this. I stood still, dumbfounded. Instinctively, I knew this was the destination. Lace Tsutsutsu- It was then, a gentle breeze blew from somewhere. The gust brushed the branches over the pond, making a soft sound. Then the petals flew towards somewhere all at once, and my gaze followed. Arge stone in the center of the pond. Until it reached the silhouette in a white robe perched on top. I uttered a locked voice. Are you Lace? The prophet responded promptly. Yes, child. I am Lace. Child? I didnt feel particrly offended. They said he had lived for over a thousand years as a fairy. In his eyes, all life in this world must look like newborns. I took another step towards him. Why did you summon me? To congratte and mourn for you, who have stepped onto the path of destiny. Lace spoke iprehensible words and slowly descended into the pond. Plop- His bare feet stepped on the water lilies. Yet, his body didnt sink at all. He stood straight without the slightest movement, as if he had stepped on solid ground. At that moment, moonlight poured down on the peculiar sight. What. I forgot what I was going to say and just stared at him nkly. Two impossible states coexisted within him. He appeared young yet wrinkled. Taller than me, yet strangely childlike. His skin was rough like bark. But his hair, pouring down as if touching the surface of water, was silky, and his eyebrows, as dark as charcoal, contrasted sharply with his reddish hair. Grotesque? Astonishing? I couldnt find words to describe the overwhelming sensation. Feeling like I had encountered something that shouldnt exist, I shivered. Laces two eyes turned towards me. I have been watching this moment for a very long time. Unconsciously, I retorted. Theres no such thing as prophecy. The future is not predetermined, and I will strive for the best oue I can achieve. Just a few hours ago, I had vowed to myself not to believe in such things, but for a moment, my resolve wavered. Those eyes. Prating deeply, simultaneously delving into both the past and the future. I had never seen anything like it before. In those eyes, an iprehensible span of time, a wisdom transcending mortal beings, radiated. Ha. I had to admit it. This encounter was far more astonishing and mysterious than I had anticipated. Lace chuckled. Its often like that with the future. The future Im about to tell you will be no different, . Surprised to hear your name after such a long time. I was taken aback. Except for Ted, I had never told anyone my name. How could Lace, who had hidden in the World Tree for centuries, know it? How do you know my true name, which Ive never spoken to anyone? Sensing a chill down my spine, I closed my open mouth. Lace seemed to be answering my thoughts as if he could read them. No need to force yourself to empty your mind as if I can read your thoughts. ! Bing a fool rushing to catch an arrow fired, isnt it? Im not reading your thoughts. I couldnt take my eyes off Lace. I only see the future. It had been a while since I had felt so powerless in a conversation. Huff, I regted my breath, not to retaliate. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Whether the other party was a prophet reading thoughts or an unknown monster, it didnt matter. I would take what I could get here and strive for the best oue. That was all. I calmed my mind and faced him squarely again. Were done with the forey. Lace looked at me with a somehow proud gaze. One of his irises was faded white. Please tell me why you summoned me. Very well, we dont have much time. It was a blink of an eye. He, who had been standing prominently in the middle of the pond, was suddenly right in front of my face. He hadnt moved fast, nor had he used spatial magic. I, Lace, havee to pay you for the kindness I received from Zero Requiem Borningenheim a long time ago. From the moment he spoke those words, he didnt avert his gaze from mine. He pierced through me with his eyes alone. I asked. Why would Zero Requiem, who vanished long before I even existed, owe me a karmic debt? Because he wished it to be so. Thats absurd. I shook my head. It was nonsense. He disappeared long before I even existed Its preposterous. It is. If you dont understand or wish to deny, it can be. What matters is whether the debt is being repaid or not. Lace slowly spread his hands. One prophecy and one answer are prepared for you. Which would you like to hear first? I looked at him with puzzled eyes. Everything will flow as the master wishes. Suddenly, the words Rosalyn had said when she saw Zeros first memory came to mind. With a wry smile, I spoke again. Is it really true that predetermined futures and individual destinies exist? As long as observations have been made and observers exist, thats how it is. How can observations affect phenomena and the future? Lace advised with a small smile. I suggest not wasting the opportunity of asking valuable questions on trivial matters. An opportunity for questions? I recalled the words he had just spoken. One prophecy and one answer. If observed futures are involved, I can answer anything you ask. So, choose whether you want to hear the answer or the prophecy first. I. In truth, the answer had been decided from the beginning. If by some chance fate truly exists, and if Lace can see it. The value of the answer far outweighs that of any prophecy. Because I can choose to see a specific future. I should be more careful in choosing my questions. Being able to choose a specific future to see. I should be more careful in choosing my questions. On the other hand, since the prophecy was already prepared, it would be fine to hear it at any time. With confidence, I said, Ill start with the prophecy. Very well. Lace calmly, as if giving a simple morning greeting, uttered the prophecy. It was a prophecy that neither I nor anyone who knew me could have expected. The demon king guided your birth, so death will also be with the demon king. * * * Lukes vacation was monotonous. As soon as the vacation began, he joined the Eastern Mercenary Corps camp to eradicate demons. That was all. It had been his routine since he became of age. There was noint. However I want to go on a trip. But it wasnt as easy as saying it. His stepfather, the Mercenary King Ravias, was not the type to indulge in memories and romance from his school days. How could he leave for a 13-night, 14-day trip when the mercenary camp was so busy? He wouldnt permit it. Youre bing weak, Luke. Have you adopted ax attitude? I was short-sighted. I didnt mean to send you to a ce where they y house. Will you be able to continue my legacy by withdrawing like this? Objectively, Lukes skills had improved significantlypared to before. However, Ravias seemed to miss the kind of madness he used to have. If this continues and I end up being pressured to drop out. Luke shuddered at the thought. It was dreadful. The friendships and bonds he felt at Rosenstark were very precious to him. Of course, he would have to return to the mercenary corps after graduation, but he didnt want to miss this opportunity. So, Luke came up with a n. He figured out a way to both travel and put an end to the unrest in Ravias. Individual requests, just take individual requests. Currently, the number of mercenaries under Raviassmand alone exceeds a thousand. But not all of them are focusing on the missions in the Great Mountain Range. Some continued with their existing missions or pursued separate small-scale contracts with lucrative ies. What if there were requests near Dream Haven that came in individually? If he wont let me go on a trip, I just have toe up with a reason to go. Once he came up with that idea, he went straight to the mercenary corps mission handler and fortunately found a suitable mission. Some remnants of the Harlem who made a deal with the Demon King fled outside the capital and hid in viges. Track and eliminate them. *At least 10 people required When Luke volunteered to take on the difficult mission alone, Ravias seemed quite willing. Its quite a dangerous mission. Are you okay with that? Alone? Yes, I think I need to handle something like this alone to follow in your footsteps, Father. In response to Raviass encouraging nod, Luke answered confidently, mimicking Cucullis swagger. Laughter followed. My son, seeing you willingly throw yourself into danger makes me very happy. And so, Luke left the camp and headed towards the vicinity of the capital. This little bastards got some backbone. Its better than being old and frail like you. Swish- After intense tracking and battles, he achieved the mission by beheading the leader of the remnants. . . . The pier heading to Dream Haven. Luke looked down at his exhausted body for a moment. He wasnt in a good condition, both mentally and physically, due topleting the arduous mission. I didnt even pack. But the joy outweighed the pain. Finally, he could go meet his friends. And Evergreen. Although half of the travel itinerary had passed, leaving only about a week, it was enough. The boy smiled widely as he looked at the approaching cruise ship. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 178 Chapter 178 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Dream Haven. As soon as Luke stepped off the resorts dock, he could see someone waiting for him. Short, sharp blue hair, slender figure. She, who hid her sharp gaze beneath rimmed sses, yawned boredly before spotting Luke and pping her hands. Aooh-! The nearby Rune Wolf howled loudly as if weing him. Wee. Hello, Principal. Yussis eyes swept up and down Luke once. Clothes covered in dust, with bandages peeking through the tears and crevices. She made a simple observation. Reminds me of the Hero. Huh? He used toe back every end of vacation all bloodied. Comparing him to the Hero was Lukes favoritepliment. Because he wanted to be like him more than anyone else. Seeing Lukes somewhat embarrassed face, Yussi chuckled lightly. Youre still far off. I know. Youre good at answering. Now, lets go. To where your friends are. I didnt say youreing just because you asked. But Luke hesitated, looking down at his attire. It was a gesture indicating his reluctance to face his friends covered in blood. But Yussi just grinned mischievously and grabbed his wrist, dragging him onto the carriage. It was she who came up with a very entertaining n during the moment of boredom when she was taking care of the kids. I prefer it this way. Huh? Theres something called T.P.O (TIME, PLACE, OCCASION), you know? And with that Along with an iprehensible sound, the carriage departed. To the theme park located at the center of Dream Haven. To the Haunted House. . . . In front of the main gate of the Haunted House. Sweat dripped down Cucullis pale cheeks. Her eyes were wide with anxiety. Leciel noticed it. Whats up, nervous? Nervous? Ha! Me, the descendant of dragons, nervous? Its not nervousness, its vignce a kind of reconnaissance! Have you been skipping sses all this time? Reconnaissance is the most important thing! Her trembling eyes, like aspen leaves, quickly gained persuasion. Leciel snorted. Youck courage too. Dont overreact in the middle. Its against the rules. Huh, you! The resort provides quality alcohol and snacks to those whoplete the Haunted House as a regr event. Thats why the extreme kids decided to challenge the Haunted House Scared? This magic word attracted many participants. Leciel, Ban, Gerald, Cuculli, Karen, Evergreen, and Nyhill were the members. The kids were determined to ride the prize. Until they saw the exterior of the Haunted House. -Woooooooo Evergreen said with tears in her eyes as she heard the eerie cries. Why does Glendor have to be so borate? Because they are overflowing with money By the way, why does it look more like a clinic than a house? Everyone turned to face Bans observation. Indeed. In one word, it was a dark and gloomy tuberculosis hospital. Peeling paint, moldy walls, broken windows. It was bigger than they had imagined. Well, the experience time is at least one hour. But in this vast space, there was only one magicalmp installed at the entrance. And even that was adorned with eerie dolls hanging around. And below that Hehehe, the victims have arrived. A staff member disguised as a ghost smiled eerily at them. Eek! Cuculli clung to Leciels back like a cicada. What are you doing already? I, Im weak against those kinds of things! Although they were those who dealt with monsters as if they were nothing targets that couldnt be affected by physical force were always terrifying. Hehe, cowardly child. Very cute. Gerald seized the opportunity to tease. I, I, I But Cuculli, instead of confidently retorting as usual, just stuttered and mumbled. The rest sighed as if they had made a promise. Can weplete it? Nyhill seemed to be the only one looking remarkably calm in this corner that looked incredibly peaceful. The ace was brought by Cuculli, who was considering things carefully. As expected, she was calmly observing the atmosphere of the hospital. Even if we look like ghosts, were all theme park staff, so please refrain from any attacks. If you proceed too quickly, you might meet other guests who entered ahead of you. In that case, please wait a moment before proceeding. Oh, but. When the employee hesitated, Cuculli asked back as if she were having a fit. B-but what about it! Some staff members asionally im to have seen real ghosts, its just nonsense rumors. You dont have to worry about it at all. The staff continued, trying to reassure everyone. But Cucullis and everyone elses pupils trembled. Is, is this all a set thats already been made? But why are there ghosts here? Why! Cuculli eximed in panic. Ah, I didnt mention it. This ce was temporarily set up as a clinic when demons invaded here in the past~ The staff exined with a creepy smile, adding to the atmosphere. The kids were speechless. Only Gerald seemed self-assured. Look at their faces, they thought the worst had already happened. Karen, who had been silently observing, suddenly screamed out. Eek! Its a ghost! Aaaah! Help! Ban! The room fell silent. Nice acting scared. Was it fun? The staff finished the exnation with a creepy smile. By the way, we never send anyone alone into our Haunted House. We always send teams of at least 4 people, so if you see anyone walking alone, never! never! talk to them. Why, why? Because theyre not people. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Uh. Well then, shall we enter! The staff finally prompted, and the kids hesitantly took steps forward. * * * Luke was left alone in an eerie room. Whats this? He muttered to himself, but Yussi, who had left for no reason, did not return. She had pushed him into the strange and gloomy buildings back door, saying that if he waited here, his friends woulde. That was about 5 minutes ago. Oh, the timing is perfect. With those words, Yussi disappeared. 5 minutes. It wasnt a particrly long time, but it was boring to wait in an empty room. Luke began to stretch his stiff body, which had been crumpled up on the cruise ship and carriage. Ugh. It felt refreshing. A soft groan escaped him involuntarily. Just as he was stretching his bunched up shoulders and trapezius muscles, there was a knock at the door. Cuculli? Luke looked up suddenly at Cuculli, who had appeared out of nowhere. Although she was an annoying chatterbox, he felt quite d to see her after a long time. But for some reason, Cuculli, with a bluish face, just took a step back. Whats. Lu-Luke? ? Im sorry for everything! Spare me! I wont tease Evergreen anymore! Well, I cant help it now, but Anyway, Ill be a new person! Lukes dark eyes narrowed. What kind of mischief was she up to this time? Realizing the folly of responding to Cucullis nonsense, Luke just stared at her H-hihihihik! I-I-I said Im sorry! Cucullis face had turned pallid enough to be called deathly. Cuculli, why are you screaming alone like that? Wasnt thest room earlier? What else could there be? Kukuku, now Im not scared of anything. Thats when the faces of everyone appeared one by one behind her. But they all showed the same reaction. Uh, wha-whaaat!? Waaah, its a ghost! Luke died during vacation! At that point, Luke realized that something was indeed odd. And finally. Ah. Evergreen, who was at the back of the group, poked her head out with a puzzled expression. Luke forgot all about themotion just now. Its Evergreen. A bright smile spread over the boys face. Of course, Evergreens feelings, who suddenly saw the white teeth of something lurking in the darkness, were not taken into consideration. Evergreen, I came as promised. Kyaah! Puck! The fundamental of an archer is strength. With a powerful force, the archers fist struck Lukes sr plexus. ! The scattered Luke was mobbed by the kids. Evergreen asked cautiously, Isnt it a ghost? Cough, no. The surroundings became noisy all at once. What, is it really Luke? When did youe? What are you doing here, did you get a job at the theme park? Whats this, is it really Luke? When did youe? Aaah, Im really sorry, Luke. Are you okay? Are you hurt? Blood ising out of his mouth. Hes really going to be a ghost. As Luke rolled on the ground, he chuckled. It made him realize once again how much he missed this kind of silly conversation. Wee back, Luke. Everyone was waiting for you. Luke stood up, holding Bans outstretched hand. It felt like he had returned to where he belonged. And that was an emotion Luke had never felt before in his life. * * * In front of the hole leading to the heart of Great Forest and the residence of Lace, an unexpected disturbance was unfolding in a ce that had maintained its unchanged tranquility for centuries. Today, we must get an answer. If you cant give an answer, then let me go in there directly. As soon as the angry voice ceased, there was a ng. A strange metallic sound echoed through the Immortals Realm, startling some of the fairy folk. Oh my, look at that human man. What is he up to? He may have a handsome face, but his actions are exceedingly ruthless. Dont you know that no matter how much you scare me, you cant enter Laces ce? Their aggressive stance and piercingments drove the young fairies to whimper in fear. But Kasim paid them no mind. Normally, he would have trembled and apologized, saying, Oh dear, I apologize for startling the beautifuldies. while sheathing his sword, but now he couldnt care less about their circumstances. Standing one step behind him, Noubelmag was the same. Is this really the right thing to do? What else can we do? We have to do something. Trembling, Pia held the sk upside down, while Noubelmag scanned the fairies with a displeased look. A situation that required immediate action. It was then, suddenly, that Muriel appeared. Even if youre invited guests, you mustnt cause a disturbance in the Masters abode. Am I causing a disturbance? Kasim growled angrily. Its been two weeks already. Two weeks without any word! His bloodshot eyes alternated between Muriel, standing before him, and the firmly shut petal-shaped door. It had been two weeks since the Hero disappeared. He had entered the world tree to hear Laces prophecy, and hadnt returned since. Its strange. He wouldnt leave us waiting without anymunication. He must be aware that were waiting for him. Even with the start of the semester approaching. I dont think the Leader would have been mistreated by the old prophet. There must be something going on. Lets be patient and wait a little longer. The group anxiously waited, but after the initial few days passed quietly in their lodgings, unable to bear the situation any longer, Kasim finally took action. Breaking through force is . Kasim, holding his sword, stared straight ahead. He has be so strong that it is impolite topare him to when he left Rosenstark. The sparring sessions that were reminiscent of real battles and the tasks hepleted in the Immortals Realm made him that way. With no armed personnel in sight now, it didnt seem entirely impossible to break through to Laces abode. But If I go alone, who will be responsible for the safety of the group if the fairy folk turn hostile and threaten or detain them? With only two nonbatants, there was no way to prevent the fairy folk from turning their eyes on the group. In the end, Kasim had no choice but to lower his sword in frustration. What on earth are you doing, Professor? The group stood in silence for a while before returning to their lodging. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 179 Chapter 179 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Two weeks ago. Inside the World Tree. Since the Demon Lord led to your birth, death shall also apany the Demon Lord. Lace seemed quite surprised by my reaction after hearing the prophecy. My, you seem rather unfazed. I cant help but be unfazed. It was the first time he showed a mncholic expression. Why is that? Its natural for mortals to be indifferent to the prophecy of death. I expressed my thoughts without reservation. The demise of the Demon Lord is still a distant tale for humanity. In fact, Im not sure if such a miracle is even possible. Theres only the will to make it happen somehow. I slowly nodded towards Lace. Moreover, theres still quite some time until he returns. So? Worrying about death that will arrive far in the future in these times would be just as foolish, wouldnt it? Now is not the time to tremble in fear but to strengthen our foundations. So, thats how you live. Thats how I was taught. And if this absurd prophecy that the Demon Lord and my demise will be together is true. I was willing to ept it. Haha My response seemed to have some effect on Lace. He chuckled softly and then whispered. We worried for nothing. Both I and him. Him? Are you talking about Zero? Why would you think that? Youre the one who said he took the ce of cause and effect for me. Wont you tell me what that means? Lace responded with silence. A moment of stillness. I was the first to break it. But why bother asking suchplicated questions? Just look into the future, and youll know my answer. Half of the price has been paid, so now your future is only half as distant from me. Its vague and unclear. So, if its half as distant then does that mean even the answer youll give me is uncertain? Well, it depends on the question. Conversations with the prophet are ambiguous, making it hard to find definite answers. That was my conclusion. So, I decided not to beat around the bush anymore. Ill get what I can get for now. Now, I demand one answer. Have you already decided on the question? I nodded and looked straight at Lace. The overwhelming presence I felt when I first faced him had diminished considerably. Perhaps it was because, as he put it, hes now only half as distant from my future. But it didnt matter. The question I was going to ask wasnt that difficult. To achieve my goal, what is the most urgent task I should undertake? Lace remained silent upon hearing the question. If it werent for his slowly blinking eyelids, he would have seemed like a statue. I spoke to the frozen Lace. The answer is taking quite a while. Surprising, isnt it? What do you mean? I thought you would ask a different question. A macro question like will humanity be saved in the end? Something like that. Lace seemed to understand me well, but somehow, it didnt bother me. I recalled what he said. The salvation of humanity. I can give you that answer. For a moment, I was tempted, but then nodded again. If observation is made and an observer exists, it bes reality, doesnt it? Thats right. So? Thats irrelevant. My efforts, the efforts of children. And the efforts of countless humans still struggling across the continent. I didnt want them to be swayed by Laces words. I admit. Certainly, I have arrived here through a grand design and meticulous nning beyond my understanding. It was a fact I felt every time I used the Iris of Lace. .But thats not all. We are not cogs. I refuse to believe that well end as mere devices of destiny. With that determination, I looked at Lace. So, whats the answer to my question? My, the most urgent task you should undertake to achieve your goal is His unfocused pupils stared directly at me. Thepletion of the seasons. After a brief silence. I couldnt help but suppress a chuckle. You seem to know everything. Lace knew more about me than anyone else. I dont need an exnation about how he knows. Hes a transcendent prophet who can perceive the past, present, and future, and hes Zeros coborator. If he had been watching over the sessor of Lace with the Iris of Lace for some purpose, then everything fell into ce. Suddenly, I remembered Ted calling this artifact shackles. So, thats what it was. Iris of Lace. Indeed, it was an artifact that bore the literal meaning of its name. As I pondered that thought, Lace smiled as if he knew everything, with a sly grin. p Laces hands pped once. Simultaneously, a strange sensation was felt from across the pond. I focused my gaze. Wooden doll? Mud on the ground and surrounding branches were sticking together, forming something. Not just any but arge wooden doll. It was as tall and bulky as me. The figure, kneeling, gradually rose. Its movements followed smooth curves. Its natural movements felt as if it were a living organism. Ssshh Branches and leaves nearby clustered together, forming another figure. It was a very familiar greatsword. The size of the ck de was the same as ck Hope, and the stance taken by the doll gripping it indicated Teds swordsmanship ritual. Although there were no eye sockets it was definitely looking at me. I looked at Lace, expecting an exnation. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Its a guardian with abilities simr to yours. Though limited tobat. Was that also created by Zero? Lace chuckled lightly. We created it. With a gesture from him, the wooden doll walked towards me. Your task is to subdue that Mirror Sentinel. Mirror Sentinel? Thunk I quickly scanned the approaching wooden doll. It doesnt seem like a particrly challenging opponent. My or rather, my doppleganger, had abilities simr to Polymorphs. But certainly, its aura wasnt as threatening as Teds perfected form. It probably doesnt even use up 70-80% of my full power. Of course, considering that Ive grown and now, unless one is a member of the Dawn Knights, theres no match for me, its quite remarkable. Anyway, if I go all out now, it wont take more than a few minutes to bring down the opponent. Is this task significant enough to warrant the title of task? I poised myself to fight at any moment. Before I knew it, the wooden doll was only five meters away. However, Laces next exnation quickly diminished my confidence. You just have to use the abilities of one of the children that can be cloned to subdue it. What? I doubted my ears at the absurd demand. Of course, I havent been negligent in refining the abilities of the children either. No, rather, Ive devoted tremendous effort and time to it. Ive trained tirelessly with real battles and avatar duels, and thanks to that, I could raise the understanding and utilization of each childs abilities to a high level. But in any case, their essence is far inferior to Teds perfection. No matter how much I replicate them to the maximum, I cant even use half of the avable limit. So, Ive oftenbined two or three of them to use. But now, I have to defeat the Mirror Sentinel using only one. Even if the upscale applies, my power will decrease to less than 50%. I looked at the wooden doll and mentally sketched out the course of battle. Evergreens archery doesnt cut it. Geralds spear techniques wont work either. Even if I draw out the essence of Cuculli and Leciel, I cant guarantee it. As it turns out, its an impossible task. Moreover, Lace deepened the difficulty. The season you are trying toplete is nothing less than a connection of clones. Thats right. Thats why its meaningless to achieve victory with only one ability. I narrowed my eyebrows in anxiety. Just as expected . At least seven. In order toplete the seasons, at least seven clones must beplete enough to defeat the mirror sentinel. In other words. With just one, Evergreens archery alone, Geralds spear techniques alone, or even half of Bans swordsmanship, I have to defeat a foe as strong as myself. Its impossible to achieve that in a short time. Just focusing on one is already a difficult demand, let alone digging into it. I slowly realized the absurd difficulty of the task and lowered my head. Is it possible to go back before the start of the semester? Was this task even possible from the beginning? You might know, but Ive been maximizing the replication and training of the childrens essence so far. Lace chuckled leisurely. Of course its possible. You still dont know how amazing your potential is. My potential? It seems like its already beenrgely realized. The day wille soon when you will realize that it was an illusion. Lace uttered such an unknowable statement and gestured to the wooden doll. Tension filled the air. I reflexively clenched the Key of Valber, realizing that a battle was about to unfold. Whom Whom should I choose first? First, lets start with the strongest, Leciel.. But at that moment. Lace dropped apletely unexpected deadline. For your information, you will have toplete the task and leave the Great Forest within 18 days. 18 days? I was dumbfounded. It was an unreasonable timeframe, to say the least. Why is that? No, wait a moment. I realized there was another question that needed to be asked urgently. I met his opaque, unreadable eyes. For some reason, my heart raced with a rising sense of unease. What happens if the task is not aplished? Lace opened his mouth with the same calm and slow tone. If the season is notpleted within 18 days. Being within the World Tree, perhaps my mind was ying tricks on me. The inexplicable uneasiness I had been feeling intensified rapidly. It was difficult to wait for his next words. As his wrinkled lips parted and closed slowly, an unbelievable, or rather, unwanted prophecy resonated in my ears. You will die at the hands of a traitor of the Dawn Knights. Along with some of your disciples. Immediately after, I realized a chilling truth. This future had just been observed. . . . Thunk! Without further thought, I rushed at the wooden doll. There was no time. * * * 24 hours before ???s death. 26 hours before ???s disappearance. Woo-hoo, been waiting for today! Bought a new swimsuit too! The children burst intoughter as they dashed out of the resort. The bright summer sun seemed to bless the exciting schedule that awaited them. Today was a day nned for hopping tours, parasailing, and the eagerly anticipated alcohol party. Yahoo, Im going to enjoy it properly! A fresh smile quickly spread between the flushed cheeks. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 180 Chapter 180 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 A hopping tour, simply put, was a rich experience of riding a boat between inds, fishing, eating freshly caught fish, and chatting away. Hehe, the scenery is amazing. An artificial ind, Dream Haven, was surrounded by several small inds. Children enjoyed the luxurious cruise ship and the scenery to their hearts content. Wow, the distance from the maind is farther than I thought. It felt like we got here quickly. We cant go out if we dont take the boat. But is it deep here? Cuculli leaned halfway over the railing, peering down. How deep could it be? The river was clear, but the bottom was not visible at all. Beside him, someone shook their head half-heartedly. Forget about swimming. Why? There used to be a lot of mana stone factories around here. But? When Dream Haven didnt exist, they dumped all the waste into the Payrun River. Shoosh- A huge shadow passed under the boat then. Cuculli swallowed hard. Well, things have returned to normal over time, but the fish in the Payrun River are much bigger and fiercer than ordinary fish. But it also became a holy ce for fishermen. Is Leciel still fishing? Ban nced at Leciel holding a fishing rod. A seemingly expressionless face. But he could tell she was irritated. Probably because of the many men gathered around her. Unfortunately, the cruise ship for hopping tours carried not only them but also other guests. And the various affluent guests enjoying their vacations at the resort seemed very pleased to discover unexpected beauties. Not only Leciel but also other extreme female students were experiencing simr troubles. Im the prettiest? Ahaha, lies, lies! Karen was happily roaming around. Ssh- Leciels fishing rod was suddenly taut. As Leciel looked surprised and just stared, men rushed towards her like a swarm. Hey, fishing isnt done like that. If you just let it go like that, the fish will all escape, you know? Ill teach you a trick. How about having a mealter? We have fine wine too. First, give me the fishing rod. Leciel did as thest man instructed. Here you go. Thinking he was chosen among numerouspetitors, he reached out eagerly to receive the fishing rod, beaming. Ban clicked his tongue. It seemed excessive excitement had blinded his two eyes. He couldnt see the sweat dripping from Leciels cheek or the slightly strained lips. What kind of monster bit the bobber that Leciel, who can easily lift arge rock with one hand, is struggling like this? Uwaaaaaah- A man flew over the railing along with the fishing rod. While Ban felt sorry for the crew members who had to rush to rescue, he was honestly a little amused. Hahaha, look at that guy, Cuculli. Wow, Ban! The fish are so big! Ill catch er! Until Cucullis voice came from below. Uwaaaa, sorry! You dont have to save her! Ban bowed deeply to the distressed crew members. * * * The wide sky and gentle breeze spread out over the river like the sea. As the sun slowly descended along the coastline, ck and sky-colored hair swayed together in the twilight. Nyhill, are you ready? Yeah. Swoosh- Two girls, Cuculli and Nyhill, looked at the back of the boat sliding away as if sliding, tied with a rope. Large parachutes hung on their backs. Cucullis eyes sparkled as she looked at Nyhill. Hehehe, I wonder if youll keep that expressionless face even after this! Nyhill murmured quietly. Why? Are you really scared? Huh? No? I didnt mean that as in being scared. Cuculli didnt believe her. The ck pupils checked the various equipment that bound her. It was a structure that would soar high like a bird with a parachute catching the wind. For someone afraid of heights, it would be terrifying enough. But for her, who hadpleted various rigorous and parachute training, it was far from enough to instill fear. Nyhill decided to match Cucullis expectation and pretend to be appropriately nervous and scared. Watching her mechanical reaction, Cuculli sighed. Phew. Then Look forward to it, Nyhill. She grinned broadly. Wooosh- The machine device burning mana stones made noise. The boat elerated. Simultaneously, Cuculli and Nyhills bodies rose into the air. ! It was then that a refreshing color filled Nyhills entire field of vision. As the sun set over the watershed, thin clouds scattered in the wind, sprinkling golden sunlight over the clear river. Nyhills pupils widened unusually. Boom-! Magic fireworksunched from the resort also lit up the sky. Just as the boat crossed between them, Nyhill felt as if beautiful lights were pouring down on her. Ah. Buildings on the maind that looked like toys in the distance. The resort boasting vibrant colors underfoot. And the colleagues cheering loudly enough to be heard in the sky. Me in the sky. For the first time, Nyhill felt like she could vaguely understand what freedom was. Nyhill, look here! Cuculli. The two girls alternated between each others eyes and the surrounding scenery. They realized this was a rare moment in their lives. A moment that couldnt be fully expressed with any words they had heard or used before. Nyhill stared nkly at everything around her, trying to absorb it all into her heart. She felt fortunate to havee here. Thunk- When theynded back on the boat, the sunset had disappeared. The river enveloped in darkness. Nyhill reached out and poked Cucullis shoulder. She might not have realized it herself, but this was the moment she initiated conversation with her colleagues for the first time. Thank you I had fun. Cuculli gave her characteristic innocent smile. Me too! * * * 12 hours before ???s death. 14 hours before ???s disappearance. Among the children, mysterious voices exchanged. You up for a brawl with mercenaries over booze? Why, whats up? Im from the Frost Dragon Tribe tribe! Hey, guys, drink moderately. You might get hurt. Evergreen is out. Todays highlight, the highly anticipated drinking session, had begun. The venue was the underground public lounge. To the various high-quality alcoholic beverages and snacks from the haunted house, Yussi also added severalrge bottles of whiskey and wine,pleting the luxurious drinking table. Beautiful. Leciel nkly stared at the lounges interior. As one of the most meticulously designed ces in the resort, the lounge was splendid and luxurious. Subtly shiningrge crystal chandelier. Under the sparkling lights, all sorts of refined furniture were perfectly arranged. It was a pity that uncultured humans had upied it. Wahaha, Luke, youve dropped your fork four times already? Youre drunk, man. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Iiiii dont hiiit! Just use magic to sober him up! If youre not going to hit him, why did you- Eeeeuuuugh! Stop feeding Luke so much, Cuculli! Heng! My heart aches for you, Evergreen! Yussi was drinking quietly in a corner of the lounge. Seemingly having no intention of stopping the students drinking spree, she only muttered this when the noise got too loud. Drink moderately~. Oooooh- Of course, there was only one wolf responding to that remark. Shadow, the wolf, happily chewed on snacks from Yussis hand, curling up on Evergreensp. Leciel chuckled and picked up a ss of alcohol. This is chaos. Of course, Leciels cheeks were as red as her hair. When Cuculli grabbed her excitedly, it was the next moment. Why are you just standing there? Come on, quickly. Hey, survivors, gather around! She didnt resist and followed her obediently. . . . The drinking session was, as expected, mundane. Stories from the beginning of the semester that now felt like a long time ago. Repeated worn-out jokes. And silly games like truth or dare yed several times. But it was enjoyable. The alcohol in the lounge was almost gone. Are they all asleep now? Leciel, who was slightly sober, nced around. Most had already left, and only seven people remained. Leciel, Cuculli, Nyhill, Ban, Gerald, Evergreen. Luke, who had followed Evergreen, was also there but Koooh- He was quietly snoring, sleeping soundly on Evergreensp. Ugh, this idiot. Thunk-! Cuculli, deciding it was about time, gave him a sharp smack, but there was no sign of him waking up. Lets just leave him and continue drinking. While Cuculli had led the drinking session from the beginning, she showed no signs of tiredness. Nyhills cheeks were slightly flushed, but she skillfully drank the remaining alcohol in her ss. They were the two leaders of the drinking session. Hey, Nyhill, youre good at drinking. Have you tried it a lot before? Yeah, a lot. Ooooh! The kids let out gasps of admiration. In the Shadow, agents underwent regr training in various drugs and toxins, including alcohol, to prepare for being captured as prisoners. After a moment of hesitation, Nyhill added a few words. Enjoyed it once. Leciel was about to ask when and with whom Leciel had been drinking, but she was distracted by an old mans voice nearby. Leciel turned her head to see Gerald with a puzzled expression. Why are you drinking my drink? It was a penalty for not being able to answer during the truth game just now. Gerald chuckled and looked into the distance with a confident gaze. Just because. Wahaha! Cuculli nudged the stiff Ban andughed triumphantly. You have to grant a wish, Leciel! Make a wish! What kind of wish? ording to the rules, if you drink instead of someone else at a drinking party, you have to grant a wish. Its thew. Thew? Leciel blinked. Normally, she would have dismissed such nonsense and ignored it, but she was feeling quite tipsy now. She turned her head to look at Gerald sideways. Slurp- Her red hair fell diagonally. What do you want to wish for? It was the moment when Gerald huped with a face that looked like it was about to explode. Ugh- The old mans voice spoke up again from the side. Ban was emptying Geralds ss. Gerald widened his eyes and looked at him. No, mine isnt even a punishment. Im making a wish, Gerald. Huh? Wishing is prohibited. Wheres that written?! Soon, Gerald and Ban grabbed each others cors and rolled around on the floor. The childrenughed heartily as they heard silly remarks like I saved you from Enoch or Are all the women in Rosenstark yours? being exchanged. As two more whiskey bottles were emptied, everyoney back and rxed. It was then that Nyhill spoke to Cuculli. Cuculli, what are you thinking about right now? The children listened to their conversation, half-dazed. They werent particrly focused on the conversation. The question wasnt particrly interesting, and the answerer was Cuculli. Shed probably say something silly again. The childrens eyelids slowly drooped. Until Cuculli responded with a feeling different from usual. Father. Father? Im thinking about Father. Father. The mischievous atmosphere that Cuculli usually carried seemed to fade as respect and affection emerged from her eyes. The children looked at Cuculli as if they had made a promise. Father. It was a natural progression. Leciel remembered her grandmothers hunched back as she left the house. Nyhill remembered a vague figure whose name and status were unknown. Gerald and Ban remembered the swords and spears their fathers wielded in Demonic Realm Sector 1. Evergreen remembered the rough hands that stroked her forehead the night before she left on her journey. Hehehe. Cuculliughed as if to dispel the seriousness of the moment. Huh? Her upper body, about to reach for the bottle, swayed. Cling- The children finally noticed that her cheeks were as red as theirs, if not redder. Ah, shes definitely not sober. Hehehe, sorry. Sorry. Despite inheriting the blood of dragons, Cuculli couldnt drink more than a few bottles of distilled liquor without consequences. Everyone got up to clear the broken ss pieces. Hey, be careful. Shes bleeding. Do we have a towel? Fortunately, there was no need to find a towel. Rune Wolf, Shadow, who had been wandering around, approached and licked her fingers. Cuculli giggled, saying, Ticklish! and then noticed her friends surrounding her. Its just a minor cut. Its just a cut, but their eyes are full of worry. Heh, you guys. A genuine smile. Her fangs, different from humans, sparkled under the light of the chandelier. Thank you for helping me create good memories. . . . Cuculli disappeared from the resort without a trace a few hourster. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 181 Chapter 181 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 It wasnt until a day had passed that the children realized Cuculli was missing. But why havent we seen Cuculli at all yesterday or today? I dont know? Maybe shes holed up in her room? Even though they had traveled together, they didnt keep track of each others whereabouts or daily activities. After all, this trip was meant for rxation. There was no set schedule, and they freely roamed around the resort, passing the time. There were even some who stayed holed up in their rooms, refusing toe out, with the air conditioning artifacts working perfectly. So, most assumed Cuculli was just sleeping off the effects of the drinking session from the previous night until Luke made a sharp observation. Its lunchtime, why isnt she in the dining hall? Maybe she ordered room service? But she wasnt seen this morning either? Does she order room service for all three meals? Thats unlikely. Im her neighbor, and Ive never heard room servicee. Huh? Something was amiss. The children began to investigate. They asked the staff and their peers. But since the night of the drinking session No one had seen Cuculli. With a creeping sense of unease, Cucullis close friends ran to her room. Thump thump Hey! Open the door. With no answer, Luke didnt hesitate to grab the doorknob. Luckily, the door wasnt locked. The children peered into Cucullis room with puzzled expressions. What? All her stuff is here. Did she step out for a moment? But what made them all slowly shake their heads was when they noticed. Thats not it. Huh? Why? Its hot. Then, he pointed to the cooling artifact on one side of the room. Cucullis room is much hotter than outside. To be this hot, she must not have turned on the cooling artifact for at least half a day. Luke added anotherment. So, she couldnt have just stepped out for a moment. How could she leave this off when shes so sensitive to heat? The children began to murmur with wide eyes, their expressions turning serious. So, she must have been gone from the room for at least a few hours? Did she wander outside? That doesnt make sense. Even if the resort is huge, how could no one see her? No one saw her at all. Leaving her roommates aside, Leciel muttered suddenly. What if she went off the ind? Without packing? She might have had something urgent. Several other hypotheses were presented. They were hidden to scare everyone, involved in a crime, and so on. They soon realized that no matter what they did, they couldnt get an urate answer to their questions. Evergreen cautiously added. If she went off the ind, wouldnt someone know? They had to go find her. The person responsible for this trip. . . . Yussi was staying in the suite room on the top floor of the resort, upying an entire floor. The children rushed to the front of her hallway. Simon Julian, the butler who attended to Yussi, stopped them. The sudden visit must have been awkward, but his expression remained warm and gracious. Students, Im sorry, but the principal has instructed not to let anyone in. Its difficult to Its urgent! No matter how urgent it is, I cant help it. If you tell me your business, I can ry it Sir, Cuculli is missing! Simonsposed expression was shattered. Click- The door to the suite room, which had been tightly closed, opened. Yussi, dressed in formal attire, walked out with bloodshot eyes. The children couldnt help but shut their mouths for a moment because her expression was unusually fierce. [****] Through the crack in the open door, the children could hear urgentmunication taking ce. There were many speakers and a considerable distance, so they couldnt hear the exact contents, but they could sense that something significant had happened from the atmosphere. Yussi, who noticed the childrens gaze, closed the door with a bang and spoke. Say it again. What happened to Cuculli Evans? The children immediately abandoned the hypothesis that Cuculli had left with permission. Did she just disappear without a word? Or was she really kidnapped? As everyone was in a state of confusion, Evergreen quickly exined. Shes gone! Shes not in her room, and she hasnt been seen in the resort building all day yesterday or today! Are you sure shes missing? Maybe she went out to the coast or somewhere? Even her friends who were ying here didnt see her Yussis eyes turned cold. If she were someone who didnt know the circumstances, she would have been most concerned about safety first. But she wasnt. Ironically, she had just heard what had happened outside. She left the ind. Yussi squinted, lost in thought. How did she get the news? I just heard it through an emergency meeting. If she hadnt been seen since yesterday, it wouldnt be unreasonable to assume she left the resort right after the incident urred. Yussi turned back to Simon and asked another question. Did any students enter or exit the docks yesterday or today? No, none. What are the chances of stowing away on passing ships? None. Simon shook his head. No new arrivals or departures had been recorded yesterday or today. Thus, the only ships that hade and gone from the resort over the past two days were Glendors. Theyre likely cargo ships for transporting supplies and small yachts for staff ess. All of Glendors ships were thoroughly checked for stowaways with the help of personnel whenever they docked or departed from the resort, for security reasons. Therefore, the possibility of Cuculli hiding on one of them was nil. Swimming, perhaps. Yussi looked out the corridor window at the waves of the Payrun River. Even if she were abat department student with a strong physique, swimming to the maind from here was impossible without any gear. Especially with all sorts of aquatic creatures lurking. Lost in thought, Yussi quickly whispered a few instructions to Simon (check the video records of each dock, bring the agent assigned to monitor and protect the children, initiate tracking, etc.). Meanwhile, the children exchanged meaningful nces. The principal seemed convinced that Cuculli had left the ind without permission. Naturally, questions arose. Why would Cuculli leave the ind without permission? Did something happen in her tribe? I should contact the family as soon as we return. At that moment Yussi ordered the children, who seemed strangely restless, to disperse. Listen carefully, everyone. As of now, no one is allowed to leave the resort facilities. Dont do anything. Dont gather and just stay in your rooms. Under her ominous aura, the children couldnt object. Of course, that didnt mean they wouldnt do anything at all. . . . [Aqua-blue hair, height 170cm, horns about 3cm on each side If anyone knows her whereabouts, please inform the resort staff immediately.] A broadcast seeking Cuculli or anyone who has seen her echoed repeatedly throughout the resort grounds. Resort staff continued their busy search. Although the vast majority of children obediently followed the principals instructions and waited quietly in their rooms, a few children who were particrly close to Cuculli gathered secretly in Lukes room, avoiding the eyes of the staff. Leciel, Ban, Gerald, Evergreen, and Luke were among them. For once, they couldntugh and chatter as usual. I suspected that something big had happened, but I didnt expect it to be this big As soon as they returned to the room, the children immediately contacted the outside. The first to establish a connection was Ban. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Thanks to him, the children could see the front page of the newspaper that a servant of Dietrich brought. They were able to hear the news of Dorempas death through urgent news. Oh, its not a misinformation, is it? Oh my god, Cuculli. A brief synopsis was written that they had suffered an uprising while secretly stopping a conspiracy by the Demonic Church in the north. The children discussed the news with grim expressions. Cuculli must have known and left, right? But how did she know? The news was only reported in the media a few hours ago. Could she have had a separatemunicationwork? What should we do about Cuculli Gerald sighed deeply, Evergreen shed tears, and Leciel stared at one corner of the room with a hardened expression. Meanwhile, Ban and Luke exchanged anxious nces with each other. They spoke almost simultaneously. Strange. This is strange. Whats strange? The children cocked their heads in confusion. Whats strange about it? Ban replied promptly. Isnt it strange how quickly this major incident was reported in the media? Dorempa wasnt just the chieftain of a unified demi-human tribe but also an indisputable ally of humanity. His death was a significant event that shook one of the pirs of the Human Alliance, and typically, information would have been tightly controlled until measures were put in ce. Most media outlets were usually closely linked to the royal family. What they had done clearly vited the agreed-upon Embargo Regtions and was clearly a subversive action. But there was movement in the media. They say an article has been leaked to the underground. Of course, by now, the information has spread uncontrobly. How do they intend to take responsibility for this? Ban narrowed his eyes. Endure the wrath of the pce over a single scoop from a single news outlet? Its absurd. Moreover, its unbelievable that a distant incident in the far north was first known and reported by a single news outlet. Luke added, as if agreeing. This smells fishy. Could it be the work of coborators? If so, whats the reason for spreading the information? Well, in cases like this Luke narrowed his eyes. Before he knew it, the other children were also focused on their conversation. Its causing confusion and it might be to divert attention to the north, or perhaps to lure someone there. After a moment of hesitation, he continued. Someone who would rush in without hesitation in anger over the chieftains death. Gerald chuckled. Wait. Are you saying those who killed the chieftain leaked the information to lure Cuculli to the north? Thats a bit spective, isnt it? Cuculli left before the news was even released. I cant dismiss itpletely, though. You know how important Cuculli is as the publicly recognized sessor to the chieftain, right? Instantly, arguments broke out. Among them, Luke suddenly recalled a conversation he had with Cuculli in the infirmary after the incident in the Bongma Forest. Im fine. Im strong, so its not a problem. And Ill get even stronger soon. How will you get stronger? Curious? With her face buried in bread, Cuculli pretended to mumble evasively. Have you heard of baptism? No, if you dont want to talk about it He didnt know the details. Everything the children said might just be spection. Perhaps a fortunate media outlet stumbled upon the information and greedily leaked it, and Cuculli could return safely. But Luke couldnt shake off his unease. Even if it was based on his umted experience as a mercenary. There was some grand conspiracy behind this incident. And he felt like he wasnt the only one who thought so. Listen. When Leciel, who had been silent all along, spoke up, the children naturally fell silent. Its a fact that the idiot has be a target of danger. She headed to the north, where the remnants of the Demonic Church lurk. Since they harmed the chieftain, theyre likely to target his sessor as well. If the Demonic Church or coborators pulled off some trick, they would naturally have Cuculli in mind. Static filled the air. It was a fact that the children had unconsciously avoided mentioning that Cuculli was in danger. Ugh Evergreen let out a shallow groan. To just watch a friend fall into danger in real time It felt like a boulder was pressing down on her heart. On the other hand, there were broader concerns as well. Awareness dawned on them that significant changes were urring in the world they belonged to. They were not unaware of how much the north contributed to the safety of humanity. If Cuculli were to die following Dorempa, the continent would plunge into great turmoil. The world was bing even more dangerous. Suchplex emotions kept their mouths shut for a while. Evergreen was the one who broke the long silence. Im going. Gerald questioned. Huh? What do you mean? Im going. To the north. Suddenly!? Not suddenly. Evergreen clenched her fists. Cuculli fought for Solintail during the break. I dont know how many lives were saved because of her. Id rather not sit idly by when such a friend is in danger. She couldnt live her life as a coward forever. Her burning emerald eyes seemed to speak as she did. Then Ill go too. No need to mention who said that. Me too. Then Ill go too. Theres no need to mention who said that. Me too. I-Ill go too! It didnt take long for all the children to nod their heads in agreement. Well protect Cuculli! Over the past semester, the bond among the children had be incredibly strong. They couldnt just stand by and watch a friend in danger. On one hand, they felt confident. They had always cooperated and fought together. While it might be reckless for Cuculli to face the danger alone, they believed that together, they could stand up and fight. Their mentor had told them so. They wererades who had to navigate this dangerous world together. They had to grow and support each other. They couldnt afford to lose such precious allies. With that determination in mind, the children looked at each other, feeling awed by each others courage. But you know. It was Gerald who spoke up. How are we going to leave this ind? Huh? The principal wont just let us go. She controls all the boat schedules, and unless we want to swim, theres no way out. But wouldnt it be risky for us to leave first? Everyone fell silent at his words. But then, Ban remembered something. Maybe theres a way. . , . Fifteen minutester precisely, Lucas Wellington, the son of the Duke of Wellington, received a visit from his old friends. Its time for repentance, Lucas. Luke grinned. Get me a boat. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 182 Chapter 182 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 SPLASH- The sensation of cold water instantly awakens the foggy mind. Eyes snap open. In the murky water, shimmering moonlight, blood spreading like watercolor. Struggling, I soon emerged from the water. Ah My mind quickly cleared. This is the pond where I encountered Lace. I was in the midst of experiencing my 278th defeat from the Mirror Sentinel. I gritted my teeth. I expected it wouldnt be easy. But I didnt expect it to be this impossible. The Mirror Sentinel was formidable. Even a simpleparison of power would put him at about 80% of my full strength. On the other hand, no matter how much I amplified the abilities of the kids, it was a struggle to reach 50%. Moreover, the guy, a wooden figure, showed no fear orcency. Its like theres no gap. It felt more like calcting an answer than engaging inbat. With such a clear power gap and no way to introduce variables, the answer of defeat couldnt be changed. I felt powerless for the first time in a long while. How can I win this? CLINK- Until I reached the ground, he didnt move, staring at me with that vacant face. The moment I grab my weapon, the battle will resume. It wasnt easy to throw myself into a fight where defeat and pain were inevitable. Indeed Its an unfair fight. Didnt Lace give me an impossible task from the start? Suddenly, that thought crossed my mind. So far, Ive fought by adapting my abilities to the battlefield. Especially when training the kids, Ive done so even more. Like when I faced necromancers in the factory or when we were surrounded by other exploration teams in the abyss. But this time, I had to defeat an overwhelmingly strong opponent using only one of the kids abilities. This wasnt abat style advantageous for someone like me, a copycat. Its more akin to the battle style of a martial artis. In the moment when my grip loosened. The prophecy from a few days ago echoed in my mind. You must achieve the task within 18 days and leave the Great Forest. If not You will die at the hands of the traitor in the Dawn Knights, along with some of your disciples. Unknown dangers were looming closer every moment. Theres no time forints. THUD- I lowered my sword. This time, I brandished Umbra, the shadow spear. Theres no need to open Valbers void space. Thanks to past duels, all 17 weapons of Valber were pinned to nearby walls. This time, Ill try Geralds spear technique in the counterattack. THUMP- As I raised my weapon, the Mirror Sentinel approached with a huge wooden sword modeled after ck Hope. His demeanor is neither fierce nor lively, but rather calm. But how ruthless he could be will be exined soon. SWOOSH-! I watched as a chunk of flesh from my shoulder flew off. Simultaneously, Umbra grazes past the Sentinels side. A bitterughter escapes my lips. Still, progress is progress. On the first day, I lost an arm with just one blow, but now, its not that severe. THUD-! Next, I deflected the descending greatsword with my neck guard. Feeling my body jar with the impact, I manage to evade somehow. SWOOSH-! Another attack crossed paths. This time, about half of my left ankle was severed. Followed by a stab that pierced my chest simultaneously. Guh THUMP- As I fell into a state ofbat incapacity, the Guardian took a step back. I gasped for breath, focusing on recovery. For the first time in a while, curses spill from my mouth. Damn test. Frustration and anger churn within. It was due to a fundamental doubt about my abilities. Polymorph, replication, mimicry. Can I truly reach the desired level fulfill what this world expects of me with nothing but these fake abilities? THUD- THUD- Lost in such thoughts, I gazed at the blood flowing from the tip of the Mirror Sentinels sword. A sense of dj vu washed over me. It was a familiar scenario. Recalling the struggles in the hideout to earn the qualifications of the double. Ted had mercilessly knocked me down. How doesining help in a given situation? What you must do remains the same. Give your best. He had said such things to me. I shifted my gaze around. Upon regaining my senses, I found my hand tightly clutching the bow. This time, its Evergreens archery. THUMP- The Mirror Sentinel approached. . . . 572nd, its my 572nd defeat. I had no choice but to count the times obsessively. If I didnt even do that, all these defeats seemed meaningless. SWOOSH- I coughed up blood as I copsed to the ground. The approaching Mirror Sentinel swept me into the pond. A chill pierced to the heart. My foggy mind began to clear again. What day is it today? Probably more than ten days had passed. Theres no time. Of course, there was progress. A race that used to end in 30 seconds nowsted over 5 minutes. It was now possible to leave marks on the Guardians body. But it was still far from enough. If time were infinite, I could gradually strive for victory, but I had less than a week left. PUFF- I caught my breath and rose to my feet again. In the moment when I reflexively searched for the next weapon to use, I sensed someones presence. Lace He stood at the edge of the pond. As our gazes met, he stepped back as if not to interfere. Lace asionally visited, observing me as I struggled against the Mirror Sentinel. But he never said anything. Just observed with his characteristic gaze. Eyes that seemed to ept fate and observe, regardless of the fate of humanity, of heroes, of the world. Thats why I had let his visits pass without any expectations. But now, with less than half the deadline left for the task, I felt restless. How many days are left? Ten days plus one. I see. Six days left. I stared at the setting sun, feeling it slip away. Although the pond was inside the World Tree, strangely, there was morning, night, sunrise, and sunset. I continued my questioning. Do you think I canplete the task within the deadline? It would be difficult as it is now. Is that a prophecy? No, unfortunately, there are no more prophecies left for you. Well, thats fortunate. Since its not foreseen. Lace smiled faintly and shook his head. Its an insight anyone can have. Youve never defeated the Mirror Sentinel. His words sounded mocking, and I frowned. Even the slightest hint of rxation was leaving me. In fact, it was natural. ording to the prophecy, not only my life but also the lives of the children were at stake in this task. As the situation tilted more and more, it was more surprising that I couldugh. What did I expect? I turned away from Lace. Time was precious. I was determined to fight again. Thats when it happened. Child, what do you think seasons are? Lace continued as if not expecting an answer. My steps halted. Seasons are your essence, your wind, your own technique that touches your roots, he continued. My own technique. Why are you so impatient when you already know the answer? I couldnt just ignore his significant words. But Lace was already gone, leaving behind only echoing words. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Even though I already knew. Those words echoed in my ears as they slowly departed. I stood there for a moment, silently staring at the spot where he had left. Was he giving me advice? For now, I stopped turning back to the Mirror Sentinel. There would be no clear benefit in fighting again immediately. It would be wiser to ponder his words now. My own technique Mine. What I had. What only I had. It was undoubtedly replication. I grimaced again. But how could replication be my own? It was originally just mimicking others. Its a contradiction. In frustration, I reviewed each battle one by one. The childrens abilities poured out into the air. KWA-GA-GA-GAK-! Ice pirs shot up, arrows imbued with wind attributes hit, scattering fragments. Precision swordsmanship using detection, deceptive spear techniques, and attacks imbued with madness followed. Perhaps due to the training of life and death that had continued for days, the switching of abilities was much smoother and quicker than usual. But still, from start to finish, nothing was truly mine. But as always, from the beginning to the end, nothing was truly mine. I stared at the chaos before me. Huh? I realized something was different than usual, at that moment. Before the realization could dissipate from my mind, I hurriedly leaped forward. And I examined the traces left by the attacks. Signs of destruction much stronger than usual. Why? Why A clue was forming. Sinceing to the pond, I recalled Laces consecutive words. A technique that touches your essence, your spirit, your origin. Why are you so impatient, when you already know the answer? The most urgent task for you to achieve your goal is thepletion of your technique. If you dontplete it within 18 days The technique you seek toplete is nothing but the coordination of replications. He clearly didnt ask me to develop a new technique. He just told me toplete the technique. I stood still. My season is already Technique, essence, origin, wind. What were those of the Doppelgngers? Thoughts continued endlessly. The deepest root of humanity is survival. Therefore, they acquire essential movements for survival, like walking or breathing, from the beginning. It was undoubtedly in that realm that the replications of the Doppelgngers existed. From the moment replication encapsted someone elses essence, it became my ability. Why did I consider it someone elses? No human starts from the beginning to the end with full cognition of every movement like walking or breathing. They dont move considering joints and muscles separately. They dont distinguish between opening their mouth, inhaling, and exhaling. And neither should I have. There was a sudden thunderbolt in my mind. Understanding for replication. What should havee next was infinite application through understanding. It wasnt just about simple coordination or switching. Thepletion Lace mentioned was precisely I burst intoughter out of incredulity. Despite emphasizing cooperation to the children, I forgot. There was no more hesitation. I faced the Mirror Sentinel. It was time to discern the truth of this realization. For once, even in front of the one who had bestowed countless defeats upon me, there was no trembling. Perhaps it was instinctively recognized. My own original. This was the right way to create it. I grabbed a weapon from the ground without bothering to choose. It didnt matter which one I picked. * * * Since the beginning of the Heros journey toplete the technique, Laces observation had been constant. To him, who had lived for decades longer than any human, tens of days were almost fleeting moments. Yet, he acknowledged that he would remember these recent days vividly. On the 17th night. The given time raced fiercely towards its end. But the nature of the duel unfolding at the edge of that end was distinctly different from before. KWA-GA-GA-GAK-! The Mirror Sentinels body wavered from the Heros attack. Its sturdy surface was already adorned with numerous marks. The wooden doll, once imposing, now offered no significant response to the Heros onught. It was only natural. The changes wrought by the Heros techniques were truly infinite, to the point where even exaggeration would not suffice. Has he finally realized? It was a scene difficult to define with words. It felt as though countless metals were being poured into a furnace and melded into one. The abilities replicated by the Hero were mixed evenly, blending into one. Lace chuckled softly. So this is what it means to be a furnace Of course, ording to the conditions of the task, the Hero was only supposed to use one ability. Switching between abilities was not allowed. But Thats clearly just one ability. Using the essences together all at once. Creating something new by blending abilities together, no one could dispute that it was all one. It was a somewhat wicked test prepared by someone who enjoys wordy. I didnt expect him to pass. Lace chuckled again. His smile emerged as he watched the Hero, who was now driving the Mirror Sentinel towards the pond. Now I understand why he had faith. In truth, until a few days ago, Lace had predicted the Heros failure. He hadpletely misunderstood the direction and had limitations in his nature. I didnt expect him to realize with just a few words. He had no intention of defending the Hero. Even if he failed the task and terrible consequences befell him, Lace thought it was the fate of the world, not something he needed to intervene in. But in the end, the Hero seeded. With patience and concentration unseen even by Lace, who had lived through the long years. Ssh! The Hero finally pushed the fallen Mirror Sentinel into the pond. A bright smile adorned his face, but his body was covered in terrible wounds. The blood from his wounds trickled down softly, forming rivulets that gently bent and flowed towards the pond. Beneath them, dried bloodstains, likely from long ago, formedyers. Anyone would have sumbed to the pain and defeat that had crushed him for tens of days. But the Hero kept fighting. He fell, but rose again. He fought again, and fell again. Lace looked at the pond, now tinged with a deep red, and gazed solely at the standing Hero. And then, he made his own prophecy. Your potential is truly infinite. Just as humans create countless miracles with their small and finite bodies, he would be able to realize that infinity through his essences. As if responding to Laces gaze, the Heros eyes seemed to write ament before him. In the furnace, the firewood red up brightly. The user has acquired a season. Season: Infinite Style As the sole technique of the true inheritor, replication by anyone other than the user is impossible. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 183 Chapter 183 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Rustle- Cuculli impassively drove her horse. Even in midsummer, a chilly coldness lingered in the air. The tip of the nose tingled from the biting wind, and the sight gradually blurred into a pale white. It was a sign that her hometown, North Hale, was getting closer. How many days has it been? Cuculli blinked her sore eyes. It was strange. She was exhausted, yet sleep eluded herpletely. Every time shey down, a sharp sensation pierced her chest, preventing her from falling asleep. So, she decided to hurry instead. Once she reached her destination, this pain would cease. Father. Father. Cuculli repeated those words aloud. Father. The hand gripping the reins trembled uncontrobly. The blue eyes that always heldughter now seemed like shattered ss. Why. Why on earth. Cuculli recalled the events of a few days ago, over and over again. It was after the drinking session ended. The children had all stumbled into their rooms drunk. But Cuculli couldnt get drunk, let alone sleep. This night was regrettable. It was the moment when she, feeling strangely dizzy, decided to enjoy some time alone by the river. The incident happened without any warning. Huh? Suddenly, a pitch-ck darkness enveloped her. She couldnt see anything, couldnt feel anything. It felt like vast stretches of time and infinite space were intruding between her and reality. Whats happening? Whats going on? She was about to scream. A colossal and otherworldly presence called out her name. Cuculli! A voice echoing wildly. It was the summons engraved in her blood, in her soul, at her core. Cuculli trembled as if struck by lightning. Wait, this She remembered stories her father had told her about a situation simr to this. Cucullis head slowly shook. No. The darkness vanished suddenly, just as it had arrived. As Cuculli blinked a few times, she found herself back in reality. But the starlit river no longer looked beautiful. No. Cucullis face contorted with fear and horror. No! The time for baptism hade. In other words the previous baptist had died. . . . She couldnt remember much after that. It seemed like instinctive judgment had taken over. Crack-! Cuculli froze the surface of the Payrun River. She couldnt freeze it all, of course, but it was enough to pave a way forward. After rising to the surface, she stole a horse from a nearby vige. And she kept running. Whenever a horse foamed and fell, she immediately stole another and kept running. She neither slept nor ate. She didnt want to sleep nor eat. As blood oozed from her hand gripping the reins, she managed to reach the northern outskirts. Only then did the girl halt the horses head. The sky was clear, revealing distant ice-capped mountains and pristine ciers. The familiar scenery of North Hale provided a backdrop sufficient to paint the face she missed. Father, Im here. As she spoke, the girls expressionless face broke. Through the gaps, her sorrow and anger emerged. She had heard detailed gossip about Dorempas death while stopping by viges to steal horses. They say they fell to the remnants of the Demonic Church? Huh? I heard their leader himself came out? Fucking bastards. Thought they were uprooted years ago, but apparently theyre still thriving. Nonsense. Cucullis fist clenched tightly. Her father wasnt someone to fall to the likes of the Demonic Church remnants. He possessed a strength even formidablemanders couldnt easily overlook. She remembered themunication that had continued from the Solintail Territory. [Hey, youre the daughter of this gruff old man, arent you? Im Ivar. You can call me Uncle Ivar.] [Im on a very important mission. I cant tell you what it is.] Furthermore, he was apanied by a member of the renowned Dawn Knights, famous for their martial skills. Even if the full force of the Demonic Church attacked, it would be impossible to kill Dorempa. Somethings not right. Cuculli was certain that things were going wrong. It was difficult to pinpoint exactly where, but something had gone subtly awry. But she couldnt rush to resolve it immediately. Of course, she yearned to find the culprit and take revenge. However, what her father had wanted most for her was to inherit the power of the Frost Dragon. First, I have to head to the sanctuary. If the baptism is dyed, the bond between the Northern tribes will weaken. Then, the demons will peer over North Hale as if waiting. She didnt n on letting what Dorempa feared and guarded against happen. Moreover, whoever the culprit behind this is, they are a formidable opponent, capable of killing my father. If I cant inherit the power, there will be no revenge. Lets steel ourselves. She tightened her grip on the reins once again. At that moment, Cucullis gaze also shifted to the rear. She thought about what she left behind in the warm south. Farewells I couldnt even say goodbye. She didnt know when she would see them again, but there would never be a time when she could see them as her true self. There were still so many things I wanted to do together. Finally, Cuculli shook her head. The girl lying on the horse sobbed violently. * * * Somewhere in North Hale, in a remote cave, muffled conversations were taking ce. Weve located the target and confirmed their movement. They seem to be cautious, but we wont let them slip through. After the old man, well get a taste of the young dragons blood. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The leader of the Demonic Church, Kalende, nodded slowly. Well follow them for now. At this rate, well soon know the location of the sanctuary. Who would have thought the beginning of our grand mission would go so smoothly? Your Majesty will undoubtedly be pleased. If anyone heard Kalendes conversation partner, they would undoubtedly raise an eyebrow. Eyes turned inside out, a tone devoid of any highs or lows. With each syble uttered, the mans body convulsed violently, foam gathering at his lips. Kalendes eyes narrowed slightly. Human magic is hindered by the demonic energy of the demon world, but magic using demonic energy has almost no restrictions. Thanks to this, Kalende couldmunicate freely with Malekia, the Queen of Agony, at the depths of the Demonic Realm. Not through themunication beadsmonly used by humans but through the insects of the demon realm that burrowed into the brain. These so-calledmunication bugs vividly conveyed Malekias voice. The only drawback was that they died once themunication ended. A grand mission Indeed, those words were not wasted. If they could smoothly track Cuculli Evans and discover the Frost Dragons sanctuary, the bnce of the impending war would shift significantly. They would destroy the sanctuary and kill all the Frost Dragon tribe. Thus, eliminating the force guarding the North. For the demon army, this meant a new avenue of advance into North Hale, while humans, heavily focused on defending the mountain ranges and the entrance to the West, would be defenseless against the invasion from the North. The leaders focused on the East would have no idea that such a n was unfolding. The escape of Stagnum, the activities near Harlem, and the factories in the North were all part of this grand mission. In fact, since they sessfully lured out and killed the Dorempa, one could consider it half sessful. Child, are your preparations for armed conflict going well? Our ally is temporarily unable to carry out operations due to severe injuries suffered during the battle with Dorempa. For now, well mobilize the forces guarding the factories and the special forces waiting beyond the Ice Mountains Those alone wont be enough. Remember what I said about sending my assistant. After Malekia finished speaking, she leaned close to Kalendes ear and whispered like a snake. Kalendes eyes widened slightly. The Giant Is that what you mean? Yes, since its the Northern area surrounded by the sea, it should be easy for him tond. Kalende nodded eagerly. Even without the Dorempa, the tribes of the North, including the Frost Dragon tribe, were not easy opponents. It would be a good way to sow discord while their unity was weakened. With the Giant, it would be much easier to destroy the North. I am a little worried about the whereabouts of the Hero. Fortunately, he wasst seen near the southern area But once we know the situation, he will undoubtedly head to the North. We have many eyes and ears in the West. No matter where he appears, well know. And the moment his location is confirmed, my loyal servants will do their best to hinder him. As the defenses in the West weakened due to the Eastern operations, many demons and coborators had infiltrated various parts of the West. They were all spies and barricades. Moreover, Larze, who is in charge of mobility, is bound by the Demonic Realm. He wont arrive in the North at the right time. Maybe after the situation is over. Once assured, Kalende got up. Ill be excusing myself for a moment. Go ahead and handle your business. Plop- As blood gushed like fireworks from the ear of the parishioner connected to themunication bug, his body convulsed on the ground. But Kalende paid no attention to the former subordinate who once served her loyally and briskly walked deeper into the cave. Squeak- It was an excited pace. There was a narrow gap there. It was so small that an adult would have a hard time passing through. Trembling breaths could be hearding from there. I found you. Crack-! As Kalendes fingertip triggered the severance, a part of the wall was cut off and copsed diagonally. The newly awakened scream was buried under the copse noise. For a moment, a cloud of dust surged and then settled, and Kalende greeted the silhouette beyond. Hello? White hair,rge rabbit ears sticking out in between. Red eyes and a fluffy tail. A snow rabbit was trembling, flipping dust around. Oh, oh. Just moments ago, she hid in the crevice while out collecting. Listening to the ongoing transmission, she vaguely realized the identity of the other person. Eyes directed towards Kalendes forehead. As she confirmed the ominous pattern, a wave of fear washed over her. Kalende looked at her expressionlessly, tapping her head with her fingers. You heard everything. P-please spare me. If you hadnt heard, I wouldve spared you. Oh, oh. The sight of the snow rabbit stirred strong feelings of sympathy in the observer. But the opponent was in the wrong. She was a misced Homunculus. me your big ears. Crack-! As severance activated, the snow rabbit was sliced into hundreds of small pieces, falling to the ground. All that remained intact were its ears. Tsk. Amidst the scattering crimson threads, Kalende licked the air with her tongue. It felt disgustingly nd and mushy. Nothing like what she felt a few days ago. Thinking of sturdy horns and rustling scales, Kalendes body shuddered. Her red eyes also shifted southward simultaneously. Quicklye. Cuculli. Cheer me up like your father. * * * At the heart of the World Tree, emerging from a giant hole, I was greeted by noisy voices louder than the bright midsummer sun. I blinked as I faced the three people rushing towards me. Why are they all so agitated? And their gazes seem unstable. Although I expected them to worry after our long silence, the atmosphere was even more serious than anticipated. As I paused to scrutinize their expressions closely. Professor! What the heck happened inside! If you were just one dayter, we wouldve stormed in with swords! Leader! People have circumstances! Are you trying to shorten an elders life? Finally, Pia grabbed my wrist and pulled me. I hesitated, looking into her trembling eyes. Theres something you need to hear right away, Hero. They say Dorempa Evans is dead. [TL/N: Shits about to go down bro, ngl I kinda liked Dorempa.] [PR/N: Kinda hoping for cuculli to get baptised without losing her personality but oh welso now we know kalende is the homunculus made by depikio. Crazy.] [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 184 Chapter 184 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 There was no time to change the location. I heard the conversation of mypanions right in front of the hole. It must have been the day Professor Pierre caused a big uproar. Suddenly, rumors began to pour in. The death of Dorempa Evans. Loss of contact with Ivar Waitanka. Cucullis resort escape. Upon hearing that the children were following her, I could only open my mouth in shock. They say they escaped from the ind with the help of Lucas Wellington. They are now heading north together. Together? For some reason, Duke Wellington also testified to the professor. I dont know what to say, he said, apologizing. Even for Yussi, it must have been force majeure. I sighed involuntarily. Unexpected events overwhelmed my mind all at once. Reflexively, I nced around the hole. The door made of petals was tightly closed. Could Laces prophecy be referring to the current situation? A grim prophecy that warned that if one did not realize the seasons, myself and my disciples would die at the hands of a betrayer. I thought it spoke of events far in the future but perhaps it was a prophecy about the near future. Blue was covering the continent earlier than scheduled. I turned my gaze to the distant north. At the moment, all I could see were dense trees, but the vivid image of the windy northern teau was clear in my mind. Dorempa is dead. Many memories shed through my mind like arrows. Lets meet again, friend! Although the Great Snowy ins are vast, the ties of fate are strong, so well meet again someday! From my very first memory, before I started acting as Teds recement. Help my daughter to enjoy many things. Every intense emotion, whether small happiness or anxiety. Even thest advice I received on the ind. Unconsciously, I wiped my face with my hand. The texture on my palm was hard and cold. I never thought it would be thest time. I had thought that someday, as Dorempa said, I would see him again. Once all this was over and peace came, I had thought about meeting him in my original form. I wondered what we would talk about. Does he remember me? If he remembers, what kind of memories? . What came to mind next was Cucullis innocent expression. Guilt is a strong emotion. Despite unavoidable circumstances, ultimately it was I who brought Dorempa out of the north. It felt like the ground under my feet was sinking deeply, as if it were about to copse. But- Professor? Are you alright? I couldnt afford to be immersed in despair. The word Professor from Pia woke me up. Right, I am a professor. The caretaker of the children. I began to question Pia again. Tracking teams must have been formed. Can they catch up before the children reach the north? Its uncertain I heard. Cuculli was definitely lost. Its not good. I bit my lips tightly. Its too dangerous to wander around the north right now. Dorempas death couldnt have been the work of just the remnants of the demonic church. Something intervened in his death. Based on the information given, the most likely thing is Ivars betrayal. Moreover, it is said that contact with Ivar was immediately severed after Dorempas death. Was he a traitor within the knights? It seems highly probable. But, it wasnt a perfect deduction. Ivar was originally from the Great Mountain Range, a warrior who lost his homnd and family to the demons. His burning desire for revenge and hatred had been proven on the battlefield over the past few years. So why would someone like him suddenly switch sides and kill the Dorempa? In the end, there are two possibilities Either Ivar was truly a traitor. Or he suffered a transformation like Dorempa. For now, I consider both possibilities. Anyway, its certain that something powerful enough to kill Dorempa lurks in the north. I quickly set the primary goal. Cuculli headed to the sanctuary for the baptism. For now, I will join Cuculli and help herplete her session and return safely. In the process, I will also protect the other children. And theres something else. Pia ryed significant testimonies from Euphemia and Yusi. But there was neither the time nor the need to focus on those who were far away. Whats important now is to reach the north as quickly as possible, thats all. Conversations can wait forter. I silently turned my body northward. The members who saw my posture all looked puzzled. Professor? Are you nning to run? Arent you going to use words? Only Noubelmag seemed to have guessed something, furrowing his eyebrows and biting his pipe. Words are unnecessary. Yes? I slowly nodded. Now Because Im faster. I spoke before they could even respond. You all head to Rosenstark. Under no circumstancese to the north. At my words, Kasim, Noubelmag, and Pia all opened their mouths simultaneously. But I didnt hear what they were saying at all. Kwaang- The sound of fierce wind tearing through the air was deafening. I be faster. I dont get tired. My steps find bnce. Paradox pushes me forward. Unique Ability of ck Hope: Activation of the Domain. The powerful force of gravity pulls ahead. It took no time at all to leave the Great Forest behind. One week. Circumnavigate the continent in one week. Fighting non-stop for 18 days and embarking on a long and arduous journey straight away was impossible even for Ted. It was a moment when I felt lucky to be a doppelganger. * * * Lucas used the familys ship to transport everyone to the surface. But that was just the beginning of the chase. The children were in a dilemma. Um how are we supposed to catch up with Cuculli? She must be far ahead by now. Carriages, horses, walking, everything is slow. It was Luke, who had been to the Wellington territory for amission, who came up with the idea then. Lets take the Magic Train. Huh? Theres a Magic Train in Wellington territory? Ive never heard of it before. There was a long line that the Duke of Wellington had installed for tourism and material transportation. A route long enough to cross the territory. The children hurriedly headed to that station. But I heard its not operational. The children stopped in dismay at the empty station. Although some station staff could be seen, notices indicating that the trains were not running were posted all over the building. But Luke was not at all surprised. He already knew that this struggling train industry had failed. And that the former Duke stubbornly opposed demolition and was barely maintaining the facility. They say a lot of money was wasted because of the obsession with speed. Luke grinned and pushed the blond boy who was following the group from behind. Go! [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Uh, okay. . . . So this is the taste of power. The children marveled anew with excitement. Gerald, Leciel, Ban, Evergreen, Luke, Karen who joined after hearing the news, and Lucas. The Magic Train ran only for these seven. Even the crew came out somewhere and provided service with sincerity. They seemed d to be working again, as smiles bloomed all around. So, after we reach the terminal, we can get a ride from a nearby station and run to North Hale, right? Gerald sucked his fresh orange juice through a straw and nced at one side of the seat. More precisely, at the boy who was crouching ufortably. Why did youe along? Because I felt like I would die in the hands of the principal if I stayed on the ind. Lucas couldnt forget the terrifying face of the principal he faced in Rosenstarks quarantine ward. She vented her anger at the culprit who ruined the career of the respected Hero, and Lucas, who was weak, almost wet himself. In fact, helping the children this time was a great act of courage for him. Uh, but still, why follow us all the way to the north? Why bother? Its a chance for atonement. Uh-huh. Ban intervened amidst the annoying looks directed at Lucas. Well, we can get more direct help like we are now, right? The children agreed with that statement. Thats true. Gerald, loosen your face a bit. Its hard to look at you. Damn, I cant be angry when Ban is being still. Of course, it was a fact that Lucas caused great trouble for the children. But it was also true that they were at an age where they could easily brush off deep resentment. The eyes directed at the boy who provided crucial help were much softer. Lucas was filled with new emotions as he spent time with his ssmates for the first time in a long time. That it was said to be on the way to save Cuculli. Evergreen provided the answer. Yeah. Why did she go? Because of the tribal chief? Yeah, probably, but we dont know exactly why Cuculli went to the north. But one thing is for sure, she wouldnt leave quietly. Theres probably a high probability of revenge. So well join Cuculli for now. If she wants revenge. Evergreens eyelids quivered once. It was due to empathizing with her. What if her father had passed away due to some conspiracy. If her father had been taken by some conspiracy, what would it have been like? The green eyes sank infinitely deep. I wouldnt dare stop you, but I might be able to help you. Since leaving Rosenstark, Lucas had noticed that his ssmates had grown a lot. A feeling of envy passed through the boys face along with a faint regret. But is there a way to find Cuculli? North Hale is vast, and human power doesnt reach well. It would be unrealistic to just search by word of mouth. Well, about that Evergreen wrinkled her freckled nose. She was about to call out something, and the next moment, she did. Shadow! A young wolf pup, who had been sniffing around in a corner of the train car, came panting towards them. No, it wasnt a pup anymore, it was about the size of an ordinary adult wolf. Having only nced at it briefly, Lucas simply mistook Shadow for a pet wolf. Its known that animals have a good sense of smell, but it wouldnt be enough to chase Cuculli in that vast territory. Hey, hes a Rune Wolf. Lucas tapped his knee. The sense of smell of a Rune Wolf was very famous. It wasnt just about having a good nose. It had a magical ability. The mystical creature had the conceptual power of finding engraved scents. As Evergreen petted Shadows head, she spoke. Remember when Shadow licked Cucullis finger with the wound at the drinking party? Ah Luke and Gerald, who were drunk, swallowed the rest of their words. The rest nodded vigorously. He will lead us to our troublesome friend. Panting- The moment Lucas reached out his hand with a tail wagging in front of him. Krrrrk- The train stopped. Lucas tilted his head in puzzlement. Whats going on? Why? I told them not to stop unless they were picking up passengers, but why did they stop? Before Lucas could finish his sentence, Footsteps echoed from the other end of the train corridor. The sharp sound of military boots with a pronounced click. Without anyone needing to say anything, the children spread out their senses. Ban was the fastest. Four knights and two civilians presumed to be staff. Luke followed behind. He had alreadypleted hisbat preparations. Its too few to call it a pursuit team. Probably people from the Wellington family who came to catch us after receiving amunication. Thunk- The door to thepartment opened simultaneously. Lucass brow furrowed as he spotted the familiar face at the front. Master. Step aside. I cannot. The Duke has personally instructed me to escort you and your friends. Do I have to decide whether to keep looking at my old mans face or face you? If Cuculli were here, he would have said, As expected, garbage doesnt go anywhere! with a fierce look. But the notorious troublemakers glory seemed to bepletely powerless now. I apologize. The knight bowed his head, but he reluctantly entered thepartment. It was then that Leciel, who had been dozing off the whole time, stood up. Naturally, everyones gaze focused on her fluttering red hair. A calm voice resounded. Just four of you. Charrurrk- The shape shifter held in the girls hand made a metallic sound as it transformed into a blunt club. It had a graceful curve, but everyone in thepartment was caught up in the illusion that the de was aimed directly under their throats. The Heart Sword, the rhythm of Hiyashins stances, nailed the knights of Wellington to the ground. One of the knights was so startled that he muttered without thinking. Monster. The responsibility for this. Leciel smiled lightly. The grandmother who didnt eat with her even once during her vacation. Just give it a try. Her crimson eyes then turned to her stunned friends. What are you doing. Is this your first train heist? Evergreen, Ban, and Luke chuckled simultaneously. As if. * * * Coincidentally, at the same time. Cuculli, whom they were eagerly chasing, was also facing an unexpected obstacle. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 185 Chapter 185 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 It had been a while since he left the Great Forest. After running for a while, I stopped to catch my breath and took out themunication bead. Beep- Themunication connected, and after a while. I could see two heads bent towards me. One was a deep blue. A half-white one that is sparsely empty here and there. Yussi spoke with a trembling voice. [I have nothing to say. Its because of my negligence. Please punish me.] The Duke of Wellingtons solemn voice followed. [My ipetent (the crackling, gritting sound was particrly loud) son has caused trouble again. I will definitely pay for this sin.] I hesitated to speak, but eventually sighed shortly in resignation. Yussi and Dukes bodies seemed to twitch simultaneously. It cant be helped. Its already done. I had no intention of ming them. Since she had to inherit the power of the Frost Dragon, it was a given that Cuculli had to head north. It would have been best to leave after gathering enough escort troops and preparations, but in the current situation where she had already left, Lucass handling couldnt be seen as entirely bad. Cuculli alone would have been too dangerous. If the children sessfully joined Cuculli, the danger would be reduced to less than half. They had grown unrecognizable. They should be able to ovee most threats. The problem was the emergence of the danger that directly defeated Dorempa. It should be fine for a while. It was a battle intense enough to kill Dorempa. No matter how strong the opponent was, they wouldnte out unscathed. Rather, it might be advantageous that the threat didnt give Dorempa time to recover and immediately headed north. Therefore, what I had to do was to catch up with them as soon as possible and ensure their safety. So far, it was an optimistic outlook. I tried hard to clear the imagination of the children being ughtered by unknown threats lurking in the north from my mind. And I tried to judge it objectively. If things went as I expected the north would be a battlefield as intense as the current Sector 1 within a short period. It was necessary to gather as much military force as possible to deal with it. Beyond themunication bead. I looked at the Duke and Yussi, who were not raising their heads. If you really feel guilty about this. [?] Theres something you need to do. After a few seconds of silence. [Please tell me anything.] [I promise to do my best.] I could hear the words I had been waiting for. * * * North Hale. Summer was the only season in the north where the sky was not covered with snow every day. Of course, if you went deeper into the north, along with the perennial snow, fierce snowstorms would chase away visitors, but at least the entrance where Cuculli arrived had pretty decent weather. A blue sky with white clouds drifting calmly. Land with patches of flesh exposed here and there. Cuculli stopped her horse and looked at the approaching silhouettes. At the same time, a faint smile appeared on the face of the girl who had been filled with fatigue. It was an unexpected encounter, but it was pleasant. Long time no see. You guys. Long time no see, Cuculli. In addition to the Frost Dragon tribe, there were many other tribes living in the north. The identities of the figures revealed in front of her were some of the chiefs of those small tribes. In other words, they were subordinates of Dorempa. She remembered them as they often showed friendliness like uncles during the tribe gatherings in the past. Cuculli asked with a happy voice. But what brings you all the way here? It doesnt seem like youre out hunting. There were too few subordinates gathered for a big hunt. Only then did an odd light dawn in Cucullis eyes. Huh? Whats going on? Come to think of it, only the chiefs and top officials of each tribe were gathered here. It was unusual for those who didnt leave the tribe to walk all the way to the entrance of the north. Cucullis mind quickly spun. Theyre all rted to the Baptism. One conclusion was quickly drawn. Are you here to escort me? There was a high probability that they were here for the purpose of escorting her to the Frost Dragon tribes sanctuary. Cucullis face brightened naturally at the thought. I never thought they woulde before our tribe. It was too difficult for her, an optimistic girl, to endure the pain of loss while running across the vast snowfield alone. It would be much better to be with someone. Moreover, if they were her fathers subordinates, she could also talk about old memories rted to her father. But it didnt take long for Cucullis smile to disappear. Mister. She looked at the ones blocking her path with disappointment. What are you doing? The chief of the Pr Bear tribe stepped forward, representing everyone with a mysterious expression. Cuculli. Im sorry. He was particrly close to Cuculli. When they were young, they used to go hunting and grill meat together. They even sparred with each other asionally. But now, Cuculli found the mans face very unfamiliar. He spoke with a face that seemed to be filled with guilt and yet somewhat relieved. You cant go to the sanctuary. Well stop you. Complete silence settled between them. Cuculli blinked her eyes a few times. Why? Freedom. We want to regain it. The chief of the Pr Bear tribe spoke forcefully, as if discussing a very important mission. Living a life bound by a great will is tiresome. Thats not life. We want to live ording to our own destiny. ording to our destiny. Cuculli scoffed aloud. The chief of the Pr Bear tribes face twisted slightly. Whats so funny? Isnt it funny if its not funny? The destiny he was talking about now refers to thew of the jungle and the dominance of the strong. Of course, even now, the tribes in the north generally follow such behavior patterns. Stronger tribes upy more resources and fertilend, while rtively weaker tribes tend to live in poverty. However, Dorempa set a minimum kindness for the unity of these tribes, and thanks to that, the weaker ones could breathe a little. Massacres and serious predations werepletely prohibited. The chief of the Pr Bear tribe was expressing dissatisfaction with these limited rights. In summary, they just wanted to do as they pleased. It was also a rebellion against the weakened Frost Dragon tribe after losing Dorempa. So did youe to stop me as soon as my father passed away? Ill say it again. Im sorry. But it cant be helped. Its to regain our lost freedom. Lost freedom. If Cucullisrades had seen her expression now, they would have been surprised. Her face, filled with contempt and anger, was directed at the chief of the Pr Bear tribe. Chaotic freedom is just chaos and eventually degeneration. To not know that, youre as foolish as a bear. The chief of the Pr Bear tribes eyes sank deeply at Cucullis changed tone. Everything will just return to the way it was. Thump- Cuculli dismounted from her saddle. The air was tense. Everyones gaze followed her every move. The girl smirked and then sharply hit the horses rear with her heel. Heeheehee- Watching the horse trot away, Cuculli sighed softly and ced her hand on the hilt of her sword. At the same time, the hands of the tribes surrounding her also reached for their weapons. ng- Amidst the clinking sound, Cucullis murmured words prated. As long as the demons exist, theres no way this world can return to the way it was. The reason the north was peaceful was that all the tribes were united under the control of the Frost Dragon Tribe. If the rtionships between the tribes regress to thew of the jungle, as the man describes. So if they fight and harm each other again. It wouldnt be long before the north fell into the hands of the demons. Why do they ignore an obvious tragedy because we are tempted by immediate indulgence? But Cuculli didnt bother to persuade the chief of the Pr Bear tribe. If you want order so badly, then have it your way. Swoosh- Cucullis sword was revealed. The weapons of the rebels were drawn as well. Those who had sparred with Cuculli before warned quietly. Be careful, everyone. Shes wielding a tricky weapon. We need to attack with a time dy since it covers a wide range. Although somewhat tense, everyone seemed confident of victory. And for good reason, Cuculli was not even twenty years old. It was inevitable that she would seemughable to those who had fought for twice as long. I roughly know her capabilities. Of course, it would be difficult one-on-one, but now they had a numerical advantage, so it would be stranger to anticipate defeat. Meanwhile, Cuculli lowered her stance and looked at the slowly approaching encirclement. Theyre underestimating me. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 They underestimated her. If Dorempa had lived as long as his given lifespan, and she had matured, they wouldnt have dared to do such foolish things face to face. They would have sworn loyalty to her, just as she did to her father. But now, in their eyes, Cuculli was a weakling, and unless they changed that perception, it would be difficult for her to survive in the north. Survival of the fittest, dominance of the strong. It was refreshing to face the ways of her homnd after a long time. But for some reason, she wasnt very pleased. Attack! Dont dy any longer! sh- The sunlight, reflected off the snow, met Cucullis bared fangs amidst the clouds. With a face that could beughing or crying, Cuculli swung her sword. . . . Huu- A white breath swirled and rose up into the sky. Cuculli looked down at her sword. Satisfied? Do you still desire order? There, the bloodied chief of the Pr Bear tribe was rolling in the snow, emitting deep groans. As the strongest one fell lifelessly, the others fled without looking back. They would probably flee to the south with their tails between their legs, taking their families with them. After attempting and failing to rebel against the Frost Dragon tribe, it was impossible to survive in the north. Truly a perfect victory. The chief of the Pr Bear tribe, trembling under her curved sword, waited for Cucullis decision with bated breath. It was hard to believe this situation, as his eyes darted frantically left and right. H-How did she be so strong in just half a year? But joy was hard to find on Cucullis face. She sat down beside the chief of the Pr Bear tribe, aligning their eye levels. Then, she spoke as if chewing her words. Ill ask again. Do you still desire order? I, I The chief of the Pr Bear tribe couldnt answer. He just kept his head down, unable to take his eyes off Cucullis hand holding the sword. Cuculli looked at him for a moment, then chuckled ruefully. Seems like youre quite stubborn too. The grip on the sword loosened. She turned around and muttered softly. Go. Never appear before me again. Next time, Ill really kill you. With permission granted, the chief of the Pr Bear tribe fled in a panic. Cuculli didnt even nce at his retreating figure. She just stood there, staring at the snowy ground beneath her feet. I hope this foolish tribe was thest one to have such thoughts. Coming to the north and severing ties with the past acquaintances. Cucullis eyshes were as red as the things blooming on the snowy ground. One thing she knew for sure. Trials of this kind would continue in the future. As someone who observed Dorempas life from the closest distance, she knew better than anyone the duty and responsibility she had taken on. They were stronger and more fearsome than any opponent with sharp ws and spear. Dad. Cuculli sat down, hugging her knees. And she murmured to herself as if making a vow. Im Dorempas daughter and the sessor of the Frost Dragon tribe. I have a duty and responsibility to protect thisnd. It was a homnd she had never felt cold in, yet her body trembled for some reason. Cuculli buried her head deeper between her knees. She knew time was short, but she couldnt leave immediately. Just a moment, lets stay like this for a moment. In the pitch-ck darkness, many things came to mind and disappeared in an instant. Father. Hero. And finally, friends. It felt like a distant past, like the time when she used to walk around the academy, giggling without a care in the world. At the same time, she missed them terribly. It was thest time she could be herself. I should have said goodbye. Baptism is a ritual in which the essence and memories of a dragon, such as its ego and strength, are blown into the recipient. The existence of the recipient inevitably bes diluted. Perhaps the next time she met her friends, she would be quite different. She should have thanked them for being together and being grateful for the time they spent together. Cuculli regretted it and gritted her teeth. Until she felt a familiar presence. But it was also the presence of those guys who had no reason to be in the north. Huh? The sound of horses can be heard. Cuculli stood frozen in the middle of the snowy field, focusing on the sounds of approaching horses. She couldnt even lift her head. Isnt that Cuculli? Yeah, Cuculli! That crazy girl! We finally found you. Youre dead. Ha, making trouble like an idiot. Finally, Cuculli gathered the courage to lift her head. She looked at the familiar silhouettes walking towards her on the snowy in with trembling eyes. *Squelch* Under the falling snowkes. Noses and ears, all stained red, were visible. Cuculli asked gloomily, Are you guys illusions? Its undoubtedly because she missed them so much that she was seeing hallucinations. *Thump* Leciel suddenly approached and punched Cucullis shoulder. Ow. This idiot. Gerald chuckled. Luke was alsoughing from behind. Stupid, mirages only exist in the desert! Cuculli sniffled again. Really? Is that so!? Evergreen pulled Cucullis head against his chest. Yeah, thats right. Were here. There was no more hesitation. Cuculli reached out and embraced her friends shoulders. She felt cold. These foolish guys had rushed here without even properly dressing for the cold. How cold and dangerous the north was. Ban smiled awkwardly and said, It was tough. Uuuuu. Ah. Cuculli knew that this moment would be a joke for a long time toe. But she couldnt stop it. Waaaah. The kids froze and stared stiffly as tears, like chicken droppings, flowed from Cucullis eyes. Tears flowed incessantly, melting the snow and prating the ground. Guys, Dad Dad Yeah. Dads dead. No one said a word. What should I do? Dads dead. He worked hard all his life and died. What should I do? Huh? They simply hugged the girl andforted her. Until the snow piled up softly. Cuculli cried without restraint. [TL/N: DAMN ] [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 186 Chapter 186 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Hmm. Cuculli, who had been crying uncontrobly in the arms of her friends, gradually regained herposure. The children formed a circle around her, enveloping her within. There was nothing but the sound of snow crunching all around. Everyone remained silent, waiting for her to calm down. Ah. Embarrassing. Cuculli blinked rapidly. In the absence of sadness and joy that had swept over her moments ago, a deep sense of embarrassment began to take over instead. Ahem. Her ears turning crimson. Cuculli subtly slipped out of the circle surrounding her. It was a relief that the other council members hadnt witnessed this scene. They would have surely doubted her qualifications as a sessor. Haha, this is the first time Ive cried like this. Ever! Oh, I see. Well, it happens. The children pretended not to notice her embarrassment, showing remarkable maturity. But for Cuculli, their consideration only made her more ufortable. It was only natural for her to desperately try to change the subject. But, why are you here? Lucas, who had been awkwardly watching them from behind, was taken aback. Uh, sorry. Huh? What a personality. Cuculli was surprised by the unexpected reaction as well. What possessed you this time? First semesters Ban? Possessed? No. I just. Just came to help. Lucas stopped himself from saying more. Hisst memory with Cuculli was when he was possessed by Enoch, happily beating her. Although they had ended uping all the way to the North, there was nofort in facing her now. Gerald chuckled. Youre embarrassing everyone. I-Im not embarrassed at all? Well, anyway, calm down. Thanks to him, we were able to get here so quickly. Gerald briefly exined the situation to Cuculli. The chaos at the resort due to her disappearance. The Principals order to close off the artificial ind. Despite all this, they managed to escape with Lucass help. Hijacking a train, evading pursuit, and so on. All the trials and tribtions they had endured to get this far were summarized and conveyed. Cuculli couldnt help but be dumbfounded by her friends recklessness. What were you thinking? One persons face naturally came to mind. What if the professor finds out? She would be free from the anger of the Principal and the Hero. There were also the peculiar circumstances of her baptism, and whether she could return to the academy in the first ce was uncertain. But her peers were different. They hade to the dangerous North without permission, right before the start of sses. Even if they returned now, it would be difficult to make it back in time for the start of the semester. In other words, a collective unauthorized absence was scheduled. This is a major incident. Cuculli sighed deeply, shaking her head. At least suspension, if not expulsion In the worst case scenario. The childrens bodies trembled simultaneously at her words, poking at the reality they had been avoiding. Ah Thats too far. If we all get kicked out, Rosenstark will suffer huge losses, right? Um, wouldnt it be enough to just get suspended? Even as they said this, their expressions showed they werent entirely sure. Even Gerald was already preparing the next n. Lucas, hows life as a dropout? Watching them, Cuculli sighed deeply. Alright, you guys should go back now. It wasnt an empty statement. Bying to the North, her friends had given her the courage to move forward. Their role was now over. It was now up to her. Cuculli didnt want her friends to stay in the dangerous North. Nor did she wish for them to be Heroes. If you go back now, itll probably just end with a little scolding. But despite hearing Cucullis words telling them to return, the children didnt even flinch. They just seemed lost in their own thoughts. Just as Cuculli was about to speak again, Karen pointed at the sky. Huh? The snow stopped. At her words, the children looked up at the sky with joyful faces. The heavy snowfall had suddenly ceased. Between the dispersing clouds, the strong sunlight poured down. As the warm breeze blew in, Karen rxed her tightly hunched body. Ugh, now it feels like we might survive. Its only the beginning and its already this cold. Karen, who hailed from the southern edge of the territory, was particrly sensitive to the cold, so this trip to the North had been quite tough for her. But now, thankfully, even she was loosening the straps of her coat as the weather quickly warmed up. Some observant ones chuckled, and that was when it happened. Its strange? Why is it suddenly getting warm like this? Can the weather change so drastically in just a few minutes? The children looked around in confusion only to find Cucullis expression frozen stiff, unlike anything they had seen before. Standing like a statue, Cuculli stared intently northward. Her lips had tightened. It was apletely different demeanor from just moments ago. Hey, guys. But Ban was quicker. Were not going. Sharp-witted. Cuculli red at them with narrowed eyes. Suddenly, the chatter of the children ceased rapidly. Silence once again enveloped the surroundings. Im really grateful that youvee this far. But now, its best for you to go back. Why? Because you dont know anything. You dont know whats happened, whats happening, or what will happen in the North. A quick retort followed. If we dont know, you can tell us. Dont be stubborn. Cuculli. Ban let out a tant sigh. It was the moment when Cuculli flinched at his unexpectedly strong gesture. You really think that we came here without any thought, n, or preparation. What? We knew that the North was bing dangerous. And we also have a hunch that youre the key to solving this storm and crisis. . So, thats why youre telling us to go back. You dont want us to get into danger because of you. Bans gaze shifted to the ground. The melted snow, stained with the blood of the Pr Bear Tribe chief, was seeping into the ground, leaving ominous and fiery traces. But there was no sign of fear or reluctance from him. Do you remember what the professor said when we first applied for extreme? Cuculli naturally recalled the pre-exnatory meeting. Our adversaries are monsters. Powerful monsters that threaten our peace and snatch away what is most precious to us. I want someone who wants to see the end of those creatures as my disciple. Someone who can sacrifice anything for that purpose. Extreme is a lecture prepared for such individuals. So, I hope you will consider it carefully before applying. Ban spoke slowly, with force. The thing that harmed your father, and the thing that is now threatening the North and scaring you, must be the same monsters professor mentioned. Things we have to end with our own hands. Like Enoch who killed his mother. mes flickered in Bans dark brown pupils. So, this isnt just because of you. Ban took a step closer to Cuculli. We are your friends and at the same time, we came to the North as disciples of Heroes to do what we can. Cuculli met his intense gaze without flinching. You are definitely the biggest reason we came to the North, but you have no right to stop us. Banid out all the words alone, as if bing the spokesperson for the children. But no one disagreed. Everyone already confirmed that they were on the same page. With a faint smile, Ban concluded his words. So lets do this together. Your duty and ours. Cuculli looked at the firm smile on the boys lips. And she realized that no amount of persuasion would work on him now. Just like her father did. And just as she was trying to do now. It was a face determined to fulfill its duty. So she could only grumble. You guys when did you grow up like this? All thanks to you. Fine. Cuculli looked at each of her friends standing on the snowy ins. Then she turned northward. It was your choice. Theres no useiningter I want to say that, but if it gets dangerous, you can always step out. No, you must leave. The children nodded. It wasnt to say, Lets do that, but to reassure Cuculli. Both she and the children knew. She couldnt stop them, and if Ban was representative of the children, she knew that they were all on the same page. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Grumbling, Cuculli sighed deeply again and continued. Lets go for now. Theres no time. Ill exin when we get there. What about the destination information? We need to go to our tribes shelter first. But ultimately. After a long sigh, Cuculli said the next words. The Sanctum. The Sanctum is our final destination. What is that? Seeing Cucullis serious expression, the children could only swallow their questions. . . . ng- Karen held the leash of Rune Wolf, who was vigorously running on the snowy ins. The creature with its fluffy fur seemed to enjoy the sensation of the cold snow under its feet, jumping around energetically. But unfortunately, there was no time to let it enjoy now. Shadow! Be good. Ill let you y as much as you wantter. ng ng- Oh my, why is he like this? Karen tightened the leash that had be taut. They had agreed to take turns handling Shadow. Despite being obedient just a moment ago, Shadow started misbehaving, causing Karens expression to sour. Hey, we need to go quickly! Karens gaze darted back and forth between her friends who were walking ahead and Shadow, who was stubbornly resisting. Why are you being so stubborn? There was nothing behind them when she looked back. Only the clear sky and sparkling snow-covered ground. Even when she extended her senses, there was nothing to detect. It was a moment when Karen looked around with an uneasy expression. Karen! What are you doing over there? At Geralds urging, Karen pulled on the leash with renewed vigor. Aooo- Shadows howling echoed in the empty snowfield. Thud- It was only a momentter that a new set of footprints appeared on the path they had just passed. * * * Meanwhile The first hindrance the Hero encountered urred on the evening of the second day after leaving the Great Forest. Using all his skills in paradox, magic, and domain, he maximized his speed, repeatedly obtaining horses from nearby cities or towns whenever his strength ran out. Alright, at this rate, I should reach the northern border in less than a week. Since he was traveling alone, there was no need to allocate time for thepanions rest. The power of paradox proved to be more formidable than expected, significantly shortening the journey. As he was receiving real-time reports on the childrens whereabouts from Duke Wellington and Yussi, the Hero felt a bit relieved. Return the children before anything happens and help ensure that Cucullis baptism is safe and sessful. It was around the time when such optimistic views and ns were being made. Suddenly, an arrow rain poured down on the road. ! His reaction was dyed because he had exhausted all his magic. Plus, he hadnt anticipated the attack itself. Who would have expected to be attacked while still on the main road before sunset? Especially by coborators. At first, he thought they were thieves because of the arrow rain. But they seemed to have no intention of hiding, spraying demonic energy brazenly. Hes here. Attack! For the master! Some of them seemed to be so drenched in demonic energy that they appeared to be out of their minds. They werent particrly threatening in terms of numbers or strength, but My horse got injured. Of all things, the horses leg was injured. It wasnt a coincidence. The Hero recalled the image of a man who was persistently attacking the horses legs even though his body was split in half. Cut the horse first! Even if you die, leave at least one wound! Come to think of it, the arrow rain wasnt aimed at him but at the horse. Their weapons were all trapping devices likes. Their intentions were clear. Theyre trying to dy my arrival in the North. The closer he got to the North, the more intense the hindrance became. The size of the enemies climbing steeply. The Hero couldnt help but wonder even more. Whats the catch? The number of elites and coborators of the Demonic Church that he cut down was more than dozens. asionally, demons from the West, who were lurking, were also mixed in. It was a waste of resources to consume such significant power for the purpose of dying time, not for any great purpose. They must have lost a lot of power in the demonic realm. This was an act of throwing away everything the demons had carefully built in the human world. To deliberately dy my arrival. His eyes narrowed. Naturally, such thoughts came to mind. Could they know about the baptism? If not, it didnt make sense for them to block him so desperately. It must be to prevent me from reaching the North, then take advantage of that opportunity to harm Cuculli and threaten the North. Of course, it was an inference that I couldnt bepletely sure of. The existence of the baptism was known only to a few tribes and the core leadership of the Dawn Knights. But If Im right, then this all fits. The thought that Ivar might be a traitor made his spine chill. Considering that killing Dorempa might have been the starting point of some borate scheme, the Hero felt a chill down his spine. Even if he deliberately abandoned the horse and took to the mountain paths, they somehow managed to follow him or wait ahead, behaving annoyingly. It seemed like there was a tight surveince andmunicationwork in ce. Therefore, he even considered quickly changing into a bird or something simr and flying rapidly toward the North. But theres something I need to do before that. The Hero looked at the ambush forces pouring out of the woods, extending his senses toward them. From the scattered powerful magic sensations, it seemed that there were intermediate-level or higher demons mixed in. They even called the manager of the nearby stake. But his gaze didnt linger on the demons. His eyes were fixed on one of the churchgoers standing behind. Finally. He found it. A follower who could wield illusions. There! Prepare for battle! Dont gather, spread out! Dont forget the goal! The Hero took a deep breath. Lets sort this out. The demons are trying to disrupt Cucullis baptism. It might have been unexpected for them that the children joined, but theyll probably try to eliminate them together, thinking its the right thing to do. Their n for that must be progressing steadily. But he had too little information at the moment. He had no information about what kind of scheme they were up to. Heading to the North without any information was a mistake. I need to know when, how, and through whom theyll carry out their ns. So, he had been searching for answers all along. Season: Infinity. Creating a new technique. The Heros gray eyes scattered a dreary light. A chill began to flow from his body, enough to make even the church members and demons who had prepared for death flinch. They looked at the Hero with widened eyes. Did the Hero use such a technique? Magic? No, itspletely different. What is that? Cucullis cold energy is added to the base, Bans senses are added, and then they are processed into the form of Karens seeking arrow. Finally, Bryces magic of explosion and Solintails archery technique of dispersion were added. This is a new form of technique. Would you like to save the new technique? Please specify the technique name. Infinite Style: Cast Annihtion. Crackle- Thirty ice arrows emerged into the air without any incantations or gestures. The moment they hit their target, they exploded with the worst killing power, scattering shrapnel inside the body. With the detection of Ban embedded, it was impossible for them to evade it with their skills. It was a technique that the Hero, in his position of needing to break through them as quickly as possible, would choose. Swish- The Heros hand, which had been pointing towards the sky, gradually descended parallel to the ground. His lips moved at the same time. The rest is unnecessary. Crack- Ice arrows streaked across the sky. Some of the surrounding forces hastily dispersed, while others charged forward, facing death head-on. But it was all in vain. They all met the same fate. Gah! Aargh! Thunk! The ice arrows floated through the air like living fish, tracking down the enemies, and if they so much as brushed against their flesh Crackle- Ice flowers bloomed inside their bodies. Even demons with strong regenerative abilities were torn apart in an instant, writhing on the ground. Heugh, h-heuggh. After themotion subsided, only two remained standing on the ground stained with red and ck blood. A member of the Demonic Church. The Hero and the lingering aura of Enochs Miasma. There was no need to mix words. Thud- The Hero propelled himself towards the bastard and grabbed his terrified face with his right hand, bringing him to his knees on the ground. Manifesting Enochs Miasma. The answer lies within this. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 187 Chapter 187 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The demon king worshippers have unwavering faith in each other. Strength and loyalty based on faith. If it was the order of the religious leader, they would throw their lives like straw. It was needless to say for those of executive rank or higher. The religious leader probably assured that they wouldnt open their mouths to any torture. Even when the past suppression of the Demonic Church seeded and many prisoners were secured, the results obtained through interrogation were minimal. So, even officers who know so much would have been easily exposed. Im saying this without knowing what abilities I have. Ugh. Sssss- Harvesting the ability of Enoch, I looked down. A man with his eyes turned upside down, trembling all over. Illusion is a secret that disrupts the opponents mental world. Maybe itll take a few minutes toe to his senses. Squelch- After dealing with the bastard, I began to n for the future based on the newly acquired information. Iris of Lace showed arge map in front of them. Calling for northern continent outreach. One judgment was made faster than anything else. Ill have to give up thend route for now. The demons seemed to be deploying all avable forces from the west. Even the demons managing the western stakes. The demon army they led. Even the mercenaries of Canis, who would do anything for money, were hired to take charge. A grand. I was convinced that the demons were trying to interfere with the baptism. They wouldnt have suffered such losses unless it was for such a goal. Maybe the ice that blocked the Demonic Realm and North Hail has melted a lot. This happened when Frost Dragons power, which was freezing the northern part, weakened due to the loss of its medium (Dorempa). Although Cuculli would recover if she were baptized, the demons would not leave it alone. They would already be involved in obstruction work. Disruption work must already be underway. In other words, the probability of breaking through the blocked march routes soon due to the harm and severe weather was high. The moment I thought about it. I suddenly realized a fact and couldnt help but be shocked. It was a valid hypothesis. This time, they n topletely push the north. What if part of the Demon Kings armyes directly over the sea route? The northern tribes, weakened by the loss of Dorempa and weakened cohesion, would never be able to withstand it. The weather and terrain that had been a natural fortress had also weakened. Although it was too bold and aggressive stance considering the current situation where the main army is under attack by the Eastern Coalition Werent demons originally such people? What Euphemia feared, the counterattack aimed at the gap in military forces, was unfolding in such a cunning form. Events were unfolding like gears meshing together. Surely they had been nning and designing for Dorempa for a long time. But we werent just idling either. I immediately took out themunication bead. While heading north, I had prepared countermeasures intermittently. Beep- Beyond the shingmunication bead, a face that had be quite familiar appeared. It was Duke Wellington. [As you requested, we have prepared the mercenaries and knights recruited on Her Majestys orders. The forces of our vassals will also march with us.] Powerful noble forces were about to march. Originally, they were forces to support the Eastern Coalition, but now was not the time to consider such things. If the north copsed like this, the Eastern Coalition would be meaningless. [Her Majesty says that you have spoken well, so I feel relieved.] To the officials, Ted Redymer was a famous general who received greater loyalty than the emperor. They immediately provided the troops they had gathered. Next in line was Yussi. [Hero. Ships and crews are ready. Weve prepared them all as elite and top-notch.] The ships and crews gathered by Yussi, mobilizing Glendors financial resources. They would swiftly transport troops along the Payrun River to the northern coast. And finally. [Its Nyhill. The Shadows are ready.] Just a few days ago. Feeling guilty for not properly guarding the children, Nyhill had tried to track them down right away. But I stopped her. Ill chase the children, so I want you to take on a separate mission. Yes. Ill do anything. I asked her to gather all the agents of the covert service who could move immediately. Before leaving, the emperor had delegated more authority to me than I had expected. Thanks to that, the summons went smoothly. So the so-called special forces were prepared. They were supposed to scatter and rally the northern tribes, but. The n just changed. You guys are going to hit the western stakes from now on. [Well obey.] Normally, even if we gathered as many agents as possible, it would have been impossible to conquer the stakes with just that power alone. But now, most of the western stakes were in a state of neglect, almost like vacant houses with no managers. The security was soxpared to usual. Moreover, the agents of the Shadows assigned to the suppression mission were specialized in various infiltrations and explosions. When the demonse to their senses, the major stakes will already be stripped. Ironically, the siege set up to stop me would end up working against them like poison. Of course, they hadnt overlooked such losses either. But the most important part was that I had no intention of fitting into their ns, even if they incurred losses. I stored all my belongings in key of Valber and tied it with a cord. Its been a while since I polymorphed like this. What I needed to remember was the essence of flying beast. Replicating the structure of bones, muscles, blood vessels, everything that made up its body. Whooosh- My body rapidly decreased in size. A strange sensation prated my entire body as the sound of bones echoed incessantly. The transformation was quicklypleted. I looked at the long and powerful wings that were where my arms were supposed to be. Whenever the sleek and glossy feathers fluttered, they trembled thinly. The feathers were thick enough to withstand the cold in the northern part of the continent. Try your best to surround me. Whooosh- I soared almost vertically. There was no such thing as a siege that couldpletely confine a doppelganger in this world. * * * Gerald grumbled wearily. Ugh, this is really tough. Cuculli, who was leading the way, turned to him and spoke in a tone that was strangely not reproachful butforting. Hang in there a little longer. Well arrive soon. Really? Gerald, looking around cautiously, cautiously spoke. Your tribe stays in a ce like this? They had reached a point where the deep blue sea met the coastline. It was a ce where sharp rocks, fierce waves, and barren winds existed. Im not sure where the Frost Dragon tribes dwelling is in such a rugged ce but Cuculli was walking with confidence. Ban with a weak smile, interjected into the conversation. Still, we arrived faster than I thought. It took them only three days to get from the northern outskirts to here. If the weather hadnt been mild, they could never have passed through North Hail at this speed. Ban, with his eyes narrowed against the biting wind, looked out at the waves crashing against the cliffs. Indeed, worthy of being called the end of the world. Shooooo- The sea was tinged with two colors as if someone had drawn a boundary line. One side was the sea where the ice had melted, and the other side was the original sea. It was the density difference that created such a mysterious spectacle. Commonly known as the Unmixed Sea. How many people among the living have seen this spectacle? Usually, they would have passed away without even knowing such a ce existed. Wow. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Im seeing the sea for the first time. Its iparable to a river. I wonder how far it stretches. The children were immersed in the mood of adventure, forgetting their fatigue. At that moment. Cuculli, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped and turned to look at the children. Hey, gather around here. They were standing on the edge of a steep cliff. The children looked at the girl who stopped at a precarious position, as if she would fall off with just one wrong step, with puzzled eyes. Um, we dont want to go there, do we? Cuculli chuckled. Im sorry, but we have to go down from here. This is the path? Surely not. The children hesitated and approached to look down below. It was a clear morning without sea fog. Thanks to that, despite the distance, they could immediately spot the small fishing vige along the coastline. Is that where the Frost Dragon tribe lives? It was a picturesque scene that one would want to capture in a painting, but the childrens faces paled in real time. The dizzying precipice before them. Gerald copsed to his knees, his gesture not exaggerated, but his palms were soaked with sweat. Sorry, but this is as far as I go. I, me too. Is this really the only way? . Even Leciel retreated without a word. The fear of high altitude is ingrained in instinct. Even the bravest Luke uttered a word with a hint of nausea. If we slip, well probably fall for a minute. Cuculli shook her head incredulously at his words. No, who said were going down bare-handed? Huh? Her finger pointed to a device hidden in the crevice of the rocks. Whats that? The children squinted their eyes to figure out the identity of it. Ban groped and said. I-Is that a zipline? No way, right? Ding dong! Why is something used for training here? The children looked at the thick wire, handles, and what seemed to be a brake device. Everything was there, but it seemed inadequate for traversing a cliff hundreds of meters deep. Geralds lips trembled. Arent there any protective gear? It seems dangerous. Ah, what protective gear? Not needed. Cuculli smirked. No one gets injured in zip line idents! Whooooosh- The wire wiggled like a snake in the sudden gust of wind. Oh my. As the children froze like rocks, Cuculli skillfully climbed onto the zip line tform. Whooo- She stood on the tform, looking out at the horizon, breathing calmly. The sunlight gently illuminated Cucullis pale face. Just a moment. Karen, who was standing far away, threw out a question. Its fine going down but since this seems like a one-way trip, how do wee back up? Cuculli hesitated for a moment. It was a question that brought back distant memories for her. Back then, when she asked the same question, Dorempa had said this to her. If you cant climb back up a cliff like this without gear, you dont deserve to go out into the world. Hearing those words, the children fell silent. It was only then that they realized what kind of vige they were going to. Thump- Cuculliughed as she grabbed the handle of the zip line. Scared? [PR/N: equivalent to No balls?] No one could be free from that magic spell. . . . Do you have any spare pants? Why pants? Youre not? No! Shadow is acting up! As Gerald struggled with the urge to jump into the sea, the children looked around. A zip line tform was located a bit away from the entrance to the coastal vige, allowing them to take in the scenery at a nce. Simr thoughts arose simultaneously in their minds. Its more ordinary than I thought Warriors practicingbat, a training ground stained with blood, the heads of fallen enemies. These were the things they had imagined. However, what unfolded before their eyes was a peaceful coastal vige bathed in morning sunlight. Of course, they couldnt predict what it would be like once they entered, but up to this point, it was definitely unexpected. Thud- A series of figures emerged from the entrance of the vige. The children were about to ask Cuculli who they were, but they closed their mouths when they saw her expression. Cuculli looked at the approaching man at the forefront with a furrowed brow, as if realizing that something was wrong. As a result, the childrens gaze also focused on him. Is he a warrior of the Frost Dragon Tribe? Doesnt he look strangely simr to Cuculli? Could he be an uncle? He held arge double-handed axe in one hand and had several smaller axes strapped to his body. His wrinkled face was covered in scars and a beard. His expression wasnt particrly fierce, but the smell of blood was strong emanating from him. He was taller than Luke and Ban, thergest among the group, and even bigger sideways. The children noticed a slightly smaller horn sticking out from one side of his headpared to Cucullis. Wow, he looks fierce. It was as if the image of a demi-human warrior from their imagination hade to life. His sharp azure eyes were fixed on them. At that moment, a damp feeling began to rise from below. Sister! Sister Cuculli! It was a rare experience to doubt both their eyes and ears at the same time. * * * On the cliff. A pair of eyes looked down at the coast. A low murmur followed. Confirming the primary target point. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 188 Chapter 188 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Panting- As Shadow entered the vige, he sniffed around here and there. The fish on the drying rack seemed tempting, and he circled around them. When his nose pointed straight towards the nearby tent, Gerald quickly grabbed his leash and pulled him back. Hey! Where do you think youre going! Even if they were tough demi-humans, they would panic if a wolf suddenly poked its head into their tent. Gerald, barely managing to stop Shadow, wiped his sweat and followed his friends ahead. So this is where Cucullis tribe spends their summers. It feels somewhat lonely here. If something like that happened, I wouldnt be able to be energetic. The vige interior was much quieter and more serene than expected. Its an atmosphere where you naturally get noticed, as if you were at a library. The children stared at the Cuculli walking a few steps ahead with a slightly ufortable expression. As soon as she entered the vige, she stuck close to her brother and whispered something softly. No intention to interfere in family conversations. The children quietly followed behind, observing their surroundings. By the way, its not just the Frost Dragon tribe here, is it? Rabbit ears. Fox tails. Deer antlers. Demi-humans with different appearances poked their heads between the tents, repeatedly making eye contact with them. Curiosity could be felt in their gaze, but there was more wariness. They were representatives of various minor tribes from the north. They may seem weak and frail at first nce, but They seem quite sturdy considering they all came down this ridge line. Gerald muttered. Cuculli chimed into the conversation again then. They must havee on cargo lifts, right? Theres something like that? Then why did we ride this crazy ridge line? It was fun, wasnt it? No, we had to climb upter. Well, thats just for the elderly and weak. Young, strong folks like us shouldnt ride. Yeah, thats how she always was. Gerald sighed deeply. Alright, enough, is the conversation over? Yeah, mostly? The spot where Cuculli yfully tapped stopped at the cone-shaped tent in the center of the vige. It looked the most splendid and spacious among the tents in the vige. Will you stay here for a while? Huh? Where are you going? I have somewhere to go. You. Cuculli smiled broadly every time she finished speaking. Alright, go ahead. The children didnt bother to ask further and went into the tent. Tap- The small light emitted by the central furnace illuminated its interior dimly. Various luxurious decorations and totems revealed their presence beneath it. Their gaze was fixed on the chair made of pure white bones it felt like a throne. Only then did they realize whose tent it was. . . . Five minutes ago. As they entered the vige, Cuculli threw the question that had been on her mind to her brother. Hey, where did all the other siblings go and why are you here to greet me? W-well its a bit of a long story. Dorempa had over thirty children. The reason was to have a suitable child to inherit the power of the Frost Dragon, and the gruff man who came to greet Cuculli was none other than Waldiff, youngest of the thirty. When she was born, he was still in his mothers womb. Just seven months apart from Cuculli, but because of her firm grasp on military matters since she was young, Waldiff was extremely respectful towards her. Can we hurry up? Im losing my patience. Seeing Cuculli clenching her fist, Waldiffs massive body instinctively recoiled. I-Ill tell you. Its its just In fact, despite his size, he was so weak-hearted that he was called Waldiff the Coward. The reason Cuculli had subtly taken care of Ban during the first semester was because he seemed to ovep with her younger sibling. Now, although he had grown into a fine warrior, his old self would inevitably surface in front of Cuculli. But are you sure its okay? Waldiffs gaze shifted behind Cuculli. He seemed concerned about theirpanions. Cuculli nodded. Its fine. Theyre not eavesdroppers. They can hear if they want. It doesnt matter. Wow youve built quite a close friendship in just a few months. Do you really want to die? Sorry! After hastily summarizing the events in the Frost Dragon tribe vige after Dorempas death, Waldiff exined to Cuculli. Sister and the brothers left a few days ago. They left a few days ago? Why? Well they all went out to search for Fathers body. Search. Cucullis expression quickly darkened. As Waldiff pitied his sister, he continued his exnation. We easily reached the ce where Father fought until he died. Dorempa fought until he reached hisst breath. The traces of it were not easy to hide. Through investigation and exploration, they were able to find Fathers body in a remote area in the north. It was in the midst of the devastated Factory. The cracked ground and traces of ice melting over hundreds of meters indicated how fierce the battle had been. Listening to the exnation, Cuculli gritted her teeth. So? Did you find him? With reddened eyes, Waldiff shook his head. We couldnt find his head. And not all of the torso It was a mess. We tried our best to retrieve what we could. Tried your best but what? We couldnt retrieve everything. Cucullis eyes narrowed. Waldiff continued with a grim expression. Seeing the grim state of the body, her siblings, in anger, left to seek revenge right there. Only Waldiff had said to wait until Cuculli returned, but they didnt listen. The children of Dorempa were all close. They were already heartbroken to burden Cuculli, who was practically the youngest, with the baptism. They probably never intended to burden her with revenge. Waldiffs eyes trembled fiercely as he recalled the memories of that time. Big brother told me to guard the vige, to greet you So, I came back alone. To the vige. Im sorry. Cuculli asked calmly. Where? Well, you see,munication is as good as dead, so I sent a pigeon, but theres been no reply yet No, not about the siblings. About the body. Waldiff avoided her gaze. Do you really want to see? Waldiff. Cucullis eyes gleamed blue. Waldiff couldnt argue anymore. Ill guide you. . . . Cuculli stood in front of Dorempas body. She could recognize the lump of flesh in front of her as Dorempa because of the blue scales attached here and there. Apart from that, it was hard to recognize the appearance from his lifetime, even after washing her eyes. Maybe thats why she could remain rtively calm. No, I have to stay calm. Cuculli blinked her eyes quickly. Her blurry vision quickly returned to normal. Thunk, thud- The rhythm of the blood dripping from her hand and the tears streaming from her eyes created a strange beat. Ah, geez. Waldiff sighed, turning his eyes away from his sisters desperate figure. When Cuculli approached with a cold expression, it was right after that. The body tells many stories more than one might think. If observed carefully, one could unearth the secrets it held. Cuculli began to scrutinize the body as if she didnt want to miss a single clue and soon seeded in realizing something. There are two assants. There werepletely different types of scars. Dorempas body was torn into several pieces as if by something extremely sharp, leaving some non-blunt marks in some parts. It looked like marks made by gauntlets with des attached to the knuckle part. Especially these wounds. Theyre incredibly suspicious. A hole pierced through the torso caught Cucullis attention. Dorempas body, which possessed a toughness surpassing even diamonds, was pierced through from front to back. It meant a tremendously powerful blow had hit him But Cucullis eyes narrowed. If it were Fathers skills, he wouldnt have been hit by such an obvious attack. No one could unleash such a powerful attack without preparation. If Dorempa had been prepared, he would have dodged it by flying up into the sky or redirected it. Therefore, these wounds Its clear they were struck by surprise. Cuculli recalled a mans face naturally. [Hello, youre this gruff mans daughter. Im Ivar. Call me Uncle Ivar.] [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 [Im on a very important mission. I cant tell you what it is.] Through themunication bead, the barbarian warrior who spoke friendly greetings, Ivar Waitanka. His tribal name was Roaring Wind, wasnt it? As a member of the famous Dawn Knights, she knew his abilities well. He was said to fight with sharp wind-shaped magic surrounding his body. Cuculli murmured her conclusion with a stern face. A traitor. He was a traitor. She needed to inform the Hero and the human leadership of this fact as soon as possible. Ah. Cuculli reflexively lowered her hand, which had been raised to take out themunication bead. Communication was currently impossible in the north. It was natural. Communication magic converted the sound waves of speech into mana to transmit them far away, and then converted them back into sound for listening. But now, in the north, where Dorempa was dead and the energy of the Frost Dragon was rampant, the mana in the atmosphere was chaotic. Communication couldnt be smooth. It was like trying tomunicate via magic in a highly magical area. Darn it, I guess Ill have to send dispatch. Cuculli quickly sorted out her ns in her mind. First, she would spread the news, then head straight to the sanctuary. The distance between the vige and the sanctuary was short. She can receive baptism soon. With that power, rescue the brothers who are in danger, and seek revenge on Ivar and another viin. It was the moment when Cuculli was about to leave her seat. Waldiff? Sister. Waldiff blocked her way. His light blue eyes contained both pity and anxiety. Cuculli realized what Waldiff was about to say and frowned. Cant you think about it again? What else is there to think about? Everything is already decided. Move. Its urgent. But Waldiff didnt move from his spot. There are formidable enemies lurking outside that could harm father. We dont know when they might attack. So, we should receive baptism a little faster. Move aside. Cuculli pushed Waldiffs chest with her hand. Even though he wavered, he stood in front of Cuculli again. Will this tribe really be safe just because you receive baptism? What are you trying to say? Im asking if its necessary for you to fight. You. When Cucullis eyes turned fierce, Waldiff flinched. The concern for his sister made it impossible for him to step back. The situation in the north has deteriorated much faster than father expected. The tribes who know how to fight are all looking for a chance to leave, and we dont know what happened to our brothers and sisters. In this situation, you dont have to bear the obligation alone. Enough. What needs to stop is you. This is I dont want meaningless deaths anymore! Waldiff stopped the rising hand of Cuculli, his trembling voice and stubborn attitude were not there anymore. Are you crying? Cuculli smiled bitterly and reached out her hand to Waldiffs eyes. His big shoulders trembled. Waldiff sobbed and murmured. Escape is also an option As a direct descendant of the chief, he knew well about baptism. How terrible and close to a curse the ritual was. Its just like dying. When receiving baptism, Cucullis entire being would be engulfed by the spirit of the dragon. With so much at stake, she would dedicate all her remaining life to protecting this harshnd, just like their father. Think again. Huh? No one is forcing you to receive baptism anymore. Cuculli smiled gently and said to her younger brother. Waldiff. Yes. Not everyone can live by choice. The weight of her words made Waldiff hesitate to argue He just sobbed. He realized it was impossible to stop Cuculli. No, he already knew. Along with missing his sisters heartyughter more than anything, he knew. It was the moment when Waldiffs giant body copsed to the ground. Thud- An uninvited guest burst into the tent. Waldiff, who had been crying, quickly drew out his axe and aimed it towards the entrance. Who are you! Hmm? His attitude softened as he confirmed the identity of the uninvited guest. Cucullis eyes also widened. Snow Rabbit Tribe? It was an old woman from the Snow Rabbit Tribe, who seemed to find it difficult to even walk. Wrinkles were densely packed on her thin, aged skin. Her eyebrows were all gone, making it difficult to read her expression. She stood still, staring at Cuculli with unfocused eyes. I-Im sorry! Im sorry! Ill take her out right away. Then, a small girl from the Snow Rabbit Tribe appeared and grabbed the old womans sleeve, trying to pull her outside. She was a remarkable girl with a severed tail and impressive ears. Cuculli looked at her sister and asked. Who is she? Can you exin? Shes the former chief of the Snow Rabbit Tribe As you can see, shes not in good condition. She arrived in the vige with some members of the Snow Rabbit Tribe not long ago. Despite the girls efforts to pull her, the old woman, using all her strength, didnt budge. She just kept staring at Cuculli without any movement. The smell of medicinal herbs brushed against Cucullis nose. It was the scent of herbs used by the shamans in the north. Hmm Wait a minute. Cuculli recalled that she had heard about her long ago. She was known for incessant prophecies, eventually being stripped of her chieftaincy. Except for that, she wasnt a particrly bad leader, so she stayed in the tribe, providing fortune-telling for visitors as a pastime. I didnt expect to meet a monster from old stories here. Cuculli looked at her with a strange feeling. And she realized that her cracked lips were slowly smiling. You cant go now. What? I said you cant go now. Waldiff and Cuculli both twitched at the same time. What? Young dragon. We must wait until the hawk arrives. Sigh. Cuculli sighed irritably. What is it after Waldiff today? She didnt have time for this now. She had to protect her siblings, protect this vige, and further protect the continent in crisis. There was no time to listen to the nonsense of the ipetent shaman rambling on about herbs. Yes, Ill keep that in mind. Step by step Cuculli, who had left her seat, headed straight for the tent of the Dorempa, where her friends were waiting. It was time to bid farewell. . . . Meanwhile, the Demonic Church leader was waiting with her troops for Cuculli to leave for the sanctuary. I didnt expect to learn the location of the Frost Dragon Tribes vige so easily. The contribution of Malekias second ally, the infiltrator Okultus, was significant. As a confidant of themander, he was a demon of a level far above his rank. Thanks to Okultuss veil of concealment, they could follow the children without anyone knowing. If it werent for him, they would have surely been discovered by the sensitive senses of Ban or Lecied. Oooom The Demonic Church leader looked down at the coastal vige beyond the shimmering veil. Hurry Hurry to the sanctuary, Cuculli. The moment the location of the sanctuary is revealed will be the end of the Frost Dragon Tribe. Satisfied, the Demonic Church leader shifted her gaze to the horizon. By now, the demonic troops crossing the sea were scheduled tond on this coast. When the giantse, any resistance will be futile. While Malekias first subordinate and his leading troops turned the vige into a wastnd, she nned on destroying the Frost Dragon Tribe and the rest of the riffraff. She was nning to tidy up Cuculli, the children, and the sanctuary. Thats how the great feat would be aplished. Ugh, finally. The Demonic Church leader stretched vigorously. The past few days, she had been tirelessly busy day and night killing off the inferior children of Dorempa. Scattering the corpses of Dorempa was quite effective. Those bastards roamed the north without distinction, and to her, who had also dealt with the Dorempa, those children were very easy prey. Thus, except for Cuculli and the Frost Dragon Tribe below, all those who had even a little potential to inherit the power of Frost Dragon had disappeared. Ah, how smooth it is. No one could ruin this design just before itspletion. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 189 Chapter 189 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Cuculli, who had left the tent with her fathers body, headed towards where his friends were. Despite his hurried steps, there was no ce in his heart that feltfortable. The voices of Waldiff and the old woman echoed incessantly in his mind. Running away is the only option You cant go now. Had she ever considered refusing to be baptized? But this was an obligation she couldnt avoid. She had to fulfill it quickly to protect her precious ones from the threat. Cuculli shook her head to clear her mind of distracting thoughts. Tap-tap- It was then, from behind, that she heard urgent footsteps. Wait a moment! Cuculli turned her head to see who called her. A young fox girl who was supporting the old woman was rushing through the tents towards him. Um, excuse me! Please wait a moment. What is it? The girl, who had stopped in front of Cuculli, spoke urgently. My name is Ilya. Thats not what Im curious about. Cuculli scratched her temple. Alright, go ahead. Why did you call me? Because theres something I have to tell you Since Im really busy now, maybeter? No, its a prophecy! Ah Cuculli furrowed her brow. Just when she was trying to dismiss it from her mind, what was this? Okay. Whats this prophecy about? The tribal chiefs prophecy Although it often misses, sometimes ites true. Cucullis face showed slight annoyance. Hey. Ever heard the saying Even a blind squirrel finds a nut? Prophecies are usually like that; they throw a bunch, and one of them is bound to stick. Is that not it? Well, who knows? Want me to give it a shot? If you dont move right now, a big bump will appear on your head. Shall we see if ites true or not? Ilya instinctively covered her head. P-Please dont hit me! Watching her reaction, Cuculli sighed heavily. What am I doing, messing with a kid I barely know? Alright, fine. What do you want to say? Make it quick. A while ago, I heard a prophecy too. Itpletely came true. Even in the face of Cucullis skepticism, Ilya persisted in her words. Her attitude intrigued Cuculli. What do you mean? Ilya briefly recounted the story. When our family decided to leave the North and migrate to the human world, the tribal chief earnestly warned us not to go. It was forbidden. Of course its dangerous for powerless tribes. Yes, although our parents insisted on the n Ilyas red pupils flickered momentarily. Cucullis gaze lingered on her partially severed ears and tail. She could guess what had happened to her family without even hearing it. Anyway, the night before we left, the tribal chief left me with a cryptic message. A cryptic message? Ilya cleared her throat and imitated the old womans voice. The moment the sun that had set rises again, the untimely white night wille, the only chance to return home. When that timees, never leave the foxs side. For a thrown prophecy, its surprisingly specific, isnt it? Cuculli smirked. What a load of nonsense. I didnt know what it meant until the situation arose. Ilya learned the true meaning of the prophecy near the factory. When Larzs re exploded against the factorys barrier, emitting a bright light akin to the sun. The moment when she was beaten to a pulp by the guards and almost fell out of the window was unforgettable. Lev, White Night. Right after that, the hero barged in and rescued the demi-humans who were being held captive by the demon worshippers. Oh right, ording to the elderly who were also detained with us, that person was the hero. What? Cucullis eyes trembled slightly as she listened to the story without much interest. Come to think of it, wasnt there a time when the hero was absent for a long time during the middle of the semester? Our professor saved you? Yes? Our professor? Oh, the hero is teaching at our academy. Wow While Ilyas eyes sparkled, Cuculli struggled to suppress her mixed emotions. Isnt this prophecy too specific to be a mere coincidence? Her gaze returned to Ilya. Does she have a reason to lie? Cucullisinner thoughts She spilled out what she had to say, whether or not she knew the intricacies of Cucullis inner thought. Please dont take what the chief said lightly. Our family We deeply regretted it. I came to deliver this message. Im sorry to take your time, even though youre busy! With a nod, she bowed deeply and quickly turned away, running off in a hurry. As she was running, she saw a young man from the snow fox tribe and greeted him warmly. Cuculli remained silent, simply watching them. You cant go now. Dont take the words of the tribal chief lightly. In less than thirty minutes, she managed to get three people to stop her from immediately receiving baptism. Unknowingly, she recited an old saying from the North. Coincidence doesnt happen three times. If it does, its inevitable. How should this be interpreted? Lost in thought, she found himself in front of her fathers tent. Cuculli took a deep breath and shook her head from side to side. Alright, lets keep the promise first. Inside, her friends would be anxiously waiting for her. They willingly faced danger for her. She didnt want to hide the truth anymore. With determination, Cuculli began the conversation. Theres something called baptism. . . . To cut to the chase, what Cuculli feared didnt happen. None of them tried to convince her not to receive baptism. None of them burst into tears. None of them reproached her for hiding this fact. If even one of them had, it would have been difficult. It was truly fortunate. The children simply offered their calmfort in their own way. While Ive been whining about my small territory, youve been carrying such a heavy burden. Evergreen gently stroked Cucullis hand resting on the armrest of the chair with a weing expression. It was a warm touch that momentarily eased the chill of the chair. Wow thats amazing. Inheriting the power of the dragon. Are you even growing wings like it? Gerald joked with a chuckle as usual. Well, youll probably be so strong that its unfair. Isnt this cheating? Shouldnt we have a proper fight before you receive baptism? Luke exaggeratedly nodded along. If I were you, I would have wanted to run away. Impressive. Wow, Cuculli. If I were a boy, I might have followed you around. Ban and Karen tried to cheer her up with forced smiles. They didnt want to make her sad or stop her. They just realized they were overstepping with their remarks in the face of Cucullis determination. And then it happened. Pathetic. Leciel unexpectedly uttered words that no one had anticipated. Why are you begging like this, unlike yourself? A moment of silence. Everyone looked at her as if they were scolding her for her thoughtless remark. Even Evergreen, who greatly admired Leciel, sighed quietly. Leciel! Hey, whats that supposed to mean? Why is she suddenly like this? [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 It felt like the beginning of the school year all over again. There was a significant discrepancy between her recent behavior and what she had shown before. But Leciel just stood tall, ring at Cuculli without any intention of rifying the meaning behind her words. Cuculli shrugged her shoulders. Say whatever you want. Anyway, thats the whole story. Theres nothing left to hide. End of story! Phew, feels more relieving than I thought. Now, everyone understands, right? Why I ran all the way to the North. A natural silence fell at her words. Even before meeting Cuculli, they had thought that she had gone to the North only for revenge. But the reality waspletely different. The children looked at their friend, who carried too much at such a young age. There was an unfamiliar silence among them. Luke, who was observing Cucullis expression, hastily asked a question. Um, so. Uh, is the sanctuary nearby? Cuculli nodded. It wont take half a day. Her words stirred the children. Is it really that close? Where is it? Isnt there a ce nearby where a sanctuary could be? Cuculli chuckled lightly. Of course there is. Its right She pointed towards the entrance of the tent. The entrance of the tent faced the sea. Its there. The childrens expressions turned bewildered at the same time. There? Is it there? Inside the sea? Do you really think anyone can find it? Cuculli lightly chuckled and tapped the chair she was sitting on. This chair, made from the bones of the Frost Dragon, is the key. If I infuse my magic into it, it will open the path to the sanctuary. However, even that exnation was insufficient to dispel the childrens doubts. But its supposed to be in the sea. What does it mean for a path to open? One of the children asked. I dont know. Ive never seen it happen before. My dad just said so, Cuculli replied. Each child pondered their own theories, but it was difficult to imagine how a path could open in the deep and vast ocean. Then, Ban asked, So when do you n to leave? For the first time, Cuculli hesitated in her response. Um, well Her original n would have been to say right away and infuse the chair with magic. But for some reason, she felt extremely hesitant to do so now. Ah, I feel really strange. An ambiguous premonition incessantly whispered in her mind, urging her not to act rashly. But relying on intuition was never my style We shouldnt go right now. It just felt too uneasy to ignore. I wonder what my dad would have done in this situation. She didnt know. Then, another face came to mind. What about the professor? Youre most urgently in need of prudence and patience, Cuculli. Ah, she still didnt know. Cuculli let out a deep sigh and looked at the children waiting for his answer. Maybe. ? Guys, I dont know. Well leave when the time is right, Cuculli said, lying back on the chair. She quietly repeated to herself, as if to reassure herself, Just a little longer. * * * It didnt take long for the excitement of things going smoothly to turn into difort. The heavy darkness enveloping the coastal cliffs. The wrinkles around the eyes of the Demonic Church Leader, overlooking the Frost Dragon tribe vige, remained unfurrowed. When are they actually leaving? Apart from some bustling scouts, the vige was eerily still. It was a situation she couldnt understand. The longer the baptism was dyed, the worse the situation in the North would be. The tribes would break away from the alliance, and the climate would change in real time. That fact was something Cuculli, groomed to be the sessor of the chief, knew better than anyone. However, the children and their entourage showed no signs of wanting to move. What are they thinking? The Demonic Church Leader, absentmindedly bited her lip, realized that her lips were already chewed. She was beginning to admit to herself that she was getting anxious. The main cause was none other than The Hero. The Demonic Church Leader couldnt help but bite her lip again. The bitter taste of blood seeped into her nostrils. Where on earth did he go? Reports came from her subordinates that they had lost track of the Hero. It was utterly iprehensible. How could he have escaped from such a wide encirclement? Unless he vanished into the ground or soared into the sky, it was simply impossible. However, after several skirmishes, the missing Hero hadnt shown up anywhere on the continent. Thanks to him, the opportunity cost of setting up the encirclement had turned into a significant loss. The stakes are being destroyed She hastily turned her forces around, but the main stakes had already lost their function. And it didnt end there. They said the forces were heading north. A fleet from Glendor, carrying the nobles forces, was heading north. ording to the reconnaissance reports, they had employed arge number of gravity and wind mages, making their sailing speed unreasonable. If the missing Hero arrived in the North at the same time as those forces Itll be a total annihtion. Her throat felt tight. It felt like someone unseen was slowly tightening their grip around it. ? The Demonic Church Leader finally decided to resort to herst resort. The reserves she had been saving in case of an unforeseen situation. Tap- Her attendant, summoned by her call, bowed before her. You called for me. Bring out the reserves. Are you referring to Dorempa and his offspring? Yes. The Demonic Church Leader fell silent for a moment. Shoo- After about six waves of waves crashing against the shore. Finally, her orders were given. Deploy them all along the path where the Frost Dragon scouts will pass. Lets see if they can keep sitting idly by while this happens. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 190 Chapter 190 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The arrival of the Dorempa and their childrens clothes, which fell into the hands of the scouts, reached the vige the next morning. The vige was engulfed in shock and dismay. The wives of the Dorempa, along with the mothers of the half-headed siblings who had returned, wailed and fainted. Waldiff couldnt even look at the supplies and ran towards the coast, while other tribe members, maintaining silence, were furious at the tragedy that had befallen their leader and his children. Dorempa was a beloved tribal chief. He had dedicated his entire life to the well-being of the North, and the tribe members who had watched him closely had deep affection and respect for him. There was no one to maintain peace in front of those who returned with only their heads. Except for one. Cuculli. The children looked at Cuculli with worried faces. It was strange. She didnt wail, nor did she rush out to kill the invaders immediately. She just stared nkly at the ground with an expressionless face. And after a long silence, what came out of her mouth overturned everyones expectations. This is strange. Was it the result of carrying anger and anguish to the extreme? The heart that had been burning fiercely all along seemed to have turned to ashes already. In front of the severed supplies of her family, Cuculli could maintain a surprising calmness even within herself. Perhaps she was so shocked that her emotions were paralyzed, she thought. Whatever happens, its fine. Her mind was surprisingly clear. Now wasnt the time to be swayed by emotions. She began to deduce. Why. There is intent behind every action. It was clear that the invaders targeted the Dorempa and their bloodlines. It was probably to eliminate the focal point of the North and to destabilize the tribal alliances. That n must have been meticulouslyid out. Judging from how easily theybeled her father a traitor and pursued her siblings as soon as they set out, it was evident. But why. Why leave her, who was arguably the most important figure at the moment, untouched? It doesnt make sense. If they wanted to destroy the North, they should have attacked me right after eliminating my father. There were plenty of opportunities. After all, she hadnte to the North alone in a sound state of mind. If they wanted to eliminate her, that would have been the right moment. But nothing happened. Cuculli recalled the surprisingly smooth journey except for the White Bear Tribe. Except for them, they could have arrived at the vige without any hindrance. Why didnt they touch only me? What gain could they have had when I safely arrived at this vige? She needed to realize what that was. Ah. Cucullis eyes sparkled. It was a moment when a lightning-like realization pierced her. Theyre targeting the sanctuary. If the invaders knew about the sanctuarys existence, everything made sense. So, they just left me alone because Im a suitable candidate. Whether they coveted the power of the Frost Dragon or wanted topletely destroy the sanctuary to eliminate any chance of revival in the North. She wasnt sure about that yet. But it was certain that the only reason they left her alone was that. Once she grasped the enemys main objective, the rest of the questions naturally unraveled. Then, I must have been assigned to be lured instead of attacked. They couldnt just leave me alone. They might still be watching this vige from somewhere. Cucullis azure eyes scanned the cliff quickly. I dont see them. But I have to assume theyre there. The enemies must have already grasped much about the vige. Thats why they could easily position the clothes along the reconnaissance route. Then the reason for exposing the supplies To make me move quickly. Cuculli didnt leave the vige after hearing the old womans prophecy. The invaders, who might have thought she would head straight for the sanctuary to receive baptism, would have be anxious. No matter how powerful they are, the North is undoubtedly their enemy. Reinforcements would being from the central continent, and among them would be the Hero concerned about the safety of his disciples. Time was not on their side. Cuculli gazed southward lost in thought. So, should I just wait for the Professor or other troops to arrive? At first nce, it seemed so. But soon her head slowly shook from side to side. No, doing nothing is the worst option. If she kept dying, the enemies would resort to their final move. They had already made tremendous efforts to destroy the North. They wont withdraw without gains. Even if they gave up on the sanctuary, they would move to annihte Cuculli and the remaining Frost Dragon Tribe before reinforcements arrived. Then everyone would die. Cuculli murmured softly. Time is not on our side. To sum it up, she must undergo baptism. But currently, their every move is being monitored. If she acts recklessly, the baptism will fail, and the worst-case scenario of only the sanctuary being exposed will ur. Her brow furrowed increasingly. How on earth Could she salvage this seemingly hopeless situation? Could she reach the sanctuary in the middle of the sea, avoiding the enemies eyes? It was a moment when Cuculli, deeply lost in thought, was interrupted. Hey, bottom of the ss in the mock exams. Ugh. Lost in thought, Cuculli didnt even realize she was being addressed, nning various schemes in her mind. Luke, who was clueless, jabbed her in the side. Hey! Why are you pondering alone? At best, youll just hear the sound of rolling stones. Ugh, isnt it? Nope, it isnt. Dont ponder alone. The boy chuckled and gestured behind him. Ban, Leciel, and Evergreen. They were standing awkwardly, having excelled in various difficult tactical sses at Rosenstark. Do you really need to leave all the smart ones out? . . . After a brief mock trial. Cuculli muttered hesitantly. No, this n is too risky for you guys. Is there any other way? But Luke insisted. From what youre saying, if we dont do this, well all end up dead anyway. Ugh Will such a simple n work? Theyre desperate. Itll work and then some. Luke raised his fist. If you fail, its a gamble. If sessful, it is a tactic. . Lets give it a try. Uh, is this right? Thud- Along with a sigh, Cucullis raised fist met Lukes. * * * It had already been over half a day since Dorempa and his childrens clothes were embraced by their families. But the reaction the Demonic Church Leader desired didnt seem to being anytime soon. The sun had already set. Kalende anxiously peered down the cliff. Despite having been here for only a few days, it felt like she had stayed for a year. The distant sound of waves echoed. The snowkes fluttered when bored. Even the mysterious auroras in the sky had be tiresome. A bitter expression crossed her tired face. Should I really give up on the sanctuary like this? Just uprooting the Frost Dragon Tribe would yield significant results. A new avenue of attack would open, and one of humanitys staunch allies would be eliminated. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 But it seemed Malekia wanted more. The immense power of the dormant Frost Dragon in the sanctuary is said to be thest pure source of energy remaining in this era. We must obtain it at all costs. The Demonic Church Leader slowly nodded. We cant wait any longer. If Cuculli doesnt move today, well have to strike first. The time for the final decision was approaching Numerous urgent messages urging action poured in within a few hours. The Hero was spotted at the northern edge. Our outpost has been breached. He has concealed himself again like a ghost. Calcting the distance between thest sighting and the destroyed outpost, he should arrive at where the Demonic Church Leader is within a day. The troops riding the Payrun River have entered the North Sea! Each one of them foretold their doom, something extremely unlucky. Perhaps that was why the gazes of Okultus, Malekias envoy, became increasingly piercing. He stared silently at Kalende from the sidelines for a long time, as if urging her to make a choice, then disappeared repeatedly. The more he did so, the more anxious Kalende became. This is dangerous. Even if they received tremendous support, if they failed to achieve the expected results, Malekia, known as the Queen of Agony, wouldnt hesitate to punish her. But for some reason, Cuculli didnt seem to have any intention of leaving for the sanctuary. Hurry It was the moment when Kalende was about to give up halfway and prepare for the assault. Cucullis pupils, scanning the coastal vige for thest time, suddenly shook violently. Whats this? Kalende got up from her seat and hurried to the edge of the cliff. She was in such a hurry that she even threw off her hood, which covered her face. The congregants around quickly averted their eyes and bowed their heads. .! The spot where her piercing gaze had been fixed was terribly devastated. The empty left eye socket was filled with countless small wounds, as if pecked by birds. It was the final blow Dorempa had delivered. The ice spear he had thrown ruptured the piercing gaze andpletely froze its surroundings. Only one pupil remained. But even with that alone, it wasnt difficult to discern the movements of the vige. Kalendes external eye stared intently at the silhouettes scurrying around the vige. Are they heading for the sanctuary? As she pondered Suddenly- The silhouettes moved away, riding on something, and exited the vige entrance. They swiftly traversed along the long stretch of coastline. The moonlight, shining at that moment, revealed their identities. Capra They were creatures resembling a mix of yak and goat. Known as the ultimate means of transportation, they could move swiftly even on t ground and climb steep cliffs. Capra were famous for their difficult breeding and reproduction processes, resulting in a low poption. They were carrying a total of eight riders and passengers, leaving the vige all at once, taking advantage of the ambitious night. Kalendes eyes filled with joy. Ah, finally. Her hand counted the silhouettes from behind. One, two, three a total of eight. Yes. It was undoubtedly Cuculli and her academy peers. Even in the extended detection range, there was a faint sense of the Frost Dragon Tribes presence. Are they escorting their friend? It was a wise decision. Her friends would be much stronger than the remaining warriors of the tribe. But it was futile. Kalende looked back with a triumphant expression. Click- Her subordinates were already fully prepared to pursue them. Kalende gestured. Lets go. Under the cover of concealment. The Demonic Church Leader and the congregants began to rush. They were exactly parallel to the children. * * * Cuculli watched silently from the Dorempa tent as her friends moved away along the coast. Eight silhouettes racing along the coastline. One of them was her younger brother, Waldiff. In simple terms, its a lure operation. Well attract attention, so you watch for the right moment to open the way to the sanctuary. I Dont dwell on useless thoughts and listen to me. The best way to ensure everyones survival is for you to inherit the power of the Frost Dragon quickly ande to rescue us. You know that, too. At that moment. Cuculli could see the resolute determination and cold calmness flooding from her friends eyes. It was an expression filled with determination to sessfully carry out the mission entrusted to them. Dont die. Her friends nodded their heads warmly at the words she reluctantly added. Cuculli stared at each of their faces as if engraving them into her mind. Whether the n seeded or failed this would be thest time she faced the children as herself. It was a fact known to everyone present, yet a fact that no one trulyprehended. Cuculli greeted them first. Goodbye. Take care. Goodbye, Cuculli. That was thest. The children climbed onto the backs of Capra and quickly departed. They were now out of sight from the vige. By now, they were probably racing across the wilderness, leaving behind dangerous enemies in their wake. Cuculli turned her steps back into the tent or more precisely, towards the bone chair, the key to the sanctuary. Unfortunately, there was no time to indulge in sentiment. Her hand tightly grasped the cold handle of the chair. It was time to go for baptism. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 191 Chapter 191 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The children ran in silence for a while. Initially, their minds were greatlyplicated with various thoughts when they first left the vige. I never thought it would turn out like this. I thought we could just take Cuculli back to the academy. Can we really handle such a heavy mission? Exaggerating a bit, it was no exaggeration to say that the fate of the continent rested in their hands. If the baptism was not properlypleted, a tremendous threat would loom over humanity. It was a sense of oppression that the children had never felt before. Even Luke, who had proposed the lure, was so tense that his hands holding the reins turned white. This is really surreal. They were luring dangerous pursuers unseen by their eyes, racing along the frozen northern coast. Just a while ago, they were leisurely lounging at the resort, so they honestly couldnt feel the reality of it all. The fear of being threatened in a strangend. Pity and worry for Cuculli. Regret for leaving things behind. With all these emotions mixed together, the children felt overwhelmed. They knew they would eventually have such a duty, but they never thought it would be now. But why? Even amidst the countless swirling emotions, the children were able to gradually focus on their mission. It surprised even themselves, but soon they found the reason why. I will train you all to be the pioneers of humanity. I promise. I will cultivate the courage and strength to not retreat in the face of any difficulty. The extreme that their teacher had carefully prepared for moments like this. All those arduous processes were for this moment. They were already preparing for it. As the children realized this fact, their mouths gradually opened. The pursuers are supposed to be following us. Can anyone see or feel anything? Not me for now. I dont sense anything unusual. Me neither. Luke, implicitly taking on the role of leader, gave orders. Everyone except Ban, stop detecting. The quantity of detection doesnt matter. Save your mana because a battle could happen soon. Then his expectant gaze fell on Ban. Do you sense anything? Ban, focusing intensely on detection at the rear of the group, was being particrly vignt. His mana was constantly fluctuating within him. When Luke received no response from Ban, he called out again. Ban? Just a moment. Ban thought. He had never once neglected to be vignt since entering the north. Especially in such a dangerous area, he was more diligent in detection than ever. But Cuculli was sure we were being trailed without our knowledge. That means. His fist tightened. My detection is useless against these enemies. After realizing this fact, Ban stopped indiscriminately spreading out his detection, which was both wide and dense. And he attempted a slightly different approach. Woooong- His densely packed mana shot towards the cliff. It was a mass of mana that contained the properties of rebound with less detail. If it was a technique to nullify detection, it would surely contain qualities of dispersion or absorption. Therefore, dispersing the power would be foolish. Even if the range became extremely narrow, it would be right to shoot mana in clumps to elicit any kind of response. Woooong- In this way, Ban attempted dozens of unconventional detections. And. There seems to be something on the cliff. He seeded in detecting extremely subtle signs. Like Felson, who traced faint traces leading to Eitrobin, he also discerned the abilities of the top-ss demons. Its a pursuer. There really was one. Oh my. Joy and fear shed across the faces of the children simultaneously. There really was a pursuer. This meant Cucullis conjecture waspletely urate. The unidentified forces that killed the powerful Dorempa and pushed the north into danger were indeed pursuing them. The silence fell among the children again, inevitable. This, this is an adventure. You only get to do things like this when youre young! When else will we ever do it! Gerald threw a joke as he always did, but it didnt help much this time. Perhaps because even his face was pale with fear. Tatatat- Luke, who had been running at the forefront, sighed shortly and looked back at his friends. Except for Leciel and Ban, they all seemed to be pretending to be calm. He, who was more ustomed to such dangerous deeds than these kids, would have to protect them. I was the one who initiated this n. Its my responsibility. He would protect them by any means necessary. That was Lukes determination. At that moment, his dark eyes turned towards Evergreen. Well reach the coast soon. Waldiff, who had been silent, spoke up. As I mentioned before we set off, this chase cannotst long. Indeed. The difference in height between the coast and the cliff was rapidly decreasing. As they continued along this path, the cliff eventually encroached upon the coastline,pletely blocking their way. The pursuers will realize theres nothing at their destination and finally understand theyve been deceived. But until then, if those guys keep following us, our goal will be achieved. Luke epted that. Yes, because Cuculli will be able to receive baptism without interference at the sanctuary. If we signal, sister will head to the sanctuary. We just need to hold onto these bastards as long as possible. Alright. Itll take about 5 minutes to encounter them. Before we cant continue our conversation anymore Waldiffs bright blue eyes scanned the children one by one. We, on behalf of the North, thank you once again. We will remember you. There wasva-like determination in his turquoise eyes. Luke replied briefly. Were friends. After that, the conversation didnt continue. A razor-sharp tension began to linger around the coastline. The sound of Capras hooves digging into the receding ground, rough breaths, the waves, incongruously bright starlight and moonlight All of that began to subside. Weve arrived. The children stopped. The cliff had now risen to a height resembling a small hill, blocking their path. Ban swallowed nervously and directed his detection straight ahead. Woooong- There. It was certain. The pursuers were there. Though they hadnt yet realized it was a trap, they were definitely on the cliff, overlooking them. Alright. Luke dismounted without hesitation. In his hand was not a bow but a sword, ck with the same hope as darkness. Woooong- The boy, with the sword slung over his broad shoulders, shouted towards the unseen pursuers. You bastards. A small chuckle escaped among the children. Will there be a sanctuary here? . It might look too humble to be a sanctuary. . Well, its still a ce overflowing with your graves. A very brief silence. And Sarrurrurrrrk- The concealment barrier spread out by Okultus was lifted. The children earnestly hoped that the pounding of their hearts wouldnt be heard by the enemies. Some found themselves unknowingly taking a step back. That person. The number of individuals wasnt as many as they had thought. Only about ten. A number that didnt require them to lose confidence. Of course, their strength was formidable, but it wasnt too much of a burden for the children who had been fighting against the Hero all semester. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 However, the pair of the man and woman in the lead broke the childrens fighting spirit that was just beginning to bloom. First, the man wasnt human. A demon. With skin so ck it seemed to dissolve into the darkness around him, yellow eyes, and horns bending inward towards his mouth, his entire body was ck except for his eyes, which seemed to float in the air like eyeballs in a void. Vertical pupils torn so thin they seemed like they might belong to a reptile, erged. The emotions contained within were colder than his appearance. To be fooled by such ridiculous antics. Disgust. The disguised demon Okultus was visibly ufortable with the fact that he had been deceived by mere humans. Intense demonic energy erupted from his body. And Whats that? Standing a step ahead of him was a white-haired woman. Gerald involuntarily took a few steps back when he met her red heterochromic eyes. She looked human, but he was certain she was not. A creeping sensation, as if encountering a ghost, rose from the soles of his feet and spread through his body. In a low voice, Ban whispered to his friends. Insignia. Huh? That, isnt it the symbol of the Demonic Church? Confirming the ominous glow emanating from the center of her forehead, they all took a sharp breath. Since therge-scale suppression carried out by the Hero a few years ago, the Demonic Church had not caused any incidents and had remained hidden until recently. Thats why to them, the Demonic Church members were nothing more than sinister and unpleasant urban legends. The appearance of such beings made them seem more unreal than demons. Moreover It was said that the location of the insignia indicates the rank. Then She must be the leader of the church. A dry gulp followed Bans exnation. But the leader of the Demonic Church, Kalende, paid no attention to the children. Her gaze remained fixed on Waldiff. Kalende spoke dryly. Dorempa and his children are all brave. Waldiff trembled as if struck by lightning. So, its you. With eyes bloodshot, Waldiff slipped his hand into his pocket. The children worried he might recklessly charge at the Demonic Church Leader. But fortunately, he hadnt forgotten his mission. His trembling fingers pulled out a signal re. Boom! The fireworks started to light up the sky. This grand disy would surely be visible even from the Frost Dragon n vige. With this, the first objective was achieved. Kalende and Okultus, noticing the childrens relief, grew anxious. What the Where is Cuculli? They hesitated to ask. No, they had no choice but to remain silent. Thud, thud, thud A violent tremor shook the ground beneath their feet. What initially felt mild now escted endlessly. Creeeak A massive earthquake, unnaturally timed. What the hell Kalende barely managed to maintain her bnce. Simultaneously, she realized the source of the sound. The sea. Her external eye hastily scanned the ocean. Huh? For the first time in a while, Kalende made a startled noise. The scene unfolding before her eyes was so unusual that it defiedmon sense. An ind? The horizon, which had been empty just moments ago, was now filled. The sudden appearance of a massive, t iceberg rising from the coast made it almost like an ind. The scene of the vast ice reflecting the moonlight,bined with its sudden appearance, seemed incredibly mysterious. Everyone present instinctively understood. Thats the sanctuary. Wow, was this the way it was supposed to open? It looks quite distant. Will Cuculli take a boat then? Although it couldnt be confirmed with the naked eye, Cuculli was probably rushing to the sanctuary by now. However, threats like the Demonic Church Leader, who were apanied, were still here. The children felt relieved, while the side of the Demonic Church Leader became extremely anxious. Were heading to the sanctuary. Summon Myrmat. Kalende, instructing to summon the flying demon prepared for escape, turned her gaze back to the group. Her narrowed eyelids emitted a ruthlessly cruel and terrifying gaze. As for you all- The leaders hand rose towards the empty air. The children felt a sense of unease for some reason. Even though shes empty-handed, whats she nning? It didnt seem like she was casting a spell. Nor did it seem like there was any magical activity apanying it. Whats she up to? The children reflexively drew their weapons and took defensive positions, but looked at her with a somewhat puzzled expression. Even the pursuers in the background were preparing to withdraw without even looking at them. It was at that moment that a smile appeared on Kalendes lips. Swish Severance. The protection of Zero Requiem was activated. Its impossible to see through this attack. Indeed, Severance was a technique that sent out a conceptual force, like severing and cutting, towards the front. It was a technique that had shredded dozens of knights and soldiers during the auction incident. Even if they were geniuses, those children of that age couldnt grasp and cope with it. This attack resided in the realm far above that of ordinary fighters. Die. Kalendes hand descended diagonally. There was no need to witness their end. Kalende turned her head without hesitation. Myrmat would being soon. If they headed straight for the sanctuary on Myrmat, it wouldnt be toote Kaaang! At the sharp sound, her body, which had been walking, trembled once. With an astonished expression in her external eye, she nced behind her. A genuine Heart Sword. There, blocking the childrens path, was Leciel. Hair flickering like mes in the darkness. Surprisingly, the Shape Shifter was still stuck in the scabbard. However, the spirit she exuded was no different from when she raised her sword. Even more threatening than when she appeared on the Wellington train. Is the Heart Swordplete yet? Recalling the interview that now felt like a distant memory. Leciel spoke with a sneer. I didnt want to show it to you first. At that moment, Kalende felt it. The road to the sanctuary might not be as smooth as she thought. Her lips curled towards her subordinates. Attack. Kill them as quickly as possible. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 192 Chapter 192 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Attack. Kill them as quickly as possible. It was right before the Demonic Church Leadersmand fell. Leciel had already thrown the die. If we fight like this, well lose. Currently, their forces were clearly weakerpared to the pursuers. Something had to be done before a full-on battle ensued. Fortunately, it seems no one anticipated the Heart Sword. Leciel forcefully grasped the intention to disconnect and disperse, then reshaped the Heart Sword into a sharp form again. It was a consecutive attack even Kalende didnt anticipate. Swish The de of intent silently flew. Ugh! ng! Amidst the pursuing enemies rushing forward, a few sharp screams erupted, and several streaks of blood scattered into the air. Leciel spat out blood from her mouth with a pfft sound, then smiled satisfactorily. Unfortunately, she couldnt take their lives, but she seeded in inflicting considerable injuries. What about the church leader? One important enemy, however, was not visible amidst the silhouette staggering with wounds. There! Ban sharply shouted. Kalende easily evaded Leciels second attack, then fell off the cliff below. Her gaze was fixed on Leciel. Around her eyeballs, the vivid red veins seemed to boil with anger. Feeling a sense of frustration, Leciel raised her hand towards the Shape Shifter. Theyreing! Luke also raised his voice. Everyone, get into formation! Their movements were swift, as if rehearsed. Karen and Evergreen spread out, while the rest moved forward. It seemed already decided who would face whom. The leader was for Leciel. The demon was to be confronted by Ban and Luke. The problem was the rest of the congregation Lucas! Youll protect Gerald and the archers. Make sure make sure their des never reach them! Lucas, Waldiff, Gerald, Karen, and Evergreen. The remaining five had to handle them. Numerically disadvantaged and with no clear advantage in skills, it was a difficult situation. This. Evergreen and Karen, falling back, exchanged quick nces. As closerades in the archery unit, they had trained together every day. They could understand each others thoughts with just a nce. While they approach from the cliff, at least one of them must be eliminated! ng Two bows were drawn simultaneously. Meanwhile, Lucas, standing in front of them, alternated his gaze between his trembling hands and the approaching enemies. Beside him, Gerald muttered quietly. Calm down, Lucas. Lucas shifted his gaze to him. Geralds usually smiling face was now serious. There was no trembling in the hand holding the spear. Gerald. The surprise was immense. While the other kids might not have noticed, Lucas was almost as skilled as Gerald. He realized now. The difference thats widened between us in just a few months. Of course, after leaving the Forest of Martial Arts, he had focused on training like a madman. Partly to forget the pain. Partly because he didnt want to be swayed by external forces again. Partly because he wanted to be worthy of his ssmates and the Hero he would meet again someday. But still, the difference in skill is tremendous. It must be because of the presence and talent of the professor. Lucas was now humble enough to admit it. But there was something he wouldnt lose to, and that was his hatred for demonic energy. The evil that had shaken his life to its core. I hope this fight will elevate my fallen honor and that of Wellington. Lucas took a deep breath. His hand was no longer trembling. As if reading his mind, Gerald chuckled softly. If this fight bes known Yeah. Our poprity will soar. . It was then that Waldiff let out a resounding roar. Oh, ancestors who sleep in the North Hail! My father! My brothers! Kwaaang His double-edged axe handle plunged into the snowy ground. The pale moonlight and the approaching enemies reflected together, creating a chaotic scene. Grant us the strength to protect thisnd from these foolish invaders! Woooom The mana in the air began to resonate. Under his feet, the ground undted like waves, and numerous concentric circles spread out. At the same time, the children remembered what Cuculli had said a few hours ago. It was inside the tent where the strategy simtion took ce in Dorempa. Take Waldiff with you. It may be a deception, but he can protect you. But Cuculli, as if not allowing any dissent, said firmly. Do you know why your older brothers and sisters left only Waldiff to guard the vige? I dont know? Because hes the youngest? No. Its because Waldiff is a powerful sorcerer. Specialized in water and defense. ? The children looked at her with disbelief in their eyes. Bigger than Luke, with a massive physique, a double-edged axe that could easily sever a bulls neck, scars covering his entire body. Where did that scream sorcerer? Cuculli also caught their gaze and shrugged. Hes not very fond of unarmedbatcks talent. So, he carries around those scars. Professor would be disappointed if he heard that. Anyway, about this party. If Im not here, therell be only martial artists. We need Waldiff toplete the party. You know how the professor emphasized bnce in the party, right? But Isnt Waldiff herst remaining family? There is no way the older sister would feel at ease as she puts her younger brother in danger. The children looked at Cuculli with those concerns in their eyes. After a brief silence. Cucullis eyes slowly scanned through her friends. You who willingly risked your lives for me and the North, youre now my family. So,e back safely if youre worried. Dont take any more of my family away from me. Thats how it is now. Waldiffs true value was being revealed. Paaaang The waves by the coast moved strangely, as if infused with life. Huge masses of water gathered in the air, about twenty of them. Soon, they froze into the shape of human figures and descended onto the coast. Ban muttered in amazement. Its an ice golem. But that wasnt all. Some of the ice masses took the shape of shields and flew towards the group like arrows. Waldiff backed away, panting. Ill hurry up and recharge my mana as much as possible. Be prepared. Unfortunately, there was no time for the children to respond to his words. Kaang As Leciel and the leader shed at the forefront, the battle began. * * * Kalende tried to stay calm. Myrmat would arrive soon. The Sanctuary might be hidden in the middle of the sea, but with Myrmat, they would get there quickly. They might even arrive faster than Cuculli. So, dont get excited. Killing this cheeky kid was the priority. Kalendes eyes shifted to Leciel, who was breathing heavily. Are you hurt? Not at all. Lies. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Three minutes passed. Leciels body had about ten visible wounds. Blood flowed vividly against her pale skin, then stiffened in the cold breeze. The girl, covered in bandages, looked terribly fragile but Kalendes expression as he looked at her didnt change. Tough. Not a single fatal wound among the dozen or so injuries. Kalende grit her teeth and raised her hand again. The Heros disciples training in Rosenstark theyre called the future of humanity. When she first heard about them, Kalende thought it was a gross exaggeration. Even if they were exceptionally talented, they were still kids barely in their twenties. How could they possess power to be called the future of humanity, without having all sorts of knowledge and experience like her, a Homonculus? But Kaang Once again, the severance was blocked. Kalendes eyebrows twitched in frustration. How am I supposed to deal with this? Severance is an intangible sword that can cut through anything. Its an extremely powerful ability to wield a refined sword energy to the point where its shapeless and formless. Since inheriting this protection, all martial artists had be easy prey. Just a few swings from afar, and they all fell into pieces. Is it because the insight disappeared? With the power of mana, everything became visibleweaknesses and gaps were all apparent without even consciously considering them. Poking and shing wherever one felt like it resulted in fatal injuries. Didnt even Dorempa fall helplessly, all because of mana? If only I had mana! Wuksin Feeling the phantom pain in her eyes, Kalende gritted her teeth. The counterattack from the falling Dorempa had snatched away her most potent weapon. If it werent for that, this brat would probably be lying on the ground in twenty pieces by now, rolling in agony. Dont struggle! Just as Kalende was about to swing the severance again. The girl, who had been crouching, suddenly stood up. Is it easy to gain power by chance? What? Its luck, isnt it? Its not something you obtained through your own enlightenment right? Kalende paused her attack for a moment. Leciel also staggered and struggled to stand up. But her eyes remained as sharp as ever. Leciel thought to herself, Strange. Kalende was undoubtedly a formidable opponent, if not impossible to deal with. A powerful output based on demonic energy. A lethal transparent weapon. Unyielding stamina. Just looking at the gap in strength, it wouldnt have been surprising if she had already lost her life. So why? I feel like I can endure a little longer. Kalendes strengths. For some reason, they felt intentional artificiallybined, like deliberately arranged by someone to make her invincible. Its uncoordinated and creaky. A faint smile appeared at the corner of Leciels mouth. Stubborn. That was a remark aimed at Kalendes arrogance. She was a Homunculus. A fake life created by humans. Her consciousness, thoughts, and emotions were all formed by someone elses transntation. She could never be a real person. Thats why she harbored hatred and resentment towards humans. Kalendes expression faded. I will tear you to death. Leciel also steadied her breath and stared at Kalende. Bring it on. * * * Meanwhile, in the Frost Dragon tribe vige. As soon as the signal res lit up the night sky, Cuculli wasted no time and opened the path towards the sanctuary. At the same time, she didnt forget to send all the remaining tribes forces to the coastline where her friends were fighting. Hurry, hurry! Cucullis magical chair made of Frost Dragon bones trembled like a living being as soon as her magic touched it. What happened next was like something the children had seen. Quickly! The ancient magic, passed down for centuries, activated, pushing a huge iceberg up to the surface like a living being. Anyone who witnessed it would be awestruck, but Cuculli didnt feel any excitement. Theres the sanctuary! She needed to get on a boat quickly, so she dashed out of the tent. But the change didnt end there. Another phenomenon that defied naturalws was unfolding. As she ran towards the coast, her lips quivered with confusion. W-Whats happening? Th-The waves! They were flowing backward! Swooosh The waves were pushing towards the iceberg instead of the coastline. The powerful current created by the icebergs formation smashed through the existing waves, creating a new flow. Ku-ku-ku-ku The speed and power were so intense that even the anchored fishing boats and ships were being pushed towards the iceberg. Huh? Huh? This cant be happening! Cuculli, panicked, increased her speed. If all the boats were swept away, how would they reach the iceberg? Stop! But unfortunately, by the time Cuculli reached the pier, all the viges boats had disappeared to the other side of the sea. Cuculli blinked in disbelief, then pped herself as if to snap out of it. Her friends were risking their lives to buy her time. If she had no teeth, she could chew with her gums. Thats right! Maybe Ill be faster than the boats! Cuculli was about to dive straight into the sea when Huh? She paused, emitting a breathless sound. For someone who hardly ever panicked, her eyes blinked unusually fast. In the distance. Something unaffected by this powerful current was visible. It wasnt a mistake. A raft? Swooosh A raft made of ice was gliding silently towards the coast. Clear and transparent like crystal. The starlight from the night sky poured down on it. Cuculli instinctively realized and jumped aboard. There it is. I have to ride this! Of course, there was no time to wait for the boats to arrive. Uwaaaaah! Hurry up, will you! Ssh She leaped into the icy waters and paddled vigorously for about three minutes. Finally, Cuculli boarded the raft. Hey! Im here, so change direction! The raft seemed momentarily taken aback by the undignified baptizer but soon changed direction smoothly towards the iceberg. Huff, huff. Gasping for breath, Cuculli leaned against the railing of the raft and looked straight ahead. The boat was affected by the ocean currents and was crossing the sea at a speed that would upset even a decent sailor. The iceberg is getting closer by the minute The ns sanctuary. Cucullis eyes sparkled with determination. Just a little longer, just a little longer. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 193 Chapter 193 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 A hawk was quickly crossing the dark northern skies. There is no hesitation in the pping of the wings as if the destination has been decided. Are we almost there? The Hero nced around. The vast expanse of the sea spread out in the hawks sight. Over the past few days, there had been a tremendous forced march. Not only advancing north without rest, but also, when flying became difficult due to the inclement weather, he sought out and annihted nearby Demonic Churchs strongholds. Thanks to intermittent interrogations of the congregation by using various methods during the process, he was able to determine the position of the church leader. Its a vige where the Frost Dragon tribe spend their summers Although it was unclear why, it seemed they were not immediately attacking Cuculli and the children. They were simply watching. Its fortunate but their aim wasnt to disrupt the baptism, so what exactly are they aiming for by just observing? The Hero harbored such doubts as he nced briefly at a map of the northern part of the continent disyed on one side. The northernmost part of the continent, known as the end of the world. If he hurried, he could arrive in about fifteen minutes or so. Once he reached the vige, the questions would naturally be answered. It was the moment he was energetically continuing his pping. p- The Hero noticed enormous shadows moving in the same direction from one side of his field of vision. Whats that? It was unlikely, but they were sorge that one could mistake them for a dragon. ck and glossy scales glistened in the moonlight filtering through the clouds. A spacious deck like back that could amodate ten people. Sharp, curved horns and ws. The hot air rising between their teeth stuck to their backs like steam from a train. The Hero began to observe hastily. Theyre as formidable as Vermoth, if not more. At least high-grade demons. There are four of them. The memory of the auction house raid came back simultaneously. It was the riot that urred three days after the prison break at Stagnum, a prison located in the northern part of the continent, and the subsequent rampage of the escapees in the western part of the continent. The investigative team pointed to Demonic Church as the mastermind and, after tracking them down, found the cause of their abnormally high mobility. Huge flying demons have been spotted nearby. It is presumed that they have tamed the demons and boarded them. So those are them. The Hero angled towards the flying demons with his wings half-folded. Despite their massive size, which could reach several tens of meters in length, they were incredibly fast. Comparable to hawks. The natural question arose: why were they moving separately from humans? It would be much more mobile for them to ride those demons rather than move on foot. Why bring them all the way to the north and not ride them? The answer came quickly. It might be a hindrance to secretly watching the children. In an instant, the Heros heart sank. Then why are they moving now? And in the direction where it is presumed that the Demonic Churchs Leader is? Something happened. So, there must be some urgent need for transportation. Like if they lost track of the children and began pursuit. Or if they needed air transportation to follow Cuculli to the sanctuary. Whatever the case, something must have happened between the Demonic Church and the children. The Hero prepared to release the polymorph. Regardless Those creatures must not be allowed to reach the children. The Hero pped vigorously. The moment the hawks small shadow ovepped with the lead Myrmat. Thud- With a noisy bone-crunching sound, the Hero transformed back into human form. Whoosh- His wingless body plummeted rapidly towards the head of the lead demon. There was only about a second left until the collision, but it was enough time to regain bnce and prepare for impact. essing the void of Valber. A weapon suitable for facing giant demons. There was no hesitation. Since there was already a sword made for that purpose. When the jet-ck steel greatswordnded in the Heros hand, it was already just before the collision. Because the Myrmat was flying so fast, a pir-like tail was right in front of him. But there was no sign of panic on the Heros face. Activating the domain. Whoosh- Abnormal forces of gravity urred between his sword and the Myrmats head. The Heronded between the horns as if drawn by a ma. Without hesitation, he swung the sword towards the demons neck. The Myrmat also twisted its body at the same time. Crack- The Myrmat, whose neck was halfway severed, thrashed violently. As a top-tier demon, it was still vigorous despite the fatal wound. Hot ck blood sprayed in all directions, obscuring the view with its steam. Crunch- The Hero exerted more strength in the hand holding onto the ck Hope. His body swayed as the neck began to be gradually severed. His vision rapidly blurred. Beyond that, he saw three Myrmats rushing towards him from behind. Where to! essing the void of Valber. The Hero momentarily let go of the ck Hope, then, lying down, reached into the hole in the air. What emerged was a bow, Lute, which intensified gravity on the target, the bow of sinners. Unfortunately, there was no time to activate Infinity. Zzzz- The Hero immediately used Cucullis essence to erect an ice wall in the air. Then, redirecting swiftly, he aimed at the Myrmats whose speed had decreased drastically due to the sudden change in direction. Swooosh- Arrows filled with a tremendous amount mana sliced through the air one after another. Considering the swinging body of the swaying demon, it was an urate shot enough to send chills down ones spine. Two Myrmats with holes in their wings quickly distanced themselves as if pulled back from behind. He could buy several tens of seconds until they regained speed. Wait. It was a moment when the Hero, about to catch his breath, realized something. The remaining one is? Whooooooosh- A ck shadow rushed towards him from below. The Hero reflexively turned his head to face a massive mouth lined with long fangs, even longer than most longswords. Insane! Thud- The Myrmat engulfed both the Heros head and the head of its own kin in one go. Hot ck blood incessantly poured into the closed mouth. Kwuuuu- As if driven by the predators instinct to cut off its preys airway, the demon vigorously shook its massive jaws in all directions. As the body of the kin, whose neck had been severed, fell lifelessly to the ground, it was the moment when the Herosst memory was Paaah-! Infinite Seasons: Annihtion. When the energy imbued with various destructive properties erupted within the body, even a top-tier demon like Myrmat couldnt withstand it. The Myrmat began to fall with its head lost just like its kin that had just crashed to the ground. . Thud- The Hero rose with a severed section of neck clearly visible. Even though he had dispatched them in an instant, his expression was not particrly pleased. Using the recoil on the falling Myrmats body to float momentarily in the air, he murmured quietly. Clever. p- The two Myrmats that had fallen behind retreated in opposite directions as soon as they witnessed their kin dying. Perhaps they had sensed their kind dying, as they were quite far away. He had no choice but to choose one. Even if I kill one swiftly, I might miss the other. Wood-dud-dud-duk- The Hero clicked his tongue and polymorphed into the form of a hawk again. . . . Thud- ck blood fell like rain. The Hero, realizing he had grown stronger than before as he watched the falling Myrmats body convulsing, acknowledged it anew. Its different from when facing Vermoth. Back then, despite utilizing the eleration of the magical train for the best strike possible, he had only managed to stun Vermoth. Although he had seeded in killing, it couldnt even bepared topletely severing the head as he had done now. Well then Transforming back into a hawk, the Hero soared vertically. Having reached the maximum reachable height, he looked down. For now, he intended to track down the remaining Myrmat. Whoooooosh- [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Focusing mana in his eyes, he quickly spotted thest Myrmat. Although it was far, it was not an unreachable distance. It was probably due to not being able to gain enough speed because of the holes in its wings. It was the moment when the Hero, calling for a chase, began his pursuit. Whooooosh- Just then, the clouds dispersed in the strong gust, revealing the view on the other side. When he saw the coastline of the Frost Dragon tribes vige, the Hero had to hastily stop. An iceberg? There was an iceberg that was not marked on the map. The Hero instinctively extended his senses towards it with all his might. Although the distance was too far for his mana to reach, it was enough to detect the powerful waves of mana erupting explosively from the iceberg. This overwhelming cold its the mana of the Frost Dragon. Then that ce must be their sanctuary. But why The direction the Myrmat were heading was different. Thest Myrmat was not flying in a straight path towards the iceberg but was flying towards a distant location. Could disrupting the baptism not have been their goal? That couldnt be true. The Hero sensed something strange and once again focused his mana on his eyes. With the vision surpassing that of a human,bined with the immense mana, the Hero could perceive far-off ces as if he had used a telescope spell. Ah The moment when the Hero couldprehend everything was right after. The information he had just acquired quickly intertwined in his mind before swiftly organizing itself. Where should he go? The decision was difficult, but he had to make it quickly. Swoosh- The Hero began to fly away like an arrow. * * * Meanwhile, the fight between the children and the worshippers was raging fiercely. Crash- Evergreen trembled at the sounding from the side. It was the sound of an ice shield blocking the dagger thrown by the opponent, being deeply dented. But there was no time to turn her gaze. If she had that luxury, she would need to shoot another arrow. If her support was cut off, the front line of Lucas and Gerald would copse in an instant. Thanks, Evergreen! If you have time to talk, look ahead! Ahhhhh! Lucas narrowly avoided the flying sword and rolled over. Being rtively inexperienced, he kept facing crisis after crisis. If it werent for the Ice shield, he would have been dead long ago. Crash- Unfortunately, half of the Ice shield that was defending the front line had already been destroyed and turned into water. Some enemies had fallen, but the situation was still clearly unfavorable. Leciel was barely holding on, standing until now was almost a miracle. It wouldnt be surprising if she fell any moment. Luke and Ban were nowhere to be seen. They were probably engaging in battle with the ck-skinned demons nearby. They had dreadful stealth abilities. The demon disappeared in an instant and reappeared repeatedly, each time with a spurt of blood. Waldiff, who was about to unleash his second spell, was struck down without a chance to react. As Lucas narrowly avoided a sword flying towards him, Evergreen thought of the sight of Luke, who was exerting all his strength to pull a demon away from behind. Evergreen! Run away! The boy was already bleeding profusely from his side. Pushing away the ominous imagination, Evergreen aimed her arrow. Whoosh- The quiver gifted by the Hero at the auction was enchanted with a bleeding curse on the arrows. Suddenly, another fierce battle erupted in the front line. Aaargh! Thunk- As Lucas parried an enemy attack with his rapier, two ice golems attacked the rear of the demon worshippers executive. Their massive fists charged forward. Where?! The executive immediately reacted and crushed them. However, he failed to notice Geralds spear hiding in their shadow. Thwack- Gerald seized the opportunity and thrust a powerful piercing strike. No way! As if to prove his skill, the executive evaded the attack by floating his body in the air Gerald had fully anticipated his evasion. I already knew this! The halberd he received from Noubelmag as a secondary weapon shone brightly. It was what Gerald had ced on the ground as soon as the battle began. The first thrust was a feint with all his strength. Crack- The halberd swung with full force and cleaved the executives torso in half. Gerald roared loudly. Nice! Before Gerald, who had momentarily be defenseless, the two executives rushed in Gerald! Thud- Karen and Evergreens arrows intercepted one of them. Whoooosh- A strong wind blowing from somewhere knocked down the remaining one. Cough Waldiff struggled to his feet, blood trickling from his lips. Just a little longer, cough, just hold on. Reinforcements from the vige wille. Karen screamed like a banshee. Whos holding who! Just lie down quickly! Whoooooosh- But Waldiff stubbornly fired a volley of ice darts at the Demonic Church Leader before supporting Leciel with ice armor and a shield. They also pulled out two more ice golems and targeted the Demonic Church Leader. Crash- Although the golems were immediately destroyed by the leaders severance, Leciel managed to catch her breath thanks to them. Crash- Truly superhuman mental strength. But now, it was truly reaching its limit. With a face as pale as a sheet, she copsed to the ground. Karen and Evergreens faces turned ashen. How much longer can we hold out They could feel themselves gradually approaching their limits. Probably five minutes. No, not even five minutes. Aaah! The children panicked at the sharp scream echoing on the coastline and looked towards it. Leciel was urgently backing away, clutching her arm. Leciel! Leciel began to allow effective strikes. If the Demonic Church Leader were to be free, it would take less than a minute for them to be wiped out. The children tried to run towards her, screaming What a big dream! You cant even get close to the leader! It was hard to even look at Leciel amidst the onught. Finally, a smile began to spread across the lips of the Demonic Church Leader. Although the battle had been dragging on due to the unfortunate matchup, victory was still hers. Holding out with pathetic tricks ends here. Pathetic tricks are what youve been using. Ive wanted to cut that tongue of yours since earlier. Leciel didnt avoid Kalendes gaze, but she couldnt prevent her expression from stiffening. Concentrating on consciousness was bing increasingly difficult due to pain and bleeding. Whoosh- The determination that makes up the heart sword gather and then disperse again and again. Will I be able to block the next attack It was the moment when Kalendes hand slowly began to rise. Quaaaang-! With a deafening explosion, Kalendes body was mmed dozens of meters away. Leciels eyes widened. Whats this? No one among the children immediately understood the situation. All they could do was look in the direction from which the attack hade. Since the distance was far, it was only possible to barely recognize its identity after focusing magical energy into both eyes. H-how did they get here? The unexpected arrival left everyones eyes widened. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 194 Chapter 194 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Luke muttered, We were lucky. He had been thinking that since about five minutes into the battle against Okultus. Yes, they were fortunate. If their opponent had preserved their strength, their heads would have already been rolling in the snow. Their opponent were presumed to be of the highest rank among the demons. A normal fight would have been impossible. But fortunately, Okultus was almost exhausted. Though I dont know why, luck was on our side. For days, he had maintained his unique ability, the Veil of Concealment, without rest. And that too, in the tumultuous mana-rich north, against a group numbering in the tens. The consumption of mana was even more severe than usual. Thanks to that, Okultuss demonic energy was already depleted by the time the battle began. Moreover, his ability is perfect for countering mine. As a demon specialized in concealment, his originalbat power was weaker than that of his counterparts. That was why Ban and Luke had managed to survive for the past ten minutes. But sadly, their luck was gradually running out. Urgh. A dagger pierced his shoulder. It felt like hot iron searing through his body. As soon as he felt the pain, Luke reflexively swung his sword in that direction. But there was no resistance from the grip. Luke nced at his shoulder briefly before staring back at the empty front. The wound is severe. It was a strange weapon. Upon contact with blood, dozens of thorns sprouted from its de. Was it Malekias way of inflicting pain on his opponents? Even a slight sense of venom followed, as if it wereced with poison. If he hadnt practiced Cleansing while learning Felsons martial arts, his heart would have stopped long ago. Are you okay? Ban asked, panting. His condition was equally disastrous. After a moment of contemtion, Luke replied. No. The assertion followed. Were getting overwhelmed. He was certain. This precarious bnce would soon copse. As the demon continued to regain his demonic energy, the quality and duration of his concealment were increasing. The moment when Banpletely missed the demons presence would be the end for them. Lukes eyes, sensing the end, zed crimson. It was because he had activated Raviass martial arts. Woooooo- As mana flowed backward, his whole body trembled with a mad fervor. We need to at least That was the only way his friends could escape. Luke elerated his mana. As the pain dulled, murderous intent wriggled beneath his skin like insects. Thats how the boy, using his vitality as kindling, was about to engage in his final battle. Kwaaaaaah! An untimely roar instantly drew everyones attention. A brief respite in the battle. What they saw in their sights was. What, whats that? Kalende was thrown back by something, while Leciel stood with a dumbfounded expression in the distance. Beyond them, a ship was crossing the coast at a terrifying speed. Luke muttered in confusion. What ship is that? Ban received his words. It doesnt seem like just any ship. Pishhh- Steam rose vigorously from the portal where a magical cannon was installed. It wasnt just any magical cannon. It was a top-grade artifact capable of long-range sniping, a military surplus supplied to the army by Glendor after being produced in very limited quantities. It took a long time to reload, and its unit cost was extremely high, so production had been discontinued, but its destructive power was renowned. It had been quite a while since Yussi had secretly installed those stocks on her personal ship. They focused their mana vision on the approaching ship. W-who is it? Is it reinforcements? The shape of the ship was somewhat malformed. It seemed optimized only for high speed. A bow elongated into a sharp angle toward the front. A hull that drew steep curves. Sturdy waterlines. Severalrge magic engines were attached to the bow, and the masts and sails made of special materials seemed capable of withstanding strong winds generated by magic. It was a bizarre ship whose cost of construction could not even be estimated. Anyway thanks to the overwhelming performance of the personal ship, Yussi was able to arrive in the north one step ahead of the main force. Whoa!? Hold on a second. The first to exim in awe were Evergreen and Karen, whose keen eyesight was that of archers. That emblem. The pattern on the side of the hull was so familiar. A sk ced on a pile of gold coins. Wasnt that the pattern they had seen countless times during their travels with Rosenstark? As if they had made a promise, the children chorused together. Glendor? Then, from beyond the bow, a morous shout echoed. Hah, whos firing res at night like that? What, what? Youre all expelled! Even if the Hero intervenes, its futile. Understand?! Although their figures were not visible, it was easy to recognize whose voices they were. The Principal! The children breathed a sigh of relief. Right after that, a hoarse voice followed. Lucas! Lucas Wellington, are you there?! Even Lucas, who was rolling on the ground covered in blood, lifted his head. Father? Woouung- The ships bow turned towards the coast. The children watched that sight with widened eyes. Are they here to pick us up? The demons from the Demonic Church wont just sit idly by. Sure enough, taking advantage of the confusion caused by the bombardment, Demonic Church officers who had hidden themselves came out stealthily. As the distance closed, the ship would alsoe under attack. They dont seem to have many troops. Isnt this risky? Moreover, the deck seemed unusually deserted at first nce. This was probably due to reducing the number of crew members to increase speed. Four exhausted magicians, who had been creating wind throughout the journey. Nonbatant sailors. Six knights hired by the Wellington Ducal family. And finally, Yussi. It was aposition somewhatcking in rescuing the children from the interference of the Demonic Church. But for some reason, Yussi didnt hesitate to charge. And it was then that Leciel let out a sharp scream. Principal! Donte closer! Behind her. Kalende, who had recovered from the shock, was raising her hand with a demonic expression. Despite being defenseless, she looked perfectly fine after taking a hit from the magical cannon. Her heterochromatic eyes were fixed intently on the ship, unmoving. Ill take care of those nuisances first. At the same time, Leciels eyes were filled with terror. The Severance was unfolding on a wide scale, to the point where it made her doubt her eyes. Did she gather her strength while waiting for Yussii and the group toe into range? The des of Severance were wide and sharp enough to carve up therge ship as if it would still remain. No!! Leciel hurriedly summoned her resolve to stop it, but Tzuzuzuzuz- Due to already reaching her limit, her speed was too slow. Die! Kalendes hand swung down reluctantly. Leciel was engulfed by the urge to close her eyes. The ship and people being cut down at an angle. The fragments of them falling into the sea passed before her eyes like a hallucination. But. Fwoorrrrr- nggg- A huge ring of light rose into the air, and mes and ice enveloped the ship. Hwoooong- With the sudden temperature difference, an abnormally strong wind blew, and It was strong enough to push the ships hull out of the range of the leaders attack. Kwagagagak- The des of Severance narrowly grazed the railing and missed. It was Kalendes turn to be stunned. What is this? Therge ship was moving as agilely as a small dinghy. Kalende was momentarily dumbfounded. She forgot that she was standing on an open coast. Pwoooung- The portal spewed mes again towards her, now clearly visible. Full Opening. Not only Kalende but also Demonic Church officers were showered with fire. The ship took advantage of the opportunity and continued to move forward at full speed. As the distance to the coast halved. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Yussi muttered curses and revealed herself at the bow. You bitch. Yussi smoothed out the severed section of the limb. For some reason, she was riding in her wheelchair without using her prosthetic hands and legs. Her deep blue eyes trembled fiercely with anger. Youve fully inherited that damned ability. Swoosh- As Yussi took out a pipe from her bosom, a crew member next to her lit it. The artifact, Alchemy Glove, attached to her remaining hand, glowed eerily in the light of the pipe. Yussi exhaled smoke and slowly raised her hand. You lot, just die. Woooooong- Dozens of rings of light fell into the air. The mes from the pipe served as a catalyst. The rings of light heated up rapidly, and steam descended like mist. The children instinctively prepared to run. Yussi muttered. Yeah, run. Ruuuuuuush- . . . Kwaaaaaaaang! Countless fireballs and me arrows streaked across the night sky, bombarding the coastline. More, more! Yussi truly exerted all her strength. Empty bottles of various illegal drugs and enhancers, which amplified concentration, mana, and alchemical abilities, rolled around her feet, shing against the wheelchair with a sharp ng. Thanks to the misuse of several bottles that could have extended her lifespan by at least a few months, she was able to unleash an immensely powerful bombardment for a brief moment, akin to her active duty days. It was the moment when the children broke free from the encirclement of the Demonic Church. Kwagagagang-! Amidst the crossing shadows and lights Lets go! Ban dashed out like lightning, supporting Waldiff and leading the way. Evergreen! Luke grabbed Evergreens wrist and followed behind, while the rest hurriedly followed suit. During her active duty days, Yussi had been specialized in firepower to the extent that she was known as a mass murderer. Demons and church members could only start pursuing them a beatter as they dodged or blocked the bombardment. However, the distance did not seem to close anytime soon. Running was an exercise that the Hero had made the children do every day until they were exhausted. It wasnt easy to catch up with the children who were sprinting at full speed. Thuk- Wooden nks conjured by Yussi floated one after another on the sea. As soon as the children stepped on them, the nks disappeared, and some pursuers stumbled and fell into the sea. For Glendor! The loyal crewmen sent volleys of bullets and arrows towards them. After tremendous effort, the nine children and Waldiff safely arrived on deck. But there was no time to breathe a sigh of relief. Yussis sharp orders continued. Move out! Turn the bow! The deck turned into chaos. Faces drenched in sweat and blood, soaked with painful breaths. With each inhale and exhale, chests heaved more than ten centimeters. The medical team on board immediately tended to the group. Start here, huff, and look, please. The wounds are, huff, deep. Lucas! This damned bastard! Ah, father Ban! Luke! Please check on them quickly! Evergreen, huff, where are you injured? Is now the time to ask me where Im injured? You idiot! Leaning against the railing, Luke weakly chuckled. His hands trembled, and his breaths were shallow. It was because he had used his body to shield against the iing projectiles. ckened blood oozed slowly from his side due to the poison, and his eyelids trembled irregrly. Do you think this is the first or second time for such an enemy? I wont die. Luke, Luke! Evergreen panicked and fumbled around Lukes body. His hand, which was muchrger than hers, shook weakly under her touch. His once proudly straight back was now bent. His chest felt as if it were burning and hot. It was undoubtedly not due to inadequate breathing. Move aside! Well provide emergency treatment! Medical personnel approached with bandages and various medications, surrounding Luke. As the boys figure was obscured from view, Evergreen slumped to the ground. Luke. It was then that someone handed Evergreen the bow that had been lying on the ground. Ban? The boys brown eyes were also trembling mercilessly. But he deliberately didnt look towards Luke, instead pursing his lips. Its not over yet. What? Youre needed here. Flutter- Only then did Evergreen realize that a strange noise was echoing around them. A type of sound she had never heard in her lifetime. It sounded like the pping of a birds wings amplified hundreds of times. Casually turning her gaze towards the coastline, she glimpsed something gliding across the surface of the water, asrge as the ship they were on. Ah. Kwaaaaaaaang! The cry of a Myrmat pierced their ears. * * * In the cold silence of the Arctic, an iceberg towered majestically. Well, to call it an iceberg was rather ambiguous. It was more appropriate to call it an ind. The upper part was not pointed but t, and it was so vast that it could be called a snowy in. The airspace of the sanctuary. Upon arrival, the Hero circled it once beforending. Cuculli. A familiar silhouette was running towards the summit of the mountain. There was no hesitation in her steps towards baptism. The uniqueness was momentary. Regret and sorrow stabbed the Hero like sharp daggers. But unfortunately, he didnt have time to be consumed by such emotions. There was no time to bid farewell to his disciple upon approaching. The horizon beyond the sanctuary. Something was descending upon the current from upstream like a shadow. Is it the demon army prepared for the northern expedition? It was rapidly approaching, and if left unchecked, it seemed likely that the sanctuary would be invaded before Cuculli finished his baptism. It was an earlier arrival than expected. How? With narrowed eyes, the Hero changed direction and prepared to meet the invaders on the opposite side of the sanctuary. essing the void of Valber. Donning the robe of zero, holding the ck Hope. Valbers 17 weapons were ced on the floor for ease of use. At that moment, the demon army also seemed to have discovered the sanctuary and was approaching faster. As the distance closed the Heros doubts about the early arrival of the demon army naturally dissipated. He hesitated for a moment before uttering a single word. Thats a giant. The subordinates sent by Malekia for theplete destruction of the North were about tond. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 195 Chapter 195 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The boat made of ice gently came to a halt in front of the iceberg. Thunk- Thick clouds were spreading snowkes all over the sanctuary. Cuculli stepped onto the soft floor and nced around for a moment. The ground covered with white snow like a silver nket. As if unaffected by the noise outside, everything unfolded beautifully in silence. Over there. At the gentle slope of the icebergs peak, a small temple was nestled. Without hesitation, Cuculli hurried towards it. I need to hurry. At the beginning of the path. A sign carved in thenguage of the Frost Dragon Tribe was tilted diagonally. Cuculli found herself reading it aloud involuntarily. Hall of Tranquil Peace. It must mean a ce to relieve ones regrets. Cucullis eyes twitched slightly. Did the ancestors let go of their regrets as they passed through this path? With nothing, not even trees, rocks, or flowers. What thoughts did her father have as he crossed this silent pr region? Tap-tap- Her steps were unwavering, but she couldnt shake off those questions. And then, at a certain moment. Cuculli realized that some giant figures were watching her. Fleeting silhouettes that dispersed like smoke when she tried to focus on them. Indecipherable murmurs prated Cucullis ears. [ept it.] [It sinks] [Harvest it] [Wee it] They didnt seem threatening. No, Cuculli rather felt familiarity andfort in the falling snow. Not knowing their identity was even stranger. Former tribal chiefs People who were baptized before me. Then. He must be among them. Cuculli struggled with the urge to stop and observe each figure closely. Tap-tap- Ignoring the echoing voices, her footsteps quickened. Finally, she arrived in front of the temple at the summit. The temple, built of transparent ice, was so beautiful and mysterious that even someone indifferent to art, architecture, or beauty would stare in awe for a long time. But Cuculli didnt spare a nce at the beautiful decorations and architectural styles as she pushed open the main door. Her hurried steps continued as she crossed corridors and passed prayer halls without stopping. She marched steadily toward the altar at the center of the temple. Cuculli stopped in her tracks when she faced a woman who bore a striking resemnce to her. Youvee. Exhaling, Cuculli stood upright, trying to steady her ragged breath. The woman, smiling faintly, watched Cuculli until herbored breath turned into white vapor and dissipated. It was unmistakable. She was engraved in Cucullis blood and origins. Cuculli spoke up. Hello, Frost Dragon. Surprisingly gentle and ordinary, the Frost Dragon replied. Ive been waiting for you, Cuculli. The Frost Dragon. To be precise, it was part of the power she left in the world. She was also a priest who had presided over baptisms in the sanctuary for an immeasurable amount of time. Cuculli stared at her for a few seconds, then spoke abruptly. It was regrettable but necessary to be rude. Um, Ancestress? Can you baptize me, please? As soon as possible. The Frost Dragon widened her eyes for a moment, then let out a subduedugh. Whats the rush? Shaking her head, Cuculli replied. Its too long to exin the circumstances! Can you just baptize me first?! Im sorry, but itll take some time for the ritual to be prepared. Please wait a little longer. Apologizing with a gesture, the Frost Dragon lightly tapped Cucullis shoulder. Even her friendly gesture eased the remaining tension. Cuculli sighed deeply and sat down on the floor. Ugh, its urgent I need to receive it quickly! Please hurry. Alright. Under her urging, the Frost Dragon looked slightly bewildered. In the long years she had lived, this was the first time she encountered such an impatient baptism candidate. Usually, even if they came prepared, they hesitated when the time for baptism arrived. Sitting down next to Cuculli and matching her eye level, the Frost Dragon spoke again. Cuculli, do you have any questions about baptism before the ceremony begins? There must be many things youre curious about. After a moment of thought, Cuculli spoke up. Does it hurt? This baptism candidate is unusually straightforward. At the unexpected question, the Frost Dragonughed again. It doesnt hurt at all. The ritual will proceed smoothly and peacefully. Smoothly and peacefully? All the pain, sadness, anger, and regret youve been experiencing will fade away, reced by peace and tranquility. Its like reaching a safe harbor after a difficult voyage like being embraced by a loved one at the end of a weary journey. After pondering the Frost Dragons words for a moment, Cuculli blurted out. Phew, thats a relief if it doesnt hurt. This time, it was the Frost Dragons turn to ask a question. But arent you scared? Observing Cucullis expression, the Frost Dragon continued. Cucullis existence will disappear like dust. No matter how vivid your identity, memories, and emotions are, its inevitable. Its like dropping a drop of paint into a flowing river. What everyone remembers of you will be diluted without a trace, leaving only a shell of you. The eternal death of Cuculli. Youre facing that. Despite the sobering content, her tone remained warm. The questioning continued. Yet, arent you afraid? Honestly, she was surprised. Cuculli must have naturally known about the side effects of baptism as a member of the Dorempa. The erosion of self. It was a loss that could make even the bravest tremble. Especially for the long-lived Frost Dragon Tribe, it was even more terrifying. However, Cuculli remained remarkablyposed. While there had been many baptism candidates who pretended to be brave, she was the first to genuinely exude tranquility. The Frost Dragon wanted to hear why Cuculli wasnt afraid before she vanished. How could you not be? Um. Under the ancestors sparkling gaze, Cuculli scratched her temple awkwardly. Well, the reason Im not scared. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 In fact, she had already sorted out her thoughts on this matter. Since learning about the baptism ceremony. epting her fate. Meeting friends and the Hero. Her fathers death. And now, stepping into the sanctuary. There had been plenty of help to dispel her fears. After a brief silence, Cuculli spoke up. After all, were all going to die. Thats true. Of course, the process of getting there may be different for each of us But someday, well either die by the sword, sumb to illness, or maybe die suddenly on the road. Speaking somewhat haphazardly, Cuculli gradually became more confident in her words. Yes, were all heading towards that end. Hmm, surprisingly philosophical of you. The Frost Dragon interjected. Yes, death is fair to everyone. But that doesnt mean theres no reason to fear it. Cuculli nodded in agreement. I know. Death is fair to everyone. So how we die is the most important thing. Go on. You said baptism would be my eternal death. I used to think so too. Cuculli grinned brightly. It was the smile her friends loved so much. But then I realized something. What did you realize? Im not going to die forever. Before the Frost Dragon could ask further, Cuculli continued. Because my friends will remember. By undergoing the ritual, by shouldering my duty and responsibility, I will protect this world. My loved ones will live on, and the sleeping world as well. Her trademark arrogant confidence, missing for the past few weeks, was returning. In the world I protect, my friends will fight fiercely, love deeply, and live on. Maybe theyll have a child someday. Hehehe, surely they wont be able to help but tell their children about a friend like me. Theyll tell them about my sacrifices, my courage how I lived, and how I died! Cuculliughed mischievously. Maybe theyll even name their daughter after me. Shell go on to have wonderful adventures and continue living. Laughing, talking, crying with countless people Yes, thats why, thats why I I wont die. At some point, the Frost Dragon had fallen silent, gazing at Cuculli. That wasnt just bravado. Cuculli genuinely believed it. This is how Ill survive. Yes, if she refused baptism and ended up stuck somewhere on the continent, she could live out the rest of her days peacefully. But what meaning would that have? That wasnt an option. At that point, my long life would be a curse. As a coward who abandoned duty and responsibility, she would have to endure days many times longer than others. That was death. The irreversible death of the soul. Under the ancestors unknowing gaze, Cuculli voiced her conclusion. Ill burn here. So my friends can see. So they can remember me forever. Bright and hot! Facing Cucullis radiant face, the Frost Dragon nodded slowly. All curiosity was satisfied. Unconsciously, she murmured, Well, maybe you can make it happen. Cuculli perked up at the cryptic remark. What? Theres no need to harbor false hopes. Excuse me, Ancestor Can you hear everything? It was a slight deviation. The Frost Dragon reached out and patted Cucullis small head. Then she asked, Are you ready? Cuculli smiled faintly. Yes! . . . Swoosh- The Frost Dragon looked at the frozen Cuculli inside the giant ice crystal. As soon as the baptism began, a tremendous power that had been circling the North poured into her in real time. Thanks to it, the temple waspletely frozen, even on the outskirts. The Frost Dragons eyes swept over Cuculli from head to toe. Itll probably take about an hour. The degree of transformation would vary ording to Cucullis aptitude. Like most baptizees, if she wasnt particrly talented, she might only be able to transform one limb into a dragon, but if she was talented, like her father Dorempa, she might be able to go beyond half and even use wings. And if No. The Frost Dragon shook her head with excitement. That had never happened in the long history of the North. She sat back against the ice crystal and looked toward the entrance of the temple. Its getting chaotic out there. She knew there was turmoil outside. It seemed that the dirty entities were taking advantage of the absence of the baptizee to target the North. But she was just a fragment entrusted with the conservation and transmission of power. As always, she couldnt intervene in external affairs. Is thising to an end? The Frost Dragon looked at her fading hand. Once the baptism wasplete, she would temporarily disappear. Only when the baptizee died and the power returned to the sanctuary would she reveal herself again. Cuculli. Turning her body, the Frost Dragon looked at the frozen Frost Dragon girl. Im going to burn here. So that my friends can see me. So that Ill be forever engraved in their memories. Bright and hot! A true Frost Dragon who genuinely loves humans. How ironic. With her eyes closed, she now thought of the human, whose face was bing increasingly vague. Yes. Cuculli needed to think about why the Frost Dragon Tribe existed. If the ancestor had formed a bond with a different dragon, there would be no Frost Dragon Tribe on thisnd. Another dragon tribe would have been born. A harmony. If Cuculli could realize that With a small smile, the Frost Dragon looked at the girl beyond the ice. I guess I can live with you. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 196 Chapter 196 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The beginning of the baptism dawned upon the Hero when the enemy forces first set foot on the iceberg. Ssssss- Swoosh-! All surrounding coldness rushed into the central temple, emitting strange sounds. A roar that pierced the eardrums like a spear. Even though the enemy had arrived right before him, the Hero could only turn back and Pir? There, a solemn and dangerous sight unfolded. Ssssss- With tightly packed pieces of pale ice and snowkes, it spiraled upwards. Moonlight reflected off the massive white pir, illuminating the entire sanctuary brightly. The Hero let out a slight gasp, but before the terrifying sound of the wind could reach his ears, he grasped it. If the blizzard of the white night werepressed within a radius of tens of meters, it would look like that. The Heros eyes trembled slightly as they gazed upon the monstrous mouth that had opened wide, as if it would engulf the entire sanctuary. Cuculli. In the end, oveing all obstacles, the baptism began. The Hero turned his gaze forward once again. Thud thud thud- The momentum of the demon army advancing on the coast was urgent and fierce. They rushed towards the entrance guarded by him, the shortest path to the temple. If the baptism ended sessfully, their plot would lose its meaning. As much as he wanted to protect Cuculli, they would be driven by the desire for destruction. Swoosh- He drew out the ck Hope. The number of those emitting ominous aura was roughly About a thousand. It seems like there are fifty demonps. There might be even more. The Hero gazed at the giant with its monstrous mouth wide open, as if it would swallow the entire sanctuary. Kuuuu- They did note on ships. Inside the giants mouth, where deep darkness and stench flowed together. From there, the demon armys forces kept pouring out endlessly, like the gates of hell. To think they would use that as a means of transportation. That was why they could arrive quickly, piercing through the still-thawing Arctic Ocean. Kwaaang-! He had sent several halos flying, but the demons guarding the giant were blocking them with desperate defensive barriers. Some spewed blood and fell, but they didnt manage to inflict any significant damage on the giant. They were of a size that could be suspected as lifeforms. Advance! Ignore the obstacles! Head straight for the center! We must stop the ritual first! Kieee! Thending of the troops continued. Grotesque silhouettes descended upon the snowfield. Each one was a powerful demon or demon underling, capable of tearing apart ordinary human fighters in an instant. It might be dangerous. After a moment, the Hero corrected himself. No, its definitely dangerous. A sense of crisis surged through his body from his toes. These were not the kinds of enemies he had faced before. An army literally organized forces. Even for someone as significantly strengthened as the Heropared to before, it would be unreasonable to face them individually. Even if there were members of the Dawn Knights like Felson here, it would be difficult to guarantee victory. If Glendor and Wellingtons forces arrived in time, there might be some hope of sess, but Unfortunately, it seems everyone iste except for Yussis gship. The Heros eyes sank as he stared at the empty horizon. The situation was so unfavorable that calctions were meaningless. There was no room for optimism to seep in. It was going to be the most perilous battle. I could lose my life if I make a wrong move. Being adept at meticulous observation and insight, he had already realized the almost zero chance of winning. But his feet, which had dug into the snowfield, did not retreat a single step. The conversation he had with Cuculli in Rosenstark echoed in his mind. You know, Professor. After all, eventually, all life will disappear, wont it? It dies. Theres no need to be sad just because the endes a little earlier in a different form. Especially if it ensures the benefit and safety of your loved ones. Werent you on the battlefield with that determination, Professor? He couldnt afford to casually dismiss her resolve. This time, he was willing to take the risk. The Hero nced back at the towering ice pir behind him and muttered quietly. I also have a duty to fulfill. Just like his mentor had in the past. Just like what the proud disciple was doing now. It was also his intention to fulfill his duty and responsibility in his own ce. Thud thud thud thud thud- The sound of footsteps, now even more alert, pierced his ears. The vanguard of the demon army had suddenly drawn near. The murmuring of demons, the screams of demons, and the stench were vivid. The Hero took a deep breath and raised the ck Hope. Then what is my duty right now? A clear sentence came to mind without hesitation. I will defend this ce until the baptism is over. And Drawing on the power of paradox, the Hero opened his mouth. All children, return safely to Rosenstark and back to their normal lives. That was it. . . . Struggle and ughter were ingrained in the instincts of demons. Especially those who belonged to the Demon Army were ughterers who viewed the battlefield no differently than a cradle. They had killed countless humans and even their fellow demons, veterans in their own right. They thought. No battlefield, no struggle could give them any special sensation. It was arrogance. A human stood on the snowfield. Despite the incessant icy wind, the steam rising from his body did not dissipate easily. It was because his body was saturated with ck blood from head to toe. Ted Ridymer. One of the demons spat out his name like chewing on something. Initially, they nned to tie down the Hero with a portion of their forces and send the rest to the temple as much as possible. It was a natural decision. After all, stopping the ritual was the top priority. But that n had been wed from the beginning. You cannot pass. ng- The Hero drew a line on the ice. Whenever a demon or demon approached it- sh- A blue de cut through the air, and then severed limbs rolled on the snowfield without fail. Attempts to push through with sheer numbers followed, but Surround him all at once! The rest, go around! The Hero was already prepared. The Domain activates The 2nd stage of the Domain is implemented at maximum output. Oooong- A pitch-ck orb emerged in the air. The intense gravitational force distorted the surroundings, pulling all the demons trying to pass through into a single point. Demons losing their bnce and being pulled in screamed. Kieeeek- It wasnt over. Whoooong-! A storm emitting extreme coldness swept towards the tightly packed demons in the narrow space. For a moment, their movements, enveloped in frost, slowed down. The ck Hope glowed fiercely with intense vibrations. A re, a salvation form that implemented an overwhelming concentration of mana. The Hero gave a slight variation, applying the gravity of the Domain to it. The Domain activates Once mana takes on a form and conglomerates, it adheres to physicalws. Unprecedentedly conglomerated mana surged densely along the ck de. Strong recoil began to tear apart the mana circuit due to abnormal movements, but he was a doppelganger capable of physical restoration. Impossible for Ted. Only he could implement such a technique. Despite the demons attempts to stop it, the gravity of the Domain and the ice storm hindered their advance. Just a little more. Kwaaggg- The gathered strength swirling at the end of the ck Hope. At the moment when a faint groan burst from the Heros lips as he swung his sword. That brilliant light shot out at the frozen demons at a speed that seemed to manipte time itself. Kwa- The shock felt like the ground was flipping. Fear, or rather the murmurs of foreign entities, echoed across the snowfield. W-What is this? How can a human. The Demon Army, witnessing the sight of over a hundred demons turning into blood in an instant, could only stand still. Without eliminating the Hero, no one could enter the temple. It was a moment when everyone realized that fact. The demons stared at the Hero with trembling eyes. Huh, didnt he weaken? His decline had been steadily mentioned in recent reports from the Demonic Church. Even the demons did not particrly doubt it. After all, in the Great Battle where even the great demon king had fallen, there was no way a mere human could survive. But contrary to expectations, when the Hero still showed the demeanor of a war god, the demons were visibly shaken. Thats when it happened. No. It was a nomad who had survived the battlefield where he had faced the Hero in the past. He fixed his eyes on the Hero and slowly shook his head. He definitely weakened. Weakened? That? If it were really like before, we wouldnt even be alive to talk to each other like this. Dont stop, keep pouring in the troops! The demons continued their hesitant onught. Its true. The movements are slowing down little by little. It didnt take long for the demons eyes to be filled with greed. The nemesis of demons and the adversary of the demon king. Killing him would mark the greatest achievement since the beginning of demon history. An opportunity to gain immortal glory. It was a mission iparable to the previous goals of stopping the ritual or suppressing the northern territories. I might be able to take the position of the legionmander. If by chance I decorate the end of that bastard? After much deliberation, the demonmanders gave the order. All forces! First, eliminate the Hero. Advance! Now is the only chance to deal with him! As if forgetting the templepletely, the demon army approached, aiming for him. The Hero regted his breath, preparing for the second round. It was what he hoped for. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 * * * Swish! A year ago, it was a demon at the level where I would have had to fight with all my might but now it was decapitated in one blow. But there was no time to be proud. I rolled backward without dy. Kwa-gang! A small snowstorm erupted as hellfire erupted in the spot where I had stood. It wasnt just one. The number of purplish hellfires narrowly avoided was proportional to the number of demons. Tsuzuzuzuz- Using Nova, I quickly turned behind the demons. The hellfires that had been tracking me stopped after killing a few, finally ceasing their pursuit. One, the gap was filled in a moment. I stepped forward. ng- I drew another rough line. The demons tired gazes were fixed on me. Whispers apanied them. Is he really human? With those injuries, moving like that? Its ridiculous. He should have died by now. I looked down at my body. Covered in blood, it looked like I should take it to a seamstress rather than a healer. Hoo- A long sigh dispersed faintly. Theres about five hundred left. One to a thousand, thisrge-scale battle, I, who had experienced all sorts of battles, was experiencing it for the first time. When I swung my sword to kill one demon, several sharp tentacles, horns, ws, hellfires, and more poured out endlessly from all directions. If I stop moving, Ill die. Tat-tak- I rushed towards the front demon before my breath had even settled. For a few minutes, the lingering demons retreated and themanders gradually stepped forward. They must think Ive exhausted my strength. Its actually better this way. Pahk- With a powerful blow, the ck Hope split a demons head from the forehead. As I looked at the erupting ck blood, I murmured quietly. Cuculli will receive the ritual safely. I retrieved my sword and thrust it into the frontal demon. Somewhere, a sharp thorn flew past my leg. I exerted more force in my hand to keep the tip of the sword from wavering. I have to give them something. Of what I could give, pain was the cheapest. Thats the good thing about being a doppelganger. Monster! With an outcry, the demons body was pierced through entirely, convulsing. I stepped forward again. None of the children will die. Whoosh- Demons attacking from behind and des shooting from the front. Kwach- While holding the demon in ce, I shed the throat of the demon in front of me. He managed to deflect the blow to his side. Seemingly surprised by the extent of the attack, his expression turned to astonishment. It was quite a gain. He seemed to be a fairly high-ranking demon, but I easily dispatched him. Puh- With a punch, I tore the demon off my shoulder and said again. Until I confirm that fact, I will not fall. Paradox No, from some point on, they became words that just came out like wishes. Even if its the blessing of zero, I dont know if such brute force will work. I hope it does but its probably impossible. But it didnt matter. This was a vow and promise to myself. Even if it doesnt reach the world. Huh? The realization that the demon army had stopped came the moment my staggering body straightened up. No, to be precise, they were slowly withdrawing. A chilling crackling sound pierced my ears. The air felt charged. I quickly turned my gaze towards the source of the sound. Ssaeaeaeaeak- It was a coastal giant. Something shot from its mouth across the sky, heading straight towards me. It still looked small from a distance, but in the blink of an eye, its massive silhouette became distinct. Muscr and savage, its eyes emitted an ominous light. Is that the giants main body? Frankly, it didnt make sense for it to just handle transportation. Compared to the coastal shell, it was indeed smaller, but it was truly gigantic. The rising figure cast darkness over the surroundings, as it nearly obscured the moon. Facing that as well would be hopeless. Now was the turning point of victory or defeat. The giant needed to be dealt with while it was still in the air. I clenched the ck Hope in my hand until it was white-knuckled. Ill unleash everything at once. Pain woulde. But it was nothing. I could endure it. I replicated every essence to its limit. Every form entering my sight began to blur faintly. As the power coursing through my body reached its threshold, I swung the tip of the ck Hope. No, I unleashed it. The domain, the re, the halo, the nova, the annihtion Every ability I possessed was unleashed at once. A pir of white light streaked across the northern night sky. Shoooaah- With a nauseating smell of blood and viscera, slimy things poured from the sky like rain in the next moment. Giants blood and flesh were raining down from above. The demons that had been spreading out, as well as the demons who had been eyeing the opportunity, froze in ce. The gaze of Fear that the Original always received was directed at me. They seemed to be considering retreat. But Cough I couldnt stop the flowing blood without plugging my mouth. The color would have stood out very much in the white and ck snow field. The eyes of the demonmanders crossed. I raised my sword again. It was as hot asva inside. Attack! They rushed towards me like a swarm of ants towards a cake. I will keep you safe. I replicated Luke once and pushed Raviass aerial technique to its limit. Madness suppressed the pain and forced my body to move again. Ssqueak- Six demons at the forefront were cut off at the waist in an instant. It seemed unlikely, but there seemed to be hesitation in their eyes, borne of fear. Push on! Hes reached his limit! His limit, you say. Not yet. Kkaga- The demons looked back at the drawn line on the snowy field with tired eyes. I stood right on it. Not yet. . . . Professor. The Hero blinked, trying to locate the source of the voice. He looked around but saw no one. Was it a hallucination? No, wait, what was I doing? There was a momentary disconnect between mind and body, then the feeling returned. Sight, memory, and pain all came rushing back suddenly. Yes, right, the battle It was just before the resumption ofbat. Suddenly, the ice surrounding the temple shattered with a roar, and then A tremendous cold engulfed him, that was hisst memory. The Hero exhaled heavily and turned his head from side to side. Broken weapons and corpses littered the ground around him. These were traces of a harsh battle. But something was off. Everything was frozen solid, as if left out in the cold for days. Ande to think of it, even the ones charging straight at him had turned into ice sculptures. The rest of them? The Heros eyes flickered faintly. He spotted the remnants of the demon army still surrounding him. Why? But why were they keeping their distance? Just a moment ago, they had been charging at him recklessly, but now they maintained their distance, looking at him with intense wariness. No, more precisely, they were looking a little behind him. Professor. The voice rang out again, familiar yet strangely unfamiliar. It had a monotone quality, devoid of any emotion, speaking with a steady and unchanging tone. It was a voice he hadnt imagined woulde out of her. A voice as cold as ice, devoid of any emotion or burning passion. The Hero slowly turned around to face the owner of the voice. He had anticipated it, but his heart still sank. In front of him stood a pair of cold, emotionless eyesthe eyes of a detached observer. She called out to him again. Professor. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 197 Chapter 197 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The baptism ended safely. That must have been the case. The ice storm surrounding the temple disappeared without a trace, and the mana of the raging Frost Dragon subsided. And above all, Cuculli was standing in front of me. But. Whats going on? Something was strange. I met the one who was staring at me intently. Aside from the fact that the baptism ended unusually quickly. Cucullis appearance hadnt changed much from before. Long, smooth azure hair, eyes like pure white skin The only noticeable change was the elongated horns. The horn on the forehead, which was only a finger long, had grown nearly 30cm longer, emitting a beautiful glow, but that was it. Why is it different from Dorempa? He, who showed an exceptional affinity for the power of the Frost Dragon, had even transformed his appearance to resemble a dragon. The scales that covered half of his body and the majestic wings were firmly in ce in my memory. It was a tremendous change from before the baptism. However, there was no trace of that dragon in Cuculli. Was the baptism properlypleted? Or perhaps her naturegged behind, undergoing no change at all. I shook my head quickly. That cant be. Dorempa said Cuculli was more suitable for the baptism than anyone else. Instantly, my mind was filled with doubt. I momentarily forgot that the forces of the Demon army were still nearby and asked the question. Cuculli. Yes. Whats with that appearance? Was the baptism interrupted halfway? Uh Cuculli seemed to be struggling to answer for a moment. Even her small buds were not focused on her lips for a moment. She finally spoke up. Well. Yes. I guess I received aplete baptism I swear, I didnt know I was this good. Really. There was no time to think about the meaning of aplete baptism. A much bigger question was popping up in real-time. I looked at Cuculli in astonishment. What? Why is she pouting? No, let me correct that. How could she pout? The smirk creeping into one of her indifferent no, masked eyes was undeniably mischievous. There was no mistaking it. Hehe. Cucullis characteristic innocent and cleanughter followed. I could only mutter in disbelief, forgetting my demeanor as a teacher. How? How should I express this feeling? The momentary emotion was extremely intense and astonishing. A feeling of rediscovering a precious treasure thought to have been lost forever? The feeling of meeting a friend whom I thought I would never see again? No, it was hard to describe it in any words. A mixture of incredible joy and relief welled up from the depths of my heart. Hehehe, Professor. Cuculli tilted her head slightly and leaned her forehead against my chest. Even though there would be blood from the demons all around, there was no sign of difort. She ced her hand on top of that small head. Although the baptism may not have taken much from Cuculli, the value of the suffering and sadness she had experienced did not disappear. Cuculli was willing to sacrifice herself for everyone, and I was incredibly, incredibly proud of her. He whispered softly. I missed you. And Her azure eyes scanned from where we stood in front of the temple to the coast. Thest ce his gaze fell was on my battered body. Thank you. For protecting me. For believing in me. Thud thud thud- It was then that the remnants of the Demonic Church began to gather again. Cuculli got up with a grin. Her cheerful voice echoed through the snowy ins. Ill exinter why things turned out like this! Skip it for now! The situation is urgent! I agreed. I nodded my head and spoke. We dont need to deal with those guys anymore. What? But if we leave them alone, our vige Cuculli nced at the sea, looking towards where my hand pointed. Wow Youve prepared thoroughly, huh? Under the moonlight. Dozens of ships were crossing the sea,ing closer. Each one was carrying elite troops. Whether they had discovered the iceberg or not, they unfurled their sails and increased their speed. It may be a littlete, but Theyre not toote. If the Demon army was at full strength, they would have been difficult to deal with. But now, the remaining forces on the iceberg should be enough to counter them. I rose to my feet, clutching onto a glimmer of hope. It was time to break through the encirclement. Cuculli. Yes! Her smugness and cheerfulness were oddlyforting. I smiled faintly and spoke. We Yes! Lets do our part. It was time to go rescue the children. * * * Meanwhile, the children were facing despair on the sea. Theyreing. Oh my goodness, what is that? Keaaaak-! With a scream-like roar, Myrmat charged towards the ship. Although the ship was moving at maximum speed, being caught up was only a matter of moments. Flutter- With each p of its wings, the creature drew closer. The children, seeing the Demonic Church Leaders entourage on its back, clenched their lips tightly. Fire! Dont let it get any closer! All nonbatants hide inside the ship! Quickly! Amidst the shouts on the deck, all the firepower of the ship concentrated on the creature in an instant. Kwaaang! The charged magical cannons also erupted in mes. des of the wind! A storm beyondprehension! Gravity Hand! Drag the creature into the depths! The recovered mages unleashed a barrage of spells to stop the creature. Karen and Evergreen also held onto the railing until thest moment. Ssuaaaack- Countless projectiles formed a barrier, intercepting the creatures flight path, presenting a dense and powerful assault that could easily bring down any flying demon. However Is, is that even possible? Its unbelievable A volley of shots towards the predicted path. It was a strategic move against flying demons, but against Myrmat, it was a fatal mistake. One mage muttered in despair. A hovering flight Myrmats wings superficially resembled those of a bird. However, in reality, they were highly flexible and had a highly differentiated structure like that of an insect. Parrurur- Hidden auxiliary wings moved at strange angles with each attack, creating strong resistance Ssuaaaack- [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The creature disyed incredible aerial maneuvers, breaking through the barrage. It was the majesty of the Demonic Church Leaders decisive weapon. Charruk- Leciel, desperate, transformed the Shape Shifter into the form of a giant sword to strike at the approaching creature, but Its toote! Dodge first! Ban snatched her by the scruff of the neck andunched her body away. Preparing for the impending impact, the children huddled down. Immediately after Kwaaaaaang! Myrmat crashed onto the deck, smashing it halfway. Structures reinforced with magic-enhanced ws like hooks also crumpled like paper. Fragments soared higher than the crest of the waves. Kiiiiiiik- Some parts of the shaking hull lost bnce and were sucked into the sea in the next moment. Father! Lucas desperately held onto Duke Wellingtons wrist slipping outside the railing. At the same time, with his other hand, he grabbed onto a destroyed deck structure to anchor himself. Various heavy equipmentid on the deck passed by them with terrifying destructive force. It was a perilous situation where they could both fall into the sea if they werent careful. The Duke shouted fiercely. Lucas, let go! No, I wont! Let go, you disobedient child! I cant hear you! This unfilial huh? nk- Suddenly, a hand emerged, grabbing the Duke and pulling him up onto the deck. This posture seems oddly familiar. You, you It was Luke, who should have been receiving medical attention. Taking advantage of the medical staffs retreat to the deck, he managed to outmaneuver them and climb up onto the deck. Hey, you crazy bastard! It was the moment when the children spotted him and eximed. Kwaaang! Once again, a strong vibration swept through the ship. It was Kalendes doing. The de of Severance was swinging towards the sides and rear of the ship. Ka-ga-kang-! The barrel of the side magical cannon shattered instantly and fell into the water. The engines at the rear suffered the same fate. The severed magic circuits triggered a chain of explosions, causing the hull to sway heavily again. The sound of Kalende murmuring softly. You all. The de of Severance swung back immediately, aiming towards the gathered mages. Shwaaaack- Barriers tore apart like tissue paper along with the spellcasters. Aaah! The seawater sshing on the deck turned crimson. Youve messed up. The children noticed that something was off about Kalende. Through the gap in her dry face and flowing white hair, her red eyes gleamed ferociously. The distorted face, like a demons, was directed towards the distant sky. As if finding the current situation unbelievable, her head moved rapidly from side to side. The baptism Kalendes breath became rough. The baptism is over. In other words, Malekias mission was notpleted. The price would be severe. A terrible sense of dread overwhelmed Kalende. And that emotion morphed into anger and exploded. Kwagagagak-! How dare you! How dare you! The knights of Wellington rushing to subdue were mercilessly ughtered. The de of Severance swept across the deck, sparing no one. Kalende trembled as he thought. Given the situation, theres no other choice. We must do what we can for now. She doesnt know exactly how the baptism is conducted. But the ritual of absorbing the tremendous power of the Frost Dragon is unlikely to end without any side effects. The current state of the baptizee is likely far from stable. Much weaker than Dorempa. We cant afford to miss this opportunity. Therefore, we must pursue and kill Cuculli before she adapts to her power. Kalende made up her mind. To do that, I must deal with these pests first. The culprits who ruined all these ns. Leaving them alone could lead to unknown consequences. It would be wise to deal with them when we have the chance. Kwagak- After sending the de of Severance flying a few more times. Kalende ascended back onto Myrmat. It would be best to split the ship in half. Now the chance of survival from her attacks was zero. The ship had be useless. With the magical engines destroyed and the mages and magical cannons to restrict flight cleared. The sky was now entirely her domain. Kalendes breath became rough. Ill make you pay the price. Watching them die in the dark night sea, she would mock them. Its over, fools. It was the moment when Myrmat raised its head high and soared into the sky. . . . Kwuuuuuu- The faint moonlight nced off an unidentified flying object soaring through the massive clouds. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 198 Chapter 198 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 When they first spotted that gigantic silhouette amidst the thickly descending clouds. The children fell into despair, thinking another Myrmat had appeared. Kwaaaaaah but something was different. Luke stared at it, circling through the air endlessly. That roaring sound. Every time the roar reached his ears, he felt as if he were standing alone in a field where thunderstorms raged fiercely with each lightning strike. From the back of his neck to the soles of his feet, chills ran rampant. It was markedly different from Myrmats sharp and irritable cries. It was much more formidable. Yussi, too, was stunned, frozen in ce. Even she, who had vanquished countless demons, had never heard a sound quite like this. What in the world is that? Everyone looked up at the sky with pale faces. Hatred, murderous intent, warlike intent amidst the myriad emotions swirling around, one dominated alone. Fear. Could it be another dreadful creation prepared by the Demonic Church Leader? I dont know. Even discerning its exact appearance was difficult. The dark surroundings and thick clouds posed problems, but its speed was so great that even those with keen eyesight found it hard to track with their eyes. One thing was certain that monster was flying straight towards this ship. It was evident from the constantly growing shadow. Luke reflexively turned to his friends but hesitated. What? The face of Kalende, who moments ago had been poised to kill them, was now drained of color. As they tried to examine more closely. The enormous shadow swiftly engulfed them. Kwaaaaaah! Something unidentified swooped down and collided with Myrmat. As if calcted meticulously, it surged forward suddenly, elerating. The Demonic Church executives near Myrmat all became mere bloodstains as they were flung dozens of meters into the air. Aaaargh! The speed was so fast that even Kalende, who had been watching it approach keenly, couldnt react. The children reflexively braced for impact, but surprisingly, the shock inflicted upon the ship wasnt as great as expected. That was because it had seized Myrmats neck with its ws and was soaring into the air. It resembled a hawk snatching its prey. Kiieee Myrmat, struck by the unexpected attack, continued its desperate struggle. Those on the ship forgot about fighting each other, gaping with mouths wide open, witnessing the spectacle of colossal creatures grappling dozens of meters in the air. Its so huge. Is that thing really a living being? Even though it approached closely, they couldnt fathom the size of the newly emerged monster. No, they couldnt even fit its entire body into view. Its length was easily twice that of Myrmat, and its thickness showed even more disparity. Perhaps because of this, despite Myrmats desperate struggles, it ascended into the air effortlessly. Though it seemed unlikely, its movements appeared to be aimed at protecting the ship. Kiieee! Meanwhile, Myrmat continued its fierce resistance. Wrapping its body around the monster like a snake, it thrashed with its ws and struck with its tail. It even relentlessly bit with its teeth. But it was all in vain. Myrmats ws, which had torn the ship apart like sheets of paper, only skimmed vainly over its hard scales. Familiar, bluish scales. It was when a familiar voice resounded in their ears. [Ouch! Ouch! That hurts! Stay still!] ? Surprisingly, the monster was speaking in humannguage. But the children were too preupied to pay attention to this anomaly. That voice. Surely not, right? The children looked at each other with trembling eyes. Even Luke, doubting whether the medical staff had administered hallucinogens, pinched his own arm. Yet, whether they spoke or not, the familiar voice continued. [Well, that should do it by now!] Kwadduduk The ws gripping Myrmats neck tightened. Myrmat could no longer thrash and slumped down. Simultaneously, the colossal jaws of Cuculli opened wide. A tremendous amount of mana generated from Dragon Heart flowed through her jaws. Kiieee Myrmat, with eyes filled with terror, looked at the surrounding air beginning to freeze. That was the end of it. Zzeojjeojjeok Thin, sharp ice rushed over Myrmats body, making its surface as transparent as ss. In an instant, Myrmat became a massive ice sculpture, seeming as though it had been painstakingly crafted by dozens. However, those watching didnt have time to observe it closely. Whirr Cuculli folded one of her wings and turned her body. Kwaaaaaah Her tail, thicker than a fir tree, gained tremendous rotational force and swung like a whip. The sharp thorn at the end mercilessly plunged into the frozen Myrmat. Zzing In this way, it shattered into hundreds of pieces and scattered into the sea. It had all happened within 30 seconds, after Cucullis appearance. The children looked at her with expressions of not knowing what to be astonished at first. Meanwhile, as if it were nothing, the creature settled in the center of the deck with strange gestures. Kwoooong The ship, which held on even when Mirmatnded, sank several meters down and then rose again with difficulty. If it werent for the enchanted buoyancy magic on the hulls bottom, it would have sunk immediately. From that moment on, no one could take their eyes off her. No one moved hastily. A Frost Dragon. Am I dreaming? Someone among the crew murmured. The giant and graceful body shone brightly even without moonlight. As long as its body, a tail as long as its body and sharply curved bronze horns. Wingsrger than sails fluttered fiercely and folded. What could it be if not a dragon? Compared to it, Myrmat was as insignificant as a mouse. The expressions of the children and Waldiff were the most notable. Ambivalence, confusion, and awe mingled on their faces, and Cuculli, facing them, awkwardly scratched her horn with her forefoot. [Cuculli Appears!] [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 [Is everyone alright?] In the midst of the gasping words, the childrens expressions wrinkled instantly. Cuculli quickly continued speaking. [Who came along?] Thud. Someone leaped off Cucullis back simultaneously. * * * The Hero looked at the children. From their hesitant mouths to their widened pupils, even to their lips forming a steep curve of delight. The children also looked at the Hero. A stern expression, a body asrge as a rock, and eyes as cold as forged steel met their gaze. The strict gaze softened rapidly when it reached the children. Reading the emotions contained within, the children momentarily doubted their own eyes. Relief, faint anger those were expected. But there was an emotion they hadnt anticipated pride and satisfaction. A faint smile lingering on his lips. The Hero was clearly proud of them. Well done. The Hero, their mentor. He acknowledged the fight they had endured. Just that fact alone made their heavy limbs lighter, and the mes of determination that had been smoldering on the ground were reignited. As the Hero scanned each of the childrens faces, he turned his gaze to their backs. Yussi, you too. Ha, thank you so much foring when I still have limbs. Thank you. Thest ones were the frozenpanions of the Demonic Church Leader. All the Demonic Church Leaders were either dead or incapacitated. The remaining ones were just a demon and Kalende. They were in shock and despair, gazing alternately between the giant dragon and each other. The demon didnt bother him much. The Heros eyes were fixed on Kalendes gaunt face. The strongest leader in history. The possessor of the Zeros blessing and the one who had killed Dorempa. Even if his body was in good condition, he couldnt guarantee victory. Moreover, he had just fought a battle and didnt have enough stamina or mana. Having children andrades to protect behind him was just a bonus. However, despite all these unfavorable conditions, the Heros expression remained as calm as usual. In fact, he was thinking along these lines Perhaps its fortunate to face it head-on at this moment. He had protected the sanctuary while battling 500 demons and monsters in the harshnd of the north, and subdued a giant. Since obtaining the Iris of Lace, this was arguably his greatest achievement. Naturally, the rewards had already been given long ago. Confirming this while riding Cuculli was a relief. In the freezingnd, the firewood burns. A me that will not be extinguished. Understanding of Ted Redymer deepens. Understanding: 63/100 -> 70/100 Understanding of Cuculli Evans deepens. Understanding: 40/100 -> 50/100 Salvation: Fourth Rite, Ster Rift has been unlocked. There were other minor rewards that followed, but the important ones were this. As Teds understanding increased, his power also rose, and there was significant progress in Salvation rites. Buk The Hero walked slowly towards the Demonic Church Leader. I never thought Id get Ster Rift now. From the Great Forest to the North. It was truly a series of the worst timings and misalignments. However, at this moment, luck seemed to be on his side. The Ster Rift was a Salvation rite developed to protect hisrades from formidable enemies and engage in unrestrictedbat. In the great battle, it was also the first Salvation rite Ted used against the Demonic King. Oooooong It was the moment when the Heros remaining mana flowed for the activation of the Fourth Rite. [Kids, Waldiff,e behind me. Professor, Ill take care of the demons.] Cucullis calm voice echoed in everyones ears. The Hero looked at her with a surprised expression. She must have gained strength, and it wouldnt be strange if she went wild and tore apart the archenemy of her father, the Demonic Church Leader. Drrrr Cucullis giant pupils turned towards the Demonic Church Leader before returning to her friends. The Hero could read her inner thoughts. Shes grown up. Of course, it was true that she had gained tremendous power thanks to the baptism, but it was also true that she was slow to adapt to the power because Cucullis essence had not disappeared. Perhaps it would be difficult to face the Demonic Church Leader right away. It seemed that protecting her friends in poor condition from the demons was the right decision. [Theres one more enemy.] Alright. The Hero briefly pushed aside the image of Ibar Waitanka that came to mind. The traitor of the Dawn Knights, the culprit who made Ted die. He was a deeply hated opponent, but now was the time to focus on the enemy in front of him. Executing Salvation Rite 4: Ster Rift Eliminate the threat in the north and return to Rosenstark with the children. The final stage had begun. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 199 Chapter 199 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Salvation is a technique that reflects Teds agony to fight powerful demons with a human body. However, Ted didnt develop it alone from start to finish. If Ted is considered the father of Salvation, then Larz was its mother. As a founding member of the Dawn Knights, she had been with Ted since their student days and had the most influence on the development and advancement of Salvation. As a result, aspects of her magical traits or research findings were embedded throughout Salvation. From the 3rd installment, there are some coborative works. We even made re together. I heard that itcked destructive power to deal withrge demons with exceptional regenerative abilities, so we researched that area a bit. She told me about various aspects of Salvation that I hadnt known. I had no choice but to listen to the story told by the original author. Do you know what 4th form, Ster Rift, is? I nodded. I may not know exactly how it works, but I know what it does. When I trained with Ted in the Sanctuary, I even went into that ce myself to see why I couldnt understand. How should I put it? Among Salvation techniques, Ster Rift was the most magical. It waspletely different from martial techniques like strengthening swordsmanship or increasing speed. To put it simply, its a technique that creates the users unique barrier. It shapes the individuals mental world into a tangible form and erodes reality with it. It doesnt sound simple at all and it sounds very abstract. Well, there is clearly a basis for it. A basis? Think about the demonic realm. Larz continued to exin, her eyes sparkling. The door opened, and energy called demonic energy that didnt exist in this world flowed into reality. Thus, mutations and erosion urred, and the demonic realm, an unrealistic space, took root in this world. Ster Rift was developed based on that concept. Of course, no matter how vast Teds magical power was, it was impossible for him to prate and maintain his own mental image against this world. Just as the body resists diseases, so does the world resist such infiltration. So they resorted to a small trick. Creating a separate dimension like a pocket realm. It was possible with the help of Larz, who was proficient in spatial magic. Its much easier thanpletely covering it up. It should be easy to understand if you have Valbers Key. A separate dimension It creates a separate space where the worlds resistance does not reach and dyes it with Teds color. In other words, Ster Rift is Larz carefully chose her words. A technique that invites enemies to your own battlefield. Most techniques are developed out of necessity. The 1st form, Halo, was a key technique that strengthened the swordsmanship to deal with various forms of demons while allowing freedom to change its properties and shapes. Nova, the 2nd form, was created to gain an advantage in chaotic battles. The 3rd form, re, was for dealing withrge demons or demons with exceptional regenerative abilities, as Larz mentioned. So what was the need for the 4th form? I could easily answer that. The reason Ted created the Ster Rift technique was for Protection. After separating terrifying enemies from his allies. He fought alone on his own battlefield. It couldnt be a more Ted-like technique. Come on, Cult Leader. I stood tall within the area created by Ster Rift. The endless expanse of the Arctic Ocean, the children and fishermen on the overturned ship, and even the ice and snow, all disappeared. The space was filled only with white mist. Whoo, whoo- Beyond that, vague figures were quickly passing by, but it was difficult to identify them. This is my Ster Rift army. It was a different form from Teds mental image, which was full of numerous Heros like statues. Of course, even though theposition was different, its utility was notcking. This was a space solely permeated by my mana. While inside here, I received positive adjustments in all aspects ofbat. Mana regeneration and physical recovery became faster, and duplication became easier. The opposite would be true for enemies. Shwoo- I aimed ck Hope at Kalende, who stood in the center of the space like a statue. When she was first brought here, she stood still like a statue. Although she seemed to have lost her hostility at first nce, there was no room forcency. Lets end this here. It was at that moment. Aha A faintughter pierced my ears. Shesughing? In the midst of the unexpected reaction, while hesitating. Kalendesughter grew louder and louder, resonating in the space until it echoed loudly. Ahahaha! Sheughed, bending at the waist. It was as if she found the current situation unbearably amusing. Ahahaha-! Her sharp and brightughter, tinged with mncholy, continued without stopping. Her strangely erged red pupils remained fixed on the Hero, never leaving. * * * Kalende met the Hero three times. The first time they met was when the Demonic Churchs stronghold was being subjugated in the past. The sight of him tearing them apart in the former Grand Masters residence was still vivid in memory. It was shortly after she was created. Because Kalende, who followed her creator like an absolute being, was shocked even more. It wasnt sadness about loss. Was I created by such an imperfect and weak being? Even if humans dont believe in gods, they unconsciously believe that some absolute existence orw intervenes in their fate. Thats why they can confidently face lifes absurdity and irrationality. But what about her? Humans are endlessly imperfect and inadequate. So how shallow and limited must I be, created by such humans? The Hero was the catalyst. She began to hate herself as a homunculus. The next meeting was a few yearster. During the attack on the fairs auction house, Kalende was once again shocked by the Hero. It was because she caught a glimpse of something hidden within him thanks to the prating Insight. Naturally, she began to suspect that the Hero might not be human. Monster! Countless beings that couldnt be defined by words. How could humans harbor such things inside them? She was so scared and astonished that she couldnt even retrieve the original purpose of the attack, the Wolf Statue, and fled. And finally, now. She met the Hero again, this time without the prating Insight. But for Kalende, it was rather fortunate. Because she could see the Hero through her own true perception. She realized one thing. This is aplete farce. A very funny and ironic truth. Wiping away her tears, Kalende stood tall. A mocking smile spread across her face. In the end, youre just like me. What? It couldnt have been from the beginning. Did you switch in the middle? Whose creation is this? Spitting out such words, Kalende carefully observed the Heros reaction. There was no sign of wavering in his honest, colored eyes. Sheughed bitterly. You still dont know? How is that possible? Cant you feel it? Dont you feel anything when you look at me? It would be a pity to leave nonsense as yourst words. Ha, unfair. I wish I didnt know. The Hero didnt reply and closed the distance. His expression slowly hardened. Im not sure exactly what she was trying to say but it seemed clear that the church leader noticed something about him. I have to kill him. Under the sharp momentum, Kalende stoppedughing. Her fighting spirit, which had faded, was reviving again in her eyes. Its worth a try. It was fortunate that she was dragged into a space where one-on-onebat was possible. If she had received a joint attack from the outside, there would have been no chance at all. Hero well, yes. Lets call you a fake Hero. A sardonic smile spread across Kalendes lips. A fake Hero is much weaker than the real one. For the past few months, the Hero had constantly shed with the Demonic Churchs forces. From the auction house to the factories near the Capital, and even to the Demonic Realm. There were many moments of ambiguity in judgment, but one thing was certain:pared to the real ones who didnt even think about rebellion, he was far from being in his right mind. Moreover, given the situation, he seemed already worn out. The odds are in my favor. Whoo, whoo- Looking at the light of Halo, which began to gather at the end of ck Hope, Kalende murmured quietly. Do you know the good thing about scraps? The Hero didnt answer. Kwaaaaang-! Halo, condensed into a spear shape, shot out with a roar. Chijijijik- At the same time, a blue lightning wrapped around the Heros body, and soon he followed after Halo. It wasnt over. As the domain was activated, Kalendes twisted body was pulled towards him. Kalende didnt bother to resist and whispered the words she wanted to say. It doesnt matter what you insert. Malekia knew that Kalende was a homunculus. Based on the data of Depikio Lugo, a magical creature created by the Demonic Church. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Those materials and data were owned by Zero Requiem and were passed down to him as a direct disciple. Therefore, Kalende was nothing more than created by Zeros skill. Her potential, the size of her vessel, was much greater than what the Demonic Church had thought. It was almost disappointing to end up just as the leader of a false religion. Recognizing this, Malekia willingly added one more ability to her. Although there were huge penalties it could be called a hidden ace! Kwaaaaaaa- Kalendes body was wrapped in a purple light, just before Halo reached her. The Heros eyes widened. He wasnt someone who wouldnt recognize that ominous aura. Demonic energy? Of course, even beings other than demons could handle demonic energy. As seen in Zeros memory, at that time, the head of the Magic Tower also admired the demonic energy emitted from the door as a powerful energy source that could be integrated into magic. But the concentration and quantity of magic currently engulfing Kalendes body were not at such a superficial level. The momentum that far surpassed even the top-tier demons pressed him and this space down. As if Its like Commander level? Kwaang- Kalendes hand, swinging at an overwhelming speed, easily crushed Halo. Then the de of severance swung by Kalende pierced through the Heros body that followed. He used Nova to dodge, but Kalendes keen eyes caught his movement instantly. It was a powerful and fast blow that couldnt bepared to what Leciel faced. Pwoo- As the de of severance pierced the Heros abdomen, Kalende muttered with confidence in her victory. Yeah. Die knowing nothing. * * * Meanwhile, the battle on the ship was slowly beginning. The situation where the Hero cast Ster Rift and left the battlefield with the church leader. Cuculli and the demon Okultus, who had confronted each other, sent searching nces at each other, on guard. Ban, who had faced Okultus before, warned her. Be careful, hes a demon whose main ability is concealment. Even with my detection, it wasnt easy to find him. [Concealment?] Cuculli tensed and stared straight ahead. If it were a differentbat skill, it would be different. For her, who couldnt keep up with the rapidly increasing output of mana control and maniption, he was a tough opponent. Ssshh- The cold between Cucullis teeth flowed again. If its hard to find, strike all at once. When he hides. She was nning to st with all her might, freezing the entire deck. I have to suppress him all at once so he cant hide. There were many people to protect. There was Waldiff and Luke behind her, both injured, and the entrance to the hatch where nonbatants were hiding. If they missed that demon, there would be casualties. They couldnt afford that. Ssshh- It was the moment she was about to open her mouth. Thud- Okultus rushed fiercely. From behind. In other words, beyond the railing to the sea. Perhaps he had regained some demonic energy during that time, as he seeded in spreading the cloak of concealment. Thanks to that, no one saw him falling into the sea. Even the sound of the ssh was muffled. Not even a second passed, and he disappeared into the dark night sea. No one expected him to flee, so everyone looked at his empty seat with puzzled expressions. The few remaining demon officers of the Demon King were the same. The children murmured. Wow Maybe demons are scared of dragons too. Do we need to catch him? How? [Huh] Breath lost its target. But Cucullis mana control ability was too weak to swallow it back. She hesitated, then aimed her breath at the demonic church executives standing firm on the ship. Crackle- The extreme cold danced on the deck, freezing everything in sight. Cuculli shivered awkwardly on the deck, which had turned into a snow-covered wilderness after enduring three days and nights of snowstorm. [Huh, um] With this, Yussis personal ship lost all functions except floating. She sat back in her wheelchair and muttered. Next chieftain. Officially demand this matter from the Frost Dragon Tribe. [Huh] Anyway, well take care of this, so go now. The childrens expressions became strange at her words. Where could they go when the battle was over? But as much as Yussi, Cuculli understood her intentions. The enemy is still out there. Her head turned in the direction of the Frost Dragon Tribe vige. There, the five hundred demon troops and reinforcements from the tribe would be fiercely fighting. The demon forces may have been replenished. The distance between the sanctuary and the Frost Dragon Tribe vige was very close. If the reinforcements were dyed, the vige would be in danger. It was a vige surrounded by cliffs and the sea, with no suitable ce to take refuge. Some of the weak ones had already fled for refuge. If they made a mistake, a massacre could happen. Cucullis expression became serious. The first goal of saving friends had been achieved. Now it was time to save the troops and tribe members who hade to help them. p- Cuculli spread her wings wide. There was no time to waste. [You guys stay here with the principal and] But suddenly, she couldnt help but stop speaking. She had noticed her friends climbing onto her back, whimpering. It seemed they had realized how the situation was unfolding. Even though theyre exhausted! Just as she was about to protest. Do you remember what I said a few days ago? Bans voice pierced her ears. Cuculli groped for her memory. Were your friends and at the same time, wevee to the north as the disciples of a Hero to do what we can. Youre definitely the biggest reason we came to the north, but you dont have the right to stop us. The boy chuckled as he firmly embraced Cucullis neck. Even the professor came, so we cant act pitifully. Leciel, Evergreen, Karen, Gerald, even the injured Luke. Even Lucas, avoiding the angry duke, was holding onto his tail tightly. Gerald clenched her horns and shouted hoarsely. What wonderful friends they were. Cuculli couldnt help but chuckle. [Theyre reliable.] p- As they rose vertically, the sailors waving their hands and the half-frozen ship quickly disappeared from view. Wow! Lets go! The childrens cheers echoed through the northern sky. . . . By the way, its taking longer than I thought, huh? I thought it would be over in a minute. I didnt know he would be inside the barrier until we left. Well, it seems like hes taking his time to finish them off. But Ive never seen Ster Rift spread out like that before. It was really cool. The children knew that Ster Rift was being cast in a barrier format. But there was no one worrying among them. To them, the Hero was like an invincible deity. Of course, the Demonic Church Leader showed a chillingly powerful side, but she was not going to surpass the Hero. Lets not worry about it. As the children exchanged such conversations and rxed their bodies. Only Cuculli, with subtly worried eyes, looked back. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 200 Chapter 200 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Inside the Ster Rift. Tap- As Kalende rushed towards the Hero, she thought to herself. I never thought Id have to use this power. There was one reason why she hesitated to activate Malekias factor even in dire situations in the past. The act carried a significant penalty and could possibly lead to her death. Under normal circumstances, for a non-demonic being to use demonic energy, it was necessary to undergo a process of dilution. It was customary tobine and refine ones mana and demonic energy in the body externally, then reintroduce it into the body. Demonic energy was an extra-dimensional energy that came from gates. If the beings of this world were to absorb it without filtration, their bodies would copse due to severe immune reactions. Therefore, the executives of the Demonic Church always umted and used demonic energy through such means, and naturally, Kalende was no exception. However, at the moment of activating Malekias factor, the core prated into her body. A cursed mechanism that converts all existing energy into demonic energy. Even the most durable Homunculi couldnt withstand it for long. Kalende endured severe pain. It doesnt matter. Anyway, this battle wouldnt drag on for long. Kalende was certain of that. Look. Sweeping- Unseen des cut through Kalendes hand, and red blood flowed. The sturdy sensation in her hand indicated that the Hero had been fatally wounded. No matter how resilient the Homunculus is, they cant continue the battle with such a wound. The fight was already over with the first strike. She thought so. ? But the moment she met those glowing iris, still shining blue. Kalende couldnt help but realize that something was wrong. Swoosh- ck Hope swung in a state of being pierced by the de of severance. Its destination was her neck. The Heros swordsmanship, even in a state of being critically injured, was too fast and urate to have been extended. Had she not immediately taken evasive action, her neck would have been severed. What? Thud- Kalende fell backward, clutching her neck as blood gushed out like a fountain. Her neck was halfway severed. Snap- Simultaneously, the Hero, freed from the de of severance, also fell to the ground. As he struggled to stand up, Kalendes red irises, seeing him, shook violently. Swoosh- As if time were flowing backward, the Heros wounds were healing. It wasnt just regeneration or recovery. The Heros body was rapidly returning to its original state, to the extent that the term restoration would be more appropriate. What is this? Of course, Kalendes own wounds on her neck were also being healed in real-time. But this was a phenomenon caused by Malekias factor. Malekias demonic energy had the property of regeneration. However, the Heros body healed much faster than Kalendes. Kalende realized that some unknown force was acting upon her. ;What exactly is going on? Kalende was certain that the fake Hero was a Homunculus created as a substitute for the real one. Therefore, it was only natural to expect that Ted Redymers factor would be synthesized with him. [TL/N: I think factor here means the same thing as essence? But thats just what I think, lets see if more info is provided in the future.] So she wasnt surprised that he was using the Heros swordsmanship and techniques. But whose factor was responsible for this restoration? Whose factor could surpass Malekias regeneration ability, the Queen of Agony? It definitely doesnt belong to a human. Kalende smirked. The person who created you is also nasty. But it didnt matter. Regardless of whose factor he received, it was obvious that this fake was weaker than her. Didnt she just effortlessly thwart his attacks like childs y? Kiiiiing- Kalende generated the de of severance again and lunged forward. Youll resent your abilities. An overwhelming force erupted from her entire body. In front of it, his tricks would lose their power. The Hero immediately activated Nova in response Too slow! Before his techniques could fully manifest, Kalende charged towards him. Swoosh- His arm severed, it flew into the air. But before a drop of blood could spill, he restored it again. Thanks to the Ster Rift, his Polymorph speed was enhanced. Whoooom- The Hero managed to catch the falling ck Hope in reverse. As if waiting for it, a blow was directed at Kalende. Of course, she easily crushed it Hah! Realizing that he deliberately extended his arm, Kalende chuckled. Even with that ability, there must be a limit. How long do you think you can keep it up? The Heros mouth twitched. It wasnt an answer to her question. Moves swiftly. Continues the battle despite pain and injury. The enemy bes dull and stops. Paradox? Kalende felt herself ensnared by an intangible force but quickly shrugged it off. Pathetic. Malekia was one of the Three Greatest. Now that her factor had reached its limit, Kalendes power rivaled that of most lower-ranking generals. Tap- Enveloped in omnipotence, she charged forward once more at a speed that defiedprehension. Lets see if you can regenerate even if your neck is severed! Swoosh- Before the words could finish, the Heros wrists were severed. But his iris remained calm, as usual. Like someone aiming for something clear-cut. * * * The Hero knew it would be a tough fight. Even if Teds understanding increased and he mastered the Fourth ritual, he was already exhausted from the relentless battles. On the other hand, Kalendes mana seemed to spring forth infinitely, and her exceptionally pure demonic energy dramatically boosted her physical abilities. Even if he pushed Nova to its limit, it barely left a trace. If not for the corrections from the Ster Rift and the paradox ability, his neck would have been severed by now. Thunk- The Hero rolled on the ground, sacrificing his limbs countless times to preserve his life. Both his mental and physical strength were nearing their limits. But he persevered till the end. It was thanks to Kalendes expression distorting at every moment. Finally, she stood tall, staring at the Hero as if confronting something impossible. How? The Hero could anticipate her next words. Youve never faced this ability before! The reason why severance was terrifying to non-demonic energy users was that, regardless of skill level, they would be defenseless against it upon first encounter. A de unseen, whose length and width changed ording to ones will. It goes without saying how daunting it could be. Most didnt even realize the fight had begun before their heads went flying. A supremely dominant attack that could establish overwhelming superiority in an instant. The Hero chuckled. Never faced it. Swoosh- As he restored the wound on his thigh, he stood upright. An attack that would have cleaved through his body moments ago now only left a scratch. Thats not possible. It was purely her misconception. He had faced severance dozens, if not hundreds, of times. He had experienced all sorts of bizarre attacks using that invisible de. He had internalized how fast it extended, how far it reached, and what preparatory actions were involved. So is the severance currently under the control of the current Demonic Church Leader? Yes. She inherited the power of the former Demonic Church Leader that returned after his death. This was immediately after the spectral being they met in the demonic realm revealed that the current Demonic Church Leader was the owner of severance. Based on thebat data left by the former Demonic Church Leader that Ted stored in the Iris of Lace. With this, he utilized all the functions of the Avatar Training to learn severance. Could I havee to kill you without even preparing that much? Achieving victory through sheer force might be difficult. When theres a significant power gap, no matter how well you understand your opponent, winning can be challenging. But achieving victory through meticulous preparation is entirely possible. If youpletely prate your opponent and learn their responses youll never be in danger. The current oue proved this. The Hero looked at the staggering Kalende. Ten minutes had passed since she unleashed her demonic energy. Her time was running out. Hack Hack Her once resilient body was gradually copsing. The overwhelming demonic energy had already greatly diminished. Thud- A hollow sound echoed. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Cowardly! A voice steeped in malice. As if unable to believe the current situation, her eyes were bloodshot, almost bursting. The Hero knew she would self-destruct if left alone. His victory had been hard-won. But for some reason. With the sword in hand, the Hero approached her. Ah Hesitant- As the distance between her and the Hero narrowed, life returned to her emaciated face. Perhaps she thought the opportunity to kill him hade. Amidst the swirling flesh, he forcibly dredged up a thought he had buried in his heart. A thought that hadnt left him since right after learning her true identity. Perhaps He might have be like Kalende if he had taken one wrong step. Having lived for many years experiencing both the good and bad sides of humanity. As a result, he came to believe more in the goodness of humans and resolved to fight for them. In the process, the salvation he obtained was so sweet. It felt like floating around this world as an alien presence until finally setting down roots for the first time. But what if.. What if, by some chance, he had been ensnared by the grip of evil beings like the Demonic Church Leader from the beginning, just like Kalende? If he hadnt even had the opportunity to experience the light of humanity? Would I still love humans as I do now? He couldnt be sure. The Hero recalled various documents rted to Homonculus that he had found in Depikio Lugosboratory. Some of those documents clearly had the title Transnt Experiment written prominently on them. During his journey northward, he had skimmed through them. The Hero realized that it was an experiment to synthesize specific factors in Homonculus. What kind of things had the Demonic Church Leader imnted in Kalende? They surely werent normal. They were probably things like insanity or malice, which could only make one hate humans and worship evil. A created viin. If she wasnt even the least bit pitiful, it would be a lie. ng! The Hero parried the de of severanceing towards his neck. Dont look at me like that, Kalendes expression was as if he had spat in her face. Intense anger and disgust consumed her. Were in the same boat!!!! Her body trembled as if in convulsions. Itsing. The Hero sensed the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. Kalendes demonic energy, which had been fading, surged like a me meeting oil. Whooooooom- The concentrated demonic energy was right on her right nk. Tssstssstssstss- From fingertips to throat, it decayed into purple in an instant. Unable to withstand the excessive demonic energy, it was rotting away. But Kalendes poisonous gaze didnt turn towards her copsing body in real-time. It was solely fixed on the Hero. Squeeeeeeeak- The severance wrapped in an enormous amount of demonic energy swung at an unprecedented speed. It was indiscriminate and primitive brutality without any pattern or form. But it was equally powerful. Cacacacack- The conceptual power of cutting through manifested throughout the entire space. The barrier created by the Ster Rift was cut like paper by a knife. Frozen ships and debris, the snow and ice of the Arctic Ocean, wavered like a candle me before disappearing repeatedly. This time, I cant let it even graze me. The Hero recalled his avatar duel with the former church leader. If hit by the finishing move of severance, recovery was impossible. Zzzzzzzz- Blue sparks flew from the Heros body as he watched the severance flying through space. Just moving quickly wont avoid those des. No matter how fast they were swinging, the attacks poured in from all directions literally simultaneously. It sounded absurd, but it seemed like multiple des existed simultaneously for a moment. As if there were no time difference. This phenomenon was the result of demonic energy concentrated to the level of a general, solely focused on speed. And because it was a conceptual de of massless notion, evasion was impossible. An unavoidable technique. The technique of severance. But the Hero did not retreat. Ted had already exploited this technique to im victory. So he could do it too. Mimicking was his specialty after all. Sizzle- Novas strike did not linger on his body but shot out from his head. Bam- The impact elerated intensely. The surroundings became blurry as his vision shook, and the shockwaves from the strike passed by slowly like white lines. A faint heartbeat pounded in his ears. The sound of his hand gripping the sword crackled- echoing like a warning. Thud- The Hero charged forward. His cognitive abilities transcending human limits, he found a tiny gap within the intersecting paths of severance. Just one point. He had to keep moving forward, toward that one point. ng! . . . Kalendey on the ground, her hands twitching. The severance that had imed countless human lives no longer manifested. The Hero stood before her, staring at the small, dry hand slicing through empty space. From the end, it was cracking. You He lifted his sword, remembering her words from earlier. Yes, die in ignorance. With a faint sigh, he gave her a bted response. Ignorance isnt the issue. What? Kalendes body flinched, sensing what the Hero was about to say. He continued calmly. It doesnt matter. Whether I am a homunculus or a human Either an external monster or something else. That doesnt matter anymore. Why. Because I have a goal. A pained expression crossed Kalendes face. It was a longing for something she could never have in her lifetime. And the most terrible thing was, she didnt even know what it was. The Hero did not avert his gaze. I will uproot the decay that gues this world like a tumor and save humanity. For the first time, Kalende looked at him with eyes devoid of any emotion as she murmured. For what reason A homunculus who had to live in a world full of haters. A being that probably shares the same roots. Fwoosh- The Hero freed her, albeit btedly. Rotten roots that could not be used as firewood were cut out. Go find the librarian. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 201 Chapter 201 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Meanwhile, the battle at the Sanctuary was intensifying. Kugugugugu- As Cuculli left with the Hero, the Sanctuary began sinking back into the sea. Consequently, the remaining 500 demonic church members quickly boarded transport ships, just as they finished preparing for battle. Troops gathered by Yussi and Duke Wellington entered firing range. Thus, the battle began. Fire! Aim for the monster they are riding! Do not let themnd on the coast! The human forces included about twenty ships and two thousand soldiers. There were also around a hundred knight-ssbatants, supported by a considerable number of magicians from the towers. Considering the rush, both the quantity and quality of the troops were considerable. Moreover, anticipating a naval battle, Yussi raided Glendors warehouse to equip the troops with various long-range artifacts. Thanks to this, the initial phase of the naval battle seemed heavily in favor of the humans, but Ah, ahh! Retreat! The problem was the gigantic demon transport creature ridden by the demon army. It was powerful enough to throw trained soldiers into a panic with just its presence. Kugugugugung- A giant rose against the backdrop of the dark night sea. So tall that the sea rippled at his waist, despite being close to the coast and shallow waters. He simply stood up withoutunching any attacks, yet his movements alone caused waves of such magnitude that they struck the ships forming the encirclement. A shocking silence fell among the humans watching the approaching giant waves. What what is that? Get a grip! Well be swept away at this rate! Shields up! Angle them! Direct impact will be severe! If it werent for the magicians on board each ship, many ships would have sunk not from actual attacks, but from the force of the waves. As the tilted barriers diverted the tidal waves, the mana engines of the ships swiftly maneuvered the hulls. Of course, humans werent unaffected. Suddenly, ships formed arge circr encirclement around the giant, fluttering A barrage of red energy struck. Fire back! Our firepower is far superior! That one! Despite its size, its slow! Hundreds of mana cannons were fired simultaneously. Several hours remained until sunrise. The beams of light from the cannons, shining like festival fireworks, pierced the darkness and began to run. Vrrrboom- Magic bullets traversed the sea like meteors. Of course, that wasnt the end of it. Were turning around! The powerful mana engines made movements that would be impossible for ordinary ships. Whoooom- Engines on one side of the stern operated, and the ship rotated 180 degrees on the spot. The cannons loaded with mana bombs spewed fire again. Vrrrboom- No matter how gigantic the demon, it would have been affected by this onught. Commanders looked beyond the dense smoke with hopeful eyes. That was the moment. Screams of terror erupted simultaneously from the sailors. Whooooom- Something pierced through the smoke. The giants enormous hand. Slow and rugged in its movements, yet unavoidable. The shadow of death enveloped the fleet. Evasive maneuvers! Its toote! Gods! With the moon and stars obscured by clouds, that approaching hand, closest to them, seized the nearest ship. Kwajijijik- The sight of a massive ship being lifted into the air was truly shocking. It also triggered the primal fear of humans. Aaaah! Ship debris and humans fell into the sea. With each crash, the screams faded. Oh The faces of themanders turned ck with despair. Thepatibility is truly the worst. If their forces wereposed of a few elites and the Hero, the expressions of despair would have belonged to that sluggish giant and the demon riders over there. The giant would never have been able to match the movements of the Hero, and he would have been turned into minced meat in no time. But against multiple forces, there was no greater cmity. Some veterans who had participated in the Human and Demon War had a suspicion about the identity of that monster. That giant It must be It seems to be Gamelus. Oh my, why would that cursed monster be in the north? Gamelus. The so-called twin giants. It was the decisive weapon of the demon army, consisting of a small giant specialized fornd battles and arge one specialized for naval battles. They overwhelmed the enemy innding operations, causing many human coastal cities to fall. If it really is Gamelus, we have no chance on the sea. But we cant just retreat to the coast either. We have to consider the small giant. Theres a high chance that turning our backs would result in the ships being torn apart. Damn it The small giant had been in by the Hero, but they were unaware of it. Therefore, themanders had no choice but to make the most appropriate decision in this situation. We have no choice but to charge and climb that body. We have to destroy his brain. Organize a special forces unit consisting of knights and magicians. If the special forces can climb onto him, we can create distance and provide long-range support. However, even as they discussed strategy, themanders expressions remained firm. How many survivors will there be with this n? They looked at Gamelus, who exuded overwhelming presence, with trembling eyes. Dealing with just him wouldnt be enough. We also need to deal with the demons. Currently, demons incapable of long-range attacks were inside his body, while dozens of other demons stood on his head, raining down spells on them. It was unimaginable how difficult it would be to eliminate all these obstacles and climb up to his head. Perhaps retreating altogether Even that was not a viable option. The moment they showed weakness, the small giant wouldunch an attack. If he leaped among the ships a few times, they would all be sunk. Even if some of the troops managed to retreat, the Frost Dragon Tribe vige would suffer devastating losses. Its a desperate situation. Retreat! Just as they were about to order the charge with heavy hearts, that exact moment arrived. Kwuuuuuuu- All eyes on the battlefield turned to the sky on the other side. . . . The area on Cucullis back was more ufortable than expected. The scales were slippery, the wind was biting, and the temperature was dreadful. Lastly, Cuculli was ridiculously fast. Uuuaaahhh! The children exerted all their strength to avoid falling. If it werent for the protruding spikes and manes scattered throughout, they would have been thrown into the air long ago. Gerald shouted whale sounds. We need to make a saddle when we get back! [A great idea, make it a pretty one!] Karen, with a pale face, added a word. No, its supposed to be a dragon! Cant you use magic to block the wind or something? [Im concentrating on flying right now! Please understand!] Cuculli chuckled awkwardly as she pped her wings. Of course, she had inherited the power, knowledge, and more from the Frost Dragon and previous sessors through baptism. The problem was I havent materialized. Literally, she only knows it. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Therefore, even flying, one of the basic abilities of a dragon, was difficult for her. The only reason she could move this huge body at all was because of Cucullis miraculous neuromuscr system. [Were almost there, hold on tight!] Cuculli folded her wings and elerated rapidly. As they passed through the clouds, the coastline near the Frost Dragon Tribe vige came into view at a nce. And the children couldnt help but sigh in amazement, forgetting about their motion sickness. Wow, whats that? A giant? Even though the distance was still far, that eerie silhouette approached without regard for perspective. The most gigantic of the monsters the children had seen with their own eyes was Vermoth, encountered in the Forest of Martial Arts. Compared to that, Gamelus was easily ten timesrger, the children were speechless. Only after seeing the ships at sea and the giant alternately could they gauge the exact size of the monster. One of the children, who was well-versed in monster encyclopedias, muttered under his breath. Its Gamelus. After the exnation about his weakness being the head, the children pondered how to attack him. A child who extended his senses quickly briefed them. Approximately forty demons are on his head, and hundreds of demons are inside. We shouldnt use Cucullis breath like we did with that monster earlier No, its too risky. Flying around and shooting breath wont be enough. To freeze and shatter such an area, the breath would have to be poured for at least ten or twenty seconds at close range. In the meantime, Cuculli and those riding on top of her would be exposed to the demons spells. [Hmm] Since she couldnt think of any sharp ideas right away, Cuculli circled around Gameluss head. In fact, it was already helping. While the demons were shooting spells at her, the ships began to approach Gamelus more easily. They focused on narrowing the distance while revealing elite soldier-like appearances. Too reckless. In the eyes of the children, who could read the entire situation in the air, it looked no different from a moth flying into a me. That was the moment. Thud- Leciel suddenly stood up and rushed toward Cucullis horn. One of the children reached out in astonishment to stop her impulsive action. But it was toote. Leciel was already standing prominently on Cucullis head. She bnced herself well between the rushing wind and the shaking ground, but for those watching, it was a moment that sent chills down their spines. Cuculli spoke with a trembling voice. [Leciel?] Charr-rrrrrrr- But instead of a response, there was a clear clinking sound echoing. As a huge mana drained from Leciels body, the Shape Shifter she held in her hand began to be enveloped in a bright light. Charr-rrrrrrr- The children watched in awe as the transformation unfolded before their eyes. A weapon capable of changing its form ording to its owners will expanded endlessly in size, soon reaching dimensions too vast for any human to wield. No, surely not Some of the children, guessing her intentions, gasped in amazement. Leciel tapped Cucullis horn with her foot. Exhausted but with a clear voice that cut through the fierce winds of the Northern Sea, she spoke into everyones ears. Hey can it be done? Cuculli chuckled cheerfully. [Didnt youe up with an unexpectedly fun idea?] Ting- Leciel gathered all her remaining mana and strength, then threw the sword into the air. As she copsed from exhaustion, she was caught by Ban, who rushed to her side. With a swoosh, Cucullis mouth opened wide and grabbed the handle of the Shape Shifter. Dragon and human. But as they had been coordinating for a long time, their teamwork was seamless. [Grghhh, eeeaaaaah (Its heavy!)] Cuculli roared as she spun her body around. Hold on tight! In that brief moment, the freezing mana gushed from her heart down the de of the sword. Zzzzzz- Thin and sharp ice rushed along the giant de, making its surface as clear as ss. The pristine surface covered in ice reflected the moonlight piercing through the clouds, shining beautifully and sharply. It was a gleam of death. p- With a p of herrge wings, she propelled herself forward. Cucullis cyan eyes were fixed solely on her destination. As she flew towards her at a terrifying speed, countless spells from the demons poured towards her. [I leave those to you!] Got it! All right! Vrrrrrrrboom- About half of the spells missed, but the rest wereing directly towards her. In an instant, arrows shot by Evergreen and Karen, sword strikes by Ban, Luke, and Lucas, and Geralds spear thrust countered them. We did it! Cuculli, its your turn! And then. [I told you to hold on tight!] Whirr- Cucullis body twisted as the Shape Shifters de drew a huge circle. In the dark sky over the Northern Sea, the full moon suddenly appeared for a moment. With a body mass reaching twenty meters, a sword of unmatched sharpness, and mana as pure as ice. Kwaaaaang-! A beautiful and powerful sword strike hit the giants neck. Geeeee. Gamelus stood there for a moment, unaware of what had just happened to him, and then his neck waspletely severed, plummeting into the sea. The demons on top of him were the same. Some were thrown off by the recent sword strike, spraying ck blood as they fell, while others spread their wings and tried to escape. Some were even preparing to fight back Vrrrrrrrboom- Just then, the cannons of the ships at sea aimed at them. A loud cry of victory erupted from Cucullis back. Well done! Wow, that was insane! Who are we? Were the students of the hero! Cuculli also roared with excitement. [Now, letsnd!] Kwaaaaah- Even though Gamelus lost his head, his body stood firm. Cucullinded precisely on the severed section, and as her wings folded, she convulsively trembled. The children naturally looked down at her feet. Inside the gaping hole. Hundreds of demons wriggled like ants, trying to crawl out through the exit. But [No way!] Cucullis massive mouth moved faster towards the narrow space. A frigid breath enveloped them all. A breath that covered everything in front of it with ice. The radiant blue light seemed to signify the end of a long and fierce battle. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 202 Chapter 202 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Near the Frost Dragon tribe vige on the coast, a lively feast was unfolding. Wahaha- Boisterous jokes andughter echoed. Human soldiers were mingling with the demi-humans, pouring alcohol and meat down their throats incessantly. Amidst the coast covered in ice and snow, associating with the demi-humans of various appearances would be a very special experience. The military discipline, ss distinctions, and racial boundaries were rapidly fading away. Yet themanders, who would usually keep a close eye and maintain order, didnt bother to restrain them. No, they even encouraged it. For the Heroes of the North! As Duke Wellington raised his ss, knights and soldiers cheered for several names. Even those far away, so distant their voices couldnt be heard, roared in excitement. We will remember their bravery to the end! Their sacrifices and determination! To eternal glory! The fallen warriors from past battles. The children of Rosenstark who showed remarkable feats. And the names of the Heroes followed. In the midst, Lucass cheeks turned red at the sight of the duke subtly inserting his own name. Father, please stop. Heh heh isnt it natural for a father to enjoy the glory achieved by his child? Is there a problem? Pfft, next to him, Yussi let out a snicker. The duke red disapprovingly at her. Ignoring him, Yussi emptied her ss. The absence of the Hero in the drinking circle was not particrly enjoyable. He had kept his seat until the beginning of the feast, but quietly disappeared midway. It was a fiercely fought battle after a long time. Yussi wanted to enjoy thepany of the Hero and reminisce, but she couldnt bring herself to hold him back. Yussis intense blue eyes nced at another empty seat. It belonged to Cuculli. Ah, it seems age brings leniency. Yussi chuckled as she picked up her ss again, looking at the boy beside her. Lucas, the dropout student. His gaze was fixed on his peers throughout the feast. He seemed to want to approach them, but couldnt bring himself to do so. Lets have a private talkter. Yes? Lucass body stiffened. Probably because his guilt was severe. From the ident in the Forest of Martial Arts to kidnapping children in Dream Haven, it was all on him. Lucas looked at Yussi with anxious eyes, but her expression was too ambiguous to guess her intentions. W-Whats the matter? Geez, do you think Im going to eat you? Yussi shook her head, then took a sip of her drink. The Hero had given her a separate instruction about that boy. Hehehe. The duke, who had been alternating between the two, seemed to have guessed the situation and burst intoughter. . . . Clearing my throat, I spoke up. Why do you look so serious? Ah. Cuculli, who had been sitting on the coast, turned her head. A posture unbing of a chieftain. Her hair, shining like silver under the moonlight, swayed as she turned. Even though she must have heard meing by the sound of footsteps, Cuculli pretended to be surprised naturally. Hehe, what brings you here amidst the feast? Just wanted some fresh air. You might catch a cold. The winds from the north are very chilly. I know. Azure eyes. Her words were as usual, but the mischievousness that always shone within them seemed faint. I stood beside her. And repeated the question. What were you looking at so intently? The answer came after a moment. The things weve protected. We gazed silently out to sea. Less than 24 hours had passed since Cucullis baptism, yet the Arctic Sea had regained its former appearance. The endless ice from the beginning to the horizon seemed to have covered everything. In the space where solemn silence descended. The auroras emitted fantastic light and flickered. There wont be any more invasions by the Demon Army, right? Yes, it seems the invasion route has been blocked for sure. I nodded. Cuculli had achieved the firstplete baptism among the chieftains. Thanks to that, the sea had frozen even more solidly than before, and the cold blocking the invasion route had be much more severe. Even if they were resilient creatures, it would be difficult for arge army to break through such harsh weather conditions. The tribes of the North had once again united under one banner. As long as she was alive, there would be no chance for the Demon Army to set foot on the maind through the Northern Sea. Cucullis lips trembled slightly. The North will be peaceful again. Because youre exerting your leadership, thats why. Haha. Silence again. Although the conversations rhythm was choppy, it wasnt ufortable at all. Huuuuung- Amidst the loud roaring of the northern sea wind, Cucullis voice pierced through again. Thats right. Yeah. Its customary for those scheduled to receive baptism to not venture outside the North. Theyre afraid they might get hurt or die, or perhaps develop unnecessary attachment to the outside world. Did Dorempa tell you that? Hehe, I just knew. The ego, strength, memories, and power of the Frost Dragon tribe and past recipients of baptism were slowly digesting within her. Cuculli exined the current state like that. But Father willingly sent me to the academy. Why did he do that? The opposition from the tribal elders must have been strong. Cuculli rambled on, and I just listened without responding. Frost Dragon said so. She said it might be possible if it were me. At that time, I didnt understand what she meant, but now I think I do. A shallow sigh followed. Baptism exists for the sake of the North for the sake of the Norths tribes. It was a fact that no one doubted. Cucullis eyes trembled fiercely. But did Frost Dragons power really exist only for the sake of the North? Cuculli retraced the inherited memories of Frost Dragon. And she realized how the Frost Dragon tribe came to be. Half. In the dark past, the union of the dragon species and humans was their origin. So baptism was a half-hearted lump of side effects. Weve been fighting for the well-being of the North all this time. Indeed it was. The alliance between these beings and humans was rtively recent. It was after Dorempa ascended as chieftain and unified the North. Before that, the concept of cohesion was weak, and the North was always in turmoil. The demi-humans were hostile to the suddenly arriving humans, and the North was a dangerous ce for humans to venture into. Dorempa changed many things. My father once told me an old story about his first human friend, whom he met in his youth. Wait a minute. I found myself holding my breath unknowingly. Cuculli continued without noticing and spoke. He heard many stories about humans in the cave during a snowstorm. Very diverse and warm stories that made him positive about humans. What? It seems it left quite an impression on him. I wonder where the portrait of the person he drew is? Well, he couldnt find anyone who looked simr. Her words took me back to decades ago, to the caves of the North. On a day when a particrly severe snowstorm raged in the North. Trying to avoid it, we coincidentally met in a small cave. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Relying on just one campfire, we shared various stories. The continent where humans were dominant. As a demi-human, he was an easy-to-rte-topanion for me. With the certainty that we would never see each other again once the snowstorm subsided, I could honestly share my thoughts. Lets meet again, friend! The Great Snow Sea is vast, but the bond of fate is strong, so well see each other someday! The day after the weather cleared. The figure of Dorempa leaving with such a light farewell was still vivid. Maybe thats why he sent me to the academy? Hoping that I would love humans? I looked at Cuculli, speechless. I reflected on this encounter, which might have been led by my past self. An indescribable emotion wriggled in one corner of my heart. Professor? She looked back at me with a bted smile. Her transparent and clear azure eyes. The tongue that had been wandering aimlessly in her mouth finally found its ce. Lets go back. Even though it was a sudden remark, Cuculli didnt ask about the destination. She just smiled broadly and jumped up, straightening her body. Yes, lets go. We returned to the bustling coast where the feast was in full swing, walking ahead and behind. Under the light of the towering central bonfire. Aooh- Shadow, the young wolf cub who had been devouring food in the midst of admiration, spotted Cuculli and ran over happily. Even the stern-faced children waved their hands as we approached. Hey, where were you? Youre here now! Oh, even the professor is here! Would the feast beplete without the protagonists!? Here, since yourete, three cups for you! Cuculli dashed towards them with a face closer to a student than a tribal chief. I paused for a moment to take in the scene. Help my daughter to enjoy many things. Whether its small happiness or anxiety, all intense emotions. Surely that would happen. Destiny. In the words of Dorempa, the bond is strong. * * * The Hero decided to return straightaway. It was the day after the victory celebration. People clicked their tongues when they saw that he was still fine after emptying several bottles of traditional Frost Dragon tribe liquor, and licked their lips. Please stay a few more days and lets depart together. With a hint of disappointment in her voice, Yussi spoke, but the Hero shook his head. Theres urgent business. Im sorry. Lets summarize the ns and current situation briefly. First, the military. The majority of them decided to stay for a while longer. The Frost Dragon tribe suffered a devastating blow, leaving the defenses of the North weakened. There didnt seem to be much concern about the gap in central military forces. Thanks to the sess of Nyhills demolition unit, many key stakes were destroyed. The wounded were naturally sent to the rear for treatment. Since it would take a few more days to thaw out the frozen sea route, Cuculli needed to stay. The children and Yussi would rest a bit longer before returning with them. Ahaha, looks like we wont be able to make it for the start of sses. But, its for the sake of saving the North, so it wont count as unauthorized absence, right? Oh, how many demerits did I have again? When Yussi threatened to assign the entire buildings bathroom cleaning to the kids, everyones expression turned pale. Among the despairing kids, there was Lucas, awkwardly smiling and nodding gratefully when our eyes met. And Cuculli. Of course, she couldnt leave because she had to handle the aftermath of this situation as the tribal chief. She nned to take a leave of absence for the second semester and return depending on the situation. At first, she seemed to be considering dropping out altogether To drop out, a guardians consent is required. Huh? And your guardian right now is me. I dont remember approving your dropout. Easily thwarted her attempt. Lastly, the Hero himself. He intended to return as quickly as possible on his own. Imfortable alone. Whether by boat, horse, or transforming and flying, it was slower. His ns were disrupted by the events in the North. Thanks to that, he had a lot to do. First, I need to visit Rosalyn. He needed advice on the data obtained from Depikio Lugosb. And thements from Iris of Lace pointed to a new destination. And above all Yeah. To die without knowing anything. The Hero remembered the words of the Demonic Church Leader. A jumble ofplex images shed through his mind. The broken bio-reactor he saw in Depikio Lugosb. The experimental paperbeled as a transnt experiment failure. Thement stating Rotten roots There were piles of questions to ask. I havent even reviewed the third memory left by Zero. Allpasses were pointing to Rosalyn. He had to meet her to receive the next waypoint. There was no more time to waste. Alright, everyone, be careful on your way back. Just as the Hero was about to bid farewell and depart Thud- An old woman with a staff suddenly appeared and blocked his path. Due to her stooped posture, her head barely reached his waist. There was no apparent coercion in her appearance, but the Hero stopped in his tracks. It was because her wrinkled eyes were squarely focused on him. Whats this? Looking for an exnation, he turned to Cuculli, but she whispered in his ear as she approached. Shes a Snow Rabbit tribe prophet. Ah, the Heros expression contorted slightly. Im tired of prophecies. Behind the old woman, a familiar young Snow Rabbit tribe member was rushing towards them, panting. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 203 Chapter 203 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The Hero who rode the material transport elevator up the cliff, stood on the cliff and gazed at them once before turning around and disappearing. The children stood at the edge of the vige until his figure waspletely out of sight. Thest one to turn their head was, of course, Cuculli. A deep regret colored her face. Sigh, when will I see him again. Cuculli Evergreen ced her hand on Cucullis shoulder as if consoling her. In essence, Cucullis leave of absence was indefinite. No one knew when she would return. After stabilizing the situation in the unstable North, it was certain that she could vacate her position. A few dayster, it was difficult for the children returning to their routine in Rosenstark to guess Cucullis feelings. Hey, why is everyone staring like that! Cuculli quickly waved her hands to divert attention, choosing a plump old woman as a topic. The chieftain of the Snow Rabbit tribe stood solemnly in front of the Hero after pouring out a prophecy. Cuculli approached her and asked. What was that about? The hazy eyes turned towards Cuculli. The scent of bitter herbs. Cuculli began to doubt if she was in her right mind. Hmm? What? I mean the prophecy from the professor. Im curious about its meaning. She cant help but wonder. Cuculli recalled the prophecy she receivedst time. You must not go now. Young dragon, you must wait until the hawkes. Was it a coincidence? The prophecy came true. Even now, although she didnt know what hawk referred to, waiting was the right thing to do. If she had ignored her uneasy feeling and headed straight to the sanctum The expeditionary force would have to face the Demonic Church Leader without reinforcements from the professor. The baptism would undoubtedly end in failure, and she, her friends, and everyone in the vige would have perished. Just imagining it sent shivers down her spine. Thanks to that, when the old woman suddenly appeared in front of the Hero, Cuculli had no choice but to listen to her prophecy. The magpie, your secret will be revealed from the burning nest. But the Heros prophecy was even more ambiguous than hers. After hearing it, the Hero fell into deep thought and left with an iprehensible word. So many prophets. He seemed indifferent. But Cuculli felt uneasy for some reason. It was the moment when she hesitated, waiting for the old womans reply. Uh, umm! The old womans body swayed greatly. Foam gushed from his mouth. It seems youve been exposed to too much cold wind. Your condition The Snow Rabbit girl, Ilya, hastily supported her and led her into the vige. The children, who looked at each other with bewildered expressions, spoke again. It was Gerald who spoke first. Well, what do we do now for the remaining time? Itll be boring to just sit around. They had to stay in this deserted vige for a few more days. The outskirts of the Great Snow Sea were not a particrly pleasant area for sightseeing. At first, it was nice to admire the natural scenery, but things like that tended to get boring quickly. Letsfort each other with a heartfelt farewell with this sister. Come here. As Cuculli approached with her arms open, Gerald recoiled in rm. Oh, donte near with those horns! Karen and Evergreen scolded him one after another. Oh, where is the boredom. Gerald, we should train. When will hee to his senses? Has he forgotten what the professor said? They realized how strong the enemies they would face someday were, and they felt it deeply at this opportunity. In recent months, they had developed tremendously and inadvertently became arrogant. But weve gained something. Realization. There had been a perilous real battle where life and death hung in the bnce. It was stranger that there were no sparks of skill improvement. They needed to internalize it through training as soon as possible. Their professor seemed to expect this. You must be different when you return to Rosenstark. Thats why he left such words. The moment when the children pondered how to solve the task left by the Hero, there was a moment when Leciel abruptly turned her head. It was towards the awkwardly standing boy a few steps behind. Leciel, with her clear red eyes, startled Lucas, who stiffened. Follow me. Uh, okay? Lucas just blinked. It was Leciel who always ignored him. During their time at the academy, she had never been the one to speak first. So why suddenly ask him to follow her? Lucas was both pleased and bewildered. With a faint sigh, Leciel spoke in a stiff tone. I heard you might be re-enrolling next year. It was the result of Wellingtons dedication and Lucass courage. The Hero, seeing Lucas after a long time, instantly recognized how the boy had spent the past few months. He hasnt given up. Although he couldnt match the achievements of his peers who trained in Rosenstark, his relentless efforts were evident. He didnt sumb to the trial of dropping out and polished himself. Furthermore, he made significant contributions to resolving the situation in the North. Therefore, at the end of a brief discussion with Yussi, the Hero decided to give Lucas another chance to enroll in Rosenstark. And Lucas, despite knowing he would face cold stares and various rumors, epted it bravely. Bing the Heros disciple again and dedicating himself to it. Such things didnt matter in the face of the only opportunity to cleanse his tarnished honor. The professor insisted on supplementing the missed progress. Leciel looked at Lucas with cold eyes and spoke. Prepare yourself because we wont take it lightly. Ah Lucas, guessing the situation, nodded with a face that seemed like he might cry. Following Leciel who went ahead with brisk steps, the boy followed. The other children also found ces to train one by one and left. Thus, at the edge of the vige, only Cuculli and Ban remained. As if making a promise, the two smiled at each other. Phew, it was really eventful, wasnt it? Yeah, you did well. You too. Parting and reunion, and staying behind. The destinies of the children in the Great Snow Sea were gradually diverging. They knew it. But they wouldnt forget. In the end, there was only one destination. Although they might scatter now, they would meet again on the road someday. Ban unsheathed his sword with a spin. Shall we have a match after a long time? This guy has gotten so bold, now hes even challenging the dragon!? Cuculli alsoughed heartily. Fangs of apletely different shape from those of humans that sparkled. But the smiles on both faces resembled each other, as if reflected in a mirror. * * * A few dayster. The library of Rosenstark filled with memories. Hehehe A low hum echoed through the tall bookshelves. On a quiet afternoon where the scent of books lightly fluttered. The footsteps of a librarian contemting which memories to revisit were as serene and leisurely as usual. Today maybe Ill look at the Emperors first love memories. As if determined, Rosalyns hand reached for the cover of the book. But just before that, her movement suddenly stopped. It was a very fortunate thing for Euphemia, who was suffering in the demonic realm. As fast as ever. A faint exmation escaped her lips. You never cease to amaze me with your hastiness. Vvvvvv- Rosalyn gestured into the air behind her. The scene of the main gate of the library appeared in her mind. It depicted a man approaching with quick steps. Rosalyn had known for the past few weeks what hardships he had faced. However, there was no change in his sturdy appearance. The same was true for his eyes, which were always full of concentration toward his goal. Its fascinating. Was it the influence of the original? Or was it inherent? Or perhaps the result of his life so far? Despite the many arduous adventures he had experienced, he hadnt changed since he first appeared in Teds shell. Did you expect to be someone who loves humans so much? Muttering a question to no one in particr, Rosalyn began to prepare to greet her guest. . . . From the northern edge to the far west of the continent, he flew without rest. Thanks to that, he was able to arrive in Rosenstark shortly after the beginning of the semester. Despite the impossibility of such speed, using any existing means of transportationmagic trains, ships, carriages Theres no way it would raise suspicion. Most attributed it to the Heros mysterious body capabilities. They werent entirely wrong. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 If it were Ted, he could have moved faster even on two feet. He arrived at Rosenstark earlier than nned. . . . I knew that piles of documents awaited my approval. Perhaps Pia would be screaming hoarsely, staring at me with resentful eyes all night. But unfortunately, there was something else that needed to be dealt with first. Professor! I shook off the voice echoing in my ears like a hallucination and entered the library. Now familiar with the sensation of space movement, a subdued voice was heard. Its been a while, Ted. Ted. No matter when, that address felt unfamiliar. It felt even more strange because it was called by someone who knew I wasnt him. Its been a while. I nodded briefly. There was no time to dwell on introductions or greetings. I got straight to the point. Iris of Lace told me to look for you. Rosalyns calm eyes were on me. It was a gaze that seemed to observe and scrutinize casually, as usual. Youvee with many questions. You probably have a guess about what Im going to ask. Hmm. Rosalyn tilted her head with a smile. I think I know the first question that will be asked. That was expected. Rosalyn is partially linked to Iris of Lace. It meant that she roughly knew about what I had seen and experienced during the vacation. Its not like she doesnt know what Im most curious about. I opened my mouth to ask her, but Im sorry, but I cant answer that question. I was blocked before I could even start. Rosalyn continued with a kind refusal. Please understand. I cannot act against the will of my master. As you know, Homunculus is originally such a being. You have to find the answer yourself. Okay. If it werent as I expected, it would be a lie. Meetings with Rosalyn were always like this. I didnt think she would simply answer. Always iplete clues. Only the information permitted by Zero Requiem. They always led me to his will. It will be the same this time too. There was a difference from before. That was the fact that more clues had gathered than I thought. Thanks to that, I felt like I knew the answer to some extent even without Rosalyns response. Now it was time to confirm whether the picture of the puzzle I had pieced together was correct. Well, lets start by reviewing the memories. Yes, lets do that. As if it were the correct answer, Rosalyn smiled with her eyes crescent-shaped. Fluttering- The sound of turning pages came from the empty air. As the surroundings darkened, her gentle voice echoed. Well then, I hope it will be a pleasant reminiscence. Viewing Part III of the First Age. * * * When I opened my eyes, I was in the living room of that polite household. A soft and cozy space It was where Zero Requiem and the elven woman who bore his child resided. ck- The sound of the firece crackling monotonously. I quickly found the owners of the house. Theyre over there. The elf was sitting in afortable armchair in front of the firece, while Zero Requiem stood in front of her. They were in the middle of a conversation about something You look so tired these days. Its not easy to convince the old-fashioned idiots of the Magic Tower. There is a fuss about having the strength to fight against him. Since he wiped out the churchs forces, it may be inevitable. I was looking down at them like a ghost in the air. The conversation continued. ine, how are you feeling? You seem to be having trouble sleepingtely. Because Im worried about you. Me? Because of me? Im afraid youll rush off to find him again likest time. I wont. I promise. As tears welled up in ines eyes, Zeros voice softened dramatically. People say its a miracle youvee back alive. Even though youre friendly with him. You dont have to worry anymore. Since weve agreed to a ceasefire, there wont be any more meetings with him. Im sorry. Watching the conversation just now, I realized two more things. One was that ines belly was much more swollen (almost like she was in herst trimester) than I remembered from the previous memories. The other was the unbelievable fact that, for some reason, he who had destroyed the Holy Church forces had agreed to a truce. Now, Ill make sure to stay by the childs side. Zero lowered his body, cing his ear against ines belly. Thump-thump- At that moment, it felt like I could hear a steady heartbeat in my ears too. With a gentle smile, ine reached out and stroked Zeros hair. Zero. ine my ine. The tranquility finally settled on his face, which had been filled with fatigue. I watched the scene with a strange sensation. Grand Mage, Zero Requiem. The man who saved humanity along with the First Age, and who established countless achievements thereafter, cementing himself as the greatest figure in history. The scene of him enjoying simple happiness, cuddled in his wifes embrace like a child, had a poignant corner to it. Why is it showing me this memory? Even emotional synchronization was happening. I recalled ament I saw earlier. [From the 1st Age Part , the masters emotions and knowledge will be partially synchronized with the user to facilitate better understanding of memories.] Was it parental love? Being happy just with the presence of a child. Although not even born yet, every moment spent with the child was precious. The future to nurture together was more anticipated than ever. An indescribable connection. An unbreakable bond taking root in the heart. For a Doppelganger, it could only be an unknown emotion, and I pondered it slowly. There must be an intention behind making me feel this emotion. While having such thoughts, ines clear voice reached my ears. By the way, have you decided on a name? Youve been thinking about it for a while. Zero hesitated for a moment before answering. If its a girl, Rosalyn. If its a boy But he didnt finish his sentence. Thump-thump- Someone knocked forcefully on the door, followed by a youthful voice. Master! Master! Zero got up from his seat, tilting his head. Depikio? Whats the matter? [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 204 Chapter 204 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Beyond the entrance, a young man stood with an urgent expression. Is that Depikio Lugo? As records about Depikio were almost entirely lost, this was the first time seeing his face. The Hero scrutinized him carefully. Skin where traces of e have not yet disappeared. Hair neatly trimmed. He looked like he couldnt be older than his early twenties, no matter how much one looked. Seems rather ordinary, doesnt he? Clearly different from Zero, who had the demeanor befitting a grand sorcerer. If one were to find something special amidst his modest and ordinary appearance, it would be the guns hidden behind his eyes and his kind face. For some reason, they seemed to ovep with each other, and the Hero felt favorably towards Depikio. In the midst of this, Zero stood before him. Depikio, whats the matter at thiste hour? It was two in the morning. It was toote for a polite disciple to visit his masters abode without prior notice. However, Depikio seemed more engulfed in shock than remorse. Deep in Zeros eyes, there was a sense of unease upon seeing him like that. Um, I couldnt reach you throughmunication devices, so I came directly. Theres news you must know Communication? It was then that Zero recalled he had turned off allmunication devicespletely. That matter must have been resolved through a truce; he had put away all business-rtedmunication beads as well as personal ones. It was for ine and him. They desperately needed the rest. But the news Depikio broughtte at night was pulling them back into the abyss of anxiety. What did you just say? With an expression of disbelief, Zero retorted Depikios words. He caused an incident during the game? Yes, thats correct. Where? No, when? In the South. Approximately three hours ago, ording to the current time. Zeros lips trembled slightly. It was due to the immediate realization of the seriousness of the situation. Thunk As he closed the door behind him, his voice lowered. Start with the details of the damage. Depikio poured out his words with a grim expression. Two territories havepletely vanished It might take a few months to estimate the exact number of casualties and the extent of property damage. Fortunately No, Im not sure if fortunate is the right word to use here. Just tell me. After turning the second territory into a wastnd, he disappeared without a trace. There were no further acts of destruction. A somber silence descended upon the mansions entrance as Depikio finished speaking. Zero muttered slowly. Have we figured out why he caused this disturbance? It seems He was discovered during the game and attacked, which led to an explosion of rage. Game. That term referred to the entric hobby of a doppelganger. The creature hated humans. Yet, for some reason, whenever an opportunity arose, it would disguise itself as someone and mingle with human society. For a short time, or sometimes for years. It would live the life of the original person. Then, at some point, it would abruptly abandon its fake identity and leave. The pattern resembled the ancient games dragons used to y, called Game, so authorities named these escapades after them. What was noteworthy was that even if itter invaded or massacred, those who had associated with it and the Game would usually remain untouched. That was why Zero believed in the possibility of coexistence between doppelgangers and humans. He wasnt always this mad from the beginning. The doppelgangers hatred wasnt innate. It grew gradually as it experienced human wickedness, disappointment, and gradually transformed. Zero knew the detailed tales firsthand. As Depikio swallowed nervously, he asked. What could have driven him to such extremes? With a shallow sigh, Zero recounted several instances. There were attempts by trusted humans to sell him off as a guinea pig for experiments. Yes? In reality, he was captured and subjected to various dissections and experiments for several months before managing to escape. Depikio and the Hero listened quietly to the tale. There were asions when he revealed his identity to a loved one, only to face the stake and de waiting for him. He almost faced public execution in front of his original family. They threw stones at him as he fled. Such experiences gradually drove him insane. It was the opposite case for the Hero. If the Hero had been drawn to the light of humanity, he was buried in darkness. But theres still hope. Seeing him continue to engage in Game sensitively hinted at that. Hatred and love were like two sides of the same coin. They often interchanged and mixed easily. Thus, during this temporary peace obtained through past connections Zero nned to thoroughly interpret and approach hisplex emotions, seeking coexistence. Of course, Zero didnt approve of the doppelganger as it was now. He is undoubtedly evil now. A colossal evil threatening everyone. But there was no other way. But who could have predicted that such a crisis would arise so quickly? Zero felt something was amiss then. Depikio. Yes, master? When was thest time he failed during a game and his identity was revealed? It must have been over ten years ago. Ten years Zero tilted his head slowly. Its definitely strange. Isnt it too coincidental? Yes? He has experienced numerous Games before. He asionally caused trouble when inexperienced with humans, but he has never been caught in trouble during a Game recently. Depikio nodded slowly. It was as the master said. But now, how long has it been since his identity was exposed, and he was attacked? It seems too contrived. W-wait, master. Are you suggesting? Though the disciples face paled, Zeros deduction continued. When he causes trouble, who benefits? One face came to mind. tooz Namsov, the Grandmaster. For some reason, the Grandmaster was obsessed with opening the Gate. Whether it was a sense of duty to give humans the power to oppose doppelgangers or due to personal distorted desires, he had persistently advocated for the Gates opening. Regardless, the Gate must not be opened. Thus, Zero had been a staunch opponent of the Gates opening, leading the opposing faction. Opinions within the Magic Tower were fiercely divided as well. Fortunately, with this ceasefire, the closure of the Gate became likely All this could turn out to be in vain because of this incident in the South. Isnt it too convenient? A-are you suspecting Grandmaster tooz? Neither nodding nor shaking his head, Zero murmured quietly. I know its a dangerous inference. Im not entirely convinced myself. Even if hes rotten, he wouldnt go that far. But Zeros eyes gleamed with a bright blue. We need to confirm. As soon as possible. He raised his head, looking at the massive structure dominating the citys center. The Tower. The crescent moon hung over it like a fingernail. . . . Before heading to the Tower, Zero suddenly returned home. Unfortunately, ine was already fast asleep. Perhaps the conversation had gone on longer than expected. Swoosh Zero pulled the nket up to ines shoulders and gently kissed her forehead and belly. His eyes emitted a sturdy steel-like light. See you when I return, ine my dear. Simultaneously, as the Hero immersed himself in contemtion, a hoarse voice filled with age rang in his ears. It was a day when everything went wrong. * * * Synchronization began to intensify. The Hero started to read memories through Zeros eyes, and his emotions and memories poured out like a torrent. For a moment, it felt as if he was groping through his own memories. This is dangerous. I need to snap out of it. Whoooosh! As the Hero had that thought, flight magic manifested, and an intense feeling of levitation enveloped Zeros body. Thendscape of the city passed rapidly beneath his feet. It was the moment when Zeros first memory, The First Era Part I, came to mind. Even back then, in a fit of rage, I flew towards the Tower at full speed. But it wasnt dawn then, and the Tower wasnt as eerily silent as it was now. The guards at the main gate didnt stop Zero. They just cleared the way as if they were expecting him. Tap A strange unease crept over the Hero, but Zero marched forward aggressively towards the top floor of the Tower. The floor where toozs office was located. Straight ahead. As a Hero who shared Zeros knowledge, he could discern the source of his confidence. He already has skills surpassing tooz. Considering that tooz had lived over half a century longer than Zero, it was truly remarkable. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Before Zeros appearance, he had been hailed as the continents greatest talent. The overwhelming gap in talent. Zero wasnt particrly worried about using force. There was no one among the existing sorcerers who could match him. Even if the situation deteriorated to the point where he had to confront the elders at once, he would surely be able to escape. Step. Zeros steps halted then. He was in front of toozs office door. Despite thete hour, light spilled through the crack in the door along with the sound of voices. Once he opened this door, there would be no turning back. As Zero took a deep breath, he thought of the human named tooz Namsov. In fact, he had not always been at odds with him. Even when he disagreed, tooz was a respected leader and a great senior who pursued the ultimate goal of truth. So, with desperate hope that his spection was wrong, Zero grabbed the doorknob. Click Youvee. The Grandmaster faced Zero with a dry gaze. There was no anger at his sudden visit, nor any doubt about the purpose. Zero felt something odd about his nonchnt attitude. You expected me toe. You are surprisingly transparent for a magician. It would be good if you were as transparent as me today. There was no need to prolong the conversation. Zero approached sharply and asked. Ill ask you directly. Did you orchestrate the incident in the South? The Grandmaster responded promptly. What if I did? One tainted by madness has no right to sit atop the Tower. At those words, the old magician smiled bitterly. Madness, indeed. Its not wrong. With a monster openly roaming the continent, capable of wiping us out in an instant, how can one not lose their mind and endure? At that moment, Zero noticed an image bead on the Grandmasters desk. And it was transmitting an image of a massive rift. It was the Gate. A growl escaped Zeros lips. So, youve been obsessing over the Gate until dawn. Isnt progress essential for humanity now? Dont you know? Progress? Will such words convince me? Its the final persuasion. In an instant, the Grandmasters eyes shed dangerously. At that moment when Zero anticipated the worst, tooz regainedposure and calmly spoke. As Ive said before, there exists an unimaginable energy beyond the Gate. Some even believe theres a whole new world there. Opening the Gate not only frees humanity from it but also serves as a catalyst for us to evolve into higher beings. Why dont you understand that? Zeros face contorted rapidly. It was because he realized toozs obsession was more serious than he thought. The old-magician looked at Zero with eyes filled with strange longing. We magicians must bear the fate of pioneers. So, you insist on opening the Gate? Do you know how many humans died in the two territories in the South? It can be exined as sacrifices for the greater good. Zero scoffed. Arrogance, folly such words seem to exist for you, tooz Namsov. As long as I exist, the Gate will not open, no matter how much you im. But the Grandmaster simply nodded without much reaction to his words. Yes, as long as you exist, thats true. Hum The old-magicians body began to glow. At the same time, magic circles appeared in the air at a rapid pace. Whether he had prepared in advance or not, the magic was rapidly beingpleted. Zero also gathered mana, issuing a warning. Youre making a foolish choice. Dont misunderstand. Im not here to fight you. Rather, Im here to give you a gift. What? Despite having faced defeat in magical battles against tooz before, Zero felt a strange sense of danger. Part of the magic circle that appeared in the air was very unfamiliar. Impossible. It was impossible for him, who mastered all existing magics, to find a magic circle unfamiliar. He quickly deciphered the interpretable parts. Its a sealing circle! Some symbols looked familiar. It didnt take long for Zero to realize its true identity. It was the ultimate sealing circle devised by him and other magicians of the Tower to capture him. However, it had failed to bind the doppelganger and had faded into history. Can tooz alone handle such immense mana? But the magic circle was functioning normally. Zeros eyes widened in astonishment. Is it not mana? Whatposed the magic circle was a strange and chilling energy. It was so unfamiliar that he couldnt even recognize it. Hum Within the condensed purple mist, strange sounds could be heard, and a bizarre shape emerged. Goosebumps engulfed Zeros entire body. The phenomenon was too powerful to be caused by the power flowing from the small rift in the Gate. Zero lost hisposure and cast a spell. You madman! Have you already opened the Gate!? No, not yet. I havent acquired that level of energy yet. However tooz chuckled. Ive been there and back. Zero confirmed he was not in his right mind. Madness had prated him to the core. Ugh. Zero desperately resisted the force enveloping him. He approached the purple magic emanating from the Gate. But like the setting sun, mana was pushed aside by magic and gradually dissipated. There was no choice. This was a type of energy he had never experienced before, and analyzing and unraveling it was an impossible task. It was akin to the human body being powerless against a new disease. Even enduring this much was akin to a miracle. Beyond the dimming vision, toozs excited voice could be heard. No matter who you are, trapped within the intricate form crafted by dozens of the Towers top magicians, the sealing circle applied with the power from the other side is impossible to break. Zero exerted all his strength to resist and couldnt answer. But tooz continued as if it didnt matter. I dont hate or dislike you. Youre a chosen genius who can elevate the study of magic to another level I just want to show you that your passion is directed in the wrong direction. This madman If you resist at this level, youll be sealed for about a week. Click tooz opened the curtains of the floor-to-ceiling window and turned to Zero. The prosperous cityscape unfolded before them. When you wake up from your brief slumber, a new world will be waiting for you. A perfect world where only those who have evolved one step further as humans remain victorious. Zero wanted to say more. But after staying awake for several nights, his body felt asnguid as if he were lying on a soft bed for days. A huge boulder pressed down on his eyelids. His field of vision gradually narrowed. No. ine. In his fading consciousness, Zero endlessly repeated that name. . . . And when he opened his eyes again The demons had arrived in this world. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 205 Chapter 205 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ine. Who was ine? A faint light born of that small question delved into Zeros consciousness as if exploring. The sight was blurry and dizzy, as if trapped in thick fog. By the way, have you decided on a name? Youve been pondering it. Well, since I couldnt get through to you onmunication, I came to find you in person. Theres important news you need to know You must have fallen asleep for a moment, and when you wake up, a new world will be waiting for you. Whispering voices grew louder and softer, repeating as they gradually dispersed. Zero slowly regained his senses. How long was I asleep no, sealed? He couldnt tell. As he tried to figure it out, his senses slowly returned. Sensations spreading from his fingertips throughout his body. The feeling of the air on his skin somehow felt sticky and ufortable. It even stung like acid had been poured on his skin. Zero recalled that sensation. The power beyond the gate tooz used topose the seal. Is he by my side now? Just a little more Zero finally felt his consciousness rising to the surface. In that final moment, a tearing scream, distant noises of turmoil pierced his ears. Zeros body twitched as if convulsing. ine! With a cry, Zero broke free from the seal and returned fully to this world. Cough, cough. As soon as he regained consciousness, he quickly looked around to assess the situation. Usually, when a seal breaks, the sealed body reappears at the location where the seal was cast. So this must be the top floor of the tower, toozs office. But Why is it so dark? Wheres tooz? Is it nighttime? The office was shrouded in darkness. It wasnt just this room. Zero reflexively looked towards the door. Even the corridor, which should always be illuminated, was pitch ck. Moreover, it was eerily silent all around. Damp and unpleasant air lingered. Sizzle- Zero attempted to cast a light spell to secure his vision. But perhaps due to the aftermath of trying to break free from the seal, not a trace of magic gathered. It might take another 1 or 2 minutes for the mana circle to function properly. How long has it been since I couldnt use magic? He who had been blessed with mana since he took his first steps. Suppressing his anxious mind, Zero first searched for the light switch by feeling along the wall. Even though it was pitch ck, his extraordinary memory helped him find the switch in less than 10 seconds. Click- But even when he pressed the switch, the lights didnte on. Zero tilted his head in confusion. Whats this? Did the mana drain away? It was nonsense. Zero dismissed the fleeting thought. The tower was the heart of the magical city, a symbol. It wasnt some slum on the outskirts, and why would the mana supply be cut off? But there was still something unsettling. Whats this stench? Is the venttion spell not working either? Zero sniffed around to find the source of the rotten smell. His throat constricted. Surely not No, it cant be. Lets open the window first, at least. As he moved towards where the window should be, a strange noise echoed from beyond the wall. Keeee- It was a cry that stimted the instinctual sense of danger engraved in him,ing from just below. Zero instinctively crouched down. As his mana recovered enough to cast basic spells, Zero summoned a small me inside. Psshh- And froze. Whats this. tooz Namsov was hanging from the ceiling, his neck tied, swaying. Zeros gaze shifted to the wall behind him. The distorted writing was scribbled haphazardly. Im sorry. I was wrong. [PR/N: Ofc you were you fat twisted fuck.] Keeeeek- Again, a strange cry was heard. This time, closer than before. A shiver ran through his whole body. Quaaaaang- Without hesitation, Zero cast a destruction spell towards the window. He has to get out of here now. He needed to find out what had happened. ine. As Zeros body flew towards the open hole, his mouth twitched. . . . Demonic energy interferes with spatial movement. Although it becamemon sense in the Second Era Damn, whats this! Perplexed, Zero had no choice but to resort to flight magic as an alternative. His body, which had been plummeting to the ground, suddenly stopped and soared upwards. Whooooooom- Zero calmed down and looked around. The tower is thergest and tallest building in the city. Given his vantage point near the top floor, there must be a lot to see. That, that is? Zeros eyes trembled violently. Whoooooooom- The first thing he noticed was a strange red line stretching across the entire sky. No, it would be more appropriate to call it a rift than a line. Tsssssss- The red rift widened and closed repeatedly, spewing something out. Beyond it were ominous energy masses pouring out, and horrifying monsters one might encounter only in childhood nightmares. A gate? What on earth had happened? The gates he remembered were so narrow and small that even a person would struggle to pass through. They werent as massive as something capable of swallowing a whole city. Keeeeeeek- Strange noises were heard again. Zero activated his scrying magic and looked down into the darkness below. What about those? Strange creatures of various shapes were prowling the city instead of the residents. Their bodies enveloped in slimy mucous-like substance. Thick,rge spikes and tentacles. Dirty ws with unknown flesh dangling from them. His heart sank once again. ine. Zero flew with all his might towards the direction of his home. During this short flight. Zero had to admit that the city hadpletely copsed. Its truly hell. Bird-like monsters tearing off the roofs of houses and devouring unsuspecting people inside. Liquid-like monsters covering fleeing people, dissolving them into mush. There were also sacrifices caught in spider-like webs, their bodily fluids being drained away. Kwaaggaaggan-! No matter how urgent his mission was, Zero couldnt just ignore it. The destruction spell he cast while flying at high speed urately hit the monsters. The monsters were annihted, but Zeros face only became more distorted. Why isnt the Dominus system activating? The Dominus system. It was the final contingency created by the magicians of the tower in case the city faced an existential crisis. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Zero himself had been a primary contributor to its design. His gaze floated to the giant magic stone floating in the center of the city. The main magic stone is intact, so why The main magic stone held several times more mana than a dragons heart, and it was the epitome of First Era magical engineering, with superior output. It was also an item akin to the heart of the city, connected to all of its infrastructure, supplying mana. Simr to the Astera Vision obtained by the hero or the control towers of Rosenstark. The Dominus system would unleash the main magic stone,ying hundreds or thousands ofyers of defense barriers and dense interception systems across the entire city. Although it would only activate in a dire crisis, once activated, it would cause irreversible damage to the city. Yet Considering the situation, it should have activated sooner. But why? When he realized that the mana supply from the tower had been cut off, he doubted the activation of the Dominus system. But there was no news about the Dominus system, and the citizens were dying. Zeros body trembled violently. ine. What are the chances of a pregnant woman surviving in such chaos? Of course, there were separate security spells he had installed at home. However, Zero found no sce in them. What if ine was out? She always enjoyed walks, iming it was good for the baby. What if she was out searching for him? Various horrifying scenarios overwhelmed him. I need to hurry. Whoooooooom- As he increased his speed once again. Kugugugugug- Even the husband trying to save his wife couldnt help but stop at the sound reverberating through the air. Zero turned his head towards the source of the sound, into the sky. And for a moment, he froze. Ah As if time had stopped, he remained frozen in ce, trying to interpret the iprehensible scene before him. But even with the knowledge of an archmage, he couldnte up with any interpretation. What on earth was that thing? Kugugugugug- The bizarre structure was plummeting from the center of the rift towards the ground, making the sky tremble. Zero suddenly thought that its shape resembled a stake. Pointed at the bottom and wide and t at the top. Despite appearing gigantic enough to fill his entire field of vision, it was still far away. Zero muttered as he estimated its size roughly. Unbelievable. Huge no, overwhelming. No, such mundane words were not enough. It was a size that seemed to transcend human vocabry and imagination. But what truly terrified Zero was not the stake-like object. Whooooooom- Zeros scrying magic illuminated the top of the stake. At its t peak, there was a being overlooking the ground. Seven silhouettes behind it also exuded a terrifying presence, but they were iparable to that one. A god? Devil? Simrities aside, Zero, who prided himself as the most powerful human, waspletely overwhelmed. He realized that he had unconsciously ceased his flight magic and descended to the ground. But the monsters didnt attack him. They just bowed their heads as if acknowledging a king. Ah. Zero realized. There was only one word to describe such a being. A hoarse voice came out of his lips. Demon King. Tsssssss- It seemed like everything in this world was trying to deny him. With Zeros mana-sensing ability, he could clearly see that all the mana in the atmosphere was rushing towards the Demon King, trying to push him away. But it was futile. The Demon King and the stake ignored all obstacles and continued to descend to the ground. A collision was imminent. Zero despaired. No. When it touches the ground, at least the central part of this city will turn to dust. Certainly, his nearby house would be swept away by the shock of the collision. If the Dominus system was still activating, there would be no chance for ine to survive this collision. ine. Zero regained hisposure and started flying again. He soared through the burning buildings at breakneck speed. Despite the overload on his mana circles, which had not fully recovered from the aftermath of the sealing, turning his vision red, he felt no pain. Kugugugugug- Kugugugugug- The growing noise in his ears was deafening. And then, as he approached his home. Zero came face to face with ine running out of the house. Her eyes widened as she spotted him. Zero! I knew youde! Zero weakly muttered as he embraced her. ine, Imte. Zero. Sorry. He simultaneously erected all the barriers he could with every bit of mana he could muster. The stake was driven in. . . . sh blinded him, and everything was sucked into that absolute brilliance. * * * ine. Though the heat of the explosion still lingered, it was cold. Zero spoke with a voice choked with emotion. His wifes pale lips remained sealed. Holding herst breath, she simply stayed still. ine. He stroked her disheveled hair. Instead of the familiar touch, his fingertips encountered blood clots. Despite Zeros best efforts, the barrier couldntpletely protect her from the shock of the stake being driven in. If only it wasnt for the seal. If only his mana had recovered a bit more. If only the Dominus system had been activated! With a bowed head, Zero muttered again. ine. There was no response. He ced his ear against her chest, one after the other, listening to her heart and belly. The two thumping sounds stopped abruptly without a trace. Zero closed his eyes tightly. The whole world was plummeting into a pit of despair andmentation. Thats when it happened. Thump- Zero turned his head towards the sound of footstepsing from behind the ruins. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 206 Chapter 206 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Sudden- A man was making his way through the ruins of the city. His eyes, which once swept over the destendscape, were now fixed on Zero, who was sitting motionless. His expression was obscured by the deep robe he wore. Only his lips, exposed, seemed to twist in a strange mix of crying and smiling. He stopped in front of Zero. Its been a while not really. Mage. Zeros eyes, as he turned around, trembled violently with shock. He finally realized why the Dominus system hadnt activated. You! The immense power of the main mana stone was swirling before his eyes. More precisely, within the body of the doppelganger. Zero immediately understood what had happened. Good ingredients have finallye. Several months ago, during the battle with the sect, the doppelganger had replicated Zero. And Zero was the designer of the Dominus system and the chief researcher of the main mana stone. It would have been easy for the doppelganger, who replicated his knowledge and magical abilities, to interfere with the Dominus system and divert the energy of the mana stone. The horrific results were unfolding before Zeros eyes now. Why. Zeroid ines body on the ground and muttered nkly. Hatred? Sadness? There was something profound echoing within his pupils that couldnt simply be described with those words. Why? You are asking such an obvious question. The doppelganger facing him replied calmly. His gaze fixed on Zero slowly shifted away. Towards the center of the city, still burning To the top of the giant stake embedded there. They could both sense it. The dreadful aura emanating from that otherworldly presence. The Demon King, looking down at the ruins he had created, was calling the doppelganger. For some reason, he seemed greatly interested. After staring at the Demon King for a while, the doppelganger spoke again. Its calling for me. There will soon be a fight of a lifetime, so I need to prepare. Its also an opportunity to sweep away this unpleasant city for free. The doppelganger seemed quite satisfied with Zeros shocked expression. Yes, mage. I know what you were thinking. I cant help but know. He said with a faint smile. Swoosh- As he threw off his robe, his face, mirrored in Zeros and the mirror, looked exactly the same. Did you think I still hadpassion and love for humans? Confronted with the emotions swirling in his eyes, Zero doubted his own eyes. Because they were exactly the same as his own. Self-me, agony, resentment. The doppelganger slowly raised his head. Yes, perhaps it might have like that, until tooz eliminated everyone associated with my Game. In shock, Zero looked at him. Thus, they stood facing each other with identical faces and expressions, like a reflection in a mirror. So The doppelganger chuckled dryly. You dont need to resent that either. If he hadnt done it, I would have done it someday. I dont want to let humans live anymore. The doppelganger was saying that. The moment the humans showed him the darkness. Since they are beings who are born with evil. He said that anyone would have wiped out humans someday. He was dering that the only ending left for you guys is destruction. Zero was speechless at the doppelgangers evil, which denied humanity itself. So, my first Game. Think about who youre going to cheer for sitting there, the result will be the same. The doppelganger walks towards the stake. Reflexively, Zero raised his hand towards the vulnerable back. Wuuung- Tremendous magical power gathered. It was an attack spell that Zero had improved after being shocked since theirst meeting. If he struck directly, even the doppelganger would receive a significant blow. Although the doppelganger must have felt it too, he didnt turn back. It was an attitude of confidence that Zero would never attack. And the prediction was correct. As Zero, he couldnt make the mistake of hurting his doppelganger who had to fight the Demon King. If one of them had to win, it would be better for the doppelganger to win. At least then, he could try conversing with him again. If the doppelgangers resentment towards humans red up there was no reason for the Demon King to spare humans. He was something that appeared to exterminate the beings living and breathing in this world. I cant attack. With powerless arms, Zero stood bewildered against the backdrop of the fading magic circle. He was overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness that he had never felt before in his life. His empty eyes gazed down at the ground. This is the end of humanity. The doppelgangers words were true. Whether the Demon King wins or he does, a long period of darkness awaits humanity. Already, the city, which was the center of the continent and the most powerful stronghold, has fallen. The rest will likely face the same fate. Is this really the end? Zero lifted his head. ines corpse. The city turned into ruins. The doppelgangers back. The giant and ominous stake casting its shadow over them. The Demon King at the top Zeros eyes, which had been constantly moving, gradually closed. The moment of silence spread throughout the ruins. No. Zero opened his eyes again. Within them, mes began to ignite once more. Not yet. The only hope to save humanity standing on the brink was him. ck- Zeros silhouette disappeared among the debris of the ruins. The probability was low, but he had to try. . . . The battle between the Demon King and the doppelgangersted for days. Kwa-ah-ah-ahng! The sky burned red, and the ground was swallowed by mes. Sometimes, brilliant light, sometimes pitch-ck darkness covered everything. The air boiled, making it difficult to breathe, and the ground melted into a mush. Zero protected himself from the aftermath and continued to observe their fight. He stored every clue and lead in his mind and calcted fiercely. Thus, he witnessed the transformation of the city, where tens of thousands lived, into a wastnd. How gruesome. The doppelganger and the Demon King fought throughout the city. Even the buildings on the outskirts, which had resisted the impact of the falling stake, were mostly swept away. The survivors hiding within were also in dire straits. Everything that testified to human prosperity copsed into dust. As the monsters of other species gradually disappeared from the city, the seven great demons who had appeared with the Demon King did the same. Zero realized they were heading west. Perhaps they were intending to conquer the remaining cities. Horrific ughter was imminent. Although he wanted to rush after them to save the humans immediately I cant. Zero exerted all his self-restraint. He had a more important mission. Kwa-ah-ah-ahng! Hidden among the ruins, Zero watched without a break as the top of the stake erupted with constant shes of light. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The two who had wreaked havoc across the city seemed to be nearing the end. It will end soon. Zero, who had not taken his eyes off their fight for even a moment, could read the trend of the battle sharply. Until the middle, it was undoubtedly evenly matched. No, the doppelganger even seemed slightly superior. However, as time passed, the doppelganger began to lose ground little by little, and today, the tide hadpletely turned in favor of the Demon King. It was because the stolen mana from the main mana stone had been exhausted. Although the doppelganger himself possessed a near-infinite amount of mana it wasnt truly infinite. On the other hand, the Demon King was constantly supplied with energy from the stake. A twisted expression of terror and despair appeared on the doppelgangers face. Even the polymorph seemed to be struggling at its limits. Its form was grotesquely contorted and trembling. Of course, the Demon King was far from unscathed as well. The overwhelming appearance he had when he first appeared was now pale, and he seemed to be in a bad state just like the doppelganger. Watching them, Zero realized that they would never again fall into such a crisis. In other words now was the turning point for the survival of humanity. Wuuung- Zero spread his wings with all his might, using flight magic to soar into the sky. He knew they were aware of his presence. Until now, they had judged that he could not interfere with this fight. Just as a person in a fist fight does not pay attention to insects flying around. No, he would have felt even more insignificant than bugs. Even now that they were infinitely weakened, Zero didnt have the confidence to interfere in that battle. But there was another way. Quickly! Zero elerated. They will have reached the climax of the fight and will not have the strength to stop this charge. No, there shouldnt be. Kwa-ga-ga-gang! The roar grew louder as he moved forward. The concentration of demonic energy was too thick, making even breathing painful. Beep- Tinnitus pierced his ears, and various hallucinations appeared and disappeared in one corner of his vision. His teeth dug into his tongue. The sharp pain helped clear his dizzy mind. So he finally managed to reach the stake. The moment he passed through its entrance and reached the center, a structure resembling a heart appeared in Zeros sight. It sucked up all the mana in this area, transformed it into demonic energy, and spewed it out again. It was his target. Thud, thud The pounding sound echoed loudly. Zero stood before it. Alright. For the past few days, he had been constantly observing and analyzing the energy and magic of this otherworld. He watched as the Demon King, who could be considered its owner, manipted it and studied how this structure transformed mana into demonic energy. All of this effort was for this moment. tooz had seeded in handling the energy of this otherworld imperfectly. There was no way Zero, who was several times more talented than him, would fail. Zeros eyes shone brightly blue. Regardless, this power is sucking up mana and using it as its source. Thats its weakness. The focus should be on the mana being drawn towards this structure. Zeros consciousness immediately delved into the whirlpool of demonic energy and mana and interfered. If he were an ordinary mage, he would have been overwhelmed by this massive flow and his body would have exploded. However, Zero was gifted with an unreasonable talent for mana, to the extent that he was praised as the incarnation of a dragon among contemporary mages. Even the Demon King hadnt anticipated this unexpectedplication. Wuuung- He constantly infused explosions into the nature of mana. Beep beep beep- After dozens of repetitions, the structure resembling a heart suddenly zed up, emitting a deafening roar akin to the sound of a boiling kettle but hundreds of times amplified, turning bright red. Only then did Zero finally cease his interference. At the same time, blood gushed from every hole in his face. But he couldnt stop now. He had to continue with the next n. Plop- Without hesitation, Zero bit his index finger and drew a space teleportation magic circle with the blood flowing from the torn section. The blood of a mage is inherently the most powerful catalyst. The air was so hot that it felt like it would cook flesh, and the deafening roar tore through eardrums, while dust and debris rained down from the ceiling. But the geniuss concentration did not waver. The probability of sess is around 30%. Teleporting in a demonic energy-filled environment. Without the analysis of the past few days, he wouldnt have dared to attempt it at all. Even after adjusting the magic circle drawn from a simple spell to include runes, the probability of sess was lower than the probability of his body shattering. But Zeros eyes remained steady. Beep beep beep beep beep- His pupils were fixed on the core, which was now on the verge of exploding. Mana surged violently. Zero infused mana into the magic circle and repeated in his mind. ine. Explosion. Then endless silence ensued. Zeros figure was nowhere to be found. * * * Thud- The hero could hear footsteps echoing in the ruins. Thud- The presence of the Demon King could be felt in the sky, within that rupture. Perhaps he didnt have the strength to withstand the massive explosion of the core in his near-death state, or perhaps he had fled. A mere human had managed to escape even after losing the Demon Kings castle, his first stake. !! Suddenly! The humiliation and rage of the Demon King transformed into an indescribable roar, reverberating across the ground. However, Zero seemedpletely indifferent. His footsteps did not falter as he continued forward. Thud- Soon, only him, charred ck with only half of his body remaining, weed Zero. Despite the scattered debris wriggling around, there seemed to be no strength left to recover. Only then did Zeroe to a halt and gaze up at the sky. Ah. The hero also shifted his gaze upward. The sky looked frozen in ash gray. Everything that Zero had loved seemed to have gone up in mes, and the remaining ashes fluttered endlessly like snowkes. It felt like winter had arrived. The hero suddenly recalled ament he had seen before. It was from a pre-briefing speech he had given at a press conference, after returning to the dressing room. This is the beginning of the end, be the firewood for the winter that humanity will face. Rustle- With Zero lifting him up and walking away, the scene did not rey any further. Understanding of Zero Requiem deepens. Understanding level: 10/100 -> 20/100 * However, he is a subject that cannot be replicated. Understanding of ??? deepens. Understanding level: 50/100 [TL/N: BIG REVEAL NEXT CHAP !!!] [PR/N: BRO WTF????!!!!!! So unexpected like what???] [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 207 Chapter 207 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The yback of memories hade to aplete end. The Heros vision flickered slowly before brightening again. Thements that had been surfacing in session also fell silent. . The Hero repeated the pattern of taking short breaths and exhaling. It was the longest segment of memories he had experienced so far. Countless emotions that Zero had felt swirled in his mind. Yet amidst the confusion, only one clear fact was firmly embedded in his mind. The clues the Hero had been gathering all this time. And this memory. They had alle together to finally unveil one secret. He was a Homunculus made of Doppelganger. . While the Hero collected his thoughts, Rosalyn simply looked at him with eyes that had grown quiet. She didnt ask if he had enjoyed reminiscing as usual. The emotions reflected in her eyes seemed to be a mixture of pity and admiration. The Hero raised his bowed head. After their gazes met, it was Rosalyn who spoke first. I thought you would be more surprised or distressed. The Hero let out a brief sigh. It was something I somewhat anticipated. Though I had hoped otherwise. Have all the doubts you held onto been resolved? Most of them. A few still lingered. And these doubts were of a kind that could not be brushed aside lightly. In some ways, they were even more important than his identity. Fortunately, Rosalyn was looking at him with a considerably cooperative gaze, unlike before. The Hero hesitated before speaking. ording to my knowledge, homunculi live and perish ording to the purpose imnted during their cultivation by their master. Thats correct. Just as you waited for the savior while guarding this library. Just as the Demonic Church Leader was fueled with hatred towards humans and led the Demonic Church. Am I right? Yes. Rosalyn did not deny it. The Heros expression twisted with anguish. It was a expression he had never shown since he had lived as Ted. But I have never felt bound by such constraints. You To me, consciousness of purpose was merely the salvation of humanity I gained from experiencing humans from living with Ted. If that is also The muscles in the Heros face began to tense as he interrupted himself. His expression vanished, his breathing irregr. He barely managed to speak. Is even this my delusion? Is my desire to love humans to save them all just something Zero designed? A conversation he had had with theDemonic Church Leader in the north came to mind. Whether Im a homunculus or a human or an extraterrestrial monster. None of that matters to me now. I have a goal. I will uproot the decay that gues this world like a tumor and save humanity. There was not an ounce of falsehood in his words. The Hero had vowed to dedicate all his strength and life willingly to the salvation of humanity. But if the reasons he could harbor such feelings were If it wasnt because of the life I lived and the rtionships I made in it, but because of something that was injected into me? The things that had constituted and supported him would lose their meaning. The moment waiting for Rosalyns reply felt eternal to the Hero. Rosalyn met the Heros earnest gaze, then slowly, but decisively, shook her head. No. Yet the Hero couldnt find sce. How can you be so sure? As if expecting such a question, Rosalyn spoke without hesitation. If things had gone ording to my masters n, you would have lived a life like that scarecrow of your concerns. The Heros expression subtly changed. But the transntations continued to fail. Hundreds of experiments conducted by my master, and over a hundred more by his disciple, Depikio. Experiments failed? In an instant, a series of images shed rapidly through the Heros mind. An oldboratory within a damp forest. A secret ce connected through a portal within. A broken bio-reactor and a piece of paperbeled as a failed transntation experiment. Even thement that led him to theboratory. Dig out the roots. With that, spection turned into certainty. Although there were no memories of it at the time, it was certain. What had been in Depikio Lugosboratory. The Hero covered his face with trembling hands. It was me. Rosalyn gazed at him as if seeing through him. Yes, I assure you, the transntations failed. Breathing deeply as if about to say something very important, she continued calmly. Because the being serving as your model was an existence that could not be exined by thews of this world. An unknown life form with no origins or background known. Its not surprising that the homunculus creation process was iplete. Even the transntation of the ability of Polymorph was a miracle in itself. The Hero interjected with a realization. Does that mean? Yes. Rosalyns expression gradually changed. The Hero never imagined she could make such an expression, always so dry. It was like the face of a believer confirming the existence of God with their own eyes, as if witnessing a miracle. Pure and brilliant emotion enveloped her. The emotions you have towards humans belong solely to you. And this was nothing short of salvation for the Hero as well. They are entirely mine. Yes, you became a being who affirms it by experiencing humans from a nk state. This is something not even your master no, no one could have anticipated. At the same time, it was also proof of the goodness of humans that Zero had believed in so fervently, but Doppelgnger had vehemently denied. I see. Thats how it was. It was true that Zeros embraces had pushed and supported him. But embarking on the path of salvation was his own decision, no one elses. His fiercely lived life had not been in vain. It had not lost its meaning. Yeah. The Hero chuckled lightly. That settled it. . . . Before leaving, the Hero asked a few more questions to clear up the remaining doubts. By the way, why was it Depikio Lugosboratory? Hmm? I mean, it was Zero who took him, so why was I in Depikiosb? Rosalyn hesitated for a moment before answering. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 As you know, the lifespan of a Grand Sorcerer is very short. Currently, Grand Sorcerer Ludwig Boseman is still alive and kicking after consuming nearly a hundred and fifty years. However, my master, quickly exhausted his lifespan by gaining and manifesting powers that would be difficult for a human body to withstand. Rosalyn said that Zeros death urred two centuries ago when he disappeared. So, my master divided tasks between the two homunculi and his disciple, Depikio Lugo. The Hero tilted his head. Two homunculi? One is you whos the other? It cant be me. Thats right, theres one more besides me. You might have seen him in past memories. Another homunculus? Seen in memories? The Hero briefly reconsidered upon hearing that. The memories he had reviewed in the library were all memories of Zero and the Hero. There had been an asion where a doppelganger appeared in the memories. Ah, no way. The memories of the first time he reviewed them. The mercenary group Ted belonged to was wiped out by a surprise attack from demons. Someone subdued Ted, who was fighting. The image of him, born with magic resistance, being subdued in an instant remained vivid in his memory. Rosalyn nodded. Yes, thats correct. He is my brother and was created as an offspring of my master. Zero was his model? Yes. Hes a very powerfulbatant, unlike me. Rosalyn chuckled yfully and finished speaking. We might meet him soon. His mission is almostplete. The Hero pondered for a moment on how to respond, then smiled faintly. Another homunculus indeed. It was almost weing now. * * * The new semester had begun. Well, not entirely. The first week of sses was traditionally known as O.T. Week, a time for students to adjust to new courses. Rather than full-fledged lectures, it was mainly a period for sharing the semesters ns and getting to know each other. Anyway, the highlight of O.T. Week was undoubtedly the drop. Rosenstark University provided a drop period of a whole month to boost students academic motivation and prevent professors from overloading. Students would eagerly shuffle their schedules to find more enriching or rxed sses. Among them, there was one ss everyone was aiming for this semester Extreme. Of course, transferring to Extreme was not amon urrence. All professors had to agree, and there needed to be vacancies in the ss. The conditions were quiteplex. But now, after half a semester had passed. Coincidentally, Extreme had two vacancies. -Theres one more spot empty in Extreme, right? Who dropped out? Cant believe someone did. Well, its because they took a leave of absence for personal reasons. Why are you so slow with the news? Its the one who took a leave of absence. That one. Who? The new chief of the northern tribe. -Shouldnt we fill the vacancy in Extreme then? Two people dropped out! Ah, please! Ill fill the vacancy! Its time to show off the skills honed over the semester. No, think twice before applying. The curriculum for Extreme looks too tough, doesnt it? (Completing the application) Everyones excited. The announcement hasnt evene out yet. -If youre a proud student of Rosenstark, you must uphold your integrity. Sorry, Professor~ Yeah, Im going to Extreme. Those bastards,, In the midst of all this. -The announcement for Extreme is out, read it carefully. The fervent Connector anonymous bulletin board suddenly fell silent. Instead, the views on the Extreme announcement began to skyrocket. Hello, Im Pia Joyce, the assistant of Extreme. After lengthy discussions, Extreme is considering new talented individuals In summary, the announcement was something like this. The issue of replenishing new members in Extreme is being very positively considered. If it proceeds, the target will be freshmen. The Hero hasnt provided specific guidelines on how to select yet, but it seems like it will involvepetition with existing students to assess the abilities of applicants. If all applicants fall below the standard, none will be selected. Good luck, and best wishes. Since that announcement. The gazes of ssmates towards the students of Extreme started to be very envious. Originally, the students of Extreme didnt pay much attention to other Unir students. This was because they were busy digesting the training curriculum presented by the Hero. However, the opposite was entirely different. Most of the iing freshmen in this term had aimed for the Heros disciples from the beginning. Watching the students of Extreme grow day by day, they felt a pang of jealousy. Some admired them. Some resented them. And others took them as goals to catch up with and dedicated themselves to training. Reactions varied. But they all shared one thought in their minds. It could have been me! Amidst this, an opportunity opened up. Details werent clear, but in the form ofpetition with existing students. Starting from the night the notice was posted, the students of Extreme began to receive challenges one by one. Hey Would you like to have a duel when you have time? Yeah, lets have a match. Since the top students of Extreme hadnt arrived from the North yet, bolder challenges were possible. First-year students continued to apply for duels with those who seemed the most approachable in Extreme. It was inevitable that the target would be a modestly dressed, petite girl. Hey. Nyhills shoulders trembled as she contemted the special mission bestowed upon her by Mother Ghost the day before her mission return. Me? [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 208 Chapter 208 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Nyhill began to spend most of her time in the infirmary starting from the beginning of the semester. It was because of the observation and protection of the children that the Hero had requested. Although she had always faithfully carried out her duties she couldnt focus on her own tasks for the past few days. It was because of the special mission Mother Ghost had given her recently. Starting from now, Number 3 will monitor the Heros every move and report to me separately. After examining the Heros actions and the traces of battles he had fought as he ascended, Mother Ghost issued such an order. Unexpectedly, Nyhill questioned her. What? Among Mother Ghosts face, the wrinkles on the parts not covered by the mask were deeply creased. Monitor what he eats, wears, when he sleeps, who he meets, what he thinks, and report it in much more detail and thoroughly than now. Nyhill doubted her ears. The level of surveince Mother Ghost mentioned was only applicable to those ssified as high-risk ck in the Shadows. These are evil people suspected of being the underworlds kingpins, murderers, and coborators. The Hero? Why. Before she could finish her sentence, a fierce aura was transmitted. Mother Ghosts gaze became endlessly cold. Nyhill quickly lowered her head. Why indeed. Its been a while since Number 3 asked such a question. Im sorry. In fact, this wasnt the first time Nyhill had asked Mother Ghost why. It was a long time ago when she was still unfamiliar with the ways of the Shadows. There had been several asions when she had asked such questions. After paying a heavy price, she hadpletely forgotten how to question. No, she thought she had forgotten. Nyhill herself didnt know why she was like this. Mother Ghost was quietly angry. It seems the warning I gave youst time didnt resonate well with you, Number 3. Im sorry. When I set a goal, Number 3 should follow it ordingly. Isnt that what tools do? But. However, once the question arose, it didnt easily dissipate. Why did Mother Ghost want to monitor the Hero? Was it an order from above? Or was it a unteral decision? If so, for what reason? What is Mother Ghost suspicious of? For the past semester, Nyhill had never left the Heros side. She had always kept an eye on him, both physically and figuratively. She was sure of it. The Hero was someone who devoted all his time and strength to others. He was never someone who would harm others. This is an unfair order. The first moment she made such a judgment. Nyhill felt a strong dissatisfaction and immediately concealed it. However, she couldnt deceive Mother Ghosts eyes. The white hand swiftly grabbed Nyhills neck without hesitation. How dare you. The rigorously refined murderous intent enveloped Nyhill. Keukk. When Mother Ghosts hand loosened, Nyhills face turned blue before it turned red. Mother Ghost looked down at Nyhill sprawled on the floor as if she were worthless trash, then muttered softly. Youre making me regret it. Nyhill knew too. If it werent for her unique ability, her origin, then Mother Ghost would have discarded her as a defective product. Nyhill naturally thought of the agents who had been out of Mother Ghosts sight. Most of them were dead. They either got involved in operations with a sess probability approaching zero or failed to receive apanion within the deadline, or in any case, they all died like that. Of course, even if Mother Ghost didnt immediately rain such punishment on her, if she continued to perform poorly, she might attach some pretext to exclude herself from this mission. I hate it. Leaving the Heros side, she hated it. Nyhill felt an intense emotion, so she decided to suppress it once again. Ill do as ordered. You probably have approximate surveince records for the past half year. First, hand them all over. Yes. Ill return and organize them to deliver. But Mother Ghosts displeased gaze didnt disappear. Let me say it again. Setting Number 3s goals is my job, not yours or the Heros. Remember that. After the threat wrapped in polite words. Mother Ghost left her behind. And those short five minutes. From the way back to Rosenstark until now, Nyhills mind had been constantly circling. Goal. There was a story told by the old woman Barun she met in Harlem. Nyhill, have you ever thought about the goal of life? The goal of life is a powerful force that controls many things about that person. If you want to truly know someone, just look at their goals. If you havent had a chance yet, think about it. Someone who lives with a clearer goal than anyone else is right next to you. Its a good time to set the right goal. What is her goal? Nyhill realized that she hadnt thought about it for a very long time. Of course, it had been very clear when she was young.. Survival. Stealing, snatching, and robbing. She struggled to survive. Even after being sold to the Shadows. The terrible agent training process. And the equally intense years of missions. The thoughts that upied Nyhills mind from the end of her childhood into her youth were simply that she had to survive, no matter what. So, is her goal still survival? Or is it as Mother Ghost said, something she decides for her? No. Once again, Nyhill felt a terribly unpleasant sensation. It was so ufortable, empty, and miserable that it was indescribable. The fact that the report was due tomorrow added anotheryer to that feeling. So. Ah. This is a mistake. The first mistake of Ghost Number 3, who hadpleted every mission wlessly so far. An absurd mistake. Sorry. Nyhill looked down at the infirmary floor with a pale face. The boy who had just challenged her aggressively was now crying and rolling around, clutching his shoulder. It seemed his dislocated shoulder was quite painful. This is bad. Nyhill also wanted to cry. * * * [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Lesson of the day: Dont mess with extreme trainees. Heard you got your ass handed to you. Tough break. It wasnt me directly, it was my friend. I was there watching. Can you give us a summary? Basically, I challenged the weakest-looking kid to a fight. People who frequent the infirmary would know. That petite girl. Whos that? Yeah, who? There is. Anyway, she gave my friend a few taps, and he ended up cleaning the floor. Theres another tough one in the extreme? I was surprised too. Were in the same ss. Whats so surprising? She seemed really quiet and reserved. Didnt say a word during ss. So whats her name? It was Nyhill. Hes in the ward now, getting treated next to the guy from the previous message. Seems like his eyes are more swollen than his shoulder. Did he cry? Did she really make a kid cry like that? Too much. Nyhill Ill remember that. What are you going to do with the memory? Avoid her. To people who didnt know her well, this incident didnt seem like a big deal. It wasmon for kids to get hurt during training. Moreover, Dorian, who Nyhill faced, would be fine in a few days with his shoulder injury. But as much as the Hero who knew her true identity couldnt just let this go. An agent of the Shadows who alwayspleted her tasks perfectly had made such an unreasonable mistake. It was natural to be curious about the reason. Nyhill. Nyhills head, standing in front of the desk in theb, slightly tilted upward before her eyes immediately dropped when they met. I tried to tell her to sit on the sofa, but she stubbornly remained standing. A girl who seemed to be punishing herself. The Hero let out a short sigh. Shes like a little kid being scolded by her parents. Disappointment and self-me filled her tiny face. Nyhill wasnt one to easily show her emotions outwardly. Thanks to that, the Hero could understand how much she was suffering right now. In that case, it was a situation that couldnt help but worry in many ways. Do you have anything to say to me? Im sorry. If somethings wrong, tell me. Im sorry. She didnt want to lie to the Hero. But she couldnt leak the mission either. All Nyhill could choose was silence and the Hero could read her dilemma right away. Mother Ghost, isnt it? Flinch- That was the answer. Ah, um. Nyhill was unusually flustered, and then she struggled to speak. This time it was something the Hero hadnt expected. Uh, can I use my wish now? The Hero hesitated for a moment. A wish. It was the wish Nyhill had earned by winning first ce in her team during dungeon raid training. The only wish among the children that Nyhill hadnt used. Do you mind if I dont answer that question? It was a refusal. Not a lie. Nothing more than a pitiful plea. The Hero let out a deep sigh. He had no intention of pressing further and making this awkward child even more ufortable. That wish wasnt meant for situations like this. What? I wont ask again, so keep your wish. Nyhills lips pressed tightly together at those words. If you really want something, you can use it when the timees. Thank you. Alright then, lets call it a day and go rest. Nyhill bowed her head continuously as she retreated. As Pia entered theb, taking Nyhills ce, who had left, there was a space left for their private conversation. That was something. Pia shrugged her shoulders as she met eyes with the Hero. Nyhill causing trouble. Indeed, quite something. Want me to find out what happened? The Hero shook her head. Its alright. I already have a good idea. What? Pia was surprised at first, then muttered softly. You seem to know everything if you look closely. The Hero slowly nodded. In recent times, he had left too many traces trying to handle various incidents. If someone had been watching him closely, it would be natural for them to notice something strange. He just gained confirmation from Nyhills reaction. Mother Ghost is starting to doubt me. The solution to that problem would need to be discussed with Euphemia, not Pia. Or maybe he should resolve it before shees back. Its not urgent. Even if she pays attention to me right away, there wont be anything she can find. With those thoughts in mind, the Hero changed the subject. Pia, while its good to pay attention to the students Im more concerned about your work. Piaughed dishearteningly at that remark. Do you really worry about that? Of course. Its a given. But you are introducing this curriculum starting from the new semester?! Pia fluttered her hands, showing the curriculum n. The Hero chuckled. You and the kids have had plenty of fun until now. Well, I havent had much fun. During the vacation, he had gone through a lot. In the process, he realized one thing. Preparing for the uing cmity wasnt just a human affair. The demons were also tirelessly working for the downfall of humanity. Now that the Demonic Church is gone, theylle up with another trick. The most surefire way to confront such unknown threats was strength. Overwhelming strength. Its time to fulfill my duty. Teaching and nurturing the children. It was time to return to being a professor. And the new semester lectures would be conducted in a manner unprecedented in the history of the Rosenstark Academy. Outside the school walls. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 209 Chapter 209 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The morning at Rosenstark dawned. As autumn approached, the bright sunlight gradually weakened, and a sudden chill crept in. The campus became cool and pleasant. Some of the children, instead of anticipation, had more worry on their faces. Why are they calling us to a ssroom instead of a training ground this time? Theres something. Something. If it were another professor, one might expect a leisurely lecture at the beginning of the semester, but the other person they were dealing with was the Hero. If its the professor, hell never let us off easy. Of course not. Thest time he was away for just two weeks, he came back with some tough training. Its not that I dislike the start of the semester its scary The children trembled as they entered the ssroom specified in the extreme notice. The group that arrived at the academyst night, including Ban, Luke, and Leciel, were also there. Their expressions were uniformly tense. It was because of the relentless barrage of questions from the children until this morning. Hey, what mischief have you been up to? Did you really have a showdown with the Demonic Church Leader? How about the Great Snow Sea? Is everything frozen all the way to the horizon? The series of events that urred in the north had been reported quite extensively. Given therge-scale movements of troops, it was difficult to keep things under wraps, and there wasnt much to hide anyway. It was a perfect victory against the Demonic Church Leader, who had been a thorn in humanitys side for so long. Moreover, the young heroes who showed brilliant performances during the process were excellent material for propaganda. Thanks to this, the children who had gone to the north had be somewhat famous. While Gerald and Karen seemed quite satisfied with the attention they received, the others were not so pleased. In particr, Ban, who had experienced measles once during the operation to subdue Enoch, was extremely frustrated. Ah, its tough. Five minutes before the start of ss. The Hero always arrived at the ssroom on time. In order to rest his eyes for a moment, Banid his head on his desk. However, unlike his tired body, his mind was too restless. It was inevitable, given the question thrown by someone among his ssmatesst night that lingered in his head. Is Cuculli okay? Why couldnt shee with you? Cuculli. Bans eyes faintly trembled. He recalled thest time he saw Cuculli. Standing against the backdrop of the frozen Arctic, waving goodbye to her friends. Cuculli didnt leave until the ship they boarded disappeared from sight. With all her family gone, what kind of time was the girl who ascended to the throne spending? He didnt know for sure, but it probably wasnt as joyful as being at the academy. Leciel also seemed quite mncholic. Ban nced at the front row. Leciel, seemingly indifferent to the noise in the ssroom, was staring nkly out the window. Although they were always bickering, Ban knew better than anyone that they were closer than anyone else. The sight of Cuculli making silly jokes while Leciel tried to maintain a solemn expression was quitemon. She, too, was trying to adapt to Cucullis absence in her own way. Look at her eyes. Huh? Those who seek to exploit her empty heart are cowards. Seriously, please shut up, Gerald. It was a moment when Ban was scratching his head at the secretive whisper from the neighboring seat. Thud- The door of the ssroom opened, and the Hero appeared with Pia. As usual, he was dressed in formal attire, exuding elegance and bnce as he stood at the lectern. The children admired the appearance of the Hero they hadnt seen in a long time. His powerful presence seemed unaffected by the frequency of their encounters. No matter how many times you see him, hes still awe-inspiring. Tap- The Hero stood in the center of the tform and looked around at the children. Ive summoned you to a regr ssroom today because there are some matters to discuss. Matters to discuss? The children tilted their heads in confusion. Was it about transfer students? Or the uing lecture ns? Amidst various spections, the Hero spoke. What he said was different from anyones predictions. Starting a month from now, you will be mercenaries. Thud- Luke spat out the water he was drinking onto the back of the person in front of him. * * * Hello, Dear students. At Rosenstark, we are preparing for a new semester with new and diverse sses and activities. To provide you with more opportunities for learning and growth, a new internship will be introduced this semester. A new internship? The gazes of the children reading the newly updated announcement were soon drawn to one keyword. It was a word that made them doubt their eyes. A branch of mercenary groups with cooperation agreements is scheduled to be established at the academy. The mercenary groups will transfer some of the contracts they have undertaken to the academy, and you will be able to perform them under the approval of the qualifying exam and the supervising professor. We promise that the contents will be carefully selected to differentiate them from existing external training. Establishing a branch of mercenary groups? At the academy? Wow, whats this all about? Tap-tap- Concentrate. At the sound of the chalkboard being lightly tapped, the children who had been buried in their connectors suddenly looked up at the tform. The main point is simple. Ifst semester consisted of lectures, training, training evaluations, and grading, this semester will only add missions to the evaluation criteria. Ah Naturally, the evaluation of missions and the results of missions will also affect your grades. Luke raised his hand to ask a question. If its a mission from a mercenary group, how will we receivepensation? All rewards, excluding fees, will naturally go to you, the employees. At the Heros words, the children widened their eyes. Evergreen hurriedly followed up with a question. It sounds like we can earn money while attending lectures?! Thats right. Oh, wow! Not only money, but it will also greatly help your reputation andworking for future career choices. You will receive various missions, not just subjugation but also tracking, exploration, escorting, item retrieval, research, etc. The childrens eyes sparkled. Of course, Rosenstark students had often engaged in external activities before. It was through professors connections that they went on field trips to rted institutions or joined expedition teams. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 However, since the academy had been taking full control until now, the practicality of these internships had beencking. As a result, students had merely regarded external activities as excuses for missing lectures due to internship submissions. But now, the Hero was saying that such rudimentary external activities wouldpletely transform. Wow, this sounds exciting! If the academy is the one filtering and assigning, there shouldnt be anything too strange or dangerous. To summarize, Rosenstark is adding a kind of mercenary base camp function. Undergraduate students will be frence mercenaries. As the children eagerly chatted among themselves, the extreme underdog, Eileen, cautiously raised her hand. You mentioned that we have to pass a qualification exam. What kind of exam is it? It will test your overall ability to perform various missions as mentioned earlier The Hero paused for a moment and looked at her with gentle eyes. If youve been giving your best in this ss, I believe youll pass without any problems. After all, the exam is not for you but for verifying other students. The trust sent by the Hero, who had criticized them harshly every day, naturally ignited the childrens enthusiasm. Pia, who stood behind the ssroom, watching the cheering children, smiled faintly. He really seems to like the children, despite pretending otherwise. Pia had never expected this radical proposal to pass. And it wasnt even due to the Hero and principals coercion or autocracy. More professors were in favor than those opposing. Even young professors who staunchly supported the Hero and Yussi, as well as seasoned professors who had been criticizing him in the past, showed enthusiastic responses, detached from campus politics. If this approach can shed light on our teachings I always thought diversity was the direction Rosenstark should pursue. The fine-tuned professors teaching specialized fields were very eager to have a stage where the children could fully utilize their teachings. Rather than opposition, praise was sent to the Hero and Yussi, who proposed and implemented the agenda. Youre quite adept at understanding what people want. Ironically, the response from the mercenary groups was more lukewarm. It seemed like they were having their food bowls taken away, so there was considerable opposition. However, the merit of building a friendship with the Hero, Yussi, and fostering friendly rtions with Rosenstark and Glendor outweighed the hopelessness of the deal. Of course, the decisive blow in negotiations came from the Hero. I will take care of your pending missions. Pending missions were a headache for every mercenary group. They referred to tasks that had already received a considerable advance but were deemed unavoidable to resolve. However, upon closer inspection, these missions were often impossible for the mercenary group toplete, or the potential losses outweighed the gains. Giving up would tarnish their reputation, yet pursuing them might lead to even greater losses. umting such pending missions became a significant burden for mercenary groups. When the Hero offered to resolve them free of charge, negotiations proceeded swiftly. After all, no matter how legendary the pending mission may be, once the professor steps in, its over. The incidents that poured in over the past semester. To Pia, who watched the Hero resolve them, he seemed nothing short of a problem-solving deity. S he looked at the Hero, who had reached the end of his exnation, with a rxed mind. Well, then, well depart in 30 minutes. Departure? The children looked at the Hero with question marks hovering over their heads. He added a brief exnation, which seemed inadequatepared to the content. Before the official implementation of the new internships, we have received several preliminary missions. They are your practice grounds. Gerald couldnt help but cry out involuntarily. Why announce it on the same day!? Preparing forbat quickly is also part of your training, Gerald. The Hero said with a slight smile, seeming to show no intention of hiding his enjoyment anymore. Then, assemble at the main gate in full gear in 25 minutes. Thats all. The childrens minds started racing. They had to run back to the dorms grab all their equipment and make it back to the main gate in 25 minutes. How fast did they have to run? Eek! Amidst the hustle and bustle of gathering their belongings, a leisurely voice intruded upon them, just in the next moment. Oh, I forgot. Said in such a nonchnt tone that the children naturally followed suit, until the next words came. Regarding this item. After sufficient discussion, detailed instructions on the appropriate personnel,pensation, and methods for missions are nearingpletion. The academy ns to umte separate points based on the difficulty of the missions, and corresponding differential rewards have been prepared. The separate points system. The Hero dropped a bombshell. For the one with the highest umted points, Im thinking of granting them a Blessing. !!!!! You all have heard about Severance, havent you? The children felt like they were losing their minds. * * * Tap-tap- Gerald, Ban, and Luke were rushing back to the dormitory in a frenzy. Gerald looked at Lukes back as he led the way and suddenly recalled a part of the announcement. One month before the first trial. During the preparation process, gratitude is extended to those who have generously cooperated and supported us. Firstly, to the Aureum Mercenary Corps If its the Aureum Mercenary Corps, isnt it Lukes mercenary group? But why is there no mention at all? Gerald tilted his head in confusion. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 210 Chapter 210 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 I had some expectations, you know. Clink- The sound of ice clinking inside ss cups. Mutterings of a faint woman. Intermittent sighs of an old man. These were the small noises of the principals office. ck- As Yussi swallowed expensive liquor like water, she seemed quite unhappy despite drinking more costly liquor than gold coins of the same weight. She already seemed intoxicated, as a strong scent of alcohol emanated from her breath. I had some expectations no, actually, quite a lot. Honestly, I thought he would give it to me. She had repeated the same words quite a few times. Simon, the butler standing beside her, looked at his master with a sorrowful gaze. Moments with the old butler were the only times she truly revealed her inner thoughts. Yussi chuckled and poured herself another ss. In hindsight, its ridiculous. Why is that? The fact that the children set foot in the dangerous North because of my negligence Its my responsibility. Just the fact that punishment hasnt been imposed is fortunate, isnt it? The Hero who killed the Demonic Church Leader found the medium of Severance in her embrace. No matter how skilled a shapeshifter or a polymorph, one couldnt bear three blessings within one body. He decided to pass it on to the children who would be the next generation of Heroes. Of course, Yussi misunderstood that the Hero who reached the peak of swordsmanship didnt need Severance and thought he was giving it to someone else. Anyway, the unchanging fact was that the Hero didnt choose her as the owner of Severance. To stand on the battlefield with him again, the lifelong aspiration she held. He must be aware of it Sigh. Yussi silently reached for the bottle again. The old man snatched it away and poured himself a drink. Glug- Yussi absentmindedly chased the amber liquid filling his ss. Simon couldnt bear it any longer and spoke up. Arent you resentful towards the Hero? The answer came quickly. Impossible. Why is that? Thedys dedication went unrewarded No, Simon. Even in her drunken state, Yussi spoke with precise pronunciation. The Heros judgment is always right. He never makes mistakes. And he always stands for justice. Blessings are a crucial force for humanity. The Hero doesnt choose the owner of such power out of personal reasons like being formerrades. He didnt give it to her because he judged that the children could utilize it properly. So, if anyone should resent, it should be oneself, for being pushed aside by mere freshmen. Yussis eyes looked down as if in self-reproach. I have heard, seen, and experienced that justice, and I have sworn to follow it for life. Lady So, I cannot question or resent his judgment. As the old man remained silent, Yussis expression softened. Clink- Sheughed again and picked up her ss. Im just a little disappointed, thats all. I see. Both towards the Hero and towards myself. Sighs and mutterings continued with a mncholic tone. How can I even though Im doing my best still fall short of expectations? Should I ept this as the end of my road? I hate the thought I still have more to run. Clink- Simon looked at the diminishing liquor in the ss at a rapid pace. It had been almost four years since Yussi lost her arm and drifted to Rosenstark. During that time, there were many nights filled with alcohol, and Simon could urately gauge her masters tolerance. Now. Tap. Simons wrinkled hand gently supported Yussis drooping head. Please have a good dream. The butlers sigh tousled his masters hair. A rare bright smile, unseentely except in dreams where she ran alongside the Hero on the battlefield, spread across her white face. * * * While the children were immersed in preparing for uing new training sessions, time flew by. And then, a monthter. Finally, requests arrived for the mercenary groups stationed in Rosenstark. After scrutinizing them closely, the professors selected and announced them to the students Wow, I thought theyd just throw us some crappy tasks, but there are quite a few good ones. Wow, we could earn some serious money, couldnt we? They received quite a warm response. This was because the contents and rewards were quite decent. Even the discerning Luke, who was picky about requests, said so. Although there arent any major requests due to the region being in the central-west, these are good enough requests. A few months ago, they might not have received anything but trivial tasks. But now, coincidentally, most of the mercenaries had left the west. As a result, there were many lucrative missions stacked up, considering the difficulty versus the reward, and the children were benefiting from it. The students of Rosenstark formed their teams and quickly chose missions. The Extreme ss kids were no exception. However the situation was a bit different. Divide! Survival means dispersing! If you stick together, you wont get much! There were mainly two rewards the children could get frompleting missions: The gold coins offered by the client. The points provided by the academy. Naturally, the more challenging the mission, the greater the reward. However, it was clear that blindly choosing difficult missions would likely lead to disaster. Because there are more people! It also takes longer and requires more people. So, both the rewards and the points are divided more finely. Therefore, the children had to carefully consider and select missions. They also had to decide whether to go solo or y in a party. Its a race for the Blessing. I have to stay focused. Even if they were previously at the bottom of the Extreme ss, once they obtained the blessing, it would serve as a stepping stone to the top. Moreover, thispetition wasnt just about the academys grades. Bing the owner of the blessing meant a guaranteed admission to the Dawn Knights. It would also greatly elevate the honor of their family. Truly, it was apetition where their entire lives were at stake. Gerald seeded in recruiting Ban to his team after careful consideration. It was him and Ban in the Third team, just two people. No, actually, there was one more invited member. But Ban didnt know about it. . . . A days journey by carriage from Rosenstark, there was a city. The third team chose to retrieve stolen relics as their first mission. Even though they called it a relic, it was just a statue with a small amount of Holy stone inside. Mission Brief: Author: Gerald Date: New Empire Year 297, October 7th (Date of eptance, bid date was October 2nd) Client Information: Cain Drove (Priest of the Holy Church) Contracted Mercenary Group: Aulrum Executor Information: Extreme ss 3rd Team Representative: Gerald Mission Objective: Retrieve the stolen relic (a white stone statue approximately 30cm in height and 15cm in width) Mission Location: Trade city of Laman Mission Duration: 3 days (until October 10th) Mission Requirements: 1. Complete before the Harvest Festival in 3 days (after this, the chance of missing out is high) 2. Ensure the relic isnt destroyed 3. Arrest the suspects and bring them to the temple (More omitted) Reward: 30 gold coins, Church Appreciation que Contract Condition: Compensation required if the relic is damaged [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 As soon as the third team arrived at the temple on the outskirts of the city where the client resided, they were greeted with cobwebs and dust piled up at every corner of the building. Naturally, a question arose in their minds. Where did they get 30 gold coins from? Hehehe. The priest let out a fake cough. He seemed to be coughing non-stop, as if desperately trying to divert their attention from the cracked walls. Or maybe it was just because there was so much dust it made him cough. Living as a priest in an era where Holy power has disappeared must be tough. Gerald, the team leader, stepped forward. Uh Im Gerald, the leader of this mission. Im Cain Drove. Im in charge of the Laman parish. Parish leader? Gerald nced at the priests worn-out robes. The look in his eyes made Ban ufortable for a moment Oh my, youre so worried. Gerald unexpectedly spoke in a gentle tone. Ban looked at Gerald with admiration. He, who had refused to attend sses with his peers who were inferior in ability, had now be an adult who knew how to coax a client. The client let out a relieved sigh and shrugged his shoulders. Its a big problem. In such turbulent times, for the relic to be stolen by rogues Haha, you can rx. Do you know who we are? Well, Ive heard that students from Rosenstark areing, but The priests anxious gaze lingered on Bansposed face. Those students seem to be neers. Haha, Im a neer too. Oh, I see, I see. The priest tried desperately not to show his surprise. Snap- A vein popped on Geralds forehead. Haha, whats the problem? Well although Rosenstark students are certainly remarkable Cain awkwardly tilted his head. Its just that if theyre neers, wouldnt such a search mission be easy for them? These kinds of retrieval missions couldnt be solved just by winging it. They required a lot of skills like information gathering, tracking, and interrogation. There are barely any belongings left, and now theyve entrusted us with this retrieval mission With veteran mercenaries around, he already looked uneasy, but when the neers appeared, he seemed extremely anxious. Gerald noticed this and casually extended his spear. Heh, its not to stab you. Take a look here. Were not just ordinary neers. Is that so? Gerald shook the part of his spear where the sign of a Hero (damaged but received again after negotiations) was carved in front of the priest. Ban tried to object. Because if they failed the mission after boasting about the Heros name, it would tarnish the reputation of their teacher. But Gerald whispered to Ban with a smirk. This way, the client will have a better evaluation, and we wont fail. Theres a surefire way. Surefire? Well, rtively? It was a somewhat evasive answer, but it was effective nheless. Cain hesitated but then exined in detail about the suspects who stole the relic. The suspect was a new follower who starteding to the temple three months ago. It had been approximately five days since the relic went missing. And it was around the time when the new follower disappeared too. We reported it to the guards, but there wasnt much response Theyre conducting inspections at the citys entrances and nearby territories, but Hmm, it must be difficult to catch them in a bustling trade city. Thats right. However, someone came forward yesterday iming to have seen them in the nearbymercial district. Do you have any more information to share? Gerald and Ban diligently noted down the clues. And so, the third team set off from the temple. Half immediately questioned Gerald. What exactly is this surefire way? For now, your Sk. [TL/N: Will be calling Bans new technique Sk as it fits more.] Ban looked at Gerald incredulously. What, do you think Sk is some kind of panacea? Sk was the technique that Ban had just begun toprehend. It was a technique born frombining part of the magic he learned from Beatrice, Detection, into his own sensing technique. It was still in an embarrassing state, not quite worthy of being called a seasonal technique yet, but it was highly efficient for tracking something. Simr to Felsons Gods Net, but focusing more on capture than annihtion. But covering this much area is unrealistic. Ban shook his head nervously. Gerald, this isnt a rural vige, its a trade city. Thats why I said for now. Huh? Well, its almost time. Ban cocked his head in confusion. Whosing? Our third team member. You didnt mention there was one. Before Ban could spit out his frustration, a familiar howl echoed. A ck-furred wolf, restrained by a leash around its neck, appeared before them. Its fur was as ck as the night sky, and its eyes shone blue even in broad daylight. Shadow had grown evenrger than the averagerge dog or an ordinary wolf thanks to him, all eyes on the street were on them. It was a mystery how he got permission to enter. It would have been impossible without a Rosenstark student ID. Ban stared with his mouth agape, alternating between the leash buried between Shadows elegant fangs and the person holding it. Gerald waved his hand with all his might. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 211 Chapter 211 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Weekend of Rosenstark. The campus was unusually quiet. It was because all the children had gone to nearby towns and cities to carry out their assignments. The professors were not visible either. They were assigned as guardians to suitable tasks ording to their teaching specialties and fields and left. Of course, even though theyre guardians, they dont interfere with the assignments at all. They decided to observe from a distance and intervene when a crisis arose. No matter how safe the area was and even if the assignments were screened, it was a precaution to have minimal safety measures. From the professors perspective, it might have been troublesome, but what could they do? It was their responsibility Yussi mentioned directly reflecting on performance. Thanks to that, professors with rtively poor performance voluntarily rushed to leave. Of course, the Hero who received top rankings in all evaluations was spending his time in the pleasant researchb. Of course, it wasnt all fun He was apanied by sharp-eyed assistant and piles of documents. Thud- Pia approached, staggering slightly, raising the stack of documents even higher. Professor. Ill leave todays 23 requests from the cooperation mercenary groups here. The Hero stopped what he was doing and looked at the new documents. Thank you. Are there any pending requests? Yes, shall I contact them to see what theyre requesting? Most likely, theyll want me to take on the most obscure tasks. Its not urgent, so lets start with your work. Okay. The Hero was in charge of overseeing this new practical training. Therefore, the requests transferred to the academy from the mercenary groups first passed through his hands. He yed the role of the first filter to screen out unsuitable requests. Considering factors such as the risk, rationality, and feasibility of the assignments. There were many factors to consider, so even he, with excellent insight, inevitably had to expend considerable mental effort. Even today, there are 23 requests. Theyre increasing steadily. The Heros temples throbbed. The mercenary groups were taking this coboration quite seriously. Their intentions were obvious. Since there was currently a shortage of manpower and they couldnt focus on requests from the central and western regions, they must have decided to at least earn some fees. With a sigh, the Hero began sorting the requests by type. His hands, which were moving busily, stopped when he realized something was amiss. This one is for suppression, this one for item retrieval, this one for tracking, another item retrieval and another? The Heros head tilted slightly. Pia, please bring the requests we ssified yesterday. Pia quickly brought the documents. Is there a problem? Among yesterdays requests, some have already been epted by the children. Its not a problem but At least not yet. As the Hero searched through the requests, his eyes narrowed gradually. Its strange. Why didnt I notice this earlier? He asked Pia again. Who is currently stationed as the guardian in the trading city of Laman? Uh Professor Pierre. Kasim? Pia nodded lightly with a smile. Yes, I heard he had some issues with his evaluation. He left in a huff. Contact Kasim and ask him to scrutinize the children more closely. Okay. Since it wasnt certain yet, this measure should be sufficient for now. The Hero turned his attention back to the documents on his desk. Square- But a lingering unease finally made his pen stop. Pia. The Hero sighed as he put down his pen. Contact the nearby territories and gather a list of valuable items reported lost in the past month. Okay! Sorry for the inconvenience amidst your busy schedule. Pia replied without a hint of displeasure, as usual. No problem! . . . The Hero realized that it was a good thing he didnt overlook something at that moment, and this became apparent not long after. * * * Trading city Laman. Residential area. The children looked around the house where the suspect had been living, paying rent. Aooooo- The howling of Shadow tied outside pierced through the thin outer wall and echoed inside the house. There seemed to be quite a bit of whimpering mixed in with the howling, indicating it was rather bored. But there was no choice. The ce was too narrow for the creature to enter. Uuung- Bans mouth opened as he extended his senses to thoroughly scan the interior. Nothing unusual. Thats right. Hmm, I was hoping for more since the guards left everything as it was. The dispersed mana returned to the boys body. Ban seemed disappointed as he tapped the floor with his toe. Thunk- A ringing sound. Considering they had lived here for three months, it didnt feel much like a home. It felt more like they were ready to leave at any moment. Did he never intend to stay long from the beginning? Hmm, he might havee here with the intention of stealing relics from the start. The children exchanged various spections. But with the clues gathered so far, there was nothing they could be sure of. They had to apprehend the suspect first. Shall we leave now? Yes, weve collected everything we need. Ban and Gerald, who had thoroughly inspected the area, headed outside. The first to leave was the one that wasforting the whimpering shadow. Ban approached them, holding the suspects clothes. The hand that was patting Shadows head stopped. Is it over? A short ck coat, just like Shadows fur. Ban thought they made quite a good pair. In terms of color as well. There was something about it that emitted a lonely and deste feeling. Yeah, its over. Ban ced the suspects clothes under Shadows nose. He then spoke to Nyhill. I never expected you to join us. Its surprising. Ill try not to be a hindrance. Huh? No, thats not what I meant at all. Ban quickly waved his hand. Nyhill wasnt particrly lively to begin with, but for some reason, she seemed even more subdued than usual. Shes different from when Ist saw her at Dream Haven. The faint smile she asionally made was nowhere to be found. She seemed to have lost even more weight now. Her angr face looked even sharper. She appeared to have a great burden on her shoulders. Like himself from a few months ago. Nyhill cast her gaze downward at an angle. It was then that Gerald, who had been watching their interaction, intervened. Come on, lets get going. It seems like Shadow has imprinted the scent. Yeah. Team Extreme 3 followed the wagging tail of Shadow energetically. . . . The children surprisingly arrived at their destination without walking much. Panting- Shadow stopped. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The creature, which had been sniffing around, soon began to wander around in confusion. Hmm, is this it? Laman Commercial District. It was where Shadow led them. More precisely, it was somewhere in the middle of themercial district. It was an area near the lodging where peddlers mostly stayed. At this time, it was the busiest area in Laman, with the highest poption flow. Even if it was a rune wolf with senses close to magic, it would be impossible to pinpoint an exact location under these conditions. However, the expression of the team leader, Gerald, remained steadfastly unwavering. Come on, lets avoid the sunlight for now. The children stood in the shade of a building. Gerald tapped Bans shoulder. It seems certain that the suspect hasnt left this city yet, right? Yeah, but why themercial district of all ces? Perhaps its busier due to the uing harvest festival. There are so many people. Maybe he calcted this too. The probability of organized crime is increasing. So, whats our n? Gerald pointed his index finger at Ban. Its your turn to shine, Ban! Ugh With that, they climbed to the rooftop of the tallest nearby building. Gerald asked Ban to search for the suspect using Sk. Since the search area has been narrowed down from the entire Laman to part of themercial district, it should be possible, right!? Well have to give it a try, but I cant promise anything. Ban swallowed the rest of his words. People naturally emit their own unique aura. Just as everyone has a different scent. Thats why simple disguises dont easily fool experts. The ability of the polymorph to replicate even that aura was remarkable. Anyway. When a person stays in a space for a long time, their unique aura permeates the ce. Ban had gathered enough information about the suspects whereabouts from his residence. All they had to do was match it with the magic thatposed the Sk. Then the mana would spread out densely. The moment it met the input aura, it would trigger a strong magical reaction. Tracking that would solve everything! That was the theory. But with the bustling streets below, Ban couldnt help but feel uncertain. There are too many people. The sess rate might not even be half. Rows of tightly packed heads like bean sprouts. Beads of sweat streamed down Bans face. Gerald suddenly blurted out something unexpected. Ban, I remember the conversation we had at Dream Havens drinking party very clearly. What conversation at a drinking party? What are you talking about? Whats going on? Seeing Geralds twitching face, Ban became increasingly uneasy. As if possessed by a spirit, the guy was mumbling with sealed lips. Its about the magic you learned from Beatrice during the vacation. Dont you remember? Ah, no, I dont? Ban stuttered for the first time in a while. Gerald chuckled. Its strange. Theres no way you dont remember. What, what is it? When you feel excited, the output of magic bes extremely high Do you really not remember that funny, no, I mean cool story?! Just as Ban was about to retort. Something popped out from Geralds embrace. Ta-da! Ban doubted his eyes for a moment. Gerald triumphantly held up something. Yeah, its a self-portrait directly brought from Leciels studio! A self-portrait? No, it looked like a living image. Deep eyes, a face made of graceful curves. Sunlight gently illuminated the red hair cascading over the delicate neckline. For a moment, Ban forgot his embarrassment and his mouth fell open. That expression. The faintly revealed lips held a smile. Even though they had spent a semester together, he had never seen it before. It was clear that the smile was for the painting. That awkward feeling maximized the girls loveliness. In summary, it was beautiful, elegant It was as if Leciel herself was right in front of him, full of vitality. Kwaaaaah! The Sk surged like an explosion, pinpointing the suspects location. Good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first? Ban said nonchntly. Though his ears were burning red, Gerald pretended not to notice. Naturally, we should start with the good news. I roughly pinpointed the suspects location. Its closer than we thought. Oh, thats great news, isnt it? Whats the bad news then? I cant sense the aura of the relic. At that, Geralds face stiffened. Damn, we anticipated it, but to think its really gone. Since its hard to carry around, did he hide it somewhere? Or did he sell it? While thepletion of the mission also required the suspects arrest, the retrieval of the relic was the main focus. The mission bore the name of their master. They couldnt afford to fail. Bans pupils lit up with determination once again. Whatever the answer may be, we have to catch the suspect first to find out. It was then that Nyhill, who had been silently observing them, approached. Crack- A map of the Laman Commercial District unfolded from her hand. Where is it? Ban hastily marked the location. It was the best lodging in the Laman Commercial District. Here. Lets go. Swish- Without hesitation, Nyhill leaped outside the railing. Ban and Gerald hurriedly followed behind her. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 212 Chapter 212 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The arrest was carried out very meticulously and swiftly. Thanks to Nyhill. Right after arriving at the hotel where the suspect was presumed to be staying. Her performance began. On the right room on the 7th floor. Huh? The distance from the building they departed from to this hotel was very far. So he only managed to roughly determine the suspects approximate location by spreading out his senses. He couldnt find out exactly which floor or room. So it was a moment when he was gathering his mana again to spread out his senses. But Nyhill seemed to have already pinpointed the suspects location. The boys looked at Nyhill with surprised eyes. In response to their questioning looks, she answered briefly. As soon as we arrived, the window closed and the curtains were drawn. At first, Ban and Gerald didnt understand for a moment. But soon they realized the meaning and eximed in admiration. If the criminal is in hiding, they must have been wary of trackers. Without a doubt, they would have been on guard, looking out the window. Meanwhile, they were interrupted by Extreme 3 Team causing amotion. And our attire is not formal. It doesnt match this luxury amodation at all. It was clear that they hade for a different purpose just by looking at them. The suspect would have instinctively felt threatened. Ban looked up at the window on the 7th floor. A tightly closed window. Thick curtains drawn. Perhaps because of the mood, it felt like someones gaze could be felt through the gap in the curtains. Nyhills calm voice reached his ears. Ban. Yeah. Would you like to scan the 7th floor area precisely? Although he was exhausted from spreading out his senses and rushing here, it was possible within that range. Humming Ban immediately sent out a scan. Of course, upscale amodations often had barriers to prevent external magical activities. But Ban already had the ability to extend his magic beyond those barriers. Dietrichs detection was extraordinary. A momentter. Ban nodded up and down. Thats him. The energy is the same. Alright, lets move. Nyhill gestured briefly with her eyes. One of you go up to the 7th floor corridor to see if the suspect is fleeing, and the other one follow me. Gerald expressed doubt. Huh? Is there a reason to do that? Cant we just go in and arrest him? There is a procedure for everything. Leaving those words behind, she headed to the 1st-floor counter. And after showing the suspects Montage (an official document issued by the security department) to the staff to secure relevant statements. She obtained a falsified amodation list. Thank you for your cooperation. While calling the security, Nyhill headed to the carriage storage. Gerald went up to the 7th floor and Ban followed. Carriage storage? Nyhill began to inspect the carriage stored under the suspects name. She inspected it back and forth, and soon nodded. Alright, lets go. Ban couldnt understand what she meant at all, but he followed Nyhills words anyway. They hurriedly went up to the 7th floor. The arrival of the security Nyhill called coincided with a simr timing. * * * As Nyhill said, there was always a procedure for everything. Even if the 7th-floor guests were certain the suspect was there, barging in and arresting him would be a clear illegal act. They were not security guards, and they had no investigative authority. Of course, since they were noble children themselves, they could do it if they wanted It would tarnish the professors reputation. Was that the reason? Nyhill followed the procedure thoroughly to proceed with the request. Only then did Ban and Gerald understand her intentions and nodded in admiration. If the team had been just the two of them, they might have rushed to arrest the suspect without knowing about various illegal actions. Thank you for handling everything neatly. There was no problem even with receiving the suspect. When the young nobles, students of Rosenstark, showed a respectful attitude, the security guards willingly helped them. Now that the general procedures are done, please take care of everything and hand it over to us. Click After the squad leader, who saluted, left. Its truly regrettable that such a criminal was hiding in our hotel. The manager of the establishment appeared and bowed his head respectfully. Grateful that the work waspleted without any damage, he promised full cooperation, saying that other guests didnt even know such a thing had happened. They were willing to temporarily hand over the room where the suspect had been staying as a makeshift interrogation room. It was a bonus to have the staff collect andpile the statements on their own. About ten minutester. The children could face the bound and gagged suspect with their eyes and ears covered. It was so easy to solve the problem that they were dumbfounded. Uh, uh! Banpared the suspects Montage and physical appearance for the time being. Suspect Information Name: Jerry ze Gender: Male Age: Estimated to be in his 30s Physical characteristics: Height of about 180cm, taller than average, lean physique, dark skin, short ck hair, brown eyes, small burn marks around the face and neck. Its certain. What about Priest Cain? I notified him. Hell be here soon. Well, then Gerald suddenly stood up, isted the suspect in the bathroom, and returned. What should we ask him first? Ban replied promptly. First, his whereabouts of the relic. Obviously, he doesnt have it. Gerald muttered with frustration. Could he have already sold it? And stayed in this luxury hotel with that money? Well, thats unlikely. Theres no reason for someone who stole merchandise to stay in a ce like this. But then, where is the relic? If he didnt sell it Before Ban could answer, Nyhill intervened. He probably handed it over to an aplice. Aplice? Both Ban and Gerald questioned simultaneously. The first to agree was Ban. Actually, weve been suspecting this as a nned crime targeting the Holy stone from the beginning. Gerald also nodded btedly. In that case, theres a good chance theres an aplice. He might have already handed the relic to a separate transporter or maybe left the item at a predetermined location? Geralds expression darkened at those words. If that were the case, retrieving the relic would be significantly more difficult. Nyhill, who had been silent, spoke up. We dont know exactly how many aplices there are, but for now, the fact that the suspect stayed at this hotel means this ce is a meeting point. Huh? Ordinary fugitives wouldnt even consider staying in such a luxury establishment. The chances are high that someone here was waiting to help him escape. Gerald raised an eyebrow. Isnt that a bit of a stretch? Its not a stretch. How can you be so sure? I went to the carriage storage earlier. Nyhill exined briefly. The bottom of the carriage entrusted by the suspect was cleverly doubled. The aplice was probably nning for the suspect to hide inside. Geralds mouth fell open. Ban, who had apanied her to the carriage storage, was even more amazed. So, was the n for him to hide there and escape? What about the inspection? It was then that Ban eximed as if he had realized something. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Its almost the Harvest Festival. The inspections wouldnt be as strict as usual. Right. It waspletely nned. These cunning kids. Gerald stared at the bathroom with narrowed eyes. Alright, then lets organize. We should ask about the relics whereabouts during the interrogation and confirm the presence of aplices and their information. Right? Ban and Nyhill nodded simultaneously. Okay, lets get started! Gerald approached the bathroom briskly. As she watched Geralds figure, Nyhills eyes slowly sank. Why specifically the Holy stone? In fact, the reason Nyhill joined the children was because of the orders she received from her superiors. Strange incidents that have been happening in the central and western regions recently. That was because only items containing Holy stones were quietly hiding. From small temple relics to someones possessions. Mother Ghost must have sensed something unusual, so she ordered nearby agents to investigate. Nyhill, who had been busy monitoring the Hero, temporarily handed over her original mission to the doll and came all the way to Laman. She pondered the question again. Why the Holy stone? It took him three months of effort. During that preparation period, he could have stolen something even more valuable. Above all, the Holy stone is the worst as merchandise. It was easy to identify and track. Besides, nothing has been put up for sale yet. Even just the items reported missing numbered in the dozens. Yet the ck market remained clean. Nyhill came up with several conjectures. Is it being melted down to increase its purity? But that was also unlikely. In this era, there is no one except Noubelmag who can properly process Holy stones to bring out their functions. Therefore, it was suspected that someone else who could handle Holy stones had appeared. Thats why a high-ranking agent like Nyhill was dispatched to investigate a simple series of losses. It was also because if she performed this mission excellently, she could regain some of the trust she had lost from Mother Ghost. As Nyhill thought of her, she instinctively rubbed her stiff neck. It had been a long time since she had lost consciousness, but she still felt like someone was touching her. If they continued to worsen their rtionship like this, removal wouldnt just be someone elses problem. We need to conduct a proper interrogation with the suspect. The methods of the Intelligence Division would be more suitable for obtaining urate statements. Nyhill thought, her ss-like eyes observing the backs of the children and the suspect. A bitter light briefly flickered within them, but disappeared in an instant. The interrogation began more smoothly than expected. Jerry confessed to the crime without resistance. I admit to stealing the relic. Ban immediately followed up with a question. So, where is the relic now? Gerald, as if electrified, shook Bans shoulders. Hey, dont be so polite to the criminal. Approaching Jerrys face, Gerald began to intimidate him. Spill it if you want leniency. Otherwise, youll rot in Stagnum. Despite Geralds menacing face inches from his own, Jerry showed no signs of fear or amusement. He simply murmured calmly,. To the right ce. Thats the only answer. The right ce? This time, Cain, the priest who was observing the interrogation, trembled slightly around his eyes. He let out a deep sigh. Brother, how could you say that to us Please, return it. Its a relic passed down through generations. However, Jerry responded calmly, as if he felt no guilt. I appreciate what youve done for me. But even so, I cant just let the relic remain in the hands of false gods. Cains mouth fell open. False gods? That thief! It was probably the strongest curse he had ever uttered in his life. Nyhill alternated her gaze between the flushed face of the priest and the strangely calm Jerry. False gods. Something felt off. After all, it was a religion that had lost its divine power long ago and was barely continuing its lineage. What was the point of arguing about its authenticity now? Meanwhile, Ban and Gerald were eagerly watching their conversation, oblivious to the strangeness. You are the thief. What? I only took the relic from the hands of false gods and their believers. You crazy bastard! Just before Father Cain could foam at the mouth, Nyhill intervened. You. What? Are you from the Demonic Church? Jerrys reaction was intense. Dontpare me to those vermin! Hm. He is, hes a chosen apostle of the true god, the savior of this damn world! Those who know nothing defile his radiance with nder! The interrogation room fell into a brief, shocking silence. Even Cain closed his mouth at the ferocious response. The only one whose expression didnt change was Nyhill. Him. Is he an aplice? No, in this case, it would be more appropriate to call him the mastermind. A new religion, perhaps. It wasnt an unreasonable spection. Just as the demonic religion gained power after the fall of the Holy Church. The void left by the copse of a giant religion was inevitably filled by another. But what was more peculiar was Jerry. His level of obsession was excessive. What did he show them to mesmerize people like that? After a moment of contemtion, Nyhill shook her head. Lets focus on the main issue again. Why would a new religion collect Holy stones? But obtaining more information from Jerry was impossible. Despite Ban and Geralds sessive questions and Cains plea, he remained silent. As expected, a simple interrogation wont do. Nyhill sighed quietly and pressed the pager in her pocket. There was no other way in the end. Beep- The detachment leader of the guards returned to the interrogation room shortly after. He awkwardly exined that themander of the guards had changed his mind and decided to detain the suspect in their facility for just one day. The children had no choice but to reluctantly watch Jerry being taken away. . . . Nyhill scaled the guards wall in the middle of the night, when everyone was asleep. But even she couldnt have predicted what happened next. .. Jerryy cold and still. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 213 Chapter 213 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Suicide. The Hero read over the details of the failed mission report again. The direct cause of Jerry zes death was excessive bleeding from the mouth. The instrument used for suicide was a sharp piece of ss. It was strange, given that they had thoroughly inspected belongings before confinement. It must have been passed to him by someone during transportation to the prison or afterward. They heard that even the Laman Security Division was under heavy scrutiny. Anyway. Jerry used the sharp ss to cut his tongue halfway and continued to swallow the pouring blood until he fainted. When the guards found Jerry, it was already toote to intervene. Kasim, who had returned, shook his head with a disgusted expression. What could have driven him to such madness? . ording to the interrogation records, religion was the most suspected motive. It was a reasonable assumption. Its an era of great chaos. Although the Demon Kings religion is famous, in fact, there are countless other cults. Could he have been one of them? The Hero picked up another document. It was a document containing Jerry zes personal information and past actions. There was even more surprising information recorded there. He was a former mercenary. He had a disabled daughter. It seemed he had been a mercenary for a long time to cover her medical expenses. The requests he participated in and the mercenary groups he joined were all recorded without omission. He wasnt someone to be taken lightly. He seemed to have had quite a rough life. So it was even more mysterious. Mercenaries are people who know better than anyone else how the world works. They are often secr people who believe in money and contracts rather than gods. What could have happened to him? He wasnt some ignorant viger to be swayed into bing the leader of a cult. And it seems theres an insider in the security division. The Hero clenched his aching temple. Pia briskly brought chamomile tea. Pia, have you found any information about the disabled daughter? Not yet. Her whereabouts have been unknown since a few months ago Let me know as soon as you find out. We need to meet her to understand the truth behind this incident. Got it. They had also arrested several suspects in other stolen Holy stone cases, and he was still receiving their investigation reports. They had taken all the necessary measures for now. The Hero stood up from his seat. Are you going to see the children? I think we need to have a chat. Mmm, thats a good idea. Extreme Team 3 had returned to the dormitory from Laman a few hours ago. Pia recalled their depressed looks and nodded. They seemed really down. The suspect they had captured hadmitted suicide. The mission they eagerly embarked on had also failed. Their mood must be quiteplex. Astera Vision Activated The Heros eyes scanned the map of the academy. It was a moment when counseling was needed after a long time. * * * Arge floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the beautiful night view of Rosenstark. Warm lighting,fortable chairs, and a soft carpet. The dormitory lounge was usually bustling with children caught up in the busy curriculum of the academy. But today was different. An empty lounge, and even the visitors couldnt find peace of mind. Gerald sighed deeply. As expected, its just us. Everyone must be busy with their missions. Still, whoes back so quickly after failing? Gerald flopped onto the couch. Nyhill, as soon as he returned, seemed to have urgent matters and left. There were only two of them. Gerald muttered softly. Ah, its embarrassing. How can we face the kids? Their fellow members of the Extreme were alwaysrades, so it was okay. But it was the other students who took different sses that were the problem. They had always subtly shown jealousy andpetition, which made them uneasy. Their gaze could only worry. Embarrassment and shame. But that was only a small part of the problems they faced. Failure. Weve utterly failed. They hadnt even caught a glimpse of the relic. The criminal they had caught didnt confess andmitted suicide. Thus, the mission left them forever under the name of failure. It was harder to bear than anything else, knowing that there would be no chance for redemption. Ive disappointed everyone. The head was a mess, and chest felt tight. Why was that? When the Hero entered the lounge, both Ban and Gerald reflexively bowed their heads deeply. Gerald, in particr, looked even paler. Do you know whose disciples we are, huh? They boasted confidently but ended up failing miserably. It was as if they tarnished the reputation of their master. There was nothing they could say even if they had two mouths. They were just sorry. There you are. But the Hero approached them with his usual impassive face. And he sat down in front of them, who seemed unsure of what to do. At the simr eye level, the corners of the childrens eyes trembled slightly. What, whats this? Is he here to scold us? But what came out of the Heros mouth was far beyond their expectations. How are you feeling? What does he mean, how are we feeling? The children blinked in confusion. This is probably the first time youve failed so spectacrly. . Im asking how you feel. Geralds lips were the first to be bitten tightly. Ban remained silent, his gaze lowered. A brief silence. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Gerald finally spoke up. Its hard. Scary. The Hero still calmly asked. Whats hard? Whats scary? The children were speechless. It wasnt because they had nothing to say. It was because there was too much to say. But it was not easy to gather up and articte everything. After the failure of the mission, Ban and Gerald reflected on their emotions for the first time. And not long after, they realized what was the most difficult and frightening thing. This time, Ban struggled to speak. We feel like weve disappointed the people who trusted us with the mission the most Thats right. You must be talking about Priest Cain, the client. And, and also our professor. He trusted us and prepared this training. At that, the Hero smiled faintly. The children finally realized that his demeanor was not as stern as during lectures. His gentle gaze and soft gestures. Yes, just like during counseling sessions. Leaning back against the sofa, the Hero murmured. Ive never said Im disappointed. But! I know you did your best. But the failure of this mission was inevitable. There were variables that were difficult for you to handle with your abilities. Sometimes there are unavoidable circumstances like that. The Hero added. The children listened quietly to his words. Disappointment Yes. If you had said you were disappointed because of the loss of reputation orck of reward, it would have been natural. But just now, you gave the right answer. Duty and responsibility. Ban and Gerald keenly felt this, and the Hero pointed it out. I think I taught you well. Ban and Gerald looked nkly at the Heros calm face. They met eyes filled with warmth. Thefort offered by the Hero was usually like this. His words werent direct or eloquent. But as if piercing through their souls, they always touched the right spot urately. Unknowingly, the children blurted out their pent-up feelings. S-Sir, were really worried about Priest Cain. Why? We heard stories about the relic. A white jade sculpture shaped like a bird made of Holy stones. The stolen relic was said to have been passed down through generations of Priest Cains family. The Hero nodded. A priest with a long family history. Its quite rare in this era. Since the loss of divine power, people have turned away from the gods. The religious Churches have declined rapidly, and the clergy have be impoverished. Even corrupt priests who squeeze out whatever faith remains among the people have emerged. As the image of the clergy deteriorated, it had almost reached the point of beingughed at. In such a situation, to maintain faith and inherit a relic Cain and his ancestors must have had quite remarkable faith. Ban cautiously continued. And he seemed like a good person. When they investigated the area due to the mission. They received many praises from the residents for their small acts of kindness and help. As the children spoke, the Hero suddenly remembered the face of an old woman guarding Harlem. In a way, hes simr to Barun. A person who, despite theplete rejection of faith, clings to it in any way possible and walks her own path of righteousness. Gerald and Ban continued to exin, their expressions bing more pained. That relic must have held a special meaning for him. It could have been evidence of his ancestors footsteps. But now that its gone forever, how great must his grief be. So, even though he wore tattered priestly robes, he must have risked his entire fortune. Thirty gold coins. Thats why we wanted to help him more. The boys finally bowed their heads deeply. The Hero looked at them quietly before speaking. Of course, this cantpletely rece the precious relic ess Key of Valber What descended from the empty void space was a sculpture of a white hawk. Height 30cm, width 15cm. It resembled the stolen relic remarkably, to the point of being surprising. It even emitted a faint divine aura, as if containing Holy stones. After hearing about the childrens failed mission, the Hero had asked Noubelmag to quickly make it. A special constion for the children whose mission was thoroughly ruined by external interference. Uh, uh The childrens eyes widened as if on saucers. The Hero lightly remarked. The cost will be deducted from the next mission. The children showed no signs of dissatisfaction, even if everything was taken. Ban cautiously picked up the sculpture. I-if this is it Wouldnt even the gloomy priest be somewhat pleased? Ban and Gerald felt a little relieved from the tightness in their chests. Watching over such disciples, the Hero was very pleased to see that they had grown into people who felt their moral responsibilities deeply. Well, then, well be off! They were about to get up immediately to send the sculpture to Ramahn. But just as they were about to do so Creak Someone opened the door to the lounge and entered. She walked briskly towards the three gathered there and stopped abruptly when she saw them. Bowing her head towards the Hero. Ban couldnt help but mutter under his breath. Leciel? Had she already finished the mission and returned? As expected. But what mission had she taken again? Certainly, Leciel must have been near Laman Ban suppressed his urge to burst with joy and continued speaking. How was the mission But he couldnt finish his sentence. The Hero and Gerald were already frozen. Ban pointed incredulously at the white hawk sculpture in her hands. Why, why do you have that!? The situation was taking on a new turn. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 214 Chapter 214 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The children and the Hero sat around the table with two statues ced on it. Two white hawks. Except for one being heavily stained with handprints, they looked almost like twins. It was the Hero who broke the subtle silence first. So, the statue was at the request location? Yes. Thats why I brought it. Leciel had also gone to request near Laman. In fact, quite a few children had taken requests from Laman. Laman was thergest city adjacent to the academy. I said Id do it alone without forming a team. Leciel was always sincere in suchpetitive situations. She couldnt stand being overshadowed by other children. Although her tendency to be nervous about her grandmothers expectations had decreased from before, her unique ambition and pride remained intact. So, she approached this request thoroughly. I need to differentiate myself with something only I can do. The dilemma was short-lived. It seemed that the others were ready to ept various requests indiscriminately. But even they had types of requests they avoided. Requests involving apparitions Requests from ces where spiritual entities appear. Commonly known as Haunted Spots. It refers to ces where spiritual entities appear and various strange phenomena frequently ur. Whether its due to prolonged exposure to demonic energy or the presence of objects used in negative rituals anyway, it arises from various ominous reasons. They probably existed even before the doors were opened. Anyway, such ces were ufortable for the fighters, as the physical effects on spiritual entities were minimal. Having to fight constantly with their swords drawn was no small feat. It was also scary. But Leciel was different. She was skilled in embodying her determination with her sword, proficient in swordsmanship. To her, spiritual entities were just easy-to-slice scarecrows, nothing more or less. Ban asked with a hint of trembling. So, did you find Lamans haunt? Yeah, the nearby residents collected money andmissioned an investigation into the screams heard every night and frequent disappearances, asking to investigate and eliminate the cause. The Hero realized why Leciel had the statue in her hands. So you hid the flowers in a pile of trash. Clever. What do you mean? Just as I said. The holy power of this era is a foreign energy that cannot be easily found. It wasnt too difficult to notice such a presence if one could manipte magic, even if they werent born with a heightened sense of detection. But what if a relic was surrounded by evil energies like death qi or demonic energy? It became harder to perceive its unique aura being neutralized. Since people wont look for it, its the best hiding ce. The Hero immediately took out themunication bead and sent a message. If there was a haunted spot near where the suspect was apprehended, they should investigate. Watching the Hero move busily, Leciel nced at him and asked. Whats up with this statue that everyones fussing about? Ban and Gerald briefly exined the contents of the request. Leciel let out a low sigh when the discussion expanded to the mysterious concoctions of a newly emerged religion. Huh? Why? I saw someone at the request location. The Heros movements stopped at that remark. Who? A man. He was limping strangely, so I found it suspicious. Except for a few crazy people, haunted spots were ces that everyone avoided. But there was someone conspicuously wandering nearby? The Heros eyes sparkled. Hes involved. So far, the one caught in rtion to the theft of the Holy stones was just a thief. This was the first clue regarding the collection book. The Hero felt closer to the truth of the case and asked. Do you remember what he looked like? Hmm. The childrens expectant gazes focused on Leciels mouth. But I dont remember exactly. It was dark, and I only caught a glimpse. Although the boys seemed disappointed, the Hero wasnt. Its okay. Huh? Just follow me for a moment. Leciel was led out of the lounge by the Hero in a hurry. Of course, before leaving, she left a note. Give this back to the priest. A faint smile lingered on the girls lips for a moment before disappearing. It was needless to say that a simr smile appeared on the Heros lips. Left behind, Ban and Gerald stared at the statue nkly, then got up and left their seats. Pure joy came to the boys. It was a bitte, but the request was resolved. Hooray for Leciel! Geralds cheer echoed through the quiet lounge. Ban nkly stared at the door Leciel had left through. * * * Ted. Youve beening here too oftentely, havent you? Anguid voice reached the Heros ears. Rosalyn, who gave a nod of acknowledgment to the Hero, then looked back at the girl standing behind her. And this time, you brought such a cute guest with you. Leciel, stiff, slightly lowered her head. Endless rows of tall bookshelves, long narrow corridors. And the white Homunculus in front of them. She vaguely knew where this was and what it was for. Rosenstarks mystery, the Library of Memories. She thought it was a ce she would visit when she graduated, but she never expected toe here like this. The crimson-eyed girl scanned the books around her. Are these all memories of graduates? Maybe there are also those of professor. While Leciel wandered like a stranger in the unfamiliar ce. The Hero nced at Rosalyn and then looked back at her. Were going to use Memorize to retrieve the memories from that time. No matter how faint the memory was, it would be vividly enhanced with the power of magic. With this method, they could obtain an urate description of the suspect. Moreover, Leciel saw him at the haunt yesterday. It was highly probable that he hadnt left the vicinity of Laman yet. The capture would be swift. Yes, Im ready. Leciel nodded slowly. She had received a rough exnation from the Hero on the way and agreed to retrieve the memories. But But will it really only retrieve that memory? It was truly a cute concern. A sound ofughter burst from the Homunculus, but Leciel ignored it deliberately. It was a very serious issue for her. The Hero spoke in a gentle voice. Memorize only stores the memories you choose. Theres no need to worry. Okay then. Thank you. The Heros rough hand patted Leciels shoulder a few times. Leciel looked up at him with wide eyes. The Heros graceful lips were drawing a gentle arc. They could have be a huge threat if left unchecked. Thanks to you, we can catch them quickly. The embarrassment about Memorize disappeared in an instant. Lets finish quickly and go back. Leciel approached Rosalyn confidently. Rosalyn opened her mouth with an expression of dying of cuteness. When Ted was still at school. Leciels ears perked up. All the memories stored by female ssmates were the same. Ah. Leciel casually turned around. The Hero was scanning the covers of the books with hisrge hand. Such remarkable features. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Even artistically, they were perfect. She understood exactly how her seniors felt. The Homunculus chuckled. Im looking forward to what memories Leciel wille to storeter. There wasnt even time to ask how she knew my name. Pfft A white light enveloped Leciel. . . . The perfect montage waspleted a momentter. The man, identical to the montage, was apprehended by the Shadows the next day. * * * The interrogation room was set up in a farmhouse near Rosenstark. As the person who submitted decisive evidence, the Hero suggested that he personally interrogate the man, and naturally, it was epted. I cant miss this opportunity. Many preparations were made while the man was being escorted to the interrogation room. The Heropiled all the information about the incidents suspected to be caused by this unidentified organization. And based on that, he created meticulous and detailed questions. To prevent him from easily slipping away. To bring out every truth he knew. But I-Im sorry. I-I, its all a lie I made up. Please spare me. The opportunity for those efforts to shine did note. From the beginning, he admitted to all the charges without any torture or interrogation. The Hero felt somewhat disappointed. So, youre the mastermind behind all this mess? Y-yes. It was a rather surprising turn of events for the Hero, who had expected to delve deep into the truth of the case. I-I didnt make a big deal out of it. Really. The Hero was even worried that this might be an omen of a huge religion like the Demonic Church. But the man in front of him looked too ordinary to be such a huge figure. His appearance seemed usible. He was attractive and charming, and his clothes were shy and stylish like a nobles. But if you looked beneath that shy surface, you could easily see the cunning within. Eyes darting left and right like a rat. A mouth that bbered clumsily. In short, he looked like a con artist. He didnt seem like a leader of any religion or group. How do you prove that youre the mastermind? It just seems like a bluff to me. No, Ill exin everything. Please, just spare my life. The man waspletely prostrating himself. It was because the man he faced was the Hero. A figure that he couldnt have imagined was watching him. He couldnt help but lose all his will to resist. My real name is Ailmar, and I was living in Canis. Nyhill whispered beside him. He was previously imprisoned for multiple counts of fraud. He was indeed a con artist. But it still didnt make sense. How could such a small-time crook be the mastermind behind these multiple thefts of Holy Stones, orchestrating figures like Jerry ze? No, not just Jerry ze. There were insiders in the Laman security force, and simr incidents were happening all over the central and western regions. Suspicion crept into the Heros eyes, prompting Ailmar to hastily add to his statement. M-my involvement in illegal demonic realm exploration was the starting point. Square Nyhill could be seen adding illegal demonic realm exploration to the list of charges. The list of charges was already spanning more than one page. Even if it was resolved favorably, it would still lead to a Stagnum. Meanwhile, the Hero tilted his head. It was just a few months ago that he had explored the demonic realm with the Canis Expedition. Therefore, he could quickly catch onto the absurdities in Ailmars statement. Who in Canis would recruit someone as weak as you into the expedition? Heh Its easy to disguise oneself as a capable person with hidden potential. He imed to have many artifacts that could make him pass as such. The Hero ordered them to bring all the confiscated items and continued listening to his exnation. The expedition was sessful. We mainly focused on the outskirts of the demonic realm and found what seemed like a treasure warehouse. He said it seemed like a temporary site created by the previous generation of explorers, not from the First Age. He also added that it was guarded by traps and guardians dangerous enough to almost wipe out the entire party. Ailmar said he survived skillfully even there. And then, he betrayed hisrades, took the most valuable-looking artifact, and fled. The Hero clicked his tongue. What a crazy bastard. He could gauge Ailmars level to some extent. To choose to return alone from the demonic realm to Canis with that pathetic level ofbat prowess. It was a miracle he came back alive. Ailmars eyes suddenly clouded over. It was all thanks to that artifact. I became nothing short of a godlike being. At least to those who believed in me. So, you became the leader of a fledgling cult. Thats correct. So what exactly is that artifact? Thud Just then, one of the Shadows entered the interrogation room with all of Ailmars belongings. The Heros gaze naturally turned to them, and This is a recorded artifact. Theres ament rted to it left by the previous user, Zero Requiem. Would you like to read it? The Heros eyes twitched at the unexpectedment. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 215 Chapter 215 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Roar- Between the Hero and the swindler, Ailmars belongings were ced. They were various artifacts that he used to act as a skilled person. Quite valuable items. But the Hero passed them by. That must be it. A long, slender shape wrapped in paper, resembling a staff. Tiny letters were densely written on the wrapping paper, making it difficult to read. The Hero understood its meaning at once. Seal? Disguise? The Hero reached out without hesitation. The moment the body of the staff was revealed, ament came to mind. Recorded Artifact: Eye of God A staff used by the Pope of the Holy Church. It is presumed to have been lost during the Exodus as the high-ranking members of the church fled to the west after the fall of the east. While reading thement, the Hero pulled out the staff. It had a simple appearance. A pure white body with a red diamond embedded at its tip. The gem attached to the staffs head is called the Heart of Light, an item that every generation of pontiffs steadily cultivated for generations. It is officially one of the highest-grade relics. The Heros eyes shook. It was because he realized it was an incredibly valuable item. He continued to read thements. Omitted. Miracles can be manifested on earth through divine power. The Hero repeated thest exnation. It was an item that instantly made sense to understand how a mere Canis swindler could aplish such a tremendous feat. This staff, the Eye of God, is not merely an object where divine power is stored in the form of energy like an artifact. If his guess was correct, it could manifest stored divine power outwardly A gateway perhaps. As the First Age passed, it was known that divine power disappeared from this world. But strictly speaking, divine power itself did not disappear. In objects like Holy stones, divine power was tantly left behind. What disappeared was the humans who could manifest it. Whether enraged by humans who opened the door to another realm and brought demons to this world or not, the gods took that power away from humans. But this staff is different. Miracles can be performed through divine power. The staff itself was nothing less than a priest. The Hero looked at the engraved inscription on the entire body of the staff. Stand where this points to. This is my eye seeking a new covenant. Remember and move forward. The red jewel at the end of the staff was slowly flickering like an eye blinking. The Hero turned to Ailmar. He was burying his face in deep regret but quickly put on a smile. There was something he needed to confirm with him. I hope youre not lying. W-Why would I dare to lie about any safety. The Hero held onto his spection. It seems like you had quite some fun with this staff. Healing some, getting cooperation from others? W-Well Write down in detail the scale and members of the illicit forces youve worked for. I-Illicit forces? I Thunk- Without waiting for an answer, the Hero forcefully ced the paper in front of Ailmar. For swindlers, writing was more efficient than speaking. With trembling hands, Ailmar picked up the pen and began to write something. The Heros mouth opened again as he watched him. You collected Holy stones to perform healings until you ran out of divine power, didnt you? T-Thats correct. Because divine power is needed to activate the staffs abilities. How effective is your healing ability? Over the past few months, enough data must have been umted for Ailmar. Ailmar answered straightforwardly. E-Even if you gather the maximum amount of divine power, you cant save someone on the brink of death. However, it was possible to restore some to walk again. To make them walk again. The Hero fell into thought for a moment. What if you cast it several times? What? Have you ever cast it several times on one person? Then, could you go beyond making someone walk again and restore a severed limb? I-It seems possible. Although not to the extent of restoring a severed limb, I have fixed deformities in hands before. When the Heros eyes narrowed, Ailmar hastily added. Hahaha, do you happen to have someone you want me to treat? Dont worry. Ill heal them right away. Well, I havent collected, I mean, not really collected them. Anyway, Ill use all the Holy stones I have, even if I have to! It was a greedy inner thought. It seemed like greed had engulfed reason. The Hero smirked. Seems like you want to im ownership of the staff? Ahaha, well, its my item obtained through exploration. Just. Yeah. Your former colleagues from Canis who might reluctantly follow your opinion if they heard it would be pleased. Was the Hero threatening? Ailmar was about to close his open mouth. No, theres no need to go that far. Just ask the rigidws of the imperial empire. Whether your exploration was indeed justified or not. I-I now think that I am too inadequate to be the owner of such an item. Ailmar shut his mouth. The Hero looked at him with cold eyes, then stood up from his seat. The Hero left the interrogation room with the staff in hand. Shadows entered in his ce. Amidst Ailmars panicked breaths, a shadow hesitated before following the Heros footsteps. * * * It was the moment when the seal of the Eye of God was about to bepletely removed. Nyhill felt a strange vibration from her waist. [Ugh, its dazzling] A clear voice, as if it belonged to a child, echoed in her ears. A voice only she could hear. Nyhill was startled and her body shook slightly. But the voice paid no attention. Just like a few months ago at Lonkers. [Huh, hi Nyhill] Feeling an inexplicable sense of warmth, Nyhill responded. You. [Have you been well? Fixed some of that gloomy and moist stuff?] Nyhill had to think about how to respond for a moment. No. [Phew~ I thought so. Still worried about that oversized head that doesnt suit your size, huh?] Nyhill was grateful that this conversation couldnt be heard by others. Sneaking a nce at the Hero, who was focused on Ailmars interrogation, Nyhill cautiously spoke again. But why did you suddenly wake up? [Dont like it? Want me to sleep again?] N-No, its not that, I was just curious. [That old man kept knocking, and, crucially, that!] Nyhill looked at the staff emitting warm light. [Ugh, its hot. Can you hide me behind your back for a bit?] Nyhills eyes flickered for a moment. Could it be that divine power is harming you? Noubelmag told her that this spirit possessed earth and had a dark attribute. Could that darkness be it? Sensing suspicion in Nyhills voice, the spirit burst into anger. [This fool! Thinks everyone who dislikes that power is evil!?] And? [Ugh, humans. Thinking their fleeting insights gained through experience are everything] The murmuring spirit continued. [That power only allows those it deems worthy from the start. It easily nullifies the kind of magic you humans love so much, doesnt it?] I see. [And you, who have only lived in this era, wouldnt know that. Well, anyway] The spirit looked at the Hero. By some means, it couldmunicate with the one embedded in the dagger, but regardless, the spirit looked at the Hero, and Nyhill felt it too. [That guy is the key to this dilemma] [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release updates! /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 How do you know that? [I can know everything. Because youre mypanion!] By the time the spirit said that, the interrogation was nearing its end. The Hero left the interrogation room with the Eye of God and Nyhill followed, clumsily trailing behind. . . . It was now the dead of night. Thud- Nyhill chased after the Hero, suddenly recalling a conversation from a month ago. It was when the Hero realized her anomaly and asked questions. Mother Ghost, isnt it? She couldnt answer. So, it must have been the answer. The Hero knows that Mother Ghost issued some kind ofmand to her. But why? He didnt distance her. No, he entrusted her with more tasks than before. It seemed like he was constantly giving her things to report to ensure she wouldnt be reprimanded. Just like now. Ah. Nyhill spotted the Hero and stopped. . The Hero leaned against the vige wall, facing towards Rosenstark. The only illuminated night view in the dark surroundings was that of the academy. Nyhill stood a few steps behind. It took her a little time to choose her words. The weather is cool. A moment of silence. The spirit whispered faintly in Nyhills ear. [Is that small talk for real?] . But the Hero simply nodded slowly. Then, he uttered unexpected words. It feels like the weather when we first met at the beginning of the semester. Nyhill naturally recalled the past at his words. The starting point where she was treated as a human rather than a tool. It was a very precious memory, and as she recalled it, her tense body rxed a bit. The Hero spoke gently. I suppose you can guess, but Ill continue to collect Holy stones. I see. Are you considering the principal? For now, yes. In fact, Nyhill did not miss a single conversation between the Hero and Ailmar, even while conversing with the spirit. It was only natural to record everything and report it to Mother Ghost. I intend to heal the retired members, starting with Yussi and then the others who retired due to injuries. I see. Its been a long time since they left the battlefield, so it would be good for them to rehabilitate at Rosenstark. The Hero was revealing his ns without being asked. Nyhill stared at him intently. A moment of silence. Even though their gazes undoubtedly crossed, the Hero simply smiled awkwardly. Crack- The Hero touched the sealed staff enveloped in divine power and spoke. By the way, I guess Im repaying my debt a bitte. Debt? Its Yussi. Shes helped me a lot ever since we came to the academy. Isnt that just a duty as arade and member of the Dawn Knights? She didnt say it out loud, of course. But as if reading her mind, the Hero answered her question. Some might simply call it a duty. But I know that goodwill and kindness are included in that process. Its something to be grateful for. . So are you. Nyhill blinked. Me? Youve also been a great help to me. Was it simply because of your mission? Watching over and guarding the children all night. Gathering information. Facing the monsters of Lonkers. Performing pole-sting operations. Of course, it was all part of the mission. But it wasnt just that. Goodwill and kindness. In the Heros words expressing emotions she hadnt realized herself, Nyhill bowed deeply. The Heros calm voice was heard. So Ill also repay the favor to you. Favor. It wasnt long before Nyhill understood the meaning of that word. * * * As time passed, it became increasingly difficult to find the children on campus during weekends. As the Hero expected, the children were deeply immersed in the fun of requests. It couldnt be helped. They trained hard, risking their lives. While utilizing this, they could earn money, build connections, and feel fulfilled. It was only natural for other students, not just the Extreme ones, to be eagerly focused on requests. Of course, the fact that the top prize was Blessing yed a role as well. -Anyway, thats for the Extremes. I heard they solved another big problem this time. -Are we in the same grade? Its disheartening to see the gap widening. We should aim for a transfer instead of Blessing. Yeah, if we umte a lot of points, we might catch the professors eye. The final point calction is at the end of the semester. There was still plenty of time left, but the Extremes were overwhelmingly ahead in points. Even the top student of the Department of Mysticism, Beatrice, who was taking various research-rted requests, had a significant differencepared to the top Extremes. 1st ce, Luke. 2nd ce, Leciel. Following closely behind were Ban and Gerald. Especially Luke received favorable evaluations from the requesters in all the requests he undertook, establishing himself firmly in first ce. If only there were more requests like these, it would be worth being a mercenary. Thanks to the Heros selection, the contents of the requests were all good. It wasnt just about talking aboutpensation. Requests that brought fulfillment by helping people in difficult situations It was the kind of good request that came with satisfaction. Since bing a mercenary, Nyhill had never performed requests sofortably. After all, the values pursued by the Aureum Mercenary Corps were only gold. Oh, thank you. How could a student handle work so deftly? Youre too kind. It was the moment when Luke, who had justpleted a request to retrieve stolen cargo from thieves, was about to return to the academy. Beep- Themunication bead, which had not rung for months, emitted a sharp alert sound. It was connected to the Mercenary Corps. [It seems like well have some time soon. Drop by.] Reading the message from Ravias, Luke tilted his head. One statement raised two questions. It seems like theyll have some time? How? Currently, the Aureum Mercenary Corps was in a very busy situation, supporting the Eastern Coalition. They had to fend off demonsing intermittently from the Great Mountain Range, and some members of the leadership, including Ravias, were carrying out special missions by traveling through the demonic realm. In such circumstances, how could there be any spare time? And theyre dropping by. Could it be that theyreing to Rosenstark? Lukes expression stiffened. And a few dayster. Unexpected news struck the western continent. T-T-The Eastern Coalition! People found it hard to believe such news. T-Theyve won! A victory report from the demonic realm. For the first time since the beginning of the Second Era, humanity seeded in reiming territory on the eastern continent. Theypletely demolished the stakes of the 1st Sector of the Demonic Realm and purified it. Beep- The Herosmunication bead, which hadnt rung, made a sound again. [How have you been?] [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 216 Chapter 216 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The message had arrived a few hours ago. [Ill call at midnight.] The Hero cleared his surroundings and prepared formunication. Beep- The moonlit crystal bead shimmered brightly. The Heros eyes followed the hands of the wall clock. 5 minutes left. It had been a long time since theirstmunication. Until she left for the demonic realm, they had been exchanging messages at least once a week. Sharing each others updates and achievements, discussing future ns, that time now felt like a distant memory. Click- Themunication bead started flickering. Greetings were exchanged simultaneously. Long time no see. [How have you been?] It felt as if the moonlight outside was pouring into the bead. Silver hair and golden eyes. The Hero faced a tidy countenance. For a moment, the Hero observed her silently. Perhaps due to months of fieldwork, the emperor seemed a bit weary. But the Hero couldnt help but say this. You look the same. She wasnt as mboyant or elegant as when she was in the pce. But her majesty remained unchanged in her dignity. An emperor burdened with heavier duties and responsibilities than anyone else. And the first aplice. The Hero was perhaps the only person in front of whom she could loosen up a bit. Likewise, as the emperor observed the Hero, she smiled faintly. [You too.] Youve worked hard. [Yes, it was hard.] It was then that the Hero took a breath. A recent scar near the emperors jawline caught the Heros eye as she turned her head and smiled. Had she sustained it in battle? The wound was too significant and deep for the emperors face. [] Euphemia, noticing the Heros gaze, let her hair fall again. A brief sigh escaped the Heros lips. Theres one more reason to gather the Holy stones quickly. Eastern expedition. It was indeed too risky for the emperor to participate directly. Some argued it was too hasty. But there was a reason she had to step forward. It was necessary for boosting the morale of the imperial citizens and the allied forces. It was also to silence some noble factions opposing the conquest. Of course, the decisive reason was the Heros absence. It was an emblem of humanitys counterattack. Neither the Hero nor the emperor could abstain from participating. Euphemia may not be as popr as Ted, but she has garnered tremendous interest and support from the imperial citizens. As a sacred army that ended the corruption of the royal family and cared for the peoples livelihood, theyid the foundation for humanitys salvation since the Heros and academy days, attracting an unprecedented level of poprity for an emperor. Therefore, it was decided she would step onto the dangerous battlefield as a mascot. Its also an attempt to dy the return of the Demon King as much as possible. The Hero couldnt help but feel a considerable burden. Euphemia, who couldnt fail to notice this, spoke. [Get rid of useless thoughts] . [Ive been regrly briefed on your whereabouts. You did your best in your position, and I did mine in mine. There were some close calls, it seems] Euphemia nodded. [Youve done well. Even better than expected.] The Hero couldnt help but smile at those words. Glug- Euphemia poured wine into a ss across themunication bead. [By the way, there must be a lot youre curious about.] The Hero nodded. Information has been limited for a while. [To cut to the chase, humanity haspletely repelled the first surge of the Demon Kings army. Theyve all retreated, and the stakes are crumbling under the armys feet.] Euphemia then went on to discuss various aspects of the Eastern expedition situation. Rough estimates of casualties, achievements of the Heroes, the well-being of theirrades, and so on. [Enoch was killed, and a new legionmander emerged. His name was Passion. Killing him was my most significant achievement.] The legionmander always remained seven. If there was a vacancy, the Demon King or his deputy, the First Demon Trio, would breathe demonic energy into a sessor to elevate their status. Originally, it was supposed to be Kalende who would take the position of legionmander, but thanks to the Heros actions, it seemed they hastily filled the vacancy with another demon. But even that fell into Eastern expeditions hands. Losing legionmanders sessively, the loss of demonic power must be severe. It was quite a grim piece of news. The Hero spoke. I heard that the Old Trio also showed up. The Queen of Agony, Malekia. The Elder of Loss, Theo. The Knight of Death, Yol. Hundreds of years ago, there were only three remaining of the original seven demons that haunted this world along with the Demon King. They were also the greatest power of the Demon Kings army. When they were mentioned, the Emperors eyes sank deeply. [Malekia and Theo appeared. Right in front of the stakes At the moment when the battle was most intense.] What about Yol? [If that bastard had shown up, thismunication probably wouldnt be happening.] For a moment, the unwavering gaze of the Emperor wavered. Glug- The wine ss of Euphemia was refilled. [Ariston and Borges are dead. Felson and Dante are injured. They will be sent to the rear tomorrow.] Ariston, the Sword of Water, and Borges, the Mage of Infinity. Both were famous members of the Dawn Knights. They were also veterans who survived thest major battle. The hero, lost in thought, spoke up. What about Larze? Is she unharmed? [Exhausted. Shell wake up in a few days. She copsed from using too much magic.] It was an unexpected answer. Larze copsed from exhaustion? [Since she held out against Theo alone while we were driving out Malekia, its fortunate that it ended with exhaustion.] It was a passage that hinted at how rough the battle was in Sector 1. Anyway, the Allied Forces won the battle. Since the pir that converts the mana of the atmosphere into demonic energy copsed, Sector 1 would no longer be a Sector of demonic energy. [It should return to normalnd before the end of this month.] [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Its a historic moment when humanitys front line is renewed. [Sector 1 will function as a defensive line and a forward base. Our task is to protect this ce and gradually conquer the surrounding Sectors.] Euphemias story came to an end with that. Now it was the Heros turn. The emperor, as if prompting him to speak, raised his ss towards him. I cant tell you everything, but Depikio Lugo, Homunculus, Lace, Zero, and the visage of him cannot be mentioned. But just the events that took ce in the north would be enough material to talk about. The Hero organized the contents in his mind and then spoke. Starting from the point where Dorempa died due to thebined attack of Ivar and Kalende. Until the end where Kalende was killed, and Cuculli received the baptism unharmed. Euphemia listened without interrupting. Only after all the stories were finished did her tightly closed mouth open. [But will it really end like this?] The ns of those who sought to remove Dorempa and engulf the north. That might not be all. The emperor had said so and the Hero somewhat agreed. Theyre not the type to sit still. The absence of Yol is suspicious, and above all [Ivar.] Yes, Ivar. Both the emperors and the Heros lips hardened simultaneously. The giant who was once called the vanguard of humanity eventually revealed himself as a traitor. The worst coborator in history who leaked secrets and lured the Hero and hisrades to death with traps. From their perspectives, he might be even more detestable than the Demon King. [Im investigating Ivars actions and the exact reason for his betrayal since the north.] The Hero nodded. Hes probably still on the maind. [How can you be sure?] Cuculli told me. She epted the memories of her ancestors through baptism. Among those memories were also Dorempas. Cuculli revisited the memories of when Dorempa died and then told the Hero one crucial fact. When the cult leader and the traitor ambushed her father the traitor also suffered serious injuries. So, I think thats why he was missing in this northern assault too. Upon hearing this, the emperor blinked slowly. [In that case] He probably didnt head towards the demonic realm in his current state of being constantly wary. Perhaps The Heros gaze moved away from themunication bead to the wide-open window. At the same time, the emperor murmured. [The south, then.] Thats also highly likely. When his tribe was wiped out, he hid there. Glug- The emperors ss didnt empty. She sighed deeply and ruffled her hair. [Itll be quite troublesome if its the south.] In the territory of the fairies, losing power was inevitable even for the worlds strongest. Because it was fundamentally an exclusive ce for them. Even if the agents worked hard, there were few constraints. Rustle- It was then that the Hero took out some documents. Euphemias gaze was drawn to the top of the paper. [Unresolved requests?] Its a contract made while pushing for cooperation with a mercenary group in Rosenstark. Euphemia chuckled. [I didnt know you were a mercenary in the meantime. You have many professions. A Hero, a professor] Anyway. The Hero turned a few pages of the document. Interestingly, there are quite a few unresolved requests in the south. Thats quite understandable. Euphemia nodded. [Even mercenaries who would do anything for money might hesitate to venture into the south.] So, whenever I have time, I n to personally visit the south. While resolving unresolved requests, I might find clues about Ivars whereabouts. [Thats a good idea. Can I help?] The Heros eyes sparkled. In fact, bringing up this topic was not only to share the schedule but also to make one request. As you know, chasing Ivar can also be seen as our top priority. [So?] I want to apany the most capable agent of the Bureau of Shadows in this endeavor. Euphemia tilted her head with a smirk. [You want me to send Mother Ghost to the south?] Well, theres not much work in the center right now, is there? When you have free time, its natural to divert energy to unnecessary tasks. The emperors pondering was brief. [Well, it shouldnt be too difficult. Ill take care of it.] Great. The Hero felt satisfied that the first button of his n had fallen into ce and smiled. Yes, even if youre the head of the Bureau, you cant refuse orders from above. On the other hand, the emperor wore a slightly worried expression. [It will be quite a harsh schedule. Even with two bodies, it might not be enough.] The Hero had many tasks besides the unresolved requests. But he shook his head as if it didnt matter. Seeing this, the emperor muttered softly. [I hope you dont be the first doppelganger to die from overwork.] The Heros eyebrows twitched slightly. Thats not a funny joke. Ahem- The emperors cheeks flushed slightly. [Its noisy.] Click- Themunication was abruptly cut off. The Hero shrugged. One human worldmon sense. The sense of humor among high-ranking officials is somehow off. * * * Yet, he couldnt immediately head to the south. He had lectures to prepare, and there was arge-scale school eventing up soon. It was also important to decide which unresolved requests to ept. It would be good if I could cover as wide a range as possible The Heros eyes blinked as he looked over the list of transferred requests. Lets go with this one. Pia, who was watching from the side, blinked. Are you serious? [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 217 Chapter 217 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Swish- The ornaments hanging on the womans veil jingled, emitting a clear sound. In a windless room, the semi-transparent veil swayed gently. To the faint-hearted, it was eerie enough to suspect the presence of ghosts, yet also a mysterious spectacle. Swoosh- However, this particr swaying was caused by the womans deep sigh. The cool gaze beneath the veil turned towards themunication bead. So, you have no idea what the Heros intentions are? [No] If Number 3 is clueless, then only the person in question would know the intentions. [Yes] The face of the ck-haired girl responding remained expressionless. [There was no mention regarding the matter] Let me ask onest time. Are you sure? There was no change in the girls expression. Mother Ghost observed this intently for a moment before averting her gaze. In the past few weeks, Nyhill had diligently and extensivelypiled the Hero Reports as instructed by Mother Ghost. The report was so meticulous that there was no room for suspicion of maniption or omission, and as a result, the trust between them had somewhat been restored. What could they possibly be thinking. Why me, of all people? They said they needed the best agent of the Shadows. Mother Ghosts lips twisted. She wasnt one to simply believe such statements. Now of all times? Mother Ghost and the Hero had rarely coborated under the banner of for the sake of humanity. Their methods of problem-solving were vastly different, causing a mutual dislike. [] Meanwhile, as Mother Ghost muttered to herself, Nyhill quietly reassured herself. I didnt lie. Yes. If one were to scrutinize, there were actions from the Hero akin to hints. Hero had asked if Mother Ghost was causing trouble for her and had even mentioned repaying a favor not long ago. Theres no need to report such conversations. There was no confirmation that the reason the Hero summoned Mother Ghost southward was because of her. It was more likely a logistical necessity. Reporting on past conversations would only cause friction. Nyhill concluded this decisively, maintaining her poker face. Yet, she couldnt stop pondering on one side. If this was indeed the Heros consideration for her [] Why go to such lengths? As Nyhill contemted the reason, she found herself tapping her foot unconsciously. Thankfully, the part that wasnt visible on themunication bead. Thud- Having discovered nothing, Mother Ghost ended themunication somewhat irritably. . . . Just before departure. Mother Ghost stared silently at the small travel bag ced at her feet. It contained various items for disguise. It felt nostalgic. Its been a while since I went on a mission myself. Memories of visiting the south for missions several times resurfaced. Back when she was not the leader of the Shadows, but just an agent. At that time, the south was, in a word A barrennd of information. In fact, not much had changed since then. Information gathering typically starts with reconnaissance and surveince. After collecting sufficient basic information. The next step is to make contact with local residents and build close rtionships. Persuasion, coercion, indoctrination, etc. Variations follow depending on the situation. But in the south, they were blocked from the first step. The fairies of the forest never allowed human attention to fall upon them. Even if agents of the Shadows tried to approach, they were treated strictly as outsiders. As a result, the quantity and quality of obtainable information were poor. These demi-humans A hint of difort crossed Mother Ghosts face, hidden behind the veil and mask. Living within the safety built upon human sacrifices, what made them so uncooperative? Things that couldnt survive even for a moment without humans. In any case, she wasnt pleased with the situation, neither with the mission nor thepanion. The Hero. As Mother Ghost finally came to that thought, her gaze sharpened. What exactly Her suspicion arose recently. She had noticed discrepancies and oddities in the Heros actions. As the one handling the most information on the continent, she began to pick up on these deviations. Yes, it could be an opportunity in a way. Being able to observe the Hero up close. Although she was somewhat concerned that the Hero herself had decided on this distance Nevertheless, an opportunity is an opportunity. If theres anything hidden, shell uncover it all this time. Mother Ghost made this resolution as she stepped out of the secret entrance of the mansion. Thunk- Only the veil and the white mask remained behind to bid her farewell. * * * The Rosenstark estate was vast. Although countless people resided there, there were certainly ces where their eyes and footsteps did not reach. The secluded training room that Yussi arrived at after receiving the Heros summons in the dead of night was one such ce. Located far from the center of the academy. As Yussi surveyed the dusty floor and the cobwebs strewn around, a small sigh escaped her lips. Its been a while. It was the old training room used when she and the Hero were undergraduates. Once bustling with students, it naturally fell out of use as state-of-the-art training rooms were established. And so, it became a ce nobody sought out. Yussi suddenly had this thought. It feels oddly fitting. And immediately afterward, she regretted feeling embarrassed. Absurd, Yussi. To project herself onto this abandoned training room. Theres a limit even to sentimentality. Yussi shook her head with a flushed face. ming the recent increase in drinking for it. Sigh. She brushed off the dust on the chair roughly and slumped into it. There were still 15 minutes left until the agreed time with the Hero. But why did he call me? The Heros summons. Originally, there was nothing but excitement and anticipation. But recently, some unease and difort had crept in unintentionally. This, too, was embarrassing. Im making a fuss over nothing. From being sulky, to acting petnt, to ming herself for her narrow-mindedness Yussi was ruffling her hair in frustration. She absentmindedly red at a few strands of blue hair fallen on the floor. The Hero probably doesnt think much of it. Of course, her determination to do her best for the Hero and to help him remained unchanged. Not long ago, she had readily agreed to his request to borrow some of the stockpiled Holy Stones in the academy. Even if it was worth several thousand gold. In this way, the Hero was an entity beyond Yussis understanding and calction. Yussi mentally superimposed the Heros face onto the dark space. He said hes going south again. Since arriving at the Rosenstark estate, the Hero had been running non-stop as if he were on the battlefield. Auction houses, Lonkers, the northern region, and so on. He solved all sorts of problems and fought. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 She used to run alongside him in the past. The feeling that arose when she took a step back and looked at his back was one that was not easy to get used to. If the Hero were to leave for the battlefield again someday Yussi, who had been imagining that far, suddenly twisted her face. Enough. In times of despair, I shoulde up with an event n. One of the biggest events of the second semester. The parent-invited event was looming close. It was a moment when the image of the towering pile of documents in her office came to mind. Clunk- Footsteps were heard from outside. Yussi reflexively stood up. Youve But she couldnt finish her greeting. Because she noticed the staff in the Heros hand. Not a sword, but a staff. Yussi cocked her head in confusion. What are you holding in your hand? . . . The existence of the Eye of God was thoroughly shrouded in secrecy. Because it was an extra item that could create numerous variables, not just forbat. Thanks to this, Yussi waspletely unaware that the Hero had obtained it. It was also intended as a kind of surprise gift. And then the exnation followed. Well, wait a moment. Sure. What did you just say? Yussi stumbled over her words unusually. Her proudposure had vanished without a trace. So, I mean, this artifact in your hand is supposed to? Yussi alternated her gaze between the staff and the Hero. Her pupils were shaking like a child making a wish, unsure if uttering it aloud would make ite true. She couldnt finish her sentence. Right. The Hero decided to put a period instead. A very firm one. I can heal your arm with it. An unexpected response followed. Yussis head shook weakly from side to side. Lies. Its not a lie. Its a lie. No, its not. Thats a lie too. Yussi covered her face with trembling hands. She herself was caught up in emotions she didnt even know. How could such a thing be possible? I-Ive never heard of anything like this before. In life, you sometimes encounter miracles. No And once again, Yussi uttered words beyond the Heros expectations. If something like this exists, shouldnt it be for you for the Hero to useter? It had been a long time since her arm had been lost. With the amount of Holy Stones needed to recover from such an injury, he could recover from countless injuries. Yussi was saying so. The Hero asked calmly. Do you really wish for that? Surprisingly, Yussi nodded her head. There was no expression that suggested she thought it was a lie. Yes. It was a moment that moved the Hero. He chuckled softly and lowered his head. Though Im grateful, Ive already found the best use for it. It was a statement that made Yussi, who had been holding back tears, give up. In the old training room, she shed tears like a child. Her moist eyes stared straight at the Hero. Its the second best day of my life. I thought it was the first. The day I first met the Hero. The Hero chuckled lightly. Im grateful. And then, the Eye of God emitted a dazzling light. . . . The mes rose on the broken logs. Understanding of Yussi Glendor deepens. Understanding: 26/100 -> 40/100 The nextment from Yussi Glendor is deleted, Unrequited. Ament is added, Unwavering devotion. As Yussi quietly epted the divine power with her eyes closed and the Hero alternated between looking at her and reading thements filling his field of vision, the Hero suddenly fell into thought. It was about Ted. What would he have done in this situation? Unlike himself, who was a shapeshifter, Ted was a fragile human when it came to injuries. He was also a person who always considered reason and efficiency. Would he have judged that it was better to save it for himself rather than using this valuable power on a colleague who had long since retired? Surely that would have been the more efficient choice. But the Hero knew. Even so, Ted would have treated Yussi without hesitation. So this is Its also a gift from Ted. Thats the answer. Thest thought that crossed his mind proved it. The Hero gained a deeper understanding of Ted Redymer. Understanding: 70/100 -> 75/100 Salvation Obtained clues about Horizon, the 5th Ritual. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 218 Chapter 218 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 It was around mid-October. After the new practice, a long-awaited Rosenstark announcement was posted. Dear Parents, We would like to express our deep gratitude for your warm interest and support for your childrens education. Therefore, Rosenstark has prepared a special event to spend valuable time with you. This invitation event will introduce the academys educational curriculum and provide feedback on students academy life Its finally here. The reaction of the children facing the parents invitation event was generally like this. omission Date: Year 297 of the New Empire, November 15th Target audience: New student parents and guardians Location: Main hall and ssroomsb facilities Materials: No separate materials are required. Please participate with a warm heart. As the children read this far, they smirked. A, a warm heart? Isnt this kind of announcement usually written by the principal? Has the person in charge changed? Of course, the children had no way of knowing the details. Anyway, they continued to read the announcement. A shuttle service will be provided to assist with moving to the event venue. If youmunicate with the Rosenstark administration, we will send the shuttle on time. For those who cannot attend in person, we n to provide telmunication broadcasting of the event. We sincerely look forward to your participation in this event, and please feel free to contact us with any questions or requests. Thank you. Principal of Rosenstark, Yussi Glendor Freshman dormitory. Even the extreme children were discussing the announcement. Karen threw the connector onto the sofa and trembled. Im worried about something. What is it? Meeting of the professor and our parents. It was a statement that made children imagine. Parents and Hero. The two-shot wasnt a scenario that most children could imagine. Karen sighed and continued. Being a huge fan, they might be all over the ce. I already have a headache thinking about it. Im worried about something else. In a defeated manner, Eileen, the bottom of the extreme, murmured. Because our parents aremoners I feel like they might be intimidated, and what if other kids parents ignore them? Karen snickered. Do you think our professor would just stand by and watch that? Do you not know the story of the graduate student who lost all his teeth after harassing our TA at the beginning of the semester? It was a statement that made the children with aristocratic parents cringe. That, thats still a concern. I have to warn them. Please dont do that. As the children harbored various concerns. Evergreen and Luke were chatting in a corner of the lounge. Hey, did you see my parentsst time? Ah. At those words, Luke recalled memories from a few months ago. During the vacation, while resting at the barracks after subduing demons. He received amunication from Cuculli. [Hey, Luke! What are you doing?] What else, I brought back some demon scalps. Whats up? Take a guess who Im with and where? [Im not interested at all, can I hang up now?] Perhaps youre curious, huh, hehe. Cuculli chuckled. It was a moment of unease. Tada! Evergreen appeared through themunication bead, and then [And here are Evergreens parents! Lord and Lady Solintail!] Evergreens parents appeared. It was the worst. Although it was Cucullis joke, he greeted them with sweat and dirt, exhausted from the demons blood and dust. He even grumbled harshly to Cuculli before that. Perhaps he didnt leave a good impression. This time it has to be different. Swallowing his saliva, Luke asked Evergreen. Theyreing? Isnt the distance a bit far for them toe? Um, Dad said hes busy with the estate work, so he cante but Mom seems like she will. Oh, your mom ising? Yeah. About a week before the event, theres a charity event in the jurisdiction. She attends it every year. She mighte here while shes there. It was a charity event for the territories protecting the frontier. Evergreens mother used to attend it without fail every year. With pride filling Evergreens face, Luke, who was quietly watching her, clenched his fist and murmured. I see. I have to greet them properly this time. Greet them properly? Evergreen blinked her eyes slowly, her face turning red. Why, why do you want to greet them properly? Well Luke, about to respond, realized the subtlety of wording and paused. No matter what answer he gave, it would sound odd. Why do you want to greet them properly? Arent they your future inws, huh! Gerald chuckled from beside him. Unfortunately, his father, Rnd Bryce, was stationed in the Eastern Front and guarding Sector 1, so he couldnt attend. His mother also said it would be difficult to attend, as it was just a few months ago (right before his father left for the Eastern Front) when she had a baby. The children who heard the story couldnt hide their amazement. How old will your sibling be, Gerald? Wow, your stepmother seems really nice. Gerald shrugged his shoulders. It must be very hot. Thanks to that, Ive had my own room since I was three years old. It was a moment when the childrens faces reddened with embarrassment at the thought of the Bryce familys bedroom situation. Gerald nudged Luke. Oh, by the way, what about you? Are your parentsing? I dont have parents. There was a moment of silence. Luke added. No need to feel sorry. I dont even remember them or know who they were. Since Gerald seemed like he might jump out of the window if left like this, Luke continued his exnation. Luke. Those who werent mercenaries might not know, but hisst name, Selsood, belonged to Ravias, and it was the surname he gave to the orphans he took in. Luke was the same. He was found as a baby in a refugee column, under the body of some woman. The maid who served in the mercenary band led by the young Ravias took Luke in. While doing odd jobs, Luke showed talent in martial arts, and Ravias began to teach him properly, so he entered the world of mercenaries and gold coins at the age of eleven. With his head bowed, Gerald muttered. I, I didnt know. I just thought your parents were in the countryside, and only you went to the city as a mercenary. Well, thats a typical route for bing a mercenary. Of course, until the beginning of the semester, Luke didnt think he would tell his friends such stories. His peers were like delicate flowers in a greenhouse. He thought he would only receive sympathy or ufortable nces if he told them. I thought my story was different from those of the mercenaries who were a dime a dozen. But now that Luke knew his friends each had their own tragedies, he was surprisingly unfazed. He didnt just sympathize with his friends. Rather, he admired many aspects of them. So his friends would be the same. Among them, trust had already taken root. The problemy elsewhere. Fathersing. Ravias Rosenstark journey was beyond imagination. Maybe the words hell be around soon meant he was talking about this invitation event. Perhaps its for connections. While in the public eye, Ravias was seen as a mercenary without pity or tears, stained with madness but in fact, Ravias had a strong political side as well. Luke knew well how socially active he could be if he felt needed. He would probably put on a gentle mask andugh and chat with the parents. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 He would pretend to have affection and interest in Luke. As the boy imagined that scene, he felt his stomach churning rapidly. Its unsettling. Rosenstark was full of Lukes precious things. Luke didnt want to show them to his stepfather. Under the pretext of having a heart of iron, Ravias had been taking away Lukes precious things one by one. And didnt the maid who took care of him suddenly disappear from the mercenary band at some point? Ravias desire and obsession to raise Luke like himself were terrifying. As he realized this, Luke nced sidelong at Evergreen reflexively. Seeing Lukesplexion, Evergreen reached out with a worried expression. Are you okay? Whats wrong? It was because she noticed the cold sweat flowing down the boys temples. Luke forced a smile. Its nothing. Its not nothing. Theres still a month left, but some preparation would be necessary. Having organized his thoughts like that, Luke changed the subject. By the way, is your fathering? Yeah, he was supposed toe to Rosenstark and stay here. Hows his condition? Well Bans expression was subtle. Felson had suffered quite a serious injury while fighting Malekia at Sector 1 in the Eastern Front and it was determined that he couldnt fight for a while, so he was being escorted back. But it was also said that there was no harm to his life. The boys innocent face was mixed with joy at the prospect of spending time with his father and worry about his injury. Karen smirked. But why is heing to the academy instead of Dieterich Mansion? For a moment, a hint of pride passed over Bans face. Hes going to teach the kids as an invited professor while hes recovering. It was also wee news for the children. Wow. Hes perfect as always. Admirable. Indeed, hes even more perfect. Admirable. We get to attend professor Felsons lecture again? Thats great. Anyway. Most of the children seemed excited about the invitation event. After enduring tough training, it was natural for them to miss their families. I also want to brag about it. It hadnt even been a year since they enrolled, but they had grown so much that they could be considered different people. There were no children who wouldnt want to seize the opportunity to brag about how harsh the training had been, how much their skills had improved, and how proud they were of their families. Cant my younger siblingse? Cant other family members also apply separately? Oh, I miss them. I wish November woulde quickly. As Ban looked at the excited children, he suddenly realized that he didnt see any familiar faces. Wheres Leciel? Gerald, who had started fidgeting at the mention, also grinned. And wheres Nyhill? * * * The workshop in Noubelmag was noisy. The sound of hammering. Steam, fire, and the sound of metal. It was quite a suitable ce for having secretive conversations. Before heading south, the Hero visited Noubelmag. Surely, he would eventuallye face to face with Ivar while tracking him. Ivar was one of the best fighters in the Dawn Knights. No matter how much he had grown, preparation was necessary. Huh A hazy smoke emanated from Noubelmag, who was seated at arge workbench. The wrinkles on the dwarfs face were twisted with embarrassment. I never thought Ivar would be a traitor. Why Only he knows the reason. His hatred wasnt false. Its iprehensible. Revenge. As simple as it was, it was the strongest driving force. Noubelmag remembered the barbaric Hero who had lost his tribe and burned with hatred for the demons. Therefore, he found it difficult to ept this series of events. Noubelmag was refilling his pipe with tobo. Im sorry for Dorempa, but its a relief that it ended with this much damage. One of the core members of the Dawn Knights had betrayed them. Originally, it would have caused even greater damage. Noubelmag was saying so. The Hero couldnt agree or disagree. Changing the subject was the best option. Anyway, you probably suspected it too Yeah, your demeanor hasnt been the same since the Great Battle. I had a hunch since Lonkers. Thats why you asked for my help this time, isnt it? Indeed, deceiving the eyes of an oldrade was difficult. The Hero nodded. I think well need our own preparations to deal with Ivar. Of course. Hes not a pushover. Noubelmags eyes shifted to the blueprint on the workbench. As the leader knows, Ivar has incorporated wind into his martial arts. He attacks fiercely and diversely. It seemed like intense calctions were taking ce in the craftsmans mind. So confronting him head-on with a sword is very reckless. Its like throwing yourself into a storm made of des. The Hero agreed. Of course, the restoration of the Doppleganger could counter Ivars moves but restoration itself wasnt unlimited. Above all, revealing the identity poses a great risk. They couldnt give Ivar, a traitor, such a clue. Thats why he hade to find Noubelmag. Noubelmags wrinkled pupils alternated between the Heros body, the piled ores, and the zing furnace. His lips sprouted a spark, but it was extinguished in the next moment. Armor Youve alsoe with that in mind, right? The Hero nodded. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 219 Chapter 219 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 In order to achieve the grand goal of saving humanity, it was necessary to establish detailed interim goals and move forward. So, what is the most urgent task to solve now? After much deliberation, the Hero came to the conclusion of tracking Ivar. Indeed, it was an urgent issue. If we dont catch Ivar now, it will only get harder. Now is the time when he is injured and fleeing. I had to find Ivar as soon as possible, and if possible, capture him to obtain the information he knows. But contrary to our hearts, I couldnt act hastily. If I prepare half-heartedly, Ill end up being the ones at a disadvantage. The function of Iris of Lace, Avatar Training, contains all thebat data of those who Ted has faced. Among them, there were, of course, Ivars. After several trainings, the Hero was convinced that Ivar was the most powerful being among those he had faced so far. Its iparable to Karend. Even though I obtained clues to the salvation ritual 5, I couldnt cleanly win even once. The battle had to go well for a bnced oue. Did they say something about the wind roaring? Ivars fighting style was simple. A prowess called storm added to hand-to-handbat based on overwhelming physical abilities. But even that alone made him more formidable than any other enemy. First of all, the air pressure. It wasnt something to be underestimated just because it was barehanded. The punches and kicks he threw contained power surpassing siege weapons. Moreover, as he was fundamentally capable of manipting wind attribute magic, the speed of his attacks was tremendous, and his tactics were not simple and ever-changing. The Hero with therge weapons didnt match up well. Moreover, when he enteredbat stance, he wrapped himself in a de storm, which was extremely annoying. Wind des that tore apart everything approaching. It was a very effective means of attack and defense. It was also a decisive reason why the Hero wanted armor. Even if he were an excellent healer, he couldnt fight smoothly when his body was torn apart and shredded every second. Finally, the overallpletion of the technique made Ivar an extremely challenging opponent. Despite his bear-like appearance, hisbat intelligence was very high. During several avatar duels, the Hero couldnt find a way to evade his blows, and eventually attempted closebat. He tried to entangle mepletely. But Ivar wasnt only proficient in striking techniques. He was also excellent in techniques that threw, knocked down, or suppressed. Mixing, twisting, bending, and squeezing. If he were just a human, not a doppelganger, he would have died ten times more in the brief entanglement. It seemed clear why Ivar was considered the most powerful martial artist in the Order of Dawn besides Ted. So, he came to find Noubelmag. To gradually prepare to face him. We must have as little movement constraint as possible while ensuring defense. Of course. Because hes fast. Noubelmag, lost in thought, tapped his finger on the workbench. It took him some time before he opened his mouth. This is about the recent outing. When you went to meet that prophet or whatever. Ah. The Hero recalled what Muriel, the guide of Lace, had said at the time. Dont worry about yourrades. They will all get what they want and return. What happened then? Ive learned some new techniques. Theyre not shared with ordinary fairies Theyre techniques exclusive to the Fairy of the Great Forest. Noubelmag walked to one side of the workshop and came back with something like a bundle. Before he could ask, he began to exin. These are spirit stones I received when I went to see my mother. Stones? Of course, theyre not as powerful as those inside Nyhills dagger. But theyre useful. The Heros eyes narrowed as he caught Noubelmags meaning. It seems you n to process the spirit stones into new techniques learned by the fairies. Itll be quite a difficult task. Ive stored enough strength for this. I cant even remember when I sincerely wielded a hammerst. Indeed, hes a heavenly cksmith. The Hero looked at the sparkling eyes of Noubelmag. Whether he knew it or not, he had the most vibrant face in the past few months. Anyway, about the armor Its good. To be honest, I was very uneasy about the Leader just wearing that tattered cloak. Im sure my other colleagues felt the same way, even if they didnt say it out loud, right? The Hero lightly touched the robe of Zero Requiem. It was also a simultaneous act as Noubelmag swung a powerful hammer into the air. Dont worry. Ill make a masterpiece thats impervious even to any de-like wind. It would be worth believing. After taking rough measurements, the Hero left the workshop. * * * Scratch- Noubelmag immediately immersed himself in a rough sketch. A true craftsman must be proficient not only in practicality but also in artistic expression. His n was to create armor that would be admired by anyone as beautiful and sturdy. Fit for the reputation of Ted Redymer. A legendary armor,parable to Peace of Jades and Colors, the trinity of the first era. Its been a while since I felt enthusiastic. None other than the armor that would protect the Leader. Noubelmag was determined to use all his abilities. Scratch- As several sketches were beingpleted, Noubelmags upper body, which had been leaning over the workbench, gradually straightened up. It was because he sensed someone at the door. Come in. Without making a sound, the girl entered the workshop. She skillfully avoided various tools and materials scattered on the floor before settling in a corner. Noubelmag briefly nced at Nyhill before immersing himself in his sketches again. The old man and the observing girl. This had be quite a familiar dynamic. Nyhills visits were frequent. It was because the Hero, who judged that Noubelmag had a positive influence on her, deliberately instructed her to assist in the workshop tasks. But sometimes, even on uneventful days like today, she woulde and spend time here. Usually, shees with a face full of worries. Noubelmag, too, had gradually learned to read the girls expressionless mood. Puff- The old man muttered under his breath as he puffed his pipe. Invitations from the school parents, huh? How noisy. Despite the unclear pronunciation, Nyhill understood and nodded. Yes. What are you going to do? Nyhill recalled the message she received a few hours ago. Theres an agent acting as a father. Theyre expected to arrive on time. Noubelmag nced at the girl with a little surprise before turning back to his sketches. Coming to the academy? Surprising. Nyhill lowered her gaze. The agents of the orphanage didnt move unnecessarily. Theyre probablying to give me apanion. A deadly poison that would corrode internal organs if not taken every half year. The deadline was approaching. Thankfully. Seeing that she provided herpanion in time, Mother Ghost seemed to have postponed discarding her. But Nyhill couldntpletely rx. Will she give it next time too? She had already shown a subtle rebellion. The moment the Mother Ghost deemed her value low. Thepanion would be severed. Suddenly, feeling a chill from her toes, Nyhill turned towards the furnace. Watching the girl like that, the old man sighed deeply and put down his sketching tools. Then, he came over and plopped down next to Nyhill. mes flickered, casting long shadows on the old mans face. Noubelmag muttered in a gruff voice. If the fake father isnt to your liking, shall I take on the role of guardian instead? Caught off guard by his unexpected words, Nyhill couldnt find a response and stammered, but Noubelmag wrinkled his face. Why. Are you embarrassed because Im short, ugly, and old? Uh. This, too, was unexpected. Nyhill covered her mouth with her hand. It would be rude tough at such a self-deprecating joke. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 But Noubelmag continued to gaze at her, his face grotesquely contorted, ignoring her embarrassment. In his eyes, she could see mischief. Nyhillughed silently. Noubelmag chuckled too. H used to get angry, but she wouldugh soon after seeing this expression on my face. H. Nyhill recalled the gravestone in front of Lonkers cabin. The son of Noubelmag and H, Daig. Resting here. Tock- Noubelmag got up, brushing off his buttocks, and chuckled as he reached out to her. Its always the best to work when youre feeling down or your head isplicated. What work? The work for our dear leader. Work for the Hero. sp- Their warm hands met in front of the warm furnace. Nyhill felt the fatigue and tension that had been pressing on her finally dissipate. Guardian. She watched Noubelmags back and bowed her head deeply. It was a word of profound gratitude. * * * If there was a doppelgangers only fraudulent means of transportation, it was polymorphing into a new one. Kliruk- They could arrive at their destination in the shortest distance without being affected by the terrain. The Hero also used the form of a hawk for long-distance travel, allowing him to quickly reach the southern outskirts from the west. The meeting ce with the Mother Ghost was chosen as Lindel, one of the territories in the south. A bustling ce crowded with tourists whoe to enjoy the exotic scenery of the south. It was a ce of interaction with the fairy folk and also Karens hometown. Surely, this is where it all begins. The Hero was convinced that for some reason, Ivar, who was injured, would first hide here. So, he received an unfinished request from Lindel. For a while, he would continue to investigate, traveling between Rosenstark and here. Enjoy your time in Lindel. Yes, thank you. Havingpleted his entry with a fake ID, the Hero surveyed the surroundings. It was right after a slight disguise. Peoples faces change so much with just a few alterations that they be hard to recognize. The tourists and residents of Lindel never thought of him as a Hero and just passed by. Some nced at him, but that was probably because of his umon height. Its almost time for the appointed meeting. The Mother Ghost had told him. Well pick you up when you arrive. It was a sign that she was observing him from somewhere Why are you sote! The Hero looked at the woman grabbing his sleeve. Brown hair, rough skin, a typical southerner. But the touch of her palm through the thin linen was unnaturally stiff. Have you finished your business? Yes, more or less. Hurry up. Everyone is waiting. The Hero nodded. Lets go. . . . From the outside, it looked like an ordinary inn. Passing by guests enjoying drinks on the first floor, he arrived at a quiet room on the second floor. The guide didnt enter the room. Thud- Just closed the door from outside. The noise outside became even more distant. In the dark and silent room, the Hero realized that someone was waiting for him. A familiar feeling. A presence so faint that it could be mistaken for a shadow or a ghost. But perhaps because he had reached a higher level than before, he could feel it more vividly. The Mother Ghost slowly nodded her head. Its been a long time. Thats right. The torch flickered. Mother Ghost, who has thrown off her veil and mask, is probably someone Ted hasnt seen before. Her bare face gave off a strangely eerie impression. Maybe shes disguised. Her features were very ordinary. But there was no expression. Not even an impression. A face you would forget once you passed by on the street. The moment I turned my head, it felt like a hazy fog would be oveid on my memories. The Mother Ghost slowly opened her mouth. I would like to hear the n regarding this Ivar tracing mission before we proceed with the operation. The Hero stared at her without saying a word. The Mother Ghost met his gaze calmly. She suspects me. Perhaps she thought this mission was an opportunity to confirm her suspicions. But the Hero had no intention of being easily manipted by her. As the silence between the two continued longer than expected, the Mother Ghost was about to say something when I Does a tool need to know the overall n in order to execute their part? Its not like youll be making decisions independently. The Mother Ghosts eyebrows twitched slightly with confusion. The Hero stood up from his seat. Ill pass on the instructions from here. Please follow them well. Euphemia had ordered full cooperation from the Mother Ghost. Thats all there was to it. Ted might have acted gently within reasonable limits I dont intend to do that. Thud- The Mother Ghost looked at the empty seat where the Hero had left. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 220 Chapter 220 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The Hero who emerged from the secret passage headed straight for the market street. As he walked, the perplexed face of Mother Ghost came to mind, and he stifled a chuckle. Its been a while since shes been treated like this. Of course, she wasnt always the leader of the Shadows. Mother Ghost, too, was once just a solitary agent like Nyhill. It was said that during the fierce struggle for the throne when Euphemia ascended, she sided with Euphemia and could now im her current position. She earned recognition and took her ce in a major organizational restructuring. What are tools for If she truly thought of herself as a tool and acted as such, such a political choice would not have been possible. Mother Ghost must have been an agent with a stronger sense of self than anyone else. Mocking the thought of her devouring Nyhill as if she were prey, the Hero found it rather amusing. For the time being, Ill have to entrust mundane tasks and pending requests to you. Whatever Mother Ghost was aiming for, it wouldnt be an easy task to achieve. Just as the Hero was organizing his thoughts, his footsteps came to a halt in front of his destination. It was Lindels market street, more precisely, the beginning of the street densely packed with herbal shops. There are quite a few shops here. The representative products of Lindelsmercial district were none other than herbs. Rare herbs found only in the Great Forest were traded here through the hands of fairy folk. Fairy folk regrly exchanged herbs for various necessities, and thanks to this, Lindel became home to numerous alchemist guilds, including branches of Glendor. Hoo. As he took a deep breath, a fresh scent enveloped his nostrils. The Hero nced through various herbs with his eyes. Things stored in containers, things being dried on drying racks, and even things nted in pots. Iris of Lace constantlymented without rest. Good The Hero began to walk, scrutinizing eachment one by one. Sunfire grass, Firewind seeds, Heat Ghost Flower, Heat Greenery He repeated the items he needed to track. They were herbs with the effect of boosting internal heat and dispelling cold. Theyre also precious herbs traded exclusively in the south. Ivar suffered severe injuries from dealing with extreme cold. Every time he would draw mana, hed experienced a chilling sensation spreading from the extremities of his body. In urgent situations where he didnt know when hed be followed, what he searched for first upon arriving in the south would be difficult to discuss. Since he needs to recover quickly, herbs are essential. But that didnt mean he needed to start inquiring recklessly here. The Hero had already calcted in his mind. After all, he wouldnt have directly bought the herbs himself. Ivar had arger and more muscr physique than an ordinary warrior. Moreover, he had distinctive features of a barbarian, including striking facial features and boratebat tattoos, making him stand out even from a hundred meters away. Would such a persone directly to Lindel? He probably hid somewhere in the Great Forest Most likely, a representative is purchasing the herbs and delivering them. So, pushing too hard right now would be a mistake. What he needed right now was Subtle observation. He didnt need to chase after everyone who bought these items. He just needed to find those who bought these herbs at regr intervals but gradually reduced their purchases. With Ivars physical abilities, hell noticeably improve with the help of herbs. So, he wouldnt need the same amount of herbs as before. Among those showing such a buying trend, if he chased after those who periodically traveled outside Lindel, he could reach where Ivar was hiding. If, by chance, he doesnt reveal his tail Then he would buy up all the heat-rted herbs circting in the south to flush him out, even if it meant clearing out all the shops. Swoosh- As the Hero surveyed the shops, he turned his head. Outside Lindels walls, a vast and dense forest caught his eye. There was a traitor among us. The Demon King attacked in the worst possible situation. If it werent for this, everyone would have died. Wherever he is, however hes hiding, he will find him. He will find him and make him pay for his betrayal. In an instant, emotions that had been buried for a very long time surged fiercely in the corner of his eyes. * * * October in the south is hot. Its the kind of weather where people wear short sleeves and shorts. But the man in the cave was different. He was wearing winter gear more suitable for North Hale, moaning in agony Cough, cough! With painful screams, he opened his eyes. Ugh What Ivar felt upon waking up was a dreadful cold. It felt like countless ice des were tearing through his insides. Thud- Ivars hand spread the herbs on the ground without discrimination. Only then did the trembling of his body subside. Trembling with chills, Ivar gritted his teeth. Dorempa. In this dark hideout, his hallucination often visited him. A stern face and eyes full of responsibility. Dorempas expression didnt change even when his fist dug into his side, tearing it apart. He only retaliated with a snarl. I cant let a traitor like you live. Those fierce eyes were saying that. It was the eyes that reminded him of his father, who died in the invasion of the demon army when he was eighteen. [Haha, Uncle Ivar, lets have a match when we meet again] As the memory of the innocent girl came to mind, Ivars breath became slightly rough. Damn. Ivar wrapped his body tightly once again with the nket. Then he looked towards the entrance of his hiding ce. A cracked voice echoed through the narrow cave. Whos there? His awakening was due to the presence outside. A few days ago, he received a weeks worth of herbs. There was still time for the helper to return. Ivar looked with narrowed eyes at the approaching silhouette. Woo-woo- The fierce wind began to wrap around hisrge fist. . But once Ivar confirmed the identity of the unwee visitor, he dispersed his mana again. At the same time, a deep sense of disgust spread over his face, which was difficult to hide even with heavy battle makeup. Thud Step by unstable step. The man with vacant eyes walked, drooling from his mouth. He was imnted with a demon bug, also known as amunication bug, allowingmunication with the demon realm. The mans mouth opened, and a steady tone of voice came out. The Hero has arrived in the south. Ivar felt the suppressed chill returning. What? What about Rosenstark? He guessed that you had hidden here. Ivar reflexively nced at the entrance of his hiding ce, then turned his gaze back. So? Are you here to warn me to be careful? Of course not. The more the man continued to speak, the more his body trembled. It was due to the convulsions and spasms caused by themunication bug messing with his head. Ivar spat out a curse. What the hell. Just spit it out and get lost. A moment of silence. Then the gloomy voice spoke again. I always wanted to correct that foul mouth of yours. But unfortunately, I wont have the chance. What? Its an order. Ivar tensed, waiting for the next words. When you recover, gradually reveal yourself. Reveal himself? Ivars eyes narrowed in confusion. Further exnation followed. The Hero will continue to travel between Rosenstark and the south for a while. Word has it that hell wander anywhere in the southern cities while hes back at the academy. Shake your tail in front of him so he can chase you. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Huh. Only then did Ivars eyes tremble slightly with understanding. So, youre telling me to lure the Hero to the south continuously. Why? Do you need to know that? These bastards Roar- Ivars fist struck the cave wall with force. He knew he was seen as a tool, but he didnt expect such a demanding request. Has my usefulness diminished because I was caught? Even if he gave his all to hide, now he had to be bait. Ivar red at the man. Youre just beating around the bush to tell me to die. Whack. Whack. Whack. Theughter was harsh and abrupt. The man convulsed andughed. Ivar trembled in shock. It wasnt the appearance of the human before him that was eerie. It was the thought of the archdemon giving orders from behind. It was because he remembered Theo, the old man of loss. Afterughing for a while, the man spoke. Yeah, die. But wouldnt it be better for you to die? Ivars face twisted in anger. You the promise Of course it will be kept. If you keep yours. Swoosh- The man leaned closer to Ivars face, his nose almost touching. Ill give you detailed instructions again soon. For now, focus on recovering. . As you know, youre the best bait to draw the Heros attention to the south. You have to hold out for at least a month. Dont be overshadowed by petty excuses. Got it? . Im asking if you understand. I understand. Good. Thud- With that, blood gushed from the mans nose and mouth, connected to themunication bug, like fireworks. The mans body convulsed as he copsed to the ground. Ivar wiped the disgusting blood off his face and body with a contorted expression. You bastard. But as always, he had no choice. Leader. Ivars hand grasped the herbs on the ground again. The time of judgment was approaching. * * * The Hero rubbed his stiff eyes and stretched. I dont even know how time is passing. As he implemented necessary measures, the day disappeared in the blink of an eye. His current location is a safe house on the outskirts of the city. He was examining the information collected from there. The amount of information gathered in just half a day was so vast that it was hard to believe. Thanks to Mother Ghosts hard work. The Hero had ordered her to cooperate with Glendor Branch first. Glendor was practically a deputy governor in Lindel, so he judged it would be of great help. Of course, Mother Ghost opposed it. It cant be done. Theres a risk of leaking ssified information. Even if thats the case, speed is our priority. But anyway ? You keep forgetting your position. . Mother Ghost seemed very displeased, but she followed the instructions well. With the addition of the Shadows of the Intelligence Division to Glendors existing informationwork, they were quickly able to track the trends in the trade of herbs. It was right after that they discovered a suspicious individual buying small amounts of herbs under different names. Slish slish- The Hero sighed and underlined a part of the document. It was the purchase history of the person presumed to be the delegate. One conclusion was reached. Ivar arrived in the south earlier than expected. Sunfire grass, Firewind seeds, Heat Ghost Flower, Heat Greenery All these herbs were of a kind that required extremely careful handling. Since the shelf life of the medicines made from them was only about a week, if they knew when the delegate purchased the herbs, they could roughly guess when Ivar arrived in the south. About two weeks ago. It was remarkable speed considering he must have suffered serious injuries and evaded inspections. As the Hero held that conclusion in his mouth, Mother Ghosts displeasure momentarily vanished. She scrutinized the Hero with a strange look in her eyes. I didnt know you were skilled in alchemy. Is that important now? . Ivar has probably recovered a lot already. You have to hurry. Mother Ghost didnt seem to have any objections to that. Its not over just because we found someone suspected to be the proxy. He surely made it moreplicated. Yes. Mother Ghosts grumbling seemed to disappear momentarily. She seemed to understand that there was no time to dwell on it. The Hero gave her a deadline. We havent finished tracking down the person suspected to be the delegate. You have ten days to bring back key information to find him. Mother Ghost shivered at the shorter deadline than expected. But it wasnt over yet. Youll be traveling around the south for investigation anyway, right? Yes. Then you can also handle this. The Hero passed on a pending request he received from the mercenaries. The content was as follows: Wanted for a lover who had an affair with a mixed-blood fairy and ran away to the forest. It was an assignment suspected to bemissioned by a high-ranking official hiding his identity. What is that? Its nothing. No, its not. The Hero chuckled, looking at Mother Ghosts slightly distorted brow. Well, he wasnt just going to y around either. No, in fact, he had to move busier than Mother Ghost. Ten days Of course, the chance of confronting Ivar head-on in ten days was slim. As long as he wasnt an idiot, he would keep moving to evade pursuit. But it was certain that the collision with him was imminent. The task he faced now was to build up enough strength to not lose to him when the time came. Salvation Obtained clues about Horizon, the 5th Ritual. Fortunately, the method for it was already prepared. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 221 Chapter 221 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Training took ce in the virtual space provided by Iris of Lace. Of course, it would be best to wield the sword directly in reality to master the skill But in the densely popted South, it was impossible to practice Salvation Rituals recklessly. essing the stored battlefield, Great Forest. Swoosh- The room filled with stacked documents, inkwells and pens, and simple furniture faded away. Instead, lush trees, bushes, and various unidentified vegetation filled the view. The Hero took a deep breath. The battlefield where he would fight Ivar would undoubtedly be the Great Forest. Thanks to that, all his recent training had taken ce in the dense forest. Would you like to ess the sparring avatar list? The Hero hesitated for a moment. He recalled thement that appeared when he treated Yussi. Salvation Obtained clues about Horizon, the 5th Ritual. A clue, huh. This time, the reward was a bit different. Unlike before, where he immediately acquired thepleted version, the 5th form was given in the form of a clue. Its simr to when I forcibly implemented an iplete Nova in Lonkers. In other words, perfecting Horizon was impossible at the moment. It could be unfolded, but it was merely a shell. They probably want me to realize it through actualbat. The Hero felt he knew why there was this change in thement. Salvation Rituals from the 5th are fundamentally different. As you know, Salvation Rituals consist of a total of 7. 1st Halo 2nd Nova 3rd re 4th Ster Lift 5th Horizon 6th Star Pole And finally, up to the 7th, thest one Ted didnt share the name of with the Hero, making it a total of seven. Up to the 4th, Ster Lift, they can be seen as auxiliary tools. Halo, which freely changes the shape and attributes of the sword. Nova, which elerates the body and mind. re, which amplifies destructive power through condensation. Ster Lift, which creates a favorable battlefield to draw in enemies. These are allprehensive techniques that positively adjustbat. However, from the 5th, Salvation Rituals areposed of actual offensive moves utilizing the preceding rituals, in other words, finishing moves. The first step, Horizon, is none other than Drawing Sword Technique [TL/N: Iaijutsu () is abative quick-draw sword technique. This art of drawing the Japanese sword, katana, is one of the Japanese kory martial art.] When Ted first devised the 5th, people wondered how one could unfold a Drawing Sword technique with a sword without a sheath. Ted answered by creating a magical sheath in the air. A sheath of magic in the air. It seemed like a very simple technique at first nce, but in reality, it was different. Its the most difficult of all Salvation Rituals so far. Originally, Drawing Sword techniques were treated as trash among swordsmen. Because the des efficacy decreases as it rubs against the sheath, it is weaker and slower than swinging with full force without a sheath. Also, because attacks typically start from the waist where the sheath is located, it was significantly weaker than full swings in the upper and middle sections. Because of this, Drawing Sword techniques were only used as assassin swords taking advantage of the opponents carelessness. For a swordsman like Ted who reached a certain level, ignoring it was normal. But Teds magic sheath nullified all these drawbacks. He used the sheath as a sort ofuncher. The essence of Horizon was a technique to create a magical explosion inside the sheath just before drawing the sword. The sheath made of pure mana would explode from the inside, ejecting the de at the utmost speed. Its a technique only Ted could aplish. Because he had acquired re, it was possible to unnaturally condense mana inside a narrow sheath. As a result, he seeded in achieving a speed worthy of a finishing move. It was possible because the main weapon was the ck Hope. If it were an ordinary sword, it wouldnt withstand the shock and heat of the condensed mana exploding. Anyway, due to various factors, Horizon received praise as being faster than any other swordsmanship in history. An elusive technique that even skilled swordsmen couldnt follow with their eyes. The sword that defeated the legendary swordmaster Zion Hiyashin was none other than Horizon. Its a very suitable technique for dealing with agile adversaries like Ivar. Deal a meaningful blow with the first engagement. That was the only condition for the Hero to win against Ivar. Even if fully realizing it is difficult, I must be proficient enough to hit the first strike urately. Having organized his thoughts, the Hero manipted Iris of Lace. Setting Roaring Wind, Ivar as the sparring avatar. Swoosh- A massive barbarian briefly appeared at the edge of sight, then disappeared into the bushes abruptly. Not even a protective coloration. Cant see a thing. The reason the Hero chose the forest as the battlefield was this. He was extremely familiar withbat in the forest. It was possible to bury ones presence in nature without leaving a trace. He had to approach it as if he were facing wild beasts born and raised in the forest. Where is he? Whoooong- The Hero meticulously guided his mana and intertwined it into the form of a sheath in the air. ng- The ck Hope entered into the blue sheath. While preparing to draw the sword, the Hero reinforced his body with the remaining mana. He had to control the swords de, propelled by the explosion, with his strength. If he didnt protect his body, his shoulders would literally be ripped off. Its difficult to pay attention to the bodys internal state while intertwining mana outside the body. The series of actions had to flow like water. But perhaps because he hadnt fully realized Horizon yet, there was a feeling of something amiss. The Heros eyebrows furrowed slightly. Still, he couldnt afford to lose focus. .! That was when. Whooooong- Thick leaves behind him rustled, and Ivar suddenly emerged without warning. To think that such a bulky figure could move so fast and silently. It was astonishing. Hesing! The Hero tracked his movements with his eyes and hastily manipted the mana inside the sheath. Using re, he divided the mana into several branches and condensed it to the limit. At the same time, he infused opposite attributes with Halo. Kwaaaaang! A powerful explosion urred, and the ck Hope shot out before him enveloped in zing sword energy. Like a horizon dividing the sky and the earth, the trajectory of the sword split in a straight line. Although it was an iplete Horizon, to the Hero, the speed felt nearly perfect. But Waaaah! Ivars fierce roar stirred up a powerful gust. The rushing wind slowed down the swords speed and changed its direction. The sword grazed the side of his shoulder. Phew- The wound was deep but not fatal. The Hero quickly retrieved the sword and took evasive action. At the same time, he used Cucullis essence to erect an ice barrier andy down a sheet of ice beneath his feet. Crackle! However, Ivar had already pierced through all those obstacles and was within striking distance. Thud! Lowering his center of gravity sharply, Ivar forcefully mmed into the Heros side. His tree trunk-like arms were already wrapping around the Heros waist. Gyaoudong- Losing his bnce, the Hero fell to the ground. Darn! Kwaaack- Ivars leg pinned the Heros torso firmly, preventing any movement. Then, his fist, wrapped in wind, rose high into the air. It resembled a hammer about to smash down on a protruding nail. The Hero urgently raised the ck Hope like a shield. Kwaaaaang! But it was in vain. His shoulder and arm bones were dislocated and broken instantly. His whole body was battered by the de-like wind raging around. His surroundings were entirely red due to the blood sttering in the wind. Although he was overwhelmed by excruciating pain, the Hero didnt give up. Grrrr-! While healing his wounds, he invoked Ravias martial technique. With madness burning through his body, the pain was forgotten, and strength surged. The mana-enveloped fist of the Hero plunged repeatedly into Ivars exposed torso. Hup! But Ivar paid no heed. As the battle tattoos engraved on his bronze body glowed brightly, his body hardened to the level of steel. With a few low groans, Ivar endured the Heros fists. Finally, he shoved aside the ck Hope and grabbed the Heros head with hisrge hand. That was the end of it. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Feeling the pressure on his head, the Hero gritted his teeth. Crunch- Virtual sparring terminated. Sparring Evaluation: C- If the evaluation result is B- or below, it is rmended to spar with avatars of lower difficulty. Generatingprehensive evaluation Comprehensive Evaluation: Adversary with unfavorablepatibility Physical inferiority Preferable battlefield selection End The Hero took short,bored breaths. Cold sweat trickled down his neck. Although it was a virtual space, the pain was real. The experience of dying with a mountain bursting from the head was burdensome even for him. But Would you like to summon the sparring avatar list? Rest is rmended. Whenever he thought of Ivar, three faces invaded his mind. Teds face, which had cooled down in hiding. Dorempas face, who entrusted him with Cuculli. And finally, even Cucullis face, standing lonely against the backdrop of the Arctic. It was enough motivation to shake off the pain and fatigue. Setting Howling Wind, Ivar as the sparring avatar. The Hero immediately manipted the Iris of Lace. . . . How many times had he fought with Ivar in the forest? By the time the Horizon hit rate increased slightly. The Hero was awakened by the sharp alert sound ringing in his ears. Beep- Communication bead alert. It sounded like a real sound in the midst of a dream. Avatar sparring terminated. Was Mother Ghost asking for new information? Returning to reality, the Hero looked at themunication bead on the table. Hmm? An unexpected sender was disyed. * * * [Long time no see, Leader. How have you been?] A deep voice echoed in the safe house. Fairly well. And you The Hero was about to reply absentmindedly, but then closed his mouth. Felson couldnt be said to have been well, even if it was just empty words. Bandages were tightly wrapped around every uncovered part of him. A pallidplexion. Is it a hospital carriage? Seeing the screen flickering up and down seemed to confirm it. As the Heros expression stiffened, Felson smiled faintly. [I wanted to thank you first, so I contacted you.] What for? The Hero replied awkwardly. Eastern expedition. It must have been a series of perilous battles. Tworades had died, and Felson himself suffered terrible injuries. Although there might have been resentment for not being together, Hero couldnt find any such sign on Felsons face. Instead, Felson faced him with a bright face. [Dont make that face. Its not the expression of a Hero who protected the North and the children. Yourrades were very proud to hear the news. Indeed, no matter where the Leader is, he always gets things done.] It was then that voices were heard from the side. [What, is it the Leader? Leader! Long time no see! How have you been?] [Eak! Leader! Its me, Iira! Felson! Did you know the Leadersmunication number? Its disgraceful!] In the past, the Hero had erased themunication numbers connected to the members when he came to Rosenstark. Contacting the members from the beginning of the fake role was too risky. The situation was uncertain, with no clear idea of who the traitor was. The members, suspecting such circumstances, refrained from contacting the Hero. Now that the identity of the betrayer was revealed to be Ivar, the members were exploding with suppressed longing. [Ah, Felson! Give me the bead!] [Do you think you can get away with being injured? Come here!] [Yaaaaaaap!] The screen shook as if it was about to copse. Felson, breathing heavily, reappeared after about a minute. [You must have received an audience with Her Majesty, Leader. Were on our way to Rosenstark.] The Heros head tilted slightly. We? Werent you the only oneing? [Some injured members insisted on going to Rosenstark instead of being stuck in the infirmary, and Her Majesty allowed it.] Huh The Heros mind momentarily becameplicated. The members of the Dawn Knights wereing to Rosenstark. In terms of being able to offer various kinds of sses to the children, it was a very good thing. Perhaps it could also help with his own training. But there were also worries. There will be a lot to worry about in many ways. Coincidentally, by the time they arrived, there would be a parent-invited event. The thought of the parents and the Dawn Knights bustling around the academy made his head ache. Whether Felson knew his thoughts or not, he seemed very pleased. [Seeing my son after a long time, meeting the Leader. It truly feels like going on vacation.] Unlike his usual dignified self, he looked very excited, and the Hero couldnt help but smile slightly. [Anyway, lets talk more when we get there. Im sorry to take your time, as Im sure youre busy.] More detailed discussion? [Theres something to discuss regarding the Eastern expedition.] The Hero didnt miss Felsons momentary stiffening of expression. All right, Ill be waiting. Okay, then Chattering voices pierced through. [Leader, see you soon!] [Please introduce us to your disciples!] [Arent they our juniors, if you think about it!?] [Wow, its been so long!] For a moment, as various emotions swept over him, the Hero opened his mouth and then closed it. Take care, everyone. Thud- Themunication was cut off like that. The Heros suppressed sigh dispersed over the crystal bead. Im going to be busy. It seemed like he would need to resolve the Ivar issue sooner rather thanter. Would you like to ess the sparring avatar list? The Hero focused on his training once again. It was around dawn when Mother Ghost came with unexpected information. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 222 Chapter 222 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Knock knock The fresh morning sunlight and cool air prated the darkness along with the sound of knocking. Good morning. The Hero looked at the Mother Ghost standing by the door. More precisely, at her outfit. Covered entirely in dust, wrinkled here and there. Morning dew settled in every crease. He had given her orders to gather information justst night. Were you wandering around all night? Of course, it wasnt just the Hero who nced at her appearance. His grim and weary eyes met the Mother Ghosts. A strange look appeared in Mother Ghosts eyes as she saw the Hero exhausted from facing dozens of terrible virtual deaths. Youre sweating even though you havent removed your armor. The Mother Ghosts eyes observed everything around her meticulously. An eagerness to find hidden information. The Hero deflected the topic without showing any signs of awkwardness. Looks like youve got some decent information since you came knocking at the crack of dawn. Yes, may Ie in? Sure. As the Mother Ghost entered, she ced several documents on the table from her embrace. I conducted an investigationst night regarding the areas you instructed. The Hero hadnt only focused on the herbal trade trends. That was just one way to track him down. Simrly, there was a part that couldnt be overlooked. The hideout. Fugitives instinctively seek their hideouts. In situations where the desire for safety and protection is strong, hiding in apletely unfamiliar ce feels much less secure than being in a known location. He had sought refuge in the depths of the forest when his tribe was annihted. That was about thirty years ago. But nobody knew exactly where he had hidden in the forest. At that time, he had lived inplete seclusion, and it was more than a decadeter when he met Ted and joined the Dawn Knights. Originally, tracking him down would have been nearly impossible. Thirty more years had passed. A very long time for humans. Finding people who had operated in the forest at that time was difficult, and it was even more unreasonable to expect them to have detailed memories of Ivar. But to the fairies, its not such a long time. To fairies, a decade passes in the blink of an eye. Just as we remember one or two years ago rtively clearly, they would remember Ivar. Thats why the Hero entrusted the Mother Ghost with a pending inquiry. He instructed her to ask the fairies living in human territories if they remembered the young savage warrior who fled to the forest. The result We found him. The Mother Ghost pointed to one document. It contained a profile of a fairy. A fairy who granted permission to Ivar in the past. Permission. The Hero recalled. A few months ago, when he came to the forest with Noubelmag, Pia, and Kasim. Noubelmag used a branch of the World Tree he received from his mother to navigate through the forest. For those who were not fairies, such as the Hero, to freelye and go in the forest, permission was required. Permission it involves possessing a part of the World Tree. Possessing a part of the World Tree, or being apanied by someone who does. If one didnt follow these rules, they would get lost in the jungle of the forest, no matter how skilled they were. In other words, the Mother Ghost was saying she found a fairy who had given Ivar a part of the World Tree. The Heros eyes gleamed. He must have had considerable interaction with Ivar. Yes, indeed. He remembers him vividly. Thunk A map of the forest, about the size of a desk, unfolded over the documents. The Mother Ghost continued her calm briefing. Weve determined where Ivar spent his time in the forest. Its near a deserted vige that the residents left a long time ago. Its quite a distance from here. Where is it? Its right here The Mother Ghosts dry hand skimmed over the map like a spider. The forest is divided into three parts. First, ces where non-fairies can roam without permission. The area where the Hero and the Mother Ghost were now was a typical example. It upies roughly 20% of the forest area. Second, ces that require permission. These are inhabited by ordinary fairies and upy most of the forest area. Third, the heart of the forest, where not even ordinary fairies can enter. Its near the heart of the World Tree. Ancient fairies and the prophet Lace reside there, and only those he desires can set foot there. Its here. Naturally, where the Mother Ghosts finger stopped was in the second category. The problem is It doesnt make sense. The Hero stared at the map intently. The Mother Ghost stared at the spot she pointed out with unblinking, pale eyes. That ce is It was a ce he had visited once before. In an instant, a lightning-like realization brushed past the Hero. . . . So thats how it was. The Hero recalled his memories from a few months ago. It was when he came straight to the forest after obtaining clues about Depikio Lugosboratory from the mage. Theboratory, alreadypletely ransacked. Seeing that, the Hero had one question at the time. How could the Demonic Church have known about and excavated the existence of a hiddenboratory on the outskirts of the forest? There were no relevant clues circting publicly. If there were, Larze, who was eagerly chasing after Zeros legacy, wouldnt have missed it. It was questionable that the Demonic Church had found theboratory before her and above all, it was unclear how they had taken those documents out. So I suspected that someone in the forest had colluded with the demons. The Hero looked at the forest map again. The vige where Ivar had stayed in the past but was now abandoned. Coincidentally, its location was near theboratory. What if Ivar, who had been hiding, coincidentally stumbled upon theboratory? All the umted mysteries unraveled. Its not an absurd story. Ivar is not an ordinary martial artist. He is the heir of a tribe that has been flourishing in the Great Mountain Range for centuries. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 His power, Furious Wind, originates from the power of primitive spirits served by the tribe, not from magic. Spirits and magic have strong mutual repulsion. And Depikio Lugosboratory was meticulously hidden with illusion magic. While others might not notice, its highly likely that Ivar would feel something amiss. Come to think of it, the various security devices in theboratory The Hero remembered the passage leading to theboratorys underground. Noubelmag, who saw the artifacts there, mentioned this. These are security measures even formidable knights would have trouble bypassing Yet the Demonic Churchsckeys managed to get through. At the time, the Hero also spected that there must have been strong intervention from someone. He thought those traces were from the Demonic Church Leader, but It makes sense for Ivar. The Hero chuckled with disappointment and shook his head. Thanks to the documents left in theboratory by Depikio Lugo, the Demonic Church had made significant strides in fields like monster taming and brainwashing. How many people had died or been injured as a result? And behind it all was Ivar. Truly the root of all evil. The Hero was engulfed in an impulse to find Ivar and tear him apart, even if he couldnt confront him directly. Even if the Mother Ghost wasnt scrutinizing him with her characteristic investigative gaze, he would have dashed out just the same. She continued her calm exnation. We will instruct agents to conduct cross-verification today. Cross-verification? Well use individuals suspected to be coborators of Ivar, identified through trends in herbal trading. They would track his whereabouts. She added that if they were lucky, they might be able to locate Ivars hiding ce soon. The Hero nodded. For now, Ill go around this area. If agents are sent nearby, keep me informed. The Mother Ghost looked puzzled. Its just a suspected location of Ivar; its not confirmed as his hideout yet. If its a preliminary investigation, our agents could No, Ill investigate it myself. Doubts quickly turned into dissatisfaction. In the Mother Ghosts position, who didnt know about the existence of theboratory, she couldnt understand the Heros strong conviction. But the Hero felt a strong premonition bordering on foresight. Ivar must have visited the vicinity of theboratory at least once. It was the outskirts of the forest near his hometown. Moreover, there werent even powerful illusion spells in the area. There was no reason for a fugitive to avoid it. Even if I dont meet him directly, I might at least find some traces. The Hero stood up abruptly. Hero? The Mother Ghost only remained still, watching his back as he dashed into the forest. She muttered softly to herself. Things are getting out of hand. Then, she too slowly got up from her seat. * * * Cough, damn, its blindingly bright. Ivar shielded his eyes with his hand, continuing to cough lightly. Although noon was still far off, the sunlight today was unusually piercing and bright. He staggered along, struggling to take each step. I need to hurry. Today was the day to relocate his hideout. It was always necessary to change hideouts periodically. As soon as his condition improved, he headed to the next predetermined hideout. It would probably be thest hideout. Starting next week, he would have to act as a decoy ording to the orders. Sigh. Deep wrinkles appeared on Ivars face. A month, huh. The demons had ordered him to keep the Heros gaze fixed on the south for a month. What kind of scheme were they nning during that time? No. Ivar frowned and shook his head. There was no use in thinking about that. He had to do his best to carry out the orders anyway. And the demons would surely engage in some nasty business during the time they bought him. That was a fact that hadnt changed once in decades. Darn it. Thinking about the consequences of his actions would only increase his guilt. What he needed to focus on right now was not that, but whether the orders were feasible. Ivar thought of a man in his mind. The man with sunken gray eyes and a fearsome swordsmanship. Its an impossible order. To withstand the Heros pursuit for a month in the limited space of the south. That was a difficult task even for Ivar, who was considered the next best martial artist after the Hero in the world. Even if I manage to avoid him, itll be over if we meet once. No matter what measures he took, he couldnt defeat the enraged Hero. A precarious tightrope walk. But there was oneforting fact. Hes gotten much weaker. The demons emphasized that the Hero had weakened. It was a situation that Ivar couldnt imagine. He was a Hero who had survived even the trap of the Great Battle where he was sure to die. Even if he was weaker, then he would be stronger than before. Moreover, wasnt he in a situation where he was injured as well? Ivar shook his head and stopped walking. He had arrived at his destination. His final hideout. And the beginning of sin. Ivars dark eyes contained the scenery of the oldboratory, covered with thick vines. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 223 Chapter 223 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Its sweltering. Even though it still felt like early autumn to Lindel, as soon as he entered the Great Forest, it seemed like the season had reversed. nts intertwined, densely covering the sky. Due to the sunlight not reaching the ground well, the surface was soaked with moisture. Thud- The Hero stood up, shaking off the mud and leaves clinging to his boots. Thanks to his full exertion, he arrived quickly. Depikio Lugosboratory. The entrance leading underground was slightly more worn out than the Hero remembered. A rusted iron door starting to be eaten away by moss and corrosion. Originally, the maintenance devices installed by Depikio Lugo protected the facility, but they lost their function when the Demonic Church and Ivar forcibly invaded and destroyed everything over a decade ago. As a result, theboratory was copsing much faster than usual. It might not be long before it copses. Gulp- The Hero cautiously pushed the iron door and entered inside. He visualized the structure of theboratory in his mind. Since he had visited just a few months ago, the memories were vivid. First, there would be winding underground stairs. After passing through several underground stairs and corridors, a spacious primary researchb would appear. And by solving the gimmick there to activate the secret portal, one could enter theb within theb. The ce where he was incubated. The Hero briefly recalled his first arrival at that ce. Long iron shelves. Various experimental tools and data on top of them. The metallic floor that made a nging sound with each step. And finally, the alien structure the bio-reactor. A bitter smile spread across the Heros face. Its almost like my hometown. It was regrettable, but he didnt have any particr feelings about it. He had no memories of that time. How he escaped theboratory and ended up in the Great Forest, mingling with human society. Entire process waspletely forgotten. The Heros first memory was the moment when someone was being replicated. The abruptly cut-off memory was probably due to iplete incubation. Huh? The moment the Hero stopped in his tracks unexpectedly. Fixed, ash eyes on the ground. A shiver ran down his spine rapidly. Crunch- The Hero reflexively grabbed the handle of the ck Hope. Footprint. It was at the beginning of the stairs. Under the faint light of almost depleted light stones. Arge footprint was clearly visible, dug up from the white dust. Its fresh. When he saw the distinct shape through the dust, it wasnt from a few days ago. At least today or maybe just passed through here. The Heros eyebrows twitched slightly. He expected Ivar to visit near theboratory, or even hear it. It was a good ce to hide. But to meet at the same time like this. Ivars footprints are unmistakable. There was no mistaking it. A few months ago, when the Heros party came, the footprints were already half covered in dust, and moreover, the size It seemed to be one and a half timesrger than the traces of Pia that were nearby. Oomph- The Hero lowered his posture and focused his mana on his pupils. The dim sight brightened like broad daylight. Detection is The Hero, who inadvertently extended his mana, turned his head sideways and withdrew it. Ivars achieved level of unarmedbat was higher than his. Just because I achieved level 75 of understanding doesnt mean Ive caught up with Teds level by 75 percent. Its difficult to clearly express it in numbers, but roughly, it would be about 50 percent. A slightly inferior statepared to Ivar. Detection wasnt omnipotent. If a stronger opponent was preparing, it was likely to be exposed. He was afraid that he might give away that he has be weaker, so the Heropletely stopped detection. I can only respond with my five senses. The Hero calmed his pounding breath and slowly moved forward. At least he didnt feel any signs of life. Did he leave, or is he still here? He didnt know. But one thing was certain, he would have been startled. There were many traces left by his party near this ce a few months ago. Disarmed traps and footprints. Once it was realized that the hiding ce had been exposed. From the fugitives point of view, the probability of leaving the ce in a hurry was high. Or Although it was a small possibility, he might have felt his presence and been lurking inside. Cold sweat ran down the Heros face. But he didnt intend to turn around. Id rather hes lurking. Since Ivar hadnt fully recovered from his injuries, fighting now would be the most strategic choice. Furthermore, if a battle were to ur, an enclosed indoor space like thisboratory would be better. Fighting Ivar amidst the dense trees and vines of the forest was practically inviting penalties. Ive learned just how well he utilizes the terrain from our Avatar matches. If hes here, I fight. If not, I will find clues to chase. Thunk- With his thoughts organized as such, the Hero moved forward. After passing a few stairs, a passage greeted him. Narrow and high-ceilinged. Remnants of Depikios installed water artifacts littered the ground, and traps from the Demonic Churchy deactivated. There were Ivars footprints at the entrance of the passage. But Only one right foot? There were no additional footprints that should have been there. The Hero chuckled. No way. As the Hero ventured further, he could spot distinct footprints at the end of the passage. It was as if he had skipped from the beginning to the end of this long passage in a single stride. A clue indicating that his physical condition had significantly recovered. That moment. The Hero realized he had overlooked something. His brisk footsteps abruptly halted. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Thisboratory Wasnt there only one exit? A sensation akin to time slowing down. Every hair on his body stood on end, from his toes to his head. Footprints The Heros pupils frantically scanned the surroundings. Footprints leading outward There wasnt a single footprint in the opposite direction. That meant Ivar Was still inside. The Hero started running. His strides were rough and steep. ng- With each step on the ground, the iron floor screamed and yielded. His heart raced. Was it the tension of an imminent danger? Or perhaps the anger that had been suppressed for so long? Most likely, thetter weighed much heavier. The faces of Ted, Dorempa, Cuculli, and those whose names he didnt even know shed before his eyes like phantoms. Revenge, he realized what he truly desired. The cold re in the Heros eyes flickered. ng- Now, only the next corner, and the firstboratory would appear. A dead-end space. The Hero poured all his mana into the ck Hope and roared. Ivar! * * * The expression on the Heros face as he walked out of theboratory was subtle. His face stiffened with unresolved tension. His pupils blinked slowly, harboring doubts. Surprisingly, theboratory was empty. Nothing but dust and debris rolling around. Ivar was nowhere to be seen, even after rubbing his eyes. But it was certain that he had been in theboratory. Therge footprint left on the ground was proof. An absurd situation. Thus, the Hero returned to the entrance. Was he considering giving up on the search today? After shaking his head hesitantly, the Hero left theboratory. Hidden by thick leaves and vines, his figure disappeared from view soon after. Five minutes passed. Huff. The bushes on the opposite side rustled, revealing Ivar. His grimy face was drenched in sweat. He exhaled the held breath and stared in the direction where the Hero had disappeared, his eyes trembling. How, how did leader know about this ce? When he first sensed the Hero approaching theboratory, Ivar thought his heart would stop. Fortunately, it seemed that the Hero wasnt confident that he was in theboratory. Slowly scanning his surroundings, he cautiously entered. If he hadnt had that fleeting moment, he would never have survived. I narrowly escaped death. Just before the Hero entered theboratory, Ivar leaped up to the ceiling like a lizard. After deliberately leaving traces to divert the Heros attention, he finally slipped out in a panic after the Hero passed him by. When he saw the Hero passing below him, he couldnt help but tremble. It was close. Since the Hero followed right after, he couldnt even think of fleeing, so hey on the ground, suppressing his presence. Damn, my body Ivar struggled to catch his breath, having exerted himself to regte his breathing. His mana had depleted from deploying barriers that interfered with detection. The suppressed coldness within his body was gradually rising. Ahem. A cough finally escaped. Rustle- Simultaneously, he sensed movement from where the Hero had disappeared. Ivar jumped back, looking in that direction. What? Under the towering shade of a tree, a jaguar was prowling. Its sharp eyes locked onto Ivar. Huff An ordinary person might have panicked, but Ivar felt relieved instead. Fortunately, it seemed that the Hero had given up on the search and left. Whoo-whoong- Even after scattering wind around, there was no sign of detection. Only then did Ivars bodypletely rx from tension. But in its ce, questions arose. With a puzzled expression, Ivar sighed again. How on earth did the leader know about this ce? In this dense jungle, stumbling upon theboratory by chance was absurd. Come to think of it, there were traces of someone entering theboratory a few months ago. Was that the Hero? Ivar spected about how the Hero could have learned about thisboratory. The most likely possibility was that he found out while interrogating the Demonic Church. But hadnt the cultists who had moved the data for the former Church Leader all been killed? It was an utterly iprehensible situation. What connection could there be between the facilities of the First Era, where Horumonculus was researched, and the Hero? Ivar gazed toward the direction where the Hero had disappeared, shaking his head in disbelief. The jaguar was still leisurely wandering around. Hes definitely weakened. Ivars eyes flickered. If he had been the Hero Ivar remembered, whether hanging from the ceiling, setting up barriers to block detection, or anything else, Ivar would have been discovered in an instant. But the Hero missed him. He may be weaker than I thought. After all, he had faced the Demon King alone in the decisive battle. Wasnt it ridiculous that he survived perfectly well in a situation where even death wouldnt have been surprising? Ivars expression gradually brightened. Perhaps he could serve as bait and still survive. And perhaps, he could even achieve victory against the one who had always brought him defeat. At least I need to recover a bit more. With a much more rxed expression, Ivar turned away. Using theboratory as a hideout was now impractical, so he nned to return to the cave he originally used. The eyes of the jaguar followed his retreating figure. For a beast, it had surprisingly profound eyes. . . . And from a distance, someone watching them let out an impressed sigh. What on earth happened? [PR/N: Another reveal next chap. Not that big tho] [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 224 Chapter 224 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 When he first faced the emptyboratory. The Hero thought he had missed Ivar by a hairs breadth. But after confirming his traces on theboratory floor, his thoughts changed slightly. He jumped to the ceiling. Its too risky to be caught. Why did Ivar choose such a risky move? The answer was obvious. It was urgent. There was no time. He was sure. Ivar had been here until he arrived at the entrance of theboratory. But I must have surprised him by suddenlying. Theres only one exit here. If he walked out, he would have thought hed run into him. Therefore, he hid on the ceiling as ast resort. And when he passed by, he would have fled outside. Suddenly, the passage he had just passed came to mind. The width of the path was narrow, but the height to the ceiling was quite high. If he had hidden, that would have been the ce. As the thought reached there, the Hero headed straight outside. He must be moving slowly, trying to kill any noise as much as possible. The probability was high that he hadnt left the vicinity of theboratory yet. I have to reveal myself first. The method for that was ready. Polymorph. The Hero abandoned the search, left the area around theboratory, and returned as a polymorph, capable of surviving in the jungle. Of course. Then Ivar revealed himself from the opposite bushes. With a much paler face than in his memory, he anxiously looked around, then seemed to rx as if reassured. His gaze met the Heros for a moment. But even the great Ivar couldnt have thought that the wandering jaguar was the Hero. Crack- Ivar walked away, showing his back. The Hero quietly followed him. There were no traces of life in theboratory. He was probably in the midst of moving his hiding ce here or had other business. He would probably return to his original hiding ce upon his arrival. For now, Ill observe. Attacking now would be premature. During the 1 or 2 seconds it took for him to transform back into human form, Ivar would have ripped him apart. There was also the option of widening the distance and then returning after transforming, but there was a risk of missing him. Thats not all. Fighting him in this jungle terrain is disadvantageous. Of course, he had thought about using Ster Rift to take him to a pocket dimension. But Ster Rift was designed primarily for protection, to separate formidable opponents from allies. Its not the appropriate technique for the current situation. The mana consumption was too high. The battle with Ivar would be a firefight in the beginning. Even though Ster Rift provides positive adjustments to the caster, its not applicable in the current situation. The Hero reyed simtions in his mind and followed Ivar. I have to be as careful as possible. Its true that he had to fight before he recovered. But rushing and losing would be a disaster. The oue would determine the future of humanity. He had to aim for favorable terrain and timing. -Rumble So he ndestinely tracked him for some time. Finally, Ivars footsteps slowed down. The Heros heart skipped a beat. The terrain is changing. It wasnt just the vast jungle. The terrain gradually changed, revealing caves made of limestone. There were fewer terrain features for him to use, and there was plenty of space to swing his greatsword. The density of trees and vines also noticeably decreased. Slip- There was a risk of being noticed if he got any closer. The Hero stopped at a distance and observed Ivar entering the cave. Alright. This will do. He had already nned how to fight. First, he would use CondenseHalo to copse the cave. Ivar would surely escape from the copsing rocks using the power of the wind. While he was airborne, he would restrict his escape route with Infinity Annihtion. Then, he would strike with all his might with Horizon, using up all his energy. If he couldnd significant blows in the beginning and start the battle, the goddess of victory would favor him. Thunk- The Hero backed off a little further and transformed into Teds form. essing Valbers pocket dimension. Wrapped in the robes of Zero Requiem. ck Hope was tightly wrapped around his hand. Valbers 17 weapons were also conveniently ced on the floor. It was the moment he was about to take the initiative. Sizzle- Suddenly, the Iris of Lace projected ament. Curse spell Detected. Initiating interpretation of contents. The knowledge of Zero Requiem contained in the Iris of Lace seemed to decipher something. The Hero, frozen in ce, stared relentlessly at thements appearing without pause with a stern expression. Rampage Weakening Corruption Toxicity Injury transfer Fascination Exhaustion Loss of senses The target of the curse spell is one who without permission enters the territory. The Hero chewed on his lips. It seemed that the demons had quite a significant interest in Ivars whereabouts. Normally, the Hero wouldnt pay much attention to ordinary curse spells, but these curses were dangerous. Analyzing the nature of the properties constituting the curse spell. Magic also has its own characteristics. Just as one could recognize that Lonkers stakes were Malekias, for example. Through the Iris of Lace, the Hero could ascertain whose authority the curse spell unfolded under. It is presumed to be the magic of Theo, the second divisionmander of the Demon Kings army. Theo, the Elder of Loss. He and his associates y a role akin to a magical corps in the organization of the Demon Kings army. The curses they manifest are powerful and persistent. The Hero looked with sinking eyes at the cave where Ivar had entered. I cant escape from those stackedyers of curses. Dozens ofyers of ovepping curse spells. Of course, if it were Ted, he wouldnt have been bothered even if he went in there naked. His innate magical resistance was incredibly strong. To the extent that one might say that his true talent wasnt swordsmanship but magical resistance. But the Hero was still unable to fully replicate that resistance. Even if I resist, Ill still be affected by the curse and weaken. Even fighting at full strength, Ivar was formidable. If he fought under the influence of the curse, his chances of winning would be even slimmer. If he had known it woulde to this, he would have been better off fighting near theboratory. The Hero pondered deeply. If I use Dispel on the robe? It might be useful, but it wouldnt provide decisive help. The curse was a new type of magic that took root in this world when the demonic energy took root in this world. Its difficult for Dispel to fully exert its effect against curses. Curses must be dispelled by an expert in that field. It would be too much to expect such defenses in a temporary shelter. I cant think of a suitable way to break through right now. As the Hero pondered, he suddenly thought of someone. Assassination, curse, subterfuge Among humans, the best at such things happened to be nearby. To get cooperation, Ill have to give something up, but. After all, it was part of what he had prepared for this mission in the southern region. The Hero, after calmly observing Ivars hiding ce for thest time, turned on his heel. * * * The moment the Hero returned to the safe house, the sun was just about to set. The golden sunset spread its shadows like melting butter. The Hero nced at the beautiful scenery before finally facing forward. There was a guest waiting at the entrance of the safe house. Well, this is fortunate. I had something to discuss with you. I also came because I had something to discuss. Mother Ghost spoke calmly as usual. But her characteristic scrutinizing gaze gradually deepened. It was more suspicious than a few days ago. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The Hero smirked inwardly. She did follow after all. Then the conversation would be easier. Crunch- The Hero gestured for her to open the door and enter. Mother Ghost hesitated for a moment, then calmly entered. But the tension in her back was faint. Let me handle the matter first. Okay. Straight to the point, the conversation continued. Ive located Ivars hiding ce. Ive confirmed it. Did you kill him? No. The situation wasnt favorable for that. Its strange. To make a Hero like you, who encountered a traitor, hesitate does such a situation even exist? The Hero chuckled at the implications in the words. You followed me today. Yes. You must have lost track of me at some point. Mother Ghost looked at me, neither confirming nor denying. Did you use the Thousand Mile Fragrance? Yes? Thousand Mile Fragrance was an item given only to elite agents, used by the Ministry of Intelligence. Once applied, its unique scent lingered for at least a few days. For agents trained to detect that scent, it was akin to a tracking beacon. Have you finished your business? Yes, for the most part. Hurry up. Everyone is waiting. When I first met Mother Ghost, guided by an intelligence agent, even the innertch of the room had Thousand Mile Fragrance applied. Thousand Mile Fragrance was spread throughout safe house. Mother Ghost would have tracked me with Thousand Mile Fragrance every time I left. I knew from the start that this kind of tracking would be attached when I came to the south. She might not have been able to follow closely enough to discover me, but she probably observed from afar through a telescopic artifact. But I transformed into a jaguar halfway through and returned to human form. Of course, she didnt see the transformation scene herself. Its impossible for there not to be any Thousand Mile Fragrance residue, not even a trace. With the sudden disappearance of the scent, the doubts of Mother Ghost would have deepened further. It must be a question about who I am. Today was the time to answer that question. The Hero began the conversation leisurely. Around Ivars hiding ce, there are high-level curse spellsyered one after another. I heard from Euphemia youre the most proficient in curses in the Shadows. Can you handle it? Mother Ghost narrowed her eyes. Thats a bit of a strange thing to say. Curses, spells, or magic. Arent they useless against the resistance of a Hero like you? The Hero shrugged. Of course, if it were Ted. .? Mother Ghost blinked with a rare dumbfounded expression. Her mouth opened slightly. But unfortunately, its impossible for me. Even the esteemed Mother Ghost couldnt hide her surprise at those words. Right now. She stepped back a few paces and looked at the Hero. In her hand, a semi-transparent dagger had appeared. The de shimmered with extreme toxicity, and various curse spells shed on the handle. Whats this? Mother Ghost scanned the Hero up and down with disbelief in her eyes. As a master of disguise and transformation, she knew that the Hero hadnt disguised himself at all. Twins, perhaps? No, even if they were twins, could they be exactly the same? But there were more important matters at hand. There werent many options for someone who had revealed a secret. Mother Ghost clenched the dagger, gritting her teeth. Do you intend to eliminate me? Surely not. The Hero shook his head. Youre not one tock discernment. Why would I eliminate someone who is beneficial to humanity like you? Mother Ghosts eyebrow raised ever so slightly. Who are you, really? The Hero met her narrowed gaze. Yes, from the outset, he hadnt thought the secret would stay hidden forever once the lies began. Especially if it was Mother Ghost, who oversaw all information in the Shadows. She would surely have noticed something was amiss. Continuing to leave questions unanswered and establishing opposition would be counterproductive. This side was more appropriate. After all, Mother Ghost, as part of Utophemias dependency, couldnt betray humanity, let alone You must have been curious. It must have felt like trying to solve a puzzle with a few missing pieces. The Hero took a step forward. And released the Polymorph. Thud- Mother Ghost stumbled backward, her back against the entrance to safe house. However, she was so startled that she didnt even think to open thetch and escape. She simply looked at the stranger before her with trembling eyes. Even someone who had lived as a cold-blooded agent all her life showed a reaction like any ordinary human in the face of such a bizarre phenomenon. The Hero spoke. Yes, as you can see, Im not Ted Redymer. ? Congrattions. You are the third person to know this secret. Mother Ghost blinked in disbelief at the Heros calm tone. Even with all the information she possessed, she was at a loss. To her, variables were always predictable and controble. But what was happening now was far beyond her predictions. And the third one. She muttered to herself, suspecting that one of those individuals might be her lord. So, what are you going to do? What can I do? And indeed, she was right. Even if she knew the Hero wasnt really a Hero She couldnt do anything. Revealing the Heros secret would only cause confusion among humanity, offering no help whatsoever. No, humanity wasnt the problem. It was a problem intertwined with her lord, who held her lifeline. A colossal lie created by the emperor and that something. If it were to be exposed, it would undoubtedly affect the emperors position as well. Ssshh Mother Ghosts butt touched the ground. Because dusk had already fallen, the inside of the safe house was dark. In the darkness, she looked at the shining eyes. The worlds only doppelganger. Who what are you? Where do you belong? That was all she could manage. The doppelganger replied promptly. I belong nowhere. It was the moment when Mother Ghosts face turned deathly pale. The doppelganger added. But Ill be by your side. Always. Forever. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 225 Chapter 225 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Mother Ghost was confused for several reasons. Firstly, even disregarding the bizarre existence known as Doppelgangers, she was puzzled as to why he would willingly reveal such massive secrets to her. I thought you were trying to eliminate me. The Hero replied casually, as if reading her thoughts. I know more about you than you think. ? Before heading south, there wasmunication with Barun. She was the one who directly handed over Mother Ghost, who was once an orphan in Harlem, to the spy agency. [TL/N: Author has used spy agency, ministry of shadows/spies and shadows for the ndestine department, Ive been trying to keep it consistent with shadows but sometimes other words fit the context more, as I have to change the sentence structure to fit in shadows.] Barun decided that it was better for a child to survive under the heel of the government agencies rather than in a jungle-like Harlem, but I didnt realize how harsh the agency was. Barun didnt just call Mother Ghost an eternal guilt for no reason and paid attention to Nyhill for nothing. [I was arrogant and ignorant. I thought it was the best choice.] Of course, Barun knew some of Mother Ghosts past as well. The traces that Mother Ghost herself erasedpletely after bing the head of the agency. During refuge, she lost her family to demons and drifted into Harlem. Mother Ghosts eyes trembled slightly under her gaze. They say the mouth grows silent with age. Mother Ghosts target of resentment wasnt just Barun or the agency. Because there was an obvious culprit. Moreover, unlike in the past, there are many things you want to protect now. Bing the head of a government department from a mere agent. Political position. Dedication to Euphemia, who had been supportive. The affection for the agency she had worked hard to raise and protect over the years. Exposing my existence puts the things you want to protect at risk. And theres no benefit to it. ? What benefit do you gain from widely publicizing that a monster is ying the role of a hero? Mother Ghost realized that the fake hero in front of her had been preparing for this moment longer than she had thought. For decades, a carefully constructed new nest will beid under the heel of the demons you hate so much. Even the benefactor and support, Euphemia, will be in jeopardy. Reasons why the Hero could easily reveal secrets to Mother Ghost. Mother Ghost couldnt refute a single word. The Hero smiled satisfactorily, seeming pleased with her attitude. Now it was time to firmly tie up any other thoughts. And most of all, I dont think an intelligent agent like you would turn an existence like me into an enemy. An existence like me? If I want to hide, Im an existence that no one can find. Thunk- The appearance of the Hero changed again. Mother Ghost watched the polymorph process with a mixture of fear and awe. In an instant, the Hero approached her, changing his appearance step by step to faces she knew or didnt know. There was no context to the order or form, like a dream. I can move more discreetly than any assassin youve encountered in your life. Several voices ovepped. The voice sounded like an old mans, or a young mans, or even a childs. If you dont want to spend your whole life being wary and suspicious of everything around you, you wont reveal my information. I can destroy every part of humanfort. As someone who has spent a lifetime in the agency, you understand what I mean. It was literal. Mother Ghost realized how threatening an existence that could change its age, gender, height, and weight at will would be if it harbored malice toward someone. Moreover, judging by the Heros ability to replicate some of her skills, ability replication seemed possible. She couldnt be sure whether she should form an eternal alliance with such a terrifying being, but it was a fact that if she let down her guard and rejected it now, she would face unprecedented misfortune. Um Mother Ghosts confused expression gradually settled. As if her thoughts were finally organized, she muttered quietly, staring straight at the Hero. He was back to Teds appearance again. Our second Hero is much more meticulous than the first and also more politically inclined. So? I think I might get along with you better. Wee. It was an indirect submission. Only then did the Hero rx his expression and step back a few paces. The Heros final words were conveyed to Mother Ghost as she breathed a sigh of relief. So stop harassing poor Nyhill. That kid knows nothing. Mother Ghost nodded. * * * It didnt take Mother Ghost long to regainpleteposure. After asking the Hero about Ivars hideout, she immediately rose from her seat. Ill be on my way then. The Hero asked with a puzzled expression. Where to? Ivars hideout? Mother Ghost nodded. It seemed like quite a sophisticated curse spell. We dont have much time, so Ill take a look first and do some groundwork for the necessary preparations. I coulde with you. It might be dangerous if you catch Ivars eye. Mother Ghosts eyes narrowed slightly. I may not be as good as you, but I do have experience in hiding. And then she exined a few things. Even though the Hero didnt immediately understand all the preparatory work for the curse, it seemed possible topletely remove or weaken the curse. The Hero looked puzzled. The curse was designed by Theo, called the lord of curses, and he seems quite confident. As you know, each agent has their own exceptional field. Number 3. ncing around, the title was corrected. In Nyhills case, itsbat, and for the higher numbers, 1 and 2, its assassination and destruction, respectively. And coincidentally, I deal with curses. The Hero nodded. He heard from Euphemia. How useful Mother Ghosts curse ability was in negotiations. With the skill to leap in heavily guarded pces, it was believable. Well then. Mother Ghost said she would prepare the necessary equipment and headed for the door. Oh, right. Then she pulled out an envelope from her pocket. The Heros gaze fixed on the senders name written at the bottom of the envelope. It arrived a few hours ago from Noubelmag. Did you open it? Please understand. At that time, you were a figure of suspicion. Mother Ghost politely handed over the letter with a faint smile. You wont be bored while Im on duty. Leaving behind such cryptic words, she left the room. Thunk- The sound of her retreating footsteps. The Hero finally let out a quiet sigh. Was it resolved fairly well? He thought of it as a gamble with a high sess rate. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release updates! /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 But he hadnt entirely ruled out the possibility of Mother Ghost acting unexpectedly or resisting. It was fortunate that it developed into a good partnership. He could slowly nurture their rtionship from now on. Slip- The Hero took out the letter. By the way, why did Noubelmag send a letter? Is it a report on the progress of the armor? It was a request for the production of armor to counter Ivars tempest. But he hadnt expected the tracking to be resolved so easily. I thought Id be going back and forth between the South and the Academy a few times and yet Ill end up fighting Ivar before returning to the Academy. Even if the armor werepleted, it seemed it wouldnt be used in the fight against Ivar. ck- The Hero thought as he tore open the letter. Thud- Inside, along with a letter, was an unexpected item. . . . First, he read the letter. Noubelmags rough handwriting filled the paper. How are you, leader? Its fortunate that the armor was finished sooner than expected. Its probably thanks to our coboration. Coboration? The Hero narrowed his eyes. But the next contents were even more peculiar. Yussi, Pia, and Larze also helped with the production. Thanks to that, a more remarkable item was born than what was conceived. Suddenly, why was Larze mentioned out of the blue? Noubelmags brief exnation continued. By the way, Larze unexpectedly visited Rosenstark a few days ago. Coincidentally, it was right after the leader left. She was quite upset about her wasted trip. Well, thanks to that, we were able to add some interesting features to the armor. Noubelmag had received a request from the Emperor to make a defensive artifact for the Sector 1. Of course, only the coreponents, not the entire thing. Larze hade to collect it. Anyway, enough gossip. Now, wear the enclosed item. The Hero looked down at the small ck ring lying on his palm. Apart from its unusually dark color, there was nothing remarkable about it. I asked for armor, but why a ring. Could it be an artifact enchanted with defensive magic? He was puzzled but still put the ring on his right ring finger. A strange warmth enveloped his entire right hand. The operating method is simple. When you infuse mana, iron thorns will protrude from inside the ring. Ah. The Hero let out a muffled groan. A trickle of blood ran down his ring finger. Except for the abnormal ckened color, it seemed like the ring had changed. Originally, it was intended to be in armor, but Larze had opposed it. Well, even the legendary armor was of this form, they say. As for its function. The Hero couldnt finish reading the letter. ck- ck- This was because the dark iron mass that had spread out from the ring began to climb up his body. The thorns invaded his hands and feet, then his torso, and even his face, forming an armor simr to the full te armor. The Hero looked around in confusion at his body. There was not a single part showing bare flesh. Gloves designed to slope in angles where attacks could easily be deflected enveloped his entire body. Its light. But strangely, it was exceptionally lightweight. Even lighter than typical full te armor. The metal making up the gloves seemed to be some kind of alloy, and the actual weight wasnt heavy at all. Furthermore, the minimal weight was evenly distributed throughout his body, making him feel agile and unencumbered. To exaggerate a bit, it felt like he wasnt wearing anything at all. Huh, is this all the functionality?'' The Hero read the letter through the dense visor. Theres limited space, so Ill exin briefly. This armor is crafted from a primal elemental spirit with the iron attribute, refined through magic, alchemy, and metallurgy. It boasts overwhelming defensepared to conventional gear, along with its lightweight nature. Moreover, it can automatically restore damaged areas. Weve also added the function of an enhanced exoskeleton that enhances the users physical abilities. Of course, there are a few other minor functions as well, so its advisable to test it before engaging inbat. The Hero gazed with admiration at the crimson armor that enveloped his body wlessly. He could already feel how remarkable this coboration was. Second only to alchemy, Yussi and Pia. Noubelmag, the legendary cksmith. And the touch of Larze. It couldnt help but be extraordinary. This coborative work was named Boeun. Wishing even a little assistance to the one who fights tirelessly day and night for the sake of all. It was such an honor to be able to wield the hammer for the leader. Wishing to see you again unharmed. Below were signatures in each of their handwriting styles. Your long-timerade, Noubelmag. Your eternalpanion, Yussi. Your secret friend, Larze. Your faithful aide, Pia. [PR/N: breaka mi heart ima eata pasta ] After staring at those names for about ten seconds, the Hero stepped outside. There was no time to waste. And so, as he began the functionality test of Boeun and marveled at the dedication of its creators, Im back. Mother Ghost returned, looking weary, and stood before the Hero. The curse? You should have no trouble fighting now. Thats all he was waiting to hear. nk- The Hero set off on his journey. The ring sped in his hand sparkled in the dawn twilight. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 226 Chapter 226 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 A hideaway in the great forest. Why The faces of those asking for reasons kept changing. At first, it was Dorempa, but from the middle, it changed to old colleagues and people whose names he didnt know. Why Why was it? Often, people in recurring nightmares always asked him for reasons. And it always ended with Why! It was the leader. As the thunderous shout echoed in his ears, Ivar suddenly sat up in bed. Cough, cough. Looking around with a sweaty face, he realized it was already night. Unlike the dream, the hideout was anything but quiet. Darn it, a restless nights sleep. Scratching Ivar mechanically took some herbs andy back down. After encountering the Hero in theboratory. He focused solely on recovering in the hideout without stepping out. The Heros pursuit was faster than he had anticipated. They would meet soon. Leader The face that screamed in the dream and the face he saw in theboratory during the day intersected in the darkness. Ivar clenched his fist. Gradually, the end of their enduring bond was bing visible. Its been years already. His first encounter with the Hero was when the Dawn Knights were just starting out and gaining fame. Theo ordered him to infiltrate the Dawn Knights as hisrade, and Ivar faithfully followed. Thus, sometimes living as a hero, sometimes as a pawn. Memories of leading the charge against demons. Memories of secretly harming humans from behind. The two intertwined. Since when? Ivar no longer thought about the consequences of his actions. But does that mean he truly doesnt understand? Countless heroes died because of the information he passed on, the traps he set. And their absence brought about even more death. Someday, you will pay for your sins! Long ago, the nameless man who shouted at him as if spitting blood came to mind. Pay for the sins Ivar gritted his teeth at this. Sins, huh fucking right. I couldnt help it either. If anyone were in his position, they would have chosen betrayal just like him. He had something to protect. More precious thanrades or nameless individuals. Who could throw stones at him? Ivar, who had been frowning, suddenly smiled bitterly. Well, except for one person. Ted Redymer was an iprehensible human. A person who mechanically pursued justice. If he had to sacrifice himself, even his family-likerades, to save people he didnt even know, he would. Ivar could never understand his judgment. Somewhere, hes broken. The leader was wrong. He really didnt know what was truly important. A hypocrite. Scratching It was the moment Ivar was about to resume his recovery exercises. Huh? As he took a deep breath, there was something oddly disturbing. The fresh air flowing into the hideout. Yes, it was clear and clean night air. ! Ivar suddenly stood up and spread his mana around. Gone? Ivars face froze like a statue. The numerous curses installed by Theos subordinates had disappeared. Some remained, but even those were greatly weakened. How? No matter how deeply he slept, who could deceive his sensitive senses and dispel the curses? But Ivar didnt have time to leisurely deduce the culprit. He had to leave first. It was the moment Ivar hurriedly headed towards the entrance of the cave. He froze in ce, unable to take a few steps. A familiar silhouette was waiting for him at the entrance of the cave. Ivars lips slowly curled. Youvee? The Hero didnt respond. Just raising the ck Hope, pointing it at Ivar. A faint glimmer gathered at the tip of the sword. Ivar spread his hands out and looked at it. Ssshaaaack! The condensed sword energy in the shape of a small sphere flew, illuminating the dark cave like a shooting star. Concentration Halo. It was a technique he had grown tired of seeing on the battlefield. It was also a technique he had expected would one day turn against him. Kwaaaaaang! The cave copsed violently, shaking fiercely from the explosion caused by Halo. Ivar raised his head. Though it seemed unlikely, amidst the rumbling of the copse, the Heros ominous voice seemed to prate. Its time to pay for your sins. Ivars face contorted like a demon right after that. Sorry, leader. Wuuuuung- A tempest rose through his body. I cant die here. He had to somehow survive and leave this ce. * * * Kwa-ga-ga-gang! Piles of rocks weighing over dozens of tons crushed Ivar. But the Hero paid no heed and immediately prepared for the next technique. Infinite Style 1: Annihtion. Zzzzeeeerrrrr Dozens of ice arrows appeared in the air without any incantation or gesture. Enriched with magic, they were sorge that they could be called spears. Infinite Style 1: Annihtion. Infinite Style 1: Annihtion. Arrows increasing in number. Wuuuuung All aimed at the crumbling debris. The Heros expression as he watched remained unchanged. He knew that a copsing cave would hardly hinder Ivars path. During countless avatar duels, there was only one way to gain the upper hand against him. Lead the battlefield to utilize that ace in the hole. The Hero began calcting in his mind as he took a deep breath. At that moment. Kwaaaaaang Ivar burst out of the rubble into the air. To no ones surprise, there wasnt even a scratch on his skin. Wuuuuuuung! Thanks to the tempest enveloping his whole body, everything around was obliterated. Crumbled rocks scattered everywhere. Ivars ck pupils turned towards the Hero. Leader! Ivar didnt wait for a response. Like he had wings, he twisted in the air and immediately rushed towards him. He intended to narrow the distance quickly to reduce the effectiveness of the swordsmanship. Closebat. It was exactly as the Hero had anticipated He had tond a blow before Ivar could approach. Unique ability of ck Hope: Domain. Ssshaaaack Along with the powerful gravity pressing Ivar down, twenty ice arrows shot straight towards him. Ssshaaaack With a time dy, another twenty arrows shot towards Ivars back. A movement to find gaps in the rushing wind. The remaining twenty arrows were still wriggling behind the Hero like snakes, aiming for prey. For a moment, panic appeared on Ivars face. ! Ivar knew Tedsbat style too well. Therefore, he couldnt help but wonder. Neither magic nor martial arts What is this? There was one thing for sure. Its power was considerable. Wuuuuung While dodging, Ivar expelled wind in all directions to push away the arrows. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Kwaang! But avoiding them was not enough. The arrows passing by Ivar exploded one after another. Thanks to the gravity of the field, the sharp fragments didnt scatter but aimed straight at Ivar. Annoying! Ultimately, Ivar found himself unable to do anything but fend them off one by one while suspended in mid-air. Under normal circumstances, he would have simply ignored them, but it would have been dangerous to let the cold prate his body while he was still recovering from his injuries. However, despite the failed approach, Ivars expression wasnt particrly dark. He looked down at the Hero beneath him with narrowed eyes. It seems its true that hes weakened. More than he thought. If it were the usual Ted, without resorting to such tricks, he would have pummeled Ivar from the beginning with Horizon. Horizon was the most suitable salvation ritual against Ivar. But there was no sign of his signature move, Sword Sheath of the Empty Sky. What if the leader cant even properly execute Style 5? Thud- His heart pounded fiercely, but for a different reason than before. If the Hero was truly weakened to that extent, it would be more than just fleeing; it would be a chance to gain the upper hand. The Great Battle, a fight where losing ones life wouldnt be strange. Theres also a good chance of sustaining more serious injuries than expected. Ivars eyes shed. For now, I can only try. From then on, Ivar changed his attack strategy. He darted around quickly, attacking only with wind within the range where the Heros sword couldnt reach. Hit and run. Without Horizon, he couldnt deliver a decisive blow. As time passed, Ivars face brightened. Just as I thought! The Hero continued asional attacks and defenses using Nova. But he never fully unleashed Horizon. He didnt even use Ster Lift. There was only one reason. Fearing mana consumption. Even though it was hard to see it as a trick, the Hero was gradually being wounded by Ivars Tempest. Although not fatal, there was considerable bleeding. Thats when it happened. Wuuuuung- A moment of fear shed across Ivars face, which had been filled with triumphant joy. It was because he noticed the mana forming in the air. Sword Sheath! Ivars heart sank. Its Horizon! Ivar reflexively stopped flying. Just before the learned fear overwhelmed Ivar, Huh? He realized something was wrong. Is it iplete? The ultimate swordsmanship, Horizon. Normally, the terrifying judgment would have been unleashed with the appearance of Sword Sheath. But the form of the sheath was still iplete. Was it forced? Ivar looked at the Hero. Beads of sweat trickled down the Heros face. Ivar tensed his body. Its my chance. The Hero seemed to be pouring almost all of his concentration into forming the sword. The defensive magic he hadyered on his body also weakened. Would you like to give flesh and take the bone? Then so be it. The calction was swift. With that imperfect Horizon, Ivar wouldnt be killed instantly even if he was hit. But if my attack strikes the leader in that state, it can be fatal. No matter how strong the Hero was, he couldnt withstand Ivars Tempest with just his body. The Hero was a mountain he couldnt cross, but Ivar could bend it. As a master of martial arts, Ivar couldnt help but get excited. His twisted ambition began to rise. Leader! Ivar flew towards the ground like a hawk catching its prey. Anyway, it was close to impossible to visually perceive and react to Horizon. After predicting the trajectory and taking evasive action, Ivar aimed his Tempest-enveloped fist at the silhouette of the approaching Hero. Cshhh- Thunk- A well-crafted alloy enveloped the Heros body. While most armor reflects light, the Boeun seemed to absorb light instead. The subtle shine of the armor fading into the darkness. Ivars eyes shook violently. What is that? But it was toote to stop the attack and turn around. ! The Hero had already unleashed Horizon upon him. Sharper than the fleeting blue glow in his sight was the intensity in his eyes. Ivar felt a momentary sense of unease, but quickly threw a punch. A deafening boom erupted. Sssaaaak- Kwaaaang-! The intersecting Horizon and Tempest. Krrrugh! Ivar clutched his left shoulder and tumbled to the ground. Hot blood spurted between his fingers. Huh, huh. Had he not anticipated the point of impact and twisted his body, his heart would have been pierced. A deep gash remained from his left shoulder to his chest. But Ivars face was filled with delight. It definitely hit! The Hero also tumbled in the same direction. The fist had struck his heart precisely. Even with armor, the shock would have reached his heart. It surely would have been fatal. Ivar staggered to his feet and looked at the fallen Hero with hopeful eyes. But What? The Hero was already standing straight. Even as ckened blood poured from his helmet, his body stood firm. This was absurd. Unknowingly, Ivar took a step back. A familiar voice echoed in his ears; it was then. What a relentless attack. If he hadnt been a doppelganger, even with armor, he would have been killed instantly. His heart was halfway shattered. Even now, his mental strength was being drained as he healed his internal organs. Yet, the armor wasnt useless. If he had been unarmored, his body would have been torn beyond recovery. Thanks to the armors primary function of absorbing shock, he managed to maintain his form. The Heros gaze shifted downward. This new armor is unbelievable. The alloy, refined with Noubelmags utmost effort, was now in tatters like a rag. The de-like wind had shattered the upper part of the armor upon contact for a brief moment. The armor resembled a scalp scratched mercilessly by fingernails. But regardless The condition has been met. The first condition for Heros victory against Ivar in battle. Inflict near-fatal wounds on each other. The Hero stood facing Ivar who had an astonished expression. Now was the time to fulfill the second condition. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 227 Chapter 227 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Ivar couldnt understand at all. It was a blow that he gave it his all in. Just a graze was enough to explode even arge-scale demon, a blow of deadly power that would kill instantly. No human could withstand it bare-handed. Even if youre the leader. Even before the strike, the Hero had allocated most of his power to the attack. Because of this, Ivar was confident in victory. Swoosh- The Hero stood before him, spilling dead blood from his mouth. Ivars narrowed eyes scanned the Hero up and down. Is it because of that armor? It looked like an extraordinary item at first nce. Especially the chest piece, despite being torn apart, was making nging sounds as it clung together. Armor that restores itself automatically. Could it be from the First Era. As Ivar examined the armor closely, his expression hardened. It was clearly unfamiliar armor. But it felt oddly familiar. More precisely, the craftsmanship of the armor, and the inscriptions of spells and enchantments engraved on it, were familiar. The alchemy of Noubelmag. The metallurgy of Yussi. The enchantments of Larze. They wererades who had fought together on the battlefield for over a decade. There was no mistaking their skills. Ivar gritted his teeth without realizing it. Youve gone through a lot. Hisrades had joined forces to face him. He had anticipated this day woulde, but seeing the result before his eyes swept Ivar withplex emotions. Gloom, anger, injustice, and sorrow. The Hero, observing Ivars contorted face, spat out. Do you even deserve that? The voice that came through the visor was cold. Ivar let out a short sigh. Fine, lets continue fighting. As he finished speaking, Ivar checked his own condition. Considering I took Horizon head-on, Im doing okay. The wound across his left shoulder and chest was deep. It wasnt life-threatening, but the tendons were injured. For Ivar, who was left-handed, it could be considered a fatal injury. It was the same with his specialty move, Strong Strike, being sealed. He couldnt unleash a devastating attack like earlier. But. The leaders condition is no better. Even though he seemed to be standing fine, his momentum was noticeably weaker than before. There are many ways to fight even if its not with fists. In fact, grappling could be the answer. Even with an injured arm, grappling was somewhat feasible for him. Lets see if I can twist his waist and pull out his neck even with an injured arm. People often judged Ivar as a simple and ignorant fighter based on his appearance. But he was more like a cautious hunter. Ivars eyes, preparing for the charge, gradually calmed. I need to be careful. A strange sense of unease. He abandoned the thought of fighting like he did with the old leader. The strange ice arrow from earlier, the superhuman recovery and endurance, the leader had changed in some way. Has he been modified by Yussi or Larze? First, get as close as possible. Thump- Ivars calf swelled, and his toes dug into the ground. . . . Meanwhile, the Hero was activating one of the functions of the armor. A few hours ago. While waiting for Mother Ghost to return from the mission, he had tested many functions of the armor. Among them, one added by Yussi and Pia caught the Heros attention. The so-called potion cartridge. A small space in the armors cervical part where drugs could be stored, and when operated, injected immediately into the body with a needle. It was much more powerful and faster than orally consuming it. So the Hero thoroughly searched Valbers void. There were three cartridges in total. Two contained high-grade mana recovery elerators, and the remaining one contained an Awakening Agent. It was used when fighting necromancers in the past, providing much more powerful awakening effects than allowed byw. It synergized very well with Raviassbat technique, so using them together could squeeze the bodys functions beyond its limits for a moment. Thunk- The needle pierced his neck, and the drug was injected. Vitality returned to the body that was groaning. Mana began to umte in the mana hole that had copsed from Halo, Annihtion, and Horizon. Good. It seemed like Ivar was ready to fight too. Ivar, who lowered his posture as if he would charge at any moment. His hands were wide open as if he were about to grab something, not clenched into fists. It was obvious what he was aiming for. Grappling. Since direct attacks are impossible, hell go for grappling. Ivars grappling is dangerous. Its because its the martial art that can utilize Tempest the best. Tempest fundamentally sweeps through Ivars body. When theres distance, theres a slight dy, making it rtively easy to dodge, but if a close-quarters fight like grappling urs, hell be caught directly. Its no different from rubbing against someone with des all over. Joint locks, pressure points, submissions. Not only does he have to counter his overwhelming technique, but he also has to deal with the wind that numbs the flesh. Ivars Tempest Grappling is one of the strongest techniques in one-on-onebat known to the Hero, and in fact, the Hero had no sharp countermeasure against it. But. Just one. With all the conditions falling into ce now, there was a recourse he could take. The gazes of the Hero and Ivar intersect. As the moment of vulnerability appeared, Ivar tensed his body as if to rush forward, like an arrow nocked on a bowstring. The Hero, looking at him like that, then. Swoosh- He ceased replicating Teds essence. ! And facing Ivars trembling pupils, he replicated the essence of someone who wanted more than anyone to be in this position. * * * Ivar, who was preparing to charge, suddenly stiffened. He looked at the Hero in disbelief. Whats this? The Hero was looking at him with eyes as calm as usual. But something was different. What he saw with his eyes and what he felt with his senses were different. The shell matches the leader, but. The essence is different. The intense and sharp aura of the swordsman was nowhere to be found. That stern and chilly aura. Ivar reflexively took a step back. Impossible. It couldnt be forgotten. Because even now, the same aura was lurking inside him, gnawing at him. A coldness like plunging into the Arctic Sea seized Ivar for a moment. Dorempa? No. No way. Ivar desperately shook his head. Upon closer inspection, it was slightly different from Dorempas. But it was so simr that it could almost be considered the same. Anyway, its the aura of the Frost Dragon Tribe. It felt as if he had been possessed by a ghost. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 How could a human, the leader, emit the aura of the Frost Dragon Tribe? How was such a thing possible? There were no signs of sorcery. How? Of course, there was no answer from the Hero. Without even looking at Ivar, he was gathering mana. Sensing his threatening aura, Ivar suddenly regained his senses. Whatever it is, its not important right now. The truth could wait. What needed to be done right now was clear. Kill the leader. Leader! Ivar roared and rushed toward the Hero. Even when he rushed right in front, the Hero only gathered mana, showing no reaction whatsoever. Ivar felt a sense of unease, but it was already toote. At the moment when a sharp wind shot towards the Heros neck. Kugugugugung- Suddenly, Ivars vision went dark. . . . Coldness poured in from all sides. Ivar could immediately grasp what had happened. Because he had experienced exactly the same technique when fighting Dorempa. The unique magic of the Frost Dragon Tribe. Eternal Frost. When fighting Dorempa, he had relentlessly attacked Ivar with this chilling and sturdy ice, driving him back. For some reason, the Hero also used the same technique. In a slightly different way. A wall? Ivar looked around sharply. The ice wall rose up in a perfect dome shape. It wasnt very high, about a few meters. The width only enclosed the Hero and Ivar, about 4 or 5 meters in diameter. But the thickness, as thick as the Heros full mana, was different. How thick is it exactly? The moonlight from outside didnt prate inside at all. Yet Ivar could grasp all of this at a nce. Woooong- The only light source was in the Heros hand. With wide-open eyes, Ivar looked at the golden hole that appeared in the air. Valbers void? He had seen the Hero use the artifact to store things a few times. Is he pulling out a close-quarters weapon instead of the ck Hope? It was a usible guess, but no. The Hero was holding an object with a strange appearance that Ivar had never seen before in his life. What was even more bizarre was that the entrance of the object was on the outside while the body was inside the void. Wheeeeeeeeee- The alien mechanical sound was heard at that moment. Simultaneously, a terrifying suction force emanated from the object. The surrounding air began to be sucked inpletely. The suction force was so strong that it could even sweep away the weeds on the ground and the ice fragments on the ceiling. The Heros intentions were impossible to discern. But instinctively sensing the threat, Ivar rushed forward. But. Huh? The wind didnt blow. The Tempest that should have shattered the unknown object into pieces at hismand was silent. Not only that. My breath Breath blocked. Ivar gripped his throat with his hand, looking at the Hero. At that moment, the Hero was also facing Ivar and seemed to be saying something. But strangely, the sound didnt reach Ivars ears. He could only understand it by the shape of his mouth. [This is the power of Cuculli, child of Dorempa.] Suffocation. It felt like his prayers were being extinguished. Ivar quickly turned around to break the wall. But as he pulled his shoulder back to throw a punch. ! Horrible pain emanated from his shoulder injury. Throwing a punch was impossible. With no Tempest now, could he really pierce through the ice of unknown thickness that showed no end in sight? To make matters worse, his breath was getting faster and faster. Left arm-targeting sword strike, closebat guidanceand that unidentified machine. The Hero approached, opening his mouth. [Ivar, your wind ends here] When the Hero finished speaking, Ivar felt a strange emotion. Contrary to expectations, fear, anger despair quickly left him. It was nothing but a somewhat empty feeling writhing in his chest. Its all in vain. Yes, vain was an appropriate word. ng- Ivar took a fighting stance and red at the Hero. [Lets end this.] -! And so, in the vacuum where there was neither wind nor sound, the traitor and the Hero shed. * * * Kugugugung- As the Heros mana depleted, the ice wall melted away like water. Thud- There was only one thing standing. But even he staggered and leaned against a nearby tree as if copsing. The other oney motionless on the ground like a corpse. Due to the depleted mana suppressing the injuries, ice crystals were spreading from inside the wounds. Hot blood diluted as it touched the ice. Cough. The Hero, looking at that sight, took a deep breath. It felt like his body was being shattered into pieces. No, it actually almost shattered into pieces before regenerating. Colliding with Ivar in that cramped ice prison was something even Ted wouldnt have anticipated. Even though all weapons were taken away, Ivar was formidable. He twisted, throttled, and ruthlessly abused the Hero like a doll. Despite the addition of Raviass martial techniques and the effects of Awakening, the Hero could never stand against Ivar on equal footing. But. There was no Tempest. Before the Hero could recover, there was no means topletely kill him. No matter how much Ivar throttled, struck, or twisted, the Hero recovered. He endured until Ivar copsed from suffocation. Some might call it unjust and lethal, but he achieved victory that seemed impossible. A vacuum. Without air, there can be no wind. The solution to the perplexing problem was closer than expected. If wind is the problem, then we just need to create an environment where wind cannot blow. The unidentified object the Hero pulled out from the void was a vacuum pump. Designed using the knowledge stored in the Iris of Lace from the First Age and manufactured by Yussi and Pia. By the tremendous output of the vacuum pump, the limited air in the ice prison was expelled into the void in a matter of seconds. The Hero reminisced about the fierce battle. Numerous conditions aligned for victory. Preventing Ivar from breaking the ice prison by inflicting wounds. Guiding him into closebat to confine him to the ice prison. And surviving the hand-to-handbat. and so on. If even one thing had gone awry, it would have been him lying there, not Ivar. As the Hero slowly rose from his position. Pleasee here. Ivar called out to him. The Hero stood before Ivar. Ivars life was swiftly slipping away. The only reason he still had breath was due to his robust body and lingering regrets. Ivars ck eyes gazed at the Hero. After a brief silence. Finally, his mouth opened. [TL/N: I wonder what his story is and why he never had a choice] [PR/N: Doesnt matter, he deserves death regardless.] [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 228 Chapter 228 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Ivar thought. Who is the man in front of him? Was it the leader who fought together on the battlefield, Ted Redymer? Or is it an unidentified monster who has taken over his identity? Because of his clouded mind, he couldnt make a clear judgment. No matter how much he squeezed, twisted, and bent, it didnt seem like it would end until the end. But didnt he use Ted Redymers unique techniques, including the salvation ritual, emitting the same atmosphere and energy as him? I feel like hes possessed. But deep down, he hoped it was the leader. No, it had to be. So that his testament would have meaning soon. Pleasee over here. Fortunately, he slowly approached Ivar without turning away. Ivar wanted to stand up, but he didnt have the strength to move a finger. Hoo, wheeze. Hey down and coughed up a foul-smelling breath. His body felt cold like it had fallen into the Arctic Ocean, yet hot like it had been thrown into the desert sun. He might stop breathing within ten or twenty minutes if left alone. Ten minutes should be enough. He had already abandoned regrets in life. There was only one reason he was holding onto consciousness. Ivar looked up at him and opened his mouth. For this request no, to demand a deal, an exnation was needed first. A woman named Adria is held hostage by Theo. And my son too. The Hero looked down at him without saying a word. It was a face that showed no hint of what he was thinking. There was no hint of anger at daring to make a request. Ivars eyes trembled slightly. I guess you guessed it. The fact that I have a family is probably unknown to anyone. Its obvious. There arent many reasons for someone who had their homnd burned by the demons, ughtered their tribe members, to coborate under the demons. After a moment of silence, the Hero asked calmly. Do you have any regrets? Ivar made a pained expression and nodded. It was to protect someone precious. Adria. She was an outsider who had been stranded in the Great Mountains. Since the moment he first met her until now, forcibly separated by Theo. Ivar loved her with all his might. He was willing to break the custom of unconditionally marrying tribe members as the sessor of the tribal chief. The sweet honeymoon ended in ruin just two monthster due to the invasion of the demon army, but the memories had supported Ivar until now. It couldnt be reced with anything else. He knew he would be condemned by everyone for his betrayal. But at that time, he had no other choice. By betraying once and twice, he had be irredeemable. Ivar looked up at the Hero with a pleading expression. I am a sinful viin, but she my son did nothing wrong. Isnt it the duty of a leader to protect the weak? If theres a chance to save them, please The Hero interrupted him. Still, his voice was devoid of any emotion. I only ask one thing, Ivar. Ask. Did your betrayal truly serve them? Ivar answered incredulously. Of course. If I hadnt betrayed, my son Adria would have been torn apart and died. Do you think I, who had my homnd burned by those bastards and had my tribe members massacred, wanted to coborate with them? I hate those bastards more than anyone! Dont deny that. But the Hero only shook his head firmly, despite his fervent protest. No, your betrayal was selfish for yourself. As Ivar was about to retort with a grimace, the Heros lowered eyes looked down at him. It was a gaze that allowed no dissent. As much as they were precious to you, they must have cherished you too. Am I wrong? But! Who hopes for a loved one to live a life of harming and deceiving humans on the side of demons, no matter what bond they build? It was the moment when Ivars words faltered. I ask you again, Ivar. Did you really betray them for their sake? I No! Or was it for yourself? Were you afraid of losing yourself, fearing the loss of someone precious? The harsh question shattered Ivars rationalization. Ivar was about to say something more, but closed his mouth with a miserable expression. The Hero murmured softly, looking at him. Sometimes, theres a fate worse than death. Both you and your family seem to have experienced it. His words seemed to touch a nerve in Ivar. What do you know What right does a monster like you, who sacrifices everyone under the guise of justice and fairness, have to say such things? A monster like me? Yes, a monster! Whether you build any kind of bond, its all just a long-term game for the leader! The Hero couldnt help but chuckle at Ivars defenselessness. He thinks Ted used hisrades like pawns? What kind of delusion is this? Yes, there was a time when he thought so too. Ted Redymer is cold-blooded and knows nothing but mechanical calctions. He continues to make judgments of all values with ruthless fairness. But it wasnt like that. They wanted it too. What? To willingly sacrifice themselves for justice. To be the mes of the weak by turning themselves as firewood Ted too. Hisrades who left their names on him as tattoos were the same. To you, who knew neither pride nor responsibility, it must have seemed forced. I, I Your power was mighty among heroes but your thoughts and perspective are worse than those of an ordinary person, Ivar. Ivars eyes shook mercilessly. The Hero finished speaking with contempt and disgust. Someday, when I trample the realm and hang Theo, if I find the child and its mother resembling you, I will rescue them without hesitation. Surely, myrades will do the same. But its not because of your pitiful request. Its because we decided to live like that long ago. How Ivar felt about thisst statement, only Ivar would know. He became expressionless like a dead person, then reached out and grabbed the Heros sleeve. Hisrge handcked strength. Im not asking you to save them without any cost. The Hero raised an eyebrow at the unexpected words. Cost? There werent many types of costs Ivar, who was dying, could bear. The Hero made the most usible inference among them. Are you offering information? Ivar nodded silently. His dull eyes, overwhelmed by guilt, regained a glimmer of light for a moment. The Hero felt curious. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Information provided by a coborator who had long served the demon forces at thest moment. That would undoubtedly be valuable. He leaned closer, and Ivar brought his mouth close to the Heros ear, as if determined. I But he couldnt finish his sentence. St- It was a sound of a kind he had never heard in his life. Ivars mouth, about to disclose information, instead spewed screams and blood. The stinging sound reverberated through the air as Ivars mouth was forced backward, a hand protruding from his throat. The wrinkled hand that emerged from within Ivar writhed like a giant spider, covering his face, and then punctured his eyeballs with its index and middle fingers, bursting them. Guh, guh! Ivar writhed in pain, but there was no way to escape from the hand that emerged from his own body. But it didnt end there. Ivars blood, which fell to the ground, didnt seep into the ground but quickly solidified, then began to boil. The Hero watched the grotesque and eerie scene with trembling eyes. What in the world? A few hours ago. When the mother ghost returned after resolving the curses in the hideout, her words shed through the Heros mind. We found and neutralized most of the curses by thoroughly searching the vicinity to find the mediums. However, there was one, a curse whose medium was very cunningly hidden. Even I couldnt fully interpret it at my level. The mother ghost was a skilled practitioner when it came to curses. That she couldnt interpret a curse to that extent. The Hero felt puzzled. Did it feel dangerous like other types? Not exactly. It wasnt aimed at invaders like other curses. Its just that the medium was The mother ghosts eyebrows furrowed in frustration. It was Ivar. Ivars blood boiled ceaselessly. Ivars breath remained until the red vapor took a pale form. Considering his injuries and the amount of blood loss, it was not surprising that he passed out immediately, but some strange force was holding him in this world. Old man? Steam rose from Ivars boiling blood until it took on the form of amon-looking old man. But there was something strange. It felt more like facing a reflection in a mirror than a tangible entity. In fact, there was nothing palpable about it. Holding a staff, with eyes deeply wrinkled, he alternated between looking at the Hero and Ivar. There was a faint smile on his lips no, the Hero shook his head. Can that even be called a smile? Its unpleasant. Humanughter is qualitatively different from that. It was just a bunch of ovepping wrinkles. There was no sense of vitality, just artificial and eerie. Iris of Lacemented. Commander of the Demon Armys Second Division The Elder of Loss, Theos demonic energy can be sensed. The Hero consciously suppressed the rapidly rising tension. He has no real body. His main body was defeated while fighting the Allied Forces in the First Dungeon. Some kind of avatar? The Hero quickly checked his mana levels. Mana was slowly umting, but he was far from ready to fight properly. Fortunately, it seemed that the creature had no immediate intention of attacking. Well Its been a while. The old man bowed to the Hero and then stood in front of Ivar. Despite Ivars blind struggles and protests, Theo casually began to speak. Traitors betray again when they are in danger. Did you really think I wouldnt take any measures? Youre too naive and foolish, Ivar. Ivar couldnt respond properly because of the hand emerging from his mouth. But there was deep despair in his expression. Did he think his wife and child were in danger once his betrayal was exposed? His eyes seemed to plead for a moment before dropping. Theo tapped Ivars chest with his staff and spoke. By the way, Ivar. Let me ask you onest thing. Guh, guh Did you really believe everything was just a coincidence? Seriously? It was a cruel mockery in a highly pleasant tone. Did you truly believe that your meeting with Adria was fate? That the shipwrecked beauty just happened to stumble upon your tribe deep in the mountains and fell into a destined love with a barbarian like you? Did you truly believe that even the demon army attacking the tribe a few monthster was just a coincidence? Did you really believe that? There was no way to know if those cruel words were true right here and now. But after a brief silence, Ivar let out a scream unlike anything before. Scream- But his outburst of anger and regret ended quickly. Bang- Ivars body burst like a balloon. Under the pouring blood, the old man who had been standing still turned his crimson-stained eyes towards the Hero. The Hero looked at the scene with sunken eyes. In this way, evil always lurked deeper and stickier than human cognition. It wasnt surprising that a coborator was like this. Iris of Lacemented on Ivars death. The scorch marks disappeared with the blood. Salvation Ritual: The Fifth Ritual, Horizon, is now fully open. Understanding of the recorded figure: Ivar Waitanka deepens. But the Heros eyes didnt linger on those things. His gaze remained fixed. Theo slowly pointed his staff at the Hero. Such extreme resentment makes for good ingredients for curses. Ivar left quite a legacy. A disturbing and chilling aura emanated from around them. But there was no change in the Heros expression. The disgust and anger he felt now were too overwhelming to be frightened. The culprit of most of the misfortunes he had experienced and witnessed over the past year or so was right in front of his eyes. The Hero raised the ck Hope, pointing it at Theo. The power of paradox weighed heavily in the air. I will make sure you pay for this. The old man shed another eerie smile. Im looking forward to it. As the curse energy clustered around him and poured toward the Hero, Theos avatar disappeared from the main clearing. Woo- With the curse energy prating his body, the Hero moved forward without hesitation. The destination was where Ivars body, drenched in blood,y. There, on the sticky ground, characters were carved with fingers. The handwriting was so poor, as if written by a child, but it was still readable. The Hero read it aloud. I am not alone. Just as he was about to write a name, he met his death. The sentence was cut off there. The Hero recalled the recentmunication. [Boss, see you soon!] [Introduce us to your disciples too!] [Arent they technically our juniors!?] [Wow, its been a while!] Preparation seemed necessary. Another traitor. Looking back, clues to its identity were already slowly umting. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 229 Chapter 229 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The Hero returned to the safe house where Mother Ghost awaited. She, proficient in curses, immediately noticed the transformation on the Heros body upon facing him, and he found himself on the sickbed for examination under her scrutiny. Stay still. Mother Ghosts eyes carefully scanned the Heros body. Though invisible to the Heros eyes, it seemed clear to her that the curse was discernible. However, as time passed, confidence faded from Mother Ghosts expression. Why is that? It seems I cannot clearly decipher the curses content at my level after all. Its the curseid down by Theos avatar, so it wont be easy. Hows your condition? The Hero shrugged. Seems better than I expected. Nothing out of the ordinary. Thats even more concerning. It must be a powerful curse, likely utilizing Ivars grudge as a medium It might be of no use for beings like me. The condition of the body was surprisingly good. Despite feeling a bit sluggish and having a headache, it was just the aftermath of intensebat. To the Heros perception, Theos curse seemed to have no effect at all. But there was no sign of relief in Mother Ghosts expression. It might be a type that requires a specific manifestation time. Or perhaps its a type that affects the mind rather than the body. Anyway, it seems your abilities cant undo the curse. Thats correct. However However? Mother Ghost hesitated for a moment. There is a way to transfer the curse. Is that possible? Of course,plete transfer is impossible. Given that its such a high-level curse, the sess rate is not very high. But its better than leaving it be. The Hero was incredulous and chuckled. Who would you transfer such an unknown curse to? Anyone. Mother Ghost replied with a serious face. Anyone whos willing. Even a newborn, if need be. Your safety is worth it, Hero. The Hero nodded. Even if they are hardened criminals. Or Or? You could help. It was a joke thrown out purely. But Shall I prepare the ritual? Mother Ghost said without hesitation. The Hero sighed in resignation. Fine. Yes. She was also partly joking. But there was certainly sincerity within. The Hero looked at Mother Ghost with narrowed eyes. It was natural for her to go to such lengths for his safety. If he couldnt function properly as a Hero, her precious things would crumble. But seeing her take the curse so easily, it seemed that among those precious things, herself was not included. If Nyhil; had been left alone, would it have been like this? Mother Ghost, noticing the Heros gaze, smiled professionally. Anyways, thorough preparation is needed for the curse transfer. Ill prepare as quickly as possible. Of course, as you mentioned, the target would be a heinous criminal. Got it. Her smile gets a little deeper. Its good in many ways that youre different from your predecessor. Predecessor He wouldnt have epted any method I proposed. A faint smirk yed on Mother Ghosts lips. Ted had many more stubborn edges than the current Hero. Unintelligible stubbornness, you could say. Thats why they shed in many ways. Yet this Hero seems to understand. Mother Ghost found the new Hero much to her liking. If they cooperated well, it could be a good win-win rtionship for a while. But who knows how it will end in the end. Anyway, its fortunate in many ways. Fortunate? Youre much more powerful and capable than I expected. I never thought youd catch Ivar so quickly. It was thanks to both skill and luck. But the Hero didnt feel the need to exin further. Giving Mother Ghost a sense of hispetence was a gain, not a loss, and definitely not a lie. He got up from the bed and said. Ill also look for a way to help. You seem to have faith. Somewhat. If I do well, you may not need to go through the trouble. He had artifacts that could exert divine power, and the favor of the gods. In addition, there were Larze and Rosalyn, who had vast knowledge of magic and sorcery. In fact, he wasnt particrly worried about a curse not evenid by Theos true self. Mother Ghost bowed deeply. I hope so. The Hero nodded and sat at the table. There were other things to discuss besides the curse. There was something else to discuss besides the curse. Another traitor. In fact, upon reflection, there had been an opportunity to discover their existence in advance. It was through Laces prophecy received a few months ago. If you dontplete the seasons within 18 days, youll die at the hands of a traitor of the Dawn Knights. Along with some of your disciples. Until recently, the Hero had thought that the prophecy had missed its mark. I thought the traitor referred to Ivar. Ivar had not shown himself to them throughout the northern campaign. Later, it turned out he had been skulking near the southern region due to injuries from Dorempa. But how could he, being in the north, pose a threat to the Hero and his disciples? But it wasnt him. Another traitor. If they existed, only then would the prophecye true. If I hadntpleted the ceremony within Laces deadline, it would mean another traitor had harmed me and my disciples. Therefore, the recent prophecy also became a clue. There arent many people who fit that description. At the time of the prophecy, most members of the Dawn Knights had joined the Eastern Alliance. That is, there were few members left in the Western Continent. Even if we include retired members, the number isnt that high. Someone with enough strength to threaten him and his disciples. At the same time, someone who had been near the northern region. By deducing with these conditions, it was a matter of time to identify the suspects and pinpoint the traitor. The Hero ryed such exnation to Mother Ghost. She nodded slightly in admiration. Weve almost identified the whereabouts of the members. Ill tidy up soon and report back. There was no dreadful anxiety or sense of crisis like before. The next traitor could be dealt with directly, thanks to his confidence. Ive fully mastered Horizon. Fully opening the Fifth Form was a tremendous boon. The mastery of the fastest swordsmanship, Fifth Form Horizon. But what was most notable was having the Sixth Form within reach. The Sixth Form, Star Pole, was the grand culmination. If one reached the level of implementing the Sixth Form, there would be no one to rival except for The Old Three and The Demon King. Joining the Eastern Alliance and pushing the Demon Invasion in earnest was now possible. This was a much faster growth rate than the Hero had anticipated, and it was a definite sign of hope for humanity. Whether its a traitor or whatever, as long as we skillfully restrain their machinations and steadily raise our progress, well be fine. If the suppression of the Demon Invasion elerated, naturally, the return of the Demon King would be dyed. In the midst of feeling that the end of this protracted war was in sight, the Hero was very pleased. It was too early to conclude, but perhaps what pleased him most was the possibility that the children would not be sent to the battlefield. You probably also know that the injured members of the Dawn Knights areing to Rosenstark. Although the probability of them being traitors, who were fighting in the Demon Invasion, is low it would be good to pay more attention to the protection of the children just in case. Yes, its a matter of concern, so well send more agents. Ill finish up the rough preparations and head to the academy. The Hero nodded satisfactorily. Good. It seems everything is roughly sorted out. Without dy, the Hero headed outside. Rest was a luxury in the current situation. He nned to return straight to Rosenstark. The parents invitation event is just around the corner. As a Hero, his tasks were all done. It was time to resume his role as a teacher. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 . . . Oh, by the way. The Hero, who had returned, looked at Mother Ghost with a puzzled expression. She felt a sense of unease for some reason as she faced him. Why are you doing that? Did you finish the unfinished request for the mercenary group I assigned you earlier? Ah Are you referring to finding that adulterous couple? Did you finish it? A rare hint of embarrassment crossed Mother Ghosts face. Not yet. Because most of the resources were invested in Ivar. The Hero chuckled. Finish it ande back. Thud- Mother Ghost stared nkly at the closed door of the safe house. Isnt that suspicious? It was a valid suspicion. * * * Rosenstark Communication Room As the parent invitation event approached, themunication room, which had been deserted for a while, began to bustle again. Leciel also visited themunication room after a long time. It was because her grandmother had decided to attend the event. [] Thud- The sound of the carriage rocking echoed through the crystal bead. Her grandmother was already on the Rosenstark-bound carriage, approaching this ce. Leciel looked at Zion with a slightly ufortable expression. Its been a few months since ourstmunication. After themotion in the north, Leciel had been severely reprimanded by her grandmother. [How dare you do such a reckless thing, knowing what happened to your father!] Honestly, it was a bit disappointing. To scold without knowing the tremendous martial arts confrontation she had against the Demonic Church Leader was frustrating. But there was a slight difference from before it didnt hurt as much. Strange. Grandmothers acknowledgment. Until the beginning of the semester, Leciel had been very thirsty for it. But not anymore. From the Hero, from her friends, from other professors. She had received plenty of acknowledgments. Of course, their acknowledgment didnt immediately resonate with her. But as everyones presence settled within her, their acknowledgment also began to quench Leciels thirst. The filled void. Of course, she still wanted acknowledgment from her grandmother and wanted to boast about her achievements. Just less so. Even now, with her grandmothering to Rosenstark, Leciel felt surprisingly calm. Leciel spoke almost unintentionally. Well, you dont need to go through the trouble ofing. Zion Hiyashins face momentarily turned strange at those words. [Dont say things you dont mean.] But really. Leciel let out a light sigh. Anyway, shes probably noting to see me. She probably intended to meet the professor. Was there any reason for her to be interested in Leciels education now? Its too far to Rosenstark. [Im retired. I have plenty of time.] Ah Yes. [And, you dont know, but there are a lot of people in Rosenstark that I was close friends with in the past. Like Professor Labin] Ah, I see. She didnt know. Because it wasnt said. Silence again. Zions face became increasingly strange as she watched Leciel, who seemed to be lost in thought. She unusually spoke first. [By the way, hows life at the academy? You dont talk much anymore.] Ah, its hectic and busy, recently preparing for requests and invitation events Leciel stopped herself from saying more. Why bother rambling on when she wasnt really curious, just asking out of formality. Anyway, theres nothing to worry about. [] Zion was clearly taken aback. Leciels pupils also widened in response. Whats with that expression? [By the way, you dont say that anymore, do you?] Say what? [That aspiration to surpass Ted, to return the title of Master of the Sword to Hiyashin. You always used to talk about it.] Leciel chuckled. You said it wouldnt happen anyway. [] But Im still trying my best. The professor said Ill definitely achieve it. In her calm tone, even Zion hesitated slightly. [Ted seems to have changed you quite a bit.] Leciel nodded slowly at that. It was an undeniable fact. Desiring acknowledgment itself is not a bad thing. It drives us forward. But there is a need to control and cleverly utilize that desire. Dont be swayed by others evaluations. Youre sturdy. You dont need to be a reed swaying in the wind. If she doesnt change despite receiving such advice, itll be even stranger. The moment Leciels expression changed was then. Oh. [Why are you like this?] Its time. [Time? Already?] Leciel shook her head. There was still plenty of time before the end of the usage hours. The work-study student in themunication room usually extended the usage time from one hour to three hours when Leciel came alone. But it was for another reason. I have an appointment. She had agreed to take charge of producing some props (mostly drawings) for the uing event. Ban, thinking it would be a waste of Leciels talent, proposed it to the administration, and the administration staff dly approved it. It was one of Leciels most anticipated times recently. Well then, see you soon, Grandma. Please take care. Leciel quickly got up to organize her belongings. Thud- Zion Hiyashin just watched the girls retreating figure with bewildered eyes. . . . I wont bete. Leciel, running to the studio, checked the clock tower in the center of the garden before slowing her pace. Thanks to her rush, there was still plenty of time left. The production of props involved not only her but also Beatrice from the Department of Mysticism (which made drawings move), so there was no point in going alone. Should I stop by the lounge? It was the moment Leciel was about to turn back. Hello, are you a first year student? An unfamiliar voice called out to her. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 230 Chapter 230 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Hello, are you a first year student? Leciel turned her head in the direction of the voice. It was a gentle and polite voice. Who are you? A middle-aged man with the appearance of a schr and a sociable smile on his lips stood there. With his slender figure, neatly groomed white shirt, and well-fitted beige trousers, he looked quite harmonious against the backdrop of the garden. Are you a parent of a student? As Leciel made a puzzled expression, the man chuckled softly. Haha, Im also a parent of a new student. I arrived earlier than the event due to some circumstances. I was just exploring the academy. Ah. Leciels guard softened as she replied. The man looked around and asked again. By the way, do you happen to know where the dormitory for new students is? Since the dormitory is quiterge and there are several buildings, if anyone. Oh, my son. But their conversation didntst until the end. It was because of the loud voice that came from behind. Leciel! A voice that echoed, it was Evergreen. She was also helping to prepare for the event. Huh? Evergreen, who btedly noticed the middle-aged man in front of her, was startled and instinctively bowed her head. Then she whispered softly to Leciel. W-who is that? I was just about to hear that. Ah, sorry. The middle-aged man gazed at the two girls with a warm expression, then opened his mouth again to introduce himself. I am But he couldnt finish his second introduction. Someone who popped out from the side grabbed Evergreen and pulled her back abruptly. Evergreen blinked in surprise. A broad back was visible. It was a familiar figure. Luke? Lukes deep voice resonated in everyones ears. Father. Ravias smiled brightly and waved his hand. Well, son. Its been a few months. How have you been? Fine. Are these your friends behind you? They kindly showed me the way. Raviass gaze passed Leciel and alternately looked at Luke and Evergreen behind him. .! Luke, startled, shook off Evergreens hand abruptly. Evergreen looked up at him momentarily in confusion. But Lukes gaze was fixed on Ravias. Hmm Is he embarrassed because its in front of his father? Luke tended to be shy, so it made sense. Evergreen nced past Lukes shoulder at Ravias. Their eyes met, and Ravias smiled kindly. Wow, hes really impressive. It was quite different from what she had imagined. Usually, when you think of a mercenary king, you imagine a rough image. But the Ravias in front of her seemed refined and gentle like any nobleman. Suddenly, a story she had heard in the lounge came to mind. He rescued Luke, who was almost about to be a war orphan. Such a grateful person. With a broad smile, Evergreen stepped forward to greet him formally. If Luke hadnt firmly grasped her wrist, she would have done so. Evergreen also stopped, her face showing confusion. Ravias took a step forward. Well,dies. Im sorry, but could I have a brief chat with my son whom Ive met after a long time? Luke walked slowly forward. His gaze still fixed on Ravias. Leciel and Evergreen stood side by side, watching the two move away. Leciels gaze turned to the clock tower in the garden. Lets go quickly, times up. No. But Evergreen didnt move. With a strange expression, she looked at her wrist. And after a short silence, she spoke. Lets follow them. Leciel, taken aback by the unexpected words, opened her mouth. Is she crazy? Is she nning to impress her father-inw in a strange way? However, Evergreens expression did not look like she was joking. Leciel, sensing something strange about her, asked back. Why? He was nervous. Huh? Evergreen muttered as she pulled Leciels wrist in the direction where Luke and Ravias had disappeared. Lukes hand was shaking. . . . Ravias, who was strolling through the garden, stopped at a shaded bench. He tapped the bench loudly. Sit down. Yes. As they sat side by side, the peaceful scenery of Rosenstark unfolded before their eyes. Today was a weekend without sses. There were quite a few parents who hade early like Ravias, and the children were enjoying time with their families. Luke felt like a strange presence at the academy after a very long time. It was then that Ravias spoke up. Ive taken a look around. Even Ravias, who had traveled the continent all his life, had never been to Rosenstark before. Of course, when he was a boy, he had enough skill to enter Rosenstark. But at that time, Ravias was in the midst of raising his status as a mercenary. Naturally, he had no intention ofing to the academy. For Ravias, the battlefield was his ssroom, and the enemies were his teachers. Learning that didnt bring in money had no value. Luke was well aware of that background, so he cautiously asked,. How was it? Surprisingly, Ravias nodded satisfactorily. Its a good ce. The training facilities and equipment are all top-notch. Luke responded with relief. Yes, Father, Im working hard not to disappoint you. Oh, really? It seemed to me like you were more interested in ying house. Did he figure it out? [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Luke momentarily stiffened, then reflexively began to make excuses. Were not that close. We just happened to attend sses together. Luke, do you think of this old man as a fool? Raviass hand rested on Lukes shoulder. It was a rough hand that didnt match his appearance. Ravias pulled the boy towards him affectionately and murmured. Your gaze, your gestures, your anxiety. You showed everything in a short time and then spoke such nonsense. As if unable to stop himself, Ravias shook his head and muttered. I didnt send you to this academy to create such a burden. . And if youre going to fool around, at least do it with a decent girl. Raviass dark eyes nced at a corner of the garden before returning to Luke. Luke had been staring at the ground in silence until then. With a sigh, Ravias stood up from his seat. Ive learned enough. Yes? A year ago. Do you remember when you suddenly said you wanted toe to Rosenstark to learn from the Hero? Yes, I do. There was a faint twitch at the corner of Raviass eyes. I allowed it because I was surprised to see the always dignified boy assert his opinion. It was a momentary whim. Im always grateful for that. But now I regret it. Seeing you now, stumbling and hesitating, makes me regret it even more. Ravias stood facing Luke with the park behind him. A long shadow was cast over the boy. Ive learned enough to know that Ive made a big mistake. What do you mean? During the recent joint training, your father made a big contribution. He went into the Demonic Realm and killed all the monstersing from the Great Mountain Range to prevent civilian casualties. Luke also knew that fact. But what followed waspletely unexpected for Luke. Aureum Mercenary Corps has decided to enter the second phase of the suppression. Thanks to Her Majesty recognizing our abilities and contributions. It was an opportunity to gain immense wealth and honor. If the mercenary corps performed well, Ravias would not only be a mere mercenary king but would also be treated as a hero. Since the Second Age began, the most lucrative battlefield awaits. Are you going to y around like a child in a ce like this? Ravias looked at Luke with burning eyes. Its been a year thats enough. If you waste three more years here, all the sweet fruits will be taken away by others, and youll end up chasing after scraps. Raviass intentions became clear. Lukes head spun. So, is he telling me to drop out of school and join the mercenary corps? For the first time, rebellion surged in Lukes face. It wasnt the kind of willpower he could control. Ravias, who didnt miss that, would have reprimanded him if this werent a public ce. As the boy stiffened. Ravias smiled again, almost showing his gums. Who pulled you out of the blood under your dead mother? Who brought you up from being submerged in blood? . From that moment on, your destiny as a mercenary was set. Your ce is on the battlefield. By my side, as my son. Raviass finger pointed to the buildings of the academy behind them. Not in a toy-like ce like this. Thud- Leaving the stiffened Luke behind, Ravias walked forward. His speech was mixed with heartyughter. If you really want to get out of my shadow so badly, there is one way. .! You know very well what it is. With trembling eyes, Luke watched his retreating figure. It was clear what Ravias was talking about. Dellum. Dellum was a sacred duel among mercenaries,pletely different from ordinary duels. Once one side dies, its over. And once a challenge is made and epted, there is no backing out. Those who withdraw from the duel face terrible dishonor among mercenaries and can never return to that world. In other words, it was a duel that demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice even ones life to uphold ones will. It was also a long-standing tradition, akin to the first rule among mercenaries. Ravias nced briefly at the shocked Luke. Tsk. Of course, Ravias never thought that Luke would actually apply for Dellum. He just wanted to convey how determined he was. Just as a fierce dog can never confront the owner who holds the leash from the time its a puppy, Luke could never rebel against him. Hmm. The confident Ravias, moments ago, remembered Lukes defiant look and furrowed his brow. But if, by some chance, Luke were to forget all his lessons In that case, its up to the person whomitted such ingratitude to decide. Ravias stopped and spoke. Ill head back to the dormitory now. Lets meet again before the event. . Until then, enjoy yourself. And so, Ravias headed towards the parent amodation provided by the academy, while Luke watched his retreating figure and hung his head low. And by chance, a fly on the wall that had been listening to their conversation happened to fly towards the library, its original destination. * * * Confirming that there was no one around, the Hero returned to human form once again. They were near the library of memories. Ravias. The Hero had stumbled upon their conversation purely by ident, while on their way to the library without stopping by the faculty building. He had heard every word from beginning to end. I suspected that he wasnt exactly a wonderful stepfather, but hes even more despicable than I thought. The Hero recalled Lukes delusions during the beginning of the semester. Luke, who had be the protagonist of the memorials and pictures installed at the gate. The memories of wanting to be a symbol of belief, goodness, and honor. Hes far from being a mercenary. A boy who didnt want to be a mercenary, even though he had been under such a stepfather. Now, the Hero felt like they understood the real story. How many unpleasant sights had Luke seen under such a stepfather, who had once been a mercenary himself? Additional Comment from Luke Selsood: Dreamer Recalling the additionalment made at the time, the Heros heart sank even further. What do I do about this. Several ideas on how to deal with Ravias raced through the Heros mind. However, considering the external situation and Lukes future, there was ultimately only one option. The most difficult one but the one that could yield the most satisfying results. Yeah, Ill have to do it his way. After finishing the consultation with Rosalyn, it seemed like it would be necessary to find Luke. Whisk- The Hero entered the library. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 231 Chapter 231 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Rosalyn, who was scrutinizing the hero from side to side, made a simple diagnosis. Its Dark Impulse. At this, the hero looked bewildered and stared at her. How can you easily identify the curse like this? Honestly, he didnt expect much. Even the Iris of Lace couldnt discern the nature of the curse, and Mother Ghost also failed. If Rosalyn didnt know, he was thinking of finding Larze or another expert. But surprisingly, Rosalyn had the answer. She added an exnation. In the distant past, there was a professor of mysticism who fell victim to this curse. Because it felt the same as back then, she could recognize it. Back then, no one even suspected the nature of the curse. Only the professor suffered. Then one day. He came to the memorial library and left a series of memories beforemitting suicide. Reading those memories, Rosalyn could understand why he chose death. So what curse is it exactly? Its a curse that literally instills evil impulses in psychoelectronics. A curse of corruption, you could say. Evil impulses? Corruption? The hero raised his eyebrows. He had never felt such impulses for days. His mind was as clear and lucid as usual. As you know, Im immune to various mental magic and interference. If the curse is of that kind, I dont have to worry too much. Well. Rosalyn looked somewhat worried. To be precise, the curse is different from magic. It evolved as a separate technique derived from sorcery and thenbined with magic. Does that mean resistance wont work? I cant guarantee it will bepletely ineffective. Detailed exnations followed. The reason why Ted was immune to various powerful mental attacks such as Magorns hallucination or Enochs illusions was probably because of his homunculus, which harbors the essence of numerous humans. I suspected that. The problem is that Dark Impulse can also corrupt those minor essences. Corrupting one or two among numerous essences wouldnt matter much. But if ten, a hundred, or a thousand gradually became tainted with evil? The essences are the core elements that make up the homunculus. Even if you dont know, it wont have a positive impact. Rosalyn murmured with an unusually serious expression. In simple terms, it may not be a major threat right away but Its a ticking time bomb that will eventually explode, isnt it? Thats an urate expression. So it must be resolved. Ironically, it was a curse that was truly effective against doppelgangers. The hero looked down at his body with a pensive expression. Evil impulses. How exactly do they manifest? Speaking in terms of Theos name its like loss of humanity.'' It was said that when the curse progressed to an extreme, psychoelectronics experienced various symptoms. They would take pleasure in ughter, feel revulsion towards the virtuous, and experience ecstasy and satisfaction deep in their hearts whenmitting evil deeds. The criteria of good and evil were reversed. Typically, its a very difficult curse to seed. Its effects are also limited. But But? This time, the medium was too good. The explosive despair and resentment of a strongman like Ivar. The hero remembered Theo, who concealed his secret and taunted Ivar. You really thought everything was a coincidence? Although he had no intention of condoning the traitor Ivar it was an infuriating scene. Even more so if there was intent behind casting the curse. Grit- The heros hand holding the chair arm turned white. So even if it was an avatar instead of the main body, it had to seed. Mother Ghost mentioned a way to transfer the curse to someone else. Do you know how to transfer the curse and its conditions? Rosalyn grinned lightly as she looked towards the hero, who shook his head. To properly transfer the curse, first, you need to find a subject with attributes opposite to those of the curse. Wait. So to transfer Dark Impulse, you need one who bears no malice, such as newborn babies or virtuous people inrge numbers I reject that. I never intended to transfer it unless it was a heinous criminal. Rosalyn seemed to have expected that and smiled faintly. The hero sighed deeply. Seeing youugh so lightly even in the face of your colleagues crisis, it seems there is an alternative. Yes, I do have that level of responsibility. Rosalyn drew a gentle curve at the corner of her mouth. Remember when I told you about our brotherst time? Brother? The hero groped his memory. There is one more homunculus besides me. Ted must have seen him in his memories, right? A figure in a robe that he saw in Teds first memory. He was the one who subdued Ted, who lost hisrades and raged. Surely he was said to be created through the inheritance of Zeros genes. Yes, thanks to that, he could be a very powerful magician andpetent researcher. The hero raised his eyebrows in puzzlement. But why hasnt he shown himself on the front lines against the demons until now? He could have been a great help. As I mentioned before, he had a mission to fulfill. Now its almost over. She counted the dates with her fingers as if she were calcting, then tapped the table and spoke. Youll probably be able to meet him in about a month. Then hell definitely help resolve this curse. A month That seems manageable without any particr issues. The hero instinctively recalled various details about thest homunculus. One of the three homunculi created by Zero Requiem for the future. It wouldnt be wrong to call him his brother. He was created from Zeros genes, so he must look quite simr to Zero. The hero recalled thest memory he had viewed. A man clutching his wife in the ruins of the copsing Magic Empire, crying out in anguish. It was at that moment that a natural curiosity arose. But was thest memory I viewed the third one? No rtedments seemed to appear afterward. Ah Surprisingly, Rosalyn seemed hesitant to answer. She didnt speak or act as if the answer was already predetermined, unlike usual. The hero asked in puzzlement. Rosalyn? The memory was indeed thest one. After a brief silence, Rosalyn said so with a look she had never seen before. . . . After that, they briefly discussed their ns for the future. They reached a conclusion quickly. The demons and traitors would undoubtedlye up with more schemes. So they should raise the progress as quickly and safely as possible. When they reach Stage 6, they would be prepared for any trickery, at the very least. In the current situation, raising the progress of Firewood is the best option. It would be difficult to raise the progress of Furnace or me immediately. But firewood There was plenty of room to involve the children. Both the parent-teacher conference and the arrival of the Dawn Knights are imminent, after all. So until the hero and Rosalyn set off for the resolution, they decided to focus on the children for now. Therefore, the heros next destination was already determined. * * * Communications Room 23. The voice of a boy in great distress echoed. I never thought I would be consulting with you. [Ahem] Beyond the editing bead. Excitedly swaying azure hair. Simultaneously, long-grown horns wriggled wildly. [Throughout history, dragons have been synonymous with wisdom. Its not strange for you to seek me out, human.] If you keep talking like that, Im hanging up. [Hehe, sorry, sorry] Cuculli brought her mischievous face close to the bead. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Whats going on here? It was about five minutes ago when Luke called in looking like he was about to die. After hesitating for a while, he finally asked for counseling about something just a minute ago. Although the chieftain had been very busy, she couldnt have missed such a major event. [So, whats going on? Is Evergreen breaking up with you?] Well, at this rate, we might. Cucullis eyes widened. [What!? Did you have a fight? Or, theres no way, but could you have? You scumbag!] Its neither of those! Luke began to exin briefly. It was about Raviasing to Rosenstark because of the parent-teacher conference. The next participation in the Aureum Mercenary Corps. And his position where he had to drop out and join the mercenary corps. To sum it up, I suddenly found myself packing and heading to the Demonic Realm next month. After hearing Lukes story, Cuculli grimaced and rubbed her chin seriously. The yful mood had disappeared as quickly as it hade when she realized the topic was more serious than she had thought. [Do the others know?] No. [Hmm] Eventually, Cuculli tilted her head and began to bombard him with questions. [Do you really have to follow your adoptive fathers wishes?] Im a member of the mercenary corps before Im a student. I have to obey orders. [Hmm, so you cant refuse the members duty?] It was Cuculli, as expected. Luke chuckled at her simplicity. I have a lifelong contract. [Cant you annul it?] I cant easily. As the conversation progressed to that point. Cuculli couldnt hold back and burst out angrily. [Ugh, youre just speaking after deciding all the answers.] What can I do when the situation is like this? [Forget about the situation. What do you want to do?] They say we have to go to the Demonic Realm, what can I do? [Thats your stepfathers opinion. You! What do you, Luke Selsood, want to do!] Luke tried to say something but then closed his mouth. As if frustrated, Cuculli pounded her chest. [You dont want to go, so youre whining at me. Am I wrong?] Youre not wrong. Luke bit his lips tightly. Cucullis transparent pupils were directed at him. [Why are you acting so timidly? Your father said to go ahead and y a round. He said hed let you do whatever you want.] [Is it a Delim or Dellum? Anyway, that.] Dellum. You want me to have a life-or-death duel with my father? [Uh You just have to win and survive!] Luke let out a deep sigh. If I lose? Ravias would be furious if she found out, but in truth, Luke had imagined a duel with Ravias several times since earlier. But he couldnt actually carry it out. [Does he have to kill his own son?] Its a matter of honor. He wont hesitate for a second. [Uh, uh Just win!] Theres no chance of winning. [Why? Is the skill difference that severe? Youve be much stronger too.] The skill difference is naturally there. But. Luke looked down at his calloused hands. I learned everything about fighting from my father, from 1 to 100. He could face me with his eyes closed. [Hmm Just think about fighting between my father and I.] Its simr. Cuculli hesitated, then pped her hands. [Go to the professor for help, ask him to make your father stop, or ask him to teach you how to win in a fight!] How could that help with such a personal matter? Luke wasntfortable with the hero to that extent. Having grown up watching Ravias. He couldnt open his heart to the hero like the other kids. Of course, it wasnt conscious guarding or suspicion. Its just that Luke had always been that way with adults. [You dont know how the professor sees us. You really dont know.] It was a difficult part for Cuculli, who grew up watching a wonderful adult like Dorempa, to understand. Anyway, its my problem, so I have to solve it. [Just go tell him. You want to chat with Evergreen more while studying at the academy, but your mean adoptive father is bothering you!!] Im serious. [Im not joking either.] Cucullis expression momentarily became very serious, and Luke closed his mouth, which he was about to refute. [Do you really think you can just space out and everything will be fine?] What. [Youll definitely miss it. So youll regret it like crazy.] The ssroom bathed in gentle sunlight. The practice room echoing with mutual support. The lounge where friends chatted secretly without the supervision of the teacher. The shopping street after training. Cuculli murmured softly, reminiscing about the things she missed from the north. [Do you have the confidence to not miss these things while youre fighting stubbornly with your adoptive father on the battlefield? What about Evergreen? Deindart will be looking for you.] [Even if Ive given up reluctantly, I hope you dont.] Luke shook his head silently. The softened voice pierced his ears. [So think carefully too.] [Actually, I haventpletely given up. Ill quickly throw everything to my younger brother and go back to Rosenstark!] Luke chuckled involuntarily. Yeah. If that kid coulde back, and she could stay too, how wonderful would that be? He was a boy who opened his mouth with such a wish in mind. I guess youll have to call me senior then. [Get lost!] . . . Cucullismunication ended. Nothing had changed, but at least his heart felt a little lighter. Luke walked back to the freshman dormitory. Various colored autumn leaves gently fluttered between the buildings. Thinking that he might not see this familiar scenery in a few months made it feel strangely unfamiliar. Luke suddenly missed Evergreen. Ha. He didnt know. What should he do? When it came to other problems, Luke was more independent and decisive than anyone else, but especially when it came to Ravias, he became indecisive. This father saved your life, taught you how to fight, and brought you to the mountains of gold. Are you going to oppose me like an ungrateful wretch? Dellum. Lukes hand dropped weakly. No matter how much his father abused him, how could he decide his life and death? Even though I have no confidence in winning. Luke entered the lounge, thinking such thoughts. It was a bustling space as usual with children. The boy habitually looked for golden hair among them. But for some reason, he couldnt see her. Whats going on? Luke grabbed Gerald as he passed by. Hey, havent you seen Evergreen? Huh? Werent you together? What are you talking about? I was in themunication room. It was a moment when Luke frowned in inexplicable anxiety. No, your father called and took her away. I thought you were together. Luke rushed out of the lounge. Gerald hadnt finished speaking. His heart was irregrly beating, and his hands and feet were chillingly cold. Powerful anger and impatience surged within him, even surprising himself. Dellum? He would definitely do it. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 232 Chapter 232 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 In conclusion, Evergreen was unharmed. Of course. No matter how much he was Ravias, he couldnt harm her, a student within the Rosenstark. It was just that the learned fear made her forget this obvious fact. Cough, cough. Where Luke arrived, a peaceful tea time was unfolding. Evergreen might misunderstand something like that. Im Lukes father, but at the same time, Im the leader of the mercenary group he belongs to. Sometimes, even if it hurts, you have to be strict. Ravias was trying to reassure Evergreen with such vague words and continue the conversation. But Luke couldnt feel reassured at all, seeing that. It was because he noticed some kind of warning from Ravias. His father was always like this. If you dont obey and do as he wishes, he threatens you. Until now, Luke had often been swayed by Raviass ways. But Oh, perfect timing. I was asking Evergreen about your school life. She seemed like your closest friend, so I thought Id ask. Luke? How did you find out about this ce? How did he find out? Lukes back was sweaty as if he had been searching around the parents lodging area. The boy stood still for a moment, alternating between Raviass smiling face and Evergreens worried face. It wont work. With a sigh- Luke silently turned his back and left the ce. . . . The Heros counseling office hadnt been opened in a long time. Click- Pia, who had a kind smile, put down the bottle on the table and left the room. The sound of whiskey pouring into the ss filled with ice. It was a gift from the Emperor herself. Care for a drink? Dont you usually offer tea? I think this might be more necessary than tea today. Luke chuckled quietly. Youre generous. The ss was soon emptied. Almost simultaneously, the tip of Lukes nose turned slightly red. The Hero quietly looked at him. Honestly, he hadnt expected Luke toe first like this. He doesnt like to ask for help. Luke hesitated. If he had to describe him over the past year in one word, he would be a self-sufficient student. Growing up on his own. Managing rtionships with peers well. Solving problems on his own. Thanks to that, he had less stress and less trouble than other kids. But today, it seemed like that exceptional maturity had left Luke. Professor. Yes. Please help me. Okay. Lukes eyebrows trembled slightly. Dont you want to ask what it is? Youre not the type to make unreasonable requests like Cuculli. Ha ha. My request might be unreasonable in its own way. Glug- The Hero filled the ss. Lukes hand reached for it boldly. Do you know about Dellum? I do. Im nning to confront my father with it. The Hero remained silent for a moment. He just stared at Luke with those dark eyes, as if gauging his determination. Dellum is a matter of life and death. Yes, I know. Even if hes not your biological father, hes the one who raised you. Is it necessary to be so harsh? It wasnt a criticism of Lukes moral character. It was a concern about Luke having to fight with his stepfather. But Luke clenched the ss tightly with both hands, lowered his head. Theres no other way. If not this, my father wont let go of me. The Hero stared at Luke intently. It sounds like you want to quit being a mercenary. Professor, I The intoxication filled the void left by the boys maturity. Ive never been happy living as a mercenary. Why? Because I had to sell my beliefs, conscience, and goodwill for money. Ethics, morality, whatever, as long as you paid, he had to take on any job. Lukes eyes twisted. Just like back then. It was a decisive request that made him question his mercenary status. The content itself was simple. Escort a wizard to the target location. With Lukes help, the wizard arrived safely at a mountain, the target location, where he triggered andslide, blocking several mountain paths. And that year. The horde of monsters that originally attacked the lords domain, the client, bypassed and trampled on another domain. It was a ce where the guards and defenses were not properly set up. As they passed through the ruined corpse-filled domain, Lukes heart began to ache. With a sinking voice, Luke spoke. So, I guess I saw that illusion in my dreams. I want to live towards the line I believe in, like you, professor, and receive the respect and praise of others. And Evergreen was also there in various ces. You saw? Luke wasnt unexpectedly ashamed. Rather, his determination tightened his face into a resolute expression. I felt even more ashamed. You know, how righteous she is. You want to stand proudly by her side. Yes. I cant keep being passive like this. Why wouldnt he understand at his young age. Since that day, Luke had properly assessed what oues his assignments would bring. As the gold piled up in the Aureum Mercenarys warehouse, he never forgot that there were unhappy people. Listening to those words, the Hero smirked. Better than Ivar. Huh? Never mind. The Hero raised his whiskey ss. In fact, Lukes visit was somewhat wee. After inadvertently overhearing Luke and Raviass conversation. It was time to get rid of Ravias from Lukes life, he was convinced. Luke was too valuable a person to waste time under such a viin. Luke, Ill ask you onest thing. Yes. If you want, I can help you in a different way. Of course, it wont be as clean as Dellum, but the burden you have to bear will be much lighter. A moment of hesitation. Luke slowly shook his head. Even Ban and Cuculli while they received help from those around them, they ultimately overcame it themselves. I have to do the same. It was a statement that best showed Lukes determination. There was no need to confirm further. The Hero got to the point. How much time do you have? I think theyll take me after the parent-invited event. Then Dellum should happen before that. About three weeks should be enough. Lukes face showed signs of anxiety. Three weeks was too tight to ovee Ravias, the big mountain. The Hero nodded in agreement, as if agreeing with himself. The chances of you defeating Ravias are slim. Even if we set aside the basicbat power difference, yourbat style is too simr. Even if youve learned some variations from me at the academy, hell read you quickly. I know. The one at the pinnacle of mercenaries who survived by skill alone was Ravias. Thats why his subordinates stuck to him so obediently even though his methods were oppressive and violent. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Moreover, he deliberately taught his subordinates his ownbat techniques. Insanitysbat techniques be stronger quickly, but they have clear limits. Moreover, as theirbat styles became more simr, it became increasingly difficult for Luke to surpass Ravias. However, in the Heros eyes, listing such facts, there was no sign of giving up. So how can you, who is at a disadvantage against Ravias, win? The moment Luke met the Heros confident gaze. He already realized that the Hero had the answer. Yeah, withpletely different power Luke has to fight Ravias through a method he cant even imagine. Can I develop such power in three weeks? Wrong. Its not about developing. Ooooong- Golden light rippled in the dark counseling room. A dagger fell from the void into the air. Luke looked at it with a puzzled expression. The handle was so ornate that it wasnt easy to see No de? The Hero finished with a faint smile. You receive it. Luke still looked bewildered and puzzled. A transferred assignment from the Mercenary corps youre still maintaining the first ce. ! Only then did Lukes pupils tremble as he realized the true identity of the dagger. A Medium of Severance? He hurriedly responded. I believe theres still time until the score is finalized. Yeah, since Im giving it in advance, youll have to work even harder to maintain first ce. The Hero shrugged as he drank from his ss. There was a slight hint of amusement lingering around his lips. If not, my dignity would be ridiculously crumpled. Luke looked at the dagger on the table with a dazed expression. How did he interpret that gaze? The hero spoke calmly. You should be able to familiarize yourself with the protection in three weeks. You probably saw how the previous owner used this ability up in the North. Luke thought. Even if he maintained the top rank in the assignments, giving the Severance in advance like this would lead to unfair treatment. Its unreasonable. If favoritism were shown, the Heros image would be greatly tarnished. Even with a perfect reputation, there would undoubtedly be blemishes. But the Hero seemed unfazed. His demeanor stood in stark contrast to Ravias, who didnt even consider minor losses for Lukes sake. Professor, I Luke bowed deeply, unable to articte his emotions. . . . The business was over, but the drinking session continued a little longer. Trivial stories, various anecdotes about the past and academy life were the topics of conversation. Lukes body swayed as if drunk. Understandable. He had a weak tolerance to begin with, and he was already on his second bottle of whiskey. Im going to return to the countryside and marry Evergreen. Sure, sure. The Hero supported Luke, who was rambling. It was at that moment that the boys murmurs reached his ears. I suddenly had a strange thought. His pronunciation was all over the ce. The boy pped his cheek as if trying to regain his senses. The Hero chuckled and asked. What thought? Luke seemed hesitant for a moment. I was thinking how nice it would have been if you had picked me up That statement stopped the Hero in his tracks. Luke chuckled awkwardly. I could have grown into a better person than I am now. The Hero recalled an old memory. He had said simr words to Ted before. If only I had met someone like you from the beginning. It was a bitter remark born of the cruel years he had lived as a monster unwee anywhere. To which Ted had responded: Even in the brightest light, there are people who close their eyes and turn their backs. Eitrobin, Ivar, had been like that. But even in the darkest darkness, there are those who chase after faint glimmers of light. Thats how he used to be. Thats what the present Luke was trying to do. The Hero reached out and gently tapped Lukes shoulder. Youll be a fine person. Understanding of Luke Selsood deepens. Understanding: 30/100 Comments will be added. The One Who Emerged from the Abyss * * * With the arrival of all the extreme parents at Rosenstark, led by Lady Solintail, the Sword Master Zion Hiyashin. So it was on a Monday morning. . . . The Hero stood at the podium, facing the ssroom as usual. He looked at the children, who seemed much more tense than usual, and the parents at the back of the ssroom, their expressions a mix of interest and concern. Arge hand gripped the voice amplification device. Now, lets begin the Extreme Observation ss. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 233 Chapter 233 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The purpose of the invitation to the event for parents was simply to show parents what kind of learning and training their children had undergone over the past year. This event was as important as the pre-exnation meeting in the first semester, as it could have a significant impact on future sponsorship and the reputation of the academy. Therefore, the Hero had thoroughly prepared for it from the beginning of the semester. In the case of Extreme, it was clear that parents expectations would exceed imagination. Pia, during all future lectures and practical training, please hold the video recording bead and take pictures of the children. With a nod, Pia understood immediately. And when they are working hard we should also interview them when everything is finished, right? The volume of the extreme lectures was tremendous, thanks to the variety of practical training and assignments, which were many times more than other lectures. Since it was impossible to show all of this within the event period, the Hero nned to divide the observation sses into two ways. First, they would introduce the contents of the lectures so far through video materials. Then, they would directly demonstrate how practical training was conducted at the end. Under the supervision of the Hero, the editing was entrusted to Professor Iveta Jambello of the Department of Mysticism. Why do I have to do such a cumbersome task? Iron Arrow. Ivetas words, recalling the faces of two boys who thoroughly broke the magic of apprentices, were interrupted. The Hero smiled slightly. You made a bet on the oue of the Battle Arena, didnt you? So Iveta conducted overnight work for a week and produced work that satisfied the Hero. The video being yed in the ssroom right now was it. The ssroom with the lights off. Boom- With the majestic sound of brass instruments, the video begins. On the spacious stage, the Hero stands tall, revealing his upper body covered with scars and tattoos. Our opponents are monsters. Monsters who threaten our peace and take away what is most precious to us. I want someone who wants to see their end as my disciple. Someone who can sacrifice anything for that. It was during the pre-exnation meeting. The children unconsciously eximed. It was a speech that left a deep resonance in their hearts. How many times did they recall that moment when training was difficult? Tsst- The screen faded out. The expressions of the parents watching the screen became quite intriguing. Even Ravias couldnt help but smile secretly. Quite grand for a lecture introduction. But after all, its just a ss at the academy, how impressive could it be? The orientation video continued. Children consuming magic-nullifying potions and repeating sparring and stamina training. The faces of the parents began to stiffen slowly. Isnt orientation supposed to be an easy first day? They pushed the kids that hard? If they drank magic-nullifying potions, did they do such intense trainingpletely unarmed? When theyined about the difficulty in letters ormunication, they justughed it off, thinking that all academies were the same. They never imagined they would see scenes of children trembling with muscle spasms and vomiting after drinking magic-nullifying potions from the beginning. The Hero begins to push the children mercilessly. The guarantee of survival on the battlefield depends on whether youve experienced extreme situations or not. Gerald is brutally beaten by the Hero during sparring, and one by one, the children copse to the ground. Pia hands a sound amplification device to one of the dusty children. What motivated you to support in extreme situations, Ban Dietrich? Sweat pours down Bans face. The boy, who was struggling to breathe painfully, managed to answer. I-I want to change. How do you want to change? I, Im very timid and mentally weak. I want to be strong enough not to disgrace the name of the Dietrich family my parents name. You probably didnt know it would be this difficult. Do you really not want to give up? I if I give up, I think Ill regret it. I will definitely seed. Yes, Ill support you! With a smile on his face, Ban shows a gentle smile, covered in dust. Pfft- Laughter naturally burst among the children at the sight of the timid Ban, whom they were ustomed to seeing as mature and strong. They had forgotten that he had such a greenhorn time. Oh, no, why such a video Blushing, Ban bowed deeply, then nced at Felson standing behind him. ! He thought Felson wouldugh at him. But surprisingly, Felson was staring at the screen with pursed lips. His eyes seemed a bit redder. W-whats wrong with you? Why are you like that? Oddly enough, Ban turned his head in surprise. Then it was about demon anatomy. Demons with joint mechanisms installed to move like real ones. Based on the contents organized by the Hero, the children were diligently practicing. Among them, Pia found one. Evergreen, you were the most diligent in note-taking and practice today. Arent you tired? Evergreen smiled with his characteristic innocent smile. No. Im actually really, really enjoying it. Then she extended his fingers, which had been stripped of all skin due to the vigorous note-taking and demonstrations. Ill learn hard and go back to my hometown. Ill catch all the demons so that the people of the territory wont die much when I return! Sigh- At the back of the ssroom, Mrs. Solintail buried her head in a handkerchief. Evergreen scratched the back of her head awkwardly. Luke turned his head slightly towards Ravias, smiling from an angle unseen by others. Indeed, Evergreen was cool. The party y practiced in Simcram, and the dungeon practice that transferred it into actualbat, were soon captured in the video. As the cute appearance of the pondering guardians filled the screen, parents burst intoughter. Next, Luke skillfully led the children through the dungeon, and as Gerald and Nyhills team excelled,ughter turned into admiration. The highlight was the fight between Leciel and Cuculli. Zions eyes momentarily lit up. You cant defeat me. Length doesnt matter, its how you use it. Crash-! The screen filled with dazzling techniques. The ice magic of the Frost Dragon tribe and the swordsmanship of the Hiyashin were generously disyed. Its hard to believe theyre just students. Are they really ssmates with our kids? Evenpared to active heroes, they were notcking. Thus ended Leciels victory in the fight. However, the post-fight interview did not go as expected by the spectators. Leciel muttered with empty eyes. Winning is natural. The problem is the content. Its unsatisfactory. On the other hand, Cuculli was cheerful. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Haha, I didnt expect there to be someone stronger than me. Thats why they say you should y in big waters, right? Zion nced subtly at her granddaughter. The Leciel she knew, who fought equally with her peers and couldnt bear to watch the video in front of people, was surely wrinkling her face. But Zions expectations werepletely off the mark. Leciel was looking at the screen with a faint smile. Zions expression became increasingly subtle. The midterm exam will take ce in the Forest of Martial Arts. The screen showed a serene forestndscape. From then on, even the parents stopped chatting altogether. Deep sighs escaped from the parents lips as they watched the children facing living demons. In fact, not all parents were martial artists. Many had lived without anybat experience. They couldnt take their eyes off their children fiercely fighting the dreadful-looking demons, regardless of whether they hadbat experience or not. Thud-! Next, the slender snake, Vermoth, appeared, and the Legionmander, Enoch, attacked the children. The parents forgot to even breathe as they watched those scenes. They had already heard about such incidents. But seeing the live footage was different. It was that dangerous? Oh my, they were really close to death. In fact, bringing back the moments of extreme danger in front of the parents was not going to have a good impact on the reputation of the Hero. But he wanted the parents to know how wisely and bravely the children had faced tremendous threats. After the turmoil, an interview with the injured Ban followed. Wrapped in bandages all over his body, his eyes were distinctly different from the beginning. We finally realized what kind of beings we have to fight. Ill be stronger so that no one like me will experience such misery again. Definitely. p, p- Some parents unknowingly apuded. Felson looked like he was having the best moment of his life. And so the video continued. In challenging and tough environments. The children worked hard and grew. I worked so hard today, so Ill be a better me tomorrow. Even the mediocre student, Irene, said during training without despair. Phew, I used to think I was the best But nowadays, Im amazed by my friends talents? But still, Im working hard. Aim to be a hero like the professor! Gerald, lifting the spear engraved with the Heros signature, smiled proudly. The parents were moved. Theyve grown up so much. So much. When did they grow up like this? Im proud of them. In fact, when they first entered the ssroom. There was a strange atmosphere among the parents. They all had something inmon, being parents of extreme students, but apart from that, there were clear differences in status and wealth. But as the video approached its end. They felt strong camaraderie and pride. Theyughed and cried, remembering the time when their children were by their side. Your son helped our daughter a lot. Thank you. Thats my pleasure. Youve raised your child really well. When will you invite us to our mansion? At the same time, the childrens shoulders rose slowly. Whats this feeling of pride? Wow, Professor really nailed it for us. Wow, Moms face, look at it. Ive never seen that expression before. Gerald sighed deeply. Uhh, my parents should have seen this! The end of the video was adorned with the Heros rugged handwriting. For humanity. We hope you continue to send unwavering support and encouragement to the children who will venture into darker and deeper ces. Thats how the video prepared by the Hero ended. Apuse, as if the ssroom was about to leave, continued for a while. The Hero returned to the lectern immediately after. After a short break, there will be a tour of the training facilities. Observation sses are given for two days. Today, a video was shown, followed by a tour of the facilities. Tomorrow, the n was to show actual training. After finishing his speech, the Hero nced briefly at Luke. As if the boy had made up his mind, he nodded with determination. The parents invitation event was approaching its end. In other words, it was time to apply for Dellum soon. The time set by the Hero and Luke was right after the observation ss ended. It was tomorrow. Hmm. Meanwhile, Ravias was also staring at Lukes back, seemingly perplexed. Hes aiming to be a hero, isnt he? Luke. It was truly a pitiful thought. Ravias talked amicably with nearby parents and made a promise. Ravias resolved to leave with him from Rosenstark as soon as possible. It seemed like he had let the reins loose for too long. * * * So, the first day of the parents invitation event ended smoothly. After finishing the cleanup, The Hero, who returned to the researchb to prepare for the second day, was momentarily surprised. Pia also whispered to him with a puzzled expression. Um There seem to be a lot of people looking for you today? First was a note from Felson. Theres a lot to discuss. If you have time, pleasee to the dorm. Next was from Ravias. Id like to discuss something as a parent. Please contact me. There was also a message from Larze. Need tomunicate! Thest one was. Its been a while. She came in person. As Pia whispered, she quickly stepped back. The Hero, silently observing the visitor, nodded slightly. What brings you here? The former Swordmaster, Zion Hiyashin, with eyes resembling Leciels, turned towards him. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 234 Chapter 234 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Silently sipping her tea, Zion. The Hero sitting in front of her looked at her intently. Despite his calm expression, he was somewhat bewildered by this unexpected encounter. He quickly reviewed what he knew about Zion. Fortunately, there is a lot of information Even before Ted made his debut, Zion was very famous. Before Ted appeared, she was practically the strongest fighter. Her poprity among the public was so great that even a biography was published about her. The Hero had read it before. Exceptional looks and an excellent background. Zion had many factors that brought admiration from the public. But above all, what drove her poprity was the keyword effort. The Hero recalled the early part of the biography. When Zion was about the same age as Leciel, she didnt receive much attention. It was because her Hiyashin brothers, born from the same bloodline, had much greater talents. She even heard that her skills were overshadowed by other young warriors. They even called it Hiyashins disgrace. Graduating from Rosenstark in indifference, Zion immediately threw herself into the battlefield, continuing her relentless efforts and dedication. And so, a decade or soter, she stood tall as the Hiyashins Strongest Sword in the Family Decisive Battle, breaking everyones expectations. From being ignored as a troublemaker to reaching the pinnacle of a new sword master. It was a story that people couldnt help but be enthusiastic about. Even after being praised as the greatest warrior of her time, Zions efforts continued. Though their rtionship was strategically formed, her gentle husband passed away. Leaving behind only a son and granddaughter, disappearing mysteriously. Until her granddaughter became the only descendant of the Hiyashin and held a wooden sword instead of a toy, Zion lived only for the sword. Until a young warrior with unparalleled talent brought an unexpected defeat. It wouldnt be wrong to call it a cursed fate with Ted. After the shocking defeat, Zion Hiyashinid down her sword. And she ced all her hopes on Leciel. Though she suddenly abandoned everything at one point. During a consultation, the memory of Leciels passing remark came to mind. From that moment on, the Hero didnt see Zion in such a favorable light. He didnt know much about parenting. But he knew it wouldnt be good to pour out expectations and interest on a child in their early years, only to withdraw them in a moment. The image of Leciel choking on her own approval and expectations, and her obsession with training, came to mind. Zion, who had been silently sipping her tea, suddenly spoke. Looks like youve heard my story from Leciel. Judging by the way youre looking at me. The Hero nodded slowly. Ive heard the gist of it. Then this conversation should be quick. Zion let out a brief sigh. Then she got straight to the point. Ivee here to ask you for a favor without any reservations. The Heros head tilted at the unexpected words. What request do you have? Zion seemed to be about to say something, then closed her mouth again. The Hero calmly waited for her request. When Zion finally spoke, the atmosphere in the room was tense. Fight me one more time. In front of my granddaughter. . . . A moment of sudden silence filled the room. The content of the request waspletely unexpected. The Hero, wanting to ascertain its sincerity, looked at Zion intently. She began her story slowly. Im an immature person. Especially as a grandmother. I wont deny that. Expecting unreasonable things from a girl, only to turn away when they seem unlikely to be fulfilled, that was the image Zion had of herself in the Heros eyes. Sensing the reproach in his words, Zion smiled bitterly. In the time I havent seen you, your tongue has be as sharp as a sword. But there was no sign of resentment. She was rather positive, nodding her head several times. Even if I think it over a hundred times, its my fault. . Still, if I were to make a feeble excuse, I didnt know what to do back then. She had lived her whole life obsessed with the sword. As a child, it was to fill the void left by neglect in her family. And as an adult, it was to protect the hard-won glory and honor. Even though I knew I was missing precious things, I couldnt let go of the sword. And before I knew it, that was all that was left. Zion continued her story calmly. And then you appeared. A talent that couldnt be achieved through effort You shattered the pride and honor I had upheld all my life in an instant. It wasnt a resentful tone. It was a dry tone that seemed to simply state the facts. But the Hero felt like she had prepared for this conversation for a long time. Zions hand tightened around the handle of the teacup. It was extremely agonizing I thought I had to somehow regain it. But when my lifelong efforts crumbled, I no longer had confidence in myself, so I cowardly passed the burden onto my granddaughter. The Hero, who had been silent, finally asked a question. But why did you give up on Leciel? Wouldnt it have been less painful for her if you had continued to ce your expectations on her? Zion nodded. I understand. Leciel is a very diligent child. She will undoubtedly devote her life to surpassing you and returning the title of Sword Master to the Hiyashin family. Thats true. Thats why. The swordswoman, who stopped speaking midway, looked at the Hero with a veryplex gaze. It seemed as if she were looking at something brilliant or perhaps like the jealous gaze of a younger sibling. Impossible things are impossible. Just as I was sure that Leciel would never surpass you, I am convinced that it would mean a miserable life for her. A lifelong unfulfilled wish. Zion realized at some point that she was pushing her granddaughter into that mold. I thought one person living only for the sword was enough. Because of this, Zion hoped her granddaughter would find other joys besides the sword. So she was not happy about Leciel bing the Heros disciple. She wished she could have experienced the joys that other children her age would have, like debuting in society. But due to her clumsy expression and past mistakes, misunderstandings umted, and their rtionship deteriorated endlessly. I am the problem. My social skills are disastrous. So my son and daughter-inw probably couldnt stand it and left. Zion shook her head as if in self-reproach. So social skills are inherited. Thinking that, the Hero asked a second question. I understand the circumstances, but what does this story have to do with our rematch? It does have relevance. Zions eyes sank. I thought Leciel would be like me. What do you mean? I thought she would be overwhelmed by your overwhelming talent and despair, just like me. Zion recalled the extreme scenes she had seen before. And Leciels figure within them. But my granddaughter seemed to have no intention of giving up, even after watching you closely for almost a year. Instead, it seemed like she was enjoying the process of striving towards you. In fact, she was rapidly approaching you, almost unrecognizably. The Hero had sent Leciel abundant support and encouragement from the beginning of the semester. That was what made her like that. Zion had nted the goal of bing a Hero in Leciel. The driving force to strive for one goal was none other than him. Zions slumped shoulders straightened up. In the end, what I wanted to make her give up was my own arrogance and selfishness. Now breaking the Hero was no longer just her own goal. Zions face became somewhat relieved but also disappointed. Unlike me, Leciel was someone who could pick up the sword even after directly seeing and experiencing your overwhelming talent. Only then did the Hero slowly understand why Zion demanded a rematch. Are you ashamed ofying down your sword? A little. Zion smiled faintly. But thats not all. Then? Our rematch will greatly benefit Leciel. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Then she extended the palm of her hand, which had been wrapped around the teacup. The calloused palm. I know that I am not qualified to stand in front of you as a rival. Though her ghostly face still remained, traces of havingid down the sword for a long time were evident. But! I can at least point the way for my granddaughter, who wants to defeat you and reim the title of Hiyashins Sword Master. A sharp momentum burst forth from Zions body like a de. So please, will you spar with me once again? The Hero looked at Zion silently. This rematch would not only help Leciel grow but also be a turning point in her life. And it would be in a positive direction. He felt confident about that. As a teacher, he couldnt avoid it. The Hero nodded. All right. But I also have a favor to ask. A favor? Zions pupils narrowed. Go ahead. * * * Meanwhile, in the temporary amodation for parents, a modest party was underway. Extreme parents spent a pleasant time exchanging stories about their children. Ravias, after choosing some influential figures and engaging in conversation several times, quietly returned to his room. Click- The moment the door closed. The friendly smile on his lips froze coldly. He irritably threw off his coat onto the floor. Constructive conversations arent going on anywhere. To Raviass great regret, the theme of the party was about the children. Laughing and chatting, sucking up to each others children, was something Ravias found rather ridiculous. I deeply regret sending him to the academy. Naturally, Luke meant nothing as a son to Ravias. The numerous step-sons in the mercenary corps were no different. They were mere tools for building Raviass kingdom. Tools to maintain, expand, and defend it. Luke was simply the most useful and promising among them. The problem is that if I leave it like this, it loses its utility. Ravias recalled the footage he had seen in the ssroom earlier. In the footage, Luke was gradually changing from the person he knew. How much I did make him into the most suitable version. Ravias remembered the many things he had done for Lukes optimization over time. He got rid of the mistress who was trying to act as a mother figure. He personally taught him swordsmanship and martial arts, and entrusted him with missions to instill the proper mindset of a mercenary. He even supervised the executions of subordinates who vited discipline. And gradually, Luke was honed into a sharp tool of Raviass own making. He had even gone so far as to consider passing on the mantle of session, which was exceptionally satisfying for Ravias. Thunk- Ravias sat down on the couch with a displeased expression. Tch, I need toe up with a n to restore things to how they were. His hand reached for a bottle of alcohol on the nearby table. His gaze flickered towards the view of Rosenstark shining beyond the curtains. Or more precisely, towards the professors quarters in the distance. Raviass brow furrowed even more. The Hero hasnt contacted me. He had clearly mentioned having something to discuss as a parent, but this was an obvious disregard. Ravias spat on the floor in annoyance. In truth, he despised the Hero. The same mercenary background, yet he acts so high and mighty. Beliefs, righteousness, honor, justice. Ravias felt that he was a thorough hypocrite, sacrificing his life for such illusions. It seemed that Luke was beginning to be influenced by him as well, which he found even more displeasing. Ravias shook his head bitterly and retrieved a stack of documents from a bag beside the couch. Shuffle- They were new contracts that hade in. Surprisingly, some of them were written in code. As Ravias skimmed through the contents, his eyes trembled slightly. Huh, how coincidental. Ravias had been conducting a few projects quietly for years. One of them involved artificially manipting the direction of the monster waves near the Great Mountain Range. A very lucrative contract indeed. Since the client could redirect monster waves to another location rtively inexpensively, it was profitable. Ravias could earn more gold than usual, and if the construction was done properly, there would be no traces, so there was no risk of exposure. Win-win. Of course, the territories the monster hordes headed towards would suffer, but I dont care about that. They were weak and deserved to suffer. From the beginning, Ravias had avoided meddling with territories where the three families were strong, fearing retaliation. Anyway, now, coincidentally, a contract hade in from an area he knew. Themerin near Solintail. If I conduct business here, Solintail will be a mess. The face of the girl who had been talking back to him just a few days ago came to mind. And the sight of Luke hiding her protectively behind him. If he epted this contract, that confident face would surely turn pale with fear. Ravias chuckled as he took a swig of whiskey. Its risky to mess with the Heros disciple, but. When a step-son doesnt listen, theres no shortage of negotiation cards to y. Well, its unlikely to happen. He would submit Lukes withdrawal application tomorrow and take him away. Then he would bid farewell to this pitiful and hypocritical ce forever. Ravias closed his eyes as he finished the remaining whiskey. He had no idea what would happen to him tomorrow. It was beyond his expectations. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 235 Chapter 235 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The second day of the invitation event started in a much better atmosphere than the first day. The children, filled with pride thanks to the video of the Hero, made efforts to show their achievements, and the parents watched them with willing hearts. And so, various demonstrations continued. Intensive physical training as usual and practical training using various facilities of the academy. Practical training using various ritual equipment made by Noubelmag also took ce. The finale was each party teaming up to subdue the monsters provided by the Monster Research Institute. The Hero watched all of these processes with satisfied eyes. Excellent as expected. It was a repeated phrase countless times. The children showed their skills without any mistakes, and the parents watched with admiration the polished appearance of the children. They are like active warriors on the battlefield. They seem much stronger than ordinary knights. Oh my, what happened to our children over the past year? With pouringpliments, the childrens expressions brightened more and more. The only stiff face was Lukes. Hwoong- The boy swung his sword. It had been a long time since he held a sword, as he hadpletely changed his main weapon to a greatsword. Feeling the unfamiliar texture of the handle in his palm, Luke remembered the advice of the Hero. Your task in this observation lesson is to distract Ravias. Hmm Should I conceal my full strength during the demonstration? No. Luke recalled the Heros next words. You should rampage like you used to. Hepletely activated the martial techniques that he hadnt consciously used before. Lukes body was engulfed in a red aura, and his veins bulged so much that they showed outside his clothes. With congested eyes and a sudden madness, his pale face turned even whiter. Wheeiiing-! The head of the greatsword began to crush the monsters in front of him with the sound of a swarm of bees. The audience in the stands marveled at the intensity of the performance. The parents near Ravias even spoke to him. Thats the famous Aureum Mercenary Corps martial technique. Its really powerful. Id like to teach it to our family knights if I have the chance. I heard that he created the martial technique himself Youre truly remarkable! Ravias also had a not-so-unhappy expression. It was because Luke had performed ording to his way. Satisfied narrowed eyes. Luke nced at Ravias and reyed the conversation with the Hero in his mind. The you that Ravias remembers and the current you arepletely different. You learned Felsons martial technique and studied my swordsmanship. And based on that, youve had countless real battles and duels with geniuses every day. It meant to deceive Ravias as if there was no difference in skillpared to before. Such a misconception in life and death situations would be fatal. Moreover, he now had a secret weapon. I can do it. Luke tightly gripped the greatswords handle. Life and death In fact, even after deciding to do Dellum, Luke had wondered if there was another way. Should he try to convince Ravias to stay in the West and handle the remaining missions instead of going to the East? Wouldnt it be better to take a leave of absence rather than dropping out? He would return after the Second Eastern War was over. Even now, with so many parents gathered, he had imagined a way to expose Raviass long-standing abuse and ask for help. But after considering everything, Luke could only give up. These are all hopeless methods. Persuasion? It wouldnt work at all. A leave of absence was almost the same as dropping out. Why did he follow him, knowing when the Second Eastern War would end? Thest option was to stay at the academy for the time being but Raviass retaliation would surely follow. The remainingrades in the mercenary corps or friends. The relentless and cruel Ravias would somehow seek revenge. In the end, the answer is Dellum. The sacred duel, Dellum. This was the regtion followed by mercenaries like nationalw, listed as the first regtion, and the rules and details were as follows. Both parties must agree to start. Once agreed, one cannot refuse the duel. You cannot use a proxy. If you refuse after agreeing, you will be forced to retire in disgrace. The fight ends only when one of them dies. As a winners grace, you may set conditions to spare the loser. (But since it is usually treated as dishonorable, death is chosen mostly) A guild witness must be present. Before the start of the battle, any harm to the opponents life is considered a disqualification. Once again going over the rules, a chill passed through Lukes spine. Father will definitely try to kill me. But what reced the fear and tension was an unexpected emotion. Thump- The presence of the beating heart was felt more intensely than ever. There were memories of the past ten years shing through his mind. People screaming in agony at the gallows due to the necks of colleagues and the results of missions, The cruel punishment carried out behind the tents in his younger days. The dreadful madness and impulses injected through martial techniques, and so on. Through such experiences, Luke had given up many things. He had thought he would live tethered to Raviass reins for the rest of his life. However, life at the academy had shown him that there was another path. Like a mirage, an opportunity to grasp such a meaningful life. His friends who had fought against trials without yielding showed him. Bwoong- With determination, Luke swung his greatsword with all his might. Kieeak- As the head of thest monster burst like a watermelon, the observation lesson came to an end. Apuse and cheers resounded in the practice room. The parents in the audience stands approached to wee their children. Ravias was also there. Hoo. Luke took a deep breath and nced at the back of the practice room. There, the guild employee whom the Hero had secretly arranged was blinking awkwardly and looking at Luke. He looked very anxious, probably because he knew that Dellum would proceed. It seemed as if he was asking if Luke was really going to do it. . Luke ignored that gaze and stood in front of Ravias. And he spoke up. Father, I have something to say. Ravias smirked mockingly. Then, before Luke could say anything, he spoke first. Youre going to say that youre not leaving the academy, right? Thats correct. And. Hwaak- It was then that Ravias suddenly grabbed the back of Lukes neck. Surprised, Luke was led into Raviass arms. It might have looked like an embrace from the side, but the hand gripping Lukes neck felt as powerful as tearing metal apart. Kuk-. As Luke struggled to breathe, Ravias whispered in his ear. I knew this would happen. I knew this damn academy would instill confidence in you. Kuk, Father. But its okay. Whether you like it or not, youll leave the academy ande with me. I guarantee it. What on earth is he saying? The moment Luke looked up at Ravias, feeling the pain, Raviass eyes flickered red. This is your fathers business. Surely not. Lukes pupils trembled violently. An arrogant and cruel smile appeared on Raviass lips. Its quite coincidental that I can touch Solintail too. That sentence. The moment those words pierced his ears. Luke forgot all the ns he had made for the past few days. Originally, after the invitation event was over, he nned to call Ravias aside and request Dellum, offering some conditions if he won to spare Ravias. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Although the Hero objected, Ravias was the one who saved Lukes life, as he had raised him for more than a decade. There were even moments when he showed a fatherly appearance, albeit fake. But Luke forgot all of that. Why are you working so hard? If I work a little harder, the future residents will be safer, right? Do you know? Even now, theres a new grave being made behind Solintail Castle? I want to protect them. Come to Solintailter, Luke. Theres a ce I want to show you. The voice of Evergreen, which had been ringing loudly, soon disappeared. Ah. What filled the bleached mind was something bright red. It was at the same time that Ravias, feeling uneasy, looked at Luke with confusion. Luke stepped back, and in the next moment, he kicked Ravias. The series of movements went smoother and faster than he had thought. Pweeok- Ravias blocked the crossed arms with a kick. However, his body was already flying through the air. Ravias barely managed to regain his bnce andnded among the astonished parents. His face was as red as blood. What! Confusion and anger quickly crossed his crimson face. For Ravias, it was the most bewildering feeling he had experienced in decades. But unfortunately, his turmoil was not over yet. Ravias Selsood!!! A cry that sounded like vomiting blood echoed loudly in the practice room. The indoor space quickly fell silent, then soon became noisy again with a roaring sound. The children and parents looked at Luke and Ravias with eyes filled with disbelief. It was because the momentum was too intense to be considered a parent-child quarrel. Jebuk- Luke stepped forward, piercing through those puzzled gazes. Anger, fear, injustice, hatred, regret. Numerous emotions swept across the boys face, then gradually faded. People watched in silence, not even daring to breathe. Lukes mouth opened only after he regained his nk expression. The son of the nameless, mercenary Luke requests Dellum from the mercenary Ravias Selsood. The sound of inhaling and short cries echoed like an echo. Even those who were not mercenaries knew what Dellum was. It was a life-and-death duel, and once requested, it couldnt be avoided, a sacred duel. The moment the boy uttered those words. One of their lives was as good as gone. It was then, in the back of the ssroom, that the trembling guild employee stepped forward as if pushed by the Heros gaze. He opened his mouth in dismay. Hey, mercenary Luke! Why do you request Dellum! Luke replied promptly. To no longer entrust my life, my future, and precious things to those filthy hands. The employee blinked his eyes tightly at the shocking answer. Even though he has a long history as a guild employee, he has only managed Dellum a few times. And even the Dellum between the Mercenary King and his sessor. Trembling, he turned to Ravias. Hey, mercenary Ravias! Will you ept! Raviasughed slowly. A fierce and cruelughter slowly descended upon his face like a spider on a web. Ha, hahaha, hahaha. He, who had thought of him as a long-term pawn, was kicked by his sons foot and rolled over. In front of numerous influential figures and the Hero. This was the worst humiliation for Ravias, who had finally reached a not-so-funny position. It was also a moment when the deeply hidden sense of inferiority exploded. Hahaha! A powerful mana was contained in theughter and echoed. Everyone except the Hero and Zion grimaced and covered their ears. It was the moment when Raviass sociable mask waspletely removed. All the calctions that had been swirling in his mind disappeared. In their ce was a terrifying determination. Ravias nodded vigorously. I ept. Wiiiiing- As soon as he finished speaking, red mana swirled in his hands and quickly condensed into the shape of a huge greatsword. Since its an initiation, lets start right away. After Lukes dark eyes lingered on Evergreen, whose mouth was firmly shut, he turned to Ravias. Alright, you bastard. A fierce energy emanated from Luke and Ravias. Wiiiiing- Approaching with their greatswords, the two resembled each other as if reflected in a mirror. It was a critical situation. It was then that Felson and the former Swordmaster sprang out between them. Before Ravias could say anything, Zion spoke up. We have no right to disturb your Dellum, but Now its in front of the kids. now there are children present. Do you n to fight a bloodbath in front of children? Felson intervened. It would be best to schedule a separate time and ce. Raviass hesitation was short-lived. In fact, fighting a ughter in front of so many people was more disadvantageous than advantageous. Although he had just tried to fight without reason, it would be better to do as they said now. His ferocious face slowly rxed. Ravias nodded. As you say. Then, his dense eyes turned to Luke. Are you okay, son? Luke also silently extended his hand. After exchanging a nce, Ravias and Luke left the practice room. Only then did the suffocating tension ease. Their bewildered gazes finally reached the Hero. They were curious about what expression he, who could be called the responsible one, would have. But the Hero just watched the back of the father and son walking away with an inscrutable face. . . . One day ago. Its a big deal that youre asking me for a favor. The Hero nodded slowly at Zions puzzled expression. I didnt originally n on it, but I need your help, Zion. Its quite a demanding request for a rematch. Ill listen to anything reasonable. After hesitating for a moment, the Hero answered. Do you know one of Zeros blessings, Severance? Are you joking? Of course I do. Ive used it as a reference a lot because its simr to the Heart Sword and its principles. Then you probably also know how to use Severance most effectively. Theyre both simr, so I suppose so. Even if Im like this, Heart Sword is something that I have been honing for decades. The Heros eyes twinkled. I need you to teach a child. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 236 Chapter 236 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Returning to the dormitory for new students, Luke headed straight to his room and began to tidy up his belongings. The date and ce of the Dellum were decided by agreement one hourter, where the guilds initiates and participants would gather. Until then, the participants had to tidy up their belongings and move to the participants lodging before Dellum began, a tradition to prevent ambushes and various schemes. I should leave soon. Sweep- There wasnt much unnecessary luggage to begin with. Unlike other mercenaries, Luke didnt have luxury items. Most of the allowance Ravias gave him was donated to the families of his executedrades or to the areas affected by hismissions. Thanks to this, there were no significant belongings in Lukes room besides necessities. If anything, there were only the pictures Leciel gave to her friends. Scenes of sitting around a campfire and chatting after training. ying leisurely while swimming at the resort. A few rough sketches were scattered on the desk. Luke packed them into his bag one by one. The boys face was expressionless, but his feelings were quiteplex. The win rate is about fifty-fifty. Actually, it was quite good. Until he consulted with the Hero, he never even thought about winning. Even now, afterpleting all the preparations, he couldntpletely assure victory. Thats how terrifying Ravias was to Luke. Since the beginning of his memory, he had only shown a fierce and powerful figure, the tyrant. Luke sighed as he opened his luggage. Theres nothing much to tidy up. Once the luggage was packed, the next task was to write his will. Luke, who had spread a nk sheet of paper on the desk, smiled as he began to write. A will. Originally, it wouldnt be unfamiliar for a mercenary. Usually, before embarking on a dangerousmission, a will was always written. But Luke had never written a will before. There were no words or sentiments he wanted to leave behind in the world until now. One, right now. Luke realized that he had more to say than he thought as he stared at the ink pen on the inkwell. First, to my friends. Gulp- It was then that Gerald opened his door without knocking. Behind him stood Ban with a sternexpression. Both of them looked at Luke with the papers and ink pen on the desk. Luke calmly put the paper into the drawer and faced his friends. Gerald bared his teeth. Hey. What. Is that a will? Yeah. Gerald pulled at his hair. Ugh! Why are you suddenly doing this! Dellum, thats about the life and death of mercenaries, right? Why are you doing that with your father!? Its not sudden. Well, what the hell is? Ban grabbed Lukes wrist with a grim face. Come out for a moment. Im busy. Everyones waiting in the lounge. Even Evergreen. You dont just want to leave like this, do you? Am I wrong? After a brief nce around the dim room, Luke followed them to the lounge. He held his bag in his hand. In the lounge, his friends, including Evergreen, were waiting for him. Surprisingly, even the ssmates he didnt think were close were standing awkwardly. Even his long-lost enemym Deindart was looking at Luke with aplicated expression. The central seat seemed to be prepared for him. Luke headed there. A moment of silence. Evergreen, with a new expression Luke had never seen before, stepped forward. Although the other children seemed to have a lot to say, they seemed to yield the turn for her. Luke. Lukes favorite emerald eyes were on him. But this time, he couldnt match her gaze for a long time. Evergreens tightly clenched fist was pale without blood. Why are you doing this? I may not know all your circumstances but do you really have to do it this way? Luke slowly nodded his head. Yes, I have to. Its about life and death. You could die, couldnt you? A moist voice. Evergreen reached out and grabbed Lukes shoulder. Do you have to? Dellum is inevitable. Even if its avoidable, he wont avoid it. Because Ravias could reach his ws at Evergreen at any moment like this. Evergreens grip tightened. I also know what Dellum is. They say mercenaries who give up midway have to retire with disgrace worse than death. With her forehead buried in Lukes chest, she shouted. Where in the world is more disgraceful than death? Are you worried that you wont be able to live as a mercenary anymore? Thene to Solintail. Ill double the guards sry for you. If its not enough, Ill work harder to earn more money and give you even more! So, please, please. Luke slowly wiped away Evergreens tears. Evergreen couldnt continue speaking and choked up. From that point on, the childrens protests poured out. You cant just run away? This is insane, Luke. No matter how strong you are, its impossible for you against your father! You know that better than anyone. Or try asking the professor. Surely he wont turn a blind eye, right? Well talk to our parents too. Friends angry, crying, and pleading. Luke silently looked at their faces. He was truly sorry to his friends but. Im more determined now. He felt that he had to win no matter what. Luke hugged Evergreen silently once and then looked at his friends. He left the dormitory. . . . Shortly after, the guild initiator and adjutants gathered at the guild to negotiate the date and location. Lukeid down his conditions first. I want it to be private. The expression of the initiates subtly changed at his words. Usually, participants wanted Dellum to be as grand as possible. It was in front of numerous spectators. It was partly because they wanted the victory to shine more brightly, and partly because they hoped that any potential defeat wouldnt be too lonely. Because I dont want my friends to see. In private, only guild officials (broadcasting through video beads) and the audience invited by the participants could enter. Surprisingly, Ravias also agreed to Lukes conditions without any objection. I cant afford to show my stepson being killed in front of the parents. There was no reason for him to gather people. Quietly and swiftly. The fact that the rebellious stepson and member died in Dellum was enough. But a little mischief should be fine. As always, Luke would bid farewell to his precious ones before his eyes. The difference this time is that the scoundrel is decisively leaving. After finishing his thought, Ravias smiled at the staff. I ept. However, I have one more condition to add. Yes. Please tell me. Because my body is so fragile. I hope Dellum will be held by tomorrow. The employee looked a bit awkward. Of course, it was almost held on the spot earlier, but Dellum, being a duel to the death, usually required quite a long period of preparation. Mercenary Luke, are you okay with that? Luke looked Ravias in the eye. I dont n to drag it out either. ng- It was a moment when their stamps were stamped on the contract of Dellum. The time was tomorrow afternoon at eleven oclock. The ce was the abandoned training ground on the outskirts of Rosenstark. It was a ce where no one could identally find. * * * Shh. A few unwee guests sneaked in silently to the ce where no one could identally find about ten minutes before Dellum began. Whispered voices resounded through the thickets. Is this the ce? Shh, lower your voice. But is this really the ce? I dont see anyone. Geez, Im also here for the first time, how would I know? Shut up, Gerald! Karen, youre the one being too loud. Thats mean, Leciel! Thest sigh was shared by Ban and Evergreen. Currently, they were located on the outskirts of the Rosenstark estate. It was a ce where abandoned facilities were located. Ugh, I dont know the way. Rosenstark wasrger than the estates of most noble families. Moreover, this area was so overgrown due to long neglect that it was very difficult to find a way. Gerald, nervously taking out his pocket watch, raised his voice again. No, wasnt that note sent by Luke? What if its a joke? This morning. A note arrived at the dormitory. Tomorrow afternoon at eleven oclock. Old practice room B in Rosenstark. Private Dellum scheduled. The children panicked and came here on time. Stop fidgeting. Hell tell us if its true or not. Karen cautiously pulled on the leash she held in her hand. Heh- Shadow followed quietly. When Karen brought the cloth she held in her hand close to her nose, the creature wagged its tail and started to lead again. Is this the ce? Then is that building over there? One old building revealed itself through the bushes. The children intuitively realized that was their destination and hurried their steps. No, they tried to. Jo, good evening, Professor. Ahahaha. The children, who found the Hero leaning against the entrance, froze as if turned into ice. But the Heros actions were unexpected by all of them. Huh- A brief sigh followed. Sshh- [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The Hero stepped aside and gestured for them to enter. If you go back, theres a ce where you can watch Dellum without being noticed. He even gave them such a tip. While the children stood dumbfounded. The Hero vanished into the building with a swift turn. They looked at each other with iprehensible expressions Its already 10:58! Hurry! Immediately, they started running along the path the Hero had shown them. Crash-! The loud noise struck the childrens ears. It was a littleter that they found their friend, battered and bruised. . . . Following the Heros advice, they found a ce along the side road where they could overlook the location of Dellum. Although the distance was quite far, it was no problem for the children who could enhance their vision with mana. But the children were not happy at all. Geralds muffled sigh echoed. What is that. Evergreen couldnt even speak. Just watched Dellum with eyes full of anger. Thunk- At the same time, Raviass whip hit Lukes back. Argh! As blood spurted from the boys mouth, Karen turned back, covering her eyes. The current time was three minutes past eleven. Only three minutes had passed since Dellum began, but Luke was already soaked in blood and cornered. Karen murmured in despair. Seeing Luke like this It was Luke who had one of the greatest skills at the extreme. He had shown himself capable of handling any difficult task or training with ease, so much so that there were quite a few juniors who considered him even more impressive than Leciel. If you follow orders well, Ill somehow solve it. So, trust me and follow me. How much his attitude had been a source of strength. He had endured against powerful demons even in the north, creating a stepping stone for the children to turn the tide. Therefore, his current helpless state came as a huge shock to the children. Naturally, they expected it would be difficult to defeat Ravias. But, they never imagined he would be so overwhelmed. Why, why are you just taking it! To describe their fighting in one word would be like looking in a mirror. The weapons they used. The form of swinging the weapon. The force put into the ground and the rotating torso. Even the way mana manifested power in their movements. Everything was exactly the same. Except for one thing. The strength. In other words, the destructive power was different. Every time Luke exchanged blows with Ravias, he was being shredded by overwhelming force. Its toote to regret it! Woom- As Raviass eyes gleamed with madness, they illuminated the midnight darkness. The attack power and destructive power were maximized by the soaring madness. Bap- The sound of bones breaking echoed from Lukes left shoulder. ! The children, afraid of being noticed, couldnt even scream and silently cried out. As the adopted son, they had long hoped he would show some leniency But that expectation had long been shattered. Life and death, that moment pierced the childrens hearts like a knife. Thunk- Another sh. Another wound appeared on Lukes body. At that moment, Ban, who had been silent all along, spoke for the first time. Why is he fighting like that? There was no answer as everyone was focused on the fight. Only Leciel looked at him with a puzzled expression. But Ban, lost in thought, continued to murmur. Its too strange. The Luke he knows is a fighting genius. How many times had he been amazed while conducting sses and practical training together? In short, the student with the highestbat intelligence in the extreme. Lukes specialty was deriving the best results through rational and cool-headed judgment even in extremely unfavorable situations. That Luke is nning a counterattack using the same training method and fighting style as Ravias? The brown-eyed pupil slowly shook off the worry. After calming his mind, Ban looked at the battlefield where Luke and Ravias collided. Luke was still swinging his whip desperately, facing Ravias. However. Those eyes. Although Lukes dark eyes seemed to be swept away by madness at first nce. Its fake. There was no madness, pain, anxiety, or confusion inside them. Deep in his gaze, there seemed to be only cold calction without any residue of emotion. Those were eyes aiming for something. Ban unknowingly clenched his fist. Please. In the midst of that earnest gaze. Ravias, seeming to finish off the injured Luke, intensified his attack and rushed forward. What?! Suddenly, Leciel widened his eyes as if he couldnt believe it. The Severance? No, that cant be. While Ban was shaking his head. Crash-! The fiercely charging Ravias had already reached Lukes nose. Approaching the injured left shoulder, Ravias. ! Due to the subtle angle, it was difficult for Luke to respond. In a desperate situation, the children forgot they should hide and screamed out, each in their own way. Some even turned their backs. Only Ban and Leciel kept their eyes wide open. Poof-! Finally, spurting blood shot up. The sound of blood sttering on the battlefield filled the air. Participants. Hero. Children. Everyone fell silent. In the silence, the only sound was Raviass severed left wrist. Aaargh! As the terrible scream echoed, blood slid down the invisible de. Severance. The ability to manifest the conceptual power of cutting off. Even with his injured shoulder, Luke was able to wield it with all his might. Luke alternated between looking at the severed wrist and the howling Ravias lying on the ground like a beast. Ugh. His vision blurred and his breath became heavy. Having endured Raviass blows and wielding the Severance with all his might, his physical condition was at its worst. However. I must not fall yet. Crack- Ravias raised his mana and shook the severed edge of his wrist. Luke facing the ferocious eyes with nothing but murderous intent left in them unexpectedly smiled. Ive wanted to sever this for a long time. Even the hand that cruelly struck his body. Even this annoying fate. Even the shackles of a mercenary. Thud- At the same time, the sword fell from Lukes hand. What, whats going on? Hasnt the fight ended yet? Are you giving up? In the midst of the spectators confusion. Something heavy flew from the stands and stuck into the ground of the battlefield. Thud- A weapon very familiar to the children. Raviass face contorted in shock. Woom- The giant sword was surrounded by earth and moonlight, vibrating roughly. ng- Luke reached out his right hand and grasped the handle of the ck Hope. In his left hand was the power of Severance. Facing Ravias, who hade close enough to touch his nose, he murmured slowly. Its time for Severance. [TL/N: Nah this is peak!!!] [PR/N: Its Severing time!!] [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 237 Chapter 237 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Abandoned correctional facility bathed in dim moonlight. A few initiates and uninvited guests, along with the adversary Ravias, watched, Luke Selsood walked slowly forward. Thunk- The sound of a sword falling from his hand. Ravias expression twisted slightly. But the boy paid no mind and reached out his hand towards the sword stuck in the ground. ng- As the ck steel rose into the air with a heavy sound. Different reactions followed. A sword? Hes suddenly wielding a sword? The guild employees were surprised. il was Ravias symbolic weapon, passed down through generations. [TL/N: Pretty sure it was a sword, idk why suddenly a staff is mentioned??] [PR/N: The pyeongon is a nunchaku-like weapon used by the Joseon army, inspired by a farmers il. In the West, its known as a two-section staff.] But suddenly, a sword. Considering Dellums fate of life and death, wielding an unfamiliar weapon, even if it was the ck Hope, touted as the strongest artifact, was reckless. The children were equally surprised. Their reactions were a mixture of anticipation and concern. A sword? It might be better than facing them with the same weapon. Yeah, since hes already injured, might as well give it a try. Please The children knew best how diligently Luke had dedicated himself to swordsmanship, despite the short training period. But because the training period was so short, they expressed concern. They looked to Leciel, who had helped Lukes training the most, as if seeking reassurance. Fortunately, she was looking down at the training ground with a not-too-dark expression. Certainly Luke is more talented in swordsmanship than with il. It was almost questionable why they had relied on il until now. Moreover It seems like hes even gained Severance. The unidentified power manifested from Lukes left hand, severing Ravias wrist. That was definitely Severance. Leciel narrowed her eyes. Why has he already gained ownership of the Severance. What was most puzzling was that the manifestation waspletely different from that of the Demonic Church Leader Kalende. The movement, distribution, and emission of power. The sensation in the sequence waspared to Kalende more simr to Simr to Grandma. The power of intent emitted by Luke was remarkably refined and sophisticated. Did Grandma teach him? At the request of the professor? Leciel let out a light sigh. Anyway Be strong, Luke. Just because he gained the power of Severance didnt mean this fight became easy. Ravias was not a foe to be underestimated. Leciel looked back at the training ground. . . . A sword. A sneer lingered on Ravias lips as he looked at Luke holding the sword. Before he knew it, the bleeding from his wrist had stopped. The pain also subsided, thanks to his madness. However, his expression seemed somewhat more discontented. Ravias nced at the fallen il on the ground and muttered fiercely. Were you trying to erase all traces of this father? Luke chuckled. Ive been curious for a long time. Whoom- The ck Hope pointed at Ravias. How dare you call yourself father? Father. In his childhood, Luke thought father was someone like Ravias. A being with a cruel expression and ruthless gaze. A being who wielded reprimands and threats as easily as eating. To him, children were merely tools for maniption and transactions. But it turned out there were many great fathers in the world. Not to mention the ordinary peasant whom even Ravias scorned, who cherished and protected his offspring above all else. He sacrificed his life not out of fear and pain, but to provide love and security. Though he was just a father in name, Ravias had never fulfilled such a role even once. It was someone else who had given Luke such things. Ravias shook his head. You fool. What? In that moment. Ravias lowered his center of gravity and rushed towards Luke. A rush reminiscent of a beast. With just one arm, he struck with an incredible force. Crash-! Thus, the sh between il and the sword continued cautiously several times. Ravias looked at Luke, who disyed the swordsmanship of a hero, and began tough. So, are you nning to find a new father? What? Are you saying that the Hero will ept you as an adoptive son, in addition to his disciple? Shut up. Innocent. Think carefully if thats a position suitable for you. Despite having his wrist severed, there was no sign of anxiety on Ravias. Ravias was already confident of victory. It was thanks to Lukeying down il. With just a year of learning swordsmanship, he couldnt possibly oppose me. In fact, if Luke had only the skill level of Leciel, the course of the battle would have been even more intense. If Leciel, ustomed to handling intent, were to use Severance, she wouldnt be confined to the framework of swinging or thrusting but could use Severance freely. For example,unching the des of Severance or creating them in the air. But for Luke, such methods of operation were still difficult, and he could only use Severance as a kind of intangible sword. It means creating and then grasping it, then swinging it. Therefore, hitting the target was not easy. He didnt know when he would be hit before he knew about such abilities. If he kept his guard up, the chances of being hit by the des of Severance again were low. ng-! Having regainedposure, Ravias began to circle around Luke, unfolding a reconnaissance. Luke wielded the ck Hope in response. The admonition of the hero echoed in his mind. Forget about Severance after causing injury. Luke was surprised by the unexpected words and asked, What? Three weeks is too short a time to be ustomed to handling the power of intent. Hastily trying to use Severance will only expose vulnerabilities. But Its okay. Even if you forget about Severance, Ravias wont. Luke immediately understood the meaning of the heros words. Ravias thinks he can exploit your vulnerability just by reloading.'' Just the fact that he has Severance restricts Ravias actions in battle. Youll realize when you need to remember Severance again. It was the moment when Luke recalled the herosst words. Whoom-! il approached Luke with dozens of variations. The sound of chain striking fiercely against his ears. The hallucination of the maces illusion filled his vision. Whoom- Luke immediately used Felsons martial technique to detect the core between reality and illusion and barely avoided it. It was the moment when Ravias confident expression, convinced ofnding an effective blow, subtly stiffened. Ha! Grappling techniques. It was the moment when the stepson, who had been taught everything from one to ten, confronted him with another persons skill. To Ravias, this fact provoked strong resentment and anger. Crash-! Ravias inserted his foreleg into Lukes torso and shouted, You! Ugh-! I was born and raised as a mercenary. Ravias martial technique invoked anger and madness. With his movements bing faster and faster, Luke was busy avoiding and blocking, unable to counterattack. You sold your pride and conscience for money. Forgot about dignity and honor and rolled in the battlefield like a worm! Ugh! Do you dream of being a hero like that! The one-sided attack continued. Meanwhile, Ravias expression only grew more demonic. Why. Lukes body was battered. It was because he had endured many effective blows since the beginning of Dellum. The pain was considerable. However, since Luke wielded the ck Hope, he hadnt used Ravias martial technique at all. He fought only with the heros swordsmanship and Feelsons martial technique. As if erasing all traces left by Ravias. You hypocritical piece of shit. Ravias sneered like that. He imed the Empire artificially created idols to incite peoples heroism. So, Luke wanted toe to Rosenstark to confirm. Whether he was really such a great person. Or just an idol created by Ravias words. He was really that person. The salvation Luke received at that moment was difficult to exin. It was also the first time he felt such a strong desire. I want to be like that person. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Looking at Ravias, an emotion he had never felt before surged within him. Luke murmured quietly. Yes, Ivee a long way. He wielded the heros sword, confronting his own past. As he realized this fact, the fear and pain that had enveloped him since the beginning of Dellum gradually began to fade away. Im moving forward Im improving. Suddenly, Luke remembered the question he had thrown to the hero at the drinking table. Can someone like me live as splendidly as the professor or the other friends? That answer led him here. Kwaaang-! Luke intercepted the flying il with his sword. Have you already given up!? The two staggered back. One step from Ravias. But Luke retreated four steps. Yet, Ravias seemed somewhat anxious. What is it? Due to numerousbat experiences, Ravias possessed exceptional analytical skills. Therefore, he was even more confident of victory. Swordsmanship learned in just a year. No matter how talented Luke was, he believed that after a few exchanges, the underlying truth would be revealed. But why? Luke was holding off the attacks. It doesnt make sense. Quietly recalling the image of the person he admired and idolized the most in his mind. Thus, he was deflecting each of Ravias strikes. Ravias, as if determined, opened his eyes wide. Continuing like this will be disadvantageous. The wrist injury was the problem. Even if he staunchly applied pressure, it was still a severed limb. With his left handpletely incapacitated, his attacks would be predictable, and if Luke managed tond a blow on his upper body I need to end this quickly before other variables arise. Wuuuuung- As his martial technique reached its climax, its destructive power was maximized. His body condition isnt normal either. Engaging in a firepower battle is the best option. Ravias eyes gradually clouded over. The frenzy spreading like mespletely engulfed him. In fact, it wasnt a wrong judgment. The more his martial technique intensified, the more it pushed his physical abilities to extremes. As soon as I sense the intent, I must react immediately. He had already pioneered to the extent of sensing intent. With the explosive increase in physical abilities he had now, he should be able to react sufficiently to dodge the intent of the sword. Its over! Ravias, havingpleted all calctions, immediately detonated the mana throughout his body. Now! It was at that moment when Luke poured all the mana he had into the ck Hope. Brief screams erupted from the onlookers mouths. Why? Foolhardy! The opponent was gaining momentum. Normally, Luke would have missed the attack or focused on defense to seize an opportunity. But a head-on confrontation. It was too bold a challenge in a situation with such a severe disparity in strength. Even Leciels face contorted. Youre arrogant! tion spread across Ravias face. Its a chance for a reversal! The baptism of victory. It wasnt an exaggeration that pouring out all mana would lead to a contest of stamina. The loser would suffer severe injuries. Whether it was a severed limb or not, it didnt matter. No! At the moment when the children, who had forgotten they were watching, let out cries, a sh ensued. Kwaaaang-! il and the ck Hope collided. To everyones surprise, upon impact, the mana surrounding Luke shattered into pieces. The ck Hope quickly lost its light. If it had been any other weapon, it would have shattered into fragments immediately. In recoil, the boy knelt, blood trickling from his mouth. Even from his torn grip, fresh blood flowed. It was a critical injury that required immediate transfer to the infirmary. The oue of the match was decided in an instant. Considering the tense atmosphere that had prevailed, the shock was even greater. A cold silence descended. Oh, no. Luke! Get up! The children looked with shocked eyes at Luke, who was kneeling, and at Ravias standing tall in front of him. Evergreen rushed towards the battlefield, howling, only to be stopped. The unexpected figure to intervene was at that moment. Its over. With arms crossed, the Hero stood motionless. In contrast to the fact that he had just witnessed the death of his disciple, his demeanor was remarkably calm, which brought the children back to their senses. Simultaneously, stifled groans echoed from the ground. Click- It was from Ravias. Tsutsutsutsu- With blurred eyes, he looked at the wound that started from his chest and extended to his abdomen. How? Surprisingly, the answer came from the hidden corners where the children were hiding. Leciel muttered with admiration. He deliberately concealed the edge of intent beneath his attacks with intense gestures. Intentionally drawing all the mana into the ck Hope, heyered the edge of intent within it. Normally, Ravias would have seen through this deception at once, but he was already engulfed in madness, fiercely attacking and defending with all his might. It was impossible for him to react to the second ovepping edge of intent when he became aware of its presence. Huk Ravias fell to the ground, clutching the wound. Luke looked at him through his blurry vision. Ravias desperately tried to block the torn part of the wound. This was a scene he had never imagined. Did I win? Luke slowly stood up, his breath steady. It didnt even feel real. And it wasnt as joyous as he had thought. It just felt unfamiliar to be in this position, looking down at Ravias. Likewise, it would be unfamiliar for Ravias to look up at him. It was a situation neither of them had experienced before. Kuluk. Ravias looked at Luke, coughing up blood. When their eyes met, Luke remembered the words he had to say. With a grimace, he spoke each word as if chewing them. You made me cut down people like family to me. Ravias sneered. Thats right. You made me see the blood of innocent people. It was a suppressed groan of a sentence. A faint resentment settled on Lukes face. Because of you, I lived like trash in a dustbin. Thats right, you became that kind of person. And youll continue to live like that. No. Luke raised the ck Hope. Ravias scoffed at his appearance. Hehe, I see. Youre enjoying the feeling of being a hero who defeated the viin. Luke raised his head expressionlessly. A hero Im not even aiming for that. Ravias eyebrows twitched. Im just going to be a better person. Underneath Ravias, desire was suppressed. Luke tightened his grip on the hilt, remembering the answer the hero had given him. As long as there is a heart that wants to move forward and improve, humans are no different from stars. Sometimes, clouds may obscure their brilliance. But the fact that they shine remains unchanged. Luke, you will be a good person. The boy lowered his sword. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 238 Chapter 238 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 This is a story from a distant past. Hey, Ravias. Have you chosen your first weapon? Ive picked this one. I like its weightiness. A mace? Thats a good choice. What about you? Ill go with a sword. Ravias looked puzzled. There are plenty of other weapons that can make you stronger much faster, why choose a sword? Well Ravias confidently presented his chosen weapon. Just by practicing with this mace for three hours, you could break the bones of a sword master who has trained for a year. But even with that, youd be no match for me. . Just kidding, loosen up a bit. Ravias journey to bing a mercenary wasnt much different from that of other mercenaries. He didnt want to die a boring farmer. He wanted to make money, achieve sess, marry a pretty woman, and livefortably. So he left his hometown and ventured into the city with a friend by his side. They grew up together, but they were very different. Yes, quite different. Though both were born into humble peasant families, he was somehow different. He admired and pursued virtues, beliefs, and principles rted to mercenaries, and he even seeded. Thanks to his remarkable talent with the sword, which made Ravias talent seem insignificant. Despite being born with such talent He retired faster than anyone else. Getting married to a woman he met during a mission. She was the daughter of a rural noble that they rescued, and also the woman Ravias fell for. But she chose his friend over Ravias, and the two settled in her estate. He chose to be a mere captain receiving a meager sry. Ravias couldnt understand. If it was his friends talent, he could surely amass wealth and fame, so why settle for that? Fool. And the foolish woman who chose that fool. It was from then that an indescribable feeling began to bloom in Ravias heart. I hope well meet again someday, Ravias. I hope youll leave this stinking battlefield soon too. What nonsense. Ravias chuckled. Yes, the day we meet again hase. Several yearster, a dungeon containing artifacts of immense value was discovered on the estate where his friend stayed. It was right after a massive band of thieves raided the ce. His friend, who had longid down his sword, couldnt confront the band of thieves. When Ravias arrived with his mercenary band, everything was already over. The guard captains mansion. Under the bodies of the coupley a crying newborn. A noisy, squirming little boy, struggling to survive. Looks just like him. ck hair, a straight face, dark eyes, and arge build. Ravias chuckled at the sight of Luke beyond the falling ck Hope Dying in front of his own adopted son. What a ridiculous and pitiful situation. People would forget how he lived. They would only remember this absurd death. Come to think of it, thats not such a bad thing. That was Ravias final thought. . . . The news of Lukes remarkable victory spread slowly but surely. The one who disposed of the parents at a school event. There were brief ominous rumors at the academy, but they quickly faded away. Thanks to the extreme children patrolling the streets. . But they were struggling with how to treat Luke. Should they congratte him? Offer words offort? Or just keep their mouths shut? In the face of hesitant friends consideration, Luke simply smiled. The fierce and sharp feeling from the boy was fading away. But he was exuding a stronger, sturdier atmosphere. Like a hero. Having faced life and death, achieved victory, he seemed to have gained new aplishments. It was a congrattory asion. He began to settle Ravias legacy a weekter. When applying for Dellum, each contestant sets conditions for each other. Luke, who would fight for his life anyway, demanded full authority over the Aureum Mercenaries and Ravias entire estate. Surprisingly, Ravias agreed. Even Luke couldnt fully understand what he was thinking. Only He probably thought it would be better for me to inherit the estate. As someone who viewed his subordinates as mere pawns, it might have seemed natural. But Luke didnt want to lead the Aureum Mercenaries. He had found his calling in the life of a mercenary. He passed on the position of the next leader to one of the officers of the Aureum Mercenaries. The new leader was a man named Delheim, a rare mercenary with principles who had strong support from the lower-ranking members. He might be able to fill Ravias vacancy well. Of course, participating in the Eastern expedition is out of the question now As hisrades wouldnt lose their limbs, it might be for the best. Its like everything is being resolved as if following a predetermined procedure. It was truly fascinating how everything seemed daunting until dealing with Ravias. Thest task was to sort through the belongings Ravias left at the parents lodging. Luxuries. Considering he wouldnt stay for more than a few days, why did he bring so many expensive items? Hoursses, jewels, essories, and so on. Selling them immediately could fetch hundreds of gold. Luke collected them all. Surely there would be a useful purpose for them. Huh? It was then that Luke discovered a notebook in Ravias bag. It was an unbelievably ordinary and worn-out notebook amidst all the shy items, making it even more conspicuous. Luke slowly read the title of the notebook. Memoirs. The expression in the boys eyes as he looked down at the cover became momentarilyplex. But the hesitation didntst long. -Whoosh It didnt take long for the memoirs, piled up next to the firece in one corner of the room, to burn and turn into ashes. Its time to let go of the past. Luke emerged from the parents lodging with a much lighter expression. It was the end of a long wander. Simultaneously,ments appeared in front of the heros eyes. Prepared logs were stacked in the firece Understanding of Luke Selsood deepens. Understanding Level: 30/100 -> 50/100 * * * Meanwhile, the hero had been busily dealing with matters that had been dyed due to the invitation event and Dellum. The urgent issues to address were as follows: First, identify the traitor. Second, wee the injured Dawn Knights. Third, spar with Zion Hiyashin. Fourth, resolve the curse, Dark Impulse, and so on. Truly, there was a plethora of work to be done. The hero decided to tackle them in order of urgency. First, lets identify the traitor. But things dont always go as nned. The task of identifying the traitor, which was expected to proceed smoothly, encountered difficulties from the start. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 No members meeting the criteria? With a perplexed expression, the hero asked Mother Ghost through themunication bead. Are you sure? Yes, weve investigated all retired members as well there was not a single member who met the criteria you mentioned. Laces prophecy had been as follows: If you fail toplete the seasons within 18 days, you will die at the hands of a traitor from the Dawn Knights, along with some of your disciples. Thanks to this prophecy, the hero was able to narrow down the conditions for the traitor. Someone with enough power to threaten him and his disciples. And someone who was near the northern region at that time. During the height of the Eastern expedition, most of the members were heading east. Naturally, they should have been easy to find But What on earth happened? Could the prophecy have been wrong? As the hero pondered, Mother Ghost cautiously spoke up. How would you like to handle the injured members who are currently heading to Rosenstark? Originally, they should have arrived at the academy several weeks ago. However, due to various injuries, some of them had stopped in a city in the central region. Only Felson had rushed to Rosenstark due to the invitation event. They were now on the brink of arrival, just a few days away. It was a rather difficult situation, considering the location of the traitor was unknown. Are you asking whether to let them in or not? The likelihood of the injured members causing trouble is low, but it wouldnt hurt to be cautious. Injured members who had fought against the Demon army would undoubtedly foam at the mouth if they heard, but the statement wasnt entirely untrue. It was undesirable for another traitor to enter the ce where the children stayed. However Theres no justification for opposing the transportation of injured members. There are other ways to redirect them to different territories. There will be considerable resistance. And I dont even have the confidence to justify the bad treatment of heroes. Mother Ghost replied quietly. It seems youve made up your mind to let them in. Yes, we need to keep our enemies close. The hero narrowed his eyes. Thinking in reverse, this was indeed high risk high return. It doesnt matter who the traitor is anymore. He had defeated Ivar 1v1. There would be no one among the injured members who could trouble the hero. Although he was worried about the safety of the children As if reading the heros mind, Mother Ghost added. I think Ill be fine. Theres nowhere with more keen eyes than Rosenstark. Filtering out suspects through the academys tight surveincework would be a solution. The hero reached a conclusion. Let the members in. And gather all avable personnel toe to Rosenstark as soon as possible. Ill take your orders. Mother Ghost bowed politely and ended themunication. Since revealing his identity and boarding the same ship, she had been surprisingly cooperative. The efforts to sabotage Nyhill werepletely abandoned. The hero was extremely proud of Nyhills improving expression. Swoosh Just in time, Nyhill entered theboratory through the window for her regr report. She was currently tasked with monitoring Zions movements. Since shes staying at the academy for a while. The confrontation between Zion and the hero didnt happen immediately. Havingid down her swords for a long time, Zion demanded some time to hone her skills. The hero naturally agreed. It seems like shes experiencing various facilities at the academy one by one. She also imparts teachings to the children she encounters during the process. Quite an unusual situation. Any contact with Leciel? No. Theyre avoiding each other. Its been noted that she spends the most time with Professor Labin. Professor Labin Hawk? The image of the fearsome bald professor briefly crossed his mind and vanished. They shed quite a bit at the beginning of the semester, but there hadnt been any conflicts recently. An unexpected pairing. They both graduated from Rosenstark at the same time. Were they ssmates? The hero nodded without much concern. In truth, the real issue is the spar. The duel against the former Sword Master in front of Leciel. He couldnt afford not to prepare for the blend of swordsmanship and experience that once dominated an era. Past data from Avatar duels alone wasnt enough. I should watch them train soon. Perhaps the Salvation 5 ritual might not suffice for the kind of duel he desired. Of course, he could win but winning alone would lose its meaning. Satisfactory content was needed for both himself and Leciel during the spar. I should also develop the Infinite 2nd Form. The childrens understanding was steadily increasing. There was progress in the Infinite Form, which blended the advantages of replicable targets. The Annihtion, which was the 1st Form, was proving extremely useful. Even if he wasnt sure what form the 2nd Form would take, it would undoubtedly make him even stronger. And once all of this is settled He would go meet his brother, Homunculus. There was the curse to be lifted and many questions to ask. But for now, Ill have to stay focused at the academy. With his ns sorted, the hero dismissed Nyhill and left theboratory. Around the corridor corner, long silver hair fluttered in the still air. The hero froze in ce. In turn, the figure carrying baggage turned around to look at him. Hello, secret friend. Yeah, hello. It was Larze, whom he hadnt seen in a very long time. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 239 Chapter 239 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Even though they had exchangedmunications several times, it had been a long time since he and Larze had actually met face-to-face. Since leaving the demonic realm, it was the first time. She seemed a bit more tired than before. Her wrist under the robe sleeve was thin. But her eyes were shining as brightly as ever, and the reason was obvious. How long Ive waited for this moment. Wuuuuung- Behind Larze, the form of Memorize emerged, emitting a blue light. The hero smiled and returned to theb with her. This memory should be interesting. Im so excited because you said that. There was no reason to dy. The hero immediately shared Zeros third memory with Larze. She had fought hard for humanity throughout the demonic realm. The reward should have been given without a doubt. I wonder what youll say after seeing it all. There was too much content in Zeros third memory. The gate, the direct reason for the destruction of the first era. The ughter of Zeros family. The battle with the demon king and him. And even the heros own origin. The memories shared with Larze so far were on a different level. Indeed, even after seeing all the memories, Larze remained silent for a while. It was a face that couldnt decide where to start. She soon shrugged her shoulders and said unexpectedly. Hmm Rosayln was originally supposed to be the name of Zero and ines child. Yeah, if it was a daughter, they decided to give her that name. What was the name of the friend made by Zeros sessor, thest homunculus mentioned before? Izaro, I believe. Larze smiled faintly. Zero, Rosayln, Izaro They all have Ro inmon. Did Zero also give you a name Come to think of it, your name is Forget about the trivialities, I want to hear your thoughts. Larze chuckled and narrowed her eyes. It was interesting. Seeing the demon king and the seven demons of the beginning, and the secrets involving Zeros family It was very regrettable to see the magic city in ruins, but Larzes index finger poked the heros shoulder. Of course, the most profound impression was your identity. Yeah, I was equally surprised. So youre ultimately not a doppelganger but a homunculus created of a doppelganger? The hero nodded. I dont know which is worse between the two. Its strange. I dont sense the power that binds magical creatures from you. That was because the transnt experiment had failed. The hero briefly exined this. Despite Depikio Lugos continued research to instill kindness and salvation into him he failed. But you naturally acquired those? It was really fortunate for Zero. Larze silentlyughed and looked at the hero intently. But it seems there arent many memories left. Yeah, this is thest. A wicked smile returned. Hmm, so is our deal over here? No. The hero shrugged. If you propose an attractive new deal, I believe it will continue. Hmm, I have a guess as to what it might be. Larze eagerly awaited the hero to speak of the new deal. As expected, the hero uttered exactly what she had anticipated. Ill introduce you to Izaro. Hmm, isnt it quite conscienceless to make meeting the unknown homunculus, a new condition for our deal? But its a homunculus that you can never meet without me, the sessor of Zero. Izaro. Thest homunculus created with Zeros sessor. After learning about it, the hero immediately shared the fact with Larze. Since there were no more memories left to seek cooperation from Larze. Larze naturally expressed great interest. This is ridiculous Why didnt I know such an existence existed? Ive been chasing Zeros traces all along. Youre not lying, are you? He has been carrying out secret missions for a long time. I heard he doesnt make contact with anyone. She couldnt just pass by the homunculus who resembled Zero the most. Convincing Larze was swift. She stood up abruptly and shook herself. Then until that day, should I diligently serve humanity in the East? Of course. Okay, as long as I get paid, Ill dly do that. After finishing speaking, Larze drew a circle in the air with her hand. Wuuuuung- A magic circle emerged behind her. It was a spatial teleportation magic circle that had be quite familiar now. Looking at the portal, the hero suddenly had this thought. She fits the description of the traitor perfectly. Powerful force to massacre me and my disciples, and the ability to teleport regardless of north or east. Of course, the probability of her being the traitor from the prophecy is very low. If Larze were the traitor from the beginning, humanity would have been rapidly heading towards destruction. She would also be on the run due to her true identity being exposed. But I cantpletely jump to conclusions. Anyway, it would be pointless to suspect her. She already knows too much, is too powerful, and is a force that humanity cannot afford to lose. Understanding the heros thoughts, Larze smirked. Its a painful suspicion, secret friend. How much I value humanity. Oh dear. That poker face of yours is truly imprable. Leaning forward, Larze brought her face close to the heros. As you know, I love the unknown. When the unknown unveils itself and reveals its secrets. Thats when Larze feels the greatest happiness. The hero also knows this fact. When I sided with the demons, the very obvious oue the destruction of humanity, doesnt interest me at all. Im with you. His crimson eyes narrowed like crescent moons. The hero grasped her index finger, piercing his heart. Larze widened her eyes, then chuckled softly. The immeasurably insignificant you, how exactly do you intend to save humanity from peril Im more curious about that process. It was a deration that she wouldnt betray. The hero looked at her silently, then smirked. Yeah, watch me closely. Thats the n. Larze turned around and waved her hand. A blue portal shimmered above the magic circle. She bid farewell as if she would return tomorrow. Goodbye. Their reunion would happen in apletely different way than they expected, a littleter. * * * Approaching Under the intense autumn sunlight. Several carriages were leisurely moving along the road leading to Rosenstark. Since they were modified for patient escort, their appearance was quite different from ordinary carriages, attracting the attention of passersby. Even though the stares are ufortable, endure. A man sitting at the back of the carriage, looking out of the window, narrowed his eyes at hispanion. The nobles from the west just cant take their eyes off me during this bodys F/W collection. Again. Ridiculous. There was a pair of a man and a woman riding the carriage. It was easy to see why the woman was riding a patient carriage; her condition was a mess, with her body covered in bandages and splints. But the man seemed perfectly fine, with no sign of any pain. Ugh, why is there so much dust flying around? His name was Dante. He was a man also known as Fantasia, the delusional painter. Dantes trademark was his extremely mboyant attire. Top and bottom adorned with borate embroidery andce. Excessive jewelry that would seem overdone even on a woman. His androgynous face under the wide-brimmed hat exuded a strange charm. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Dante waved his fan. Glendor should really pave the roads if they have so much money. Look at the mess our little ones are in. It breaks my heart. Please! Shut up! The woman, named Iira, who had risen to her feet to scold him, was the unfortunate woman who ended up riding the carriage with Dante due to losing a game of rock-paper-scissors. She was also known for her remarkable swordsmanship skills, called White Sword. As Iira scolded Dante, the passersby outside the window murmured. Oh, foreigners. Where on earth did theye from? Ive never seen such skin color even in port cities. Maybe theyre mixed race? Hmm, they look familiar somehow. Of course, they were not mixed race, but rather somewhat special foreigners. Their skin was dark tan. Their eyes wererge and purple. They hailed from the Great Mountain Range like the Ivar. The crucial difference was that their tribe sessfully immigrated to imperial territory. Hand it over. Iira snatched the fan from Dantes hand. Its hot, really. Despite the refreshing autumn weather. The sky was clear without moisture, and the wind was cool. But strangely, Iira was sweating profusely. Dante looked at her and chuckled softly. The more I see your energy technique, the more amusing it bes. The higher the realm, the more sensitive you be to heat. What kind of perverted art is this? Do you have it? Ability? Sure! Your preciouspanion is wilting like this, so Ill use it or not. Iira hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Dont overdo it. Especially when your body isnt well. Oh, this much is fine. Just wait. The man slowly raised his hand. The slender index finger, as if it were a brush, swept through the air. Ts, ts, ts, ts, ts. Simultaneously, the mana drifting in the air spiraled and was sucked into the path the finger moved. Gradually, a picture drawn with light emerged in the empty space. Fascinating. Even though I see it all the time. Though it may appear to be magic at first nce, it isnt. Its an ability called Delusion. Dante possessed a powerful ability that brought what he drew into reality, earning him the title of Fantasia. Of course, it had clear limitations, and overuse could shorten his life, but still. Hmm? Meanwhile, Iiras eyes narrowed as she looked at the picture drawn in the air. A bucket? Ding dong. The man chuckled and drew the final stroke. A dazzling light exploded in the air. Itll be refreshing. At the same time, a real bucket suddenly appeared in the air. A bucket filled with ice Ah. Woooosh. With a piercing scream, Iiras forehead and bedding were covered in thick ice. Danteughed as his nose bled. Pfft, oops. You. After wiping the moisture off her face and body calmly, Iira drew her sword. A zing sword. Swwiish Intense heat surged, turning the surrounding ice into water, and then quickly into steam. Iiraughed in disbelief. To use abilities recklessly and reveal oneself in a fight. Rather than wasting his remaining life force on such childish pranks, it wouldnt be bad to just end his miserable existence. Lets settle this. Life or death. Whoooa. What saved Dante from Iiras sword was the sudden stop of the carriage. Without caring about the threatening aura, he grinned and spun around. Are we here yet? Suddenly, they were in front of the academy entrance. Theirrades began to disembark from the carriage one by one. After a few weeks of rest, they had all recovered enough to walk. There it was, the checkpoint right in front of the academy. With its familiar silhouette slightly askew, it looked down at them. Hey, still wearing that fierce expression. With his long arms waving, Dante greeted Yussi. Hey there! Yussi! The new prosthetic looks pretty cool! Yussi chuckled. Your information is still as fast as ever. And your dress sense is still as shabby as ever. Finally, Iira also raised her hand in greeting. Long time no see. Yussi. Why havent you changed at all? Imperialnguage. Iiras expression twisted abruptly. Enough. Argument. Wheres the leader? Hes still waiting inside like usual. What do you have to say? Anyway, since the leader is waiting inside, lets go in for now. At Yussis gesture, the iron gates of the checkpoint opened smoothly without a sound. Dante the Fantasia. Iira the White Sword. And about ten other members of the Dawn Knights entered the academy with eager faces. Their beloved leader awaited them. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 240 Chapter 240 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 It was just a few hours before the arrival of the Dawn Knights that the parent farewell ceremony happened to take ce. Since the duration of the invitation event was generous, the parents spent ample time with their children, participating in other lectures and touring the academy facilities. However, their faces were still filled with regret and worry. The children, on the other hand, bravely smiled at their worried parents. Evergreen was one of them. Mom, will you be able to get to estate safely? Youre such a worrywart. What about me? Please be careful there too. Oh, youre taking all the words out of my mouth. Hehe. Thats because Im worried. Evergreen and Mrs. Solintail hugged each other tightly before pulling apart. The mother was returning to the dangerous estate, and the daughter was returning to the grueling training. However, in the eyes of the mother, there was not only worry but also pride and joy. It was really a fulfilling time. Over the past few days, she had been able to make friends with all sorts of influential people. No wonder Evergreen had such a personality. Mrs. Solintail was just as active and bright as her daughter, and the other parents were very fond of her. Some even promised to visit the estate in the future. The new connections she had made would be of great help to Solintail. It was a good decision to send her to Rosenstark. Mrs. Solintail smiled brightly. It was just the next moment that her gaze turned slightly back. She even made such a handsome boyfriend. At the gentle gesture of her hand, Luke hesitantly approached the mother and daughter. In fact, the farewell ceremony was a somewhat awkward event for him. But he had no choice but to attend since Evergreen wasing with him. A slightly tense look was on the boys face. It wont look good. After all, he was the one who had cut off his stepfathers head. But Thump- Luke looked at Mrs. Solintails hand, which had wrapped around his shoulder with a flustered expression. A warm warmth was transmitted. Youve been through a lot. Ah T-thank you. While Luke was flustered by the unexpected hug, Mrs. Solintail smiled mischievously. When are youing to Solintail? Hes very curious about you too. Evergreen keeps talking about you whenever shemunicates. Ah, Mom! Lukes tension gradually subsided as he saw Evergreen blushing. He nodded his head vigorously. He was nning to visit Solintail anyway. Because it was a promise he made to Evergreen. The smile on the mothers face grew even deeper. Hes got his eye on the girl just like Evergreens father had for me. And so, Evergreen and Luke saw off Mrs. Solintail as she boarded the carriage. The other children were no less enthusiastic in their farewells. In particr, Gerald was melting the hearts of the parents with his characteristic friendliness. Oh, hes so refreshing, Id like to have him as a son-inw. Ugh, Mom! Stop it! Karens scream echoed through the air. There were also some children and parents who exchanged greetings very quietly. Strictly speaking, they were the agents. Nyhill. Im always proud of you. Do your best as a disciple of the Hero. The agent, disguised as Nyhills father, hugged her tightly. The girl hugged him expressionlessly and stretched out her arms. A hand brushing the hem of her sleeve. As always, thepanion slipped into her sleeve. Nyhills eyes narrowed as she nced at it. What is it? A different color and size than usual. As she looked at it quizzically, the agent conveyed his meaning with a brief Morse code signal. Nyhill, who had interpreted it, felt like she was falling deeper into a maze. End? Retirement? Hold on for a second. Nyhill stood there, dumbfounded with a shocking expression. It was because she had realized something. Surely not. At this moment, she didnt even think about acting or the eyes around her. There had always been rumors among the agents of the Shadows. That there were agents who gainedplete freedom. So-called, retirement. A New Beginning The retired agent receives a medicine from Mother ghost that canpletely detoxify theirpanion, and they are also told that all records have been erased, making it impossible to track them down in the future. However, no one had ever actually seen the retired agent. Most of the agents died while carrying out dangerous missions before then, or were purged when the regime changed. Thats why Nyhill had always thought that she would spend her whole life buried in the secret service. So why all of a sudden? Why is Mother Ghost suddenly giving out the antidote? Then, Nyhill remembered something and got up abruptly and turned around. The space where the children and parents were exchanging greetings in a hurry. A little further back, the hero was looking at them quietly. Their eyes met. . . The Hero, who met his eyes with her, tilted his head and then smiled faintly as if he understood the situation. Nyhill couldnt say anything and just looked at his faint smile. . What kind of feeling is this? Countless seeds of emotions that had been buried without even knowing it sprouted in an instant. In her entire life. The girl had never learned such emotions or how to express them. Nyhill felt resentful for the first time at that fact and remained silent for a while. Of course, just that made the Heros smile even brighter. . . . Understanding of Nyhill deepens Understanding level: 14/100 -> 35/100 Comments added: -The cage door opens Understanding of Ted Redymer deepens Understanding level: 75/100 -> 76/100 * * * [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The members were originally supposed to stay in a special ward. It was a ce where Ban and Lucas had received healing during the Forest of Martial Arts incident, and it had the advantage of having the best medical staff on standby at all times. However Its a closed and stuffy space like a prison. The thought of throwing the Heroes who had suffered on the battlefield into such a ce didnt sit well with him. My n will also be disrupted. Suppose, just suppose, there was really a traitor among them. There wouldnt be much to gain by locking the traitor up in a special ward. Rather, I should give them the opportunity to be active so that they can move. Anyway, I have the support of Mother Ghost and the Shadows. The members will be under surveince 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and very closely. Mother Ghost and the Shadows experts had worked on Rosenstarks security for the past few days, and countless security measures had been added. More than 300 video recording beads were installed, and surveince was also in ce formunication equipment and teleportation devices From the members quarters to the control tower, which could be considered the heart of Rosenstark, to the childrens quarters and infirmary. There would be no ce to hide from surveince. The most amazing thing is that theres no sign of it at all. The Hero carefully looked around as he headed to the members quarters to meet them after seeing off the parents. It was not easy to find the signs of the video beads unless they concentrated on raising their senses. This was thanks to Mother Ghosts special concealment magic. I heard they brought in as many agents as possible for real-time surveince so no one can do anything in my or their blind spots. In addition, the safety waspleted when Zion, the previous generations Swordmaster, stayed at the parents amodation to confront him. Now, he rather wished there was a traitor among the injured. It doesnt seem like it would be difficult to subdue them. He was the one who subdued Ivar. He wouldnt be pushed back by any ordinary members now. In addition, all of them were injured and had been sent back after being judged unfit forbat for a period of six months to a year at the shortest. From a different perspective, now is the easiest time to catch them if there is a traitor. Even Teds understanding level had just gone up, making him even stronger Whew. Anyway, thanks to the preparations, the Hero was able to go to see the members with a much more rxed mind. By the time he arrived at the quarters. Coincidentally, all the members were unpacking their luggage and gathered in the first-floor lobby. Yussis voice exining the facilities echoed through the hallway. Ah,e on! Im only going to say it twice, so listen carefully! Wow, youre still the same! Kukuk, I guess the leader only fixed her arms and legs? The voices of the members joking around. Everyone seemed to be excited and full of anticipation. There was no need to exin why. The Hero approached quietly, killing his presence. He already had a n for how to deal with them. Ted in private is He was a gruff and tick-ridden but kind person. The stern look he had in public was still there, but he enjoyed spending time with his colleagues, even joking around with them. He just needs to act exactly like he did when he showed him at the hideout. Of course, I need to make a bombastic statement before that. The hero held the doorknob, thinking this. ! The noisy lobby was instantly quiet. . . . ng- The lobby door opened. As if water were being sucked into a dry paddy field, all the nerves and eyes in the room were directed towards the door. The gossiping nobles and members also shut their mouths. Step by step- The members of the Dawn Knights silently looked at their leader, whom they hadnt seen in a year. As always, he walked towards them with a calm and unhurried gait. He soon stood tall and opened his mouth. Its been a while, everyone. Infinite trust, affection, and admiration were directed at him. The Hero met each gaze and continued speaking. Im sure you have a lot of questions and things to say. Yes, thats right. The first to speak was the orange-haired woman sitting in the corner. Seeing the eye patch she wore on her left eye, the Hero recalled an old memory. She was a member he had encountered several times during his time as stand-in. Her name was Taylor. She was a former pirate who had worked in the south and had converted after meeting Ted. She had a deep affection for Ted, who had pulled her out of her miserable life. But first of all, Im so d to see youre healthier than I thought. Her thin lips curled into a smile. I was really worried. Immediately after the great battle where he fought the Demon King. The members were deeply saddened and confused by the Heros disappearance. Of course, it was now known that it was because of a traitor, but the assumption that he had been seriously injured was also epted as fact. Dante also said somethign. We really imagined all sorts of things. They said that they couldnt help but be happy to see him in such good shape. The other members also had smiles on their faces. They didnt seem to care about their own injuries. It was a heartwarming scene, even Yussi, who had been ticking, managed to smile faintly. However, the Heros expression remained stiff. Then, the corners of the members mouths began to slowly find their ce. And just as the lobby fell intoplete silence. The Heros mouth opened again. What Im about to say from now on must never leak out of this ce. Understand? Yes! The members answered for now, even though they had no idea what he was talking about. The Hero took a short breath. It was finally time for him to act. . The Hero recalled the memory of Ted just before he died. He remembered what kind of expression he had made as he epted his imminent death the guilt. The undeserved guilt. The expression that would make anyone who knew him feel a heart-wrenching pain. He imitated it. He felt the atmosphere freeze in an instant. And just as the silence was at its peak. The Hero opened his mouth. I. Meeting each gaze that gathered in unison. He threw the trump card he had been thinking about since he anticipated this meeting. Im going to die soon. The Hero finished speaking, looking at the lobby filled with a deathly silence. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 241 Chapter 241 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The first three seconds were eerily quiet. Then, suddenly, the sound of inhaling breaths filled the air. After that, it was so noisy that I couldnt make out much. If I werent in the position of a Hero, I wouldve surely blocked my ears. What suddenly? Yes? N-No, youre joking, right!? Lies! Numerous questions and shouts. Some even rose to surround the Hero. The shifting gazes were fixed on him, hardly moving at all. It seemed as if they were just waiting to confirm it was a lie. It was several minutes before the Hero could continue speaking. Is it all over? Leader. Even Dante, with a lost smile, looked at the Hero with a pale face. Ted probably didnt even see Dante stripped of his usualughter. That joke just now? Your joking skills are still dreadful. I wish I could say the same. Leader! Confirmation of the statement. Expectant eyes, hoping against hope, turned back to the ground as the gunfire continued. The Hero continued calmly. Let me exin. During the process of defeating the Demon King, I sustained irreversible injuries. W-What kind of injury is it? In response to Yussis question, the Hero replied promptly. Ive nearly depleted all my life force. Oh I hope you understand. It was difficult to achieve victory against him without any consequences. There was no reply to any of the questions. Some seemed to be holding back tears, while others stared nkly at the Hero, as if unable to believe. One thing was certain: no one believed that his bombshell statement was a lie. Leader. Taylor raised her head and looked straight at the Hero. Tears welled up in her remaining eye. You said soon. Exactly how much time do you have left? The Hero stated the deadline he had in mind. I mightst for a year if its fast, maybe 2 or 3 years if its long. In an instant, conflicting emotions swept through the members. A sense of relief that the remaining time wasnt too short. Yet, a sense of despair knowing the end was foreseeable. Amidst the whirlwind of emotions, there was no one who could maintainposure. S-Sorry White sword, Iira, couldnt hold back her tears. It was heartbreaking to see her struggle desperately to hold back the tears. Is there no way to extend the time? Ive looked into it, but its best not to get your hopes up. She copsed, wailing uncontrobly. Her behavior seemed overly informal in front of the Hero, but no one stopped her. White sword Iira. When she first set foot in the Empire, she was nearly sold off to vile ve traders, but Ted saved her. Since then, she followed Ted like a father, or so the story goes. The Hero felt a pang of guilt. If I didnt expect these reactions, it would be a lie. But even so, he had to make that bombshell statement. Because it was necessary. Recent crises almost exposed his true identity. The demons were far more aggressive and cunning than anticipated, and in response, the Hero had to reveal quite a few weaknesses. The fact that Mother Ghost sensed inconsistencies in his actions and harbored suspicions was evidence enough. Surely, even the demon side, watching the Hero closely, must have plenty of doubts. The worst part is. The Demon King and the Great Demons Already Know About the Doppelganger This was a fact that I had never expected at all, and it was a red g that the current situation was more dangerous than I thought. The demons will continue to threaten us in the future, but will I be able to keep my identity hidden until the end in the process of stopping and resolving it? No matter how optimistically I thought about it, it was impossible. The probability of getting caught is too high. In fact, hadnt I just encountered Theos incarnation, who knew about the doppelganger, a while ago? If I get caught its over. A tremendous bacsh woulde crashing down. Through dozens of experiences, the Hero had learned that humans would never ept the existence of a doppelganger. Of course. Who among humans would wee an existence that could be me in the blink of an eye and take everything away? From the human point of view, I would be a worse monster than the demons. This unidentified monster has been ying the role of a Hero, and the fact that they have been deceived all along has been revealed? It seemed clear how the demons would use this fact to shake and squeeze humanity in the most despicable way. At that time, how much the fake Hero had worked for humanity would no longer matter. Humans would divide, fight, and doubt, and eventually they would not even be able to find the unity they have now. Thats why I had devised this absurd lie that I was going to die soon. The fact that the time limit would be let known to the demons alone was enough to solve many of the problems I mentioned above. It could also be a bluff to draw out the movements of the traitors Above all, we can buy time. It was simple. What stance would the demons take if they were to learn of the Heros time limit? Would they immediately exert all their strength to fight a decisive battle? Not at all. On the contrary, the probability of saving themselves was much higher. The biggest threat is going away on its own with time, so they wouldnt want to take the risk of fighting. For the past year, the demons have been fighting like crazy against humanity. It was all in order to somehow increase the production of demonic energy and bring forward the return of the Demon King. However, if this news is spread, that leash will surely be tightened. The immediate threat is reduced. It was a step away from the risk of being exposed. While they arecent, I and my disciples can get stronger. Fortunately, both he and his disciples were showing a growth rate that far exceeded expectations. By the time the demons wondered why the Hero was not only not dying, but getting stronger and stronger Humanitys power will already have risen significantly. In addition, the lie of the time limit also serves as a countermeasure to suppress the worst-case scenario of the doppelganger being exposed. If the threat of exposure is imminent, it would be enough to announce that the Hero has died due to injuries and left the world. Then humanity, instead of being angry at the unknown monster called doppelganger, would focus more on mourning Ted Redymer, who dedicated his life to humanity and died, and on their determination to face the demons. Of course, even after shedding Teds skin, the Hero was on humanitys side. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Since he nned to help humanity in a different form, it would be fair to say that there is no real gap in power. Of course, there was a low probability that there would be no traitors among the party members and that the news of the time limit would not reach the ears of the demons. Then Then we can just go with the Ta-da, I was miraculously healed and survived! method. Well, no one would hate it. The almost only downside of this n was The Hero looked at his party members. There was arge crack on everyones face. The emotions that spread along that line were very familiar. He knew better than anyone what emotions they would feel. This nned loss would be very painful for those who had deep affection for Ted Redymer. Ugh. In particr, Yussi was just shedding chicken dung-like tears without saying anything. The Hero had only discussed this n with those who knew his true identity. Rosalyn, Euphemia, Mother Ghost, and Larze. Yussi seemed to be suffering from extreme agony at the news that was like a bolt from the blue. Suddenly, something Rosalyn said came to mind. People will be very sad. This was the only reason why this proper n was such a thorn in my heart. It was the moment when the Hero sighed. Dante asked with a soulless face, Why suddenly are you telling us this secret? You need to know and prepare. Irwas a reason that couldnt be denied. The Hero continued. I n to inform our frontlinerades gradually. But not immediately. We shouldnt shatter their morale. Taylor took over the conversation. She had suddenly pulled out a sk from her bosom. Pumpkin-colored rum gurgled down her throat. So, you came to Rosenstark a year ago. Yeah, I intended to train sessors. To prepare alone without telling anyone Taylor couldnt continue speaking and closed her mouth with a weary expression. The Hero also fell silent for a moment, looking at the members. Subtle andplex emotions overwhelmed them. Initially, it was just regret for deceiving them. But as he continued to witness their sorrow, an indescribable feeling crept in. In fact, the emotions therades disyed were entirely justified. Ted Redymer had died long ago. The Hero made an effort to maintainposure and spoke again. Anyway, while youre staying in Rosenstark, theres something I need to ask of you. The members straightened up despite their sadness. When youre feeling better, could you take care of the training for the disciples? The members nodded silently. The Hero smiled faintly. As I said, theyre practically your juniors, so please take care of them. Teach them things I cant, let them learn a lot. Most Dawn Knights had outstanding abilities of their own. Their teachings could further the growth of the youngsters. Apart from identifying traitors, it was also a great opportunity to prepare for when he left his position. Anyway, dont worry too much. Im perfectly fine for now. After the members suppress their emotions, they could discuss further. The Hero bid farewell to the somber-faced members and left the lobby of the lodging. They seemed to have many questions, but they appeared too drained to voice them. Thunk- He went out of the room as if about to leave immediately, but the Hero stepped into the lobby and leaned against the door for a moment instead. The cold touch cooled his heated head. In truth, this lie wasnt an easy one for him. Given their expressions Feeling uneasy was inevitable. The words of Euphemia, when she first heard the n, echoed in his mind. Beyond themunication bead, after a long contemtion, she had suddenly said. You? What? Are you going to be okay? If things went wrong, he had to leave everything behind. All the rtionships and bonds he had built as Ted. Faces shed through his mind, and the Hero lowered his head. Of course, Ill be fine. Thud- The sound of footsteps in the corridor faded away. * * * Dormitory lounge. The Extreme Kids sprawled on sofas and the floor, exhausted. Ugh, this is tough. We really need a break. For the past few weeks, they had trained much harder than usual for the parents invitation event. They managed to put on a great show, but exhaustion was inevitable. But thanks to the invitation event, we have a break until the end of this week. Im more scared of the break. Me too. I wonder what terrifying lectures the professor will prepare during the break Ring- The kids, who wereining, stopped at the notification sound of the connector. [Unir Lecture, Extremes Notice has been updated] The expressions of the kids, who nervously grabbed the connector, changed subtly in the next moment. Professor for a day? [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 242 Chapter 242 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The children, who were now faced with the members of the Dawn Knights as their daily instructors, looked refreshed, as if they had gone back to the beginning of the semester. Excitement and enthusiasm filled the ssroom. And for good reason. To the children, the members of the Dawn Knights were realistic mentors. To be honest, the hero, Ted Redymer, was a daunting figure to aspire to be like. No matter how gifted the children were, they couldnt help but ask themselves, Can I do it? rather than I must do it someday! in the face of the heros brilliant achievements. But the members of the Dawn Knights were different. If you work hard, you can be like them. In a word, they were heroes who were within reach. The children clung to them and bombarded them with enthusiastic questions, and the members did their best to meet their expectations and share their knowledge. The lecture was first conducted in a way where the members would briefly demonstrate what they would each teach, and the children would choose what they wanted to learn. This was the chosen method of lecture as each member excelled in different fields. The ce where the most children gathered was in front of White Sword Iira. With magic. You can create it. A fire that wont go out. Infiltrate it like this. Manipte it. Lower it. sh point. Wow. Monsters with strong regenerative abilities. We cant take them on. White Sword Iira generously shared some of her secret techniques with the children. Her secret technique was called White me, which could not be extinguished even by pouring water on it, and once attached, the affected area had to be cut out to be extinguished. ording to her, it was a technique that was particrly effective against demons and monsters with strong regenerative abilities. Despite her awkward speech, Iira continued to lecture diligently. Gerald, who had been listening to the content, eximed in astonishment. Is it okay to teach such a precious technique? I want to. Leader. They were the disciples of the hero who had been tested. Iira didnt feel any sense of regret or insecurity. And moreover The Leader told me to prepare for his absence. A somber expression appeared on Iiras tanned face. Perhaps in a few years, these little ones might be standing on the front lines with her. Who knows if teaching them this technique will save her own life and the lives of herrades in the future? She nced at the hero standing at the back of the ssroom, took another deep breath, and turned her head to Gerald and Ban, whose eyes were sparkling with excitement. Ill show you. Again. Yes! Well, no. Dont use it on people. Meanwhile, Evergreen and Karen were approaching Taylor to learn archery. Taylor Hellingger. Already known as a divine archer among the southern pirates even before joining the Dawn Knights, Taylor had reached a level of archery that no one could follow after joining the order. Naturally, she was as famous as the hero among archers. Wow, crazy. Taylor is going to teach us herself. Today, my archery will go to the next level!! Evergreen and Karen strained their ears to catch every word. Taylor finally opened her mouth. All Im going to teach you today is one thing. Its a technique called the Jumping Arrow. Karen and Evergreen looked at each other without realizing it. They looked very embarrassed. Taylors eyebrows furrowed slightly. Why? Because of the smell of alcohol? Evergreen and Karen nodded after taking a cue. Even in the broad daylight, the smell of strong rum wafted from Taylors mouth. It was so thick that it seemed like they would get drunk just by being around her. Taylor put his hand over her mouth and made a huh? sound, tilting her head. Is it a bit strong, but is it offensive? Karen waved her hands in fear. Oh, no! Its fine! It smells good! Evergreen also hurriedly followed suit. N-no, I didnt mean to offend you! Even Karen, who was famous for being spirited among the freshmen, cowered before Taylors one eye. There was something very intense about Taylor, who had spent her whole life living with rough pirates and bandits. She was also a head taller than the girls Taylor reached out her calloused hand and patted their shoulders. You guys have to understand. I had a really lousy time recently. Her amber one-eye left the frozen girls and turned towards the back of the ssroom. It was where the hero was watching the members and the children. Bad boy. Karen and Evergreen exchanged uneasy nces, frozen once again. Is, is she talking about the professor? I, I think so? Bad boy? As the children were either confused or silent, Taylor shook her head from side to side and continued his exnation. At your level, it should be possible to leave the arrow demonstration and infuse it with mana to control it freely. Yes! We can do it. The technique of Jumping Arrow is to maximize the amount of mana you put into the arrow, secure its stability and control, and then use the arrow as a moving tform. Evergreen and Karens heads tilted in surprise at the unexpected concept. Taylor calmly exined the necessity of the Jumping Arrow. Once you go deep into the Demonic Realm, there are no more environments where an archer can shoot arrows at ease. This was because the terrain continued to deform in favor of the demons, and various tentacles and demonic energy-contaminated nts on the ground continued to threaten the archers. So you have to use the Jumping Arrow to create the best position a favorable space for yourself. A point where you can maximize your firepower. You can also use it to save yourrades in a crisis. A technique that involves shooting an arrow and then controlling it to use it as a moving tform. It was a technique that Taylor had realized and implemented while fighting on a swaying ship. The confidence gradually disappeared from Evergreen and Karens faces. Well, I dont know, but it seems like its going to be really hard. Ri, right? This is my first time trying this kind of technique. Taylor shook her crimson hair and chuckled. Of course its freaking hard. Ugh. If you try to learn it on your own. The girls faces brightened again. Taylor also put aside her worries for a while and began to teach the technique diligently. . . . Such teachings were taking ce all over the spacious ssroom. Perhaps because of the concern for Teds absence in a few years. All kinds of precious secrets were being taught without hesitation. Very good. The hero looked at the scene of the heated education with a very satisfied expression and thements that appeared on the side of his field of vision. The mes of the logs spread and caught on fire. This was also the case with Nyhill and Luke, and the progress was gradually increasing in the academy as well. Inviting the members as daily professors was a good thing, even when I think about it now. He had also thought about just isting them from his disciples because of the fear of the traitors existence. But I cant take away such a good opportunity like this. Even if Ted was proficient in most weapon techniques, he was not superior to the members in all fields. The members teachings were well-improving the blind spots that he had not even noticed. And the growth of the children would surely be his power through replication. Maybe thebination of the members secrets would reveal the clues to the infinite form 2. It was truly killing two birds with one stone. The hero couldnt help but feel good. I still dont know who the traitor is. A few days had passed since he had told them the news of the time limit. If the traitor had tipped off the demon side, the demon army would have made some unusual moves. But there was no sign of that yet. Its either one of these two. Either there was no traitor among them, or they were aware of the strict surveince and were trying to save their lives. The hero watched the members who were engrossed in teaching with narrowed eyes. Actually, it wouldnt be strange if it wasnt one of them. They are all wounded. They were all seriously wounded to the point that even they were sent to the rear, in the midst of a manpower shortage. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 There was even a member who had burned his life force like Ted and brought forward his death. Dante. The heros gaze turned to the mboyant man standing idly in a corner of the ssroom. He was watching the children with his characteristic leisurely air. A kind smile lingered on his lips. But his pale face was clearly sickly. Unlike the other members, he had no external injuries, but his internal condition was so serious that he was diagnosed as needing long-term rest. I heard he used his abilities excessively to save the members who were in danger during the operation. If it hadnt been for Dante, there would have been two more casualties in the order. Hmm hmm. He was leisurely sightseeing around the ssroom among the busy members. In the first ce, Dantes ability, Fantasia, is a wish. It was not an ability that could be taught to anyone, so the children did not ask him for instruction. ? Except for one. The hero tilted his head as he saw one of his disciples approaching Dante hesitantly. Leciel? The hero soon realized the situation. Ah painting. A delusional painter. As one could guess from his alias, Dante was an exceptional painter who realized his wish in the form of a painting. He was famous in the art world in the first ce. For Leciel, who had a love for art, it would be a connection that would be too precious to let go of. Of course, it wasnt the kind of learning he had expected, but It will have a positive influence on Leciel. He still hasnt heard the news of Zions rematch. To be honest, even as the hero, he had no idea how Leciel would react to the news. Hopefully it will be good in the end, but shell be confused in the meantime. Painting is a good hobby that brings stability to Leciels mind and body. It would be nice if she could immerse himself in painting before another storm hits. The hero took his eyes off Leciel and Dante and looked out the window. It was in the direction of the training ground. I wonder when Zion will decide on a date for the rematch? It had been a few weeks since they agreed to a rematch. During that time, Zion had spent almost all of her time in the training ground. Surprisingly, she had not had much contact with Leciel either. Only training. The hero became a little anxious. How much is she trying to regain her strength? Since Ted had fought her before, Zion Hiyashin was naturally on the list of possible opponents for avatar training. That was about 10 years ago, Zion Hiyashin in her prime. However, the hero had not conducted avatar training with Zion until recently before the rematch was decided. It was meaningless. The difference in skill level was too great until he acquired Ritual 5. The training ended after a few exchanges without even being able to properly engage in offense and defense. It was hard to get any enlightenment. However, the hero has been pouring all of his free time into avatar training with Ziontely. The swordsmanship he experienced from Zion was in a word Splendor itself. The Hiyashin family, as expected of a prestigious swordsmanship family, does not have a single representative swordsmanship. Why? Because she was proficient in all swordsmanship, literally. It wasnt for nothing that the Shape Shifter, who can take on various forms of swords, was the symbol of the Sword Saint. [TL/N: Changing Sword Master to Sword Saint.] Two-handed sword, long sword, Esther, rapier, short sword, mangosh Zion has raised all of these swordsmanships to the level of mastery through tremendous effort. Being a master of a technique means that she has also understood the dismantling method of that technique. In avatar training, Zion always appeared with a different weapon, and no matter what it was, she always seeded in breaking down his great swordsmanship. Of course, now that he has realized Form 5 and Teds understanding has also risen to 78, the nature of the training has changed. The hero was able to seize victory by a narrow margin. Since it is possible to have a neck-and-neck battle with Zion in her prime, he would have a higher chance of winning against Zion, who is now retired. But. Why? He couldnt quite let his guard down. The hero recalled the appearance of Zion when he asked for a rematch. So, would you please fight me again? The moment he heard those words, a scene came to mind. A scene where the zing mes touch the rusted famous sword and remove the rust. No matter for how long she had put down the sword, she was a swordsman who was called the Sword Saint of the previous era. There must be a move that cannot be ignored. In addition, he cannot use the advantage of a doppelganger like when he fought Kalende and Ivar. He has to face her only with Teds swordsmanship, not regeneration or abilities copied from others. If there is a variable during the rematch, it will be difficult to control. It would be great if I could grow more so that I can definitely win. But there is no good way. Despite the continuous progress, the Iris of Lace had no intention of giving him other rewards. Is there no other way than avatar training or the training ground? The hero turned his eyes back to the ssroom. Oh, is this the right way to do it? Wrong. From the beginning to the end. Ugh! Its hard! The children were seen diligently learning from the members. In fact, he was also desperate for a teacher right now. I miss Ted for the first time in a while. The hero let out a sigh full of frustration. It was ridiculous for him, the hero, to ask for lessons or advice from anyone else. ? The heros expression became strange, just the next moment. Wait a minute. There was. There was someone who was qualified to teach him. And someone who would give him clues about Zion Hiyashin. The hero slowly repeated the name of the person. Labin Hawk. Before Ted became a hero. There was a teacher whoid the foundation for him right here in Rosenstark. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 243 Chapter 243 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] The connection between Ted Redymer and Labin Hawk began a long time ago. It was around the time Ted first enrolled in Rosenstark Academy. So, its the story that happened right after the Mercenary Corps Annihtion Incident that I saw in the Library of Memories. At that time, it was a period that was truly called the dark age of humanity. The Demon Kings army had swallowed half of the western continent, and the remaining half was as precarious as a candle in the wind. A corrupt royal family. A cruel emperor. Ipetent bureaucrats. Rosenstark was also influenced by this, and it was rotting away in apletely different way from now. Ted said he was discriminated against a lot when he first enrolled too. His background as a mercenary was a problem. Of course, there was still an atmosphere of ignoringmoners, but it was worse then. Even the professors openly discriminated against him. Even though they all knew Teds talent, they did not teach him properly, but rather neglected him for fear of upsetting the children of other nobles. The professors who did not even give him the opportunity to develop his talent. There were also people who called Ted, who was fearless even though he was amoner, a bastard and ostracized him. But then. There was one person who came forward to teach Ted It was Labin Hawk. Even then, Labin was a force to be reckoned with. Although he had not yet gained as much influence as he does now, it was thanks to the fact that he was the eldest son of a prestigious family and had a widework of connections and outstanding skills. If he hadnt been injured and retired at a young age, he would have been a hero as famous as Zion. His ability can be seen from the fact that he maintained the top spot in the Unir evaluation without fail until I came to Rosenstark. When Labin, who was like that, took off his shoes and stepped up to guide Ted, the discrimination surrounding Ted gradually faded. In other words, Labin was the teacher who paved the way for Ted to fully participate in the academy. If it hadnt been for him, the formation of the Dawn Knights would have been eventer. The predecessor of the Dawn Knights was a kind of club that Ted formed at Rosenstark. Its not for nothing that thement Ted left said teacher. Labin also often appeared in the memories stored in the Library of Memories. He refined Teds swordsmanship, which was rough because he had never been properly trained, and instilled in him various strategies and tactics. Above all, he always encouraged him. One of the reasons why Ted was able to be a respected leader by his colleagues in the future must have been Labins influence at the time. Teacher and his favorite student. But when he actually met Labin at Rosenstark, Labin hated Ted very much. The reason why the rtionship between the two, who were so good, was ruined was Ah. I stopped walking as I thought about that far. Before I knew it, I was in front of Labins office. I arrived quickly because it was right next to my office. Its already this time. The autumn sun sets early. Even though it was past dinner time, the hallway was dark. I could feel Labins presence inside. Knock knock- I knocked on the door. Come in. We had an appointment. . . . Labins office was exactly what the hero had expected. Dark gray wallpaper. Furniture with simple lines was neatly arranged. Its dark. Behind the desk where Labin sits, there was arge window, but it was covered with thick curtains. As a result, the only source of light in the office was a smallmp on the desk. The heros eyes narrowed slightly. Alcohol? An almost empty bottle of whiskey was ced next to neatly organized documents. Although it was strong whiskey, there were no snacks in sight. Click- Labin picked up a ss with ice and a pumpkin-colored liquid. Even though the hero entered the office, Labins gaze didnt leave the framed picture leaning on the desk. Gulp- Another sip. The hero spoke first. If Im disturbing you, Ille backter. No, stay. Sit there. Inebriated, Labin was slightly less aggressive than usual. He even took out another ss from the drawer and ced it in front of the hero. In response, the hero took out walnut cookies he bought from the bakery on the way. Professor Labin Hawk, it seems he has a preference for walnut cookies. ording to the receipt, he has been buying walnut cookies from the same bakery for several weeks in a row. It was information provided by Sergei, the janitor doll. Labins grim eyes turned towards the hero. Your memory is still good. Apparently, Professor Labin mistakenly thought that the hero remembered his school days and bought walnut cookies. Labins expression softened slightly. Good. The hero internally celebrated. The atmosphere was better than expected. In fact, he already knew that Labin didnt simply hate Ted. Although Labin seemed to provoke him on trivial matters, whenever other professors tried to undermine him, Labin often intervened. If I do well, I might get proper help. It would be good to continue the small talk to improve the atmosphere. The hero looked around for clues and inadvertently nced at the frame Labin was looking at. That was a mistake. Labin stiffened for a moment, then reached out and flipped the frame over. But the hero had already met the gaze of the faded portrait. A girl resembling Labin. She was the decisive factor that strained the rtionship between Ted and Labin. Her name was Dahlia. Dahlia, Labins daughter, was Teds ssmate. At the time, like everyone else, she had been deeply attracted to Ted. To his steel-like determination and sense of duty to save humanity. Even to Ted as a human being. So she joined the Dawn Knights She died shortly after. It was one of Teds few defeats, the battle of Ardum Gorge. It was also a battle that Labin lectured to the kids during the first semester. Suddenly, Rosalyns words from the past passed through his mind. It was the day he met Labin, dressed in a suit, in front of the library of memories. Um, about 30 years ago. Labin beganing to the library every year to record his memories. But about 10 years ago, he stopped recording new memories altogether and just reminisced, a sad story like that. Hes a romantic and tragic person. In an instant, the atmosphere became tense. Even the eloquent hero couldnt think of what to say at this moment. But surprisingly, Labin was the first to speak. Youve decided to have another match with Zion. And that too, in front of Zions granddaughter. Before the hero could answer, Did youe to me because of that? Because you cant guarantee victory in the rematch? Dont look so surprised. Labin poured himself a drink into his ss without expression. Clink- A half-melted ice cube sank into the whiskey. I already guessed that you were weaker than before. There were few choices to make here. The hero hesitated and then confessed. I didnt know you would know. Do you think Im a fool? It was then that a veryplex emotion crossed Labins face. Cynicism? A bitter smile? A smile that seemed to hint at deep pride. I was the one who taught you. The hero nodded. He was the teacher who had polished the rough Ted. ording to him, he would have been able to notice the strangeness easily. Gulp- The two emptied their sses neatly at the same time. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The huge sword ced in one corner of the office is reflected in the empty ss. Labins beloved sword from his active days. It was an oversized broadsword simr in size to ck Hope. Leciel Ive been hearing a lot from the professorstely. Of course, in a good way. Yes, she is a student with high expectations from her. A student with high expectations from her. Labin repeated the heros words. He smiled bitterly. It was because he realized that he had said the same thing once before. Clink- A few more drinks were exchanged. I saw Zions swordsmanship a while ago. Shes not the same Zion she used to be. Is that so? Putting down the sword for a long time has actually helped her. She has seeded in forgetting the pretense and returning to the essence. The hero listened attentively. Of course, in terms of pure strength, Labin is no match for the hero, let alone an ordinary member of the Dawn Knights. After all, he was a retired swordsman long ago. However, strength was not always directly proportional to insight. Labin had been an outstanding educator who had raised countless heroes over the past few decades. He had an eye that Ted didnt have. Since even a single word could contain unexpected clues, the hero concentrated. One thing, you epted Zions challenge to a duel despite being weakened by injury. Labins eyes asked why. The hero nodded lightly. I had no choice. Why? Because this duel will be helpful to my student. That answer made Labin put down his ss. He stared at the hero for a long time. What do you want to show in front of your student, Ted? The hero also looked at Labin. Where to aim. Its where she should aim. In the midst of their crossed nces, the hero spoke unshakably. So you must never do it half-heartedly. With those words, a silence fell over the office. Clink- Labin simply emptied his drink in silence. Was it because of the alcohol? Was it because of the walnut cookies? Or was it because of the old memories that came flooding back like a tidal wave? Labins eyes were different from what he had been facing for the past few months. He had never experienced this before but Ted would surely know those eyes. The old mans soft voice echoed through the office. Come to my personal training ground tomorrow morning. The hero raised his head. He looked at the old professor who was refilling his ss with thatment that hade out of nowhere. Understanding of Ted Redymer deepens. Understanding Level: 78/100 -> 80/100 The hero emptied his drink without a word. . . . . After the hero left, Labin flipped the frame back over. The girl, whose traces could be found everywhere on his face, was smiling brightly. Dahlia. Labin took out a new bottle of whiskey from the closet. He didnt have enough alcohol because he had shared a few sses with the hero. It would be difficult to fall asleep this way. Labin looked at the seat where the hero had been sitting, holding his refilled ss. In fact, he didnt think that his daughters death was entirely the heros fault. He also knew that his resentment towards the hero was unreasonable. But the pain of losing a child was too great to be solved by reason alone. What if What if. It was the word that had been lingering in his mind for the past ten years, fueling his resentment towards himself and the hero. What if he had taught Dahlia how to be clever and selfish? What if he had pretended not to see when Ted was a freshman? So Ted became the light a littlete. Then maybe Dahlia wouldnt have been captivated by the light a littlete. Maybe she wouldnt have participated in the battle led by the inexperienced Ted. How petty. Gulp- Labin emptied his ss in one breath. The alcohol instantly pulled the memories of the past in front of him. Naaaeaeae! The sight of a baby crying with her eyes barely open. Papa papa. A child toddling andughing innocently. Dad! I got into Rosenstark! Please give me special treatment! The girls face as she teased him, saying that she had seeded in her academy life. Dad, Im going with Ted. Im going to fight for salvation the way he leads. Of course, Im lying if I say Im not scared but I learned from you, Dad, to live so coolly! The alcohol took over the old man. Since the hero returned to the academy as a professor, Labin had been swept away byplex emotions several times a day. Despicable and resentful. The pit of his emotions was not filled at all. But even so, Labin could not refuse the heros request. If the reason he was taking on a rematch with Zion was for his own glory and honor, he would have refused it outright. But. Because this duel will be helpful to my student. The young hero childhood and the mature hero who was now sitting silently in the office were ovepping. The hero was his student, after all. A student he once cherished and loved the most. That student had be a teacher and was asking for help for his own student. He couldnt refuse. That would be no different from denying Labins entire teaching career. Ugh. Some wine was left in the ss. [PR/N: He already finished the whiskey and is now drinking wine, makes me wanna drink too ngl.] But for some reason, Labin did not empty the ss. Staring at the ss with his puffy eyes, he soon stood up from his seat with a sigh. He had an appointment early tomorrow morning. Its better to be sleep-deprived than to overdrink. Labin stuffed the remaining two or three walnut cookies into his mouth in one breath and left the office. * * * The hero arrived at Labins personal training ground before the sun even rose. But the old professor was already waiting for him, sitting cross-legged in the center of the training ground. Walking towards Labin, the hero thought. This is a new feeling. In the past, learning from someone was no different from daily life. Even after he started being a stand-in, he would often train with Ted in the hideout. But since he came to Rosenstark, he had always been in the position of teaching. The only time he had been taught was when he realized the Infinite Form under Lace. But even that was mostly a process of brute-forcing it with his body, so it felt more like he had realized it for himself than learned it. Thud- The hero stood before Labin. To learn from Teds old teacher To be honest, it would be a lie to say he wasnt looking forward to it. So the hero waited with a pounding heart for Labins first lesson. His mouth slowly opened. Get down on your hands and knees. [TL/N: Is he going to spank ted??!!!??] [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 244 Chapter 244 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Somewhere in Rosenstark. The traitor finally made up his mind after a long deliberation. The dilemma had begun from the moment the Hero announced his impending death. If it were Ivar, he would have sacrificed himself without hesitation. He had no choice because of the hostage situation. Upon hearing such information, he would have dashed off like a dog and offered himself. But his circumstances were slightly different. The demons had no leverage over him whatsoever. His betrayal was solely of his own will. After all the effort Ive put in, it cant end so easily. If he were to inform the demons that the Hero was on a death clock, the demon army would undoubtedly scale back its activities. There was no need to waste resources now when they couldfortably exterminate humanity in a few years. Theyll probably start the conquest only after the Hero dies. The traitors face twisted in disgust. Humanity would fall disgracefully, and the Heros end would be futile. That wasnt what he desired at all. So, the traitor contemted a slight variation. I should expedite the n a bit. The traitors crumpled face broke into a smile again, transforming like a mischievous child with a wicked idea. What if What if he did this? If he were to falsely report to the demons that the Hero had fully recovered from his injuries and found a way to be even stronger? He had carried out several acts of betrayal without issue before. Many of them were surprisingly significant. Theres no way the demons will suspect me now. Moreover, he was now the sole remaining traitor within the Dawn Knights. With no cross-verification possible, there was no way to detect that the information was fake. The demons are in for a surprise. If the Hero were to recover from his injuries and even be stronger? To the demons with time left until the return of the Demon King, that was nothing short of a death sentence. They would try to restrain the Hero by any means necessary. All he had to do was subtly present the n he had prepared to the demons at that moment. Neat. The traitor began preparing to contact the demons. He knew that the Hero had set up various surveince methods at the academy. But there were still loopholes. Its going to be a splendid finish. The Hero would have his final ze too. The traitor grinned broadly. * * * In the quiet training ground, rhythmic breathing and sword strikes echoed. Under Labins sharp gaze. The Hero continued with basic preparatory exercises, physical training, and swordsmanship, reminiscent of what undergraduates would do. These were processes unnecessary for his level, but the Hero moved as Labin instructed without question. Labins gaze was different from yesterday. There was no longer affection; it was stern and severe, like that of an educator. . Labin didnt speak for a long time. Youre not asking any questions. Should I? No. Not now. Eventually, Labin stopped the Hero. Then, he posed a question. Now that youve be a teacher yourself, you should be able to answer this question. Please ask. What do you think is the most important thing in learning? Labins chilly eyes stared at the Hero, testing him. What most significantly influences the learners achievement in learning? It was a sudden question, but the Hero pondered seriously. Many answers shed through his mind. The learners talent? The teachers quality? The invested time? No. The answer Labin wanted wasnt those. Its the attitude toward learning. Labins demeanor softened slightly in the next moment. Thats correct. The attitude toward learning. In other words, humility. One could say it was the beginners mind he held when he first picked up a sword. No one would have expected anything from the Hero. Except Labin, who had personally trained him. He hasnt changed a bit. Even ordinary people be conceited when praised and admired by just two or three people around them. What about the Hero, who possessed a talent that even geniuses would look up to? When the Hero was a student, countless praises and envy were directed towards him. However, he never became arrogant. He knew exactly who his enemies were, how terrifying and powerful they were, so instead ofpliments, he sought out criticism and strived to fill in his own shorings. I wondered if he could still do that. Labin received a satisfactory answer. Despite bing a legendary figure, the Hero hadnt changed. As his old master, it was a gratifying sight. Come here. At Labins gesture, the Hero seated himself in front of him. Before I give you any advice, Ill ask you one more question. Yes, please. Ten years ago, during the duel with Zion, what were your thoughts? The Hero recalled. It was a long time ago, but Teds mention of Zion was vivid in his memory. It was an unusually harsh criticism. It was a farce. Was she weak? Shecked natural talent. Her achievements were the result of tremendous effortpensating for herck of innate ability. The evaluation of Leciel seemed momentarily generous. Id say her granddaughters talent surpassed hers. Isnt she still young? She showed potential at a young age, indicating exceptional talent. Labin was Zions close friend and peer. The Hero conveyed his thoughts, slightly softened. It was more about effort than talent. Labin nodded with a brief sigh. Yes, effort. Effort can be said to be the word that pierces through Zions sword entirely. Then Labin delivered a cruel assessment. She is undoubtedly a thousand times more talented than your students even more so than ordinarybat undergraduates. But Zion was the most backward among the prodigies Ive seen. I am aware of that. Yes. Thats why Zion became obsessed with what is visible and what is shown.'' [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release updates! /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Zion had always been the ck sheep of the family. She was constantly overlooked, never once receiving expectations during her growth. In her suffering, she ultimately developed overwhelming skills through effort alone. Naturally, a desire for recognition and obsession with the meager honor she barely earned arose. Showing off and proving herself. Zion became immersed in that. So, Zion became the most dazzling and colorful swordswoman. The Hero realized why Ted was disappointed with Zion and his harsh evaluation. She wore clothes that didnt suit her. Labin also nodded. Yes, she became fixated on appearances rather than essence and reached a limit. Naturally, her pursuit of Heart Sword also came to a halt. But now its different, isnt it? The defeat she experienced by you has be a blessing in disguise. Ten years after the defeat. Zion underwent many psychological changes and gradually let go of her attachment to the sword. Her desire for recognition and obsession with the meager honor she barely earned faded away. Naturally, the facade that once surrounded her swordsmanship disappeared. All that remained was the essence condensed by extreme effort. Incline cut, vertical cut, thrust. ? A few days ago, I saw that Zions swordsmanship was reduced to just those three. You understand what that means, dont you? A shiver ran down the Heros spine. Zion, who could disy countless sword techniques at the level of a master, condensed and concentrated them again, returning to the beginning. She must have be much stronger than before. If he had approached the rematch carelessly, it would have been dangerous. Labin gradually spoke to the Hero, as if returning to the lecture hall of ten or twenty years ago. Since you aim to show your student the way, you must think about how to win rather than just winning. It was only then that the Hero realized how he should prepare for the rematch. If winning alone was the goal, there could be many methods. One could overwhelm with overwhelming firepower using Salvation and other abilities. But that wouldnt be the real deal. Where to aim. Zion returned to the essence after wandering. Then he, too, had to face it in the same way. That way, he could reach a destination that resonated with Leciel He must show her where to go. The Hero stood up from his seat. Whoosh- The sound of wind. Labin looked at the Hero holding up his sword. He understands right away. With the sword poised in the air, as if time had stopped. It was the posture of preparing for a vertical cut. Although it was a movement he had repeated countless times, he didnt move. It was the preparation posture for a vertical cut. It would be exceptionally difficult and tedious to focus solely on the essence rather than just fighting. But. The Hero seemed to have already made up his mind. At that moment, a faint smile appeared on Labins lips as he watched the concentrated Hero. It was a smile that even he himself didnt notice. Good. Even though he was already a Hero who surpassed him in swordsmanship, a disciple always seemed unpolished to the master. Labin observed the Heros various sword techniques with sharp eyes. It felt like going back ten or twenty years. All currents, waves, and flows eventually be one in the ocean. Do not perceive what you possess as separate entities, as they all stem from you. His tone had changed. The Hero didnt point out this change and followed Labins instructions exactly. . . . Understanding of Labin Hawk deepens. Understanding: 3/100 -> 10/100 Ah It was at that moment that Labin, who had been absorbed, suddenly snapped out of it. He realized that rather than just giving advice, he had been observing the training session entirely and offering his insights. Labin cleared his throat and shook his head. Yet the Hero continued to concentrate, wielding his sword. Labin, momentarily paused, gazed at him. That should be enough. He was certain. The formerrade and former student would engage in a duel that would satisfy each other. Labin silently took a step back. . . . The Hero came across the next message on the eve of the scheduled rematch, as informed by Zion. The user has acquired a season. Would you like to specify the technique name and category? Infinity 2nd Form, Harmonization. * * * Rosenstark Marketce. As usual, Leciel finished her lecture, had lunch with the children, and casually nced at the vibrating connector rm without much thought. ! Even the children, who were burying their heads in food, noticed the sudden alert. Whats wrong? What happened? Is it an extreme notice? Concerned looks from her colleagues made Leciel lower her head first. Its nothing. Karen clicked her tongue. You posted on the anonymous board again, didnt you? I told you to keep it in check. No, its not that. Then what is it? Unfortunately, Leciel didnt have the luxury to answer Karens question. No, even if she had the time, it was something she couldnt answer. What on earth is this! A rematch between her grandmother and the Hero. Leciel couldnt stop her stunned expression, even knowing her friends were watching. No matter how many times she checked, the content remained unchanged. The sender was Ted Redymer. There was no way the content could be false. Hey, everyone, just a moment. Huh? The only thing she could do was to run as fast as she could to the location specified in the message. The girls petite face was filled withplex emotions. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 246 Chapter 246 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ng! Kasim couldnt take his eyes off the training ground where the exchanges of blows were taking ce. He had heard about the uing showdown from none other than the Hero himself. You might gain something from it. Even after learning swordsmanship from the fairies in the Great Forest, Kasim still couldnt break through the wall in front of him. So the Heros proposal was very wee to him. The swordsmanship of the former Sword Saint. It was Zion, a master of all weapons. Kasim felt ecstatic at the thought of being able to see how Zion handled the rapier, his primary weapon. But at the same time, he felt puzzled. After all, wont the Hero overwhelmingly win? Anyone would think so. Because of this, when he heard that Leciel would also be attending the showdown, he couldnt help but be a bit cautious. However ng! I didnt expect this. If someone who didnt know swordy saw the scene in front of them, they might mistake it for a match between beginners. Their exchanges were monotonous. And the most peculiar thing was that neither of them used mana, as if it had been agreed upon. When Zion struck downward, the Hero blocked upward. When Zion shed horizontally, the Hero countered in the opposite direction. asionally, there were thrusts, but each time, their thrusts cancelled each other out as if choreographed. Kasims bewildered expression began to change after dozens of repetitions of the same type of attack. Its not as simple as it seems. Their swordy was different. Although it appeared to be justmon shes, there were constant changes and unpredictable elements within. Like ripples spreading on ake. Like the sudden change to a strong wind in a cliff crevice. The potential for a myriad of changes was reflected at every moment. Though his understanding was limited, watching their erratic swordy was as mesmerizing as viewing the capricious scenery of nature. I should use an unreasonable expression at this point. The two swords were constantly changing while remaining static. Kasim gradually became engrossed in their exchanges. Well, its not as shy as I thought it would be, Professor Pierre. It was then that Labin, sitting next to him, spoke. Kasim looked at him in surprise. What? Labin shrugged. I suppose I vaguely understood what theyre trying to show. How many young professors would receive such a terrifyingpliment from Labin? Kasim chuckled brightly. Ahaha, you tter me. That child seemed to have known from the beginning. Huh? Kasims gaze shifted to the front row at those words. Leciels eyes were fixed on the Hero and Zion. In fact, they didnt even hear. It feels like someone else is fighting. Zion had gone through countless duels, and Leciel had watched them since childhood. All of Zions duels were extremely shy and aggressive. So, it was natural to expect the same in this showdown. No one could defeat Grandma in an aggressive fight. It was obvious. Hiyashin was the oldest martial family. Over the years, Hiyashin had collected numerous martial arts and presented them to the world in their own forms. And Zion was the one who had mastered most of them through tremendous effort. Hiyashin is the source, the rest are derivatives. In other words, Zion started by knowing all the challengers techniques one by one. When the opponent performed a certain technique, Zion would counter with a corresponding technique. As a result, challengers were constantly pushed into a defensive position and eventually admitted defeat. If the opponent were demons, there might be someone stronger than her. But in a one-on-one duel, Zion was practically invincible. Except for one instance. That was ten years ago, in a duel with the professor. There was no fierce battle as usual. Just one downward strike. Zions shy swordsmanship shattered against the Heros sword. Leciel still remembered the Heros sword cutting through the air under the moonlight. Non-aggressive. Swing, strike, thrust. All swordsmen learn these three actions first. As their skills improve, they forget these basic actions and focus on moreplex and shy techniques. It wasnt necessarily a bad thing. By focusing on difficult andplex movements, they gained insights and abilities. Through repeated practice and time, when the mastery of the sword became one with the body. Would it return to the beginning like this? All those depths of the heart were applied to the most familiar actions. For a moment, Leciel imagined herself standing between the Hero and Grandma. Slow and obvious trajectories of sword strikes. But she didnt feel she could stop them. If it were overwhelming mana and shy swordsmanship as usual, she might have been able to deflect them a few times. But those swords wouldnt allow it. In front of them, she wouldnt even be able to move a finger. Ah Leciel sighed endlessly as she watched their swords. It was a moment where exceptional insights were unknowingly absorbed. . . . She wasnt the only one realizing something. ng! The Hero swung his sword in an unbroken rhythm. With each regr ng ringing in his ears,plex thoughts peeled awayyer byyer. The pressure of being watched by people. The expectation to show a showdown befitting the title of Hero. And countless other worries and anxieties. ng! They all seemed to be carried away with each echoing ng. It felt like going back to the beginning. It was like when he learned basic swordsmanship from Ted in seclusion. Only the breath and muscles screaming to the tip of the chin, pouring sweat existed back then. It was, in fact, the time when he could immerse himself in the sword the most. Forget about styles and techniques for now. Think about how to wield the sword well. Yes, back to the beginning. Infinity Second Form: Unity activated. Unity. The Hero whispered inwardly. Unify into one. Simple. Moderation. Neatness. Purification. Countless changes merged into one sword. Where do these changese from? Countless remnants shed through his mind. Teds, Leciels, Cucullis, Bans, Lukes, Kalendes. And the traces of the people the Hero had encountered and experienced over the years. The more he recalled them, the simpler the sword strikes became. Zion wasbining countless swordsmanship techniques she had learned through training into one. So, what could hebine? ng! Labins voice echoed incessantly in his mind. All streams, waves, and currents ultimately be one in the ocean. Dont perceive what you have as separate. Ah. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 A shing realization struck the Hero. The convergence of all streams, waves, and currents into one. Gathering various things into one form, that is Its just me. With that, the final sword was swung. ng! What was contained within that monotonous sword strike, even the Hero couldnt grasp it all. Just Unity. It felt like all the countless things that made him up were woven together and expressed in one moment. Infinity Second Form: Unity activated. Huff. The Hero stopped the sword in a surge of relief. And he asked Zion, who had also stopped. She staggered heavily, then knelt down. Trying to stand up, she gave up and exhaled roughly. The intact sword that had endured countless exchangesy shattered into pieces, rolling on the ground. In the silence engulfing the arena, the Hero asked the sword saint, Did you see? She nodded vigorously. I saw it. How many sword strikes were there? Zion hesitated, then chuckled lightly. Countless single strikes. Noment came to mind to signify growth. But the Hero was satisfied with that answer. On the other hand, Zion, havingposed herself, turned to look at her granddaughter in the stands. It was another defeat. But this time, both of them were smiling faintly. There was no change in the pride reflected in her granddaughters eyes. It was a scene that brought both relief and satisfaction to Zion. They had brushed it all off. After a long time, Zion made a joke. Hero, its customary to refrain from defeating a revered Sword Saint in front of her granddaughter. Smiling slightly, the Hero reached out his hand to support Zion. People from the stands also descended beneath the training ground simultaneously. Grandmother. The Hero immediately yielded the role of supporting Zion to Leciel. Leciel seemed to want to embrace her grandmother. When Zion smiled wryly, she leaned on her granddaughter. Lost again, huh? I dont see a loser in my eyes. Did they teach you eloquence at the academy? Im speaking from the heart. Leciels hand on Zions shoulder exerted pressure. With her face slightly flushed, the girl spoke. It was a match that made me proud, grandmother. Really. When did you be so refined? It was unnecessary to mention how today approached each other as a salvation. With a nce, Leciel and Zion conveyed their gratitude to the Hero. The Hero lightly nodded, capturing the dark hope. The long-standing dampness seeped out of the firewood. Understanding of Leciel Hiyashin deepens. Understanding: 20/100 -> 35/100 Understanding of Zion Hiyashin deepens. Understanding: 5/100 -> 10/100 It was a moment when rtedments filled her mind. You. Labin approached with an unusually flushed face. Behind him, Kasim looked at him with a face filled with admiration and excitement. Kasim also seemed to have gained something from the recent bout. What was the final strike? Labin asked in a tone that seemed unbelievable. Ive never seen anything like that from you before. Of course. This was a sword unlike any before, infused with the enlightenment and identity of a doppelganger, unlike the swordsmanship before. He nodded deeply towards Labin. This sword was made possible thanks to your teachings. Thank you. What It was a moment of confusion as Labin coughed. The Heros head lowered even further. And I apologize. An unexpected apology. A contextless apology. But Labin understood immediately what it was apologizing for. The expression of the old man, which had once hardened, then shook uncontrobly. With a huff, Labin turned and headed towards the exit of the arena without saying a word. As the Hero watched him leave. His footsteps slowed down again. You. A few steps ahead, Labin looked at the Hero. And spoke with a rough expression. Now that youve apologized, take care of yourself. The old mans eyes narrowed. After scrutinizing the Hero up and down, Labin said abruptly. And stop doing weird things. The Hero chuckled faintly. Dont worry, itll be resolved soon. Huh, who said I was worried. With that, Labin left. Next, Pia, who checked on the condition of the Hero and Zion with a tired look (this match had been boring for her, not being a swordsman), left. Supporting each other as if embracing, the grandmother and granddaughter also left gently. Kasim, who had been mumbling something, disappeared after ncing at the atmosphere. Left alone, the Hero finally rxed his tense body. What weird things This must have been about Theos curse, the Dark Impulse. Although the symptoms had not yet manifested severely, it was necessary to remove it as soon as possible. If Labin noticed It was probably because of being together for the past few days, but it was only a matter of time before others noticed. Brother its time to find thest Homunculus. Invitations, the Ravias issue, and the duel with Zion all ended safely. Now it would be appropriate to leave for work. With ast step, the Hero left. His next destination was the Library of Memories. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 245 Chapter 245 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The ce where the rematch between Zion and the Hero took ce was the Heros exclusive training ground. Naturally, entry was prohibited for undergraduates, but instead of security guards, Kasim stood there with a smile. Hello, Leciel, good afternoon. He not only didnt stop Leciel, but kindly guided her. Grandmother is waiting on the first floor of that building. Theres still over 30 minutes until it starts, so youll have plenty of time to talk. Thank you. Leciel bowed her head slightly and continued running. As she approached the waiting room, her confusion grew. A rematch. What wind blew for them to make such a choice? Leciel naturally recalled Zion over the past few years. When Zion realized that her granddaughter was not as talented as she had hoped, she seemed to lose all motivation. She even stopped her own sword training, not just guiding others. It was aplete retirement. Since then, it seemed like she had beenpensated for the harsh years of effort and restraint. She devoted herself to social activities like an ordinary noblewoman. She seemed sofortable, letting go of attachments and regrets. Therefore, Leciel thought Zion hadpletely let go of any lingering feelings about the sword. But why now suddenly? Unless she could win. The oue of the rematch was as clear as day. She lost ten years ago, and now she thinks she can win? Leciel remembered vividly ten years ago. It was so shocking she couldnt help but remember. At that time, Zion was like the sky itself to her. No one she knew doubted Zions strength. But one day, a young man appeared, asking for a sword fight, and everything changed. Dim moonlight. A pitch-ck greatsword. The moment her grandmother knelt down and the Shape Shifter rolled on the ground. The image was engraved in Leciels mind as vividly as if it were yesterday. The desire to break the Hero took root deep in her heart then. This is an unreasonable rematch. Leciel gritted her teeth. Ten years had passed since then. Her grandmother had put down her sword, and the Hero had tirelessly traveled the battlefield, sharpening his sword. In any case, her grandmother couldnt win. The person who knew that better than anyone would be Zion, who had faced the Hero and his sword directly. So why? Inviting me to witness it too. The clearest memory of that day was her grandmothers expression. After the defeat. Zion didnt look at the opponent who defeated her. Her endless gaze was directed towards Leciel, who had secretlye out to watch from one of the barracks. It was a moment when many things broke inside her grandmother. Why would she want to repeat that? In the connectors message, there was an insistence from the Hero to attend the rematch. He wouldnt have made such a demand without Zions consent. Her mind wasplicated and noisy. The only person who could answer these tangled questions was one. Click- Leciel pushed open the door to the waiting room. A calm voice greeted her. You came? Grandmother. Zion sat on the floor of the waiting room, looking up at Leciel. Next to hery an ordinary-looking sword. Leciel realized there was something she needed to do before dispelling her umted doubts. Use the Shape Shifter. Zion smiled faintly at her granddaughter, who held out her scabbard. No, there is no need. Yes? Expecting her grandmother to ept the sword, Leciels eyes widened in surprise. Zion, who was proficient in almost all types of swords, considered the Shape Shifter an effective artifact, almost a punctuation mark in swordsmanship. She never expected her to refuse it. . . The conversation paused for a moment. Neither the granddaughter nor the grandmother knew what to say. The rtionship between them had reached such a level. With a frustrated expression, Leciel clenched her teeth for a moment, then couldnt hold back the words she had kept inside. Why are you doing this? Theres no way you can win. She knew it was a remark that would hurt her grandmothers pride. But Leciel couldnt help but say it. I know. Achieving this level of aplishment at your age is rare. But its still not enough. Its toocking. Leciel. Did you really feel like you could reach Ted? Its impossible. Is this the limit of Hiyashin? The title of Sword Saint wonte back to Hiyashin. Zion, who once denied the possibility of defeating the Hero, now entertained the idea. Why was she attempting such an impossible challenge now? I dont understand. Leciel looked up, expecting Zions chilly gaze and angry face. But Zions expression remained calm. Her lips slowly curled up. Im not fighting to win. It was a response that made Leciel even more puzzled. Then why. Where else could there be a purpose other than winning the confrontation? It was a moment when her eyes, filled with doubts, were directed at Zion. Zion stood up and approached Leciel. And surprisingly, she cautiously reached out her hand and stroked her red hair. ! Leciel froze like ice but quickly retreated her body. It wasnt because she disliked it. It was because she was too surprised. Zion smiled faintly. Im sorry. Oh, no. I-Its okay. Y-You can touch it. Zions hand, reaching out again, slowly caressed Leciels hair. Um, uh. It was a moment for Leciel to feel that strange yet familiar touch while being tense like a stretched cat. Unexpected words followed. I thought my expectations had made you unhappy. Huh? What? Leciel, who was tilting her head in confusion, suddenly froze. Zion was exining what had happened all this time. If I make excuses, it was that. Expectations from me. Zion smiled weakly. She, who had modest talents, always felt only disappointment and burden from someones expectations. So expecting from you suddenly became terrifying one day. Grandmother. Keep listening. Zions calm expression slowly crumbled. Gradually, sadness and guilt prated into the wrinkles of the old woman. I was sure you could never surpass Ted. I thought you would feel disgrace and helplessness in front of his overwhelming talent. Leciel blinked her eyes dumbfoundedly at such a candid remark. So, I gave up on you. What? You, with my expectations, would have wasted your life chasing futile goals. It was enough for her to be the only one so wrapped up in her sword that she missed out on all the other parts of her life. That was as far as Leciel could tolerate. Why did you assume I would fail so easily? I was wrong. Huh? Im sorry, Leciel. Truly. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Leciel opened her mouth nkly, forgetting her anger. Zions hand reached Leciels cheek, and it was then. Yeah, you were different. Zion spoke slowly, with conviction. Even just by watching the videos Ted made, I can tell. I I. You were different from me. You were the one who could wield a sword even after being by Teds side for a year, witnessing and experiencing his talent firsthand. You were the one who could keep growing without giving up. Uh. I was foolish, narrow-minded, and immature I made a mistake by misunderstanding and giving up on you. What if she had continued to trust and support Leciel? Zion was witnessing the result of that assumption now. Under the Heros teachings, what kind of person was Leciel now? She was different from Zion, suffocated by expectations and pride. This shouldve been said earlier. Its toote now. Zion smiled as she looked at Leciel. It was a smile filled with pride and expectations that Leciel had longed for. Leciel, you have talent and potential. I couldnt see it properly with my limited perspective. Im sorry. Leciel looked at her grandmother without saying a word. Something warm was welling up in her throat. Zion might have felt the same emotion. She hesitantly held Leciels hand tightly for a moment, then turned away. Anyway I feel terribly embarrassed for realizing these things sote. Zion picked up the iron sword from the floor. Leciel finally realized that it was almost time for the confrontation to begin. She urgently called out to Zion. Its the rematch. If its because of me, its okay now. You dont have to do it. I already know how you feel! Leciel was very worried about this confrontation. Losing to someone as a swordsman was not an easy thing. Would experiencing that pain once make it less painful? Now that she had reconciled with her grandmother, she could leave the task of defeating the Hero to her. But Zion just smiled faintly. This confrontation. Come to think of it, it wasnt for you. What? It was for me. Zions grip on the sword tightened. I cant leave behind the image of a cowardly grandmother to my only granddaughter. I want to be remembered by you as someone admirable. So just watch. Leciel opened her mouth in surprise for a moment, then closed it again. It seemed like a heartyughter was about to burst out. She approached Zion and tightly wrapped her hands around her grandmothers. Win. Please. Without hesitation, Zion nodded her head. Return the title of Sword Saint to Hiyashin, Grandmother. Yes, that burden had always been hers from the start. Pride filled Leciels eyes. It was the first time in a long while that Zion faced her. But still. Yeah? Ill defeat the professor too. Its my goal as well. The same determination reflected in Zions eyes. I believe you can do it, without a doubt. After ncing at Leciel onest time, the former Sword Saint turned and left the waiting room. * * * Yussi made several personal arenas for me. Among them, one was solely for duels, resembling a circr arena with a covered ceiling. There are spectator seats for watching. Since it wasnt an official match, there were no procedures for who entered first or anything like that. I entered the arena first and waited for the former Sword Saint on one side. The Hero and the former Sword Saint. Compared to their fame as duelists, the number of spectators was modest. Of course, if the rematch were announced, there would be a flood of spectators, even if they had to pay a fortune, but naturally, thisbat was kept secret. Kasim and Labin, as well as Pia, who was kept on standby in case of any injuries. And Here shees. There was a passage in the waiting room corridor that connected to the spectator seats. Leciel arrived at the spectator seats, cautiously looking around before taking her seat. It seemed like her conversation with Zion had ended well. Thud- The former Sword Saint walked towards me from the opposite side. Judging by Zions expression, I could tell her conversation with Leciel had ended well. A rxed face. A face prepared for battle. Swish- Words arent necessary, are they? I grasped the ck Hope. Zions posture gradually lowered as she saw it. For a moment, a subtle emotion flickered across my face. It could be described as tension, facing the person who was once called the strongest with a sword before Ted. But now, it was irreversible. And I didnt want to turn back. Following Labins advice, while swinging the sword countless times, something kept touching my nerves, as if hinting at something. Although I had realized Infinity Second form, I had a feeling I could go further. To confirm that, this confrontation was necessary. I took a deep breath and strengthened my grip. Our gazes met. The crimson eyes flickered intensely. Even though they were distant, they burned vividly before me. Thump- p- Simultaneously, Zions footsteps on the floor widened- Ted Redymer! When I blinked, she was already in front of me. A glint of her smile brushed against the de. Ill show you the Sword of Hiyashin again! Thats what I longed for. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 247 Chapter 247 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 The Hero who headed straight for the Library of Memories met Rosalyn and asked about the whereabouts of Zero, the homunculus who received Zeros favor. Rosalyn scrutinized the Hero with a stern expression, then let out a faint sigh. You seem to be in a hurry, Ted. With so much going on, I thought youd take a break beforeing. Is it because of the Dark Impulse? The Hero nodded slowly. As expected, youre quick to catch on. The first manifestation of the Dark Impulse urred when he was training with Labin. Late at night. The Hero was diligently repeating basic swordsmanship to grasp Unity, while Labin, observing him, was practicing his mana for a moment. A strange whisper echoed in his ears. Kill. His gaze fixed on the old man sitting vulnerably. The Hero was shocked and froze. You? Labin suddenly raised her head. Unconsciously, the Hero took a step back. I think its time for me to leave. Since then, he had been restless, unsure if the eerie whisper was due to the Dark Impulse or the fatigue from days of non-stop training. But just now. As he reached out to support Zion after their duel, he heard the voice again. Kill. It felt like something dark and crimson writhed inside his chest. You could easily kill her now. Later, when your true identity is revealed, she will undoubtedlye to kill you. With that powerful force. The Hero froze involuntarily. The hallucination became much more vivid and sinister. His hand seemed to instinctively grasp onto the ck Hope. Even though it was just a fleeting moment, even Zion didnt notice, the impulse was stronger than he thought. When the Hero confided in Rosalyn, she nodded as if she had expected it. As I mentioned before, the reason you were immune to Magorns hallucinations or Enochs illusions is because he holds the essence of countless human beings as a Humunculus. I know. The primal shapeshifter, he, had replicated tens of thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands of humans. Naturally, attacks targeting a single consciousness would have no effect. But the Dark Impulse was different. Dark Impulse is dangerous because it can gradually corrupt the numerous essences that form my foundation. Yes, its a time bomb that must not be ignored. Because of this, the Hero decided to leave immediately. Of course, the impulse was still manageable. But who knew when it would worsen. For now, there was a need to iste himself from the people here. Rosalyn looked at the Hero with a concerned expression. You dont look good. It reminded me of the past. Leaving behind close friends was a recurring trauma for him. In the past, when faced with the risk of exposure or suspicion, he had only two options. Killing all involved to hide his identity. Or fleeing. He had naturally chosen thetter. Dont worry. Zero can neatly cure you if need be. The Dark Impulse will never harm Teds rtionships with others. Did you even know how to offer suchfort? Im on Teds side. Well, thanks for the words, at least. The Hero smirked at Rosalyns nonchnt attitude. Anyway, what exactly is Zero doing? Can you tell me now? Zero is in the West. The West? The Hero narrowed his eyes. West of Rosenstark? Yes. Beyond Lonkers, further west than that. That meant it was the far west. The Hero raised his eyebrows in puzzlement. Most of the poption in the Western Continent is concentrated in the Middle East. Not to mention the central area, which is the center of culture and economy, and the east, where there are numerous frontlines and fortress cities to prevent the Demon Kings invasion, the poption is constantly replenished. The south and north, being thends of the Great Forest and the Great Snow, respectively, are not densely popted by humans. What about the West? Theres nothing in the West. Even near Rosenstark, there was some infrastructure, but going further west meant vast destion. Due to unsuitable resources and terrain for human habitation, there has been little development. Its all fugitives or the poor. Lonkers alone was desperately poor and deste, wasnt it? He had memories of asionally hiding in the West in the past. Does Zeros Humunculus have something to do in the far west? The Hero thought that Zero, a powerful wizard, must be active in the Eastern or demonic realm. Rosalyn faintly smiled at his question. Youll find out when you go. As she finished speaking, she waved her hand a few times in the air, and the Iris of Lace responded. The stored terrain information has been updated. Pa-a-at Gradually, the image of the entire continent appeared before my eyes. Zeros location was marked with a red dot. Its really at the far western edge. A few more days journey from Lonkers. It was a coastal vige by the sea. Even the Hero had never been here. Well, at least I wont encounter monsters on the way. Its not as far as the East or North. If he quickly transformed using polymorph, the journey wouldnt take long. I hope the treatment ends quickly. With such thoughts, the Hero bid farewell to Rosalyn. He was nning to leave immediately. Rosalyn smiled with her white eyes like crescents. Have a safe journey. * * * With a creak, the door opened, and the dim light from the corridor poured into the dark room. Easels, sketches, palettes, and canvases became visible. With a cheerful smile, Leciel entered the studio. It was a different expression from when she first visited this ce at the beginning of the semester, so much so that it would be fair to say her face was bright. I need to start painting quickly. It had been a long time since she visited the studio. Since the end of the rematch. She had been very busy these days. Busy but blissful times. Is it okay to feel this happy? After reconciling with Zion. They spent days together, as if trying to make up for the years of estrangement. They wandered through the schools shopping district, indulging in all sorts of delicious foods and desserts. She even introduced friends she would never have shown before to her grandmother. Waaah, its an honor! Fa, fan, fan here. It seems like Leciels beauty came from somewhere! Zion seemed genuinely pleased to see Leciel doing well. Thanks for getting along with Leciel. If you have timeter, be sure toe to our house. Leciel will like it too. But above all, what she enjoyed the most was being able to spar with her grandmother on the training grounds after so long. She spent hours sparring and discussing her swordsmanship, and Leciel was able to make the lessons she learned from watching the rematch her own. Is it okay to be this perfect? After spending a few days with her grandmother, as soon as Zion said she would rest a little, Leciel rushed to the studio. Because there was a scene she really wanted to paint. I have to finish this painting this year. Perhaps it was the most meaningful moment in her life. Leciel hurriedly sat in front of the easel. A circr arena. Two people facing each other. Their swords crossing. Slish-slish She was immersed in the sketch, but after a while, she raised her head. A presence? Here? Leciels expression turned puzzled at the sound of footsteps echoing in the corridor. So far, this multipurpose room in the Gaudium Hall had been practically Leciels alone. There were no students who had an interest in painting in the undergraduate department in the first ce. Therefore, the personing here was likely to have something to discuss with Leciel. As expected Hello. Hello? Leciel greeted hesitantly. Dante, wearing a shy shirt and a cardigan, waved from the doorway with a grin. So this is your studio. Dante, the Fantasia. A very famous member of the Dawn Knights. People worshipped him for his bizarre origin, Fantasia. But what interested Leciel more was Dantes painting skills. He had been a rising star in the art world before joining the Dawn Knights (roughly seven or eight years ago). Dante was a prodigy in the art world. Leciel also admired his intense artistic talent. Thats why, a while ago, when members were invited to teach as guest lecturers, unlike other kids, Leciel approached Dante. And unusually, she initiated the conversation first. Hello. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Its you. Me? Dante pretended to know her out of the blue. I saw some pretty good paintings hanging around Rosenstark. Oh I painted them for the parents invitation event. But how did you know I painted them? The sleeves are soaked with paint, and you ask such questions. Itd be annoying. Dante chuckled as he watched Leciel hastily check her sleeves. The sleeves were clean. Just kidding. The leader told me. He said theres a kid with real talent in painting. Leciels face twisted at the unfunny joke. Looking at your paintings, I ended up agreeing with the leaders opinion. Being praised by a favorite painter since childhood for her own paintings. Leciel liked Dante, and they had a conversation about the painting that day. Dante squinted his eyes. May Ie in? Yes. Dante, with an intrigued look, entered the studio and nced around. But is it okay for you to wander around like this? What do you mean? Didnt youe to Rosenstark because of your injury? Others receive treatment at the parents lodge. Oh Dante replied with a wry smile. My injury is a bit different. Dante continued monotonously. But the content was shocking. Know my origin? Fantasia. Yeah, its the absurd ability to make my paintingse to life. Isnt that almost invincible? Well, there are clear limits, and As Dante continued to speak, he chuckled. Im not invincible because the cost is life force. Leciel widened her eyes. Really? Ive never heard of such a thing. We, the Dawn Knights, shouldnt have such a sad story for people who need to sow dreams and hopes. But why are you telling me? Dante replied promptly. Youre the leaders disciple. I am? Practically our junior. Someday well berades fighting on the same battlefield. Theres no reason to hide it. As Dante spoke, his expression became somewhat mncholic. Probably because of the deadline deration of the Hero. The girl in front of him might not know, but they would have to fight under very harsh conditions in the future. In a world without the Hero. Anyway I was sent to Rosenstark because I used too much life force. Eating well, resting well, and recovering are my duties. Does life force recover like that? I dont know. But its better than burning out my body, right? Leciel nodded nervously. Talking to Dante felt like being sucked into a vortex of impertinent words. The question that could be impolite arose at that moment. It was a difficult question to endure. Um Do you happen to know how much life span you have left? Dante gave another ambiguous answer. Well, life force isnt quantified, so I dont know. It will definitely be shorter than others, especially since I strained myself quite a bit to save myrades this time. No one knows if Ill die in 10 seconds or live another 10 years. Leciel was dumbfounded. No, then do you not know how much life force youll consume when using your ability? Yeah. Thats why I have to be careful. If I try to turn absurd delusions into reality, Ill die right away. Its like a contract with a devil. Dante nodded in agreement. Well, it feels simr. Wouldnt ordinary people be afraid to use it? Isnt it wasteful? What does it matter? Dantes ck pupils sparkled. My finite and insignificant life, to be able to save masterpieces of humans. Theres no way its a waste. Masterpieces of humans My proud Leader and colleagues. Leciel was speechless. So I like my origin. Isnt it just like art? Sacrificing soul and life for masterpieces. Each word of his felt like digging into her mind. There was a sense of admiration. It didnt sound like boasting at all. Rather, he seemed to add aedic effect to his remarkable mindset with a light tone. He doesnt seem to want to appear arrogant. But even with such a disguise, Leciel could sense something familiar from Dante. Someone who doesnt hesitate to sacrifice themselves for their goal Like the professor. Leciel took a deep breath. It was time to change the subject. So did youe here to draw? Yes. And as a side note. I also wanted to see your drawings and make a suggestion. Oh yes? A suggestion. The second agenda didnt evene to her mind. Hes here to see my drawings? Blushing, Leciel looked around. No one hade, so she had spread her drawings all over the studio. Drawings she was embarrassed to show to a master. Oh, no, please dont. But despite Leciels objections, Dante started to look around, including the paintings on the easel. There was no casual attitude. His expression was serious and explorative, as if he were at an exhibition. Leciel felt embarrassed, but she couldnt help but anticipate his evaluation. Hmm, the leaders the most prominent. Leciels face reddened a little more. Oh, yes Definitely an artistic person. Both the face and the life. Agreed. Leciel nodded silently. And next, its the friends. Theyre all beautiful. You have talent in description. I can feel their passion for the models. Thank you Dante turned abruptly to Leciel. I also have something I want to draw. What is it? Rosenstark. Oh? Its a beautiful ce. She couldnt deny that. Dante grinned. If its okay with you, guide me around when you have time. Guide you? Why me? Because I might want to draw or teach. Leciel stiffened. Dante borated. Its the leaders request. There was no intention of refusal. Leciel nodded without hesitation. Whats going on this year? A perfect year. A bright smile appeared on Leciels face. [PR/N: Some serious fuckening is about to happen.] [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 248 Chapter 248 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Meanwhile, other members of the Dawn Knights were also gradually building friendships with the children. Patients were always bored, after all. Members who were ustomed to dynamic battlefields often found themselves getting bored easily with peaceful hospital life. They would sneak out of their quarters to find ces of amusement, and the extreme children, who would soon be theirrades, were excellentpanions to alleviate their boredom. Taylor quickly became close to Evergreen and Karen, the two girls. Since they had started enjoying desserts together in the shopping district on weekends Ding-dong- Of course, Taylor was sipping rum instead of coffee. The quaintly decorated caf was a bit ufortable for her as a former pirate, but she could endure it for these cute girls. So, where were we? Uh, about Luke. Oh, right. Taylor chuckled. Its been over a month since you started dating, and youve only held hands? Evergreen, looking dejected, nced around and whispered. Taylor, please lower your voice. Kissing? Th-thats not yet. Taylor chuckled lightly. Im afraid to even point out where the problem might be. Is it even a problem? Are you six years old? No, in one month, even a six-year-old would have been able to kiss. Kids these days are fast. Evergreen looked resentfully at Karen, who was trying to stifle herughter. Just a few days ago, they never thought they would have such casual and private conversations with Taylor. Completely different from the first impression, huh? Contrary to the intimidating and tough first impression, Taylor was gentle. She was like a carefree and refreshing older cousin. There was no sense of authority whatsoever. Especially for Karen, who came from the same hometown, she seemed even more attached. Evergreen felt the same way about Taylor. To the archers, the legendary archer Taylor was an eternal object of admiration. There was no reason not to want to spend time training and living together with such a person. Taylor, are you in a rtionship? A rtionship? Me? Taylor chuckled incredulously. Oh my, do I look like Im in my twenties? Um twenty-five? Six? Taylors lips twisted with pleasure. Thanks for making me look young. But first, Im married. Taylor showed the ring on her ring finger. It was a worn silver ring, not fitting for her reputation. Given her wealth, she could have bought the most splendid and expensive ring in the world, so it was unexpected. With sparkling eyes, Evergreen asked. And your husband? Where is he now? Hes dead. . Four years ago. The children fell silent. He was in the support unit of our knights. He followed me to that dangerous ce, thinking he could help the weak Tsk. Taylor said it as if it were nothing, but nobody believed it was genuine. It was because she drank rum twice in a row. Evergreen and Karen hesitated for a moment before quickly changing the subject. Um, but we heard you were a pirate. Is that true? So cute and awkward. Taylor smirked. Her juniors were starting to like her more and more. Yeah, thats right. Its an embarrassing past. Wow, really surprising. You dont look like it at all now! Even with this eyepatch? Taylorughed and tapped the eyepatch covering her left eye. I probably would have put a hook on my arm ande up. Indeed, she was a pirate. And a quite notorious one in the South Sea. Of course, they mainly targeted military ships andrge merchant ships, and they tried to avoid harming people as much as possible, but it was still a shameful past. But if you ask your principal, shell know very well. Huh? We raided Glendors trade goods quite extensively. Yussi probably still regrets not being able to hang a noose around my neck. Karen cautiously asked. But how did you get scouted by Professor for the Dawn Knights? Considering his personality, he would have probably excluded you without asking. Oh, that. Taylor hesitated, as if choosing her words carefully, opening and closing her mouth a few times. The leaders ethics are a bitplicated. yes? I was the daughter of a pirate. A bitter smile passed her lips. I was born and raised a pirate. Im not trying to justify it but I couldnt think of anything else for my life outside of that. She spent her whole life raiding ships passing through the South Sea. One day, as usual, they attacked Glendors merchant ship and encountered a young swordsman who was like a monster. He was a Hero tasked with eliminating annoying pirates, ording to Yussis request. The Hero received a request from Yussi to eliminate the annoying pirates. The leader likes to give people like me a chance. People who havent even had the opportunity to choose. Ah. He probably pretends to be more cold-hearted than anyone else, but deep down, he believes in human kindness. Taylor reflected on the past few years. Hes someone you can trust and follow without any doubt, really. We think so too. The children could only agree. After emptying the rum from her portable bottle, Taylor looked at Evergreen. There was not a hint of hesitation in her eyes, despite the strength of the alcohol. Anyway, so your boyfriend. Luke or whatever, whats he up to? Evergreen, who knew Lukes schedule inside out, answered immediately. Um I think hes training with Iira? Iira? He really likes her because her style suits him perfectly. Hmm thats dangerous. Taylors eyes narrowed mischievously. Why, why do you say that? Iira really brightens up around guys. What? So, she used to fawn over the leader like crazy. But contrary to Taylors expectations, Evergreen showed a rxed smile. Hehe, I feelpletely at ease with Luke in that regard. Huh? No matter what Iira does, he wont be swayed! He may be thickheaded, but hes a good guy. Lucky Luke. Taylor smiled nostalgically at the thought of the past. Its interesting. How did such a shy guy confess? Uh, th-the confession? Evergreen recalled the sweet confession. But before she could talk about it with Karen and Taylor, something happened. Booooom! The first to notice was Taylor. The wind blowing backward. Clearly artificial. It was the moment she got up from her seat. Kwaang! The explosion shook the shopping district. Although the dessert shop where they were eating was a distance away from the epicenter of the explosion, the ss windows shattered in all directions, and screams rang out simultaneously. Aaah! What, whats happening! Evergreen, who ran outside, looked around with wide eyes. Smoke billowed up from the beginning of the shopping street. Taylor sighed as the realization dawned on her. Thats near Noubelmags workshop. What? Noubelmags workshop? [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 These idiots. Taylor grabbed her head as if she had an inkling of something. The children, not understanding anything, looked at her and the smoke billowing outside. A forced smile appeared on Taylors lips. Its nothing to worry about. Huh? Just wait here. Taylor rushed out. Left behind, the girls looked at each other with worried expressions. Surprisingly, there was hardly any fear visible on their faces, in stark contrast to the other students screaming outside. This was all thanks to their repeated exposure to various heinous practices and training in extremity. Karen murmured, Sh-should we wait here? After a moment of consideration, Evergreen nodded subtly. Sh-should we sneak a peek? But its our academy, we should know whats going on. Y-yeah. Besides, Taylor is in a serious condition right now. If something happened, she might need our help. Actually, none of this was necessary, they were just curious. She didnt tell us not to follow her, right? Right? Lets just go and see the situation. Evergreen and Karen, having agreed on that, headed toward the source of the explosion. Arriving at Noubelmags workshop, they found You damn fool of a cksmith! I told you it wouldnt work like that! Then you do it! Its for the Hero, so try to do it right!! The stern principal and the legendary cksmith were rolling around amidst the rubble of the building, each grabbing the others hair. Seeing them, Taylor let out a deep sigh. Ugh, this is why I told you to be careful. She spotted Evergreen and Karen following her and scratched her embarrassed face. Look at the kids. Lets go in and fight. Unfortunately, everything was in ruins due to the explosion. * * * Meanwhile, the Hero was heading smoothly towards the extreme west, where there was Izaro. In fact, there was nothing that wouldnt go smoothly. What could be the problem with flying as a newly polymorphed creature? In areas where monsters frequently appear, there were sometimes dys due to flying monsters. However, the West was a ce where such monsters rarely showed up. The situation is different from about six months ago. At that time, it was a period when demons were driving stakes for demonic energy supply. If the treatment finishes quickly, I might be able to return earlier than expected. So, the Hero was absorbed in flying. However, it wasnt long before the Hero paused. It was because the familiar terrain was visible beneath his wings. Lonkers. He had enough time to take a short tour of the vige. The Hero quickly lowered her altitude. Whooong- It was only a few months ago that he had fought with all his might against Malekias forces in Lonkers. It feels like its been years. Now he was confident that he could handle even intermediate demons without breaking a sweat, but back then, he had truly exerted himself. Without everyone joining forces back then, the West might not have been as safe as it is now. Because Malekias forces had rooted deeply. Hmm it looks different. The Hero flew over Lonkers, surveying the vige. He had heard that Yuusi had provided support for several months, and Lonkers seemed to have made very good use of that support. It used to be known as the garbage bin of the West. The stench of decay from the walls. Streets filled with trash. Residents wandering aimlessly with vacant eyes. Everything had disappeared. The neatly organized vige was bustling more than before, and the people seemed happier than ever. The Hero quietly looked down at what he had protected. Meanwhile, there was someone noticeable. That guy? Hans. A guard from Lonkers. He was particrly brave, and his name stuck in his memory. He was strolling with his wife, and it seemed like they were still popr among the vigers, asughter echoed around them. Could anyone looking at them remember the troublemakers they used to be? The sense of aplishment from defeating demons and protecting his family and vige himself. Thats what had transformed them like this. Theyve be better people. Theyll live even better lives from now on. A deep sense of pride swelled within the Hero. His heart was filled with warmth. It felt like meeting a long-lost friend and seeing that they were doing well. When all this is over, other ces on the continent will be like this too. When that timees, it might be nice to visit Lonkers again. The satisfied Hero spread his wings wide. The scenery of Lonkers quickly faded away. . . . .Is this the ce? The Hero arrived at the location marked on Rosalyns map. A secluded coastal vige greeted him. Whoooong- The fresh sea breeze gently swept over his body before swirling and drifting away. It looks peaceful. Small fishing boats floating on the sea. Children swimming and ying on the beach. What could a powerful magician like Zeros Homunculus be doing in a ce like this? It was beyond imagination. Anyway how should I find him? The vige was small, but it wasnt easy to find Zero Homunculus at once. Will hee looking for me if he hears that an outsider hase? It was rare for travelers toe to such a vige. The vigers nced at him with curious eyes. What was a bit surprising was that there was no sign of suspicion in their eyes. In this day and age that wasnt easy. Is there an inn? There was unlikely to be one. It was at that moment that something familiar caught the Heros eye. An old man? A robed old man was calmly looking at him from the corner of the alley. It was only natural that they were meeting for the first time. The Hero tilted his head in confusion. But why does he feel familiar? A strange feeling began to rise from the tip of his toes and spread through his body. Joy, excitement, and happiness. It felt like forgotten memories were gathering once again. Realizing something, the Hero grinned widely. A statue. The old man had the same appearance as the statues of Zero scattered throughout Rosenstark. At the same time, a hoarse voice echoed in her ear. Nice to meet you. After a brief pause, the old man revealed his identity. I am Zero. Your brother. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 249 Chapter 249 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Yussi, Taylor, and Noubelmag moved to one side of the ruined workshop. It took them some time to shake off the embarrassment. Taylor was the first to speak up. So. So what. Yussi replied roughly, her messy hair emitting smoke from the ends. Taylor sighed deeply. Did it fail? Oh you could tell? Damn it. How much did you waste? About 2,000 gold? Thud- Taylor took out a new bottle from her pocket and took a sip. No chance of sess at all? . As Yussi fell silent, Noubelmag interjected. Of course, I didnt expect to seed on the first try. He looked grimly at the exploded workbench, then nodded decisively. Well try again. Yussi regained her strength and stood up straight. Of course. Maybe itll work next time if we just adjust the mixture a bit. The greatest cksmith and alchemist. But confidence was hard to find on the faces of the two as they faced the uing task. Thats how difficult this project was. Taylor looked at them pitifully. Its an unprecedented experiment. Extracting divine power from sacred stones and relics, then artificially amplifying that concentration. [TL/N: Consecration and sacred stones are same.] That was the essence of the experiment that had just exploded. I hope it works out. Taylor, looking at her colleagues standing in front of the workbench again, recalled a few days ago. The day Dante secretly recruited the members. There might be a way to extend the lifespan of the Hero. All eyes turned to Dante at once. What? Is that possible? Dante abandoned his usual mischief and spoke seriously. First, lets review the Heros condition. You all have an idea of the cause of his condition, right? Everyone nodded. Of course, the Hero hadnt clearly exined his condition. But, as Dante said, the members had a rough idea of the situation. Yeah, its because the vessel of life is damaged. People are born with a certain amount of life force. Its called innate vitality or original vitality. Its a power that cant be used artificially, only borrowed through abilities like Dantes. But asionally. In moments of great crisis, a person might awaken that power, disying an overwhelming strength that surpasses their limits. Even members who have ovee numerous trials had experienced such moments once or twice. The problem is, if you keep using that power recklessly, the person themselves the vessel containing their life force gets damaged. Using the life force contained in the vessel isnt much of a problem. But once the vessel starts to deteriorate, it bes irreversible. Bottomless poison. The container loses life force faster than it can umte. Even if you just sit still, your life force drains away as if youre in a life-and-death struggle. The members fell silent. Because it was Dante, who actually traded his life for his abilities, the weight of his words felt heavier. He shrugged his shoulders. If he had been an ordinary person, he would have died on the spot from such reckless actions. But because hes such a strong martial artist and has an exceptional life force, hes barely holding on. Yussi spoke up then. So whats the way to extend the Heros lifespan? Dante answered promptly. Healing with divine power. Yussis expression became strange. The other members were equally puzzled. Yeah, using sacred stones, relics, and healing with the touch of the divine. Do you think I havent thought of that? Even using the touch of the divine is futile. ording to the previous owner, even gathering the maximum divine power couldnt save someone on the brink of death. The Hero himself said that amputation wounds are the limit of healing. We might be able to fill his life force slightly, but Unfortunately, sacred stones and relics are extremely limited in quantity. Moreover, due to this recent incident, the supply has been greatly depleted. Even if we gather all thats left on the market, it would be difficult to significantly extend the Heros lifespan. In the first ce, once the vessel of life is damaged, its just a matter of time before its beyond repair. As everyone was losing hope Rustle- Dante took out an old document from his pocket. Everyone looked at the pile of papers with curiosity. Its a document from the First Era. Whats it about? Its about someone whose life vessel was destroyed, like the Hero. As Dante proudly smiled at his bewildered colleagues. To be precise, its a record of his recovery. What did he say he lived for over thirty years after that. For a while, no one spoke. So, the point is, we can heal the leader. If we solve just one thing. Whats that? Dante spoke with a bright smile. The concentration of divine power. Concentration? The person who healed the man mentioned in this document was the archbishop of the church. Dante began to exin. The divine power in the sacred stones and relics is weak in quantity and quality due to hundreds of years passing. Thats why, no matter how remarkable the touch of the divine is as an artifact, it cannot present archbishop-level healing as a catalyst. So, we need to increase the level of divine power that acts as a catalyst. The first to understand Dantes meaning were Yussi and Noubelmag. Excitedly, Yussi jumped up and pointed at Noubelmag with her index finger. Inspiration! Noubelmag was equally excited, not resisting the excitement. They exchanged words in an instant. If we have inspiration that can delicately handle the power of entric spirits! Maybe! Yeah, thats it. Extracting it might be possible. Maybe even purification. If you do that for me, Ill find a way somehow. Amplifying the power and increasing the purity of separately separated energies is as easy as eating bread in alchemy! Yussis face looked like she was about to cry. Extracting and purifying divine power was an attempt unprecedented in the history of the Second Era. It would require numerous samples. And sacred stones and relics are worth more than a few gold coins. Even if they were to gather all the remaining ones in the market, it would still be difficult to significantly extend the Heros lifespan. But it didnt matter. If only the Hero could be healed, they would take all the gold coins. The other members also looked at each other with bright smiles. Anyway. This was why the members were able to have a good time with the children despite the Heros shocking time-limited statement. Because there was hope. The ruined workshop. Taylor looked back at the alchemy and metallurgy duo who were once again absorbed in their work. Damn it, Yussi. Do you think that Hero gave you new arms and legs just so you can stir up that potion! Please shut up! It was then that the face of one of her colleagues, who had been so bright, came to mind. Dante, where did you find this material? Have you forgotten? Im also someone whose vessel of life is in danger. They couldnt help but stare at Dante, speechless. As he said, Dante had used a tremendous amount of mana to save hisrades during the swarm. It was definitely a long shot. The problem was that he had no way of estimating his remaining life force like the Hero. In other words, he could die tomorrow. Taylor couldnt help but ask this question. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release updates! /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 You? Taylor. Dante smiled again. Are you serious? There arent that many sacred stones or artifacts left. Dante left those words behind and mingled with his happy colleagues. Click-ck- Taylor looked into the bottle with her remaining eye. The bottom was already visible. Damn. She doent think the rum was ever this bitter when she was pirating. I guess I should have some dessert. How great it would be if the world only had concerns like My boyfriend is passive. Taylor sighed heavily and left the workshop. * * * At the same time. I am Izaro. Your brother. The Hero faced Izaro. Izaro had calm but indifferent eyes. There was no hint of emotion toward the Hero in his eyes. A stark contrast to Rosalyn, who harbored goodwill toward Ted and the Hero. He gave the impression of being mineral-like. Tchak- The sunlight by the seaside prated through his deep wrinkles. It ovepped with the middle-aged Zero seen in the library of memories. Izaro was created during Zerosst years, wasnt he? Nodding- As the Hero bowed his head, Izaro gestured to him. Lets walk for a bit. The west coast is particrly beautiful. Of course. Following Izaro silently, the Hero passed through the vige and headed towards the coast. Contrary to expectations, Izaro didnt say a word during the walk. I thought hed ask me this and that. He didnt even nce or ask questions. But it wasnt particrly ufortable or awkward. No, it felt morefortable than when facing Rosalyn. The fact that there was no need to sustain Teds act contributed to thisfort. Homunculus who knows my identity. A brother who shares the same origin The Hero silently watched the old mans back as he walked ahead. The vigers silently greeted him as he passed. Something lingered in the Heros eyes. It seems youve stayed here for a long time. Considering Ive traveled back and forth for hundreds of years, staying for a long time would be appropriate. Hmm? He hadnt expected hundreds of years. The Hero blinked. What could be so important in this secluded countryside to warrant such a long journey back and forth? Rosalyn said Izaro is carrying out the task entrusted to him by Zero. But no matter how much he looked around, there was no sign of anything that Izaro, a powerful homunculus like him, would need to handle here. It was then that Izaro spoke with a blunt voice. Itll take about a week to break the curse. If you have any questions during that time, feel free to ask. Ill answer to the best of my ability. The Hero immediately thought of questions. What are you doing here? What task did Zero assign to you? The answer came promptly. Guarding the seal. A seal? What seal are you talking about? The seal of the Gate. The Hero froze. The Gate? Are you talking about that Gate, the one that led to the destruction of the First Era? Scenes from Zeros memories shed through his mind. The ominous clusters of magic and dreadful monsters the giant red rift that spewed out the Seven Demons and the Demon King. Izaro nodded. Thats right. Why do you think theres only one Gate? The Hero was speechless. Izaro looked at him with sunken eyes. Have you ever seen a fox digging only one burrow? The sudden question made the Hero tilt his head. But Izaro didnt expect an answer; he continued speaking directly. Zero was always anxious. Before the Hero could ask what about, Izaro turned around abruptly and looked at him. Clunk- A foamy wave crashed white behind the old man. They had reached the coast without realizing it as they walked. Im talking about you. Especially towards the end, Zeros anxiety grew uncontrobly. Even though death came earlier than expected, you were iplete. Because Zero had vited many taboos in his lifetime, he couldnt enjoy the life span of an archmage. Therefore, the task ofpleting the homunculus fell to Depikio Lugo. Depikio always tried to instill human kindness in me. It must have been Zeros orders. Originally, Zero didnt trust him. As the Hero recalled these events, he finally understood Izaros analogy of the fox and the burrow. Zero had prepared other contingencies. This Gate here is one of them. Thats right. You had a high probability of sess, but it was extremely dangerous. For a moment, Izaros head turned to the east. Demons. Evil beings who harbor an endless desire to exterminate any life other than their own. Was it because of Zeros wishes? The Hero felt a deep anger in Izaros voice, which ovepped with the image of Zero embracing his dead wife and crying in the ruins. Zero was convinced of the existence of their opposites. Such a conjecture isnt entirely absurd. Since there was divine power in the First Era. Yeah, it wasnt just a delusion. In the end, Zero seeded in meeting their opposites, the Celestials. The Hero stared at Izaro for a moment. He looked back at the Hero with an indifferent expression. Yes? What? Isnt this a joke? A joke? The corners of Izaros eyes faintly creased. The Hero realized btedly that it was a smile. Was Zero really like that? So, do you really believe in the existence of Celestials, the opposite beings to demons? Its hard to believe. There are all sorts of beings on the other side of the Gate. Including shapeshifters like doppelgangers. Really? Did you think that a life form that can transform into anything is a creature unique to this world? What is he talking about? It was at that moment that the Hero, who had been trying not to be swept away by the flood of information, noticed something strange. But Ive never heard of Celestials before. The Heros gaze sank. Zero opened the Gate to the Celestial Realm. But now that Gate was sealed, and the Celestials had disappeared. And Izaro said he was the guardian of that seal. What problem has arisen? I should have suspected the extraction of divine power from humans. , do you think the absolute good is truly on the side of humans? Before the Hero could respond, Izaro spoke again. Seeing is believing. Yes? Its better to see it once than to hear it a hundred times. Are you serious? Izaros hand emitted a blue ripple. The Hero looked at the portal in front of him with sunken eyes. Come, lets go to the Gate. Izaro whispered. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 250 Chapter 250 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] When beings from other worlds cross the threshold, they manifest in forms appropriate to thews of this world. The Demon King and the original seven demons were no exception. The Queen of Agony, Malekia, is covered in thorns and mes from head to toe, resembling a dragon. The old man of loss, Theo, appears as an elderly man on the brink of death. The Knight of Death, Yol, is arge skeletal figure d in armor. As for the Demon King Hero is not sure how to describe that appearance. Anyway, it was evident that they all took on forms different from their true forms in the demon realm. Those forms were manifestations of fear interpreted in the ways of humans of this world. Therefore, as a Hero, there was naturally only one question to ponder. Then what form would the Celestials take? The first Celestial to set foot in this world. Although he didnt know for sure, it wouldnt be the typical Celestial. Even when the demon realm and this world were connected, the first demons toe to this world were the Demon King and the original seven demons. Theyre likely to be powerful beings, possibly rivaling the original seven demons, if not the Demon King himself. As his thoughts reached that point, the Hero stopped in his tracks. The swirling portal was about to engulf him. Why is that? Are you noting with me? I asked, standing beside the portal instead of entering it. A quick shake of his head. For some reason, he seemed slightly flustered. I think its better if just you see it. What? But you just said toe along. Ill wait outside. It was a firm refusal. The Hero nced at the old man and then gave up on persuading him. Then at least give me some advice. Advice? Like what? Something essential to know before meeting the Celestials. Izaro pondered carefully for a moment before giving his answer. Its better to let go of preconceptions. He could understand what that meant faster than he thought. . . . Hello. The Celestial greeted him. Instead of returning the greeting, he looked around. Where is this? He imagined a ce like a prison because it was sealed. But where the Celestial resided was warm like a home. Warm lighting and soft colors of the interior. It was even quite spacious. Except for the fact that nothing could be seen outside the windows it was quite ordinary. Whats going on? Wooong- A pitch-ck darkness rippled outside the window. As he peered into it, he realized btedly where this was. Oh my god. The abyss. The touch of Zero is definitely here. The hidden refuge of the guardians in the sky. A home in the depths of the abyss. This kind of unbelievable magic is impossible without Zero. An abyss It could be said to be a suitable ce even to confine a shapeshifter like a doppelganger. No matter how regenerative the doppelganger is, it wouldnt be able to withstand the immense pressure of the abyss for thousands of years. It would tten out like a snack. Heh- Suddenly, unease surged within him, and he took a deep breath, turning his head sharply. Before his gaze even reached the Celestial, a deeplyforting scent permeated my nostrils. It felt like being wrapped in a cozy nket on a dry desert. The difort when facing a presence of magic and theplete opposite feeling. Certainly, the being in front of him seemed to be a Celestial. As the Heros gaze met hers, she waved her hand twice gracefully and greeted him again. Hello. This time, the Hero responded. Hello, Celestial. The Hero stared straight at the Celestial. In a split second. Countless shadows flitted past his eyes. There were so many of them, soplex in form, that one might as well call them myriad. But the amorphous shadows wriggled for only a moment, literally a split second. The Celestials form settled into that of an ordinary girl. The Hero made ament. You manifested quite normally. Did I? Your idea of good seems to be within the realm of ordinary humans. At that, he looked at the Celestial with interest. Could it be that ones appearance reflects differently depending on the observer? In a sense, it was simr to a doppelganger, so curiosity piqued. But there were already many questions he wanted to ask before fixing the topic. Izaro was about toe in with me. Yeah, I asked him not to. Why? I wanted to meet you alone. The Hero could only repeat the same words. Why? Because I was curious about you. Because I wanted to meet you in person. Why were you curious? Ive heard a lot about you. A lot. And Ive seen you too. What? The Celestial knows him. This was definitely something the Hero hadnt anticipated. And Ive seen you too. What does that mean? Before the Hero could ask, the Celestial opened her mouth with a somewhat excited expression. I really liked hearing about you. Of course, I like it when youre capable like now, but I also really liked it when you were inexperienced. The moment the Hero realized something was wrong was from here. When I was inexperienced? She looked at him as if he were someone she had met in person after reading a novel character with affection. The Hero shuddered involuntarily and took a step back. Yeah, around the 2nd century. When you wanted to mingle with humans and got into trouble. When you didnt kill the originals and got caught soon after being called a monster and driven out of the vige. Remember how you cried in the forest stream for a whole afternoon? Do you recall? Wait a moment. Even when you first felt the emotion called love, it was nice. When you hastily sang a bad you learned from a minstrel on the vige festival stage. Of course, the result wasnt good, but still. The Hero stood there expressionless. It was desperate. Calm. It was a word that had saved his life countless times amidst countless dangers. But today it wasnt so easy. Even after tens of years, the current situation was as bewildering as it could be. Oh, damn it Whether it was a human, a doppelganger, or a demon. Whenever the clumsy past is brought up, theres only one thing to do: die. Thud! The Heros fist struck the wall at an invisible speed. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 It was an irresistible impulse. Of course, the protective magic surrounding the house didnt even get a scratch from his bare fist. The Celestials eyes sparkled, and it was at that moment. Punching the wall! Just like you did on that festival day when you messed up the pitch, rhythm, and lyrics. The Hero was engulfed in a violent impulse but managed to suppress it with great effort. It was thanks to remembering the awkward face of Izaro awkwardly standing by the portal. Right. Theres another culprit. How could a Celestial trapped in the abyss know about his past? Thinking it over carefully, the outline of the incident quickly emerged. It must be because of Izaro. Zero had strong anxiety about the iplete him. He wouldnt have just let him roam freely in the human world. How far has Izaros influence reached? Since escaping from theboratory of Deifikio Lugo? The Hero suddenly remembered the past crises he had faced. There were quite a few situations where he couldnt have escaped with his power alone, yet each time luck seemed to work mysteriously in his favor. Thinking about it, even meeting Ted was engineered. I never expected such a being to actually exist. Well, it turned out well. The tone sounded like Ted knew about the existence of the doppelganger and came looking for it. It seemed reasonable to see this as the intervention of someone who knew his true identity. Im grateful for the help at the right moment, but The Hero had no choice. So why did damn Izaro share all my mundane past with you? Hmm It wasnt all mundane at all. I was deeply impressed. The Hero tightly closed his eyes. Surely it would have been impressive. How enjoyable would it have been for the doppelganger to survive so desperately during hundreds of years of imprisonment in the abyss, enduring the harsh conditions? Unfortunately, it wasnt all. And Izaro started to lose track of you at some point. Thats not important. Just answer the question. No, it is important to me. The Celestial responded gently, even with his sharp tone. Anyway, to answer your question, I should exin why Im here first. That gentleness calmed the Heros excitement. This Celestial is good. Iparable to demons, they were calm, rational, and friendly beings. Thats why it made him even more uneasy. Why would harmless-looking beings like this, Izaro and Zero, be trapped in the abyss? The Celestial spoke softly. Well, the reason I crossed the threshold was a bit different from Zeros expectations. What was the reason? Human extinction. The Hero was speechless. The Celestial kindly reiterated her words once more. I came here to punish humanity. * * * Izaro looked at the gradually fading portal with meaningful eyes. By now, the Hero and the Celestial would be having a conversation. At this point, as the effectiveness of the seal was running out, it was safe to say that his mission here was over. What will happen next? The fact that he shared the Heros story with the Celestial was purely Izaros idea. Of course, being the inheritor of Zeros intellect, he would have done the same even if Zero were alive. It was a good persuasion material. Izaro recalled the time when the Celestial appeared centuries ago. Thanks to inheriting some of Zeros memories, Izaro could also recall the time when he didnt exist. It was a shocking and terrifying arrival. It was an arrival thatpletely betrayed Zeros expectations. I will personally punish you tainted by evil! Fortunately, Zero, who had witnessed the failure of tooz, didnt fully trust the presence beyond the door, even if it were a Celestial. ck- Huh? It was the moment the Celestial finished speaking. Shackles made of iron appeared on her wrists and ankles as if they were there all along. Aplex magical array spread over the iron. It was the seal used by tooz to trap Zero. As it was prepared as a countermeasure against him, the powerful Celestials power was greatly weakened, allowing Zero to easily suppress her. Why? Youve leaned closer to evil. On what basis do you judge that? Well uh Although the exnation continued, in summary, it was as follows. Because of your desire to open the door to the demon world and bring demons into this world, demons had the opportunity to gain greater power and even greater power. As a result, there was considerable damage to the heavenly realm. Punishment for wickedness. Thats why. Exnation aside, Zero trembled at the ruthlessness of the Celestials. But no matter what the circumstances were Its a failure. The door to the heavenly realm was closed as soon as they began to fight the Celestials. Because if reinforcements came over, the situation would be bleak. Thanks to that, Zero gained one more pawn. A pawn called a Celestial captive. He couldnt send her back to the heavenly realm. There was no energy to open the door again. But he couldnt kill her either Too valuable. If she sided with humanity, she would be an incredible force. In an era where divine power disappeared, the value of the only being capable of emitting divine power was incalcble. So he conducted the so-called mental restructuring over several centuries by keeping her trapped in the abyss. Sharing the Heros life was part of that process. Surprisingly, the reaction was positive. The always aloof Celestial showed particr interest in the doppelganger. Perhaps it was because the process of an extraterrestrial entity experiencing humanity from scratch was so intriguing. As she reyed the trajectory of the Heros life, the Celestials aversion to humans gradually diminished, and curiosity began to take its ce. Thanks to that, they can no longer be seen as a threat to humanity. However, Zero couldnt be satisfied with that alone. If the Celestial actively helps the odds for humanity will be slightly higher. Whether that possibility woulde to fruition depended on the current meeting. Even if the Hero hadnt been cursed, Zero would have called him here. The sess of his mission over several centuries depended on how great a harvest he would reap. Hespetent in dealing with humans, but Seven days until the seal expires. Will that charm also work on the same extraterrestrial being? Zero earnestly hoped for a Celestialrade for the Hero. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 251 Chapter 251 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Ivee to punish humans. The wicked words spilled out of the celestial being as the Hero stared at her intently, then inquired, Why? Just as she had exined to Zero centuries ago, the celestial being borated on her reasons to the Hero. Humans corrupted by evil, leading to the dominance of the demonic realm, and so forth. The celestial being continued her narrative with a monotone reminiscent of reading from a history book. In the process, the emotions the Hero felt were Not particrly intimidating, huh? In truth, it was harder for the Hero to feel threatened by a girl calmly recounting stories while sitting on a warm bed. But above all So, what now? Hmm? Do you still harbor hostile intentions towards humans? Before the celestial being could respond, the Hero added, It must have changed. Why do you think that? Otherwise, you wouldnt have reason to see me. Hmm The celestial being gazed at the Hero silently for a moment before conceding, I must admit my initial resolve has waned. Witnessing the intricacies of your life has influenced me. Thats really fortunate. Yes It could be endured, the shameful past being shared for good intentions and leading to positive oues. The Hero took a deep breath. Alright, so whats your n now? What n? Rosalyn mentioned that Izaros mission as a guardian of the seal is soon to end. The mission of guarding the seal of the celestial being. You. Arent you about to be released? The celestial being grinned and waved her arms. ng An unseen chain rattled. You catch on fast. Yes, thats right. No seal canst forever. So? Sliiiide The celestial being rose and reached out towards the swirling abyss with her hand. In about a month, Ill be freed from this confinement, probably. It had endured far longer than the seal of the sorcerer who died centuries ago. Perhaps it was due to Izaros efforts to maintain and extend its effectiveness. But even that had its limits. The celestial beings liberation was imminent. The Hero regained the lost tension. When youre released, what do you n to do? The hesitant Hero added, Just going back to your homnd wouldnt be a bad idea. Setting aside the threat to humanity. If the one who knew his embarrassing past vanished to another dimension, there would be nothing more satisfying. The Hero looked at the celestial being with hopeful eyes. But sadly, she merely shook her head. I wouldnt have the power to open the door when Ive been sealed away for so long. At least, Ill need to rest for a year or two. You dont have to open the door alone. I have very capable allies. Not as good as Zero, but there are great magicians among them. With your help, it might be possible to open the door. Well, I could open the door But I still wont go. Why not! The Hero unintentionally raised his voice. The celestial being remained unperturbed, simply continuing with her natural demeanor. There are ns Ive made while being trapped for so long. ns? Yeah, a kind of pilgrimage. That kind of n. The Hero chuckled. A pilgrimage? nning to visit the temples and sanctuaries buried in the east? If so, there was no reason to stop her. If the celestial being visited the demonic realm, it would be quite annoying to the demons. He changed his attitude. Thats a good idea. Travel around diligently. The celestial being smiled broadly. Isnt it? By reviewing each step of your life, I cane to understand humans a bit more. The Hero doubted his ears. Well, he actually understood immediately but wanted to doubt. What? The stables where you agonized all night. The stream where you sobbed. The bridge where you were rejected and jumped. The gambling den in the harem where Bucks went wild. Those ces Ive only experienced through stories or images, I can visit them in person. Its so exciting. The Hero realized a terrifying fact. No matter how resilient and mentally strong the celestial being might bepared to humans, being trapped for centuries could make anyone go mad. In the monotonous and repetitive daily life, someone elses story, which had be as cherished as a holy site, had taken root in her like a belief. The Hero clenched his fist. So that means Its just a conjecture, but from our perspective, isnt it better to kill you before youre released? Because youre a huge risk, yeah. Huh? Theres absolutely no reason for that. The celestial being shrugged. Im a celestial being. I dont lie. Its just not possible. Its a well-established fact that over the past centuries, Ive ovee my hatred towards humans, the celestial being continued. Of course, that doesnt mean I fully endorse them either. For a moment, her expression vanished. It was the stern facemonly depicted in media, the face of a stern judge. As you know, humans are beings capable of both good and evil. I cant deny that. Yeah. I wouldnt deny that the humans of the First Era were swayed by evil. The Hero nodded. In Zeros memories, humans persecuted the demi-humans and established human supremacism. Amidst all that, they shed with him, and as a solution, caused the catastrophe of opening the gateway to the demonic realm. From the celestial beings perspective, it could undoubtedly be ssified as evil. But Thinking that the humans of the present, striving for survival, are the same as the ones who ruled the continent with tyranny andmitted wicked deeds in the First Era would be a mistake. Ivee to realize that through you. But repeating the same mistakes is also very human. The celestial being directed her transparent pupils towards the Hero. Thats why I want to learn more. Anyway, if my feelings towards humans go further and I end up siding with you, that would be a good thing, wouldnt it? Its not just about helping in terms of strength. Im practically a conduit to the divine realm. A conduit to the divine realm. The Hero anticipated what she would say next. Really? As expected, you are quick-witted. Is that really possible? Yeah. I could even restore the divine power that was taken away. Of course, since Im the only conduit, it would be much weakerpared to before, but it would still be a significant help. The Hero fell silent. Those who allied with the demons and became traitors could manipte demonic energy to some extent. Necromancy and dark magic were examples of that. The celestial being would likely be the same. Of course, she alone couldnt distribute power to many individuals, but it was something. What if humans regain divine power? No matter how much alchemy and magic progressed, they couldnt follow the fundamental healing of divine power. The Hero, who had indirectly experienced its power through the gods eye, knew that fact even better. If, as the celestial being said, she returned divine power to humans, their strength would skyrocket. It would naturally reduce the number of casualties and deaths, and everyone would be less reckless in battle. If pdins or priests were to join the party, it would be revolutionary. The option of beheading the celestial being gradually disappeared from his mind. The celestial being grinned. Oh, it would be really helpful for humans goodwill if the protagonist of the story guided them around personally. Instinctively, the Hero avoided her gaze. I, uh, Im quite busy with my duties as a professor at Rosenstark. Its a pity. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Ahaha, then it wouldnt be a bad idea to go to Rosenstark. Im really fond of your exploits there. The Hero suddenly remembered a conversation he had had with Ted a long time ago. Bing famous isnt always a good thing. Huh? Why not? It seems like people would flock to you and it would be great. There are damned bastards who go too far among them. Ted sighed and spoke softly. Sometimes I envy you, who can change your face as you please. Can you understand? Not at all. Even thats enviable. Understanding Ted Redeemer more deeply The Hero hastily shook his head at thements that shed before his eyes like hallucinations. . . . The moment the Hero could be released was imminent. Woooooom A portal shimmered and appeared in one corner of the room. Ignoring the celestial beings regretful expression, the Hero quickly got up. Its time to go. It seems Izaro is urgently looking for me. Yeah, goodbye. The moment the Hero btedly recalled his original purpose. Oh. Why? I actually came because of a curse Ah, thats already in progress if youre asking for a cure. No need to worry. The heros head tilted inquisitively. What? The corrupt aura of Theo within you, you mean? The celestial pointed a finger at the Heros heart. Theyre burning away on their own, so dont worry. Though the power is quite intense and might require spending time together like today, maybe about seven times Perhaps this celestial. Might be more remarkable than he thought. The hero entertained such thoughts. Seven times Yes, its too few. . Whoosh The Hero hurriedly jumped into the portal. * * * -Rosenstark. After the Hero left. The daily lives of the Extreme Children were filled with training sessions conducted by the Dawn Knights. Among them, those specializing in closebat were mainly trained by Iira. Thanks to her, the condition of the members was the most favorable. Ki-yak- In the center of the training ground, a training dummy was engulfed in white mes and roared in agony. Standing in front of it with a broadsword in hand, Luke turned to Iira with a face full of joy. Did did it work? Yeah. Well done. White Sword. Luke was the fastest among the children to grasp Iiras techniques. It was because of the perfect harmony between the explosive techniques of Raviass martial arts and the precise control emphasized by Felsons martial arts. Lets do it again. Without hesitation, Luke rushed forward and thrust the broadsword into the dummys knee. The ensuing fierce flow of mana. Kwaang-! As mana exploded from the wounded area, white mes engulfed the creatures flesh. Although it was a monster with excellent regeneration, it couldnt recover and only screamed in agony. Iira exined while nodding her head. Demons, especially Malekias kin, have strong regenerative abilities. Its effective. Wow But its not allowed against people. Its illegal. Its not even allowed in sparring. What? Of course, the chances of being caught are slim. But nothing will be left, not even bones or flesh. !? Simply put, the principle of the White Sword was explosion-ignition. It involved exploding mana through the inserted sword, then directing the dispersed mana back to the target. Simultaneously, manipting the nature of the mana to drastically lower the ignition point of all adjacent materials. This resulted in an ever-burning me that wouldnt extinguish even with water. As long as there was even a bit of flesh remaining, the inferno would reignite in an instant. Luke admired the sight, his face filled with wonder. How could such destructive powere from such a petite body? Although Iira was smaller than Evergreen and slightlyrger than Nyhill, her output seemed to be twice that of Lukes. Considering that she was injured, it was simply astonishing. As Iira returned to her position, Luke apuded her. Amazing. Youre amazing too. A genius. Even Iira couldnt help but admire him. Her deep hazel eyes scanned Luke up and down. You look like the leader. When he was young. That was the highest praise for Luke. His stiff face suddenly flushed red. R-Really? Yeah. Handsome. Handsome? At the sudden appearance of the word, Luke shook his head in confusion. Oh, her Imperialnguage must be awkward. She probably meant to say well done or impressive. Luke smiled broadly. Hahaha Thank you. Ill try to look even better. Suddenly, without any warning, someone pped him on the back. It felt as severe as the sword of Ravias striking right in front of his nose. A surprise attack? Luke turned around in surprise. Hey, Luke. And faced the beaming Evergreen. Behind her, Karen and Taylor could be seen whispering something. Why? The gaze wasnt exactly friendly. You look extremely pleased. Evergreen? When did you get here? Oh, Ive been here since you were busy receiving praise. Huh? Huh?! In a corner of the training ground. Gerald, who was diligently honing his broadsword in istion, watched the scene and sighed deeply. White mes flickered at the tip of his spear. Wow, Gerald, impressive. It was the praise from his peer, Aidan (male). The depth of his sigh increased. What are the demons up to? [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 252 Chapter 252 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Ah, what are the demons up to? Geralds question was indeed the same question on the minds of the allied forces fighting on the front lines. It had been several months since the great victory in Sector 1. Until the purification of Sector 1 wasplete and the temporary base was fully established, the allied forces had not experienced any major battles. Just small-scale local skirmishes. Because of this, conversations like these were not umon in the allied forces barracks. What are these guys up to, anyway? I thought theyde back for another round, why the hesitation? Its making me more uneasy. Hmm, maybe they dont have the demonic energy to recover? After all, weve suffered significant losses during this time. If were lucky, we might be able to push forward faster. Well could they be plotting something strange again? Well, I guess the Hero will take care of the West. Amidst the quietened Sector, the allied soldiers spected variously, gazing at the stillness that was eerily reminiscent of the calm before a storm. . . . Tap- Tap- A faint sound echoed repeatedly within the thick ck fog. The sound of an old staff lightly tapping the ground. Huuh. The wrinkles on the elderly mans face were so pronounced that he resembled a newborn baby, as he paused and nced around. It was an incredibly strange space. First of all, the distinction betweennd and sky was ambiguous. Every surface was constantly moving and deforming. The sky darkened like ink, then shed with a reddish hue like blood. The ground cracked like ss, and the terrain shifted suddenly, turning ins into deep gorges or mountain ranges. The sound, too, was chaos itself. Countless whispers, screams, moans dissonance. In the ck fog that filled every direction, shadows with indiscernible shapes surged. It was a jumble of chaos akin to a nightmare. The elderly man standing amidst it all was truly precarious, seemingly on the verge of copse at any moment. But then something strange happened. Tss tss tss tss- The amorphous shadows emitting a chilling aura began to flee into the distance as if fearing the old man. Yet the old man didnt even spare them a fleeting nce. He simply found the right direction and prostrated himself on the ground. As soon as the old man and his staff touched the ground. Whoosh- All the changes in space came to a halt. The swirling ck fog dispersed, swirling up into the sky. Whaty revealed was a ruin. Hmmm- Above the once glorious splendor of human civilization, towering structures rose defiantly against the sky. Like a devout believer meeting a god, the old man humbly bowed his head to the looming structures. Soft whispers followed. Your Majesty. So it was. This was Sector 50. The ce where the first stake was driven, the origin of all the misfortunes of this era. Swoosh- As Theo, who had been prostrating himself for a while, rose to his feet, four more shadows approached and greeted him. He looked at them yfully, his toothless mouth muttering in jest. Tsk, these young ones nowadays. They should arrive early before the council starts. Today was the day for the assembly of the seven archdemons, themanders of the demon army. Five of them gathered, excluding Malekia and Yol, who were injured in thest battle. Except for Theo, they were all young demons who had recently risen to the rank ofmander, and despite Theos teasing reprimands, they stiffened their bodies in response. But it wasnt Theos long-standing presence as a demon that they feared. Theos terrory in his abilities. Alright then, lets begin. p- As Theo pped his hands, the eerie space transformed into a silent conference room. One chair of honor and four others. After the othermanders took their seats without expressing any dissatisfaction, they began to address each agenda one by one. The utilization of human prisoners for demonic energy reserves is The list of promising young demons The organization of forces near Zone 1 Meanwhile, Theo watched the diligentmanders with a somber expression. In truth, these trivial and mundane matters were not his concern. There was only one reason he had convened this meeting. The final agenda. So, about the invasion n. Suddenly, the bustling conference room fell silent. How are the preparations going? Who among you will apany Yol? The dull eyes of the old man scanned through themanders. Have you decided? This invasion was extremely dangerous, as it aimed to conquer the most perilous ce in the Western Continent. To the point where even themanders couldnt guarantee their survival. It was such a special operation. I volunteer. The fattest shadow rose up. It was a rookie demon who reced the fallenmander in this defense. His name was Dismay of Shame. Dismay Theo stared at him intently. He was a gigantic and grotesquely ugly demon, standing about 5 meters tall. His head was disproportionatelyrge, with irregrly swollen and twisted grayish skin. Blood and pus oozed from swollen sores on his sagging flesh, emitting a nauseating stench. Under tufts of seaweed-like hair, his eyes gleamed with fierce and cruel madness. He boldly thrust his rusty ughterers knife into the table and spoke again. I will assist Lord Yol in leading the invasion. Hmm. Demons harness negative human emotions as demonic energy. Each demon had its own specialization in which emotion they thrived on. Just as there were Enoc who gained power from the disillusionment after waking from sweet dreams and Malekia who gained power from the physical pain of their victims, it was the same with Dismay. Naturally, the more powerful the demon, the moreprehensive their keywords. Pain, loss, death. So what about Dismay? He gained formidable power in a short time through the emotion of shame. Human ranch was it called? Like humans raising livestock, Dismay managed them in pens. The livestock were used either as war prisoners or abducted from viges. In Dismays ranch, humans lost all dignity. He instilled shame in humans through various creative means. Naked, they writhed in the excrement of demons and were eventually ughtered. The most sinister aspect of Dismays ranch was the presence of spectators. They were the acquaintances or family members of the abducted livestock. The exploding shame turned into a vast amount of demonic energy, fueling Dismays strength. Even in this recent campaign, wasnt there a case where he raised his kill count by one by cutting the throat of a member of the Dawn Knights? As a side note, Theo handed over Ivars wife, Adriana, and their son to Dismay this time. Ivar, who tried to betray the demons again and pass information to the Hero, had to pay the price. Anyway its amusing. Seeing Theos satisfied expression, a grin also appeared on Dismays grim face. He enthusiastically asked a question. By the way, arent humans doing their utmost to maintain security there? Id like to hear detailed ns on how well invade. You dont need to worry about that. We have all sorts of methods It was at that moment. Thunk- The sound of metal was the first thing. As the eerie and eerie resonance of metal pierced their ears, the faces of themanders stiffened in unison. Surprisingly, even Theo, who had been rxed all along, momentarily lost hisposure. A sinister and gloomy voice followed. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 [I told you, Theo] It was like a whisper echoing from an ancient tomb. Tss tss tss tss- Thunk- Darkness coalesced in the air to form a huge figure. The grating sound continued incessantly. Theo swallowed hard. Yol. A skeletal knight d in ck armor slowly descended into the center of the conference room. A bluish light shed near the eye sockets of the skull made of white bones. It was a chilling light that froze the soul. The conference room fell silent instantly. But what was most terrifying was the sword he wielded. Krick- The de of the sword, which was over 3 meters long, was entirely made up of skulls. Themanders, who met the gazes of the skulls cking stiffly, all bowed their heads. It wasnt mere decoration. They were skulls of Yols defeated enemies. Because of Yols power, they were bound to him. Yol, the Knight of Death, who, if vanquished, would be condemned to serve forever without even the rest of death. Yol, the First Division Commander of the Demon Army. The reason why he didnt possess an actual division like the othermanders was because Yol himself was a division. From the demon world to this world. Yol, who had ovee countless formidable foes, was as powerful as any other division. Theo sighed and replied. Yol. Wee to the meeting after 200 years. [I told you, Theo] Yols voice, now embodied, was clear. Yol fixed his gaze on the old man as if there was no one else in the conference room. [Ill do it alone.] Before Theo could offer an excuse, Dismay stepped forward and bowed his giant head. His courage was enough to astonish onlookers. Lord Yol. Please allow me to assist. [] [The son of a bitch who brought defeat to me] Thunk- -Aaaaargh! As agonizing screams echoed through the conference room, themanders trembled. Even though his head was rolling on the ground, Dismay was screaming and yelling. It wasnt his body crying out. Creak- Dismays soul was trapped and agonizingly wailing on Yols sword. Crack- Dismays head slowly shrank. His flesh melted away, and eventually, only his skull remained, floating and sticking to Yols sword. Another member was added to the First Division. No one had spoken until then. Yol opened his mouth again. [We will do it.] There was no dissent. * * * Swish- A mans hand moved busily across the nk paper. Though it seemed haphazard, thepleteness of the sketch was exceptionally good. Leciel watched in admiration. Its truly a beautiful ce. Indeed? Leciel replied with a slightly proud expression. The past year. Her affection for Rosenstark had grown much more than Leciel had expected. Like a second home. That was how the brilliant painter Dante depicted the academy on canvas, much to Leciels displeasure. And to think, the guide was none other than me. Leciel introduced Dante to various ces she liked. The hill where you can see the professorsb. A variety of ssrooms,bs, etc. where extreme sses were held. Each reaction from Dante made Leciel feel more fulfilled. Ive only heard about it from the leader, never actually been here I should havee earlier. Words cant fully express it. So, you want to capture it in a painting. Hmm, now that I think about it, there are quite a few paintings depicting Rosenstark. Well, none of them were done by me. I believe youll do it justice. Leciel also enjoyed her time with Dante. He was the first person she could talk to about art since the Hero. Moreover, Dante treated Leciel as a respectable painter. That attitude made Leciel grateful, and she did her best to introduce Dante to various ces in Rosenstark. Rosenstark is not only visually stunning but also holds many mysteries within It feels even more special when you think about all the people who made and maintained this ce. Sharing such sentiments was also enjoyable. It reminds me of the old days. Oh? Not Rosenstark, but I attended an academy. It was an art academy in Zedo Ah, I see. Of course, Leciel knew. She had even thought about visiting it someday if she had the chance. You attended an art academy? I didnt know Its not surprising. I didnt finish it. What? Why? Leciel stopped talking. Leciel? Just a moment. nce. It wasnt a mistaken feeling. Someone was definitely watching them. And very skillfully. So skillful that if Leciel hadnt learned Felsons surveince technique, she might not have even noticed. Moreover, now the presence didnt feel hidden like before. Mmmmm- Leciel extended her senses without hesitation. Nothing was caught. Did they run away because they were found out? Leciel? Ah. Only then did Leciel realize that Dante was standing behind her with a puzzled expression. Exining the situation, Dantes expression quickly hardened to a frightening degree. Could it be the warning from the leader? Professors warning? Leciel, from which direction did you sense the presence? Dante rushed off in the direction Leciel indicated, the very next moment. You should go back to the dormitory. Thanks for the tour today! With that, Leciel, left alone, looked bewilderedly at the direction Dante disappeared. No You cant fight, can you? Leciel hurriedly followed after Dante. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 253 Chapter 253 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Dantes figure was no longer visible in sight. But as Leciel extended her senses, she could distinctly detect movement. Despite the thorough security of Rosenstark, Leciel hurriedly followed behind just in case any danger arose. Just then Cough, cough. Not long after, she spotted Dante, doubled over and gasping for breath. They werent far from the starting point. Even within the range where civilians could easily pick up on transmissions. Even though he was no stranger tobat, for a member of the Dawn Knights to be in such a state was unusual. Perplexed, Leciel asked, Are you alright? I cough, cough wasnt supposed to be this bad I feel like Im going to die. Being at the brink of life wasnt just about lifespan. In a critical condition, overall vitality diminishes rapidly, and the body ages drastically. It was likely due to expending more life force than anticipated in the previous battle. Leciel contemted whether to continue pursuing the unidentified spy or just stay by Dantes side. Dante wore a embarrassed expression. This is embarrassing, really. Its not embarrassing at all. Can you stand? Grabbing Leciels hand, Dante stood up and brushed off the dirt from his clothes. I guess its futile to continue the chase now, isnt it? Yes. Then lets head back for today. Weve gathered enough sketches and, most importantly, Im exhausted. Alright, shall I escort you? Oh,e on, you dont have to treat me like an eighty-year-old. Leciel, who had been kneeling to help Dante up, stood up again. Dante chuckled at her bewilderment. It seems there are unexpected sides to you. Anyway, be careful. Despite Rosenstark being secure, its still a dangerous era. Yes, Ill keep that in mind. After Dante left with those words of caution, Leciel turned back to head to the dormitory. Huh? In the distance, something sparkled in the moonlight from the bushes. Leciels expression subtly changed upon confirming its identity. This is A fist-sized crystal bead. It seemed to be used for magical training. . . . Cough, cough. After running for a while, Ban stopped to catch his breath, exerting all his effort to calm hisbored breathing. As expected of Leciel. Despite trying to suppress his presence and extend his detection, he was ultimately discovered. The boy looked back with tense eyes. Theyre not following. With that, Ban copsed to the ground. But soon, he got up again and brushed off his clothes. What the heck! But there was no sign of the crystal bead he had dropped earlier. It must have been lost. Ban sighed heavily and ruffled his hair. Still, he was lucky to have escaped without being caught. If he had been discovered it would have led to terrible misunderstandings. Shed probably think I was jealous and sneaking around to spy on her. As if that would happen. Ban suppressed a loudugh. How nice it would be to have a famous painter visit. Even I would have done the same. Just. Just He had chased after them out of curiosity about why she was so happily chatting and swinging their swords at Rosenstark. Ah. Ban smacked his head hard. What a pathetic thing to do. He also felt sorry for Leciel. I shouldnt do this kind of thing again. In fact, Ban had been trying to start painting a few months ago. Amidst his busy schedule of swordsmanship and magic, he had tried to practice whenever he could. Unfortunately, the results werent particrly impressive. Hmm, seems like Ick talent. No, in this case, should I say Ipletelyck aesthetic sense? Yeah, as long as youre talented in swordsmanship and magic. Ugh. One after another, it was Gerald, Luke, and Karen. Ban had no choice but to abandon his n to attract Leciels attention with a magnificent painting. And then, just as Leciels idolized painter (who also happened to be quite handsome and well-dressed) appeared, Ban had to endure endless teasing. I should go get some sleep. As he was about to take a step forward Eek! A pitch-ck silhouette swiftly passed by. There was no sound, so Ban startled and stepped back. What, what is it! The unidentified silhouette stopped and looked at him. The Great Mountain Tribe. I move stealthily. Its a habit from hunting. You, on the other hand, are like a cat burr. What are you doing? Iira was looking at him under the moonlight. Because of her dark skin, she appeared to blend into the darknesspletely. No, shes even using stealth magic, isnt she? Even Ban, who habitually extended his senses as he moved, couldnt detect her nearby. That look of disappointment. What are you doing on a night like this? This is in front of the new student dormitory. What are you doing here, Iira? You should know. Nothing. With those words, she disappeared smoothly. Ban was bewildered, letting out a dryugh before heading back to the dormitory entrance. It was the end of a tumultuous day. Is there anything else? Seeing Leciel holding the crystal bead at the door, Ban let out a sigh of exasperation. * * * Izaro had advised the Hero to meet with a celestial being once a day. If you continue to meet for about a week, by her divine energy, Dark Impulse will bepletely eradicated. The Hero had anticipated it would be quite challenging but conversing with the celestial being surprisingly went smoothly. Except for asional excessive fandom and bringing up embarrassing past moments out of the blue, that is. As one who had existed for many years, she was observant and boasted a high level of understanding. She really likes me. It was hard to believe after just hearing short stories or watching videos. There were certainly discussions and analyses going on. At times, it even felt enjoyable. I am Maktania. Okay. Do you know what it means to know my name? I dont. It means youve fulfilled the first condition to be my champion. Congrattions! Champion? Its like a pact with a demon. The treatment ispletely different from the celestial and demonic realms, though. Whats good about bing one? Maktania, seemingly hoping the Hero would be her champion, enthusiastically extolled the benefits of bing a champion. A major advantage is being able to deal a lethal blow to beings with demonic energy! But wouldnt they also be able to deal a lethal blow with demonic energy? Hmm, thats true too. Were each others pr opposites. The Hero also had many questions for Maktania. If you were to restore divine power to humans, how effective would it be? What do you mean by effective? Specifically? The effectiveness of healing. How much, how quickly can you heal? After the disappearance of divine power, humanbat tactics changed dramatically. Evading became the top priority. No matter how much they reinforced their bodies with mana, fundamentally, human bodies were weak. Even if they were hit properly just once after being struck ten times, most of theirbat ability would be lost. Naturally, attacks themselves became more passive, which acted as a significant weakness in the Demon War. However, the intervention of divine power could bring about significant changes. Can you heal as well as I can recover? Im not sure about your recovery rate Can I see it once? Without hesitation, the Hero drew a dagger from the Void and deeply shed his forearm. Confirming the skin parting and blood oozing out, then Smoothly He swiftly healed with Polymorph. Maktanias eyes trembled slightly. Hmm. What Maktania had just seen was not so much healing or recovery as it was restoration. It was almost like turning back time as the skin closed up and the blood was absorbed. She eximed in awe. You see, even during the First Era when faith was abundant, this level of healing was impossible. Hmm really? Its closer to the regeneration abilities of demons and monsters. Even the upper echelons of Malekia probably cant regenerate this cleanly, right? Impressive. Maktania even praised the monstrous aspects of the doppelganger. The Hero chuckled involuntarily. Its an ability thats hardly ever useful anyway. Why not? Because it would reveal Im not human. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 He didnt die easily from minor injuries. As long as he had the capacity to heal with Polymorph, even if his throat was cut, his heart pierced, or his limbs severed, he could recover. But the problem was whether other humans could ept that. Especially in front of the demon armymanders. Those who had seen the founder doppelganger in person would immediately recognize his true identity. So when fighting them, the Hero had no choice but to rely on the significant drawback of consuming mana to use Ster Lift. Maktania nodded. Your recovery ability may not be that great, but you should still be able to heal moderate injuries. If youre an exceptional human with extraordinary faith Yes, you could probably always manifest Divine Gaze-level recovery abilities like Baruns. Do you know Barun? Shes one of the few believers I know. The Hero thought of the old woman who was still immersed in treating patients in the darkest corners of the capital. Barun would probably be one of the happiest people when divine power returned to the world. Convincing this celestial being of human goodness. That might be the task at hand. Maktania grinned as if she had read the Heros mind. Anyway, for my divine power to manifest in this world, I need a champion. What are the conditions for a champion? Many besides faith. Courage and kindness that will not yield to any evil Since you rejected me who would prefer it? Should I go around the world looking for someone else? The Hero could confidently answer. The most suitable candidate would be at Rosenstark. Haha, is that a way of sayinge to Rosenstark following you? Surprisingly, the Hero didnt deny it. Well then I can rest easy. Maktania noticed the Heros expression sink. Youre worried about betrayal. Thump- She got up from the bed and approached the Hero. The Hero also felt a strange headache. Whats this? Had they been talking for too long? It could also be unexpected pain during the process of burning Theos curse, where Maktanias divinity took ce within him. Are you okay? Im fine. The Hero replied, pressing their temple. Yeah betrayal. Betrayal is the problem. Maktania brought her face right in front of the Heros. So, do you have any guesses about who the betrayer might be? I dont know. Let me list a few. Maktania spoke as if humming a song. What about Felson? The Hero responded promptly. The probability is low. Whys that? Considering everything, it was so. The past loss of his wife. The achievement of tracking down Eitrobin, an aplice of Enoch, himself. His track record. Moreover, his son, Ban, also relied on Rosenstark. Hmm, but youre notpletely denying the possibility? Ivar betrayed his entire tribe by acting as theirpdog for the demons. Isnt what humans lost over time not very important? Its more about what they gain or dont lose, isnt it? Exactly, what to gain and what not to lose is more of a concern. Maktania smiled with interest. Thats enough of an answer. Then what about Iira? Iira The Hero fell silent for a moment. In fact, the members of the Dawn Knights who were transferred to the academy this time were not individuals the Hero had seen and experienced firsthand, making it difficult to speak with certainty. Of course, their actions and backgrounds were all without issues. Her tribe sessfully settled in the empire, unlike Ivars tribe. Oh, really? How was that possible? Thanks to Euphemias extensive support. Ah, I see. So if her betrayal is exposed. Yeah, then Euphemias cruel vengeance awaits. Would she risk endangering her entire tribe like that? Moreover, unlike Ivars tribe, which was destroyed whole, Iiras tribe settled sessfully in the empire. So she doesnt have direct resentment towards the demons? If anything, wouldnt the resentment be towards humans? She must have lived miserably until Ted rescued her. You know very well how cruel humans can be to each other. I cant deny that. But after that, Iira fought hard for humanity. Maktania grinned. Not for humanity, but for Ted, perhaps? It was an unanswerable question, so the Hero fell silent. The next question followed. What about Dante? Hes somewhat suspicious. Whys that? Blood and flesh alone. Hes an individual who doesnt bind himself anywhere. The risk of betrayal is the lowest. [PR/N: Blood and flesh alone is used to describe someone who ispletely alone and has no family or friends.] However, it didnt satisfy the two conditions inferred from Laces prophecy. A certain level of military strength. The ability to move from the east to the west in an instant. He didnt meet both of these criteria. He said himself that biological teleportation is impossible. Only the owner knows the exact capabilities of the artifact. Whats the chance that statement itself is a lie? The Hero hesitated before answering. Its uncertain. Of course, he didntpletely trust Dantes words. However, over the past decade of military service. Dante, in any crisis situation, even when his own life was at risk, never used teleportation. Same this time too. When theirrades were trapped in a demon ambush during this campaign. Dante summoned arge castle and field with various aquatic artifacts to their location. He protected theirrades until the reinforcements arrived. And for achieving suchrge-scale miracles, he paid the price of losing decades of his life. The Hero muttered. If teleportation were possible, wouldnt it have been much cheaper? Hmm, I suppose so. Above all, Dante no longer had any threatening vitality left to do anything. The physical condition of the Dawn Knights had already been verified after a thorough examination, and it was confirmed that Dantes lifespan had been drastically reduced. His physical abilities were as low as those of an old man. That was a symptom that appeared when life force was really hitting rock bottom. Iira said he summoned an ice cooler and spilled some coffee. Maktania nodded as if convinced. Hmm, if Dante was really a traitor, he wouldnt have endured such sacrifices. Summoning a castle and field to saverades is all within the realm of choice. No one knows exactly what can be done with artifacts. If Dante were a betrayer, the probability of him hiding would be higher. I might as well prefer Dante to be the betrayer. It shouldnt be too difficult to handle. Maktania narrowed her eyes. Then what about Taylor? She lost her husband to the demons. But she was once a pirate. A ruthless and cruel pirate who made a name for herself across the southern seas. The Hero recalled the orange-haired woman with a fierce gaze. Maktania expressed doubt. Once tainted by evil, humans are vulnerable. Just one mistake, just one temptation, and they can return to that ce. You know that very well. Yeah, and Taylor is one of the strongest among the members transferred this time, along with Felson. Hmm, what if we dont know who it is and just kill them all? Stop talking nonsense. The Hero sighed deeply. He knew that such questions and answers wouldnt reveal the truth. But the frustration was inevitable. What if Ivar had lied to the very end? Or perhaps the traitor was still in the east. The surveince is working properly. While he was away, Mother Ghost took over the supervision. If something suspicious came up, she would contact him immediately through themunication bead. If he learned something new, he could share it with Maktania. The Hero was continuing their thoughts when it happened. Why? Huh? Whats wrong? The Hero looked straight ahead with a sinking gaze. Why am I not harboring any doubts and revealing all this confidential information? Ah. Maktania grinned widely before returning to a nk expression. Thats why. Crack- Simultaneously, the Heros vision began to distort like shattered ss. Faint voices flowed through the cracks. [Brother! Wake up! Damn it, what has happened here!?] [It wasnt a Dark Impulse. It was a disguise! Oh, if only I wasnt in a sealed state] [This ominous aura, could it be that they detached a part of the main body and nted it in him?] [Theres resistance from within! The hero has noticed!] [For now, lets prevent Theos will from escaping this ce at all costs] [If you want that, then at least break the seal first!] But Hana the hero couldnt focus on the urgent voices searching for him. Bubble bubble- The girls form melted away. A decrepit old mans figure emerged atop the red, mushy flesh. It was a familiar face. With a face twisted in deep regret, he shook his head. Its a shame. What is? That I cannot share this incredible truth. The old mans wrinkled eyes turned towards the hero. Anyway, it was nice to meet you, monster. Before the hero could even respond, BOOMMMMMMMMMMMM- A bright light pierced through the cracks in the shattered world. The dark and gloomy world was instantly illuminated, and warmth enveloped the hero. . . . At the same time, on the opposite side of the continent, a cough erupted as if piercing the lungs. Cough! After coughing for a while, Theo, with blood dripping from his lips, red to the west. A avatar. The avatar nted by him suddenly disappeared unexpectedly. It was quite unexpected, as he had only intended to keep it hidden without any activity. Moreover, intentionally all connections were blocked to not be discovered, so he didnt even know what had happened. How did he get caught? In a world without divine power, there couldnt be a being sensitive enough to track his hidden avatar with demonic energy. A variable. Unexpected variables often became reasons to hurry ns. Theo called the betrayer. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 254 Chapter 254 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Rain fell intermittently. The season stood on the border betweente autumn and winter. Cold air, a cool-toned sky, thickening clouds. Rosenstark was steadily approaching the end of the semester. In two weeks, it would be finals. Then, straight to winter break. The children were busy preparing to wrap up the year. ¡­ And recently, it had been a busy time for any professor, no less than for the students. Labin Hawk. Until recently, his life had been quite monotonous. He would wake up early in the morning for a brief training session. Then, prepare and deliver lectures. In the evenings, he would drink alone in his office before going to sleep. That was it. ¡®What else is there to do?¡¯ His beloved wife died during childbirth. His only daughter also perished on the battlefield. There was no longer any drive to push Labin¡¯s life forward. The only thing that remained was a sense of responsibility, even amidst all this pain, to give his best in teaching. ¡®It¡¯s more like slowly dying than living.¡¯ Labin was in such a detached state that he could express such pessimistic thoughts without hesitation. However, recently, Labin¡¯s routine had be considerably moreplicated due to two changes. The first was Zion¡¯s visits. They had asionally exchanged letters before. Perhaps she had guessed his dire state as a former academy colleague. Sinceing to Rosenstark, she would visit him once a day for tea time. From reminiscing about the past to discussing swordsmanship. Various topics about the Hero, even trivialities about her granddaughter. The topics were diverse. Labin found it a bit odd. ¡°¡­Aren¡¯t you supposed to return to the capital?¡± ¡°I¡¯m nning to stay in Rosenstark for a while.¡± ¡°I heard Her Majesty asked you to return to the capital.¡± ¡°To be precise, she asked me to ¡®protect what needs to be protected.¡¯ In my opinion, there are more things to protect here than at the capital.¡± Zion chuckled lightly. Her reconciliation with her granddaughter seemed to have brought her not only daily happiness but also a sense of ease. It was a moment when Labin found it pleasing to smile. Zion abruptly brought up a sensitive topic. ¡°So, have you forgiven?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Have you forgiven him?¡± A moment of silence. The subject was omitted, but there was no problem understanding. Labin bluntly replied. ¡°¡­Forgiven for what? Forgiveness is something needed by the one who has done wrong.¡± Zionughed heartily. ¡°Oh, Ted should hear this warm response himself.¡± Labin clicked his tongue. ¡°¡­What does it matter to you? If someone hears, they might think Ted is your grandson.¡± ¡°It might seem awkward for someone who treated him like a real grandson.¡± Labin¡¯s expression crumpled. In social circles, she moved her tongue as gracefully as her sword moved in battle, just like her old ssmates would be amazed to see. ¡®It would be amusing for my old ssmates to see this.¡¯ In fact, during their school days, Zion resembled Leciel so much it was astonishing. A quiet girl dedicated solely to the sword. Her charm was enhanced by her beauty and background, and her poprity soared. How many male students lost sleep over her. When news of her marriage spread, the alumni association was like a portrait gallery. ¡­Now, seeing her teasing him, Labin felt the passage of time, but¡­ ¡°You seem to get along very well with your granddaughter. You acted like you¡¯d never reconcile in your lifetime.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything; it¡¯s all thanks to Ted and Leciel.¡± ¡°¡­Thanks to Ted.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t he be a great teacher while her grandmother acted foolishly?¡± Labin¡¯s second silence followed. ¡®A great teacher.¡¯ Those words brought back old memories. ¡°Professor, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Ted, dressed neatly, came on a day when rain fell lonely like today. The only difference from today was that it was notte autumn but midsummer. In his hand was Dahlia¡¯s hairpin covered in dirt. It was something she always tied to her sword hilt. ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I said get out of my sight. I have never regretted having you as a disciple as much as today.¡± Even hearing such words, Ted¡¯s expression remained unchanged. Suchposure was once a proud aspect, but¡­ At that time, Labin found it too hateful. Hatred. It wasn¡¯t justified, but it couldn¡¯t be helped. Because of this, Labin didn¡¯t realize until Ted said his farewell that the cuffs of his pants were soaked, as if he had knelt and cried for a long time. [TL/N: Damn.] [PR/N: Author def has some personal vendetta against og Ted, holy shit dude how is his story so sad.] ¡°Even if you no longer consider me your disciple, I will remember you as a great teacher.¡± After that, news of victories, glories, and fierce battles came intermittently. And finally, Ted returned to the academy as a professor. Labin was engulfed inplex emotions several times a day. Anger, longing, tenderness, resentment. But as time passed, Labin couldn¡¯t deny that Ted had be a great teacher. ¡®He showed a direction for the children, a path they should aspire to.¡¯ The statement that Labin would consider him a good teacher until the end was not a lie. Whenever Labin observed Ted approaching his professorship with affection, just as Labin had done to Ted, he felt as if the long suffering had been rewarded. ¡®¡­A beacon.¡¯ People turned towards where Ted shone. Where he shone was always the right path. No matter how fierce the storm, no matter how dark and rough the night sea, they would forget everything and follow the path he suggested. Dahlia was unfortunately just a ship that was wrecked on the way. Finally, Labin admitted that fact and¡­ had no choice but to forgive, not resent. ¡­So he had helped with the Hero¡¯s training, and before he left for ¡®treatment,¡¯ he had epted the request that he brought. ¡°There might be a traitor among the members?¡± It was a fact that was hard to believe. ¡°And you want me to help track them down?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°Before I ept, honestly, I¡¯m not sure what help I can provide.¡± If he was already a Hero, he would be making every effort to find the traitor in various ways. Labin was skeptical about what would change with his added help, if anything, to the efforts to find the traitor. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not relying solely on you, Professor. I¡¯ve set up my own surveince system. But¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°Professor, you¡¯re a kind of ¡®wild card.''¡± No one would have thought that Labin, who had a poor rtionship with the Hero, would move at the Hero¡¯s request. ¡°You might even be able to find loopholes.¡± Perhaps Labin could capture any gaps. ¡°After observing the changes in the ¡®academy.''¡± ¡°¡­Changes in the academy? It¡¯s unusual for your request to be so vague and ambiguous.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you experienced the Rosentark invasion once before?¡± Labin stiffened at those words. It was when Ted was still an undergraduate and he was a young professor. There had been an asion when a special unit of the demon army had ambushed Rosenstark. At that time, Rosenstark, which was not yet stable in the west, had not prepared, and suffered enormous damage. There were graves of sincere professors and students on one side of the academy. ¡°There are signs before everything happens. If the traitor is going to harm Rosenstark, there will be changes observed in some way.¡± There was no guarantee that there would be clear evidence or findings at the scene. The possibility of relying on intuition was also high. The Hero paid attention to that aspect. ¡°I think Professor Labin, who has been immersed in Rosenstark for decades, is one of the few people who can notice that.¡± Since that request, there had been a significant change in Labin¡¯s monotonous daily life. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª An ¡®undercover¡¯ operation was added. Of course, even a week after the Hero left, Rosenstark remained peaceful, not showing any signs. But Labin, who had been lethargic, regained a strange vitality. ¡®Damn it. Making an old teacher like me do such a weird task.¡¯ Labin grumbled as he got up from his seat when the designated time arrived. Zion saw him off with a gentle smile. It seemed she was nning to linger in his office even after he left, preparing for the master¡¯s departure. ¡°The affection between the teacher and student is very nice, Labin.¡± ¡°¡­Just like affection between a grandchild and grandmother.¡± Swoosh¡ª Labin, wearing a raincoat, left the office. Since today was a day without lectures, he nned to visit all the way from the market to the outskirts of the academy. * * * The doppleganger does not dream. Of course, Homunculus is the same. Sometimes Rosalyn takes the form of ¡®sleep¡¯ as a form of magical recharge, but strictly speaking, this is closer to ¡®functional suspension¡¯ than sleep. In fact, he didn¡¯t even need such a process. A consciousness that remains clear 24 hours a day. All thoughts were made under that control. It was a condition that humans would have gone crazy with, but he was unscathed. Sometimes, when he felt like he might overload his mind, he closed his eyes and took a little rest, and it would be okay. Perhaps it was due to the miraculous recovery power derived from the essence of the doppelganger. Therefore, this ckout of consciousness was¡­ a very unusual event for him. Whoosh¡ª The world quietly receded. The images and sounds of reality attached to thest edge of consciousness¡ªthe fake Maktania turning into Theo, screaming Izaro and real Maktania¡ªquickly faded and soon disappeared. At some point, his body felt weightless. It felt like rising, sinking, and sometimes being caught in a whirlpool. Countless senses and experiences collided and ovepped, causing dizziness. ¡®Is this¡­ a dream?¡¯ Humans go through suchplex and chaotic processes every day, don¡¯t they? He rolled his tongue, looking at the images passing before his eyes. ¡®Terrible.¡¯ He had once envied the ability to dream. He had such thoughts when Ted, exhausted from battles, stretched out in his hideout. Although he was always tormented by stress and fatigue, during dreams, he seemed to be free from all that burden. Of course, he didn¡¯t readily reveal what kind of dream he was having. But seeing his boyish smile and rxed expression during sleep made it easy to guess the content. Because of that, he couldn¡¯t help but be curious. ¡®If I were to dream, what kind of dream would it be?¡¯ And finally, He could face that answer. He stared straight ahead. ¡®¡­Izaro?¡¯ No, not Izaro. ¡®It¡¯s Zero.¡¯ A younger version of him than now. The face is simrly wrinkled, but the color of the beard and hair is a bit darker. But he was definitely older than what I had seen in previous memories. He slowly approached me. ¡­No, it felt as if I was being drawn towards him. It felt like space was moving around him as the center. His deep and clear eyes looked at me. ¡®This is¡­ a gap in memory.¡¯ From my creation to the first cloning. Lost memories in their entirety. This dream is just a part of it. It was the first time I had seen my body floating in the pale liquid of the bio-reactor. Swoosh¡ª Beyond the hazy view. Zero¡¯s wrinkled hand brushed against the ss surface. ¡°¡ö¡ö.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Please forgive me.¡± ¡­Forgiveness? I hardened. ¡®Weren¡¯t you supposed to hate and guard against me?¡¯ ¡®He¡¯ who stole everything from Zero. He is the Homunculus born from epting that entity. So why forgiveness? He naturally raised doubts at the word that didn¡¯t fit the context. But Zero continued to speak without paying attention to it. ¡°I¡¯ll take resentment or hatred sweetly. But this is necessary. We can¡¯t repeat this tragedy twice.¡± Surprisingly, Zero¡¯s eyes, as he said that, were filled with guilt. He hadn¡¯t yet grasped his meaning. ¡°Let¡¯s meet again at the end.¡± ¨‹ Memory restoration initiated. ¡ø ¨‹ Understanding of Zero Requiem Borningenheim deepens. Understanding level: 10/100 -> 20/100 *However, the subject cannot be replicated. ¡ø The sudden feeling of heaviness on his eyelids, which he hadn¡¯t noticed, seemed to be the moment when he understood what Zero¡¯s words meant. Suddenly, everything shook, and all objects in sight became blurred and mixed up. As if pouring paint directly onto a painting, the world of dreams was engulfed in overwhelming colors. ¡°Ah.¡± The sensation of waking up. There was a piercing sound in my ears. ¡°You¡¯re awake! Finally!¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s fortunate that it¡¯s not toote.¡± ¡°Are you in a state to move right away?¡± ¡°Now is not the time to determine feasibility. He needs to move.¡± As the gravity of the real world pressed against my body again, I got up. ¡°¡­How many days was I unconscious?¡± ¡°Four days.¡± Before asking the next question, I needed to take a deep breath. It was because Izaro¡¯s expression was not words. Tightly drawn eye bags from tension. Thinly pressed lips were trembling. An unmistakable sense of urgency emanated from him. ¡°What happened?¡± Izaro grimly opened his mouth. ¡°Rosenstark has been invaded.¡± It was time to go back. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 255 Chapter 255 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Below is a series of events that took ce at the academy just before the Rosenstark invasion. . .. In the dimly lit studio filled with the smell of oil paint, a subdued sigh escaped. ¡°So, it¡¯splete now.¡± Dante proudly gazed at his masterpiece. Standing beside him, Leciel also looked at Dante¡¯s work with admiring eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to finish so quickly.¡± One canvas couldn¡¯t contain all of Rosenstark. Dozens of canvases were tightly assembled like a puzzle, delicately depicting the scenery of Rosenstark. Each detail was so lifelike, it felt as if it were captured by magic. The only difference from reality was the season. ¡°Winter¡­ is it?¡± The winter of Rosenstark. It was a piece that showcased Dante¡¯s unique mncholic style. Dante looked proudly at his work, smiling. ¡°I sneaked out of the infirmary whenever I couldn¡¯t sleep to work on this.¡± ¡°¡­Is that allowed? The nurses would be mad.¡± ¡°Of course not. But it¡¯s better to get angry than to look at me as if I¡¯m about to die right away.¡± Leciel lightly chuckled at Dante¡¯s self-deprecating joke. The two stood side by side, admiring the artwork. In that moment, a curiosity struck. ¡°Dante, how does your ability¡­ the Wish, manifest?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Your ability to make paintingse to life is incredible, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯m curious about what¡¯s possible. For example¡­¡± Leciel pointed to the painting. ¡°If you were to draw the professor somewhere in this painting and then activate the Wish, would the professor suddenly appear? Is that possible?¡± ¡°Haha, surely not¡­¡± Danteughed at the girl¡¯s imagination. ¡°My Wish cannot interfere with living beings.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°If that were possible, it would be too omnipotent.¡± Let¡¯s say, for example, you draw a living person as if they were dead. Then, if you activate the Wish, an assassination would bepleted that no one could respond to or trace back. Such a power would be closer to divine than protective.¡± After hearing the exnation, Leciel nodded in understanding. ¡°Besides, manipting inanimate objects is also impossible due to ¡®coherence.''¡± ¡°Coherence?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s say you draw Rosenstark entirely submerged in the sea, then activate the Wish. Would ind Rosenstark be flooded with seawater like in the painting?¡± Dante chuckled, pointing to his own hair. ¡°Of course not. Such a wish would not only be impossible, but it would also end up evaporating my life force. Rosenstark would be swept away by salty winds a few times.¡± Coherence is calcted ording to its own standards. Even Dante, who has lived with the Wish for a dozen years, did not know its clear form. So, he couldn¡¯t use his Wish with peace of mind. Sometimes, life force disappeared in absurd proportions. Thunk- Dante, with a bitter smile, approached his painting. ¡°With my remaining life force, I¡¯ll probably only be able to make a few magical towers or bunkers for the academy.¡± ¡°Just a moment. Did you draw Rosenstark for¡­?¡± ¡°As a side benefit.¡± When crisis struck the academy, was it to help them? Leciel stared at Dante¡¯s back, speechless. ¡°Ah, right.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Last time, the person who was watching us¡­¡± Turning around abruptly, Dante hardened his expression. At the unexpected vigor emanating from the thin painter, Leciel took a step back unintentionally. ¡°Did you find out who it was?¡± ¡°¡­It was Ban.¡± Dante suddenly looked helpless. ¡°Ban? Felson¡¯s son?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Goodness, why would that brat be watching us?¡± Leciel said with a hint of embarrassment. ¡°He¡¯s my friend, so I guess he was just curious about what I was up to. He¡¯s not suspicious. I¡¯ll vouch for him.¡± ¡°Well, he¡¯s Felson¡¯s son, so it¡¯s only natural.¡± Leciel hesitated for a moment before asking. ¡°Professor mentioned something about a warning, right? Is there any danger to the academy?¡± ¡°Oh, that.¡± Dante quickly regained his rxed smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just an internal problem within the Order of Knights.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± Though there was a strong smell of fishiness, there was no other choice but to swallow it. With a slightly disappointed expression, Leciel changed the subject. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m going to the library to study for exams now. What about you, Dante?¡± ¡°I must have finished the painting¡­ now there¡¯s no reason for you or me to be in this studio. I¡¯m nning to meet some colleagues and then return to the infirmary.¡± With his characteristic friendly smile, Dante waved his hand and headed out of the studio. Dante waved his hand with his characteristic friendly smile and headed out of the studio. * * * Recently, Mother Ghost had been experiencing very busy days. ¡®¡­It never ends.¡¯ One side of Rosenstark¡¯s ¡®Control Tower.¡¯ In secret, a temporary headquarters had been set up. Humming- On the screen covering the wall, videos from various parts of the academy were being broadcasted in real-time. Carefully selected agents were filtering important information andpiling reports. It wasn¡¯t just videos. Undercover agents were physically tracking the movements of key figures (members of the Dawn Knights) while filtering theirmunications, letters, and conversations for analysis by encryption specialists. Summarizing all this overwhelming information and conveying it to the Hero was Mother Ghost¡¯s mission. The problem was¡­ ¡®For the past few days, there¡¯s been no response at all.¡¯ Reports had been continuously sent viamunication, but there had been no reply whatsoever. ¡®Thest response was four days ago¡­¡¯ Of course, she doubted that anything could have happened to that terrifying monster (Mother Ghost thought of him that way)¡­ But from the perspective of the surveince team that discovered the unusual signs, there was no choice but to want that feedback as soon as possible. ¡®His subordinates are about to seed in some strange research.¡¯ Yussi and Noubelmag¡¯s secret research. The research, spurred by the lie ¡°I¡¯m dying,¡± aimed to enhance the efficiency of the sacred stones, increase the healing power of the ¡®God¡¯s Gaze¡¯ and then use it to replenish the dwindling life force of the Hero. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡®It¡¯s research that even the Hero is unaware of.¡¯ Members of the Dawn Knights carried out this in utmost secrecy. When Yussi, the principal of Rosenstark, intervened, even Mother Ghost took several days to catch her tail. ¡®The reason for keeping it secret? Probably to prevent the Hero from objecting.¡¯ Already scarce sacred stones and relics. The Hero nned to use the umted materials solely for the recovery of the injuries of the members. If they knew the truth, that resources were being wasted on research for their own treatment when it wasn¡¯t even necessary, they would likely be furious. ¡®The problem is, this research is yielding results faster than expected.¡¯ Ghost 3, who was active as Noubelmag¡¯s assistant¡­ ording to Nyhill, a tremendous amount of sacred power had already ¡®amplified¡¯ and flowed into the ¡®God¡¯s Gaze.¡¯ As a result, the members in need of treatment were refusing treatment, shouting, ¡°Treat the Leader first!¡± ¡®How should she solve the stubbornness of the Dawn Knights?¡¯ But how she should resolve the Dawn Knights¡¯ stubbornness was still a question mark. Should she snatch their staff? Steal the sacred stones? If she did such a thing, she would be torn apart before she could even exin herself. ¡®¡­I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s the consequence of his own lies.¡¯ Perhaps the only solution would be for the Hero to return and personally wield his staff against his subordinates. Mother Ghost sighed and turned her gaze back to themunication bead on her desk. The bead remained silent as ever. ¡­At that moment. ¡°¡­.?¡± Mother Ghost¡¯s gaze was drawn into one of the videos being broadcasted from various parts of the academy. ¡®What¡¯s that¡­?¡¯ In the blink of an eye, doubt darted through her pupils at a rapid pace. One subordinate agent hurriedly burst in. Even though he was always calm, his face betrayed signs of panic. ¡°I have a report. A dead body has just been found in the ward.¡± Mother Ghost asked. ¡°¡­Whose?¡± The agent replied promptly. ¡°It¡¯s Delusional Painter, Dante.¡± ¡°Report it.¡± ¡°Direct signs indicate a prating wound by an arrow in the neck area. It was confirmed that he was shot with an arrow on the infirmary rooftop and fell to the ground.¡± Mother Ghost stood up straight. On the screens surrounding her, members of the Dawn Knights and faculty members were shown departing from various ces in Rosenstark towards the infirmary. Immediately after the body was discovered, it seemed that connectors had been contacted. The agent continued the report. ¡°Suspect Taylor was alsost seen near the infirmary¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± But Mother Ghost just raised her hand. Moreover, instead of heading straight to the infirmary like them, she sat back down slowly. Her subordinate¡¯s puzzled gaze turned towards her, but she didn¡¯t move. No¡­ Something¡¯s wrong. ¡®I missed something.¡¯ Dante, arrows, infirmary rooftop, Taylor, children, Yussi, research, Noubelmag, Hero¡­ Keywords flew through her mind at lightning speed and rearranged themselves. Mother Ghost finally stood up from her seat. ¡®¡­It¡¯s not the infirmary. Not Taylor either.¡¯ Mother Ghost¡¯s gaze turned to a corner of the wall. Rumble- A part of the center of Rosenstark. The surveince devices ced there were being deactivated as if they had been waiting. No video was being broadcasted from them. ¡®What he¡¯s aiming for is¡­¡¯ Her eyes shook violently. * * * Labin Hawk was a skilled martial artist. Though he retired early due to injuries in his youth, his training never stopped. Decades of umted pure magical power, traditional swordsmanship, and exceptional ¡®eyes¡¯. Even young professors couldn¡¯t withstand a match against him and often found themselves defeated. For such a capable Labin, patrolling Rosenstark¡¯s grounds wasn¡¯t much different from taking a walk. ¡®¡­Hmm, there doesn¡¯t seem to be any issues on the outskirts.¡¯ Labin updated his checklist in his notebook and continued walking. For several days, he had been meticulously inspecting both the interior and exterior of the academy at the Hero¡¯s insistence. In fact, the defenses outside had be much stronger than before. Thanks to Noubelmag. He had created a vast amount of aquatic artifacts, which were at a level that couldn¡¯t be easily overlooked, even by a demonic army of the scale that had previously invaded. ¡®The traitor is an individual. If they¡¯re up to something, it must be from within.¡¯ Because of this, Labin nned to focus his patrols mainly on the central area from tomorrow onwards. ¡®But what about today?¡¯ He pondered for a moment at a fork in the road. To the left was the professors¡¯ residence, and to the right was the dormitory for undergraduate students. It was a bit disappointing to end the patrol a little early considering the time, but¡­ ¡®Maybe I¡¯ll just take a quick look around the outskirts of the dormitory.¡¯ He paid special attention to the children. As their mentor, it was his duty to alleviate some of their concerns. With that in mind, Labin redirected his steps towards the main gate. ¡®¡­What¡¯s this?¡¯ Labin stopped. The surroundings had suddenly be unusually noisy. In the middle of the night, and during exam period, it was absurd. Naturally, Labin concentrated his magic to enhance his hearing. Approaching footsteps and shouts pierced his ears. ¡°Hurry!¡± ¡°Evacuate the children and nonbat personnel!¡± ¡°Block all entrances! Not a single rat must escape!¡± ¡°It¡¯s said the suspect is also in the infirmary!¡± Humming- ¡­Simultaneously, the connectors he had ced began to ring like crazy. Labin grimly turned on the screen. Many messages hade in, but he didn¡¯t need to read them all to understand their contents. They were all about the same thing. ¡®¡­A body in the infirmary.¡¯ Tock- Labin looked down at his feet. The moment he felt a solid sensation under his foot, the Hero¡¯s voice echoed in his ears like a hallucination. ¡°There are always signs to everything. If the traitor intends to harm Rosenstark in any way, there will be some kind of change observed.¡± ¡­Coincidentally, the body was here too. Although it was melted and distorted as if burned, it was still recognizable. Thanks to that, Labin could realize who the traitor was. And what he was aiming for. Hoping it wasn¡¯t toote, Professor Labin made his way towards themercial district. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 256 Chapter 256 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Market street. Noubelmag¡¯s workshop. ng-The intermittent sound of a hammer ceased. Noubelmag wiped the sweat flowing down and stopped his work. Once he focused, he could devote himself to work for at least half a day, but the disturbance that urred a few minutes ago ate away at his concentration. ¡®What¡¯s themotion about?¡¯ After a few shouts, most of the security guards guarding the market street headed somewhere in a hurry. The market street fell silent. Most of the shops had closed their doors, so the surroundings werepletely quiet. ¡­If only Nyhill were here, she would have reported what was happening. Unfortunately, she had been helping with work all afternoon and left about an hour ago. Chin- In the end, Noubelmag picked up the connector stuck in the corner of the workshop. It was given by Yussi a while ago. Although he rarely used it because it was cumbersome to operate. ¡°Damn it, why is this happening again?¡± It¡¯s dead. Noubelmag, who was looking at the ck screen from side to side, picked up the connector again. ¡­Then he nced at the water artifacts scattered throughout the workshop. They were thetest ones that had been refilled after being partially blown away by an explosion some time ago. After confirming the sufficient supply that could withstand dozens of demons rushing in, his tension eased. Noubelmag chuckled and shook his head. ¡®Damn, this is not the time¡­ I¡¯m getting more fearful as I get older.¡¯ Noubelmag picked up the hammer again and looked at the sacred stone and ¡°God¡¯s Gaze¡± on the workbench. The time for the leader to return was approaching. But he hadn¡¯t yet extracted the sacred power from all the sacred stones and relics. The sacred stones and relics provided by the academy had undergone the extraction and amplification of divine power and had been applied to the God¡¯s Gaze, but new stocks purchased by Yussi had arrived. He would have to stay up for a few more nights. ¡®¡­The more, the better, the more certain.¡¯ Noubelmag thought of the face of the Hero. He often thought so when the work was tough. ¡®A deadline, what nonsense.¡¯ Fragmented images shed through his mind. The face checking the armor before going to the dangerous battlefield. The expression when losingrades and surviving alone. The noble joy shown after saving lives at the end of a struggle. People who didn¡¯t know the Hero well often described him as an unbreakable iron man despite numerous hardships. But Noubelmag, who had watched the Hero for a long time, knew that he was just human. Just a human being. A selfless and strong human being who loved the happiness of others more than his own life. ¡®Someone is trying to leave already.¡¯ He was someone who should enjoy more. [PR/N: Bro he already left¡­.. He will never be able to see it¡­..] He had to see more possibilities on the happiness he had protected. ng-! The sound of the hammer resounded again. ng-! Intermittent noise interspersed with it, something strange was next. ¡­Thud. Noubelmag looked towards the entrance of the workshop. Thud- Thud- Thud- He walked as if wriggling like a snake. The shadow under the forge stretched long over the old man. Eyes trembling with faint excitement. He passed by Noubelmag as is and headed towards the workbench. ¡®¡­Ha.¡¯ There was no need for further exnation. However, the old man instinctively understood how the situation was unfolding. Countless emotions rose and sank on his wrinkled face. A brief silence followed. ¡°How?¡± ¡°I drew it.¡± The answer was straightforward. While the God¡¯s Gaze was being improved. He had visited Noubelmag¡¯s workshop several times for a simple experiment. From the entrance to the interior of the workshop. He had already memorized theyout and structure of the workshop where the artifacts were guarding. It was simple to make it inoperable. Just draw it with a few essential parts missing. The connector, always ced in the same location unused, was no exception. To Dante, it was an easy way to expose. ¡°God¡¯s Gaze, wouldn¡¯t it be better to keep it in Noubelmag¡¯s workshop while the research continues? Humans may be deceived, but machines are not.¡± Noubelmag¡¯s expression distorted, recalling memories from a while ago. ¡°Right, it¡¯s a damn useful ability.¡± At this, Dante burst intoughter, bending down to his waist. ¡°I agree.¡± Meanwhile, Noubelmag slowly reached behind. Continuing to talk to prevent Dante from noticing. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Why?¡± What¡¯s so funny, Danteughed again. ¡°Haha, why not?¡± Laughter echoing throughout the workshop. Noubelmag¡¯s hand moved a little further. ¡®Just a bit more. Just a bit more.¡¯ Fortunately, Dante seemed to have little interest in him. ¡°It¡¯s strange. When people do good deeds, they don¡¯t ask for reasons.¡± It was none other than Dante who brought documents from the First Age and presented the ¡°God¡¯s Gaze improvement project¡± to the members. Pushing forth a noble cause that his own treatment could be postponed for the sake of the Hero¡¯s treatment, no one questioned it. Such irrational thinking seemed natural. ¡°But when ites to evil deeds, they ask for reasons more diligently. Why are you doing this? Why?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Do you wish evil to beplex? You know that it¡¯s often not the case.¡± As Dante¡¯s voice became calm when the speech ended, it became thin and low. Noubelmag felt a greater threat from him than when he burst intoughter. ¡®What on earth is that?¡¯ No emotion could be discerned from his empty pupils. Only instinctual malice was revealed along with a serene smile. Hisughter exuded an eerie rigidity like a broken doll. ¡°Just. For fun. Without any particr reason. Because I like it. Because I don¡¯t like the other party. Mostly like that.¡± ¡°¡­ Have you finished babbling?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve finished babbling, you son of a bitch.¡± Noubelmag pressed the hidden button on the wall. Clunk- As the mechanical sound reverberated in his ears, Noubelmag grabbed the staff on the workbench and prostrated himself on the floor. ¡°What!?¡± As the wall opened, revealing the water artifacts, before Dante could react, dozens of magic bullets rushed in, fragmenting everything in their path with a roar. The workshop was engulfed in intense vibrations, smoke, and mes. Even arge demon couldn¡¯t withstand the attack¡­.It was an attack a scrawny painter who could only ¡®draw¡¯ things could not withstand. ¡°¡­¡­¡± However, Dante didn¡¯t need to withstand it. The fierce onught vanished like an illusion as if it had never existed in front of Dante¡¯s nose. ¡°What¡­?¡± Seeing Noubelmag¡¯s distorted face, Danteughed mockingly. ¡°You don¡¯t necessarily need a brush and paint to be able to draw.¡± He just imagined ¡®a workshop where magic bullets couldn¡¯t shoot¡¯, then oveid it. At Dante¡¯s gesture, Noubelmag turned around. The artifacts he painstakingly crafted¡­ had transformed into balloons fit for a child to y with. Perfect bnce. Noubelmag pretended to be nonchnt as he spoke. ¡°I didn¡¯t know such foolishness was possible.¡± But there was no hiding the trembling in his voice. ¡°Where is the fool who shows everything to those who will eventually turn their backs?¡± Suddenly, Noubelmag noticed that Dante was holding the God¡¯s Gaze which he had grasped like a lifeline, in his hand. He opened his mouth as if reluctantly. ¡°The entire defense of the workshop has been neutralized. It doesn¡¯t require much chance to take away one staff from an old cksmith.¡± ¡°That¡­?¡± Noubelmag knew. This was a fight where there was no chance of winning. But he couldn¡¯t let that staff be taken away. There was a rightful owner of the life force contained within it. Noubelmag grabbed the hammer firmly. ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°A demand for a painter who hasn¡¯t even reached the climax or the protagonist role yet¡­ Where¡¯s such audacitying from?¡± As Dante¡¯s eyes rolled unsettlingly at the end of his sentence, Noubelmag noticed he was mentally drawing something. ¡®¡­What on earth is he trying to draw?¡¯ Though unsure of the form, a clear death loomed. But oddly, the trembling left the old man¡¯s body. ¡°Dante!¡± As Noubelmag shouted and rushed forward, Dante¡¯s eyes froze. ¡°Unfortunately, Noubelmag, there¡¯s no ce for you in this artwork.¡± Noubelmag raised the hammer in his hand forcefully. Crash! The two silhouettes simultaneously rushed into the workshop. For the first time, Dante¡¯s face seemed to falter. ¡°¡­?¡± Creak¡­ As the smaller figure swung a dagger, a huge earth wall erupted between Dante and Noubelmag. In an instant, Dante¡¯s mental image distorted. St! Simultaneously, darkness coalesced in the air as a ck spear hurtled towards Dante. Using the power of spirits to cleverly buy time, the woman immediately seized Noubelmag¡¯s body and rolled towards the workshop corridor. It was to escape Dante¡¯s maniptive sight. ¡°¡­Nyhill?¡± Noubelmag, wide-eyed, stared at the ck hair swaying before his eyes. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Nyhill¡¯s voice remained calm and unwavering as usual. But her grip on Noubelmag¡¯s captured hand became increasingly tight, almost painful. With a pale face, Nyhill scanned Noubelmag¡¯s body. ¡°Sorry for beingte.¡± Simultaneously, on the other side of the corridor, Labin¡¯s thunderous roar reverberated where Noubelmag had just been. His body seemed almost numb with anger conveyed in his voice. ¡°How dare you! Plotting such dirty conspiracies at Rosenstark!¡± Crash! The sound of shing swords and des filled the air. Nyhill also found herself standing amidst the chaos, her body now part of the tumult. For Noubelmag, left alone, all he could hear was the terrifying noise. ¡®Damn it¡­¡¯ Despite the desire to help being as strong as a chimney, Noubelmag remained seated, holding his position. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª . . . The disturbance unexpectedly ended quickly. ¡°Noubelmag.¡± Noubelmag breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of the old professor and the girl before him. But he wasn¡¯t out of the woods yet. ¡°¡­Where is he? And the staff?¡± ¡°He fled with the staff.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡­After briefly reporting to others through their connectors. They shared the information they knew briefly. Starting with the current situation of the academy. In short, it was a mess. ¡°Bodies are being found everywhere.¡± It was when news came that a body of Dante, shot with arrows, had been found in the infirmary. Labin encountered another Dante lying in aa. ¡°That body seemed to have been struck by Iira¡¯s White Sword.¡± It wasn¡¯t just Dante. Bodies of all kinds were subsequently found in quick session. The traces left behind were clear enough to identify the culprits. People were momentarily confused, unable to connect the dots and trembling with distrust and suspicion. ¡°But it¡¯s hardly enough to cause long-term chaos.¡± It¡¯s a joke if you y well and within ten minutes, the culprits are revealed. Even now, all of Rosenstark¡¯s forces were searching for Dante. ¡°Why did he do such a thing¡­?¡± Labin shook his head with a contemptuous nce. ¡°Was it just to monopolize healing powers and extend his lives? So he obtained the improved God¡¯s Gaze and fled?¡± Noubelmag slowly spoke up at that moment. ¡°No¡­ That¡¯s not all.¡± If someone didn¡¯t know Dante well, such reasoning might make sense. But no. ¡°Where is the fool who shows everything to those who will eventually turn their backs?¡± He entered the Dawn Knights from the beginning with betrayal in mind. It means that he has been postponing his goal for tens of years. The God¡¯s Gaze was just a means to an end for him to gain the trust of the members. He almost spent all of his own life to gain their trust. Noubelmag recalled Dante¡¯s words. There must be clues there. ¡°Just for fun. Without any particr reason. Because I like it¡­.¡± ¡°Just because you need a brush and paint doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t paint.¡± Climax, protagonist. Suspicion and fear slowly mixed in Noubelmag¡¯s eyes, which were full of questions. ¡°Sadly, Noubelmag, there¡¯s no ce for you in this masterpiece.¡± ¡­ And the masterpiece. ¡°Ah.¡± Noubelmag, who had guessed something, stiffened like a statue. His mouth was wide open in shock and horror. Pieces of the puzzle fit together in his mind, forming a huge picture. Noubelmag murmured as if groaning. ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­ Who the hell would dedicate ten years to such a purpose¡­¡± He stood up without saying a word. ¡°We need to find him as soon as possible.¡± Labin and Nyhill¡¯s trembling eyes met his. Noubelmag¡¯s lips trembled. ¡°Before it¡¯s toote.¡± Ssueeueeuug- They all heard an alien sound in their ears at that moment. Ssueeueeuug- The sound of a brush sliding on a canvas. The sound of a brush moistened with enough paint drawing a moist line. A soft scraping sound. Noubelmag, Labin, and Nyhill approached the window without hesitation, looking out to find the source of the sound. No one could speak. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Ssueeueeuug- It wasn¡¯t a sound that was unpleasant to hear, but it felt eerie, as if it paralyzed the whole body along the spine. They didn¡¯t know, but they weren¡¯t the only ones hearing this sound. The sound forcibly resonated in the ears of all humans in Rosenstark. Noubelmag¡¯s mouth opened slightly. ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s already toote.¡± Labin, the first to turn his head from Dante¡¯s painting, muttered quietly as he headed straight for the workshop door. ¡°I¡¯ll hold him off.¡± It would be a long and harsh night. * * * Thud- Dante hummed as he climbed the hill. It was a hill overlooking the center of Rosenstark that Leciel had introduced him to. Below it. Forces to capture him were converging like ants finding a cake. It didn¡¯t matter. By the time they arrived, the painting would already beplete. There was enough paint, and what he wanted to paint was clear. It wouldn¡¯t take long. Dante raised the God¡¯s Gaze. A vast vitality began to flow through his body. Swoosh. From the long, straight strokes of the brush came a light sound, as if a gentle breeze were rustling feathers. From the sharp, short strokes came a sharp sound, as if mes were burning. As expected, the painting was quickly finished. ¡°Why did you join the Dawn Knights?¡± ¡°I wanted to paint you. The shining moment of the hero.¡± ¡°¡­What a worthless reason.¡± Scratch- As the paint dried, the brush made a rough scraping sound against the canvas. It felt like nails biting into the floor. ¡°¡­Do you think the hero will recover from his injuries sooner than expected?¡± ¡°Yeah, and it seems he¡¯s found a way to be even stronger than before. Should we continue to wait?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Dante told the demons the exact opposite of what he had heard. Literally the exact opposite. He told them that the hero would recover from his injuries quickly. Just to make them impatient. ¡®¡­A deadline?¡¯ The hero must not deteriorate so easily. Dante didn¡¯t think that way because he had special affection for the hero. It just didn¡¯t fit. Such an ending didn¡¯t suit him. ¡®It must not be a mediocre work.¡¯ The culprits may not understand, but to him, the world was a painting. Everything had its own colors and meanings. But that didn¡¯t mean everyone¡¯s importance was the same. Some shone brightly, while others didn¡¯t even seem to exist. Confessing, Dante had chased only that light all his life. All rtionships were tools for his art. If the light wasn¡¯t visible, it was worthless. Not even friends, lovers, or even parents. They were all just light and inspiration, light and inspiration. When his life was left with only faded canvases, sketches, and messy traces of paint. ¡®I got to know the leader.¡¯ Ted Redymer was¡­ more than anything, a strong me. He had to burn. As a torch of this dark age. He had to burn himself into ashes. ¡®So I prepared.¡¯ Increasing the efficiency of divine power or improving the God¡¯s Gaze were all meaningless stories. Because repairing a broken vessel of life was impossible. The documents of the First Era that Dante showed hisrades were lies. ¡®If it¡¯s here¡­ I can burn satisfactorily.¡¯ There were many things the leader wanted to protect in Rosenstark. When darkness fell upon them. How would Ted Redymer shine? Swoosh- The sharp creaking apanied the brush strokes eerily. But Dante didn¡¯t stop moving his jittery hands. Even when the uninvited guests arrived faster than expected, he didn¡¯t turn around. He just greeted them casually. ¡°Hello, Leciel.¡± Behind him, a strong aura and bloodlust were felt. Considering that it was emitted by a girl who hadn¡¯t even reached twenty, it was simply amazing. If they had met a littleter, surely the desire to make Leciel the ¡®lead actress¡¯ would have blossomed. ¡°Now. What are you doing?¡± ¡°What am I doing¡­?¡± Before he could answer, Leciel¡¯s sword energy shot out sharply. It wasn¡¯t enough to kill Dante, who was using all his concentrated vitality and maximizing his prayers. Hmmmmm- The sword energy, intertwined with the scenery in his mind, quickly dissipated. Dante replied with a slight smile. ¡°As always, art.¡± ¡°¡­Art?¡± Creating an immortal masterpiece with finite and insignificant life. If this wasn¡¯t art, what was? Scratch- Dante shook his arms convulsively,pleting the final brushstroke. His thin hands, like dry branches, fell weakly. Even the strength to stand was gone, and Dante copsed onto the fallen leaves on the ground. The staff without light rolled beside him. However, his expression was filled with intense joy and awe. ¡°Ah¡­ it¡¯splete.¡± He was no less than the father of all the scenes that would unfold. Now, all that was left was for the main characters to appear. Dante reached out his hand toward the sky with a wide smile. ¡°Come.¡± In the hazy darkness. The outline of a skull drawn with ck and rough lines slowly revealed itself. The empty eye sockets in the helmet contained Rosenstark. The one who extinguishes the light. Yol. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 257 Chapter 257 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡­A cold wind blew. Everyone¡¯s gaze was fixed on the sky. Someone let out a suppressed groan.¡°What on earth is that¡­.¡± The starlight in the night sky gradually dimmed. Tsutsutsutsu- Amidst the surroundings being covered in thicker darkness, the colossal figure of the skeletal knight slowly emerged. A pale blue me flickered in its empty eye sockets. Those who gazed upon the me were drawn into a strange perspective. Even though it was clearly a distant sight, with every breath, a foul stench and chilling cold could be felt under the nose. It was the smell of death. [¡­Go.] Woo-ooong- The bone sword of Yol sliced through the starless night sky. A dark mist spread from the tip of the sword. Within it, something writhed. ¡°¡­They¡¯reing.¡± Simultaneously, suppressed groans erupted from the ground. There¡¯s no one in Rosenstark who was unaware of the archenemies of humanity, the Demon Lords. Especially the abilities of the ¡®Old Three¡¯ who have ughtered tens of thousands of humans were already well known. That sinister bone sword and the ck mist¡­. The groans quickly turned into screams. ¡°It¡¯s the First Legion of Yol¡­.¡± ¡°The Undead Legion ising!¡± Woo-oo-oo-ooong- It was a storm of despair and death. As the undead, made of bones and rotten flesh, fell to the ground, iling their limbs, an indescribable terror gripped the hearts of onlookers. Many among the nonbatants remained frozen in fear. Everyone knew, however, that the First Legion didn¡¯t consist of just ordinary undead. Each one was a formidable foe Yol had vanquished. Some even had titles attached to them. Of course, they wouldn¡¯t retain all their strength from when they were alive, but still, each one was terrifyingly powerful. ¡­It was a moment where people truly felt frozen. [Dear students, faculty, and staff] A resounding voice echoed throughout Rosenstark. [Rosenstark is currently facing a serious crisis.] It was Pia. Her voice caused the chaotic movements of the people who were confused and wavering to momentarily halt. Even the children who were evacuating listened intently to the familiar voice. Pia calmly briefed the situation. [The school is doing its best to maintain safety, but the escting threat has led to a situation where we can no longer guarantee your safety.] About ten minutes ago, she had visited the principal¡¯s office to approve some urgent documents. While reviewing the documents, the rm sounded, prompting Yussi to ask Pia to guide the evacuation and then rush out to lead thebat personnel. With no script and feeling terrified, Pia remained as calm as possible. Constantly recalling the faces of the Hero in her mind, her trembling gradually subsided. ¡®Professor¡­ You¡¯ll be here soon, right?¡¯ Perhaps because of that. Even the panicked people of the academy managed to start paying attention to the evacuation broadcast. [We will try to buy as much time as possible.] As her words ended, Wheeiiing- Dudududududu- The water artifacts stationed on the rooftops of each building spewed mes simultaneously. [TL/N: They¡¯re just called water artifacts.] Thanks to Noubelmag¡¯s relentless maintenance over the past few months, both the quality and quantity were at their maximum since Rosenstark¡¯s establishment. A seamless array formed in the sky. Some of the undead had no chance to resist and melted away. ¡°They¡¯re, they¡¯re being shot down.¡± A few powerful undead fell while directly facing the magic attacks. However, there were too few being shot down to harbor hope. ¡°¡­We¡¯recking firepower.¡± It was because the outer walls where the most powerful water artifacts were stationed were too far from the undead¡¯snding points. But that wasn¡¯t the end of the preparations. Woo-oo-oo-ooong- As the blue barriers were deployed around key buildings, fireworks-like attack spells soared into the night sky from the direction of the School of Mysticism. Kliriririck- ck ck- Simultaneously, statues and decorative armor pieces scattered throughout the gardens and buildings began to move. Their jewel-adorned eyes gleamed as they silently rushed toward the undead¡¯snding points. Perverberberbeng-! Amidst the deafening noise, Pia¡¯s calm voice prated. [First, I will transmit the location of the nearest refuge light protection facilities within the school through the connectors.] Ring- The notification sound of the connectors echoed throughout. [Please gather necessary items as quickly as possible and seek refuge in nearby facilities. Do not remain outside under any circu¡­] [Kwaaaah-!] As a booming sound reverberated through the amplification devices, people trembled in shock. Someone standing where the principal¡¯s office was visible screamed and pointed. ¡°There, over there!¡± The outer wall. A grotesque undead creature was clinging to the barrier, sneaking through it. Numerous artifacts shot their spells at it, but the creature showed no sign of being affected, relentlessly pushing its massive body to get inside. Krrraaaaaah- The undead¡¯s identity was the ¡®Dismay of Shame¡¯. Once a demon who managed a human ranch and even rose to the rank of legionmander. Though he had lost his intelligence and powers, he was still vastly more powerful than ordinary undead. Every time Dismay twisted his body, the outer wall of the building warped and rubble scattered. ¡®Crazy, it¡¯s right below!¡¯ Running to the window to look down, Pia froze. No matter how brave she usually was, the sight of a 5-meter tall undead filled her with immediate, visceral fear. Her trembling intensified rapidly. ¡­But Pia returned to her desk. Her mission wasn¡¯t over yet. Pia prayed earnestly. ¡®¡­Professor, lend me just a fraction of your courage. Just enough to make me a little braver.¡¯ And so, the evacuation broadcast continued. [For those ssified asbatants, we will send documents detailing the main undead of the First Legion and their characteristics and weaknesses] Ring- Pia, with the authority set as the highest, frantically operated Yussi¡¯s connector. [And for those in the Demonology Laboratory, please dispose of all demons thoroughly before evacuating¡­ Ah, damn it] Kwaaaah-! Dismay finally breached the barrier and outer wall, entering the administrative building. It was faster than anticipated and directly below. The ominous sounds of destruction echoed through reality and the amplification devices with a slight dy. But Pia, determined to fulfill her duty, showed no hesitation in her gestures and voice now. ¡®Just a little more.¡¯ She poured out her instructions quickly and steadily. From her perspective, they were words akin to herst will. [Please follow the instructions of the faculty members. Do not forget to prevent chaos and help your fellow colleagues. We cannot survive if we turn against each other] [Kwaaaah-!] The booming noise drew nearer. The internal barrier was breached, and the traps were rendered powerless. Pia closed her eyes tightly and clenched her fist. The ominous presence of the undead was close. Her body shook like a quivering leaf, her head spinning. ¡­Intentionally, she recalled thendscape of her burning hometown. ¡®Mom, Dad¡­ and my little brother.¡¯ Rosenstark was like a second home to Pia. Everyone she loved had roots here. She couldn¡¯t protect her first home. So she couldn¡¯t let this one be destroyed either. Pia grabbed the amplification device again. ¡®The most valuable way for me to spend my life when I can¡¯t fight.¡¯ Pia¡¯s eyes gleamed. She had something she wanted to convey. [Everyone, it¡¯s a dire situation. But I¡¯m sure that ultimately, our courage, determination, goodness, and solidarity will show us the way through this darkness. Encourage and help each other until the end so that everyone can survive. Because¡­ it¡¯s humanity¡¯s future] With that. [Please tell Professor Redymer that I¡¯ve been greatly indebted to him] It was her final message. Pia released the amplification device. She had held it so tightly that her knuckles had to be pried apart with her other hand. There was no room for a pathetic scream; now it was time to turn it all off. Swoosh- At the moment she raised her hand. Crash- The sound of the door breaking echoed as it opened. Unexpectedly¡­ The intruder wasn¡¯t a grotesque undead but a blond handsome man. The still-active amplification device broadcast their conversation. [Damn it, Pia! What the hell, no, what are you still doing here! Are you insane?] [P-Pierre Professor! What are you doing here? It¡¯s dangerous!] [The only thing that will be in danger if Pia dies is me, Professor Redymer will peel my skin off! Juste with me for now!] Tap- Their footsteps faded away. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª . . . ¡°Well, thankfully, the assistant was rescued by a handsome man¡­.¡± Karen stopped and looked at her friends. ¡°What should we do?¡± Fortunately, it was exam season. Most students were gathered near the library, and the extreme ones were too. As if by agreement, they ran to the dorms, grabbed their belongings, and gathered in the backyard, except for Leciel. None of them considered themselves nonbatants, so it was an action born out of necessity. ¡°What else can we do? We have to fight.¡± It was Luke. Gerald chuckled at his words. ¡°Then let¡¯s. If we don¡¯t fight, who will?¡± Karen smiled back. ¡°Any cowards who oppose this?¡± Of course, there were none. They nodded calmly at each other. ¡°Wow, it feels like just yesterday we heard stories of Professor¡¯s heroics during the Rosenstark invasion¡­ and now we¡¯re about to fight.¡± ¡°Every day since enrollment feels like a spectacle, really¡­¡± ¡°The legendary Gerald. No, the legend of Gerald, is this the beginning?¡± It was a natural statement, but the children¡¯s eyes were tinged with fear. Yet, more than that, there was resolution and pride. Karen pped her hands to regain their attention. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s discuss how we¡¯re going to fight.¡± No matter how urgent the situation, strategy needed to be formted. It was a lesson learned through countless drills in extreme. ¡°First, let¡¯s hear the opinions of our excellent strategists, friends.¡± All eyes turned to two individuals. Luke and Ban were already whispering together. Karen approached them, shoulders together, with a trustworthy expression. ¡°So, how do we fight?¡± ¡°¡­Alright, I¡¯ll summarize.¡± Ban, representing the group, stepped forward. The boy¡¯s finger pointed to the night sky, where undead legions were descending. ¡°You might have noticed, but the legions aren¡¯t randomly descending. Yol is deploying forces based on his own judgment.¡± Just by observing the powerful undead sent after Pia¡¯s broadcast, it was clear. If they all descend to the surface, they¡¯ll show even more coordinated movements. ¡°So, we must engage in ¡®defensive fighting.''¡± ¡°¡­Where will they target first?¡± ¡°The ce where they can most shake Rosenstark to its roots.¡± The answer came to the children immediately. Ban nodded. ¡°Yes, the control tower. Of course, the academy will deploy as many forces there as possible, but¡­¡± It would likely be insufficient. The deployment of forces by the academy was initially not for such a situation but for a siege defense. To block the enemy at the outer wall first and then, in the worst-case scenario of the inner wall falling, continue the fight internally in a sequence. Thest invasion was like that too. But for some reason, this invasion started from within. Naturally, there wouldn¡¯t be enough forces to greet a full First Legion. ¡°So, we have to help. With thirty of us, we can at least perform the role of well-trained guards. Maybe even more.¡± Everyone understood, so Ban continued giving instructions. ¡°Luke, you lead the kids and head to the control tower.¡± At that, Luke¡¯s thick eyebrows twitched. ¡°¡­What about you? Aren¡¯t youing with us?¡± Surprisingly, Ban shook his head. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°I¡­ ¡± Ban swallowed hard. ¡°I have to rally thebatants. I need to persuade those who can fight.¡± He meant the students from other departments. Most of the students, even the upperssmen, were panicking and floundering. It was natural. No matter how muchbat training they had, seeing a Yol up close could only diminish their courage. Ban was feeling the pressure too. But they couldn¡¯t afford to falter. There were a total of 1,200 Rosenstark students. Each one was a formidable force. If they didn¡¯t participate in the current situation, they would inevitably face defeat. Seeing the worried looks of the children, Ban smiled slightly. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ a symbolic figure. The only student to have faced off against a legionmander. I¡¯m also the son of the ¡®Perfect¡¯ Felson. If I say we¡¯ll fight, they¡¯ll listen.¡± The children swallowed his words. Ban seemed to have already made up his mind. A sense of duty and determination emanated from his unwavering eyes. Luke sighed and ruffled his hair. ¡°You¡¯ll join us after gathering enough, right?¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying, you bastard.¡± ¡°¡­Well, how did you know?¡± After gathering the forces, they would head to the Department of Mysticism. The Department of Mysticism was isted on the outskirts. Magicians fighting without restraint was suicidal. They would do everything they could to join the center before the First Legion arrived. In Ban¡¯s mind, the image of a violet-haired ssmate came to mind. ¡®Beatrice¡­ I hope she¡¯s safe.¡¯ Ban had decided to be their vanguard. If the magicians could join safely, the central defense would be much easier. Of course, it was a terribly dangerous mission. The children stared at Ban as if waiting for something. Luke pushed the boy¡¯s back. ¡°¡­Say something in front of us if you¡¯re going to ymander.¡± Ban didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Kids.¡± The children listened quietly to his words. ¡°People will find hope in us. We¡¯re students of the Hero.¡± Nods all around. ¡°Think of it as all of us taking on the role our professor had on the battlefield. So¡­¡± Ban¡¯s pupils gleamed a bright blue. ¡°Let¡¯s fight bravely. Like our teachers did, like the seniors who defended this ce did!¡± There was no need for a response. The children cheered, each raising their battalion banners. Suddenly, Karen approached and lightly punched Ban¡¯s chest with her fist. ¡°Geez, look at you, Ban.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Where did the scaredy-cat from when you first enrolled go?¡± Karen chuckled. ¡°Leciel should see this. No, maybe Cuculli?¡± Ban chuckled too. Indeed, it would¡¯ve been nice if Cuculli were here too. Her inappropriate jokes would¡¯ve lifted everyone¡¯s spirits. That innocence was needed in moments like this. ¡®By the way, where¡¯s Leciel¡­?¡¯ She hadn¡¯t been seen since earlier. But Ban believed she must be fulfilling her duties somewhere. Now wasn¡¯t the time to be caught up in mixed emotions. The boy expelled some of his unease and worry from his heart. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s see each other alive.¡± ¡°You too.¡± Karen swiftly turned and joined the formation. With cheers from their friends, each departed, leaving Ban alone in the courtyard. Ban took a deep breath. ¡°Alright then.¡± The boy¡¯s chestnut eyes surveyed the academy, where eerie smoke and screams were starting to spread. ¡°Shall we?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 258 Chapter 258 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The professor in charge of ¡°monsters in the field,¡± Bellum. At the beginning of the semester, Bellum was one of the professors who eagerly tried to find corruption among the Hero by any means necessary. Only recently did he realize that trying to restrain the Hero was futile and quietly returned to his role as a professor.However, his earnest heart was now facing a second crisis in life. The first crisis was the legion of monsters that appeared when he was still a fledgling assistant professor, demolishing the Rosenstark outer wall. The second crisis was currently unfolding with the invasion of Yol. ¡®¡­To be this unlucky!¡¯ Bellum looked at the undead falling from the sky with trembling eyes. Although the barrier was still holding, it was a suffocating sight. He wanted to evacuate immediately, but unfortunately, circumstances did not allow it. Swallowing his saliva, he approached the senior professor in front of him. ¡°P-Professor Labin. We¡¯ve all gathered. Please speak¡­¡± Normally, he wouldn¡¯t dare to rush things. Even among professors, Labin was a different caliber. Just a cough from Labin would make Bellum and the other professors tremble, trying to gauge his mood. However, the situation was slightly different with monsters pouring down from above. Their decision to respond was likely influenced by the presence of Labin, who possessed considerable power. Bellum felt uneasy, fearing Labin might issue some ridiculous order like ¡°let¡¯s seal them off with all our might.¡± ¡°Professor Labin! We need to act quickly!¡± As Labin, who had been silently gazing at the sky, finally looked at Bellum. ¡®Pathetic bastards¡­.¡¯ In truth, if the professors in their right minds were present, they would have already gone out to fight. The people gathered before him now were more concerned with their own safety than their duty. They were the same individuals Labin often looked down upon. ¡­That¡¯s why he had gathered them. Labin spoke up. ¡°Are the professors suggesting we evacuate among ourselves?¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s¡­ yes.¡± Even so, there was some embarrassment in speaking those words, so Bellum¡¯s voice trailed off. Labin looked at him with heavy eyes. ¡°If we regard this as the watershed of humanity¡¯s survival.¡± ¡°S-So, shouldn¡¯t it be all the more important for us to preserve ourselves?¡± Bellum nced around as if seeking agreement. The professors gathered there nodded eagerly. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Labin¡¯s brow furrowed even deeper. His expression was inscrutable. Bellum came up with an astonishing excuse at that moment. ¡°It¡¯s for the greater good. We have a duty to survive and pass on knowledge to future generations! If we¡¯re not here, who will educate the next¡­?¡± ¡­But that was enough nonsense. With a whoosh- Bellum looked at therge sword that grazed his ear with widened eyes. Thunk- Blood dripped btedly from his ear to the ground. Bellum screamed in pain, clutching his ear. ¡°What kind of madness is this!¡± Labin calmly retrieved his sword. His stern gaze swept over Bellum and the other professors. The only reason he didn¡¯t kill Bellum was that he was a force capable of fighting. With a minimum of respect, Labin spoke. ¡°I have a task for you.¡± ¡°P-Professor Labin! Even if it¡¯s you, such senseless acts¡­¡± As Labin¡¯s sword was heard again, no one dared to speak. ¡°Shut your mouth and listen.¡± The senior professor spoke firmly. ¡°You will go to the outer wall.¡± The professors murmured in dissatisfaction. ¡°T-The outer wall? What do you mean by that?¡± What kind of nonsense was it to go to such a dead end? Right now, they weren¡¯t fighting the enemy outside. If the undead started to chase them, there would be nowhere to run. Seeing the professors¡¯ discontented expressions, Labin sighed. ¡®¡­Ignorant bastards who know one thing but not the other. Are these the fools who stand at the lectern?¡¯ The outer wall was equipped with powerful defensive artifacts, iparable to those inside Rosenstark. Although currently out of range of the undead¡¯snding point, once they began to attack Rosenstark, it would be possible to intercept them. Yol would also try to seize the outer wall as a priority. As they listened to the exnation, the professors¡¯ expressions became more subtle. ¡°¡­W-Why didn¡¯t you tell us earlier? I¡¯ll take the lead. Let¡¯s go up quickly. If webine our strength, we can break through to the outer wall safely.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Professor Labin?¡± Plunk- Labin took out a map from his pocket and threw it at their feet without saying a word. The professors¡¯ eyes shook violently at the sight. ¡°These are shelters along the way from the professors¡¯ quarters to the outer wall.¡± ¡°What? What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°The shelters won¡¯t hold up against Yol¡¯s undead. They may resist for a moment, but they¡¯ll soon be overrun. Rescue them, lead them to the outer wall. As professors, you should inspire the children to fight and move.¡± As the difficulty of the escape increased dramatically, the professors were left speechless. A few quick-witted ones pretended to be serious and picked up the map. ¡°We¡­ we¡¯ll depart right away.¡± But the senior professor was not so easily convinced. ¡°If you¡¯re just nning to hold out here, you¡¯ll regret it.¡± ¡°W-What do you mean?¡± ¡°When the battle begins, all forces will eventually converge on the walls.¡± The professor who had picked up the map swallowed nervously. Those eyes. They dared not meet the stern gaze of the senior professor. ¡°In other words, if you and I survive, we¡¯ll meet again on that wall. If at that time you haven¡¯t fulfilled your duty¡­¡± Whoosh- The mana imbued greatsword emitted a chilling hum. No one dared to argue as the massive de moved lightly like a piece of paper. ¡°We¡¯ll do our best. Anything, just let¡¯s go!¡± Bellum and the professors hurriedly left the professor¡¯s quarters. Labin remained alone at the entrance. Even if they were cowards, they could probably handle this level of mission. He sighed slowly. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Labin¡¯s eyes turned towards the night sky. ¡®¡­I¡¯ve been too lucky all this time.¡¯ While countless warriors shed blood on the battlefield, he stood safely within Rosenstark. Now it was time to pay the price. Bump- Footsteps echoed from behind. Labin turned around with aposed posture. ¡°Professor Pierre, did you manage to rescue your girlfriend?¡± ¡°¡­Haha, she¡¯s not my girlfriend.¡± Kasim scratched his nose with a rueful expression. ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a pity.¡± ¡°Haha, anyway, we¡¯ve gathered everyone.¡± Labin chuckled at Kasim¡¯s embarrassed demeanor. Dozens of professors and assistant professors behind him greeted him. ¡°Good evening, Professor.¡± ¡°You look even more impressive today.¡± Kasim and Labin, with simr personalities, seemed to get along well. Having constantly interacted with Hero, they were among the faculty members withbat capabilities. Labin had been keeping an eye on these educators for some time. The senior professor scanned their faces once. For a moment, a sense of guilt shed across his wrinkled face. The young professors pretended not to notice. ¡°¡­Listen to me, everyone.¡± ¡°We¡¯re listening!¡± ¡°As you know, Rosenstark is¡­ thest ark of humanity, a bastion.¡± Labin¡¯s voice, quietly started, grew firmer. ¡°If this ce falls, there will be no future for humanity.¡± The professors listened silently. Labin¡¯s nails dug into his wrinkled palms. ¡°So we¡­ we scatter in all directions and be decoys.¡± They would lure the undead away while the students escaped, buying time for the Dawn Knights, the corebatants, to fight Yol. ¡°It may be ignoble, but we¡­ we give our lives for the students¡­ for the future.¡± No one spoke up. But it wasn¡¯t necessary to speak up to answer. * * * ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Woo-woo-woo- On the highest hill in Rosenstark¡¯s center, where Yol had been summoned. Those who would stand against Yol were gathered. Yussi, Felson, Taylor, Iira, Zion (who had just chased Leciel away from on the hill to somewhere else)¡­ they each revealed themselves in turn. They stared silently at Dante¡¯s corpse lying limp on the ground, as if determined not to be swayed by emotions, and began their preparations for battle. Ping- Taylor, who had tried to shoot at Yol a couple of times with his bow, jerked her head nervously. Although the arrows were quite powerful, they all bounced off before getting close. ¡°For now, we¡¯ll maintain the barrier and hold out until the summoning isplete.¡± ¡°It seems he ns to descend after everything is finished. Anyway, he¡¯s quite cunning.¡± ¡°Trying to hit him is pointless, so let¡¯s focus on what we can do.¡± The ck mist surrounding Yol remained thick. The white skull were nowhere to be seen. ¡°¡­Until the summoning isplete, let¡¯s loosen up.¡± Woo-woo-woo-woo- The bright light emitted by the device Yussi brought shone, signaling that the summoning wasplete. It was the ¡°Master Controller,¡± a machine used by the Hero during their training in the Forest of Martial Arts. Using an interlude, Yussi surveyed the entire situation of the academy, gave orders to the guards, and Glendor¡¯s forces that she had brought. Woo-woo-woo- Dozens of screens constantly switching showed the entire situation of Rosenstark. As they finished their battle preparations, they approached. Felson¡¯s gaze was drawn to one of the screens. His thin lips opened once, then closed. ¡°¡­Son.¡± Ban, using his unique senses, skillfully avoided dangers, rallied hidden students, and led them through the smoke and mes engulfing the academy. A dozen or so followed him, breaking through the chaos. Woo-woo-woo- In the midst of chaos. The tip of Ban¡¯s raised sword gleamed like a torch, wrapped in darkness. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Yussi nced briefly at Felson before manipting the controller. Through the damaged audio device, Ban¡¯s echoing voice came through the image bead. [¡­We must¡­ fight together! I will help!] Felson reached out and caressed the screen. Forgetting the impending dangerous battle, he smiled proudly. ¡°My son, my own son.¡± Zion, who had been watching alongside, added a word. ¡°What a fine young man.¡± ¡°Haha, his dream is to be son-inw of Lady Zion.¡± ¡°What?¡± At that, Zionughed like a girl. ¡°Leciel¡¯s? Oh dear, that must be tough. Leciel has high standards like me.¡± Tsk- Arge vein bulged on Felson¡¯s forehead. ¡®Well, what about our Ban?¡¯ He managed to smile slightly. ¡°You have high standards¡­ Isn¡¯t baldness your preference?¡± It was a teasing remark about her increased appointments with Labin recently. But Zion didn¡¯t bother denying it. ¡°Of all the bald heads, he¡¯s the most handsome.¡± A gentle voice. Her crimson eyes were focused on another screen of the Master Controller. Felson could readily agree with that statement. ¡°Well, yes.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± With a smirk, Zion grabbed the sword behind her. As the fierce wind blew, her red hair fluttered like a fan against the night sky. Kiiiiing-! Simultaneously, a vast amount of mana surged and mes erupted on the de. ¡°Anyway¡­ we can¡¯t lose, can we?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Woo-woo-woo-woo- Felson also drew his sword, reducing the area of detection that had covered everything nearby to only Yol. ¡°We kill. Yol. The enemy of ourrades.¡± Even Iira, holding a grand bow, stood ready. ¡°¡­He¡¯s a tough one to deal with. Meeting that crazy guy here.¡± Taylor, holding the longbow, also stood firm. Finally, Yussi finished manipting the controller and stood beside them. She murmured as she put her sses away. ¡°¡­Here hees.¡± There was no trace of fear. The excitement of the battle they were about to face after a long time filled their azure eyes fiercely. Seeing this, theirrades nodded approvingly. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Suddenly, the endless rain of undead ceased. Tsutsutsutsu- The mist around Yol dissipated quickly. The blue mes inside their helmets were directed towards them. [Where is the Hero?] It was a voiceyered with echoes. As screams and shouts echoed in their ears, a chill froze the bodies of therades. [Only insignificant mes are burning] However, no one backed down. They simply brandished their weapons. [Foolish ones, if you wish, I shall extinguish you] Yussi prepared the enchantment, muttering softly. ¡°He won¡¯t bete. Hold on.¡± Everyone understood. Even if their bodies were in good condition, with this number alone, it was impossible to face Yol. Despite the arrival of the Sword Saint, they were all wounded. Just holding on was the best they could do. Felson nodded. ¡°Yeah, just hold on until the leader arrives.¡± nk- The skeletal knight descended slowly with a mncholic tter. Simultaneously, all therades closed their visors. Taylor and Iira added a word each. ¡°Yeah, we can¡¯t send such stuff down to the kids below.¡± ¡°He will handle it. The leader.¡± Yes, he would. As always. . . . Kwaaaaaang! The roar shook all of Rosenstark, signaling the beginning of the battle. ¡­ It was about 2 hours and 40 minutes before the hero¡¯s arrival. [TL/N: Smh there should be instant teleportation, where¡¯srze when u need her.] [PR/N: Please no one die.] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 259 Chapter 259 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The world is horrifically cruel. It was a truth everyone repeated over and over. Flora, a first-year student in the Rosenstark Support Department, majoring in healing magic, had heard it so many times that her ears practically had calluses.However, the world Flora experienced was not so bad. She came from the capital. A wealthy family, loving parents. A natural talent for healing magic. On top of that, a reasonably pretty face. People were kind to her, and she had never encountered monsters or demons, the so-called enemies of humanity, in her life. ¡­That must be why. When faced with the gaping maw of the undead, which looked like a small hell, she couldn¡¯t move a single step. ¡®Ah, I should have just run away.¡¯ It was the result of hesitating to treat a guard groaning under fallen rocks. Flora tightly closed her eyes. ¡°Flora!¡± The piercing scream of her friend. But fortunately, the scream soon turned into a sigh of relief. Crack- A huge blunt weapon shattered the undead¡¯s head in an instant. tter- As the shape-shifter reverted to its sword form, Flora could only blink. ¡°Can you stand?¡± ¡°Oh, yes¡­.¡± Leciel, the granddaughter of the Sword Saint. She was so famous that even Flora, from a different department, knew of her. Like other friends, she had secretly admired Leciel¡¯s undoubtedly morous life. But now. The girl standing before Flora looked too unfortunate to be the object of anyone¡¯s admiration. Flora barely managed to speak. ¡°Th-th-thank you.¡± Yet the face, twisted in agony and covered in blood and dust, did not turn toward Flora. Groooar- Leciel only stared at the approaching undead horde from the distance. Without looking back, she pushed Flora¡¯s back. ¡°Run in the direction I came from.¡± Flora did as Leciel instructed. Several times, the resilient undead tried to grasp Flora, but with a few more swipes of Leciel¡¯s wrist, they shattered into pieces and ceased moving. Tap- Leciel ran forward again. ¡­How long had it been since the invasion started? 10 minutes? 30 minutes? Or an hour? During that time, Leciel fought tirelessly around Rosenstark. At first, she wanted to fight against Yol, but her grandmother mercilessly chased her away. ¡°Leciel, go to where you are needed most.¡± It meant she wouldn¡¯t be useful in the fight with Yol. Leciel was angry, but she wasn¡¯t so unreasonable as to insist on staying. Her grandmother wouldn¡¯t be able to focus on the battle just by having her there. Stepping aside was the wise choice. ¡­But she was terribly worried. Leciel kept looking back as she descended the hill. ¡®Where I am needed most¡­.¡¯ Before she could even think of that, the horrors unfolding before her emptied her mind. Corpses being devoured by the undead. People running around screaming. Burning buildings and acrid smoke. The ground covered with dust and scorched blood. ¡­She cut down all visible enemies. Many powerful undead fell under Leciel¡¯s hand. Numerous students, staff, and even professors expressed their gratitude for being saved. But Leciel¡¯s expression grew darker. ¡®¡­It¡¯s my fault.¡¯ The girl looked at the academy turning into ruins with a feeling of nausea. ¡®¡­If only I had been a bit more perceptive.¡¯ Since Dante came to Rosenstark. She undoubtedly spent the most time with him. If she had harbored even a bit of suspicion. If she had discovered even the slightest oddity. Would the tragedy before her eyes have been lessened? Leciel bit her lip hard. ¡®Because I was stupid¡­.¡¯ She had beenpletely fooled by his smooth talk and pretense of kindness. Leciel recalled Dante, who had smiled and drawn pictures in the night sky. How could she have not noticed such evil? If it were the quick-witted Cuculli or Karen, they surely would have noticed something off. ¡®Ah¡­.¡¯ Leciel stopped in her tracks. She had found a familiar corpse lying on the ground. A brown-haired girl. She couldn¡¯t remember her name. But coincidentally, they shared several sses, so she knew her face. At the beginning of the term, when Leciel was extremely shy, the girl had awkwardly scratched her head after asking for an autograph and being rejected. She should have just signed it. Her grandmother¡¯s words echoed in her mind once again. ¡°Leciel, go to where you are needed most.¡± Leciel stood there, dazed. Where was she supposed to go? Where was she needed the most? It seemed as if people were calling her from every corner of Rosenstark. Screams, shouts, the nging of metal, the groans of the undead. All of it crashed into her ears, blurring together. ¡­But there was one voice that gradually became clearer. ¡°Leciel.¡± It was the voice that had gently guided her without scolding whenever she grew impatient. ¡°Stop for a moment, take a deep breath, and refocus. You are someone who wields the sword of the heart. You must never lose your sharpness, no matter the situation.¡± ¡­If it had been the Hero. If her mentor had been standing here instead of her, what would he have done? He was a meticulous and calm person. Someone who could observe and analyze the situation no matter how turbulent the waves. Surely, he would have retraced the steps of the event from the beginning and figured out Dante¡¯s scheme. Leciel wanted to resemble the Hero more than anyone else. When she thought about what he would have done, surprisingly, her tumultuous heart began to calm, and she started to grasp the faint outline of something she had been missing. ¡®Is Dante¡¯s n really just about the summoning? Isn¡¯t there something more¡­?¡¯ If there were an additional scheme, she, who had spent the most time with Dante, would be the one to notice it. ¡®¡­Oh?¡¯ Lost in thought, Leciel stood still. ¡­There was. When she had shown Dante around various ces in Rosenstark. There was a ce where he had shown an unusually high level of interest. A ce where he had stayed longer than anywhere else, absorbed in his drawings. That ce was not the control tower, which was now being guarded by all avable forces. Nor was it the outer wall where nonbatants were evacuated. Nor was it the hill where Yol had been summoned. ¡®¡­No one will be guarding it now.¡¯ Before she could think further, her body moved on its own. Tap- Leciel elerated quickly, turning her back on the academy¡¯s center. ¡­But her gaze involuntarily returned to the body of the brown-haired girl receding in the distance. ¡®I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ Instead of closing her eyes tightly, Leciel gripped the hilt of her sword firmly. * * * ¡°Oh¡­ this isn¡¯t good.¡± Karen¡¯s voice trembled slightly as they approached the control tower. Gerald also stopped, looking pale. Everyone¡¯s eyes fixed on the throng of undead. ¡°What the hell, why are there so many?¡± Although they had crossed the academy without rest, their destination, the control tower, was already surrounded. The children were quite taken aback. ¡°Damn, did we waste too much time fighting?¡± The way there had not been easy. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Yol had dedicated a considerable number of forces to capturing the control tower, and as a result, they had faced continuous small skirmishes over the past several minutes. Thus, their arrival was dyed, and in the meantime, undead advancing from other directions had reached the control tower first. ¡°Argh!¡± ¡°Hold them! They¡¯reing!¡± The sounds of battle echoed. Fortunately, the siege was rtively thin, likely because not many troops had arrived yet, but the situation was still far from good. The children looked around with serious expressions, muttering to each other. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°Should we try to break through? Or go around?¡± ¡­It was then. Thud thud thud thud- A subtle vibration was felt from behind. Irregr footsteps and groans carried by the wind. The children¡¯s expressions grew even grimmer. ¡°Ah, they¡¯reing from behind.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to be surrounded?¡± In front was a dense encirclement. Behind, the slowly approaching reinforcements. There were even what seemed to bemander-level undead among them. A chillingly ominous aura emanated from them. ¡­The children naturally looked at Luke. Luke was contemting three options in his mind. First, a direct breakthrough. Charge forward in a wedge formation and break through the siege. If sessful, it would be the best option. They could quickly join forces with the tower¡¯s defenders and hold out in a secure location. But¡­. ¡®The risk is too high.¡¯ They were likely to end up surrounded from both front and back. It would be fortunate if they could break through easily, but if their charge were dyed even for a moment by thosemander-level undead¡­. ¡®We¡¯ll bepletely sandwiched. At least half of us will be lost.¡¯ On the other hand, the second option was safer. ¡®Immediately turn around and attack the reinforcementsing from behind.¡¯ But this was closer to the ¡®lesser evil¡¯ rather than a ¡®second-best¡¯ option. While hisrades would be safe, the tower would remain isted. Abandoning the tower. While they dealt with the reinforcements and maneuvered around, the siege in front would only strengthen. The chances of breaking through would be increasingly slim. ¡­So then, thest option. As Luke thought of the final option, his face darkened. ¡®The third option¡­.¡¯ It was the most efficient tactic. The sess rate was high, and it would yield the greatest results with the least sacrifice. Luke slowly looked around at his friends. ¡°Yourmand shows a learned ruthlessness.¡± The evaluation he received from the Hero during a simcrum exercise at the beginning of the semester echoed in his ears. Combat simtion through dolls. At that time, Luke had mercilessly used his friends like pieces on a chessboard. ¡°Hold on, just a bit longer.¡± ¡°If Cuculli dies, Nyhill takes the front. If Nyhill dies, Beorn steps in.¡± ¡°The rear decoy is Evergreen and Leciel. The two of them will scatter and draw attention¡­.¡± A strategy that only considered reason, analysis, and purpose. The third option was precisely that kind of strategy. ¡®Some of us stay behind as a shield to block the reinforcements, while the rest break through the front.¡¯ If they implemented it now, they could probably save the most soldiers and join forces with the control tower. This kind of strategy, where some troops bore all the risk, was frequently used by Ravias. Fear of Ravias made the members willing to endure the sacrifice, and they always achieved optimal results. ¡®¡­No.¡¯ But Luke shook his head immediately. Such a strategy was impossible in this situation. His friends weren¡¯t soldiers; would they ept an order that demanded sacrifice? And most importantly, he didn¡¯t want to use such methods anymore. ¡°¡­You made us do it all the time, Captain.¡± Luke, shaking off the hallucination of a painful face lingering in his ears, made a decision. ¡®Option 2, let¡¯s go safely.¡¯ Luke was about to raise his voice when it happened. Tap- Someone tapped him on the back. Gerald, his head tilted to one side, was looking at him. Before he could ask why. ¡°Hey, think it over. Why are you acting unlike yourself?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°If the control tower falls, we all die. It¡¯s just a matter of time.¡± The only reason the academy¡¯s forces, despite being heavily outnumbered, were barely holding on was due to the academy¡¯s defenses (barriers, siege artifacts, guardians, etc.). If the control tower were to shut down? Most of those defenses would be disabled. ¡°The tower has to hold out at least until the professors arrive. Otherwise, a lot of people are going to die.¡± Gerald stared intently at Luke. ¡°You¡¯ve used such strategies before, haven¡¯t you? Why hesitate now?¡± ¡°¡­Because you¡¯re not my subordinates.¡± ¡°Good point. We¡¯re not your subordinates. So, let go of some of that burden.¡± The mischievous glint in Gerald¡¯s eyes had vanished. Gerald reached out and firmly gripped Luke¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Listen well, Luke. Defending the tower is going to be extremely tough. The undead army will keeping endlessly, and you¡¯ll be fighting until this crisis ends. You know that.¡± Gerald nced at the undead approaching from behind. Time was running out. ¡°So, you have to make it. Not Evergreen, not Karen, not me. You¡¯re the one who can defend the tower in such a dreadful battle.¡± Gerald raised his spear. It was the spear bearing the Hero¡¯s insignia. ¡°Everyone has a role to y. We can¡¯t leave you here as bait, right?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay behind and draw the reinforcements. That¡¯s the right thing to do.¡± Gerald was sincere. Once a boy who prided himself on having the most brilliant talent, he hade to a clearer understanding of himself after spending time with his friends. But that ruthless self-assessment did not lead to despair. That was Gerald¡¯s special trait. ¡®Everyone has a role.¡¯ Gerald looked at Luke. ¡°So, I¡¯m asking you. Act like the cold-bloodedmander for once.¡± Luke ground his teeth. ¡°You idiot, you just said we¡¯re not your subordinates.¡± ¡°Yet you¡¯re convinced, aren¡¯t you?¡± A few of the surrounding children stood by Gerald¡¯s side. Karen, Beorn, Aileen, Aidan. ¡­Luke slowly turned to look at the tower. At that moment. ¡°What?¡± Boom-! With a loud explosion, part of the undead formation at the rear copsed. The children momentarily forgot their resolve and stared wide-eyed at the scene of destruction. Swoosh-! A sword light powerful enough to be seen from afar swept through the undead. A giant greatsword, familiar swordsmanship. At first, they thought their professor, the Hero, had finally arrived. But it wasn¡¯t. Karen blinked. ¡°¡­Professor Labin?¡± Thud thud thud- The elderly professor was charging through the undead alone. Every time his greatsword, reminiscent of ck Hope, was swung, bone dust scattered in all directions. ¡°Was he always this strong?¡± It was an oddly powerful presence. Even as undead teeth and ws grazed his body, he remained unyielding. Then, Labin¡¯s thunderous roar swallowed all surrounding sounds and struck the children¡¯s ears. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± The children snapped back to reality. The elderly professor¡¯s determined face, his eyes shining with clear decisiveness, turned towards them. ¡°Advance!¡± Thud- The greatsword pointed towards the tower. ¡°Forward!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 260 Chapter 260 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Neigh-! Labin leaped off the sorrowfully crying horse and rolled on the ground. Boom-!At the same time, he swung his greatsword like a windmill, smashing the approaching undead. The old professor¡¯s thick eyebrows twitched. ¡®Is this the limit of a cavalry charge?¡¯ No matter how well-trained the warhorse, it was impossible topletely break through dozens ofyers of undead. Labin¡¯s bold charge had to stop somewhere in the middle of the undead horde¡­ and in a situation like this, stopping the charge meant serious danger. Boom-! Sure enough, a darkly hued demon sword struck the spot where Labin had just been. The massivelyrge weapon not only severed the horse¡¯s body but also created a huge crater in the ground. The strong vibration transmitted through the soles of his feet. Steadying himself, Labin looked at the owner of the demon sword. ¡®¡­Betias, the demon sword of the Abyss.¡¯ Once a hero who supported humanity¡¯s front lines, he was now an unfortunate man, enved by Yol¡¯s sword to serve as his soldier. And it wasn¡¯t just him. Each of the undead surrounding him wasn¡¯t just an ordinary skeleton, but once notable human heroes. A truly unfavorable situation. However, the old professor¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. His wrinkled eyes turned towards the children retreating into the distance. ¡®¡­I must draw their attention and hold them off.¡¯ Seeing the children trapped among the undead, floundering in chaos, Labin realized his duty. After all, he was a professor teaching the subject ¡®Understanding the Battlefield.¡¯ He grasped the entire situation at a nce and understood what role he needed to y to achieve the best oue. Thus, he made a decision. ¡®About 20 minutes, I suppose.¡¯ Hummm- Labin observed the heat filling his body. An immense power coursed through him, making it difficult to maintain hisposure. It felt like he had returned to his younger days. No, it was even greater power and vitality coursing through him. It was astonishing. His senses had expanded severalfold, capturing every movement of the undead gathering around him. ¡®¡­To use this technique here.¡¯ He had never used this technique before, so he was worried, but fortunately, it seemed to work well. Vital me. It was a technique Labin had created long ago. With the intervention of a strange power, Labin¡¯s magic veered off its usual path and surged down a new one. Irreversible injuries were umting in his body, but for now, he could exert far more power than usual. Until his body could no longer hold up. ¡­Although Labin didn¡¯t know, it coincidentally matched exactly the final technique devised by his disciple, Ted Redymer. Labin swung his greatsword. Boom-! The demon sword flying at him was shattered and deflected into the air. Before Betias could even react, Labin¡¯s greatsword came back around and smashed the undead¡¯s skull. The undead scattered into bone powder. Labin smiled with satisfaction. It was a technique adapted from his disciple¡¯s swordsmanship, and it seemed to work quite well. ¡°Come on.¡± Undead loathed the life force of the living more than anything else. And currently. Labin¡¯s ¡®life¡¯ was burning brighter than anyone else¡¯s. Bright enough to draw all the undead that were heading towards the children. Crackle-! The hero-like silver sword aura tore through the undead. The old professor roared as he shattered the charging undead. Roarrrr- The undead ceaselessly, relentlessly swarmed. No sooner had he dispatched one group than another arrived. Just when he thought he had cleared them all, a lingering skull would chatter and bite at his ankle. Labin was soon covered in wounds. But he didn¡¯t stop swinging his sword for a moment. As he finished off the second wave and heard the footsteps of the third wave approaching, Labin finally fell to his knees. Roarrrr- A scream-like sound echoed from afar. It was a moment of utmost crisis, yet an inexplicable smile spread across his wrinkled face. The old professor reached his hand out into the air. ¡®Dahlia¡­.¡¯ Despite the passage of time, the gift of forgetfulness did not seem to apply to him. Even now, long after losing his daughter, her face and smile were vividly clear. Once, he resented that rity, but now he was grateful for it. ¡®Dahlia.¡¯ Labin reminisced about his daughter to his heart¡¯s content. Next, he thought of his wife who left too soon, his most beloved disciple, and the friend who had unexpectedly reappeared in hister years. The deepened smile painted Labin¡¯s face. ¡®A fitting conclusion to my life.¡¯ ¡­Lastly, on one side of his vision. He saw the children breaking through the encirclement of the control tower and entering its interior. Their faces, covered in dirt, were resolute and shining brightly, just like someone he remembered from over a decade ago. The old professor chuckled heartily and stood up. Then, he raised his head. Thud-thud-thud-thud- The undead were right upon him. Savage howls, the sound of bones creaking, a chilling cold. And the starlight in the night sky was so clear that it blurred everything else. In that moment, Labin thought he heard a very familiar voice. ¡®Dahlia.¡¯ His wrinkled fingers gripped the sword hilt tightly. * * * Yol, the first legionmander of the Demon King¡¯s army. His abilities, befitting his alias as the Death Extinguisher of Light, were truly formidable. Besides the ¡®Desecration¡¯ that revived the dead, he had another dreadful power called ¡®Absorption.¡¯ The moment any ¡®living being¡¯ came into contact with him, it would suffer a fatal blow. Ssssssh- As ck energy emanated from Yol¡¯s bone sword, everyone leapt away in terror, afraid of touching it. The ck energy, slicing through the empty space, hit an unfortunate tree instead¡­. Crack-crack-crack-crack-crack- The tree instantly withered and shriveled. Leaves that had clung on untilte autumn turned to ash and fell away. The branches and trunk twisted and contorted, revealing their grey inner flesh as the tree died. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The squad members watched in horror. That ability worked just the same on ¡®humans.¡¯ At the beginning of the battle, one squad member had failed to dodge and got his arm sliced by Yol. His arm immediately shriveled like a mummy. Had he not cut it off himself, his entire body would have ended up the same way. ¡°Spread out!¡± Felson¡¯s shout echoed. ¡°Everyone move aside!¡± Hummmm- Yussi stepped forward, raising her Alchemy Gloves. No longer hindered by physical limitations, she could unleash her full potential, showcasing the firepower that once earned her the title of a specialist inrge-scale engagements. Crash- Several sks thrown into the air shattered simultaneously. Yussi closed her eyes and sensed the elements dispersing around her. The tremor of the wind, the flow of water, the vibration of the earth, the heat of the fire. As everything vividly etched into her consciousness, her Alchemy Gloves glowed brilliantly, explosively amplifying the elemental forces. zing fireballs, powerful gusts, towering pirs of rock, and sharp, conical ice arrows emerged. They shot out incessantly from theplex alchemical diagram floating in the air. Of course, it didn¡¯t end there. Swishhh-! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Amidst Yussi¡¯s dazzling bombardment, a fearsome piercing sound rang out. A massive arrow, more akin to a spear, left Taylor¡¯s hand. Swishhh-! It wasn¡¯t just one. The sound echoed infinitely. In no time, Taylor shot dozens of arrows, unfazed by the giant bow¡¯s tension. With her quiver emptied, she set her bow down, ring at the arrows flying through the air. Whooshhh- Then, the arrows flying in a straight line all simultaneously zed blue and began moving erratically. Like falling stars descending to the ground. It was Taylor¡¯s final technique, Meteor Shower, which had once sunk dozens of pirate ships. Crash-! The arrows, bypassing the barrier Yol had set up to block Yussi and Taylor¡¯s attacks, soared into the sky before raining down like a deluge. ¡°He¡¯s charging!¡± ¡°Stop him!¡± Even Yol, with his formidable durability, couldn¡¯t withstand the continuous barrage from Yussi and Taylor. But simply dodging and defending would only lead to more hits. Yol chose to charge. Sssshhhh- Summoning a ghostly steed, Yol ascended into the night sky. Both Yol and the steed were at least twice the size of an average human and horse. Yet despite their massive size, their charge waspletely silent. A strange stillness apanied by a descending chill. ¡°Yussi, Taylor! Fall back!¡± The remaining squad members threw themselves at Yol with all their might to stop him. The skeletal knight responded with chilling speed. Whooosh- Dark energy exploded from his body. Instantly, the movements of the squad members who had just arrived noticeably slowed. And that wasn¡¯t all. Some clutched their heads in agony. Felson, who was closest, was no exception. Horrific emotions and memories pierced his mind. In Felson¡¯s head shed an old fishing spot, his wife¡¯s corpse, and the image of young Ban standing there forlornly. ¡®No!¡¯ A moment¡¯s hesitation. Even his senses briefly cut off. The price was heavy. ¡°Ugh!¡± Felson¡¯s wrist flew through the air. However, instead of panicking, Felson immediately regained hisposure. To dare invoke those memories. A cold fury guided him. With his other hand, he caught his spinning longsword in midair and, pouring all his weight and mana into it, shed at Yol. For an attack to remain steady even as ¡®death¡¯ burrowed into his body. Even a skeletal knight who had fought on the battlefield for a very long time couldn¡¯t have expected this. Crackling-! For the first time, a hitnded effectively on Yol. Felson¡¯s sword cleaved through the ck aura that made up Yol¡¯s armor, striking his ribcage. Hissss- Thick darkness quickly gathered, attempting to repel Felson¡¯s sword aura, but¡ª ¡°Felson, you bastard!¡± Iira¡¯s white sword came in from a blind spot, forcing its way through. Bang-bang-bang-! White mes burst from the de like fireworks, burning away the encroaching darkness. Once again, Yol¡¯s side was exposed. That opening¡ª ¡°Stand back!¡± Was exploited by the former Sword Saint. Hummmm- Silver sword aura, like the Milky Way, emerged from Zion¡¯s sword. She had reached a new level after her rematch with the Hero. Yol staggered backward, unable to withstand Zion¡¯s direct hit. From his half-shattered ribcage, mist-like gas continually leaked out. [¡­¡­] A moment of brief respite arrived. ¡°¡­Hup.¡± Without even screaming, Felson severed the arm where death had begun to encroach. In those few seconds, the necrosis had spread up to his elbow, requiring him to cut off more than half of his right arm. Yussi patted Felson¡¯s shoulder reassuringly. ¡°¡­The Hero will give you a new one.¡± Felson, sweating profusely,ughed. ¡°Well, that¡¯sforting.¡± ¡°For now, use this.¡± Whirrr- The Alchemy Glove glowed and the blood and flesh of Felson that had fallen to the ground formed a prosthetic arm. It wouldn¡¯t perform at even a tenth of the original arm¡¯s capacity, but it was better than nothing. Felson swung his arm experimentally, then frowned. ¡°By the way¡­.¡± Taylor finished his sentence. ¡°Yeah, something¡¯s strange, isn¡¯t it?¡± Everyone nodded in agreement. Iira squinted at Yol. And then she voiced the question that had upied everyone¡¯s mind. ¡°How are we still alive? None of us dead. Not one.¡± The ten Dawn Knights, Yussi, and the former Sword Saint. It was certainly a force capable of taking on Yol. ¡®If we were in perfect condition.¡¯ Unfortunately, all the squad members were currently heavily injured and receiving treatment. They were fighting at maybe half their strength. Logically, some of them should have been dead by now. Yet, surprisingly, the fight was at a stalemate. Felson¡¯s eyebrows twitched. ¡°¡­He¡¯s weak. Clearly.¡± ¡°Strange, isn¡¯t it? He hasn¡¯t shown himself on the battlefield for years, and now he¡¯s weaker?¡± ¡°Is he holding back?¡± ¡°What¡¯s he up to?¡± Of course, Yol had no intention of answering their questions. ¡°He¡¯sing. Fight first.¡± The squad members raised their swords simultaneously as they saw the spectral horse charging silently. Felson, who had moved to the rear, nced down at Rosenstark. Zion, too, was ncing at the academy from the corner of her eye. Their gazes crossed as if by agreement. ¡®If Yol has weakened¡­.¡¯ Rather than just holding on, what if they attempted a full-on assault? The undead below were animated by Yol¡¯s power. If Yol were defeated, they would all fall. This was a highly tempting option for those whose children and grandchildren were amidst that chaos. ¡­After hesitating, Felson stepped forward again. * * * Thud¡ª Rosalyn closed the book. Her hands trembled slightly as she returned the book to the shelf. ¡°So, they¡¯reing here after all.¡± Usually calm andposed, today she seemed different. In her white eyes, inherited from the creator Zero, hostility towards the demonic forces swirled. ¡°This heritage is not meant for you.¡± Rosalyn¡¯s gaze fixed on the image projecting the entrance of the Library of Memories. More precisely, on the skeletal knight gradually emerging from the darkness. ¡°How dare you.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 261 Chapter 261 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The stone building, as old as the history of Rosenstark itself, stood quietly illuminated under the faint moonlight. The library seemed isted from the distant mor, wrapped in silence. But this did notst. nk- The metallic sound that had driven fear into the heart of the academy began to echo within the library. Yol, the skeletal knight, crossed the open space leisurely. Unlike his main body, which was three meters tall, his avatar was of ordinary size, yet it exuded an unending eeriness. [¡­] Stopping about thirty paces from the library entrance, Yol raised his sword without any warning. Though it wasn¡¯t the bone sword of his main body, the sword held by his avatar was also a dreadful cursed sword. ck magic swirled around its pitch-ck de. This was a silent threat that he would destroy the entire library if no one appeared. Although the Library of Memories was an abstract space created by Zero¡¯s magic, it was nheless anchored in reality through Rosenstark¡¯s building. If the library were destroyed while its mainstay, Rosalyn, was inside, the ce would copse and cease to exist. Thus, the librarian had no choice but to respond to the provocation. Creak- The main door opened. ¡°How uncouth¡­¡± The voice came first. Rosalyn slowly walked out from inside, her white hair and long robes fluttered. Her deep, wise eyes gazed at the intruder. ¡°There is no ce in my library for a wretched undead like you.¡± Yol gazed silently at Rosalyn. Fwoosh- A lifeless blue me flickered in his deep eye sockets. [¡­You reek] A homunculus. A life artificially created by mere mortals. Having governed countless lives and deaths, Yol felt a subtle irritation from the homunculus. It was the peculiar, unnatural vitality, a life born not of fate but of thorough calction and precision. To Yol, this was an abhorrent stench that he wished to rid himself of as soon as possible. [Rosalyn Requiem] tter- Yol took a step forward as he called Rosalyn¡¯s name. Simultaneously,plex patterns began to emerge behind her. It was a sign of powerful magic, but Yol paid it no heed as he continued. [Theo needs you to solve the riddle] A legacy of Zero and a repository of memories. The library, holding the memories of countless people who had passed through it. In this invasion, Theo had specifically asked Yol to secure her. ¡°Yol, I will grant you full authority over this invasion as you requested. However, there is just one thing. Secure Rosalyn for me.¡± ¡°She is the key to unlocking many suspicious mysteries. If these mysteries are solved¡­ Yes, we will grasp victory.¡± ¡°So you must secure her at all costs.¡± In response, Yol had promised to secure Rosalyn. Of course, there was no need to keep her alive. Theo could extract the desired information even from a fragmented homunculus. Yol merely had to crush her weak resistance and deliver Rosalyn to Theo. ¡®Securing Rosalyn is the end of it.¡¯ To secure Rosalyn without any variables, Yol had allocated as much as 20% of his main body¡¯s power to his avatar. Once she was secured, he could return that power to his main body. It would take less than an hour before the struggling members¡¯ heads all rolled. ¡®¡­These worms don¡¯t even realize the oue is already decided.¡¯ With the hero absent, the fall of Rosenstark was inevitable. He would use their corpses to bring Rosenstark to ruin. Bang-! Yol kicked off the ground and charged at Rosalyn. Rosalyn responded immediately. Whirr-! Rosalyn, embedded with Zero¡¯s arcane knowledge, could cast the magic of the First Era. She chanted an ancient spell, gathering her mana. Golden rings floated in the air. Countless fragments of light poured out from within, blocking Yol¡¯s charge. They resembled hundreds of flower petals scattering in the wind. Each possessed immense destructive power. However¡­ Boom-! A whirl of sword energy from Yol¡¯s sword scattered and neutralized them all. Yet, there was no surprise on Rosalyn¡¯s face. She had anticipated this oue. She was not a homunculus designed forbat. No matter how much it was just an avatar, she could not stand against Yol, the most powerful among the legionmanders. Buzz- Therefore, Rosalyn stood still, pouring out all her mana. She intended to deplete as much of Yol¡¯s power, which would return to his main body, as possible. Hundreds and thousands of fragments of light surged toward Yol, and Yol steadily swung his sword to break through them. Crash-! The ground caved in. Amidst the thunderous noise and shes, the distance between the two, initially thirty paces, gradually closed. Twenty paces. Ten. Five. One. Crunch-! Yol¡¯s sword pierced the exhausted Rosalyn¡¯s abdomen. The skeletal knight murmured as if intrigued. [Surprisingly red] Her librarian¡¯s robe turned crimson from the abdomen down. Although a homunculus was less vulnerable to Yol¡¯s ¡®absorption¡¯ than a human, this was a fatal wound. Rosalyn slumped towards the ground. Yol withdrew his sword and raised it high again. With an emotionless motion, as if a farmer harvesting crops, he brought the sword down. . . . ng-! Leciel watched as her shape-shifter sword shook violently. The de made a sound like a crying child. It wasn¡¯t just the sword. Waves of pain and convulsions ran from her hand holding the sword to her shoulder. ¡®¡­Still, it¡¯s a sess.¡¯ The moment she faced Yol¡¯s avatar, Leciel realized he was an opponent she couldn¡¯t handle. To block such an enemy¡¯s strike, she had to use the strongest sword technique she knew¡­. ¡°¡­Countless One Strike.¡± Relying on her senses and instincts, she mimicked the hero¡¯s sword that had defeated her grandmother. The result was a great sess. Leciel deflected Yol¡¯s sword and managed to position herself in front of Rosalyn. Rosalyn, who had resigned herself to death, tilted her head in puzzlement. Such astounding talent. ¡°Miss Leciel, it¡¯s been a while.¡± The two were acquainted. There had been a time when Leciel¡¯s memories were searched to catch a swindler. It hadn¡¯t been that long, yet it felt like ages. Leciel bit her lip and asked, ¡°¡­Are you alright?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Leciel knew that was a lie. She turned her gaze away from Rosalyn¡¯s wounds, which were beginning to turn ashen. [¡­¡­] Meanwhile, Yol stared intently at Leciel, then nced at his own back leg that had been pushed back several steps. If he had muscles left to show expression, it would have been a sight. [Another Hiyashin] He was also a being bound by the undead¡¯s constraints. He was always intrigued by fiercely burning humans. Yol readied himself again. An immature Hiyashin, not yet fully ripened but a swordsman worthy of his legion. Leciel was about to gather her momentum when a faint voice reached her ear from behind. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Miss Leciel.¡± Unable to take her eyes off Yol, Leciel answered without looking back. ¡°Just hold on a little longer. I¡¯ll take you to a ce where you can be healed¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fight. Run away.¡± Leciel was about to respond with ¡®I can¡¯t do that¡¯. ¡°Of course, take me with you.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Boom-! It was right as Rosalyn finished speaking. The final reserve of her magic, saved for the ¡®self-destruction protocol¡¯, exploded forward with a power even Yol could not disregard. Leciel seized the moment. sh-! With a full-strength sword attack, she scattered the sword energy and used the recoil to turn and grab the copsed Rosalyn. Maybe due to the significant blood loss, the homunculus felt almost weightless. Tatatak- Leciel ran. Where should she go to treat a homunculus? The Department of Mysticism? Wherever she went, she had to avoid the central area. Yol¡¯s main body was there. Running, she murmured incessantly. ¡°Just hold on. Just a bit longer¡­.¡± Her words felt hollow, and she bit her lip. Yet Rosalyn¡¯s voice remained as calm as ever. ¡°Can you do me a favor? It¡¯s not very difficult.¡± ¡°¡­Yes, anything.¡± If it¡¯s a request from Zero¡¯s homunculus, it must be extremely important. Leciel listened closely. ¡°Don¡¯t hate them too much.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Sometimes, lies are inevitable. So, don¡¯t hate them too much.¡± She had no idea what Rosalyn meant. But Leciel nodded. This allowed Rosalyn to ease some of her worries about her sibling. * * * ¡­And the Hero woke up. In the darkness, his consciousness rapidly surfaced. Fortunately, unlike humans, doppelgangers did not suffer from fatigue upon waking from dreams. The Hero, regaining his clear mind immediately, tried to grasp the situation. ¡°¡­You should start by looking at this.¡± Izaro handed him themunication orb. The orb, blinking with numerous messages, was piled high with reports. The majority were from Mother Ghost and Nyhill, but there were also asional reports from Pia and Yussi. However, Yussi¡¯s reports, which had been frequent at first, had stopped two hours ago, and Pia¡¯s reports were bing increasingly sparse. ¡®Recently, only Nyhill and Mother Ghost.¡¯ The most recentmunication was from 13 minutes ago. Mother Ghost had summarized the academy¡¯s situation in a message. The Hero¡¯s sharp eyes paused momentarily on the casualty report. Yol¡¯s invasion. The report, listing only information without any emotions or unnecessary details, quickly forced the situation into the Hero¡¯s mind. He suppressed anxiety, fear, and sorrow before they could erupt. Emotions could be dealt withter. If he lost hisposure now, the emotions he would have to faceter would be several times harsher. With a few deep breaths, the Hero brushed away all confusion and fear. ¡®Alright, let¡¯s n first.¡¯ His forte¡ªobservation and analysis¡ªbegan to kick in. The reports from hisrades and subordinates were very detailed, providing enough data for him to visualize the situation as if he had been in Rosenstark himself over the past three hours. It didn¡¯t take long for the Hero to fully grasp the situation. He looked at Maktania and Izaro and spoke. ¡°I need your help.¡± The two couldn¡¯t hide their surprise. They knew very well what Rosenstark meant to the Hero. It was essentially his ¡®spiritual home¡¯. However, there was no sign of instability or anxiety on the Hero¡¯s face. There was only a resoluteness born of duty. Feeling the same determination, both replied simultaneously. ¡°As much as you need.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Open a portal.¡± Even if he transformed into the fastest bird and flew, it would take days. A portal was the only answer. ¡°Can you do it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible, but¡­¡± Izaro exined that both he and Maktania had expended most of their strength¡ªIzaro from unsealing Maktania, and Maktania from removing the avatar from the Hero¡¯s psyche. It would take some time to recover enough to create a portal. ¡°Understood. Please, as quickly as possible.¡± The Hero calmed his impatience and summoned Valber¡¯s subspace. ¨‹ essing Valber¡¯s Subspace ¡ø A hand-sized doll, a two-dimensional representation of Larze, fell from a golden hole in the void. Jingle¡ª The Hero grabbed and shook it. ¡°Larze.¡± The answer came after a moment. [Hm? What¡¯s up?] ¡°Rosenstark is under Yol¡¯s attack.¡± [Hmm, this side is under Malekia¡¯s assault. How coincidental.] ¡°¡­So you can¡¯t help.¡± [Right, if I leave, the Eastern Forces will be annihted. I can do that if you want.] The Hero shook his head. ¡°No, just let me use the power stored in the doll.¡± [Alright, use it all.] Understanding the urgency, Larze ended themunication without her usual nonsense. Tsutsutsu¡ª At the same time, the doll slowly disintegrated and reverted to mana, which then seeped into Izaro. Izaro nodded. ¡°Five minutes should do.¡± ¡°Good.¡± He had already decided how to use the remaining five minutes. Without hesitation, the Hero activated the Iris of Lace. ¨‹ Initiating Avatar Duel ¡ø ¡­This wasn¡¯t the first time he had dueled Yol in the avatar realm. Malekia, Yol, Theo. He had been dueling the ¡®old trio¡¯ whenever he found a spare moment recently. But this duel was to confirm ¡®something¡¯. It didn¡¯t take long. Wuuuuuuu¡ª By the time Izaropleted the portal, the Hero had finished his duel and returned to reality. Izaro¡¯s deep eyes looked at him. ¡°¡­It seems you¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°It¡¯s sooner than expected, but it can¡¯t be helped. This is the only way.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Maktania¡¯s eyes, filled with pity and sorrow, turned towards the Hero. Her slightly lowered eyebrows and barely trembling eyelids. Although her excessive concern had been tiring him recently, it was a greatfort now. ¡°Alright then.¡± The Hero stood before the glowing blue portal. ¡°¡­It¡¯s time to go back.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 262 Chapter 262 [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Control Tower The heart of the academy, known as the Control Tower, is a facility that supplies magic to the numerous magical devices and infrastructure owned by Rosenstark. Consequently, the tower boasts the most stringent security of all the academy buildings, with a structure soplex it is nearly imprable. It resembles the magical towers of the First Age in appearance. For security reasons, the entrance is located solely at the front. Once past the entrance, guarded by numerous troops and artifacts, visitors are greeted by interconnected polygonal spaces resembling an ant nest. These include control rooms managing various academy facilities, security offices, storage rooms, administrative offices,munication rooms, and amodations and rest facilities for staff. Infamouslyplex structure. Neers unfamiliar with theyout often found themselves lost all day. However, during this invasion, the children managed to barely hold off the relentless onught of undead thanks to the towersbyrinthine structure. The children were as much in the dark about the towersyout as anyone else, but As of this moment, Rosenstarks secret, the Astera Vision, is fully essible to individuals recorded in the artifact, Iris of Lace. Would you like to view the overview of the Astera Vision? The moment they broke through the encirclement and entered the tower, a strange magic enveloped them. The entire field of vision turned blue with a loud vibration. What appeared was a map of the entire Control Tower, with blue and red dots blinking intermittently. Astera Vision is one of Rosenstarks mysteries, created for the purpose of ensuring the safety of internal personnel and guarding against external intrusions and sabotage. By precisely analyzing the reflected patterns of magic waves sent out, it detects targets. It is a mystery that allows for real-time identification of the positions of allies and enemies. The children utilized this to its fullest extent. Damn, theyre diverting to another route! Lead them this way! Luke! At the sound of his name, Luke snapped his head up. At the edge of his dust-clouded vision, Evergreen was running, luring the undead towards a straight corridor. Now! Swoosh! Lukes magic cut through the waist of the undead rushing down the corridor. Immediately after, Geralds spear tip exploded with magic, pulverizing the staggering undead. Nice work, Evergreen! Perfectly lured them in! The undead, fundamentally mindless corpses, were inevitably drawn to the sight of living humans, despite Yols strong control over them. Therefore, the children desperately tried to draw the undead away from the Ark Room. Luke looked at the rear corridor and the Astera Vision with sinking eyes. Were gradually getting pushed back. Its almost the Ark Room. The Ark Room, one of the deepest chambers in the tower, housed therge-scale magic stone melting furnace known as the Ark. It was also where the Astera Vision was hidden. We have to protect it at all costs. The tower staff were currently melting all reserved magic stones there and sending them to control rooms in various facilities. If the defense line were pushed back to the Ark Room, it would practically mean the fall of Rosenstark. How much longer can we hold out? It had been over two exhausting hours of ceaseless maneuvering within the tower. His friends had fought valiantly, but even they had their limits. Some had already Luke clenched his fists tightly, grinding his teeth. If he showed any sign of wavering, it would only further unsettle the others. What was needed now was hope. Everyone! The boys face, now looking up again, was as steadfast as ever. The children looked at Luke with trusting eyes, waiting for his next words. Youre doing great! The enemys main force is concentrated on the tower right now, just hold on a little longer, and everyone outside wille to help us! It was merely a hopeful statement. In truth, Luke had no idea about the situation outside. He could only hope things were getting under control as he said. Otherwise, perhaps the entire Rosenstark had already been swept away, leaving only those in the tower holding out. Yet, despite all this fear and anxiety, Luke had no choice but to lie with unwavering confidence. Just a bit longer, a bit longer Just as Luke was about to continue his encouragement, a thunderous explosion rocked the tower. He broke off mid-sentence and dashed to a window overlooking the outside. Could it be? Amid the swarm of undead, a swirl of blue energy was forming. Thunderous chants and shouts followed. Theyre still resisting inside the tower! Concentrate all firepower! Break through! Boom! Fireballs, lightning, ice storms, and earthquakes shattered the siege outside the tower. Beside him, Gerald, with a cracked voice, stared at the person standing at the forefront of the mages. Ban. That crazy guy. It was Ban. He had rallied the students, who now fought like a shield around the mages, battling the undead. Thanks to them, the professors and students from the Department of Mysticism were unleashing their magic without restraint. Inrge-scale battles like this, it is usually the mages who shine more than the warriors. The number of undead was rapidly dwindling. Seeing this, Luke felt hope for the first time. Just a bit longer. It was then that Evergreen, standing beside him, tilted her head. Her eyesight, far superior to that of the others, allowed her to notice something they could not. But what is that? * * * Break through! We must reim the tower first! Push forward! Ban stood at the front, swinging his sword relentlessly. A densely packed wave of detection magic spread in all directions. As a result, the undeads teeth and ws couldnt even touch the boy. As Ban repelled all attacks and pushed back the undead lines, the other students gained courage and followed closely behind him. Faster! Stronger! Despite fighting continuously, his body was strangely full of energy. It was because he knew he absolutely couldnt fall. His father was facing the most dangerous enemy. His friends were fighting in the most perilous ces. Ban charged forward madly. They had broken through half of the encirclement, and the only entrance leading into the tower came into his peripheral vision. It was then that Bans steps halted for the first time. Having charged so fiercely, there were no enemies around him. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 However, he instinctively raised his sword and took a defensive stance. Clomp. Clomp. Amidst the battlefield filled with shouts and shing metal, the sound of those footsteps was distinctly clear. It wasnt just Ban who noticed. The children holding the front lines turned their heads as well. Whats that? What are those? The undead, which had been recklessly charging, parted to the sides, clearing a path. A dense ck mist spread across the ground. Beyond it, two silhouettes holding swords appeared. Human-shaped undead? Their movements were different. The other undead moved fluidly, but these figures were stiff, as if resisting Yols magic with their very souls. Their jaws hung open, a low groan escaping. The sound grew louder, eventually echoing across the entire battlefield. Finally, Ban recognized them. The Twin Swordsmen. Sweat trickled down his hand gripping the sword hilt. The Twin Swordsmen. They were the most notorious undead of the 1st Legion. They were members of the Dawn Knights. They were also senior warriors. They had admired the heros cause and willingly joined the Dawn Knights, but died to Yols sword on a dangerous battlefield. The problem was, they had been such outstanding swordsmen that, excluding the hero, they had no equals. Theyre on a different level from the other undead. Ban hadnt even managed to voice a warning when it happened. What are you hesitating for! Theyre just two of them! Form a siege and charge! Some of the front-liners, riding high on their momentum, rushed at the twins. Swish! The Twin Swordsmens scimitars traced arcs in the air. Three of the attackers were cut down at the waist in a single motion. If Ban hadnt intervened, the remaining two would have met the same fate. Covered in their friends blood, the students froze like statues. Insane. Shock and fear swept through their ranks. However, the Twin Swordsmen seemed indifferent, one slowly walking forward while the other turned and headed towards the tower. Ban quickly regained his senses. No. He couldnt let such monsters reach his friends. Without a second thought, Ban charged. But. ng! The other one blocked his path. The scimitars strange trajectory made it difficult for even Ban to counter quickly. Damn it, I cant be stuck here. But the Twin Swordsman seemed to consider Ban as his sole opponent, refusing to let him pass. ng! As Ban continued the fierce exchange of blows, Unbelievable. To make matters worse, another horde of undead appeared behind their lines. Now, they had to split their forces to protect the mages. Argh! Whether due to a particrly powerful undead among them, several mages were torn to shreds and sent flying as their barriers shattered. The once-rising momentum was broken. Were being surrounded! We need to break through the front! Cant you see that monster ahead? On the blood-soaked ground, people retreated helplessly. Only then did they notice the bodies of their fallenrades scattered on the ground. Their eyes shook uncontrobly, and some of the more faint-hearted ones were already mentally retreating from the battle. Maintain formation! Ban, having barely shaken off the Twin Swordsman, retreated and raised his voice, but it was to no avail. A faint voice came from beside him. Oh, God. Ban looked incredulously at hisrade, who was kneeling and praying. What kind of god was there in this era? If he had the hands to pray, he should be swinging a sword instead. Just as he roughly grabbed hisrade by the cor to pull him up, Ban himself couldnt help but loosen his grip and look to the sky. The night sky, filled with darkness and an eerie stillness, now had a single ray of light shining through. It wasnt time for the sun to rise, yet the light was as bright and warm as a winter dawn. Everyone on the battlefield, including the undead, looked up at the light. The undead raised their decayed hands towards the sky as if trying to grasp the light. Swaaaa! The light grew brighter and something descended from the boundary between light and darkness. Boom! Amidst the undead turning to ash, a man stood tall. His face was familiar and nostalgic, yet the emotions Ban felt for the first time shook his heartreverence and admiration. Ban looked at the figure with trembling eyes. Divine power, believed to be nonexistent in this era, shimmered like feathers on the mans broad back. A book from the First Age that Ban had read long ago came to mind at that moment. Champion. The sword, enveloped in white radiance, was swung as a beacon of hope. [Trantor Night] [Proofreader Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 Chapter 263 Chapter 263 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª This was a kind of awe that humans had forgotten for far too long. People stood in silence, staring at the Hero who had positioned himself between them and the undead. He was enveloped in a brilliant light, as if the sun itself had descended to vanquish the darkness on earth. Click¡ª The sound of metal followed. Armor named ¡°Benevolence¡± unfolded from the ring on the Hero¡¯s ring finger. [TL/N: Benevolence will be his armor¡¯s name from now on.] Through the helmet, his gray eyes briefly scanned those he had to protect before turning back to the undead¡­ and thus, the ¡°breakthrough¡± began. Boom! As the Hero charged forward and struck with his sword, a powerful wave of light engulfed the surroundings. It was no ordinary sh. Halo. A crescent-shaped sword wave, burning like mes, was imbued with light. The undead, unable to even reach out their decayed hands towards the Hero, were all incinerated and crumbled to dust. Even the massive beast-like undead, and the ¡°Twin Swordsman¡± exuding a terrifying aura, were no exception. As the Hero¡¯s steps moved towards the tower¡¯s entrance, the younger of the Twin Swordsmen, who had been standing back, blocked his path without hesitation. But because the Hero had been fighting with all his might from the beginning, the skirmish was brief. ng! With a swift strike, he shattered the curved de and cut its wielder in half¡ªa merciful release for Ted¡¯s oldrade. After a few more sword waves from the Hero, the path to the tower¡¯s entrance was wide open. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Only then did the Hero pause to catch his breath. It was at that moment that a trembling voice of a boy reached his ears. ¡°¡­Professor.¡± It was Ban, who had hurriedly followed after the path was cleared. ¡°Ban.¡± The Hero looked at his disciple, who was covered in blood and dust, making him look quite disheveled. One could tell at a nce how grueling the battles had been for him over the past three hours. Yet the boy¡¯s brown eyes shone with determined will and courage. The Hero wanted tomend him. To ask if he was alright. To apologize for beingte. He wanted to say all those things, but there was no time for that now. The Hero patted Ban on the shoulder and turned back towards the entrance. ¡°Guard the outside.¡± Ban hesitated for a moment, then nodded with a very proud expression. Words from the Hero¡¯s pre-lecture briefing once more bolstered the boy¡¯s spirit. ¡°The extreme training is to cultivaterades who will one day stand against evil alongside me.¡± Now, the Hero was treating him not as a student, but as a fellow warrior. This fact made Ban more than willing. He gripped his sword hilt tightly. ¡°Yes! Leave it to me!¡± Of course, the outside was still dangerous. The undead would soon swarm again. But there was no more worry. Thanks to the Hero¡¯s rampage, the enemy¡¯s formation was in disarray. The morale of the troops led by Ban was sky-high. They would be able to hold out long enough for the Hero to deal with the undead inside. Step¡ª With that, the master and disciple, who had briefly faced each other, ran towards their respective goals. Ban headed towards the undead horde converging on the tower. The Hero moved towards the entrance of the tower. A shimmering holy light settled where they had departed. * * * The Hero swiftly traversed the tower¡¯s interior. There was no hesitation in his steps, but there was a sense of urgency. At the entrance, there were no remaining people or undead. Only shattered debris of the building and bodies strewn across the floor. The Hero¡¯s eyes quickly scanned the faces of the fallen. None were familiar, but every death weighed heavily on him. Moreover, there was one thing that had been bothering him for a while. At some point, the Astera Vision had stopped working properly. This meant that the tower¡¯s internal defenses werepletely neutralized, and even the Ark room had been attacked. ¡®¡­It must be the work of the remaining Twin Swordsman.¡¯ They were exceptionally strong among the undead in the legion. Especially, the ¡°older brother¡± was known to be much stronger than the ¡°younger brother¡± who was dealt with outside. The children, already exhausted from continuous battles, would find it a formidable opponent. ¡®I must hurry.¡¯ Crackle¡ª The Hero activated Nova as he dashed further inside. The building was enormous andplex, and the Astera Vision was malfunctioning, but he had been here once before. He remembered the way. It wouldn¡¯t take more than a few minutes to reach the children. Maktania¡¯s admonition echoed like a hallucination in his mind at that moment. . . . ¡°Wait.¡± Just before stepping into the portal. Maktania grabbed his wrist. ¡°Are you going to fight Yol right now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Are you confident you can win?¡± A brief silence. ¡°Yes.¡± Yol was considered the most powerful among the legionmanders due to his ability, Absorption. One-hit kill. Any living being that so much as grazed Yol¡¯s sword would either die instantly or sustain crippling injuries. Given Yol¡¯s immensebat prowess, this overwhelming ability seemed almost unfair. ¡®It¡¯s hard to tackle him with a small number of fighters because the loss ofbatants is certain and swift.¡¯ So, is it easier to take him down with arger group? Absolutely not. ¡®He also has ¡°Desecration.¡±¡¯ Bringing a bunch of weaker fighters would only increase his legion. He was an opponent with no clear strategy for victory. As a result, before Ted, no human had ever achieved a plete victory¡± against Yol. ¡­Yes, humans hadn¡¯t. ¡°I have a way to deal with Yol.¡± The Hero possessed boundless vitality provided by the essence of the doppelg?nger. A power derived from tens of thousands of cores. As long as his spirit held up, he could endlessly regenerate, making him an almost perfect counter to Yol. When he briefly exined this, Maktania¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly. ¡°I figured it would be something reckless like that.¡± She continued immediately. ¡°Are you aware that this battle will take ce not in some isted area but in Rosenstark?¡± The Hero remained silent. ¡°Imagine you get shed, your flesh and bones split, but you instantly heal. Your head gets cut off but reattaches¡­ What will people who thought of you as Ted Redymer think when they see that?¡± He knew it. Everyone would witness the fight against Yol. Using the Ster Rift to iste him wouldn¡¯tst indefinitely. Against an opponent of Yol¡¯s caliber, the barrier would be shattered within minutes. ¡°You don¡¯t want the people who loved you to start seeing you as a monster again, right?¡± Maktania stared at him, as if trying to read his mind, then suddenly gasped. ¡°Oh my.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯re ready.¡± Maktania whispered. ¡°You¡¯ve already made up your mind to abandon ¡®Ted Redymer.¡¯ Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Her mouth slightly opened. A smile mixed with amazement and awe spread across her face. Like someone who had found what they had been searching for, she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off the Hero. The Hero responded calmly. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°We don¡¯t have time. Get to the point.¡± Maktania quickly made a proposal. ¡°How about you be my champion?¡± ¡°Champion?¡± ¡°Yes, then you wouldn¡¯t have to give up ¡®Ted Redymer.¡¯¡± The Hero turned away from the portal and looked at Maktania. ¡°You mean to use divine power for recovery instead? Can your divine power really be that effective?¡± ¡°Yes, it may not be as limitless as your regeneration, but it will be enough to withstand Yol¡¯s attacks.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°And if you use my divine power, people will be more likely to view you as a divine apostle rather than a monster, don¡¯t you think?¡± In truth, there was no reason for the Hero to refuse her offer. Of course, he couldn¡¯t fully trust Maktania. However, it was a fact that she was hostile to ¡°evil.¡± She had even destroyed Theo¡¯s avatar. ¡°¡­Are you nning to fight alongside me directly?¡± ¡°Are you expecting that much? You seem to forget, I came to this world intending the extinction of humanity.¡± Maktania¡¯s pitch-ck eyes stared at the Hero. ¡°My proposal is a favor to you as an individual, not a gesture of mercy towards humanity as a whole.¡± ¡°¡­So picky.¡± ¡°So, what will you do?¡± Was there any need for further deliberation? The Hero decided. He would be Maktania¡¯s champion. ¡°Alright, but keep this in mind.¡± Maktania reached out to him and urged. Crackle¡ª The Hero felt a strange power infuse his body. This power, delving deep within him, was warm and gentle, invoking unfamiliar emotions. Maktania¡¯s voice echoed as if from a distance. ¡°You are not a celestial being, so even as a champion, your divine power will be limited.¡± ¡°¡­I understand.¡± ¡°No matter what happens, you must not use it recklessly. Reserve it solely for the fight against Yol.¡± Of course, he would. The Hero nodded casually. ¡­What Maktania was concerned about. What it meant to possess ¡°divine power.¡± He realized this after defeating the horde of undead and reaching the Ark room. ¡°Professor!¡± The twin swordsman fighting the children was immediately isted and dealt with using the Ster Rift. Thus, all threats to the children were removed. But the expressions on the children¡¯s faces, as they looked at the Hero, were not of joy but of pain and sorrow, twisted with despair and helplessness. The Hero stood there, bewildered. Someone approached him. ¡°You¡¯ve arrived?¡± It was Mother Ghost, covered in blood. She had beenmanding the Dark Division agents from the control tower but stepped forward to protect the children when the Ark room was at risk of being overrun. It was thanks to her that the children managed to hold on against the overwhelming horde of undead in the end. The Hero passed her and headed to where the children were gathered. Luke met him. ¡°¡­Professor.¡± Luke was holding tightly to Evergreen¡¯s hand, which was slipping out of his grasp. His desperate eyes traced the unconscious girl¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Luke¡¯s lips moved as if to say more, but no sound came out. ¡­The Ark room was thest bastion of the tower, located deep within, considered the safest ce. Therefore, all the injured were transferred there. Fifteen of the students, half of the Extreme ss,y on the floor. No matter how much they had grown over the past year, they couldn¡¯te out of such a gruesome fight unscathed. All were severely injured, on the verge of death. It was a miracle they were still alive. ¡°I managed to sustain their lives with a ritual¡­¡± Mother Ghost, who had approached, trailed off¡ªa rare urrence for her. He didn¡¯t need to hear the rest to understand. The more severe the injury, the exponentially greater the power required to heal it. Even the gaze of a god might not be enough to rekindle the faint me of life barely held together by sorcery. The Hero knelt without saying a word. Aileen, the lowest-ranked member of the Extreme ss, opened her eyes just then. The bandage around her abdomen was blood-soaked. Her injuries were among the worst; it seemed miraculous that she was conscious. Aileen¡¯s eyes, after taking in her friends, stopped at the Hero. ¡°¡­Hehe, you came?¡± Her eyes were half-closed, and her breathing grew shallower. The Hero looked at the hand reaching towards him and grasped it tightly. ¡°I still managed to help, right? My friends are safe, and so is this ce.¡± ¡°¡­Aileen.¡± ¡°Even though I¡¯m about to die, without another chance, I didn¡¯t just cause trouble like usual, right?¡± ¡°You were more than enough, incredibly helpful.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. I¡¯m reassured.¡± Aileen¡¯s voice was now so weak it was barely audible. But her expression was ironically bright. The faces of the Extreme ss students were lowered in despair, as if their hearts were breaking. It was at that moment that the Hero spoke unexpected words. ¡°Aileen, you have to keep helping your friends¡­ and everyone else.¡± Words that promised a future. Words that no one else there could have uttered. The Hero, having finished speaking, lifted his head. Suddenly, he noticed someone¡¯s shattered sword on the floor. Countless fragments. His face was reflected in many pieces, each distorted slightly differently. But all the reflections shared amon gaze, directed in one direction. The Hero closed his eyes. ¡®Never. No matter what happens, you must not use it recklessly. Save it for the fight with Yol.¡¯ ¡­He had already prepared and resolved himself long ago. Now it was time to return. When the Hero reopened his eyes, there was nothing in his vision. Only a brilliant light. Maktania¡¯s divine power flowed entirely into the children. And the Hero departed. Yol was waiting for him. [TL/N: This is not how I expected it to go down¡­.] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 264 Chapter 264 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Leciel.¡± It was never easy to escape from Yol¡¯s avatar. Leciel was running through the academy, squeezing out every ounce of her mana. Screams, acrid smoke, and shattered debris caught at her feet. This ce, where she had spent a year as her home, now felt unfamiliar. Heat, toxic gas, and undead creatures popping up here and there. Crack- Leciel kept running without a moment¡¯s rest. Her head throbbed, and she tasted blood in her throat, but she couldn¡¯t stop. She couldn¡¯t let Rosalyn fall into Yol¡¯s avatar¡¯s hands. That sense of duty kept her moving. ¡°Leciel.¡± Leciel had a habit of wandering around the grounds whenever her mind was troubled. At the beginning of the term, when she wasn¡¯t getting along with her grandmother, she would spend all her breaks outside. Thanks to that, she knew shortcuts and hidden paths that even the servants didn¡¯t. It was one reason she barely managed to evade Yol¡¯s pursuit. ¡°Leciel.¡± Leciel finally responded to the third call. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°¡­This is far enough. Thank you.¡± Pat, pat¡ª A hand tapped her shoulder. ¡°Can you put me down?¡± They were in front of a building overlooking the hill where Yol¡¯s main body was fighting the members. Leciel had tried to avoid the academy¡¯s center, but circumstances forced her here. Distant explosions, desperate shouts, and screams could be heard. ¡°Thank you.¡± Rosalyn¡¯s voice, however, was calm, almost detached from the chaos. It allowed Leciel to snap out of her panic and regain someposure. She realized then that she had indeed evaded the avatar. Fortunately, there were no undead wandering nearby. ¡°Thanks to you, I had time and energy toplete the spell.¡± ¡°¡­Spell?¡± Leciel looked at Rosalyn, who was leaning against the wall. ¡®What kind of spell in her state?¡¯ Yol¡¯s power was slowly consuming Rosalyn. Her body from the abdomen to the chest was already shriveled and ashen. If she had the strength toplete a spell, shouldn¡¯t she use it to save herself? Was it because she was a homunculus and had no attachment to life? Leciel looked at her in confusion. But Rosalyn simply prepared her ¡®spell¡¯ with a calm expression. She ced her hand over the artificial heart, which beat like a human¡¯s. With her remaining hand, she gently pushed Leciel¡¯s back. ¡°¡­Rosalyn?¡± ¡°Now move away. I¡¯ve used my power, so they¡¯lle swarming.¡± ¡°Then even more, I should stay by your side¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s over now. It¡¯s okay.¡± Before Leciel could ask what she meant, it happened. Uuuuuuuung¡ª From the nearly dead homunculus surged a power so immense it was hard to believe it was inside her. It was the primordial force. ¡®¡­The power of memory.¡¯ The core power that Zero had imnted toplete her as a living being, linked to her very life force. Leciel watched in astonishment as Rosalyn slowly rose. Her hands were lifted toward the sky. ¡®It has to be done.¡¯ Using all this power would mean she could no longer exist in this world. But Rosalyn knew it was the only way. Until the Hero arrived, holding Yol¡¯s main body at bay with just the members was not enough. A faint smile crossed Rosalyn¡¯s lips as she thought this far. In truth, even if the Hero arrived, she wasn¡¯t sure he could defeat Yol and resolve this crisis. The Hero had grown rapidly, but Yol was still Yol. However, at some point, Rosalyn hade to believe and expect that the Hero, her brother, would solve all these tragedies. It was likely because she had seen him continuously and fully resolve the threats that had befallen him and those around him, building her trust. ¡®How curious.¡¯ A person like her who held countless others¡¯ memories. A person like him who had lived countless lives of others. What had their master and creator Zero intended for them to feel? She had thought of herself as a tool, but perhaps there was something more. For the first time in her life, Rosalyn hoped for such a thing. She hoped that the mission driving her now was not something imnted but a fruit she had gained from reading humans over the centuries. ¡®You can find the answer. Please see it through to the end.¡¯ The wind stirred and the ground trembled. Charr¡ª The sound of countless pages turning reached everyone¡¯s ears. It was light and continuous like leaves rustling in the wind. At the same time, it was heavy and majestic. A deep, dull thudding and subtle friction sound repeated. Uuuuuuuung¡ª Atst, Rosalyn¡¯s ¡®memory¡¯ began to manifest on the ground with the power of magic. Those who had passed through Rosenstark. Those who had willingly borne the sacrifice to protect this world took form, wrapped in brilliant light. They were the soldiers of memory. An immortal legacy, preserved forever, shining even against Yol¡¯s de, and never to be desecrated. Rosalyn gazed at them, recalling the precious memories they had entrusted to her when they visited the library. ¡®¡­Memory is a powerful force.¡¯ A force that led everyone to the present and would guide them into the future. They would probably hold out for another hour or two. Wrapped in faint mist and rings of light, they formed orderly ranks and marched towards the hill where Yol was. It was a silent advance, but at that moment, everything in Rosenstark held its breath. Thunk- The only loud sound was Rosalyn copsing to the ground. The power thatposed her body was rapidly leaving. Eternal death would soone. Yet, her face remained calm, like a librarian surrounded by books. Through her fading vision, Rosalyn looked at the girl standing still. ¡°Hurry and leave. Why are you just standing there? Stubbornness runs in both the teacher and the student.¡± ¡°Thank you. Really¡­ thank you.¡± Leciel bowed her head. Rosalyn smiled silently, reaching out to pat the girl on the shoulder. ¡°Leciel, may only happy memories fill your future.¡± And may your future be as well. Crackle¡ª As all the memories she held were destroyed, Rosalyn¡¯s eyes closed. She had just transferred Zero¡¯sst memory, the one she lied about not having, to Iris of Lace. * * * ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Back to the present. The Hero was heading straight for the hill where Yol was. A silence fell over the previously noisy academy as if by magic. Tststststst¡ª Midway up the hill, the undead that had been rampaging through the academy stopped moving. ck mist-like energy drained from their decayed bodies, gathered in the air, and then waspletely absorbed into the hill. The Hero realized that Yol was reiming the power he had distributed to his legion. ¡®¡­Preparing to face me.¡¯ Even for Yol, a ¡®Hero¡¯ was a daunting opponent. The Hero took a deep breath. Boom¡ª With a burst of explosive mana, the Hero soared to the top of the hill. The aftermath of the fierce battle was immediately apparent. Broken weapons embedded in the ground,rades covered in blood¡­ and some corpses. The ¡®soldiers of memory¡¯ that Rosalyn had summoned with herst strength had already vanished. And in front of him stood the source of all this chaos. ¡®¡­Yol.¡¯ Yol didn¡¯t appearpletely unscathed either. His armor was tattered, and his body was cracked in several ces. The reason for reiming the power from the undead was clear. Despite his still overwhelming presence, it was the most formidable of any foe the Hero had faced¡­. ¡®There is¡­ a chance.¡¯ Thud¡ª The Heronded between the members and Yol. The oppressive fear that had weighed on them lifted. ¡°Leader!¡± Felson, with a prosthetic arm,ughed heartily. ¡°Hero!¡± Yussi, clutching a half-destroyed alchemy glove. ¡°Oh my, you¡¯ve finally arrived.¡± Zion, with disheveled hair. ¡°You¡¯re dead, Yol.¡± ¡°You¡¯re finished, you bastard.¡± Even Iira and Taylor, who had regained their vigor. The Hero looked at the members who weed him. After this moment, they would no longer look at him with such affectionate eyes. He had once feared that. He didn¡¯t want to lose it. He wanted to avoid being abandoned and sinking back into darkness. But surprisingly, that fear and anguish had left him long ago like burnt-out ashes. He realized that what he gained was far greater than what he lost. So, he had long made up his mind. The task was clear. He just had to do it. No matter the situation, no matter what suffering awaited, he would fulfill his duty and mission. That was what he had learned from humans. [¡­] Yol was staring at him too. Surprisingly, he had taken a step back since the beginning. [¡­What is this?] He was visibly flustered. The mes inside his helmet flickered violently. The Hero spoke calmly. ¡°Yes, do you recognize me?¡± [No, it can¡¯t be. It can¡¯t be.] Yol¡¯s voice echoed across the hill. The members behind the Hero murmured, puzzled by the iprehensible conversation. ¡°What¡¯s going on with him?¡± ¡°What¡¯s he talking about?¡± Yol. He could sense the artificial lifeforce of non-human beings so acutely that he described the stenching from Rosalyn as foul. This was because only the naturally radiant lifeforce served as his sustenance. When faced with unnatural beings, an instinctive aversion welled up within him. Thus, Ted Redymer was the most valuable human to Yol. His lifeforce burned brighter than anyone Yol had ever encountered, igniting an insatiable desire and yearning within him. This was why he had risked so much toe to the academy today. But what about the ¡®Hero¡¯ before him now? Was his lifeforce a bright me? No, such words couldn¡¯t describe it. Yol had felt such a vast me only once in his long life. [Ha ha¡­] Yol naturally recalled memories from centuries ago, back when they first set foot in this world. He remembered the monstrous being who fought against the Demon King with formidable power. [Kahahahahaha!] The words Theo had spoken began to click in his mind. Yol could finally grasp the rough circumstances. This was a farce. What a farce this was. [So, that¡¯s how it is. Now I understand.] The Hero stared at him nkly. It seemed Yol mistook him for the original doppelganger who had fought the Demon King. There was no need to correct this misunderstanding. [Wearing the mask of the dead and deceiving humans so well. Forgotten monster.] From the members¡¯ perspective, Yol¡¯s words were iprehensible nonsense. Even more puzzling was that the Hero did not respond. Instead, he simply raised his ck Hope. To the members, the sight of the familiar sword energy igniting from the base of the sword was reassuring. Yol, too, lifted his bone sword in response. [Why? What do you have left?] Why do you continue on this path without reward or recognition? The Hero had been answering that question to those who asked it for a long time. ¡°Because I saw the light.¡± [You saw the light in humans?] Rumble¡ª A ck aura erupted explosively from Yol¡¯s bone sword. [Then we will cast a veil to extinguish that light.] Boom¡ª Yol kicked off the ground, charging forward. The flickering darkness followed him like a wave. The Hero inhaled deeply. Indeed, it was a dark age. As Yol said, the veil of evil cast over this world had obscured the light of humanity. In the continuous brutal circumstances, humans sometimes easily sumbed to the darkness. But¡­ Crash¡ª ¡°Leader!¡± ¡°Hero!¡± Desperate screams erupted from those anxiously watching the battle. The Hero¡¯s sword, which seemed poised to parry Yol¡¯s, suddenly veered off course. The bone sword mmed into the Hero¡¯s body with immense force. Even a Hero couldn¡¯t continue fighting with such injuries. ¡°!!¡± However, the eyes filled with worry soon turned to astonishment. The Hero, as if uninjured, continued with unbroken momentum, severing Yol¡¯s left arm. ng¡ª With a metallic sound, Yol¡¯s arm, enveloped in ck mist, flew through the air. The onlookers could see a faint smile on the Hero¡¯s lips. ¡°If you cast a veil¡­¡± I will wield my sword to tear through that veil, so that humanity¡¯s inherent light may shine upon this world once more. ¡°The glory and brilliance need not be mine in the end.¡± As he finished speaking, all eyes were on the Hero. Tststststst¡ª The Hero¡¯s torn and split flesh began to mend itself. [PR/N: Next chap scared me.] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 265 Chapter 265 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Amid the dimness of dawn. Two silhouettes shed fiercely. It was a fight so intense that those watching couldn¡¯t even think about intervening. ¡°What on earth is that¡­.¡± The Hero and Yol. No, should that really be called the Hero? Although it wore a familiar shell, the one facing Yol was a monster as formidable as Yol himself. Crack-kaboom-! A massive iceberg,rger than a building, suddenly appeared in the air and fell. Even before Cuculli¡¯s ice magic struck Yol directly. Valber¡¯s pocket dimension formed behind the Hero. The Hero, holding a great bow, fired dozens of arrows with incredible skill. Whoosh¡ª The arrows flew towards Yol from all directions. It was the archery of Evergreen and Karen. Afterbining their strengths, the ¡®Upscale¡¯ technique replicated it many times stronger than the original. As a result, the barrage of arrows was at a level even Taylor, known as the divine archer, would admire. Boom¡ª It wasn¡¯t the end. While Yol blocked the ice magic and arrows, the Hero, with a greatsword in one hand and the shadow spear Umbra in the other, charged at Yol. sh¡ª The aura Yol released severed the arm holding the spear. But the Hero, unfazed, brought the greatsword down on Yol¡¯s head. The severed arm was already reattached and holding the sword¡¯s hilt. ¡­Indeed. To humans, this was a battle of monsters. ¡°¡­What.¡± Felson, as usual, was extending his senses and was more shocked than anyone. The flow of mana inside the Hero¡¯s body changed entirely from moment to moment. Of course, depending on the techniques one mastered, an individual¡¯s mana could have various properties. But he could confidently say that such a degree of ¡®variation¡¯ was impossible for a human. ¡®Even the leader, known as a genius¡­ couldn¡¯t do that.¡¯ Already, they had witnessed dozens of techniques withpletely different properties. Felson was the first to voice what no one else dared to say. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not the leader.¡± Zion responded. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s something entirely different.¡± There was some resistance. ¡°No, what do you mean? It could just be the leader with new abilities, right? Yes?¡± One of the members said, but no one agreed. Everyone¡­ even the one who spoke, instinctively felt it. That wasn¡¯t something a human could be. It felt like extending your senses in a densely packed square and being overwhelmed by countless pieces of information. Within that ¡®one¡¯ were all sorts of colors, shapes, and existences. When you opened your eyes, you saw the Hero, but when you closed them, you saw something entirely different. Constantly changing form, never staying as one shape. An intangible being that was simultaneously everything. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± A heavy silence fell. Evenbining all their strength, they barely held off Yol. The unknown entity was fighting Yol on equal terms. But no one was happy about this. A storm of countless questions was crashing down on them. If that wasn¡¯t the Hero, then where had the real leader gone? The real leader wouldn¡¯t tolerate such a monstrous being impersonating him. When had that thing taken his ce? Had the leader they¡¯d been talking to,ughing with, really been the leader? ¡°Damn¡­.¡± Taylor muttered a curse under her breath. A primal fear and uneasiness surged. Some of the members even remembered Yol¡¯s words, their faces turning pale. [Wearing the mask of the dead, deceiving humans well, forgotten monstrosity.] ¡°No way.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be. It mustn¡¯t be.¡± ¡°¡­If that thing killed the leader and took his ce?¡± Questions branched out in all directions, reaching excessively deep. But they couldn¡¯t find any answers right then. All they could do was watch the battle before them, each grappling with their own shock and questions. Their gloomy eyes shifted from Yol and the Hero¡­ to a few children gathering on the hill. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Yol had reimed all the demonic energy from his army to face the Hero, allowing Rosenstark to survive. Therefore, most of the children who had been struggling at the extreme hade to the hill to assist in attacking Yol. ¡­Felson, who instinctively stepped forward to block them, stopped. ¡°Sigh.¡± A deep, low sigh. Realizing he had no right to stop them, Felson stood still. The children who had reached the base of the hill were stunned by the iprehensible sight before them. What kind of storm woulde next was entirely unpredictable for him. * * * An endless stream ofments followed. ¨‹ Error urred ¡ø ¨‹ Severe error detected in user¡¯s condition. ¡ø ¨‹ Some safety features are disabled. ¡ø ¨‹ Some safety features are disabled. ¡ø ¨‹ Certain attributes of ??? are reactivated. ¡ø ¨‹ Limited synchronization with ??? begins. ¨‹ The user¡¯s unique ability, ¡®Evolving Polymorph¡¯, is growing. ¡ø ¨‹ ¡­is being replicated. ¡ø ¨‹ ¡­is being replicated. ¡ø . . . ¨‹ ¡­is being replicated. ¡ø ¨‹ Replication is in progress. ¡ø ¨‹ Some techniques are reinterpreted to suit the user. ¡ø Having abandoned ¡®Ted Redymer¡¯, I resolved to face Yol as a doppelg?nger. This decision was made while healing the children¡¯s injuries at the control tower, and finally, I acted upon it. In front of countless eyes, I revealed my true identity. I saw the eyes filled with love and respect turn to distrust and fear. It was the moment when everything ended. This was the life form granted to a doppelg?nger. The times shared, theughter and tears. Their meaning always faded at the moment of final exposure. I had anticipated this, so I was neither sorrowful nor sentimental. It was a calm confrontation with the changing hearts pouring in. Unexpectedly, the abovements appeared. The content and form of thements were entirely new. Thements blurred like writing on wet parchment, filling my vision and then disappearing. ¡­and then a force surged as if my body would be torn apart. I froze in shock. ¡®Synchronization with ????¡¯ I knew the identity of ??? thanks to thements that appeared when I essed Zero¡¯s memoriesst time. The source of my being, the progenitor of doppelg?ngers. I knew exactly what was happening to me now. The polymorph of ??? was iparably more powerful than mine. He didn¡¯t need to experience or understand anyone to replicate them. It was an exceptional ability that allowed replication just by sight. The essences he had collected numbered in the tens of thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands. And I realized that a part of those vast essences resided within me. Enoch, who had entered my mental world, was defeated without using any power. The reason Kalende, who had seen me with the eye of discernment, fled in fear. The power I held, separate from myself, was slowly merging with me. Of course, it wasn¡¯t all of it. Just a fraction. But even that allowed me to wield power on a different level than before. Crack-kaboom-! Yol¡¯s feet were pushed back several steps as he countered the ck Hope. But the skeletal knight was undaunted and charged again, swinging his sword. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The relentless will and murderous intent materialized, piercing my skin like needles. [You¡¯ve grown considerably weaker than before, monstrosity. Take this sword too!] ¡­And this ridiculous sword strike. The ground flipped from the wind pressure alone, and my body ached as if struck by a hammer. I shed with Yol¡¯s sword with all my strength. This time, neither of us retreated, our swords locked. Scrape¡ª Yol bent forward, bringing his face close to mine. A chilling cold, the hypnotic blue mes flickered right before my eyes. [I too have collected the dead, absorbing their strength. We are the same.] ¡°¡­¡­.¡± [This is a battle of monsters, no bard will sing of today.] ¡°¡­Who would wish for that?¡± Crack-crash-! The relentless exchange continued. I used every possible means to press him. Yol was far stronger than in the avatar duel we had before. If not for the timely growth of my polymorph, I would have struggled immensely. Perhaps the immense ¡®power¡¯ the First Legion had harvested from Rosenstark over the past three hours was the reason. Instinctively, I nced to the side. Under the dawn light, Rosenstark burned. I took a deep breath. Thump¡ª The sound of my slowly beating heart echoed in my ears. My vision turned red and narrowed, the surrounding noise gradually disappearing. The most intense emotion I felt today swept through my body like a storm. I swung my sword again. [¡­Yes, you finally have the face of a monster!] Yol leapt back. Neigh¡ª A ghost horse was summoned again, and Yol¡¯s silhouette rose high into the sky. As vicious demonic energy swirled, exuding a terrifying presence, I realized where Yol¡¯s gaze was directed. [Let¡¯s see if they can find any light in you now¡­] Boom-! I kicked off the ground and ran. [Let¡¯s find out!] Szzzz¡ª ck demonic energy, condensed into the shape of a cloud, hovered above the children. Purple lightning shed within the demonic cloud. ¡®What is that?¡¯ As the children raised their weapons with anxious faces¡ª Iris of Lace, recognizing Yol¡¯s technique, immediately output ament. ¨‹ ck Rain A ck liquid that drains the life of all living beings it touches and absorbs it¡­. This technique, which can be considered Yol¡¯s ¡®ultimate skill¡¯, requires an enormous amount of demonic energy, nearly equivalent to his full power. ¡ø Does he consider this the turning point of the battle? I kept running. Sssss¡ª Wherever the shadow of the cloud touched, trees were already withering, and the ground was bing barren. The ck cloud spread as if to devour the world. The air was filled with the stench of decay. ¡­Fortunately, I arrived just in time. I stood before the children. Evergreen¡¯s trembling voice reached my ears. ¡°¡­Professor? Are you alright?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but smile. Still calling me professor. In that case, I had to meet their expectations. As I always did during lectures, I shouted in a stern voice. ¡°Everyone, get down!¡± The children reflexively followed mymand. At the same time. [Are you sacrificing yourself for humans, monstrosity?] Crack-kaboom-! A thick, sticky darkness poured down heavily, freezing the surroundings with a chilling cold. The raindrops fell to the ground with sharp sounds like the wails of souls. Sizzle¡ª As I activated Nova at full power, the thousands, no, tens of thousands of tiny dark bullets filled my vision. I couldn¡¯t block them all. But I could block those heading toward the children behind me. re. Rumble¡ª Mana condensed and surged through my body¡¯s circuits. With that power, I swung my sword to create a barrier. The barrier deflected some of the deathly rain. ¨‹ ck Hope¡¯s unique ability: Domain activates. It exerts strong attraction and repulsion to scatter the rest¡ª ¡ø Buzzing¡ª I used Ster Lift to send some into a subspace. ¨‹ Ultimate skill: Infinity, Massacre activates. ¡ø Dozens of ice arrows with destructive properties formed a web of fire. I activated Dispel. I exhausted all the dispels engraved on my robe. With my eyes dimming from melting, I looked straight ahead. Leaves turned ck and twisted, grass withered and burned. From afar, I could see the squad members resisting the ck rain. Rumble¡ª Amidst the silence and fear as if a death shroud had descended on the world, only the sound of the rain was loud. Sizzle¡ª My skin, touched by the ck rain, turned cold as ice and then burned with pain. Where the raindrops touched, it turned ck, slowly corroding, revealing white bones. ¡­I swung my sword. . . . Thunk¡ª I didn¡¯t need a mirror to know what I looked like now. I would look no different from the skeletal Yol. Even the doppelg?nger¡¯s regenerative power couldn¡¯tpletely resist the ¡®absorption¡¯ of the ck rain. My flesh peeled off, and my muscles melted, making me look like someone who had been thrown into a fire for five minutes. Creak¡ª My eyes were thest to regenerate, bringing my extinguished vision back. I turned to look at the children. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Fear? Disgust? Gratitude? Revulsion? Honestly, I didn¡¯t care how they looked at me now. Everyone was safe, and that was enough. I looked forward again. Whoosh¡ª Yol was falling from the sky. The neck of his phantom steed was severed. His torso was half cut off as well. The mes inside his helmet flickered like a startled candle. [¡­You!] ¡­The enhanced polymorph gave me a brief moment of respite. I had a few seconds to endure the raindrops with my body andnd a full-force ¡®Horizon¡¯ strike on Yol, who was focusing on casting the ck rain. Perhaps he didn¡¯t expect me to endure the pain of my body melting in real-time and counterattack, so he was unprepared and took a critical hit along with the neck of his phantom steed. And at that moment, Felson and several other squad members seized the opportunity tond their all-out attacks on Yol. It was possible because most of the ck rain¡¯s power was concentrated on me. [How dare you!] Sssss¡ª Yol¡¯s body, which had been screaming in pain, started to fade. The desperate shouts of the squad members pierced my ears. ¡°He¡¯s escaping!¡± ¡°Stop him!¡± ¡°Finish him!¡± ¡°It¡¯s now or never!¡± But the squad members had exhausted all their strength, making pursuit difficult. I looked at them with fading vision. ¡­That was it. ¨‹ All of the user¡¯s mental strength has been exhausted, making further polymorph impossible. ¡ø Thunk¡ª Iid down the ck Hope and stood in my original form. Now it was time for me to face judgment. [TL/N: DAMN.] [PR/N: Will they banish him?] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 266 Chapter 266 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Sssssss- Yol transformed into a ck mist, flying quickly over the hilltop. This was a method to evade attacks by discarding his physical body and leaving only his thought-form. It was simr to the technique Enoch once used to escape from Felson¡¯s grasp. ¡®He¡¯s running away with his tail between his legs.¡¯ Even in the midst of the crisis, the Hero felt a small sense of relief. Although it was regrettable not to havepletely eradicated Yol, since he resorted to thatst measure, he would no longer be a significant threat to humanity. The power his true body possessed, along with most of the demonic energy he had gathered in Rosenstark, would have been lost as well. ¡®Now then¡­¡¯ The Hero turned his gaze forward once more. Arge number of people were surrounding the hill. Among them were members of the Dawn Knights, staff, and students. It could be said that the majority of thebatants were present. They had been busy trying to capture the fleeing Yol, but upon realizing they were toote, they began to gradually regroup towards the center of the hill. ¡­Towards him. The Hero stood silently. . . . The people surrounded the ¡®Hero¡¯ from a distance. ¡­No, he could no longer be called a Hero. Exhausted to the point where even a single Polymorph was impossible after blocking the ck rain, he could no longer maintain the form of Ted. He had to take on his original appearance, the face no one here knew, the one he had when Zero cultivated him. The people didn¡¯t know what to call the man who stood precariously before them. ¡°¡­Is he dead? He¡¯s not moving.¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s breathing.¡± ¡°Did you see him fighting earlier? What the hell is he?¡± ¡°He looks human, but¡­¡± ¡°Some demons look like us too.¡± Humans are animals that heavily rely on their sense of sight. They could not easily equate this unfamiliar man with the Hero they had known. Even the knights, confused, kept their distance and watched him, while the children who had been close to him were forcibly moved away by the staff. Surprisingly, those who were friendly with the Hero were the ones who couldn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Ahem.¡± It was instead another professor, one who had barely exchanged words with the Hero, who spoke up first. He was an elder professor who had arrived at the hill rtively early and had observed the battle. Step- He took a step forward as if representing everyone¡¯s curiosity. ¡°¡­Who exactly are you?¡± The Hero slowly opened his eyes. Startled, the staff member took a step back but soon returned to his ce. ¡°H-how can you change your appearance to look like so many different people and even replicate their abilities?¡± It was a fitting first question. The Polymorph of a doppelganger was an ability that was iprehensible and uneptable by human standards. Upon realizing the existence of the ability ¡®Polymorph,¡¯ humans instinctively felt unease. It was an ability that could instantly usurp the ¡®results¡¯ they had built up throughout their lives. It shattered the belief in their own uniqueness and originality, a belief every human held. This led to an intense, instinctive hatred. As expected, the staff member who had just asked the question had a horribly distorted face. The Hero looked at him and the humans beyond with clear eyes. ¡°I¡­¡± I am not human. That was the honest answer he was about to give. But for some reason, the words stuck in his throat and wouldn¡¯te out. In the brief silence, the staff member pressed further. ¡°You can¡¯t answer, can you? Let me ask again, are you a being derived from demonic energy?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Answer me! Where is our true Hero, Ted Redymer, and why is a monster like you in his ce?¡± The murmuring behind him grew louder in agreement. Gaining courage, the professor drew his sword. ¡°If you don¡¯t answer, I will attack.¡± Sring- The de was clean, as if mocking the hours of tragedy. The Hero chuckled. Staring at the metal reflecting the morning sunlight brightly, he pondered. What if I tell one more lie? Ted Redymer is alive, recuperating in a hideout due to his injuries. I am his close friend and disciple, temporarily acting in his stead at his request. ¡®¡­Maybe because I¡¯ve lived my whole life lying.¡¯ Even in a fleeting moment, a usible lie was born. ¡®They might actually believe it.¡¯ Then I could disappear for a while and reappear as Ted after a few months, continuing to act as him. Yussi, Pia, Kasim, the knights, the children. I could preserve the rtionships I had painstakingly built and continue to receive their love and respect. It was a sweet, tempting option. The Hero opened his mouth. ¡°Ted Redymer died in the great battle at the end ofst year.¡± ¡­The noisy hill was instantly enveloped in deep silence. The people stared at him nkly, as if unable toprehend his words. Shock and disbelief slowly spread among them like ripples on ake. Sighs, pale faces, words of denial, shallow screams, and bewildered eyes crossed paths. The Hero reminded himself. ¡®This lie has already ended.¡¯ Once the Polymorph had been revealed to many people, there was no turning back. Therefore, he shouldn¡¯t attempt any more deception. ¡®It¡¯s time to tell the truth.¡¯ In fact, there was onemitment he made long ago when he began conspiring with Euphemia to tell lies. It was amitment made at a time when everything seemed lost. It was about how Ted Redymer died, and how noble his death was. Ted¡¯s death had the right to be known. ¡°He sacrificed all his life force to defeat the Demon King. He fought for us until the very end¡­¡± The Hero¡¯s words were interrupted by Yussi, who had been silent all this time. ¡°¡­Since the Great Battle?¡± A dry voice. Behind broken sses, empty pupils dropped teardrops like beads. But there was no expression on her face. ¡°So, the Hero I¡¯ve seen for the past year¡­ was that creature all along?¡± That was it. The Hero¡¯s death was shocking, but the timing of it was even more so. If Ted Redymer died at the end ofst year, then was the Hero they had seen and experienced over the past year all that monster? The perfect representation of the Hero? People began to sift through their memories fromst year. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Each of them had a few memories rted to the Hero. The children had more, as did the Dawn Knights, including Felson. ¡°It¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°The Hero was the Hero. There¡¯s no way a monster could imitate that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a lie, it¡¯s all lies.¡± Sharp voices emerged from the crowd. ¡°Lies!¡± ¡°Do you believe the words of such a monster?¡± ¡°They probably killed the injured Hero recently and took his ce. I¡¯m sure of it.¡± A cacophony of voices. Whispers and sighs. ¡°Wait a minute! Isn¡¯t that just spection? Didn¡¯t you see the professor fighting Yol just now?¡± ¡°Is there any guarantee he¡¯s not on the side of demons rather than humans?¡± Some were trying to ept the unbelievable reality. Some were trying to deny it. Some were trying to analyze and understand. The Hero looked at them with a bitter gaze. The past year. His presence had united humanity, which had been on the brink of destruction. Now, it was the opposite. Constant division was imminent. Just as the Hero was about to add something, ¡°So why?¡± It was Taylor. Her sunken heterochromatic eyes were fixed on him. ¡°Why did you appear before us pretending to be someone else?¡± The Hero met his gaze silently. ¡°I needed a Hero in this world.¡± A professor who had spoken up before shouted indignantly, ¡°Nonsense!¡± ¡°Do you all believe the words of such an unbelievable monster?¡± ¡°Ted Redymer¡¯s wealth, fame, and power must have tempted it!¡± ¡°Or maybe it¡¯s sitting at the core of human society, trying to manipte humans¡­¡± The Hero slowly turned his head. ¡°I will not betray you, no matter what.¡± ¡­That¡¯s when something suddenly flew towards him from the crowd. Swoosh- An arrow. It contained considerable mana. Normally, he could easily dodge and deflect it with his speed and strength, but the Hero¡¯s eyes sank. ¡®Not now¡­¡¯ He was in no state to even flick his fingers. Receiving a fatal blow that might kill him if done wrong! ¡®I can¡¯t die now.¡¯ The demons had learned of Ted¡¯s death faster than expected. If he died now, humanity would truly face the brink of destruction. The Hero raised his still-functional arm and shielded himself with it, using his forearm as a shield against his vital organs. ¡­But there was no sound of impact. Tang-! An arrow flying from behind knocked away the arrow aimed at the Hero. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The Hero slowly turned around to see who had saved him. Emerald eyes, tousled blonde hair. Evergreen looked at him with trembling eyes. It was a gaze that sought something beloved hidden behind an unfamiliar face. ¡°¡­Professor.¡± The crowd erupted into protests. ¡°Evergreen Solintail! A mere undergraduate has no ce interfering!¡± ¡°No, let¡¯s capture him rather than kill him for now.¡± ¡°Now is the time when he seems exhausted. If we subdue him and interrogate him, he might reveal his true intentions.¡± Some persuaded part of the crowd, who cautiously approached the Hero. Although they seemed wary of his formidable strength, they soon bravely stepped forward, given his visibly weakened state. Fortunately, the members hadn¡¯t moved yet. However, for the Hero in his current state, just them alone posed a significant threat. ¡­That¡¯s when it happened. ¡°Professor.¡± Halt- Luke stood in front of those approaching the Hero, blocking their path. His silent dark eyes. The boy reached out and picked up the ck Hope lying on the ground, then handed it back to the Hero. ¡°Are you okay? I¡¯m fine.¡± Even when he revealed his true identity, the Hero¡¯s eyes, which had always been calm, trembled for the first time. And then Ban. Before he knew it, the one who hade forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Luke was whispering to the Hero. ¡°For now, please leave this ce. We¡¯ll handle it here.¡± Of course, not all of the Extreme Children had moved. There were more of those who stood by, looking confused. However, some willingly became a barrier in front of the Hero. The senior professors shouted furiously. ¡°¡­These madmen! Do you know what you¡¯re doing right now? Are you trying to protect a creature that could be a threat to humanity?!¡± Gerald raised the spear engraved with the Hero¡¯s emblem and snorted. ¡°A threat to humanity?¡± ¡°Yeah! Haven¡¯t you seen the terrifying power of that creature? One should know their ce when faced with power like that. You should know ten by seeing one¡­..¡± Among the crowd. It was then that Kasim grabbed Pia¡¯s hand and dashed forward. Swoosh- As the tip of the rapier swung steadily towards the professors, shock erupted. ¡°Professor Pierre!¡± The young professor, who was always deferential and obsequious, was nowhere to be seen. Kasim¡¯s stern blue eyes turned towards the senior professors. ¡°Why do those who know ten by seeing one fail to know one by seeing ten?¡± Pia¡¯s ttering voice followed behind. ¡°Nyhill! Now!¡± Tap- Finally, the Hero felt a small hand clinging to his own body. At the same time, thendscape of the hillside began to recede. Those who stood to protect him. Those who watched in confusion. Those who clearly revealed themselves as enemies. They all faded away, as if getting on a swiftly moving carriage. Whoosh- With Nyhill lifting him halfway, the Hero crossed the ruins of Rosenstark. Unlike Ted¡¯s massive body, his true form had an average height and weight, allowing him to lean on Nyhill somewhat. The Hero¡¯s mouth, silent for a while, opened when the external walls of Rosenstark became visible. ¡°Nyhill.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As always, the girl¡¯s voice was calm andposed. The Hero struggled to speak. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear?¡± ¡°I heard.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not the Hero.¡± ¡°That¡¯s-¡± The ck eyes regained their light as they turned towards the Hero. ¡°It doesn¡¯t concern me.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 267 Chapter 267 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Creak¡ª As Nyhill and the Hero disappeared from view and some time passed, the children lowered their weapons as if making a silent agreement. The professors who had intended to corner the Hero sighed, ring at the ground in frustration. It was already toote. Even if they started tracking immediately, catching them would be difficult. The desire to reprimand the children was evident in their distorted expressions. Among them, Felson, who had stood in the forefront and hindered them, was present. As one of the leading swordsmen of this era and the head of a prestigious family with a strong political position, there was no one who dared to challenge his intentions. They just grumbled. ¡°Ha, missing such a monster is a big problem. Who should take responsibility for this?¡± ¡°By the way, who is the child who escaped with that being?¡± ¡°¡­First, let¡¯s send notices to the surrounding territories and discuss countermeasures.¡± ¡°And we must inform the pce. Isn¡¯t Her Majesty a close friend of the Hero? Surely, they will be furious at the current situation.¡± Of course, only a few continued to show unnecessary animosity. Most silently entered the dust and debris. Mitigating the situation. That was the first thing that needed to be done. Although Yussi sat as if her soul had left her body, fortunately, no one here was perceptive enough to notice her distress. Felson, along with the other members and faculty, directed the people. ¡°¡­First, let¡¯s evacuate the children to a safe building.¡± Dealing with the casualties would be extremely difficult and dreadful. The adults wanted to exclude the children. ¡°They have already done enough by confronting the First Legion.¡± Orders for evacuation and return. Mostplied with the instructions and vacated the area, but there were some who had no intention of doing so. The extreme children were already heading towards the chaos of Rosenstark, where ck smoke was billowing. Felson grabbed Taylor¡¯s shoulder as she tried to call them back. ¡°Just leave them be.¡± ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Doing nothing right now is even more difficult.¡± Taylor was about to say more but closed her mouth. She soon sighed and sat down hesitantly. Felson ced a hand on her shoulder. Not only Yussi but also the other members were still unable to recover from the shock. The death of their leader. It felt so surreal that it didn¡¯t seem real. But when they assumed that the events of the past year, which seemed oddly out of ce, were true because of the Leader¡¯s death, they copsed. If what that weirdo said was true. Their beloved leader and savior had quietly passed away without anyone knowing. It was insanely unfair. The scene of his death made them tremble with guilt and anger just by imagining it. Taylor exhaled heavily. ¡°Felson.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°The Leader¡­ deserved a much better end, didn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± ¡°He should have enjoyed more happiness, more love, more peace, more everything! As much as he poured his heart into this world, he should have received it back in abundance.¡± Tears welled up in her eyes, evident in herst words. Hot tears streamed down under her blindfold. She threw a question to whoever was listening. ¡°Is this right?¡± Even Felson couldn¡¯t help but shake his head at the obvious question. He was also deeply saddened by the leader¡¯s death, but he was even more confused by the fact that the true teacher who had saved his son Ban from the swamp was a ¡®fake¡¯. Buck¡ª It was then that a small silhouette walked toward them. ¡°Let¡¯s go. For now.¡± ¡­It was Iira. There were clear tear streaks on her charred face. She sobbed as she helped Taylor up. ¡°We have things to do. No matter what situation. You know, right?¡± The words the Leader always lived bypelled them to stand up. ¡­ Right. To calm their minds. To cry their hearts out. To decide how to deal with the weirdo. That¡¯s all after handling this situation. But¡­ Felson¡¯s sunken eyes turned to Yussi in the background. ¡®Yussi.¡¯ She had spent the past year entirely with the ¡®fake¡¯. Realizing loss and betrayal simultaneously, what was she thinking now? Ironically, the bright morning sun shone down on Yussi, who was slumped over. . . . Zion headed alone towards the control tower. As the site of the battle, a lot of manpower was needed for the aftermath. Transporting the casualties and caring for them. Repairing the destroyed security devices and facilities. Noubelmag who dashed from the outer wall was also bustling around. He would have heard of the Hero¡¯s passing. It might sound clich¨¦, but he was also fulfilling his duty first and foremost. Zion, who had been silently watching the busy people, turned her back. Then, she headed towards a ce a little away from the control tower. Although not far from the tower, this ce was dramatically quiet. Perhaps because there was only one casualty to be dealt with. ¡°Hello, Labin.¡± Zion stood in front of Labin, who was leaning against the wall. His whole body was wounded. Bitten, shed, and beaten wounds. With dried blood covering him, Labin looked crimson under the sunlight. One could see serenity instead of pain on the face of Professor Labin. One could even call it pride in other words. ¡°You¡¯re keeping a calm expression alone.¡± Sighing, Zion chuckled and sat down beside him. After brushing off the bone dust on the ground, she saw the clear sky and the towering buildings of Rosenstark. This must have been thest scenery Labin saw before dying. ¡°¡­In the end, you died without knowing.¡± Thinking of the ¡®fake¡¯ surrounded by people on the hill, Zion spoke up. ¡°Was it fortunate?¡± Labin had been eager for reconciliation with his disciple in his final years. But what if he had found out that his real disciple had died? ¡°¡­Still, he probably forgave.¡± Labin didn¡¯t really hate Ted Redymer. It was just something he didn¡¯t know. Even Ted probably knew. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Like his daughter Dalia. If he had known that Ted died in battle, Labin would have mourned more than anyone. He would have probably doubled the whiskey he drank at night. ck¡ª Zion reached out and took the sword from Labin¡¯s tightly clenched hand. ¡°The priest really resembled you.¡± In this cruel world, those who tried to uphold duty and conscience always died quickly. It had been a rule she had lived with for over half a century, but today it felt particrly bitter. In fact, Ted¡¯s death had a significant impact on Zion. The defeat she had suffered ten years ago had twisted her life, and the return to the right path had only happened recently. Ironically, the ¡®fake¡¯ had helped with that. Reconciliation with her granddaughter, the enlightenment of the sword. He had helped with all of that. Zion recalled the words and actions the fake had disyed, pretending to be real to her. There might not have been malice, but it could be seen as thorough deception and maniption. But why? Strangely, Zion didn¡¯t feel as bad as she should have. Just a sense of regret. The real one broken and the fake one desperately taking his ce. Their psyche had been somewhat guessed, so there wasn¡¯t an explosion of anger. But¡­ ¡®I¡¯m worried about Leciel.¡¯ Leciel was a child who had pursued only the ¡®Hero¡¯. That was why the Hero¡¯s recognition and care could save her. It would have been impossible for anyone else. But now that she realized it was all a sham. What kind of agony was Leciel engulfed in? ¡®I wish she would focus on the substance, not the appearance.¡¯ Zion sighed, thinking of her granddaughter who had suddenly run off somewhere without joining her friends on the hill earlier. Her heart felt heavy. It was because it was the first time she had seen her granddaughter crying so hard since she was five. * * * Nyhill stopped after running tirelessly day and night. Her small back rose and fell steeply. No matter how good her stamina was, running up the mountain while supporting an adult man would have been exhausting. I looked up. A small house in the middle of the mountain came into view. ¡°¡­It¡¯s one of the Shadow¡¯s safe houses.¡± Although it looked like an ordinary cabin on the outside, various traps and rm devices were hidden around it. Plus, several months¡¯ worth of preserved food was stored underground. It was possible to spend some time here without any interaction with the outside world. By the time Nyhill finished her brief exnation, I had regained enough strength to look around. However, Nyhill forcibly pulled me andid me down on the soft bed. ¡°Just lie down for now.¡± I was exhausted to the point of copse. In human terms, it was akin to exhausting all vitality to the very bottom. I would need several weeks of recuperation at least to regain my former strength. ¡­ In other words, I didn¡¯t have the strength to resist Nyhill¡¯s little hands right now. Slipping¡ª Afterying me down, Nyhill pulled the quilt up to my chin. This baby treatment was the first time in my long life. It was so absurdly funny despite the situation. Nyhill¡¯s monotone voice echoed in my ears. ¡°You may need to move again soon. You need to rest as much as possible.¡± I spoke to dispel his concerns. ¡°If you¡¯re worried about tracking, it should be fine. The emperor already knew everything.¡± ¡°¡­Is that so? That¡¯s fortunate.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t offer me a handshake to cast me out in this situation, would you?¡± Although I couldn¡¯t see how the situation was unfolding right now, I could guess it fairly well. The demons¡¯ tendrils must be clearly stirring up malicious public opinion. Over the past year, an unidentified monster had been impersonating a Hero. We don¡¯t know how many more of those shapeshifting monsters there are. There¡¯s a considerable possibility that they could be lurking around you without anyone knowing, so always be cautious. ¡­Thus, they would interfere with humanity¡¯s cohesion and carry out pre-emptive maneuvers to prevent me from returning among humans. Therefore, it would be difficult for Euphemia to positively affirm my existence from her standpoint. She mightmand to feign anger and pursue, but would she really push me away? ¡®¡­My disappearance would greatly shift the bnce of power.¡¯ The Emperor has no choice but to remain on my side. She would continue to provide unwavering support for my future activities. Suddenly, Euphemia¡¯s face came to mind. Of course, apart from these advantageous aspects, she wasn¡¯t the type of person to mask my identity and lead me away as a hero of humanity. ¡®Alright, that¡¯s roughly settled.¡¯ Therefore, the first thing I had to do now was to recover. And then, grow. Leaving Rosenstark in this manner would have slowed down the momentum of progress. I needed to find ways to grow beyond the power of ¡®Ted¡¯. I should discuss it again with Maktania and Izaro when we reunite. It would be good to see what impact synchronization with ??? had on me. Since I no longer needed to be confined to Rosenstark, I could seek growth in more diverse directions. Unlike before, there were almost no limits to my Polymorph. I would be able to operate much more widely. It was a moment of relentless nning. ¡°¡­Are you okay?¡± I stopped the racing thoughts at that moment and turned my gaze to Nyhill by the bedside. Moonlight seeping into the room through the cabin window illuminated her pitch-ck eyes and hair. She looked at me with a meticulous, worried gaze. ¡°¡­Are you okay?¡± The same question was asked again. Was it from Lonkers? I had told her to never hesitate to ask if she had any questions as a person who performed her duties like a machine without any doubts. Since then, Nyhill had asionally asked me various questions, and I subtly enjoyed answering her innocent and cute questions. But now. For now, my lips wouldn¡¯t move. . . . Contact from Euphemia came the next day. [PR/N: Dude. The fucking cliffhangerl oml.] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 268 Chapter 268 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Nyhill stepped aside. ¡°I¡¯ll take a look around for a bit.¡± The hideout was left empty.Buzz- The hero gazed beyond the blinkingmunication orb. It had been a while since hest saw Euphemia, and she looked more haggard than before. Dark circles underscored her eyes, and herplexion was a bit pale. Considering the grueling battles in the demon realm and now this situation, it was no wonder she was mentally and physically exhausted. She said nothing at first, just staring at the hero, then suddenly blurted out. [¡­Is that your real face?] The hero had no reason to maintain his Ted polymorph anymore, so he was in his ¡®original form¡¯. It was likely Euphemia¡¯s first time seeing his real face. The hero nodded. Euphemia, for some reason dissatisfied, slightly furrowed her brow and stared at him. [It doesn¡¯t suit you.] ¡°¡­It¡¯s my original face, there¡¯s no question of it suiting me or not.¡± [Besides, it feels like I¡¯ve seen it somewhere before.] The hero¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡°That can¡¯t be. I haven¡¯t shown this face to the world for nearly a hundred years.¡± [¡­Really?] ¡°Well, there are always people who look alike somewhere.¡± No animal relies as heavily on sight as humans do. Despite thepletely different face, Euphemia showed no sign of unfamiliarity. It must be her own form of consideration. [¡­You must have a lot of questions about the situation, I can spare about 30 minutes, ask away slowly.] The hero hesitated before speaking. ¡°¡­How¡¯s the situation in the east?¡± [As Yol attacked Rosenstark, the 2nd and 3rd corps of Theo and Malekiaunched a surprise attack on the 1st base. Fortunately, we managed to repel them. The problem is¡­ your news is starting to spread.] What used to be the 1st base of the demon realm was now purified and had be the forward base of the eastern army. Naturally, the demonic energy had disappeared, making it a munication-enabled area¡¯. ¡°People must be agitated.¡± [That¡¯s not your concern. Maintaining military discipline is our duty¡­ Anyway, isn¡¯t there something else you¡¯re really curious about?] The hero smiled bitterly. ¡°Let¡¯s take it step by step. How¡¯s the public opinion?¡± [Public opinion? It couldn¡¯t be worse.] Euphemia¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. [The incident was too shocking. The hero actually died a year ago. Instead, an unknown entity yed the role of the hero. The leadership and heroes of humanity were fooled¡­ or knowingly condoned it. Some say you¡¯re a demon spy, others say you¡¯re humanity¡¯s ultimate weapon¡­ the rumors are countless and absurd.] Even though the secret forces were doing their best to manipte public opinion, the results were not very promising. It was as expected. It was clear that humans couldn¡¯t tolerate the existence of a doppelganger-like being. [Initially, we nned to say that you were a contingency measure prepared by Ted and me. But seeing the situation, it doesn¡¯t seem like a good idea. The bacsh is stronger than expected.] The hero nodded again. ¡°I think the same. There¡¯s no need for you to get caught up in this vortex. Denying any knowledge of it would be the best move for the imperial family.¡± [¡­You speak as if it¡¯s someone else¡¯s business.] A slight look of guilt appeared on Euphemia¡¯s face. [The matter arose too early and unexpectedly, so our initial response was inadequate.] ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Our n was to get caught a few yearster.¡± [¡­Are you joking? What do you have to be sorry for?] It wasn¡¯t just a figure of speech. Without the hero, Rosenstark would have been annihted. In fact, the annihtion of Rosenstark would have been nothingpared to what would have followed. With newfound power, Yol would have led an undead army consisting of Rosenstark¡¯s professors, Dawn Knights, and students to the capital. ¡®Could the western forces have stopped them?¡¯ It was uncertain. Had they made a wrong move, the eastern army would have had to retreat. Malekia and Theo wouldn¡¯t have let them go quietly. Who knows what great tragedy might have urred during the dy, Euphemia couldn¡¯t even imagine. ¡­The hero had saved humanity. It was an undeniable fact. [Yet there are plenty of fools who don¡¯t appreciate it and put all their effort into criticizing you.] Euphemia¡¯s eyebrows slightly lowered. She avoided the hero¡¯s gaze for a moment, then looked at him again with a soft sigh. [Seeing how things are going, I thought you might decide not to cooperate with humans anymore and leave.] ¡°Leave? You still don¡¯t know me.¡± Most people expect something in return. Even saints¡¯ good intentions fade if they don¡¯t receive appropriatepensation for their sacrifices. Moreover, the hero was not only unrewarded but was also being heavily criticized. Some argued, ¡®Isn¡¯t it a monster with goodwill towards humans at least?¡¯ but no one epted him as ¡®human¡¯. ¡­Yet, the hero simply said this. ¡°I¡¯ve already received my fair reward.¡± Though he no longer had Ted¡¯s face, why did it still ovep? The emperor shook her head and changed the subject. [¡­Then why don¡¯t you ask what you really want to know?] The hero paused for a moment. Various emotions flickered in his eyes simultaneously. Euphemia waited patiently for him to speak. ¡°The academy¡­.¡± The hero corrected his question. He also wanted to avoid sounding choked. ¡°The people at the academy, how are they doing?¡± * * * In one corner of the lounge. Though they seemed to lower their voices, in reality, they kept a volume loud enough for everyone to hear. ¡°So, it turns out they weren¡¯t the hero¡¯s disciples but a monster¡¯s disciples.¡± ¡°Wow, they were so full of themselves. How embarrassed they must be.¡± ¡°What should they do? If it were me, I wouldn¡¯te out of my room.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that what they¡¯re doing?¡± Admiration and disdain are two sides of the same coin. The elite students who were once envied as the hero¡¯s disciples were now subject to odd nces overnight. That¡¯s human nature. This year¡¯s new students had all applied to the elite course but were ultimately ¡®rejected¡¯. How envious and annoyed they must have been at the elite students who had be the hero¡¯s disciples and gained immense skills and honor. The envy was particrly intense among the nobles because manymoners had also joined the elite course. For those who had felt deep inferiority and deprivation all year, the ¡®fake hero incident¡¯ was, in a way, a kind of salvation and opportunity. ¡­The perfect chance to undermine their sess and achievements. ¡°By the way, what the hell was it? A monster capable of imitating someone so perfectly. I¡¯ve never heard of that. Not even in the monsterpendium.¡± ¡°If they hadn¡¯t blocked the anonymous board, it would be insane right now.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°I still can¡¯t believe it.¡± Of course, there weren¡¯t that many who spoke so freely. Most remembered how the elite students had fought for the academy during Yol¡¯s attack. But there were certainly some who crossed the line. ¡°How clueless do you have to be to not realize it wasn¡¯t the hero after being with him for a whole year? How good can a monster¡¯s imitation of the hero be?¡± ¡°Exactly. If it were me, I would¡¯ve figured it out right away and sent him to the pyre¡­¡± BANG! The boy who had been excitedly making bold statements suddenly had his face mmed onto the table. CRACK¡ª The sound of his nose breaking echoed, and a cold silence spread among the kids sitting in a circle. ¡°You, you!¡± Luke¡¯srge hand was pressing the back of the boy¡¯s head. One of the boys sitting next to him protested in a trembling voice. ¡°A-are you crazy? Hitting a fellow student? Do you want to get expelled?¡± Luke¡¯s dark red eyes turned towards the boy. He froze in his spot. In fact, there wasn¡¯t a single new student who wasn¡¯t afraid of Luke, except for the elite students. Especially after the rumor spread that he had cut off the head of his stepfather, the mercenary king Ravias, after the parent wee ceremony. His cold voice rang through the now silent lounge. ¡°Expelled? I¡¯ll leave on my own before that happens. There¡¯s no reason for me to stay here any longer anyway.¡± The boy, clutching his nose, yelled at that moment. ¡°You crazy bastard! If you n on leaving Rosenstark, you shouldn¡¯t be acting like this!¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°You¡¯re just a mercenary. You can act like this inside the academy¡¯s walls, but outside, you wouldn¡¯t dare against a noble¡­.¡± But he didn¡¯t finish his sentence. Noble. Someone far superior to Luke within that category had appeared by his side. With Ban¡¯s arrival, the atmosphere grew even colder. ¡°Status, huh. You seem to enjoy trampling on people with it.¡± His voice was calm, suppressing his emotions, which made it even more frightening. The boys who had shed with Luke stepped back. ¡°¡­It wasn¡¯t directed at you. Why are you suddenly involved?¡± However, Ban¡¯s expression did not soften. His brown eyes scanned each of their faces. He realized he had seen some of their faces a few days ago. They had been among those chased by the undead horde, wetting their pants and begging for their lives. Only then did he understand why they were spouting such sharp words. Shame, inferiority, self-hatred, helplessness. He was more familiar with those feelings than anyone else. ¡°¡­Try to use those emotions more wisely.¡± He spoke, recalling what his master had told him at the beginning of the term. ¡°Just as one who does not know fear cannot understand courage, those emotions will eventually lead you to greater heights. Remain calm and be reborn courageously.¡± He wondered if the hero could be free from the fear of his true identity being revealed, no matter how much of a hero he was. Ban could somewhat guess how the hero must have felt fighting in front of them. Recalling the image of his master standing firmly yet precariously in front of them, the anger that had been zing inside him slowly subsided. What remained was an overwhelming sense of longing and regret that had built up too quickly in a short time. Hero. A brave person. If he wasn¡¯t a hero, then who could possibly be? ¡°¡­¡± Luke seemed to feel the same thoughts and emotions, releasing the tension in his clenched fists and standing there in dejection. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s go.¡± The boys left the lounge and headed towards the quiet garden. Recently, they had been avoiding crowded ces because of incidents like the one that just happened. Luke and Ban sat on a bench and sighed in unison, as if they had nned it. ¡°¡­Are you really quitting the academy?¡± ¡°Is there any reason to stay? Leciel really seems like she¡¯s going to quit.¡± Thinking of Leciel, Ban sighed even deeper. Since that day, Leciel had be hard to find anywhere in the academy. She wasn¡¯t at the training grounds. He checked the art studio, but there were only broken art supplies and shredded, unrecognizable paintings. It seemed she was hiding somewhere, only returning to the dormitoryte at night to sleep. Ban had tried to talk to her, but she ignored him as if they were back to the beginning of the term. ¡°Should I quit too¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s something we need to do first.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± A heavy silence fell. Ban spoke up. ¡°He won¡¯te back, will he¡­.¡± ¡°He can¡¯t.¡± Luke growled. ¡°Because those ungrateful bastards will make a fuss.¡± Since that day, the elite students had split into three groups. First, those who rejected and shunned their teacher. They trembled at the thought of having followed and respected a non-human and dered their severance. They were the smallest group. Second, those who were confused and didn¡¯t know what stance to take. They wavered between betrayal and longing, making up the majority. Andstly, there were those like Luke and Ban, who considered the hero to be a precious teacher, regardless of who he actually was. ¡­Of course, they had been confused at first, too. The fact that their teacher, whom they had followed and relied on more than anyone else, was not a hero or even human was not something they could take lightly. But the things they had received from him were too many to turn their backs on just because of that one fact. Before entering Rosenstark, their lives had been like swamps. The hero was their benefactor, who reached out to them without hesitation, despite the mud. With Ban and Luke at the center, they had already decided on their future course. ¡®¡­It¡¯s time to repay the kindness we¡¯ve received.¡¯ Step¡ª As the appointed time approached, a few of their ssmates emerged from the other side of the garden. Evergreen, Gerald, Karen, and others. Everyone was gathered. Luke gave Ban a signal with his eyes, and Ban stepped forward with a deep breath. He dered, ¡°We¡¯re forming a secret organization.¡± ¡­The story was unfolding in a direction the hero had never anticipated. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 269 Chapter 269 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª After the firstmunication with Euphemia, the Hero focused on recovering his body while also receiving regr reports from Mother Ghost about the academy¡¯s situation. There were a few developments that even he hadn¡¯t anticipated. ¡°¡­Wait a minute. What did you just say?¡±[Just as you heard. The students have formed a private organization.] ¡°A private organization¡­ For what purpose?¡± Mother Ghost responded calmly. [It is likely to continue your legacy.] The Hero had a subtle expression upon hearing this. ¡°My legacy?¡± [A highly practical anti-demonic curriculum.] It was an extreme slogan. [Publicly, it¡¯s presented as a club for skill improvement.] When the Hero left the academy, the ¡®Extremes¡¯ naturally dissolved. To make matters worse, with Labin¡¯s death, there were no useful Unir lectures left. The students, temporarily divided into the remaining senior professors¡¯ sses, were far from satisfied. They decided it was better to teach and improve each other. ¡­Mother Ghost, hesitating a bit, added a few more words. [But that is only one of the surface reasons. Ultimately, it is an organization dedicated to following and affirming you, preparing for the eventual return of their mentor. That is the core purpose of this organization.] The Hero opened his mouth to respond, but then closed it again. ¡°¡­What is the organization¡¯s name?¡± [Lotus. They call themselves Lotus.] It was the birth of the so-called Lotus Knights. ¡­And as far as the Hero knew, one of the meanings of the lotus flower was ¡®purity.¡¯ The Hero remained silent. Simultaneously, scenes from a few weeks ago shed through his mind. ¡°Are you alright? I¡¯m fine.¡± Luke, standing in front of him, battered and bruised. ¡°Please step back for now. We will hold them off here.¡± Ban standing firmly by his side. Evergreen, deflecting arrows aimed at him. And the students lined up behind them. Their names were on the list Mother Ghost mentioned. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Mother Ghost cautiously continued, seeing the Hero¡¯s expression. [I can ry letters or short messages if needed.] ¡°¡­No need for now. I¡¯ll let you know if I need anything.¡± The Hero understood. Some would go to great lengths to embrace him, even if he appeared before them immediately. But for now, keeping his distance was wise. ¡®My existence will only increase the confusion.¡¯ The Hero had dealt with people under the guise and demeanor of ¡®Ted.¡¯ Approaching them as someone else would be pointless. It would only risk tarnishing precious memories and rtionships. It was better to hide and be forgotten. ¡®Moreover, any contact with me is dangerous in the current situation.¡¯ The current public opinion was not favorable towards him. Despite the efforts of the Shadows, all sorts of rumors and nder continued to spread widely. Some even believed he had killed Ted and taken his ce, calling him a monster. While some appreciated his past actions and viewed them positively, they were not the majority. Those who had been close to the ¡®fake Hero¡¯ were discreetly suspected and ostracized, especially without proper backing. ¡­Pia Kasim was a prime example. [Just yesterday, Pia Joyce and Kasim Pierre, along with a few professors, submitted their resignations and left Rosenstark.] They had defended the ¡®fake¡¯ openly before the senior professors. While the students had the shield of their status, Pia and Kasim, as faculty members, were easy targets for me. ¡®Pia stayed because of me, but Kasim saw Rosenstark as a stepping stone for his career¡­ It must be a bitter pill to swallow.¡¯ With a heavy heart, the Hero continued listening to Mother Ghost¡¯s report. [Their destination is the Pierre family estate, likely nning to establish aprehensive guild with the funds from the ¡®Awaken¡¯ copyright.] ¡°¡­A guild, huh. Simr to the Lotus Knights?¡± [Yes. As you know, Pia Joyce is a smart person. Seeing the children form a military group, she seems to be setting up a supporting force in advance.] Mother Ghost nced at the Hero, who was lost in thought. Having observed and analyzed this situation closely, she found the Hero¡¯s poprity astonishing. ¡®¡­How can there be such a favorable response?¡¯ Humans are creatures who easily change their attitudes based on benefits. From Mother Ghost¡¯s perspective, the ¡®fake Hero¡¯ would not be able to provide any benefits to others for a long time, if ever. Yet, there were still people willing to stay by his side. Despite his inhuman identity and theplete revtion of his deception and lies over the past year, people still chose to stand by him. Mother Ghost, who believed most humans were close to garbage, found this more remarkable than defeating Ivar and Yol. ¡®¡­Is he just lucky to have good people around?¡¯ Or perhaps¡­ ¡®Does he have a light like the real Hero, who illuminated his surroundings?¡¯ But the feeling was different. If Ted Redymer was a bright me, this fake Hero was like a mirror. A mirror that reflected the light within people. That is why even insignificant humans regain their noble qualities in his presence. ¡­Perhaps that was also why Mother Ghost was cooperating more proactively with the Hero. Dark Division. As its leader, she wondered if the light could reach even this darkest corner of the empire. [¡­Are you there?] Mother Ghost bowed her head toward the crystal ball. ¡°Oh, I apologize. I¡¯ll continue.¡± [That¡¯s unusual, for you to space out.] ¡°¡­I¡¯ve been overwhelmed with worktely.¡± The eyes behind the mask narrowed slightly. ¡°Then I¡¯ll proceed with the report. Lastly, it¡¯s about the movements of the Dawn Knights members¡­.¡± * * * ¡°Now that everyone is here, let¡¯s begin.¡± With Felson¡¯s words, the emergency meeting of the Dawn Knights began. It was an unprecedentedrge-scale meeting, attended remotely by members in the eastern region and even Barun from the capital. Half the conference room was filled with gleaming crystal balls, and the other half with grim-faced humans. ¡°Today¡¯s agenda is about countermeasures against the entity that impersonated our captain for the past year.¡± The most important issue was determining whether this entity truly had goodwill towards humanity. If, by any chance, it had malicious intent while ying the role, countermeasures had to be established immediately. Whether to pursue and eliminate it, or to secretly cooperate. To decide this, the conference room quickly became noisy. ¡°Do you believe the fake Hero had any malicious intent in his actions over the past year? I don¡¯t think so. As much as it pains me to say, he made an effort to be just like the captain.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only been a year, Noubelmag. Anyone can fake it for a year.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s approach it from the aspect of ¡®necessity¡¯ rather than intention. Now that the captain is dead, we need the fake who has the power to defeat Yol. This is not a problem that can be solved by outright rejection. Let¡¯s try to win him over.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nonsense! Do you think it¡¯s safe to ally with such an inhuman entity without knowing what it wants?¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s offensive to those of us who aren¡¯t human.¡± Felson and Noubelmag had rtively moderate views on the fake Hero. This was because they had experienced him directly. They knew there was something deeper about him that couldn¡¯t be exined simply by lies and deceit. However, the other members reacted vehemently. For them, Ted Redymer was a spiritual anchor who had inspired them to embark on this perilous path. The fact that some unknown entity was impersonating him was simply uneptable. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°The word ¡®audacity¡¯ couldn¡¯t be more fitting. Once the situation in the east stabilizes, I will personally track him down and hold him ountable.¡± ¡°Track him down? How do you n to find someone who can disguise themselves at will? You¡¯re dreaming.¡± ¡°¡­Mind your words, Noubelmag.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so scared.¡± Arguments ensued. ¡­Yussi watched the scene nkly. The past year. There had been many changes. The injury she thought she would carry for life was healed. She had regained all her former strength and could be deployed to the battlefield again. Her fame would rise again. But what did that matter? The Hero was dead. Ted Redymer was dead. Yussi repeatedly reminded herself of this fact, staring nkly at the ceiling from a corner of the conference room. Her memories yed in reverse. It was a dark, damp space. ¡°Is anyone there? Please get me out of here!¡± Bang-! A breaking iron door. Moonlight streaming in. A rough hand and voice. ¡°Get up.¡± ¡°Th¡­ Thank you.¡± The handsome senior who saved her from a warehouse crawling with bugs. That was Yussi¡¯s first impression of Ted. The next memory was probably from when Rosenstark was attacked long ago. ¡°Everyone step back. I¡¯ll fight.¡± It was a dead-end shelter. Despite having the skills to escape alone, he fought at the front to protect others. That was the first time in her life that Yussi seriously considered a purpose other than numbers. So when Ted offered her a position, she was overjoyed. ¡°I need your alchemy, Yussi.¡± ¡°¡­You need me?¡± Those words were enough. Despite losing her limbs in fierce battles, she never once regretted fighting by his side. A senior she admired and respected as amander. A reliablerade and a shining idol. ¡­And a man she loved. That was why the past year had been the happiest time of her life. The moments she spent with the Hero, sharing everyday life, were worth more than mountains of gold. Yussi closed her eyes tightly. Tears fell onto the table. ¡°I¡¯ve already found the best use for it.¡± When he healed her with the divine gaze. ¡°It¡¯s the second-best day of my life.¡± ¡°¡­I thought it would be the first.¡± ¡°There¡¯s the day I first met you, Hero.¡± He hadughed lightly. ¡°That¡¯s a kind thing to say.¡± What kind of thoughts had led him to say those words? Would the real Ted Redymer have said and acted the same way? It was a question she would never be able to answer now. And what was most horrifying¡­ was realizing that even knowing he was a fake, she still wanted to see that face. Remembering that even the shell of Ted Redymer no longer existed in the world made her feel like she was losing her mind. At the moment she discovered she felt a sense of loss for even the fake, Yussi understood what she had to do. ¡°I¡­¡± As she spoke in a cracked voice after being silent for so long, the conference room fell silent for a moment. Yussi stood up slowly and continued. ¡°I¡¯ll find him.¡± A deep breath. ¡°Somehow.¡± * * * Wooong¡ª The movements of the thought-form were as soft and flexible as threads fluttering in the wind. Yol flew cautiously. Of course, having no physical form, it would be invisible to the eyes of ordinary people. But if there happened to be a master with keen senses nearby, it could be detected, so Yol moved with tense caution. ¡®It looks like I¡¯ll reach the Great Mountain Range soon.¡¯ All he needed was to reach the Demon Realm. There were plenty of demons and monsters there that he could use as a temporary body. Although he wouldn¡¯t be able to fully recover his previous immense power, he wouldn¡¯t have to move so cautiously around mere humans as he did now. With that hope, Yol increased his speed. ¡­Or tried to. Tssss¡ª With the sound of the air vibrating, the demonic energy that had been faintly mingling in the atmosphere gathered and flowed in one direction. The energy formed a shape as it condensed more and more. Seeing the figure, Yol had no choice but to stop in his tracks. An old man with deeply wrinkled skin smiled warmly. [I¡¯m going to enjoy this, Yol.] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 270 Chapter 270 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª It was when the Hero had recovered about seventy percent of his strength that contact came from Izaro. [Let¡¯s rendezvous in this vige. We¡¯ll discuss our future ns when we meet.] Ironically, the vige Izaro had designated was Lonkers.The Hero and Nyhill prepared for their departure. Nyhill used her emblem of the dark division to borrow two horses from a nearby ry station. [TL/N: Dark Division and the shadows are the same, just diff ways of calling them.] It waste autumn. The morning air was cool yet refreshing. Clop, clop. The Hero¡¯s gaze turned to the girl riding beside him. Nyhill, adept at disguise, appeared quite unfamiliar. However, the Hero couldn¡¯t shake off a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. ¡®¡­It¡¯s been less than a year, but it feels like several years have passed.¡¯ He recalled the time earlier this year when they headed to Lonkers together to meet Noubelmag. Back then, he was iparably weaker and more inexperienced. His rtionship with Nyhill was vastly different too. At that time, he couldn¡¯t have imagined that she would disregard all danger to assist him. If Nyhill weren¡¯t by his side now, let alone the fiasco at the academy, he would have struggled immensely emotionally. ¡°I am not the Hero.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter to me.¡± Her words were sincere. Nyhill¡¯s attitude had remained unchanged. She had nursed and assisted him devotedly over the past few weeks. ¡®Even though you¡¯re now free from the orders of the dark division.¡¯ ¡­She could have left to live apletely new life. Knowing her life had been relentless and fiercelypetitive from birth until now, the Hero resolved to repay her kindness someday. Nyhill, rarely flustered, suddenly stopped. ¡°¡­Please wait a moment. I think we took a wrong turn.¡± She then hurriedly rummaged through her belongings to check the map. The Hero smiled wryly. ¡°That¡¯s Lonkers, alright.¡± Lonkers, bathed in the morning sunlight, was bustling and lively. Nyhill, looking bewildered, entered past the wooden fence. Busy merchants brushed past them. On the newly paved wide stone path, stalls disyed fresh produce from farmers. Children ran aroundughing between the stalls. Aromatic food scents filled the air. The streets were clean and tidy. Though it wasn¡¯t on the level of cities or towns in the central region, it had changed so much that the previous destion was unrecognizable. ¡°What on earth¡­¡± Having seen Lonkers once before while heading to the extreme west, the Hero was less shocked, but Nyhill seemed quite surprised. The girl, standing dumbfounded, quickly scanned her surroundings. ¡°¡­I thought I had read the map wrong.¡± ¡°This is undoubtedly Lonkers. The vige you saved.¡± Nyhill replied softly. ¡°We saved¡­ it together.¡± Then, feeling embarrassed, she scratched her cheek. ¡°It would be nice to show this to Noubelmag.¡± Imagining how the cksmith might react, the Hero smiled for a moment. ¡°He would surely be pleased. Despite pretending otherwise, he seems quite attached to the vigers.¡± He might grumble but wander around exploring. Then he¡¯d likely sit at one of those stalls and drink his fill of beer. The Hero chuckled quietly and turned to look for a ce to stay. It was at that moment that a group of familiar-looking men passed by. ¡°The vignte corps.¡± They were the ones who had fought alongside him against a horde of monsters. Now appearing to be fullymitted to their roles as guards, they were d in sturdy-looking armor, far removed from their previous ragged state. ¡°Oh, are you travelers? Have a great time!¡± ¡°If you need any help, feel free to ask.¡± ¡°Wee to Lonkers, a safe vige, though modest!¡± Of course, none of them recognized Nyhill and the Hero, who were in different guises. The guards passed by, offering friendly greetings. ¡°¡­Hmm?¡± Only Hans, trailing behind, looked curiously at the girl and the young man. He was still wearing the gauntlets enchanted with electric magic that the Hero had gifted him. The Hero nodded slightly at Hans, who couldn¡¯t take his eyes off them. ¡°It¡¯s be a nice ce.¡± Shaking his head as if dismissing a ridiculous thought, Hans soon smiled brightly and responded. ¡°Wee to Lonkers. Enjoy your stay.¡± The sight was a greatfort to the Hero. . . . The Hero booked thergest room at the Lonkers inn and waited. Izaro arrived at midnight. Knock, knock. Opening the door, the Hero frowned momentarily at the unexpected situation. ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t expect you toe together.¡± ¡°Hello, my foolish champion.¡± There was no time to question why she called him foolish. Maktania, the grinning celestial being, intruded into the room without permission. Nyhill looked at her with wide, surprised eyes. The Hero was just as bewildered, because even though Maktania was generally friendly towards him, she was essentially an angel sent to this world for the ¡®punishment of humanity.¡¯ If she decided to go on a rampage, the disaster that Malekia¡¯s minions had caused in Lonkers would be nothing inparison. The peaceful scenery of the vige that he had seen in the morning briefly crossed the Hero¡¯s mind. ¡°A modest vige, but definitely safe, this is Lonkers!¡± ¡­Or it might not stay that way. Under Nyhill¡¯s critical gaze, Izaro muttered defensively. ¡°Since she¡¯s freed from her seal, keeping her close for monitoring is the best option.¡± Of course, Maktania was already chatting with Nyhill, paying no attention to this. ¡°Hello, you must be Nyhill. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡± ¡°¡­Who, who are you?¡± ¡°Hehe, well, who do you think I am?¡± Nyhill was strangely flustered. The Hero suddenly recalled the conversation he had during his first meeting with Maktania. ¡°You incarnated in a rather ordinary form.¡± ¡°Do I seem so?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It seems the goodness you think of resides in an ordinary human form.¡± Maktania¡¯s appearance varied depending on who was looking at her. So, how did she appear to Nyhill? ¡°Nyhill, what does Maktania look like to you?¡± ¡°Huh, what do you mean¡­.¡± Nyhill hesitated before answering. ¡°She looks exactly like you, like twins.¡± Maktania burst into delightedughter in the next moment. ¡°How adorable. Just as I heard. For you, goodness is entirely embodied in this person.¡± ¡°¡­Just as you heard?¡± The Hero sighed and turned his gaze away from them. ¡°Is resealing her impossible?¡± ¡°It is. This issue is beyond our control now. Fortunately, sharing your journey with Maktania has fostered a¡­¡± ¡°Silence.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Izaro nodded obediently. Maktania, having decided to observe humanity with the Hero as her champion, was unlikely to cause any immediate trouble, so in fact, Izaro was effectively freed from his long-standing duty. ¡°Although I have new duties now.¡± ¡°¡­New duties?¡± ¡°With Rosalyn gone, I must take on some of her responsibilities. Guiding you and progressing alongside you.¡± When Rosalyn¡¯s name was mentioned, the Hero fell silent for a moment. He had learned about her death from Mother Ghost. Rosalyn, a homunculus who had significantly aided him since the early stages of his mission. Although sometimes inscrutable in her intentions, her presence had been a considerable support. She had shared memories of Ted and the Hero¡¯s own life as a fellow homunculus. It felt as if a strange void had formed in his heart. ¡°She used all her magic to buy time until I arrived.¡± ¡°Ted.¡± Her voice echoed in his mind like a phantom. Izaro asked, observing the Hero carefully. ¡°Did Rosalyn leave you anything? A message, perhaps?¡± The Hero shook his head. ¡°Nothing at all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s odd. Rosalyn would have likely left you something in her final moments.¡± ¡°¡­Thest time I spoke with her was before I came to see you.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°I see¡­.¡± Izaro ran a hand over his deeply wrinkled face, seemingly relieved for some reason. ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s get to the main point. Is there anything I should know before we n our next steps?¡± The Hero exined thements that appeared during his battle with Yol. ¨‹ Error detected. ¡ø ¨‹ Critical error detected in user¡¯s condition. ¡ø ¨‹ Some safety locks are being deactivated. ¡ø These unprecedentedments appeared as the Hero¡¯s ??? factor reactivated and Polymorph evolved. Unlike past growth, which relied solely on ¡®progress¡¯ and prehension,¡¯ this was entirely different. The growth rate was enormous, allowing him to defeat Yol. However, this development wasn¡¯t entirely wee because ??? must never be resurrected, even partially. ¡®It mentioned limited synchronization would begin.¡¯ Uponter checking, unfamiliar individuals had been added to the Polymorph list. They were likely some of the figures ??? had replicated during the First Era. ¡®If I sumb to him in this situation¡­.¡¯ Humanity would face extinction in no time. Therefore, it was necessary to understand the exact nature of this change. ¡°Do you have any idea about this?¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­.¡± Izaro pondered before shaking his head. ¡°The ones who created you were Zero and Depikio Lugo.¡± ¡°So, you don¡¯t know anything.¡± ¡°I do know one thing.¡± Izaro continued with a calm expression. ¡°Their priority in creating you wasn¡¯t potential or strength. It was excluding ???¡¯s malevolent nature.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Although they failed to artificially instill goodness, ???¡¯s consciousness was surely eradicated. If that weren¡¯t certain, they would have definitely discarded you.¡± As the Hero, this was somewhat reassuring. Izaro¡¯s deep-set eyes turned toward him. ¡°But aside from that, you must have felt the need to analyze ¡®this change¡¯ in detail.¡± The Hero nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a stepping stone to bing stronger.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± His rapid growth was bound to slow down now. He had to take a step back from human society. Of course, he was already incredibly strong among humans. But as long as Theo, Malekia, and the Demon King were alive, he could never afford to stop growing. ¡°You¡¯re currently in a position where you have to act independently.¡± The Hero nodded. ¡®My very existence is like a seed of discord.¡¯ Thus, his options were greatly limited. ¡°Either you fight or you focus on growth.¡± The Hero¡¯s eyes slightly furrowed at Izaro¡¯s words. ¡°If I fight, I¡¯ll end up joining the fray as a third force.¡± ¡°Indeed. It¡¯s uncertain if you can ally with humans¡­ Most likely, you¡¯ll end up conducting guerri warfare in the demon territories alone.¡± ¡­This wasn¡¯t an immediately appealing option. ¡°What about focusing on growth?¡± ¡°It means stepping back and concentrating solely on growing stronger.¡± In other words, disappearing from the human world for a while. ¡°It won¡¯t have a significant impact on the grand scheme. Whether you¡¯re the Hero or a doppelganger, your existence alone can still deter the demons.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already given humans the impetus to grow. Now, it¡¯s time for each to spend time achieving their results.¡± It was clear from his tone which option Izaro favored. ¡°¡­It sounds like you have a specific method for growth in mind.¡± ¡°I need to exin something briefly.¡± Izaro leaned towards the Hero. ¡°As you might have noticed, Zero has been doing everything possible to conceal all information about the ¡®doppelganger¡¯ since the beginning of the Second Era. This was for your future activities. Of course, I also helped him deal with the mistakes you made during your inexperienced days.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡± ¡°During that process, we discovered the existence of a hidden family. They, like us, had been delving into the tragedies of the First Era.¡± The Hero tilted his head at the unexpected news. ¡°A family¡­?¡± Izaro asked in a calm voice. ¡°Do you remember tooz Namsov?¡± The Hero¡¯s body stiffened. tooz Namsov. The name of the master of the Magic Tower, seen in Zero¡¯s memories. An arrogant and ignorant man who opened the ¡®door,¡¯ bringing endless misfortune to this world. He was also the worst human being who evaded responsibility bymitting suicide. Sensing something, the Hero asked with a hardened face. ¡°Are you saying his descendants are still around?¡± ¡°¡­They¡¯ve been atoning for generations.¡± Izaro briefly exined the history of the surviving Namsov lineage since the catastrophe of the First Era. They had been collecting all data and records about the doppelganger and the Demon King, preparing countermeasures. ¡°The Namsovs didn¡¯t know of your existence until now. But they must be aware now.¡± ¡°¡­Can you guess what stance they¡¯ll take?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll likely see you as the only savior. The only one who can absolve their sins and the misfortunes of this world.¡± An unexpected answer. ¡°You¡¯re suggesting we contact them.¡± ¡°If webine the strengths of those people, myself, and you, there will surely be results. Perhaps you¡¯ll evene to terms with the mysterious power of ??? you mentioned.¡± ¡­It was a task that could take an unknown amount of time. Izaro¡¯s eyes glowed blue as he looked at the contemting Hero. ¡°Don¡¯t forget.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°In the end, this fight will only be resolved when either you or the Demon King dies.¡± As long as the Demon King lived, the demons could never be eradicated. ¡°You said there¡¯s a little over three years until the Demon King returns.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°The final battle will be then. If we¡¯re not prepared by then, everything we¡¯ve done will be meaningless.¡± The Hero was well aware of this fact. Izaro stared at him with deep eyes. ¡°I await your decision.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 271 Chapter 271 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Rosenstark Principal¡¯s Office. The room, now under a new owner, bore almost no traces of its previous upant. Interim Principal Schr looked at the girl in front of him with indifferent eyes.He was the next ranking professor after Lavrin, an old man whose motto, unlike Lavrin¡¯s, was ¡°moderation.¡± ¡°So, you want to drop out?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you have your guardian¡¯s consent?¡± ¡°I do.¡± Leciel¡¯s hand trembled slightly as she handed over the withdrawal form, but quickly steadied. ¡°Are you really leaving? Take care of yourself.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll do well wherever you go¡­ I¡¯ll always support you.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll meet again soon.¡± ¡°¡­Leciel. If it gets tough, call us anytime!¡± ¡°Breaking news: Rosenstark¡¯s average attractiveness level has just plummeted.¡± ¡°Shut up, Gerald.¡± In the end, her friends, who had tried to stop her, couldn¡¯t change her mind. Leciel also felt sad and regretful, but she could no longer stay at Rosenstark. This ce was filled only with misery. Guilt rted to Dante. Betrayal towards the hero. These two emotions constantly gnawed at Leciel, and she couldn¡¯t endure it any longer. ¡­Surprisingly, her grandmother, Zion Hiyashin, did not stop her from dropping out. ¡°Sometimes, you need to turn your back on things.¡± A brief silence filled the principal¡¯s office. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Schr¡¯s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Leciel. It was a shame that Leciel, who had been the pride of the academy, was leaving, but on the other hand, he was d that the fake hero¡¯s disciple was leaving on her own. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see the reason for withdrawal¡­¡± Schr¡¯s thick fingers scanned the document and then stopped abruptly. ¡°Joining the Dawn Knights?¡± Yes. Leciel had joined the knights. It wasn¡¯t the Lotus Knights her friends had formed. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to join a knights¡¯ order that implied ¡®innocence.¡¯ She believed that neither she nor the fake hero were anywhere near innocent. Leciel¡¯s fists clenched tightly. Memories of the dreamy shoreline flooded her mind. Unfortunately, that day was etched too deeply in her memory and often resurfaced unexpectedly. The sound of waves, an easel, paints, a sunset, and the hero. ¡°I had to be urgent. When I came to my senses, everyone was looking only at me. I had to meet their expectations.¡± So he said he understood. ¡°So leave it to me. No matter where your final destination is, I¡¯ll help you build the strength to reach it.¡± ¡°That is the responsibility of a teacher.¡± Leciel exhaled a trembling breath. The emotions Leciel felt towards the hero were not simply hatred. She knew this herself. However, no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn¡¯t understand him. ¡®How could you¡­¡¯ If he was a fake, he could have just done it moderately. Why did he deceive her by pretending to be a hero even in private? He knew better than anyone what the ¡®hero¡¯ meant to her. ¡­Yes, it was true that his recognition and affection had healed her, who was filled with insecurity and deficiency. But now that all the lies had been exposed. Leciel felt like she had reverted to a state worse than before. He could have hinted at it. No, even now, if he came and gave some exnation, she would appreciate it. Even knowing that it was an impossible thought, Leciel couldn¡¯t stop. ¡­The worst part was that she absolutely could not be the one to find him. How could she track down a monster that could change its appearance at will? When she found herself closely observing the faces of strangers passing by. Leciel tore up all the paintings she had of the hero. A painting requires affection for the subject. Leciel acknowledged that while drawing the hero, she had a deep desire to capture not just his appearance but his essence. As shepleted each piece, she felt she understood his lonely and isted life a little more, and she herself wasforted. But it was all a lie. She had only seen the parts of him that he wanted to show. It was truly superficial. Who was the ¡®he¡¯ that she had set as her lifelong goal and loved? Plod¡ª Leciel looked at the principal¡¯s signature being drawn on her withdrawal form with empty eyes, then left the building. Her friends were waiting for her. ¡°Leciel¡­¡± They seemed to be saying something, but she couldn¡¯t hear it well. Leciel¡¯s gazended on the lotus-shaped brooches they wore as a group. ¡®Innocence.¡¯ She didn¡¯t know what form it took, so she couldn¡¯t seek it out. In that case, she would have to be a form that it woulde to find. If she burned brightly on the battlefield more than anyone else, one day that light and heat would reach him. ¡°Goodbye. Take care, everyone.¡± Leciel said goodbye and left Rosenstark. * * * ¡°Wow, we¡¯ve finally arrived.¡± Several young men and women got off the carriage, stretching their stiff bodies this way and that. Among them, a particrly striking young man stood at the forefront, his radiant blond hair shining as if it had captured the sunlight itself. His clear, deep blue eyes and sharp nose drew the sidelong nces of several female professors in the group. It was clear that his influence was a significant factor in their decision to undertake this arduous journey. However, Kasim¡¯s attention was solely focused on the disheveled gray-haired assistant standing next to him. ¡°Well, what do you think! My hometown!¡± This was the northwestern coastal city of Astoar. It was the domain governed by Kasim¡¯s father, Argon Pierre. Though Argon had clutched his neck in exasperation upon hearing that his son was resigning from Rosenstark and returning home¡­ ¡®What can you do? After my brother¡¯s death, I¡¯m the only son left.¡¯ Parents can¡¯t win against their children. Kasim smiled brightly, awaiting Pia¡¯s impression. ¡°Hmm¡­.¡± Her gray eyes slowly scanned the winter coastal city. The calm and quiet beach, the deep and cold blue sea, and the foam on its surface. Finally, Pia noticed an old lighthouse at the edge of her vision and smiled broadly. ¡°It¡¯s a good ce to wait.¡± ¡®He¡¯ would return one day. Those gathered here were certain of that. They had an unwavering belief that ¡®he¡¯ would never abandon the world¡¯s tragedies. Waiting is less tedious when you are certain of the return. Pia made a firm resolution. She wouldy a solid foundation for that eventual time. * * * ¡°I will await your decision.¡± With those words, Izaro left the inn with Maktania. Izaro seemed to want to rest a bit, but Maktania dragged him out, saying, ¡°Is this where our doppelganger wreaked havoc, in Lonkers?¡± Even Nyhill was pulled along. For a moment, I chuckled at their tourist-like behavior, but soon I was deep in thought. ¡®¡­Humans who know of the doppelganger¡¯s existence and have studied it.¡¯ Izaro had briefly exined about the descendants of Namsov. Their dwelling was in a remote area near the north. They lived under a magical barrier, avoiding as much contact with the outside world as possible. ¡°The leader of the n is Barrett Namsov, the son of tooz Namsov.¡± ¡°tooz¡¯s son¡­? Wait. How old is he, exactly?¡± ¡°He¡¯s well over three hundred years old.¡± He was supposedly seventeen when the ¡®gate¡¯ opened. I couldn¡¯t help but be momentarily taken aback. ¡®Even for a great mage, is that possible?¡¯ Izaro said his level was equivalent to that of Larze, at the Beyond rank. However, three hundred years old. It was a lifespan far beyond normalprehension. ¡°Over the years, Barrett has provided significant support to humanity from the shadows. The fact that the survivors of the First Age could achieve this level of civilization so quickly is not just due to Zero but also thanks to the Namsov family.¡± ¡°¡­Is that out of guilt?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± Izaro¡¯s voice was calm, indicating that Zero¡¯s hatred for Namsov had not been passed on. ¡®What kind of people are they?¡¯ It was astonishing to think of those who, for such a long time, lived in seclusion out of guilt, supporting humanity. Considering how easily ordinary human guilt bes dulled under the rationalizations time imposes, it was remarkable. ¡°Anyway, whether you choose to develop with them or go to the demonic realm to fight is up to you.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª In the long term, meeting the Namsovs was the right choice. It could elerate my slowed growth and reveal unknown aspects of my origin, ???. However, there was a concern. I had no idea how much time it would take to grow and how effective it would be. ¡®What if it turns out to be a waste of time?¡¯ ¡­Time was of the essence. If I recovered and immediately headed to the demonic territory, I could provide tangible benefits to humanity. Even if I couldn¡¯t ally with human armies, I had grown strong enough to inflict significant damage on the demons alone. ¡®Maybe I could even clear out a few demonic zones.¡¯ That would reduce the supply of demonic energy, further dying the Demon King¡¯s return. It seemed wise to buy time and then seek out the Namsov family. ¡­But recalling my conversation with Larze a few months ago made the decision difficult. ¡°I suddenly had this thought. What if the demons aren¡¯t gathering demonic energy for the Demon King¡¯s recovery?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s odd that they suddenly targeted the dragon sanctuary. What if they¡¯re gathering such vast energy to reopen the ¡®gate¡¯?¡± Larze exined simply. In the past year, the demons had gathered demonic energy with all their might. They nted numerous stakes and significantly increased production through various human sacrifices. Humans naturally assumed it was for the Demon King¡¯s recovery. Since demonic energy was continuously transported to the lone Demon Castle, and there was no sign of the Demon Army¡¯s recovery. ¡°But what if it was actually to reopen the gate¡­ It poses a problem.¡± ¡°To reopen the gate, for what purpose?¡± ¡°For faster recovery, I suppose.¡± The concentration of demonic energy in the demonic realm is higher than in the deepest parts of the demonic territory. If the Demon King returns home to recover, his return would be much quicker. I couldn¡¯t help but harden my expression. ¡°¡­I know. It sounds like a hypothesis with little basis. But don¡¯t you find it strange that there¡¯s no sign of the Demon King, despite his injuries?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Who knows? Given that the wound was inflicted by Ted Redymer at the cost of his life, it might be impossible to heal with the demonic energy of this world.¡± If Larze¡¯s hypothesis is true, going to the demonic territory to fight right now would be meaningless. The correct choice would be to grow as much as possible in preparation for the Demon King¡¯s return. As Izaro said, the final oue of this long war between humans and demons will ultimately be decided between the Demon King and me. ¡®I must prepare for the final battle.¡¯ ¡­Of course, a year ago, I had acent thought that I could leave the fight against the Demon King to the children. Using the knowledge stored in Ted Redymer¡¯s eyes to nurture humanity¡¯s geniuses to stand against the demons. That was the original purpose. But now, my thoughts have changed. The savior¡¯s destiny is one I must bear. ¡®I need to be prudent. The choice I make now will change many things.¡¯ ¡­It was at the moment of deep contemtion that a change urred, ending all these worries in an instant. [What is this pathetic body?] The voice came without any warning. ¨‹ Error urred ¡ø ¨‹ Error urred ¡ø ¨‹ Error urred ¡ø ¨‹ ¡­¡­. ¡ø Simultaneously,ments took over my vision again. I froze at the sudden voice resonating in my head. [Who are you?] Arrogant. It was a voice that looked down on everything in this world. It wasn¡¯t just a simple statement; it was a force that dominated and controlled everything. As I recalled that I had heard this voice before, chills ran down my spine. ¨‹ Activating emergency safety mechanism ¡ø [Answer¡­] Flick- The voice disappeared as suddenly as a candle being blown out. However, I couldn¡¯t move from my spot in the room for a while. A cold sweat dripped onto the floor. ¡®Izaro said there was no way the consciousness of ??? could still be alive.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t a hallucination. The unfamiliar and immense presence that surged explosively from within couldn¡¯t have been a mere illusion. ¡®Damn, the decision is made.¡¯ I abruptly stood up from my seat. . . . ¡°Izaro, let¡¯s depart.¡± Izaro looked at the Hero with deep, contemtive eyes during a brief silence. ¡°To where?¡± The warrior¡¯s gaze turned north. Early winter¡¯s fully chilly wind wrapped around their clothes as it passed by. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 272 Chapter 272 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª After hearing the voice only once, ??? did not appear again. It was probably thanks to the ¡¯emergency safety device¡¯ announced in thements. ¡®Zero must have prepared for an unforeseen situation.¡¯But that alone couldn¡¯t put my mindpletely at ease. From Zero¡¯s memories, I saw how ??? was an existence far beyond the ordinary. An anomaly beyond humanprehension and interpretation. It was iparable to the ¡®Dark Impulse,¡¯ and the anxiety was overwhelming. ¡®I don¡¯t know why it has been quiet all this time, only to appear now, but¡­¡¯ I needed to iste myself from others and the human world. Upon hearing my story, Izaro immediately urged us to set off for the Namsov family residence. I left a message for Euphemia and departed right away. ¡°It¡¯s best to refrain from using the polymorph ability until we reach the Namsov family¡¯s residence.¡± Concerned about my vulnerability, Nyhill and Maktania joined as escorts, and we headed north. Izaro used spatial magic to teleport us about two days away from the Namsov family¡¯s residence. I heard there were various barriers, making it impossible to teleport directly inside. Thus, we had to walk for a day. Now, we were camping with our destination just ahead. ¡°I want to hurry too, but the Namsov family¡¯s residence isn¡¯t a ce you can enter at will. There¡¯s a restriction on entry.¡± ¡°Restriction¡­ Does that mean you can¡¯t leave freely either?¡± ¡°Forcibly, maybe. But apart from this matter, you¡¯ll need to spend at least a few months with the Namsov family to grow.¡± So, one celestial being, two homunculi, and one human sat around the campfire. Unexpectedly, Nyhill was the first to speak. Her characteristic calm voice broke the silence. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve safely arrived at our destination, I will return to the capital.¡± I looked at her in surprise. Nyhill continued, speaking steadily. ¡°I am convinced that there is nothing I can do to help here as a human. I will return to the capital and coborate with the Lotus Knights, Instructor Pia, and Professor Kasim toy a foundation that you can use in the future.¡± Her quiet voice paused briefly. Swoosh¡ª Nyhill stood up and bowed deeply. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯ve never properly expressed my gratitude because I¡¯m not good with words. So, I want to take this opportunity¡­.¡± ¡°This opportunity?¡± ¡°To say thank you¡­.¡± It was only then that I noticed the small piece of paper in her hand. It was filled with tightly packed writing, crumpled from being handled so much. Nyhill alternated her gaze between the paper and me, then began to speak again. Like a child reading their first diary entry, her manner was very awkward. ¡°Thank you for allowing me to ask questions. Thank you for always being kind. Thank you for detoxifying the poison. Thank you for calling me apanion rather than a tool.¡± But none of it feltughable. Staring into her earnest ck eyes, I was at a loss for words. Nyhill gradually shed her embarrassed demeanor and continued speaking calmly. ¡°Before I met you, I was just a ghost floating through time. But thanks to you, I slowly¡­ became a person. I began to desire a better life.¡± While her gratitude continued. Even the usually yful Maktania remained silent and listened. I barely managed to nod. ¡°Now, it¡¯s my turn to repay you. I want to give back the support and encouragement you gave me. Thank you and I respect you. From your disciple, Nyhill.¡± Nyhill, who had stuttered a bit at the end, stood there with her face turning redder than the campfire, then¡­. Swoosh¡ª Disappeared into the darkness. Crack¡ª To my surprise, she hadn¡¯t deployed her silencing spell, so her footsteps were clearly audible before quickly fading away. Soon, only the stillness of the quiet night remained. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Maktania, deeply moved, stood up abruptly. Izaro nodded slowly, looking at me. ¡°You¡¯ve built a solid rtionship.¡± ¡­And I. I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off Nyhill¡¯s receding figure. Since my identity was exposed in Rosenstark. I tried my best to appear calm. I avoided thinking about what I had lost and focused solely on what I needed to do. But every night, the fear crept in. Pretending to be a great ¡®hero,¡¯ I spoke and acted for a year. Now that everything was exposed, the thought of what people might think of me was painful. I feared the criticism and scorn from my loved ones. Feelings of shame, disgrace, and guilt surfaced countless times a day. Above all, the fear that I would never return to my previous rtionships was painful. ¡­But unexpectedly, there were people who stayed by my side. Nyhill, who promised to return the support and encouragement she received. The children who formed the Lotus Knights, symbolized by the lotus with the meaning of ¡®purity.¡¯ Pia and Kasim, who left their teaching positions to create a force for me. This was something I had never anticipated. ¡®Because I thought humans could never ept a doppelg?nger.¡¯ Their presence helped me let go of the anxiety and fear that had filled my heart. And what began to fill the void left by those negative emotions was a kind of resolve. ¡®¡­There are people waiting for my return.¡¯ It was at that moment that a sense of duty to protect them from the impending great threat took hold. ¡­At the same time, I found the courage to address a matter I had been contemting. ¡°Maktania, I have a favor to ask.¡± Maktania opened her eyes wide but replied without hesitation, as if it was no problem at all. ¡°Of course, my champion.¡± Sheughed heartily upon hearing my request, but nheless promised to fulfill it. For the first time, I felt at peace as I awaited the morning. * * * It would be a littleter when the word ¡°Extreme¡± was boldly engraved in the center of Rosenstark¡¯s central park floor, and children who discovered it would be filled with nostalgia. We set off with Izaro for the Namsov family¡¯s residence. As we approached our destination, my expression hardened. ¡®Did they live in such a ce for hundreds of years?¡¯ Even in early winter, the wind was bone-chillingly cold. The ground was barren, sparsely dotted with gravel and rocks. Under a hazy sky, withered shrubs exuded an eerie atmosphere. It was a particrly harshnd, even for the northern region. ¡°Where is the barrier?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already passed it. Barret Namsov has granted us entry.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Just as I tilted my head in confusion. In the middle of the destend. A gigantic tree stood, strikingly unbnced. Unlike the deste surroundings, the tree appeared strong and majestic, reminiscent of the great forest where Lace resided. ¡®It wasn¡¯t here just a moment ago¡­.¡¯ Despite the season, the branches spread in all directions were adorned with green leaves. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª But that wasn¡¯t all. ¡®Maktania¡­.¡¯ Was gone. Izaro simply exined. ¡°As an entity from another realm, she wasn¡¯t granted entry.¡± ¡®How powerful a magician must he be?¡¯ Feeling slightly wary, I surveyed the surroundings and noticed several people busily moving near the tree, catching my attention. They must be members of the Namsov family. ¡®Which one is the head, Barret Namsov?¡¯ As I approached the tree, I scrutinized the faces of the people. They all seemed to be highly skilled magicians, but none looked like a grand sorcerer who had lived for three hundred years. They formed two lines as if to create a path toward the tree, and I realized that their gazes towards me were quite significant. Izaro murmured quietly. ¡°I told you, your presence would be a salvation to them.¡± ¡°¡­So where is Barret Namsov?¡± It was just as I reached the front of the tree. Crack¡ª At the sudden sound, I stopped in my tracks. I looked toward the source of the noise. Crack¡ª The thick, wrinkled bark of the tree began to twist, transforming into a shape resembling a human face. I widened my eyes. From the center of the tree. A protruding human face looked at me. ¡®No way.¡¯ Barret Namsov spoke. [Wee. I am Barret Namsov, a sinner.] . . . Izaro poked the stiff hero in the side. ¡°Surprised? I should have warned you.¡± ¡°¡­How could I not be surprised?¡± Even as someone who had traveled across the continent and experienced all sorts of things, this was shocking. ¡®Magic from the First Age is truly¡­ extraordinary.¡¯ I stared at the face in the center of the tree. The reason Barret Namsov could possess a lifespan beyond human limits was due to an ancient, unknown magic called ¡°Arborification.¡± Barret had sacrificed his human form to gain long life and immense mana. And with that, he conducted numerous studies and experiments. Some areas even surpassed the abilities of Izaro, who had received Zero¡¯s essence, making Barret a truly extraordinary grand sorcerer. [Please excuse my unsettling appearance. It was unavoidable to take full responsibility.] I was somewhat impressed. To transform oneself into such a monstrous form in an attempt to rectify the sins of the past. This was certainly in stark contrast to his father, tooz Namsov, who summoned demons into this world and then cowardlymitted suicide. ¡®¡­An incredibly strong sense of guilt and responsibility.¡¯ Barret seemed to guess what I was thinking and smiled. Crack¡ª The sound of the bark twisting was loud. [Yes, if it were ordinary guilt, no matter how strong, it would have faded over time.] ¡°¡­¡­.¡± [But this is a kind of guilt that cannot fade.] I slowly nodded. Indeed, tooz¡¯s sin was too deep. During the hundreds of years Barret had lived, he must have witnessed countless tragedies. Tragedies that wouldn¡¯t have urred if there were no demons¡­. I wondered what he thought as he watched those events unfold. Every time a new tragedy unfolded, his guilt must have weighed heavily on him. [I have heard a brief ount from Izaro. I dare say that I might be able to help you.] I currently faced two major issues. The first was identifying and resolving the cause of ???¡¯s sudden emergence. The second was personal growth. Barret imed he could help solve both. [My father left a great deal of material on doppelg?nger. He was heavily involved in their antics.] ¡°Heavily involved in their antics?¡± [My father wanted to open the ¡®Gate¡¯ for his own greed. And the more hostile the doppelg?nger appeared to humans, the more advantageous it was for him. It allowed him to suppress the opposition.] I nodded, recalling a scene from Zero¡¯s memory. Zero had suspected that tooz had deliberately ruined his game and revealed his identity to humans to provoke ???. That suspicion was now being confirmed. [As a result, all records of ???¡¯s actions remained with the Namsov family. And decades ago, I began reconstructing these records into a ¡®fantasy¡¯ indistinguishable from reality, which I havepleted.] ¡°¡­You¡¯ve been working on creating such a fantasy for decades? Why?¡± [More precisely, from the moment I became aware of your existence. You, a doppelg?nger homunculus, can replicate depending on how well you understand your opponent.] I grasped the meaning behind Barret¡¯s words and sighed. ¡°So, you¡¯re telling me to understand ??? now.¡± As I finished speaking, I nced at Izaro, who stood a few steps away, observing silently, leaving the conversation to them. [That¡¯s right. To defeat the Demon King, you cannot exclude ???. Understanding him means gaining the essence of the tens of thousands that have seeped into you due to his influence. You could be several times stronger than you are now.] ¡­It was undeniable. At present, the only way to ensure significant growth before the Demon King¡¯s return was this. I recalled thements from the battle with Yol. ¡­replicates¡­ ¡­replicates¡­ ¡­replicates¡­ ¡­. There were so many essences that reading the entire list was impossible. Among them were likely the essences of powerful figures who made their mark in the First Age. I asked again. ¡°Then what do you n to do about ???¡¯s consciousness? As you said, experiencing your ¡®fantasy¡¯ could strengthen his consciousness and it might overwhelm me.¡± The hollow eyes of the tree-human scanned the me thoroughly. A silence that wasn¡¯t short. Crack¡ª Barret spoke again. [You needn¡¯t worry about that. His consciousness hasn¡¯t actually transferred to you. To be precise, what you have is not ???¡¯s consciousness but merely a fragment.] ¡°¡­A fragment?¡± [It might even help you understand him¡­ perhaps it could be the key to realizing the true Polymorph.] ¡°The true Polymorph?¡± His words made me tilt my head in confusion. [It¡¯s faster to experience it once than to hear about it a hundred times.] Crack¡ª It was a mysterious and slightly eerie sight. Severalyers of the thick bark of the ancient tree peeled off in sequence. It looked as if the tree was opening its mouth. Arge hole formed in an instant. Light shone inside, but the depths remained dark, making it impossible to see whaty within. Barret¡¯s voice echoed from within. [Are you ready to experience and understand ????] ¡­Then I nodded. I had a sense that it would be a very long and arduous journey. [TL/N: Very excited to know how strong he will be.] [PR/N: Time for a time skip?] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 273 Chapter 273 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Huff¡ª This winter was harsher thanst year¡¯s. Huff¡ªNo, over the past few years, the world had been bing increasingly unforgiving to humans. Huff¡ª The man who had been running breathlessly finally came to a halt. The vigers who were fleeing with him also stopped. The threat pursuing them hadn¡¯t disappeared. They simply had no strength left to keep running. Huff¡ª Beyond the man¡¯s ragged breaths, monstrous aberrations growled. There wasn¡¯t just one. Dozens of red eyes glowed in the darkness. Crunch¡ªthe sound of footsteps on the snow made the man crouch down and sit helplessly. ¡°H-hiik¡­.¡± Monsters. Until a few years ago, he had thought they were unrted to someone like him, a resident of the continent¡¯s central region. Sure, they were asionally sighted, but they were quickly exterminated. But now, the monsters invaded his home, tore apart his family and neighbors, and were threatening his own life. Chitter¡ª A mantis-like monster raised its scythe-like foreleg. Sharp enough to slice through human flesh and bone in one swift motion. As the man sensed death approaching, his face turned pale. Shing¡ª Thunk¡ª The sound of something being severed and falling to the ground echoed. The man, who had shut his eyes tight, cautiously felt around his neck. It was still attached. Then what was that sound? ¡°What¡­ is this¡­.¡± The man, mustering his courage, opened his eyes to see a monster lying on its side, spraying ck blood. Its head was gone. It wasn¡¯t just the monster in front; nearly half of the ones lurking behind, baring their teeth, were also sliced diagonally and copsed on the ground. As if a giant, invisible de had swept through them. Shriek¡ª Btedly, monstrous cries erupted. Simultaneously, rough footsteps approached quickly. ¡°Step back!¡± It was a young man wielding a greatsword almost as tall as himself. Despite diving into the horde of monsters several timesrger than him, there was no fear in his crimson eyes. His long, tied-back ck hair fluttered fiercely. ¡°!¡± The man watching shivered. He could hardly follow the youth¡¯s movements with his eyes. As the youth darted among the monsters with agile, animal-like movements, the terrifying monsters fell like autumn leaves. Tatadak¡ª The following group¡¯s prowess was equally formidable. Whiiing¡ª! Among them, a menacing youth wielding a dark spear made a sound like a swarm of bees. No matter how resilient the monsters were, they couldn¡¯t survive with a dozen head-sized holes in their bodies. Despite monsters approaching him from behind, the youth didn¡¯t retreat but instead drove his spear into the shadow on the ground. Thwack¡ª Then, holes appeared in the monsters¡¯ bodies as ck blood sprayed into the sky. ¡°Gerald! I told you not to charge ahead alone!¡± Swoosh¡ª With a clear voice, a rain of arrows was unleashed. The monsters tried to dodge quickly, but the arrows curved at odd angles to pursue them. Boom¡ª! Exploding upon impact, the arrows turned the monsters into shreds on the ground. Soon, the few remaining monsters were swiftly dealt with by the reinforcements who had entered the battlefield. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°Any injuries?¡± In front of the dazed vigers stood a group of six, all in neatly arranged formation. Each wore armor embossed with a lotus flower. A viger, recognizing the emblem, muttered. His tone suggested a slight easing of tension. ¡°¡­The Lotus Knights. We¡¯re saved.¡± The person next to him questioned. ¡°The Lotus Knights? Who are they?¡± ¡°You know. The knights formed by the disciples of the fake hero, the ones from Rosenstark Academy!¡± Though whispered, it wasn¡¯t soft enough to escape the keen hearing of the youths. Gerald stepped forward towards the vigers who had been speaking. His face had turned even more menacing, causing the vigers to freeze in fear. ¡°Fake hero, you say.¡± ¡°Y-yes?¡± ¡°Second hero. Don¡¯t you know the second hero? Why use such a term when there¡¯s a perfectly good one, huh?¡± ¡°H-hiik.¡± Karen pulled Gerald by the back of his neck. ¡°Stop looking so menacing.¡± ¡°Menacing?¡± ¡°Sigh, you used to have some cute qualities back when you were a freshman, but now that you¡¯re older, you¡¯re downright fierce, really fierce.¡± ¡°I was cute?¡± ¡°¡­Shut up.¡± While the group exchanged banter in front of the vigers, a woman approached them with light steps from a distance. She had her blonde hair tied back and bright green eyes that stood out even in the darkness. Therge white longbow on her back reflected the moonlight, making it shine brightly. ¡°Hello, Deputy Commander. You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± Luke, who had been finishing off the monsters, visibly rxed at her greeting. But it wasn¡¯t the right time for affectionate expressions. Luke, regaining his serious demeanor, turned to face Evergreen. ¡°How¡¯s the vige where the people were staying?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ It seems difficult for them to stay any longer.¡± ¡°¡­Survivors?¡± Evergreen took a brief breath. ¡°¡­None.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± Though their expressions showed pain, there was a firm resolve to hide their emotions. It also hinted at their experience, suggesting this wasn¡¯t their first tragedy. Luke turned to the vigers. ¡°From now on, we will take you to one of the branches of the ¡®Sanctuary¡¯ nearby. You can refuse our guidance if you wish, but¡­¡± His crimson eyes slowly scanned the faces of the vigers, as if to persuade them. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t rmend it.¡± The vigers remained silent. They already sensed that their hometown was destroyed, and there were no survivors. They had escaped from there, after all. Seeing no objections, Luke nodded with a somewhat relieved expression. ¡°Then let¡¯s depart.¡± ¡°W-wait a moment.¡± A haggard-looking woman stepped forward, holding a child. ¡°W-what exactly is the Sanctuary? We¡¯re ignorant folks who¡¯ve only heard the name.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ the safest ce we can offer.¡± The woman holding the child didn¡¯t look reassured by Luke¡¯s exnation. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Evergreen approached her. ¡°Do you know Saintess Pia?¡± ¡°Ah, yes. I know her name.¡± ¡°The Sanctuary is a kind of shelter and bunker that Saintess Pia has built with all her might. It¡¯s not abundant, but it¡¯s a ce where you can live in peace.¡± The Saintess. Though it was a title she found quite embarrassing, Pia had been called that publicly for some time. She had poured all the immense wealth she gained from themercialization of Awaken into building the Sanctuary. Since the disappearance of the ¡®fake hero¡¯, humanity had been plunged into an unprecedented dark age due to the relentless onught of demons. ¡®We¡¯ve lost the first district of the Demon Realm to Theo again, and stakes have sprouted all over the west.¡¯ The so-called Monster Wave had hit the Western Continent for the first time in decades. Civilian casualties were particrly severe. Cities of a certain size were rtively safe, but small towns and viges were exposed to extreme danger. Many ces were massacred overnight, and those who barely survived often died unable to find a new ce to settle. The Empire tried toe up with countermeasures, but most of its resources were already being used to fend off the main Demon Army, making the situation difficult. Thus, Pia stepped forward. Armed personnel hired with her immense wealth guarded the Sanctuary branches, and her numerous connections, built as an Awaken developer, offered support. ¡®Even the professors who left Rosenstark with us have provided support.¡¯ As a result, Pia¡¯s status, once just a teaching assistant at Rosenstark, had risen to unimaginable heights. Even Barun, previously known as the ¡®Saintess of the Lowest,¡¯ had praised her, saying she deserved the title of Saintess more. ¡°What, what do we have to pay to go there?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no payment needed. You might have to do some work within the branch, but it won¡¯t be too hard.¡± ¡°R-really?!¡± Tears of relief welled up in the eyes of the woman holding the child. The other vigers also looked at each other with joy. Evergreen, smiling kindly at them, gestured to the silhouettes in the distance. ¡°Our juniors will safely escort you.¡± Silhouettes waiting in the distance hurriedly ran over. They were the juniors of the knights, ranging from first-year students to freshmen. With strict expressions and postures, they stood between Evergreen and the vigers. Gerald whispered sternly. ¡°Do a good job. This is an important mission.¡± ¡°¡°Yes, Senior!¡±¡± As the juniors moved away, the knights turned and headed back to their base. They had set up a temporary camp due to the frequent monster attacks in the area recently. As they approached the clustered tents, their expressions grew serious. Karen was the first to sigh. ¡°It feels like the frequency of monster attacks is increasing. How many times has it been just this week?¡± ¡°¡­It can¡¯t be helped. The frontlines are gradually being pushed back.¡± ¡°The Sanctuary is almost at full capacity too.¡± Currently, all members of the Lotus Knights had taken a leave of absence from Rosenstark. After the hero left, the academy had lost its significance as an educational institution for them. Despite a major overhaul of the faculty, there was nothing for them to learn from those who followed. Instead of wasting time, they decided to gain realbat experience and contribute to humanity by heading to the battlefield. It had already been over two years since they made that decision. ¡°¡­Everyone, you¡¯ve worked hard. Let¡¯s get some rest. Tomorrow will be tough too.¡± ¡°Thanks, Deputy Commander. Good night!¡± ¡°Good night!¡± After sending the members to their tents, Luke headed towards the center of the camp. Theirmander had called a meeting of the knights¡¯ officers. ¡°I¡¯ming in.¡± In front of thergest tent, Evergreen, Karen, Gerald, and Luke stood. A low, firm voice responded almost immediately. ¡°Come in.¡± Themander of the Lotus Knights, Ban Dietrich, was waiting for them with arge map spread out on a round table. His once bushy brown hair was now cropped short up to his forehead, emphasizing his strong features. Beneath his prominent eyebrows, his deep eyes gleamed. His sharp jawline, no longer softened by youthful chubbiness, looked strong and resolute. The young man, who once always had a smile on his face, now wore a look of determination like his friends. ¡®¡­He¡¯s always impressive.¡¯ Ban was already arge man, but the confidence radiating from him made him seem evenrger. Luke and the others took their seats around the table. Luke spoke first. ¡°¡­So, what¡¯s the agenda?¡± Ban, seemingly lost in thought, stared intently at the map before slowly reaching out. His handnded on the northern region. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a ¡®hero¡¯ has appeared in the north.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 274 Chapter 274 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª A ¡®Hero¡¯ has appeared in the North. The children¡¯s reactions to Ban¡¯s statement were divided into two main types. ¡°Suddenly? What hero?¡±¡°It can¡¯t be the hero we know.¡± One group was clearly hearing about this for the first time. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it. Recently, a new hero has been making an incredible impact.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve heard about it too. What was their name again?¡± ¡°It was a very grand name.¡± Ban ced a document on the round table and spoke. ¡°Arpheus.¡± The children¡¯s eyes were drawn to the portrait attached to the document. Gerald muttered, ¡°He¡¯s as handsome as I am.¡± Karen frowned, showing she absolutely did not agree. No wonder, because this ¡°Arpheus¡± was a strikingly handsome figure. His face gave a neat and clean impression, with a moderately sharp jawline and thick, distinct eyebrows. Slightly upturned eyes seemed to convey his confidence and arrogance. He was an attractive man with a somewhat haughty and proud air. ¡°Arpheus, huh? Sounds like a name fit for a mythical hero.¡± ¡°Who knows if that¡¯s his real name.¡± Ban nodded. ¡°Right. They say he has tremendous skills, but I¡¯ve never heard his name before.¡± Arpheus¡¯s fame had started to spread only a few months ago. The children, too, looked at Arpheus¡¯s portrait with curious eyes. ¡°He looks about our age¡­¡± ¡°They say he¡¯s active in the north.¡± The north had long been the most dangerous area due to frequent invasions by Theo¡¯s 2nd Legion. Could such a skilled person have remained unknown in such a den of evil? ¡®Of course, he could have been training in seclusion in some hidden valley¡­¡¯ The children fell silent simultaneously, as if they had made a pact. They were all thinking the same thing. ¡°Could it be the professor?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it possible the professor started a new identity?¡± Luke shook his head slowly. ¡°I doubt he would act so openly.¡± Evergreen added, ¡°And I don¡¯t think he¡¯d operate under a simr age as us.¡± Karen spoke with a sullen face. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± A heavy silence descended again. Nearly three years had passed since their master had left Rosenstark. Three years was not a short time. However, it was too short to forget the most enjoyable year of their lives. After protecting them from Yol¡¯s deadly attack, their master had left, battered and bruised. Thinking of their master brought a heavy emptiness to their hearts. Even though theyughed, chatted, and lived earnestly, they always felt a part of their hearts was empty. If contact had beenpletely cut off, it would have been really tough. That¡¯s right. Contrary to expectations, the hero continued to send them messages. ¡­The problem was that it was very one-sided. ¡°When was thest time we heard from him?¡± ¡°About a year ago now.¡± ¡°I thought it was two years.¡± Gerald looked at his weapon leaning on the round table. The Shadow Spear, Umbra. It had been sent to the Bryce family mansion early one morning. Inscribed on the spear shaft was the same phrase, ¡°To my dear disciple Gerald. With love and support,¡± written in the hero¡¯s unique clumsy handwriting. There was no mistaking whose handwriting it was. It was the same writing that had been on the ckboard throughout the lectures. Not only Gerald, but other children also gradually received the 17 Valber weapons. Detailed instructions and functions of the weapons were included. How many times had these powerful weapons saved their lives? The hero protected them from afar. The assistance wasn¡¯t limited to the weapons. The hero seemed to be watching over them from somewhere, sending suitable advice in writing whenever their growth was blocked. ¡­But unfortunately, there was no way for them to contact him. It¡¯s been almost a year since even the sporadic, one-sided messages had stopped. The children were not only missing their master but were also deeply worried that something might have happened to him. Evergreen dropped her head onto the round table with a deep sigh. ¡°Professor¡­ where on earth are you and what are you doing?¡± A brief silence. Luke answered her question in a calm voice. ¡°Wherever he is, he must be striving for everyone¡¯s best.¡± At his words, the children wore longing expressions, as they had in recent years. Karen pouted and brushed her hair back, her tanned face looking sorrowful. ¡°Of course, he would.¡± Her jet-ck eyes turned towards a picture hanging in one corner of the tent. It was a drawing Leciel had made during the first semester festival. One of the few remaining drawings by Leciel. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The hero stood among the children gathered in front of the tavern. Though his expression seemed stoic at first nce, none of them could miss the gentleness and hint of a smile on his face. ¡°I just miss him,¡± Karen murmured as she turned away. ¡°Everyone worked hardte into the night,¡± Ban said as he concluded the meeting after addressing a few more items. ¡°In any case, it¡¯s definitely a good thing that a new hero has appeared. Being called a ¡®hero¡¯ means he¡¯ll be a great help. People will have hope. There will definitely be areas where we can cooperate, so I¡¯ll try to contact him.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement. ¡°Hope he¡¯s a good person.¡± ¡°A handsomerade is always wee.¡± ¡°¡­Tch.¡± ¡°Ban, you should get some rest too.¡± ¡°Everyone, you worked hard! Sleep well!¡± Night had deepened. The children exchanged tired farewells and left Ban¡¯s tent. ¡°I need to feed Shadow and then sleep.¡± When Karen, thest to remain, finally left, the tent plunged back into silence. But only for a moment¡ª Awooo¡ª The faint sound of Shadow¡¯s howl and the scratching of Ban¡¯s pen ovepped. Scratch, scratch¡ª Ban¡¯s bedtime was still far off. The Lotus Knights had been recognized for their efforts and had begun cooperating with the royal family. They were receiving real-time information from the intelligence department about nearby monsters and demons. Ban was busy nning the optimal routes and strategies. ¡®I¡¯ve been up for two nights straight.¡¯ ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Even for someone as robust as him, the fatigue was overwhelming. However, he couldn¡¯t afford to rest. A single mistake in his n could cost many lives. ¡®¡­The professor must have lived with this kind of pressure every moment.¡¯ He had no regrets about the lies he had told. But understanding the anxiety and worries that must have felt like walking a tightrope pained him. What one sees changes based on their position. Scratch, scratch¡ª The sound of the pen continued. It was several hourster when the lights in the tent went out. Winter mornings are far from dawn. Though it was still dark outside, he had to sleep. Arge-scale subjugation was scheduled for tomorrow. He nned to take up his sword as he couldn¡¯t leave it solely to his subordinates. Shhh¡ª Sitting on his makeshift bed, Ban suddenly reached out and opened a box on the floor. Inside was a meticulously maintainedmunication orb. Beeep¡ª The connection sound continued for a long time. But as usual, there was no response. ¡°¡­¡­¡± It took Ban quite some time to fall asleep, momentarily reverting to a boy and erasing the face of the red-haired girl from his mind. * * * Wooong¡ª! A massive surge of magic swirled with a strange noise. Two silhouettes stood around a magic circle soplex that even a grand mage would have difficulty interpreting it. They continuously chanted incantations without pause. ¡­Of course, there wereints mixed in between. ¡°Damn, this is really hard!¡± The overwhelming magic they emitted was too much for just two people. The extremely concentrated powerful energy flowed along the barrier¡¯s boundary, strengthening the seal within. Wooong¡ª! If anyone with even a bit of knowledge about magic were present, they would have been shocked by the scene before them. The power of the dragon race and the arcane secrets of the First Era. A force thatpletely surpassed existing magical systems was swirling here. Whooosh¡ª In the gale created by theirbined powers, their light blue and silver hair intermingled and fluttered in the air. ¡°¡­Just a little more!¡± As they poured all their magic into it, the barrier¡¯s color gradually shifted from a dull gray to a subtle blue. Finally, their tense faces rxed. Larze and Cuculli looked at each other and then copsed to the ground without needing to speak. ¡°It¡¯s finally over. Good job, young dragon.¡± ¡°Wow, and we have to do this again next month. It¡¯s really troublesome.¡± ¡°I told you. Getting involved with that guy means being used roughly.¡± ¡°Ugh. Where did it all go wrong? Rosenstark?¡± ¡°Probably?¡± Cuculli wiped her sweat as she sprawled on the floor. Surprisingly, except for slightlyrger horns, she looked almost the same as she had three years ago. However, her abilities had grown immensely, now able to fully control the power of the Ice Dragon. This was also why she was entrusted with one of the ¡®Five Seals.¡¯ Wooong¡ª It was then that Larze¡¯smunication orb rang. Cuculli and Larze both sprang to their feet, staring at the orb with tense eyes. Larze cautiously checked the received message. Larze cautiously checked the received message. ¡°¡­What does it say?¡± ¡°No problems.¡± Fortunately, it seemed that Izaro and Maktania¡¯s side had also sessfullypleted the maintenance. The two copsed back onto the ground. The seal they regrly maintained was called the ¡°Five Seal.¡± Barrett Namsov, along with Izaro, Maktania, Larze, and Cuculli, had created the seal two years ago with the help of top-tier mages. The function of the Five Seal was ¡°dimensional severance,¡± in simpler terms, to block the pathways of this dimension so that the ¡°doors¡± could no longer be opened. The Namsov family had been adept at dimensional magic for generations. Even during the First Era, they could traverse beyond the doors and expand the scale of the doors themselves. Barrett had despised tooz, but he did not abandon this specialty. Instead, he believed that the solution to the tragedy caused by dimensional magicy within the magic itself, leading him to research it for hundreds of years. As a result, the arcane technique of ¡°dimensional severance¡± was born. ¡®The moment it was confirmed that the Demon King had crossed to the Demon Realm, it was cast immediately.¡¯ Swish¡ª Having recovered her mana, Cuculli slowly rose from her spot. ¡°So, we¡¯ve bought about a month of time?¡± Larze replied in anguid voice, still lying down. ¡°Yeah, even that guy can¡¯t cross over for now.¡± ¡°But still¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s nearing its limit. We need toe up with a solution.¡± The magic was so grand that it severed this dimension from others. No matter how outstanding the gathered mages were, perfect implementation was difficult. Despite Barrett Namsov sacrificing centuries of umted life force and the power of a doppelganger, catastrophe was approaching rapidly. Although they had gained a month¡¯s reprieve this time, there was no guarantee it would be the same for the next maintenance. There was even a chance that the maintenance might fail, causing the dimensional pathway to fling open wide. ¡®¡­That would be the end.¡¯ It had been exactly four years since the great battle in which Ted Redymer fell. The Demon King must have fully recovered his original power by now. The thought of him crossing over in his full might was terrifying. Cuculli sighed deeply. ¡°Sigh¡­ This is so depressing.¡± Larze, uncharacteristically, also wore a serious expression. Of course, it wasn¡¯t out of some lukewarm concern for humanity. She was afraid that the exhrating life she currently enjoyed would be disrupted. ¡®Things are so fun right now, and it¡¯s going to end already?¡¯ Izaro, the homunculus of Zero, and Barrett Namsov, the living witness of the First Era¡ªLarze had literally screamed with joy when she discovered their existence. ¡®They even taught me arcane magic.¡¯ As a result, Larze was living the happiest days of her life. She still had mountains of knowledge to explore, and the idea of the Demon King appearing suddenly to snatch away all this enjoyment was uneptable. Hence, Larze voluntarily helped maintain and repair the ¡°Five Seal¡± without expecting anypensation from the hero. ¡®Well¡­ It¡¯s not like I could getpensation even if I wanted to.¡¯ Larze reached out and patted Cuculli¡¯s head. Cuculli enjoyed the touch, purring like a cat. ¡°Our troublemaker needs toe back soon.¡± ¡°Mm¡­ Indeed.¡± The false hero and their focal point, the doppelganger, had been unconscious for a long time. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 275 Chapter 275 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The old man stood before the ancient tree. His eyes, which had been examining the state of the tree, trembled noticeably. ¡°The speed at which its life force is being consumed is too fast.¡±The giant frame and thick branches of Barret Namsov remained as imposing as ever. However, the previous vitality and energy seemed to have left him. The tree bark was cracked and crumbling feebly, and its color had turned a dark, dingy hue. It was because he had poured all his life force into maintaining the ¡®Five Seal.¡¯ Barret had existed for hundreds of years as an ancient tree, steadily umting the mana of nature. Yet, now it was difficult for him to maintain the seal for even three years. This made Izaro realize just how absurdly powerful the Five Seal was. It must have been devised and created by someone with an unusual obsession with the ¡®Gate¡¯ within the Namsov lineage. ¡°¡­But even that is losing its efficacy.¡± Izaro let out a deep sigh. A dark era was looming right before their eyes. Step by step, he approached the tree and gently extended his hand to touch it, as if greeting an old friend. [¡­You have arrived?] A human face emerged on the tree trunk. Barret looked down at Izaro. ¡°I finished my work and came.¡± [You¡¯ve worked hard. I have confirmed that the seal is functioning properly again.] ¡°Hard work, you say. You¡¯ve had it much harder than I have.¡± Izaro hesitated for a moment before continuing with his question. ¡°How much time do we have left?¡± [It can still hold out for about a year.] ¡°¡­Humanity owes you a great debt.¡± [It¡¯s nothing.] A childlike smile briefly crossed the face on the ancient tree. [Have youe to see the hero?] ¡°¡­Yes.¡± [Come inside.] With a creaking sound, Barret¡¯s trunk opened, revealing a passage inside. Izaro walked in, continuing their conversation. Barret¡¯s voice seemed to resonate directly in his mind. ¡°How is the hero doing?¡± [He still seems to be in a deep sleep. This is the first time he has lost consciousness for so long, so it is a bit concerning.] ¡°¡­He must be bringing back significant gains.¡± [I hope so.] The inner space was small but cozy. A bed was ced there, and as Barret had said, the heroy peacefully, as if in a deep sleep, to greet them. Maktania, who had arrived earlier, waved lightly. ¡°You¡¯re here? You¡¯rete.¡± ¡°¡­I came as soon as I could. You got here quickly.¡± ¡°I wanted to see him.¡± Izaro and Maktania stood by the bed. The sound of steady, deep breathing filled the space. Izaro¡¯s gaze fell on the hero¡¯s closed eyes. ¡®¡­What are you seeing, brother?¡¯ The first year had gone ording to n. The hero began to experience a virtual reality based on the records of the original doppelganger. His growth progressed smoothly. The understanding of those whom the original doppelganger had copied suddenly began to rise. Some of them were as powerful as modern heroes. The hero acquired new abilities and insights, integrating them into his original martial arts. Consequently, a few techniques were added to his unique style, Infinity. ¨‹ Understanding of the Red Tower Lord, Adeno Snook, has increased. Understanding of the Silver Moon Group Leader, Annabe Cleve, has increased. Understanding of the Knight King, Aratz Rus, has increased. ¡ø ¨‹ Technique: Infinity Style, Gate of Annihtion, is now avable. Technique: Infinity Style, Shadow of Eternity, is now avable. Technique: Infinity Style, Time of Sweeping, is now avable. ¡ø Each of these was a powerful technique. The progress that had been halted for a while, the ¡®Furnace,¡¯ also responded. ¨‹ New materials were added to the furnace. The user¡¯s unique ability: ¡®Evolving Polymorph,¡¯ has grown. ¡ø But just as his growth continued step by step, urgent news arrived. It was confirmed that the Demon King had managed to open the ¡®Gate¡¯ and return to the Demon Realm. The Demon King¡¯s presence suddenly vanished from the 50th sector of the Demon Realm overnight. To cross-verify, the Imperial side sent reconnaissance units, and the hero¡¯s party also organized their own search teams. However, they couldn¡¯t find the Demon King¡¯s massive, unique presence anywhere in the current world. Thus, they entered into an emergency strategy meeting. ¡°¡­The worst situation we feared has urred.¡± ¡°Given the concentration of demonic energy in the Demon Realm, the Demon King will be back to full strength in less than a year. No, he might evene back stronger than before.¡± Thus, various countermeasures were proposed. Suggestions ranged from seeking the help of the Celestial Tribe to pushing through the demonic territories as much as possible within the remaining time. However, Maktania firmly stated that the Celestial Tribe could not act at the moment, and the other measures were equally ineffective. It was then that Namsov stepped forward. [I believe I can buy us some time, but I will need your cooperation.] This was the moment when the grand magic he had been envisioning for a long time, the ¡®Five Seal,¡¯ was revealed. ¡°Can you really block the dimensional passage? Is that even possible?¡± [To be precise, it¡¯s a double seal. It not only blocks the dimensional passage but also creates a sort of filter at the entrance. Small fry demons might find a way through, but beings like the Demon King, who require a significant causal force, will bepletely blocked.] ¡°Causal force, you say. Have you developed magic that can manipte causality?¡± [I¡¯ve already identified the five locations where the seals will be ced. As long as these seals remain intact, the Demon King won¡¯t be able to return to this world.] The party shivered upon hearing the exnation. It seemed Barret had surpassed his father, tooz Namsov, as a magician. [But not even one of the pirs must be destroyed. If the seals¡¯ power weakens, the Demon King might not be able to descend directly, but he could still exert indirect influence on our world.] ¡°¡­We¡¯ll need to coordinate with the Imperial Family.¡± The pirs of the seals must be protected. The party ingrained this principle into their minds. However, that wasn¡¯t the end of the warnings. Barret spoke in a grave tone. [Unfortunately, even the Five Seal is only a temporary measure. It will only buy us a little time.] It was then that Barret¡¯s gaze fixed on the hero. [So, during that time, you must take a gamble.] The content of the gamble that Barret mentioned made all the listeners, who had been nodding until then, suddenly look serious. [Activate the fragment of the original doppelg?nger. This will elerate the evolution of your polymorph ability.] Before the hero could ask further, Barret continued his exnation. Both polymorph abilities had the same roots, but their efficacy was significantly different. The hero¡¯s polymorph was bound by the constraint of understanding, requiring a lot of time and effort to replicate the essence of a target. In contrast, the original¡¯s polymorph could replicate a target without any constraints, and the power it could harness was on a different level. Sometimes it was several times stronger than the original. [The fragment of the original doppelg?nger within you,bined with the virtual reality I¡¯ve created, could allow you to imperfectly revive the original within your mental world.] ¡°And what would you do with his revival?¡± [Increased understanding of the original doppelg?nger.] When the hero essed Zero¡¯s memories, there was indeed ament about the increase in understanding of the original doppelg?nger. This implied that the original could also be replicated. Facing his essence would cause the understanding to rise rapidly. It would be much more efficient than just experiencing him through virtual reality. Barret was suggesting this n. ¡°Wait.¡± Izaro interrupted then. ¡°Setting aside the dangers, is this n really worth the risks involved?¡± [What do you mean?] ¡°He was already defeated by the Demon King once. Isn¡¯t it better to let the hero grow steadily in his way rather than relying on a power that has already failed once?¡± Surprisingly, it was the hero who answered Izaro¡¯s question. ¡°No, the original doppelg?nger lost to the Demon King because the replicated targets were insufficient, not because the ability itself wascking.¡± The humans of the Second Era, who had repeatedly fought, were much stronger than those of the First Era, who had only enjoyed peace. While magic had regressed, their achievements in martial arts were on a different level. Barret added. [That¡¯s correct. If the original doppelg?nger existed in this era and replicated ¡®Ted Redymer¡¯ and other heroes, the demons would have been eradicated long ago.] Larze chuckled. ¡°Humans would have been eradicated too.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Ignoring Larze, Barret continued to look at the hero. [Therefore, your role and decision are crucial. Are you prepared to face and ¡®understand¡¯ the original doppelg?nger in your mental world? If you are uncertain or think this n is unreasonable, you can refuse. There is an alternative.] ¡°An alternative?¡± [Continuing to grow steadily and trying to hold off the demonic forces until the Demon King returns. However, you will need to take the risk of splitting and push for faster unity among humanity.] The hero fell into deep thought. Understanding and replicating the original doppelg?nger to obtain hisplete polymorph. Using that strengthened power to face the Demon King in the final battle. Barret Namsov was suggesting that this was the best path. While the hero was silent, thepanions began to argue. From opposition due to the danger to those who thought it was worth a try. But ultimately, the decision was up to the hero, and all eyes soon turned to him. Maktania added onestment. ¡°Think carefully. If you lose the fight for dominance in your mental world, you could lose your body. Then humanity¡¯s hope would vanish as well.¡± The hero looked at her with deep-set eyes. ¡°I know. But waiting without any changes offers no hope either.¡± It would be like waiting for a slow, inevitable death. Barret¡¯s expression trembled slightly at the hero¡¯s words. [Does that mean¡­] The hero nodded. ¡°I will do it. I will¡­¡± As he continued to speak, he thought of the man who massacred thousands of humans whileughing maniacally. The hero sighed briefly. ¡°I will face him. My original self.¡± Maktania let out a deep sigh, almost shaking the ground. Thus began the strange cohabitation. * * * ¡°¡­¡­¡± Floating in the deep sea of his subconscious, the hero was adrift. Whether his eyes were open or closed, the view did not change. Countless fragments of images and emotions. Their faint glow dimly lit the dark blue expanse. Vwooooong¡ª In an endlessly vast space, the fragments of light moved erratically, gathering and then pouring over him like a tidal wave. Laughter, someone¡¯s face, excitement and love, fear and pain¡ªall these passed over the hero in session. Thest was a cold voice. [You pathetic fool.] The hero replied. ¡°What are you so unhappy about?¡± [Unhappy? What am I unhappy about?] ??? growled. [I¡¯m unhappy that someone with the unprecedented ability of polymorph lives like a pathetic idiot.] It was verbal abuse. But the hero did not back down. ¡°Didn¡¯t seem like you lived that smart either. More like you were foolish and narrow-minded the whole time.¡± [¡­What do you know to speak such words?] ¡°I could say the same to you.¡± Their conversations typically went this way. ??? hated the hero intensely. It was probably because he had roughly observed the hero¡¯s life path within the subconscious. A person who believed in humanity¡¯s evil versus one who believed in its good. It would be strange if theymunicated well. ¡®¡­More than anything, I dislike that guy too.¡¯ Having experienced simr pain, he found ??? even more detestable and pathetic. A brat who hated the entire human race and indiscriminately caused harm just because he was disappointed by a few. That was the impression the hero had of ???. ¡®That¡¯s probably why the understandingment has been quiet.¡¯ Fortunately, contrary to Maktania¡¯s fears, there had been no incidents of losing control of his body, but despite the passage of time, the hero could notprehend ???¡¯s motivations or way of thinking. [You, who wander with nothing but the shell of your abilities, sure have a lot to say.] The hero¡¯s expression slightly crumpled. ¡°I can¡¯t agree with thatstment.¡± How could his polymorph be just a shell? Admittedly, before he obtained ¡®evolution,¡¯ when he could only replicate appearances, that term might have been apt. But now, he could replicate abilities as well. Except for Ted, he could even achieve equal or greater power output than the original with ¡®upscale¡¯ now. The term ¡°shell¡± was no longer suitable to describe him. [Haha, the phrase ¡®a frog in a well¡¯ seems to have been made just for you.] But it seemed ??? wasn¡¯t saying it just to mock the hero. [Want to find a clue to defeat the Demon King? Want to advance your polymorph?] The content forced the hero to focus despite the mocking tone. He stopped retorting. ??? seemed satisfied and softened his tone. [Lucky guy. There is a fundamental difference between my polymorph and yours. Zero must have intentionally ¡®removed¡¯ it from you as a safety measure.] Creak¡ª At that moment, numerous doors sprang up in front of the hero. Hinges covered in moss, surfaces worn and crumbling. The doorknob on the nearest door glowed faintly. [So, what do you think? Want to give it a try?] The voice had softened to a gentle, subtle tone. [Aplete polymorph, something you¡¯ve never experienced.] ck¡ª The doorknob turned. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 276 Chapter 276 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [There is something fundamentally different between you and my Polymorph] It was something that Zero had intentionally removed. Of course, I couldn¡¯t believe everything he said.But I instinctively sensed that not everything he said was a lie. ¡®I don¡¯t think he¡¯s trying to deceive me and take over my body.¡¯ After spending a long time talking with him in the mental world and having a back-and-forth argument, it was clear that he hated me. However, he didn¡¯t show outright hostility. ¡®Rather, he seemed frustrated and appeared to try to preach to me about the evil of humans.¡¯ Just by seeing how he provided clues to what I wanted, ¡®Polymorph¡¯s Growth,¡¯ it was clear. It could be considered a very slight favor. ¡®I have a rough idea why¡­¡¯ It must be because of desires that a doppelg?nger cannot be free from. ¡®He thinks that in the whole world, I am the only one who can understand him, even a little bit.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t wrong. Unless one is a doppelg?nger, one cannot understand the fundamental loneliness and emptiness that a doppelg?nger possesses. So he wanted to turn my positive view of humans around. ¡®He thinks that¡¯s how he can understand himself.¡¯ He had surprisingly childish traits. The moment I realized that. I was no longer afraid of him. ¡®He should be used well.¡¯ Understanding the difference between the perfect polymorph he mentioned and my imperfect polymorph was essential. That¡¯s why I agreed to his proposal. [How about it, do you want to try it once?] Numerous doors appeared in my mind simultaneously. As I approached them, I started to feel a strange gravitational pull. [Hmm, yeah. This will do.] There was no need to physically grab the doorknob. The door creaked open on its own. As I stared into the swirling darkness inside, my consciousness was sucked somewhere. [It¡¯s a bit old, but you should be able to realize it.] With the arrogant but somehow excited voice of ???, my vision turned ck. . . . When I regained consciousness. The hero was lying next to a beautiful woman. The problem was that she was in a state of undress. ¡®What the heck?!¡¯ Without dy, the hero jumped up and tried to move away from her. ¡®!¡¯ But his body didn¡¯t move at all. Rather, his body seemed to cling to the woman as if showing intimacy. The warmth of their skin touching, the soft sensation of the bed, the faint scent wrapped around him at the same time. Suddenly, he felt dizzy. If it hadn¡¯t been for the mocking voice, it would have taken him a little longer toe to his senses. [Hah, look at this guy. After living for years, he¡¯s still so clueless.] The hero didn¡¯t bother to reply. ¡®This is¡­.¡¯ It didn¡¯t take long for him to grasp the situation. It was because it was too simr to when he reviewed ¡®memories¡¯ with Rosalyn¡¯s help. ¡®¡­??? is a past event he experienced.¡¯ Could it be showing his experience? ¡®It¡¯s a surprisingly ordinary method.¡¯ But there was another unexpected problem. The problem was that his emotions were gradually starting to resonate. The hero felt a surge of enormous love for this unfamiliar woman and equally massive fear. ¡­It was trulyughable. ¡®You called me clueless, but aren¡¯t you the same?¡¯ [¡­¡­] Surprisingly, he remained silent for a moment and then blurted out one sentence. [Yeah, that was the case then.] After that, the two casually started talking, touching each other¡¯s bodies yfully. Talking about going to a nice bakery tomorrow, or how the weather was so nice that a pic would be great. But despite the mundane content of the conversation, ???¡¯s heart was getting increasinglyplicated. A heart full of anxiety and restlessness. His heart was beating fast, his hands were trembling, and sweat soaked his back. ¡®Ah.¡¯ He instinctively realized what he was about to face. ¡­Because he had been through it himself. At the same time, a question arose. ¡®Why is he showing me such a moment?¡¯ At that moment. ¡°Kane, you¡¯ve been looking troubled all day. Is something wrong?¡± Kane was probably the name ??? used. His mouth opened on its own. ¡°Susan, it took me a lot of determination to say this.¡± ¡°Kane¡­.¡± ??? or rather Kane, blurted out words quickly. ¡°After hearing all this, can you understand me¡­ or ept me? I am so scared and anxious.¡± The woman¡¯s expression suddenly turned worried, then quickly became determined as she shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t think like that. No matter what happens¡­ even if you are a vicious criminal, I will stand by your side and continue to love you.¡± An affirmation. The tense muscles in his face rxed. With the woman¡¯s warm and sincere voice, Kane gathered hisst bit of courage. His dry lips moved again. ¡°Actually, my name is not Kane. I am¡­.¡± Crack¡ª The familiar sound of Polymorph¡¯s bones. A short scream. Words swallowed as an excuse. The woman nodding, saying it¡¯s okay. A sense of liberation and relief. ¡­But as a third party, I could clearly see the fear and disgust in the woman¡¯s eyes. Did ??? see it too? I couldn¡¯t tell. But he seemed to have decided to trust the woman, and just like that, the scene quickly shifted. ¡°Oh my god, such a monster actually exists.¡± ¡°Priest, that monster pretended to be human and deceived me.¡± ¡°We will hold that monster ountable for the defilement of your body and mind!¡± ¡°Capture him immediately for investigation! We don¡¯t know what other harm he might have caused!¡± What Kane faced was a group of Holy Knights dispatched from a nearby church. Then there were the hateful stares of the vigers he had lived with, and finally, the fierce condemnation from the woman who had once whispered love to him. ¡®¡­She reported him to the church?¡¯ ??? who had been silent all this time answered calmly. [In the First Era, there was religion. The Church of the Lord rejected all non-humans.] Come to think of it, I remembered. In Zero¡¯s memory, Zero was also concerned about his fairy wife. The sorrow for the pain she endured and the regret for the difficulties their mixed-race child would face were vivid. A sharp voice pierced my ears at that moment. ¡°What are you all standing around for? Capture him!¡± Kane, no, ??? stood still. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The hero held his breath, waiting for his reaction. Surprisingly, his face didn¡¯t look very hurt; it was rather expressionless, so I thought he might escape silently. Fwoosh¡ª But the massacre happened without hesitation. As ???¡¯s hand rose, mes engulfed the people. Neither holy power nor armor could withstand the inferno. Looking at ¡®Susan¡¯ rolling on the ground with her melting flesh, ??? turned and walked away silently. The vision turned ck again. ??? was the first to speak. [¡­In a simr situation, you chose to run, didn¡¯t you?] ¡°I also know the pain of betrayal. The more you trusted, the more you hate and resent. But I didn¡¯t kill indiscriminately like that.¡± ???ughed out loud. [You know the pain of betrayal? Really? Do you really think you do?] ¡°¡­What? You must have seen my memories in the mental world, didn¡¯t you?¡± [Heh, you¡¯ll now find out why I had to kill them all.] Before the hero could respond, creak¡ª Another door opened in the darkness, and his consciousness was sucked in. The vision brightened again¡­. Looking around, the hero was momentarily speechless in shock. ¡®What on earth¡­.¡¯ The previous scenes yed in reverse. Time flowing backwards. When he regained his senses, the hero was looking at an unfamiliar man¡¯s face. It was the same bed as before. The same memory¡­ only one thing had changed. ¡®Kane¡¯ hesitated for a long time before speaking resolutely. ¡°Susan, it took me a lot of courage to say this. After hearing all this, will you be able to understand me¡­¡± And so the hero watched and experienced the same event again from ¡®Susan¡¯s¡¯ perspective. Since he wasn¡¯t just observing, the emotions Susan felt pierced him directly. At first, it was confidence and love, thinking she could embrace any w of her lover. But upon witnessing the Polymorph with her own eyes, these turned into betrayal, disgust, repulsion, and filthiness. The hero was stunned, unable to shake off the shock. ¡®This is your memory.¡¯ [It is undoubtedly my memory.] ¡®Then what are these emotions?¡¯ [They are Susan¡¯s emotions, but also mine.] The implication of his words made the hero¡¯s eyes waver. ¡®Wait a minute. Could it be that perfect Polymorph¡­.¡¯ ??? answered in a calm voice. [Yes, it¡¯s not just the abilities and appearance of the target that can be replicated. Even their memories and emotions¡­ the most crucial elements that constitute a human can all be replicated.] The hero finally understood why ??? had mocked him so much. [You, wandering around with just a hollow shell of power, have quite the mouth on you.] [Ha ha, the phrase ¡®frog in a well¡¯ seems to be made for this moment.] [You know the pain of betrayal? Really? Do you really think you do?] ???¡¯s replication was trulyplete. It was almost like an ovey. He had experienced the emotions humans directed at him as if he had be them from beginning to end. Therefore, he could boast of an exceptional understanding, but¡­ his mind must have inevitably been worn down. ¡®Is this truly an ability that one individual can handle?¡¯ If a human were given the ability to read the innermost thoughts of others without any filter, they would go mad within months. Or they would flee to a secluded mountain valley where no one else existed. Humans are imperfect beings, and their raw inner selves are of a kind that others find difficult to bear. Moreover, ??? was a powerful doppelganger who could replicate others just by looking at them. For him, he would naturally absorb the emotions of everyone he encountered. What must he have felt in that horrific whirlwind of emotions and thoughts? ???¡¯s Polymorph was already more of a curse than an ability. The hero asked weakly. ¡°¡­You already knew, didn¡¯t you? That Susan would betray you. So why did you reveal your true identity?¡± [¡­Hope. I hoped this ability was iplete.] Yes, everyone must have seemed ugly and evil to him. Every expectation must have been betrayed, and every path he walked must have felt like a thorny road. ??? sneered. [Zero, that impudent bastard, deliberately removed part of the ability from you. Because no one with a perfect Polymorph could possibly like humans, it¡¯s truly enviable.] As soon as he finished speaking, the surroundings were flooded with bright light again. The hero froze. Because what appeared before his eyes was a ce he knew too well. ¡°¡­Rosenstark.¡± The time was when he had just subdued Yol. It was frozen at the moment when he revealed his non-human nature to the world. Expressions of shock were spreading among the children and staff. [Yes, I could disable Zero¡¯s safety mechanisms. I could help your Polymorph grow to the point where you could stand against the Demon King. But do you have the guts to ask me for that?] For the first time, the hero couldn¡¯t immediately answer ???¡¯s question. ??? seemed to relish that. [Do you trust the humans you¡¯ve seen and experienced? Are you confident you won¡¯te to hate them when you see their innermost selves? Do you believe in theplete love and trust that you think exists?] ¡°¡­¡­.¡± [You lucky bastard. Thanks to your iplete Polymorph, you just haven¡¯t been able to properly see humans.] Sizzle¡ª The vision darkened again. In the pitch-ck mental world, There was no longer any halo of light. The hero looked at the silhouette standing before him. [Call me when you¡¯re ready.] ¡­It was time to wake up. * * * Meanwhile, The hero ¡®Arpheus¡¯ proimed himself as the new Hero. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 277 Chapter 277 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°I will walk this path to cleanse the world of all evil. I will pass judgment on those who trample on humanity and deny its dignity. No matter how arduous this path may be, I will never back down for those who believe in me, and for true justice.The era longs for a new hero, so I will bear that burden. I will stake everything on this fight. Those who share my will. Those who desire justice on thisnd. Join me. Remember my name. I am the new hero, the Second Hero, ¡®Arpheus.¡¯ ¡­In honor of the first hero, Ted Redymer.¡± This was the deration of Arpheus, proiming himself the new hero. As this deration spread, the reactions of people¡ªspecifically those who knew the real hero¡ªwere varied. ¡°Ha, look at this guy. He¡¯s doing all sorts of things.¡± Deep within the royal pce, there were scoffs of disbelief. ¡°¡­It wasn¡¯t the professor after all.¡± ¡°The professor wouldn¡¯t throw such a grandiose deration.¡± ¡°Our professor would never be so full of himself!¡± ¡°It might be annoying, but let¡¯s meet him for now. We need all the help we can get right now.¡± Gerald quietly expressed his concerns. ¡°He boldly deres himself the second hero, so he probably has a hostile stance towards our professor. What if he¡¯s rude to us too?¡± Luke offered a simple solution. ¡°We¡¯ll just beat him up.¡± ¡­Such conversations were taking ce in the sanctuary where the kids were gathered. Currently, Noubelmag was managing facilities and defensive artifacts in the sanctuary after leaving Rosenstark. His assistant, Sta, asked him with a gentle smile. She was a maid doll left behind for Noubelmag by Nyhill. ¡°A new hero, aren¡¯t you curious?¡± Noubelmag snorted. ¡°There have been many like him. What I¡¯m more curious about is what your master is doing and where.¡± ¡°¡­Haha. Perhaps we¡¯ll meet again someday?¡± ¡°Damn, you call yourself a doll, but you have nothing inmon with her. You¡¯re just slick. I should return you.¡± ¡°Eek, that¡¯s mean!¡± ng! In the sanctuary¡¯s workshop, the sound of hammers echoed loudly once again. ¡­Lastly, on the front lines. The Dawn Knights generally showed skeptical reactions. ¡°¡­A new hero, huh. Who the hell is that guy?¡± ¡°Let him say whatever he wants. This is a time when even such people are needed.¡± ¡°Fraud or rookie.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be more of a problem if he dies quickly.¡± In the midst of this, someone said, ¡°What if he really has the potential to be a hero? He has achieved quite remarkable feats.¡± An immediate response came. ¡°Then, like themander, he will gradually stand out. We can think about it when the timees.¡± ¡°Right. For now, let¡¯s head out for the hunt. Our new recruit has already dashed out.¡± ¡°Hey, hey!? Leciel! Don¡¯t go alone! Let us swing our swords too!¡± . . . Hero, Arpheus. Unknown origin, and his past actions also unknown. No one knew what kind of life he had lived before he appeared in public. Spections abounded, such as that he was from a remote farming vige like the first hero or that he had secluded himself in a deep mountain valley to train after gaining enlightenment. However, nothing had been clearly revealed yet. Even Arpheus himself kept silent about his past. In any case. His name began to be known about two years ago. The region where Arpheus was active was the North. Though the entire continent was in a dire situation, the North was particrly worse off. This was because Theo, who had absorbed Yol, constantly deployed his direct troops for reconnaissance and raids, knowing that the hero was hiding nearby. The first thing Theo did after absorbing Yol was to overthrow the Magic Tower. That day, 100 powerful mages, including Ludwig Bosman, the tower¡¯s master, became undead, and Theo made excellent use of his newly acquired powerful lich army. Whenever the liches swept through an area, it looked as though it had been bombarded, and the already deste North further lost its vitality. If not for the demi-human troops led by the ice dragon Cuculliing down from North Hail to aid humans, humans in the North would have been wiped out entirely. It was during this period that Arpheus suddenly appeared. In the early days, Arpheus acted alone, so few people saw him fight directly. However, wherever he passed, the remnants of evil were always left behind. He sessfully fended off the lich army¡¯s raids and even hunted down several giant monsters known as the cmities of the North, so people¡¯s enthusiasm was only natural. In a time desperate for heroes. More and more people in the North began to follow him, and thus he gained enough recognition to boldly dere himself a hero. Already, those who followed Arpheus had gathered where he stayed, forming a considerable armed group. ¡°Hero, may Ie in?¡± ¡°Come in.¡± The young man, deep in thought, looked up. He appeared to be in his early to mid-20s. He appeared to be in his early to mid-20s. He was very tall, withrge, sinewy muscles attached to his broad frame. Observant individuals could notice that his hairstyle closely resembled that of someone from his youth. ¡°Then, please excuse me.¡± The person who entered through the tent¡¯s entrance was dressed as a butler. He was a servant employed by the northern lord who had offered Arpheus a ce to stay and looked at Arpheus with great admiration. ¡®¡­He chose to stay in this humble tent in the mountains despite being offered the lord¡¯s castle.¡¯ He had even refused all the weing and victory banquets, saying that if there were such resources, they should be given to the starving residents. ¡®Truly, he possesses the demeanor of a hero.¡¯ Arpheus gave a faint smile in response to the butler¡¯s admiring gaze. In reality, all of this was a deliberate imitation of the actions Ted Redymer had taken in his youth. It was a method that had already seeded in building recognition once. He knew it would not fail. Arpheus¡¯s blue eyes met the butler¡¯s. ¡°By the way, what brings you here?¡± ¡°You asked to be notified when you had visitors, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, I did.¡± ¡°A messenger from the Sanctuary has arrived.¡± ¡°¡­Sanctuary?¡± Arpheus¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. The butler added an exnation. ¡°It¡¯s a kind of relief organization¡­¡± ¡°I know. It¡¯s a group created by the followers of the fake hero.¡± ¡°Th-That¡¯s correct.¡± The butler was slightly surprised by Arpheus¡¯s blunt words. ¡°The messengers must be knights of the Lotus Order, then.¡± ¡°How did you know!?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t itmon knowledge that they are allied? It¡¯s obvious who they would send as messengers to the dangerous North.¡± Wearing a sardonic smile, Arpheus straightened his clothes and stood up abruptly. ¡°So, who hase?¡± Arpheus nodded after receiving the list of names. ¡°They¡¯vee with only the core members.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°They said they would discuss the purpose of their visit in person.¡± ¡°Huh, the purpose is obvious.¡± If it were a simple matter, it would have been resolved throughmunication. The reason they came in person was clear. A request for an alliance. And before that¡­ ¡°They intend to test me.¡± ¡°Test you, Hero?¡± The butler¡¯s expression twisted in displeasure. ¡°Test what? The people of the North already know.¡± Arpheus chuckled. ¡°Still, we should entertain them. We have our own desires as well.¡± * * * The four men and women sitting on the sofas in the reception room looked a little bored. A rugged-looking young man, fiddling with the ornaments here and there, sighed deeply first. His intense eyes, firm jawline, and short-cropped blond hair left a strong impression. ¡°I thought we¡¯d be staying at the lord¡¯s castle, but why are we in some field tent? How long do we have to wait?¡± In contrast, a handsome young man with ck hair waved his hand, trying to calm him down. ¡°Be patient. You¡¯re not a kid. Why are you bouncing around?¡± With long hair reaching his shoulders, he exuded a free and rxed aura, quite different from his previously sharp and fierce demeanor. ¡°He¡¯lle eventually if we wait a little.¡± But when the blonde woman sitting next to him spoke up¡ª ¡°¡­Still, this is too much. Holding up busy people like this, what¡¯s the point?¡± ¡°Exactly, they¡¯ve gone mad. Should I flip out? Kill them all?¡± Her sudden change in tone caused Gerald and Karen, who were watching, to shake their heads simultaneously. ¡°Luke hasn¡¯t changed since he was a student.¡± Gerald sighed deeply, cing his hand on Karen¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Right, Karen?¡± Her cute face, framed by her short bob hair, twisted in annoyance. ¡°Hands off.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡­It took a little longer before they started having a productive conversation. Surprisingly, Gerald was the first to speak. ¡°¡­By the way, do you think it¡¯s right to share the location of the seal with this Arpheus or whatever? What are your thoughts?¡± At his serious tone, the others wiped the smiles off their faces and focused. ¡°The more protectors, the better. We¡¯re already short on manpower.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a decided matter. We¡¯re here to assess if he¡¯s worthy in the first ce.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a decision made by the higher-ups. It¡¯s not something for us to debate.¡± ¡°¡­True.¡± ¡­Indeed, it was the Five Seals. The axes of the seal that Barret Namsov had built by sacrificing his life were shared with a few trustworthy individuals. The hero and hispanions couldn¡¯t protect all of them alone. Hence, Euphemia had mobilized the Empire¡¯s elite (established by the special forces led by Zion Hiyashin) to guard some, and the Lotus Order and the Dawn Knights were also contributing. Of course, not all locations of the five seals were disclosed to humans. The essence that blocked the passage to the demon realm was unknown to all but a few high-ranking officials. The children only knew it as a ¡®seal to suppress evil.¡¯ They vaguely suspected that this seal was rted to their master. Therefore, they were somewhat skeptical about involving Arpheus, who had dered himself the ¡°new hero,¡± in this matter. ¡°Still, we have the authority to decide. Let¡¯s meet him and discuss it first. He certainly has significant power. If he doesn¡¯t seem suitable, we can just establish a cooperative rtionship, which would still benefit the Sanctuary.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity Ban couldn¡¯t be here. His judgment would have been crucial.¡± ¡°We couldn¡¯t pull him away from such an important meeting. Let¡¯s do our best to evaluate the situation ourselves.¡± Over the past few years, Ban had awakened to his qualities as a leader while overseeing the Lotus Order. It wasn¡¯t just about his work skills but also his ability to understand people and recognize their potential. Ban was unparalleled in personnel selection, making his absence felt keenly. ¡°By the way, since he suddenly dered himself a hero, he seems quite interested in fame¡­ Will he leave his stronghold in the North to help us?¡± ¡°If he¡¯s concerned about his reputation, he might be eager to help us.¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Imagine the image: the true second hero embracing the disciples of the ¡®fake hero.¡¯ It¡¯s quite a picture, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± At that moment, a strange voice interrupted them. ¡°¡­Well, I¡¯m not particrly interested in fame.¡± The children turned their heads toward the sound, their expressions hardening. ¡®We didn¡¯t hear the door open.¡¯ Arpheus. The man they had seen in portraits was looking at them with a rxed smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize the distinguished members of the Lotus Order enjoyed gossiping so much.¡± Gerald smiled broadly and responded instantly. ¡°We¡¯re equally surprised to learn that the third hero enjoys eavesdropping.¡± Arpheus¡¯s lips twisted into a peculiar smile. ¡°It¡¯s the second.¡± ¡°Well.¡± ¡°Hey, Gerald!¡± Karen whispered, but Gerald¡¯s smirking expression didn¡¯t change. Luke noticed that Gerald was deliberately acting provocatively. Arpheus spoke in a cold voice. ¡°There¡¯s no need to waste time since your intentions are obvious.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re making sense.¡± ¡°Follow me.¡± Swish¡ª Arpheus¡¯s cloak swirled, momentarily obstructing their view. ¡°The training ground is a bit far. We can talk while we walk.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 278 Chapter 278 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Luke followed Arpheus towards the training ground, scrutinizing him closely. The red eyes were narrowed, rarely returning to their normal state. ¡®¡­Is he confident in his skills, or just audacious?¡¯ Luke wondered. Not only had Arpheus initiated the challenge, but he also showed no signs of nervousness. This was unexpected for Luke. Even more surprising was that Arpheus didn¡¯t disperse the surrounding people as they headed to the training ground. Followers of Arpheus staying at the lord¡¯s castle began to gather behind them in groups, showing absolute trust in Arpheus and a slight hint of ridicule and curiosity towards the challengers. Despite the lotus badges affixed to the chests of Luke¡¯spanions, their gazes remained unshaken. Luke met their stares calmly and then looked back at Arpheus¡¯s retreating figure. ¡®¡­He doesn¡¯t mind if others witness this duel.¡¯ This was another surprise. If he were to lose or perform poorly, it would be a significant blow to his burgeoning reputation as a hero. ¡®Such confidence in victory.¡¯ Few would disy suchposure against the elite members of the Lotus Knights. None among the four were pushovers. They had endured three years of grueling training and life-threatening battles. Their talents had long since blossomed, and they had now reached a level where they could rightfully be called masters. ¡®He must be aware of this.¡¯ Luke mused about where such an arrogant character could havee from. ¡®The higher-ups¡¯ had instructed that if Arpheus was deemed suitable, the location of the seal could be shared with him. This meticulous ¡®higher-ups¡¯. This meant that Arpheus¡¯s background wasn¡¯t that obscure after all¡­. Luke felt increasingly puzzled. ¡®He seems to be of noble origin.¡¯ Every gesture was imbued with deep etiquette. Thanks to following Ravias around and meeting many high-ranking clients over the past few years, Luke could recognize this at once. It was almost obsessive. ¡®I should inquire more details from the higher-ups once this is over.¡¯ Althoughmunication had mostly been one-sided, Luke resolved to do so. ¡­It was at that moment. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­.¡± The children quietly marveled at the training ground beyond where Arpheus had stopped. It was a space of strict order. Given that the North frequently saw intense battles, the training ground appeared to be the most meticulously maintained facility. The training equipment and the condition of the ground were excellent. ¡°Oh, hero!¡± ¡°Are you sparring?¡± ¡°Wow, it¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve had such a spectacle.¡± ¡­Hero. The familiar title used for others made the children frown. However, since Arpheus¡¯s unpretentious demeanor with ordinary soldiers was both surprising and likable, they quickly adjusted their expressions. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s make space for the duel.¡± ¡°Hero, do your best!¡± Thus, even the soldiers who had been training joined the spectators. They formed arge circle around Arpheus and the four. Arpheus ced his hand on the hilt of his sword, ignoring the training wooden swords. ¡°Who wishes to duel with me?¡± A small cheer erupted. However¡­. Paang- The sound of a spear being wielded silenced the crowd. Gerald stepped forward, spinning his spear overhead. The brief motion kicked up dust to head height, enveloping him. The spectators fell silent. ¡°Please, enlighten me.¡± However, Arpheus¡¯s gaze was not on Gerald. He tilted his head and looked at Luke. ¡°I thought you would step forward.¡± ¡°Hey, you¡¯ll regret it if the vice-captain steps in.¡± Only then did Arpheus look directly at Gerald. His eyes were a clear, transparent blue-green. ¡°I¡¯ll face you second, then.¡± ¡°You have quite the dreams.¡± With their weapons in hand, they approached each other. Arpheus had also pulled out arge shield by then. Kwaang-! Gerald struck first. He extended one leg forward, lowering his stance, and propelled himself forward using only the strength of his front leg. The spectators gasped in unison. ¡°Oh my god¡­.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they just say he was an ordinary member?¡± ¡°He¡¯s so fast, you can¡¯t even see him.¡± It was no wonder they were amazed, given his speed was astounding. Furthermore, the ground where he had stepped was indented with his foot¡¯s shape, leaving everyone astonished at Gerald¡¯s physical capabilities. Swoosh¡ª The spear thrust towards Arpheus¡¯s neck like lightning. ng¡ª! However, there was no way the duel would end in the first move. Arpheus¡¯s shield blocked the attack, and simultaneously, the sword in his other hand shed diagonally at Gerald¡¯s waist. Gerald deflected it easily with the shaft of his spear. Boom¡ª! It was then that the children¡¯s expressions became peculiar. ¡°Huh¡­ what?¡± Gerald let out a bitterugh and looked down. His foot was embedded in the ground up to his ankle. ¡®¡­I¡¯m being overpowered?¡¯ He had mastered the spear techniques and the martial arts of the Bryce family. True to the family¡¯s pursuit of extreme power, Bryce¡¯s techniques were specialized in generating explosive ¡®thunder energy.¡¯ By permeating his entire body with thunder energy, his physical abilities were amplified. At the same time, the spear would be enveloped in thunder energy, delivering a strong shock to the opponent upon contact. Consequently, Gerald usually held an undisputed advantage in terms of destructive power against opponents of the same level. The surprise was significant, but Gerald was no longer one to be flustered by this degree. Tap¡ª! Without hesitation, Gerald charged again. This time, his strategy had changed. He didn¡¯t attack directly. ng¡ª! Utilizing the advantage of his spear, Gerald jabbed from a distance, as if probing. Arpheus, standing his ground, blocked the attacks with his shield. His stance remained solid. Seeing this, Luke realized that Arpheus¡¯s amount of mana far surpassed Gerald¡¯s. ¡®¡­Mana that overwhelms someone who has been training since they were a toddler.¡¯ He didn¡¯t seem that old, so how was this possible? Luke closely observed the ensuing exchange of blows. That wasn¡¯t the only odd thing. ¡®¡­What is it?¡¯ Arpheus asionallyunched powerful sword strikes from behind his shield. The speed and strength were tremendous due to the immense mana imbued in them. But Gerald defended against them with rtive ease. Although it was impossible to parry them directly due to the difference in power, he skillfully turned and deflected the attacks with the shaft of his spear, so Arpheus¡¯s sword did not deliver a significant impact. ¡®Arpheus¡¯s swordsmanship itself is precise and refined. There¡¯s no excess movement.¡¯ It was a testament to extensive practice. However¡­ ¡®The insight within it is shallow.¡¯ The lower-level soldiers or those focused on archery like Evergreen and Karen had yet to notice, but Luke gradually read through Arpheus. ¡®Is he less talented than expected?¡¯ Meanwhile, cheers erupted among the spectators. ¡°Waaah!¡± ¡°The hero is pushing him back!¡± On the surface, it looked like Gerald was beingpletely pushed back. Gerald¡¯s attacks were blocked by the shield withoutnding a blow, whereas each time he blocked Arpheus¡¯s attacks, Gerald¡¯s upper body wavered. But in reality, it was a close match. ¡®It¡¯s clear. He¡¯s several steps below Gerald in skill.¡¯ If Arpheus¡¯s mana were average, the duel would have ended long ago. But he waspensating for hisck of skill with overwhelming mana. It was like facing Cuculli. ¡®¡­This will take longer than expected.¡¯ As Gerald held out better than anticipated, murmurs began to spread among the spectators. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± At the same time, Arpheus¡¯s expression subtly twisted, and explosive power surged from his entire body. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°!¡± For once, Luke¡¯sposure was broken. He widened his eyes, assessing the mana emanating from Arpheus. ¡®Is that even a human¡¯s mana?¡¯ It was arger amount of mana than thebined total of the four of them. Gerald also stepped back, stunned to the point his lips turned pale. The tip of his spear crackled wildly with thunder energy, as if he intended to counter with his ultimate technique, ¡®Heavenly Thunder.¡¯ The momentum was so intense it seemed as though his vision was flickering. ¡®¡­It¡¯s excessively heated. This is dangerous.¡¯ Without further ado, Luke dashed between them, drawing arge sword with his right hand and forming a de of ¡®severance¡¯ with the other. Luke¡¯s explosive aura momentarily overwhelmed both Arpheus and Gerald. They both flinched and halted their attacks. ¡°¡­I think this should suffice. We aren¡¯t enemies, so there¡¯s no need to go to the bitter end, is there?¡± Shzz¡ª Gerald was the first to calm his mana. Arpheus nced at the surrounding reactions and took a few steps back, looking quite disconcerted. Contrary to his expectations, the bout with Gerald had dragged on and hadn¡¯t ended decisively. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The crowd was silent, despite therge number of people gathered. Arpheus quicklyposed his expression and bowed deeply. ¡°My apologies. Your skill was greater than expected, so I overstepped. It was my fault.¡± Before Gerald could respond, ¡°We will need some time to recover, so let¡¯s meet again in the reception room in 30 minutes.¡± Arpheus hurriedly left the training ground. . . . On one side of the training ground, as the spectators began to disperse like the receding tide, Gerald finally sat down and started coughing intensely. Thankfully, the internal damage wasn¡¯t severe, as no blood or fragments of organs mixed with his cough. However, hisplexion wasn¡¯t good, indicating that his body had taken quite a shock. Karen shook her head with a pale face. ¡°Is that really a person? How can someone have that much mana?¡± ¡°Cough.¡± ¡°Damn, are you okay?¡± Gerald pounded the ground in frustration, his eyes fixed on the spot where Arpheus had left. ¡°¡­If it had continued, I would¡¯ve lost, right?¡± Luke answered. ¡°Probably. With that amount of mana, your stamina would¡¯ve given out first.¡± ¡°Damn it, not just that, I waspletely scared at the end.¡± ¡°There was nothing you could do. The explosive release of mana was enough to surprise even me.¡± ¡°¡­But you would¡¯ve won, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Gerald clenched his teeth. Evergreen patted him on the shoulder, offeringfort. ¡°You fought well. Everyone was surprised. They couldn¡¯t believe how strong a mere member could be. You upheld the reputation of our knight order.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Despite herforting words, Gerald¡¯s expression remained dark. The arrogant rookie who once charged at the hero was nowhere to be seen. Through numerous events, he had painfully realized that his talent was inferior to that of true geniuses like Leciel, Luke, and Ban. He had experienced this feeling of helplessness many times before. But each time, the conclusion was the same. Gerald dusted himself off and stood up. ¡°¡­There¡¯s nothing for it but to work harder.¡± Despite the frustration, he couldn¡¯t give up fighting alongside his friends. So, all he could do was to keep trying relentlessly. ¡°This is the end of moping. Now, let¡¯s go and settle things with Arpheus. Despite some oddities, he¡¯s proven strong enough, so we should try to strike a deal.¡± With that, Gerald took the lead. Luke nodded and followed him. Gerald. Whenever he epted his shorings, he grew stronger. He would likely surprise them with his growth soon enough. ¡®First, let¡¯s carry out our mission.¡¯ Despite the unusual amount of mana and the rtively shallow insight, Arpheus was undeniably strong. ¡®He might even be more formidable against lower-ranked monsters.¡¯ With that thought, the group headed back to the reception room. Fortunately, Arpheus readily epted the task of guarding the seal without much persuasion. ¡°However, I have one condition.¡± ¡­Though he did attach an unexpected condition. * * * The hero, waking from an unconscious state, immediately contacted Euphemia. The irregrity of his waking cycles had increased, and he needed to catch up on what had happened in the meantime. After the brief conversation concluded, the hero spoke up, a thought having crossed his mind. ¡°By now, they should have met.¡± [You mean your disciples and the ¡®self-proimed hero¡¯?] ¡°Yes, I hope they can coborate well.¡± Beyond themunication crystal. Beyond themunication crystal, the emperor looked a bit disgruntled. [I don¡¯t understand you.] ¡°What now?¡± [How can you be so magnanimous? You¡¯re giving up all your credit¡­ If people knew you were the one who aplished all those feats, wouldn¡¯t they treat you differently?] The hero slowly shook his head. ¡°They¡¯d just suspect I had some ulterior motive. Anyway, it¡¯s better for someone else to be in the spotlight right now. Thanks to Arpheus, the situation in the North has improved a lot, hasn¡¯t it?¡± [You¡¯re too generous.] ¡°Well, he¡¯s in a bit of a tough spot personally.¡± Euphemia had only one reason for her frustration. Over the past three years, although the hero had shed the shell of Ted Redymer, he hadn¡¯t let go of his duties as a hero. He had been growing and training while also asionally going on expeditions to eradicate demons. He protected the North, uprooting demon strongholds and killing high-ranking demons, all while staying anonymous. Then, one day, someone started taking credit for his achievements and acting like they were their own. That someone was Arpheus. The emperor had immediately set out to punish him, but the hero had stopped him. [He¡¯s exactly the person we need right now.] A background check revealed that Arpheus¡¯s past was clean. In fact, it was so clean that it was almost pitiful. [So, what will you do now? Will you go on another expedition?] ¡°No, this time my n is a bit different.¡± [Oh?] The emperor looked at the hero with a surprised expression. Until now, the hero had always felt some unmerited sense of obligation, so he had gone on a rampage throughout the North, exterminating demons. ¡®I thought for sure he¡¯d do the same this time.¡¯ Euphemia¡¯s eyes narrowed. [Then what are you nning?] ¡°This time¡­¡± Before the hero could answer, Euphemia¡¯s eyes wavered. It was because the hero wore an expression she had never seen before. Aplex mix of longing, excitement, and fear swirled in his eyes. The hero spoke. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of visiting them one by one.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 279 Chapter 279 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [So, you¡¯re saying you¡¯ll visit the people you had connections with during your time as a double?] Euphemia gazed at the hero intently, as if trying to understand his true intentions. [Didn¡¯t you decide it wouldn¡¯t be good for either of you and chose not to?]The hero shook his head lightly. ¡°The situation has changed a bit. Now there¡¯s a need to update the copied essence.¡± [Are you nning to reveal your identity and meet them?] ¡°No way. I have to make use of the doppelg?nger¡¯s specialties.¡± He briefly exined to Euphemia why the original doppelg?nger¡¯s polymorph was so powerful. Thest missing piece of the puzzle that his polymorphcked: human memories and emotions. He also shared without hesitation the proposal from ???, who offered to help him break the limits of his polymorph if he wished. If it had been early in their rtionship, he would have been concerned about Euphemia¡¯s reaction and would have stopped at a reasonable point. However, the past four years of working together towards a single goal had forged their rtionship into something beyond mere colleagues¡ªa bond of deep trust and strong friendship. They were the most reliable allies to each other. [Human memories and emotions¡­ So, have you now acquired a perfect polymorph?] ¡°Not yet. ??? told me to let them know when I¡¯m ready. They said they would unlock the parts Zero restricted.¡± Euphemia blinked, suddenly realizing something. [Wait, hold on a second¡­?] Her eyes wavered and her fingertips trembled. She tried to maintain aposed expression, but she couldn¡¯t stop her face from turning red with embarrassment. [Does that mean you can copy and read my memories and emotions if you wanted to?] ¡°Hmm¡­.¡± The hero deliberately stretched his words. The moment waiting for his answer must have felt like an eternity. The emperor¡¯s eyebrows twisted in frustration, noticing his yful spirit. [It¡¯s not a difficult question to answer, is it?] ¡°Calm down. I haven¡¯t copied you yet. I don¡¯t n to either. Increasing my understanding of you wouldn¡¯t help in battle anyway.¡± [¡­The original¡¯s polymorph could copy just by seeing, right?] ¡°My polymorph won¡¯t be that strong. After all, I¡¯m just a homunculus activated with a part of the essence.¡± Euphemia finally showed signs of relief. [If you tryter, I¡¯ll execute you under imperial authority.] ¡°Noted. But what kind of memories are you so afraid of revealing? Was it those thrilling school days with Ted?¡± Euphemia put her hand to her forehead. [Goodness, it feels like just yesterday you couldn¡¯t even look me in the eye, and now here we are.] The heroughed lightly. Even the emperor chuckled, seemingly unable to resist. ¡®¡­Thank you.¡¯ The hero wasn¡¯t oblivious to Euphemia¡¯s attempt to lighten the mood. A being that could copy even memories and emotions. Naturally, Euphemia, being human, found it unsettling and frightening. Who wouldn¡¯t? But the hero had overlooked one thing¡­. [May I offer some advice, not as an emperor, but as an individual?] ¡­Euphemia cared for him more than he had anticipated. The hero stared at the emperor¡¯s face for a moment before slowly replying. ¡°Of course.¡± [As you know, this¡­ The opening of this ability is something you need to think about carefully.] Her golden eyes sank deep. [It¡¯s a path that truly leads into the realm of the inhuman.] ¡°I¡¯m already inhuman. What do you mean?¡± [You know. If you can copy memories and emotions, things will never be the same again.] Euphemia continued in a clear voice. [No one in this world will wee you. You won¡¯t have anyone to wee in this world either.] The hero didn¡¯t deny it. Even just by copying appearance and abilities, doppelg?ngers were already shunned by others. No one understood better than him what it meant to read memories and emotions as well. ¡°But it¡¯s something that needs to be done.¡± [You¡¯re really¡­] ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve made up my mind.¡± The emperor clenched her fists tightly and lowered her head slightly. The hero waited in silence until the expression she was trying to hide disappeared. After several deep breaths, the emperor raised her head with the same cool and dignified expression as always. [So, have you decided on the order? By strength or who you want to see first?] At her question, the hero was silent for a moment before speaking. ¡°Better to take the blow early¡­.¡± The hero¡¯s gaze turned distant. ¡°I should start with the one who hates me the most.¡± * * * Yussi Glendor¡¯s past four years were tumultuous. First, she resigned from the position of principal and returned straight to her home in Glendor. She spent six months quietly confined to her room, mourning the deadmander and organizing her future ns. When Yussi finally emerged, she was apletely different person. The session battle with her half-sister Merian began. It was called a battle, but it was more of a one-sided expulsion. Even in her retired state, missing limbs, Yussi had continued topete on equal footing with Merian. Having regained her full strength and honor, Merian was no match for her. Furthermore, Yussi no longer behaved as meekly and gently as before. She had suppressed her cruel and severe nature solely to avoid upsetting Ted Redymer. Now that she knew he was gone from this world, she had no more reservations. Amidst conspiracies, intrigues, and stratagems, Merian eventually faced a miserable defeat¡­ and soon after, death. ¡°Father, there is no alternative, is there?¡± In the process, she even managed to poison her father, Dewes Glendor, making him a puppet she could control, thus making Glendor entirely hers. However, Yussi¡¯s takeover of Glendor was not somepensation for her abusive childhood. ¡°It was all preliminary.¡± She began mobilizing all of Glendor¡¯s resources to search for the ¡°fake hero¡± while gathering records about the mysterious existence known as the ¡°doppelg?nger.¡± She scoured the western continent and even ventured into the depths of dangerous demonic territories herself, such was her determination. There were results. Glendor¡¯s search capabilities unearthed even the previously hidden eighth blessing of Zero. Despite Zero and Izaro¡¯s efforts to conceal rted data, Yussi managed to obtain some information about the doppelg?nger. She even found a few records about an anomaly that might have been the ¡°fake hero.¡± But upon learning the truth, Yussi fell into even deeper despair. ¡°¡­There¡¯s no way I can find such a being.¡± She had Glendor under her feet. Her own power had also grown much stronger, thanks to ancient alchemy she encountered while traversing demonic realms. Her alchemy had be so powerful that she could easily rejoin the Dawn Knights. Yet, the search for the ¡°fake hero¡± grew increasingly remote. Tracking, investigating, lurking, setting traps¡­ none of it worked. She began scrutinizing every visible person¡¯s face,paring them to the being in her memory. Finally, Yussi had to ept an undeniable fact she didn¡¯t want to admit: if he didn¡¯te to her first, she could never find him. Exhausted. Yussi lost all her vitality and went into seclusion. She even entrusted the management of Glendor to the butler, Simon, and left. It was only at Euphemia¡¯s request that she stayed in a vige adjacent to one of the five seals. Yussi¡¯s daily routine involved getting drunk in the local tavern until she was bloated with liquor, then returning to her vi to sleep as if dead. Clink¡ª In a corner of the bustling tavern, Yussi, with her hair tied back, now grown to her waist, drank her ss dry as it touched the table. Rather than wrestling with her noisy mind in a quiet ce, this openly noisy location was better. ¡°Hah, I¡¯m getting drunk today.¡± Normally resistant to drugs, she needed several times the amount of alcohol an average person would require to get drunk. But perhaps because she had been drinking so muchtely, she felt tipsy after just a few drinks. And so she kept drinking. Although a beautiful woman getting drunk alone might attract flies, people around her avoided her after witnessing what happened to a group of thugs who had been overly persistent. Thud¡ª She put her ss down just as the tavern owner, checking the day¡¯s earnings, smiled brightly. Her deep blue eyes stared out the window into the distance. However, her pupils had no focus. Her mind wandered through past memories, blurred by intoxication. ¡°¡­What are you doing now? Are you thinking of me?¡± Do you feel guilty about me? Was it necessary to pretend to be a hero so meticulously? You could have stopped at some point. Yussi was smart. The year she spent living with the ¡°fake¡± in Rosenstark remained vividly and clearly in her mind, as if preserved. Therefore, her feelings towards him were difficult to define. The closest term might be love-hate? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª But even that term seemed absurd when you think about it. How can there be love-hate betweenpletely separate beings? Normally, she should feel love for one and hatred for the other. However, Yussi found it surprisingly difficult to separate the two in her thoughts. Not because the acting was perfect. No, it was because the way both of them treated her was exactly the same. When she felt like she was thrown into the pit of life. The person who made her realize she wasn¡¯t thrown but nted. The one who made her realize she could sprout even herself. ¡°Thank you for always being there for me, Yussi. It would have been really hard without your unwavering support and encouragement.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so reassured to have you as a colleague. I look forward to your continued support.¡± Whose voice was this, really? ¡°¡­I miss you.¡± Clink¡ª Yussi picked up her ss again to erase the absurd feelings she had just recalled. She had been drunk for a while. The once noisy tavern had now be quiet. The owner seemed eager to close up, but there was still one more customer besides her. It was then that a gleam appeared in Yussi¡¯s eyes. . . . [That drunkard is yourpanion?] ¡®¡­She¡¯s not usually like this.¡¯ [Hmm¡­ You said she¡¯s the top alchemist on the continent. She certainly looks capable.] Since partially restoring ???¡¯s consciousness, ??? would asionally speak to me in my mind. Thankfully, rather than trying to take over my body, it seemed more intent on lecturing me about the ¡®evilness¡¯ of humans. After seeing such childish behavior a few times, ??? had ceased to be an object of fear and had be more of a slightly annoying presence. ¡®Anyway, she has changed a lot.¡¯ If I were to describe my image of Yussi in one word, it would be ¡®meticulous.¡¯ She always wore neatly pressed suits and silver-rimmed sses. Her perfectly straight, shoulder-length hair and piercing eyes made people think, ¡®What did I do wrong?¡¯ just by looking at her. But now, there was hardly any trace of her former self in the Yussi who was sitting alone in a corner of the bar, drinking. She had grown her hair out over the past four years, and her dark blue hair now fell carelessly to her waist, almost hiding her small face. Her clothes were wrinkled, and her eyes were dull. It was a glimpse into the suffering she had endured. Seeing her like this, a natural thought urred to me. [Soon it will be entirely your torment to bear.] ¡­The thought that I wanted to atone. [No, it will be twice as bad. You¡¯ll experience the extraordinary feeling of both hating and being the object of that hatred.] ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter, just start.¡¯ [Heh, pretending to be brave.] Thud¡ª! Suddenly, a huge impact hit my body. For a moment, time seemed to slow down. It felt like my heart was being struck by a giant hammer, leaving me breathless and my whole body tingling. ¡®¡­¡­!¡¯ My ears rang. My vision wavered. If I hadn¡¯t been leaning against the bar table, I would have copsed. Feeling as if the ground beneath me had disappeared and I was floating in midair, I gripped the edge of the table until my knuckles turned white. ¨‹ Error urred ¡ø ¨‹ Safety device partially deactivated. ¨‹ ¡ø ¨‹ Current state may pose a severe risk to the user, immediate action required. ¡ø ¨‹ ???¡¯s essence is partially reactivated. ¡ø ¨‹ Limited synchronization with ??? initiated. ¡ø ¨‹ User¡¯s unique ability: Polymorph Evolution¡¯s nature has changed. ¡ø ¨‹ ¡­Replicating Yussi Glendor. . . . Comprehension increasing rapidly. ¡ø Countlessments arose but I couldn¡¯t see them. I remained frozen, gasping for breath. [How do you feel?] ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ How do I feel? Like I had lived Yussi Glendor¡¯s entire life in an instant. Childhood frustrations. The tender feelings she had for Ted in her youth. The madness that enveloped her on the battlefield. The current despair and suffering that came crashing down all at once. [You haven¡¯t even fully processed it yet and you¡¯re whining. It¡¯s just a fraction.] ??? said that my ability was still immature and that I had only experienced a small portion of the iceberg that was Yussi as a person. The real suffering woulde when I gradually digested the core of her memories. Even so, the sheer volume of information was impossible for the human mind to process. Of course, that was irrelevant to me¡­ but the sharp emotions floating in the flood of memories were overwhelming and painful. Especially thest four years of Yussi¡¯s life, which had been an utter mess. ¡®¡­Because of me.¡¯ In the midst of the confusion, I looked at Yussi. Then, I froze. ¡®¡­What?¡¯ Yussi had stood up and was walking towards me. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 280 Chapter 280 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Blink ¨C It was a split second of eyelids closing and opening in a sh. Blink ¨CYussi was absent-minded for a moment before snapping back to reality. ¡®Did I doze off for a moment?¡¯ It wasn¡¯t far from the truth. In fact, she had been feeling the effects of alcohol from earlier until it reached the tip of her head. She shook her head once and then looked straight ahead. ¡®¡­¡¯ Emotions quickly found their ce. Sadness. The mood sank. Self-loathing turned into a desire for self-destruction, prompting her to raise her ss endlessly. Yussi picked up the ss again with a terrible feeling. ¡­No, she tried to raise it again. ¡®!¡¯ Looking at her reflection in the ss, Yussi froze. ¡®¡­What is this?¡¯ Am I dreaming? In the ss, she saw the face of a man she had never seen before. Utterly ordinary, with no distinctive features. If he passed by on the street, he would be forgettable in ten seconds. The man in the ss, too, looked at her with a shocked expression. ¡®Who is this?¡¯ But that wasn¡¯t the only strange thing. What is this enormous, unidentifiable force umting in the body? And what are these artifacts in her embrace? Yussi instinctively groped her body. Swoosh ¨C She felt the texture of a golden key and a pair of goggles. Familiar artifacts. ¡®These artifacts must belong to the Hero¡­ Why are they with me?¡¯ Yussi couldn¡¯t shake off the shock. [Hehehe, can¡¯t seem to pull yourself together,] a strange voice echoed in her mind. Step by step, footsteps approached her ear. Someone wasing closer. Yussi reflexively turned her head and¡­ ¡®What is this!?¡¯ She was so shocked that she almost fell off her chair. Her face felt momentarily pale. She looked at the person who had approached with eyes twice the size. ¡®It¡¯s me?!¡¯ Dark blue hair down to her waist. Fair skin. A gloomy expression. A towering height over 170. It was a familiar sight she faced every morning in the bathroom mirror. As she looked with a shocked face, ¡®she¡¯ also looked at her with a puzzled expression. Once again, an unidentifiable voice echoed in her mind. [Sloooowly pull yourself together.] ¡®I, I¡­¡¯ [Impressive, isn¡¯t it? The perfect polymorph.] Tsk tsk tsk ¨C As if scattered puzzle pieces wereing together. Her fragmented self and identity reattached. Thoughts and memories shifted. As the surface-level ¡®Yussi¡¯ receded, the confusion subsided, and peace finally returned. ¡®I am¡­ I¡¯m not Yussi.¡¯ The Hero let out a small sigh. Numerousments appeared in front of her again. ¨‹ User¡¯s unique ability: ¡®Evolution Polymorph¡¯ has gained a new ability. ¡ø ¨‹ Understanding of Yussi Glendor deepens. Understanding: 50/100 -> 72/100 ¡ø ¨‹ Advanced alchemical forms possessed by the replication target are added to the database. ¡ø ¨‹ Exploring the possibility of developing a new phase¡­ ¡ø The Hero gripped the table¡¯s edge so hard that his knuckles turned white. ¡®I waspletely reced for a moment. Is this even possible?¡¯ After replicating Yussi¡¯s memories and emotions and then suddenly experiencing what happened, it was a shock. [You¡¯re trying to ¡®understand¡¯ deeply, aren¡¯t you? These things tend to happen when you do. I wasn¡¯t swayed as easily as you, but you know.] ¡®¡­¡¯ [Can you start to understand what kind of torment I felt? How it feels to be someone you hate?] But there was no time to ask about the details. Yussi had approached too closely. Why is this girl who was just drinking suddenly approaching me? Judging by how much alcohol was left in the ss, she wasn¡¯t leaving the bar just yet. ¡®¡­Could she have noticed?¡¯ No, probably not. The Hero hardened his expression and fixed his gaze straight ahead. Whatever it is, avoiding it for now is the best option. If he meets her in this emotionally confused state, he might reveal something strange. Step by step, ¡®Hoo.¡¯ Once Yussi¡¯s gaze turned away, the Hero breathed a sigh of relief without anyone noticing. ¡®Thank goodness.¡¯ She passed by him and walked out of the bar. Creak ¨C Then, leaning against the wall, she lit a pipe. Yussi¡¯s figure emitting smoke amidst the pouring rain. The Hero finally rxed his tension. [Why the disappointed expression? Did you secretly hope to be recognized? That¡¯s impossible. Humans are easily deceived by what they see. You hoped for nothing.] The Hero was about to deny it outright but stopped. ¡®¡­I don¡¯t know.¡¯ [Ho, surprisingly honest.] ¡®You would know best what I feel like. Lying would only be embarrassing.¡¯ Crunch ¨C The Hero¡¯s hand clenched the ss. He then emptied the contents in one gulp. The burning sensation of strong alcohol. But the remnants of emotions he had just felt didn¡¯t easily disappear. Self-loathing, emptiness, betrayal, sadness¡­ and affection. What he hated most was himself for making Yussi feel such terrible emotions. Strong disgust followed. ???ughed incessantly. It was augh of satisfaction. [Hahaha¡­] Perhaps it was the satisfaction of finally encountering a ¡®simr being.¡¯ The Hero clenched his fist. It was true that he had felt a simr misery. But¡­ [You must hate it. You sacrificed so much for everyone, yet people hate you. The more you meet your oldrades, the more you¡¯lle to hate humans.] After a moment of contemtion, the Hero replied, ¡®I don¡¯t think so.¡¯ ¡°What?¡± The oue would be different. The Hero recalled one by one the emotions that had just overwhelmed him. As mentioned earlier, it was bitter and painful. Feeling such emotions toward her preciousrade Yussi was unbearable. But within that whirlwind of violent emotions, he found traces of the rtionship they had built before. ¡®¡­Yearning.¡¯ The Hero looked at the ss with teary eyes. This was something he had never expected. He thought hatred, resentment, and betrayal would suffice. Or she would have preferred to forget everything and rece it with indifference. But yearning. As he realized this, a faint warmth seemed to flow through his body. It might be shameless to feel happy about it. But how much of afort that light touch of sce was, he couldn¡¯t express in words. ¡®You are the courage that supports me even in such situations.¡¯ The Hero nced at the elongated silhouette outside the door and then walked towards the counter. The innkeeper, who was yawning with his mouth wide open, suddenly widened his eyes when he saw the gold coin he pulled out. ¡°Ahem, there¡¯s change left¡­¡± ¡°Include that seat in the bill. You can keep the rest.¡± The innkeeper smiled broadly and nodded. If it were Yussi, there would have been more than one man showing such kindness. This much should be fine. ??? growled fiercely. [Huh, I wonder if you can be so rxed at the end of the journey.] The Hero shrugged and left the bar. ¡­There were still many people he had yet to meet. . . . ¡®What on earth?¡¯ Yussi was lost in thought as she exhaled smoke. It was because of the man sitting across from her who had been there a moment ago. Ordinary attire, ordinary face, ordinary feeling. He should not have caught her attention at all based on his appearance alone, but¡­ ¡®It was a face I¡¯ve never seen before.¡¯ Outsiders were rare in this remote vige. And in just a few days, she had already memorized the faces of the residents who frequented the bar. ¡®A traveler at a time like this.¡¯ Moreover, that man always ordered the same drink whenever Yussi ordered one. She had thought it was a deliberate attention-seeking act and ignored it, but he stayed in the bar until thiste hour. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Even if he was a regr, he should have been drunk and passed out by now, so it was strange. Yussi narrowed her eyes. ¡®And more than anything, that look in his eyes¡­¡¯ Since men in the bar often stared at her, it wasn¡¯t anything new. Just a moment ago, she thought he was one of those men. But the brief, coincidental glimpse of his eyes. Warm and gentle, like someone she had known for a long time, they irresistibly drew Yussi in. It felt so familiar that she couldn¡¯t resist. ¡®Surely not, right?¡¯ Even without realizing it, a faint hope moved her. She wanted to ask why he was staring at her like that. But just as she was slowly approaching the man, in that very moment, the warm look in the man¡¯s eyes suddenly turned cold. She was engulfed in confusion and shock. Yussi¡¯s mood plummeted. ¡®I¡¯m not some kind of monster.¡¯ Feeling embarrassed, she just walked out with her cigarette. Yussi nced back for a moment. The unfamiliar man was no longer in his seat. ¡­Feeling a bit annoyed, Yussi stood in front of the counter, wanting to leave. ¡°Bill.¡± ¡°Hehe, the gentleman over there took care of it.¡± Yussi¡¯s eyebrows slightly furrowed. ¡°He paid for my drinks?¡± She had been drinking expensive liquor without restraint. It wouldn¡¯t be easy for a stranger to handle such expenses. ¡®¡­Now he¡¯ll use that as an excuse to talk to me.¡¯ Before something troublesome happened, she decided to quickly return to the mansion. As she made up her mind, Yussi hurried towards the back door. She abruptly stopped in her tracks. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Yussi quickly walked back to the counter. ¡°Um, what happened?¡± ¡°¡­That man just now. Where did he go?¡± As it was the first time Yussi showed interest in someone else, the innkeeper seemed quite surprised. ¡°After paying the bill, he left right away¡­¡± ¡°Gone? Without leaving any contact information?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Yussi felt an inexplicable strong intuition. It was as if something deep inside her was rising and enveloping her consciousness. A feeling that couldn¡¯t be understood rationally, but couldn¡¯t be ignored either. ng! She pushed open the back door and headed out onto the street. Since it waste, the alley was quiet. Silent snowkes were falling. Yussi walked a few steps forward in a daze but suddenly stopped. Her cold rationality halted her footsteps. ¡®¡­This is not the time.¡¯ The man who hadn¡¯t shown his face in three years had appeared. ¡®Surely, he¡¯ll go to others as well.¡¯ If that¡¯s the case, she¡¯ll wait first. She believed she could recognize him now. ¡®This time¡­¡¯ Yussi¡¯s eyes, which had been lifeless, were now burning brightly. She didn¡¯t know what she wanted to do when she met him. But first, she had to meet him to find out. ¡®I won¡¯t miss it this time!¡¯ Yussi sprinted towards the mansion. ¡­It was an unexpected variable, even for the Hero. * * * ¡°There is one condition.¡± When exining the details about sealing protection to Arpheus, his reaction was notable. Arpheus promised to devote himself to the protection of the seal with all the forces he had gathered, as long as one condition was met. Upon hearing this, Luke looked at him intently. ¡°If you say ¡®condition¡¯¡­¡± He was ready to ept almost anything. Although Arpheus hadn¡¯t reached the peak, he possessed an immeasurable amount of mana. ¡®In other words, he can show unmatched strength to lower beings.¡¯ In a quantity battle, he might even have an advantage over them. He wascking nothing as a pir of seal protection. ¡­Because of this, Luke listened with a positive attitude. At least until he mentioned an unexpected condition. ¡°Leciel Hiyashin. Please introduce me to Gumsung. If she is affiliated with the same seal, it will be even more perfect.¡± Luke couldn¡¯t hide his momentary confusion. ¡°May I ask for the reason?¡± Arpheus¡¯ gaze softened. ¡°As you just saw, my power is iplete. It¡¯s unbnced.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°My mana is close to infinite, but my skills are mediocre.¡± The four knights of the Lotus Knights all looked at him with interest. ¡°¡­You¡¯re honest.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t quickly admit your shorings, it¡¯s difficult to survive in this era, isn¡¯t it?¡± Some might see him as bold. But to Luke, it felt more like preemptively blocking criticism by revealing weaknesses first. It was an attitude that someone who had lived a life with many enemies around might have. Arpheus continued speaking. ¡°That¡¯s why I want to request a swordsmanship exchange with her.¡± In other words, he wanted to receive teachings. In fact, this was quite a bold statement¡­ Because Leciel was perceived as a ¡®fake¡¯ disciple by the public. Of course, she had entered the Dawn Knights instead of the Lotus Knights, and her origin as a Hiyashin made her less subject to sharp scrutiny, but still. From Arpheus¡¯ perspective as the newly appointed Hero, it was normal to be cautious. But Arpheus was stubborn. Luke responded awkwardly. ¡°She is a genius beyondparison. I¡¯m not sure if a swordsmanship exchange would be suitable for her. Perhaps it would be better to introduce ourmander or another swordsmanship genius.¡± This was also true. It was clear that being a genius didn¡¯t necessarily trante to being a good teacher. Leciel¡¯s talent was so outstanding that ordinary people couldn¡¯t keep up with her teachings. But Arpheus was persistent. ¡°I aim for the highest. Therefore, I want to learn from the best. That¡¯s what I mean by asking for swordsmanship from her, who is praised as the best swordsmaster beyond the prestige of the Sword Saint and the achievements of the knights.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I am aware that you are the only friend of Leciel Hiyashin. Please.¡± Luke¡¯s forehead creased deeply. If Arpheus had made this request a few days ago, unfortunately, he would have had to decline. It had been a long time since even they had lost contact with Leciel. But just yesterday. He managed to get in touch with her. That¡¯s why she couldn¡¯te today. Because of this, Luke could leave a positive answer to Arpheus. ¡°¡­I will contact you shortly after reviewing it.¡± Arpheus smiled brightly and nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡­Leaving an impression of being an unknowable figure, the Lotus Knights left the reception room. . . . At the same time. Ban was wiping the sweat from his hands while waiting for someone. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡­He hadn¡¯t forgotten to practice natural greetings andughter from time to time. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 281 Chapter 281 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Leciel and Ban. Since both of them couldn¡¯t spare much time, their meeting took ce at a temporary base near the eastern front where battles were raging on. In the distance, the cries of Asrai monsters echoed, and the tension was palpable, making it not the most suitable setting for a reunion with a first love.However, Ban couldn¡¯t help but feel excited despite the barren scenery. ¡®If Ie empty-handed, will it seem too insincere?¡¯ He quickly looked around, but it was winter and there were hardly any wildflowers to be found. If Karen were here, she would have teased, ¡°Oh my, no wonder you don¡¯t have a girlfriend!¡± Gerald would have pretended to be knowledgeable about rtionships and offered various unnecessary advice. The winners, Evergreen and Luke, would have quietly chuckled from behind. ¡­ And originally, two girls were always together with them. One would mockingly tease and the other would frown at her antics but secretlyugh along behind her back. Ban found himself smiling unwittingly. ¡®It feels just like old times. It¡¯s only been three years.¡¯ The red and blue hair brushed past his eyes as if in a hallucination. As a new student at Rosenstark, it had only been a year. But that time hadpletely changed Ban¡¯s life. From the induction ceremony at Rosenstark to the orientation. The intimidating sses and practical training. The Forest of Martial Arts and festivals. Memories of battling the Demonic Church Leader at the Northern Front vividly resurfaced in Ban¡¯s mind. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Ban walked down memoryne for a while before suddenly looking up. ¡­ And there was Leciel. ¡°Uh¡­¡± A silver sword without a sheath at her waist. The aura of a knight ready for conquest. Though her face showed signs of fatigue, her eyes still sparkled. Ban, forgetting all the practiced greetings, stood in front of her and looked at her for a moment. It felt like memories that had been swirling in his mind were now pouring out into reality. ¡®¡­.¡¯ As Ban was overwhelmed by countless emotions- ¡°Ban.¡± Leciel called him quietly. Ban walked over and stood in front of her. There was now just a height difference between them. ¡°Hello, Leciel. You haven¡¯t grown taller.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve grown a bit.¡± Leciel looked slightly puzzled at first, then chuckled as if she couldn¡¯t believe it, and Ban felt that the past three years had indeed been good to him. ¡®It¡¯s already nice.¡¯ Truth be told, if Ban had wanted to meet Leciel, he could havee up with some excuse to do so. The current leader of the Dawn Knights to which Leciel belonged was her father, Felson, and even if it wasn¡¯t him, Ban could have known about Leciel¡¯s whereabouts as one of the Guardians of Seals of the Lotus Knights. But Ban intentionally avoided Leciel. Sometimes, even when they met from a distance, he would turn and go the other way. He guessed why Leciel had left them. ¡®It must have been painful for her just to look at us.¡¯ Ban remembered the conversations that used to flow quietly in the dimly lit studio. That¡¯s why he could understand why Leciel had silently left the academy. Of course, many of their peers relied on the ¡°hero¡± and were saved by him. ¡®But Leciel¡¯s case is different.¡¯ From her childhood to her youth, even memories were hard to recall. The hero was her everything, her dream. That¡¯s why only the hero could save Leciel. Because the cause of the harsh race was the ¡°hero¡± himself, Leciel was able to ovee her pain because he positively affirmed her. Even if their mentor wasn¡¯t a real hero, the salvation they received was real. But Leciel was different. Her shock and sense of betrayal were inevitably greater than theirs. The Lotus Knights follow the path of infinite affirmation of the hero. Even if they were close friends, watching that scene from the sidelines would have been selfish. So Ban deliberately kept his distance from Leciel. But today was different. ¡­Leciel had actually requested the meeting first. It was because of a new hero that appeared in the north, Arpeugas or something, and she hade running himself. [PR/N: Apreugas ??] Ban polished his voice and asked a somewhat clich¨¦ but burning question. ¡°So, um, how have you been all this time?¡± Leciel calmly replied as they walked side by side. ¡°¡­As you know, I¡¯ve been living on the battlefield. The demon realm has had ups and downs.¡± ¡°Any injuries?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. And you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine too. I may not be as good as you, but I¡¯ve improved a lot.¡± Leciel smiled lightly. ¡°Really? Should I give you the title of Master Swordsman?¡± ¡°Well, don¡¯t I have to defeat you in a fight for that?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll pass. There are still many things I want to do. I have a lot of lingering regrets in this world.¡± Banughed, shaking his head. These simple everyday conversations were so enjoyable! The scene of this simple daily conversation would be surprising to Rosenstark juniors or regr Lotus Knights if they saw it. Ban had been acting based on the ¡°hero¡± motif all this time. He pursued a capable and strong leader, and sessfully portrayed it. If anyone saw him faltering like this, all his efforts would seem futile. ¡°Kukkuk.¡± Ban desperatelyposed his expression. Sadly, it was time to get to the point. ¡°By the way, what¡¯s the matter? Suddenly wanting to meet.¡± Their steps on the temporary base ground came to a halt. Simultaneously, the sounds of the battlefield, which had been absent until then, pierced their ears. A brief moment of silence awaited an answer. It felt like three years had passed in the blink of an eye. Leciel answered calmly, ¡°Her Majesty wishes to meet you.¡± ¡°Her Majesty? Why?¡± Leciel had be a member of the Dawn Knights and, at the same time, a member of the newly established Imperial Direct Force. This was a measure taken to control Leciel, who tended to act recklessly. Even though she was her, she couldn¡¯t ignore the Emperor¡¯smand. Through Euphemia, the hero had assigned Leciel a battlefield to fight on during this time, curbing her excessive recklessness. Leciel might have been infuriated if she had known, but¡­ it was inevitable. Anyway, quite unexpectedly, something significant happened. Leciel and Euphemia had be close like sisters. Leciel recalled a recentmunication: ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Why do you keep avoiding the pain of the past, Leciel?] ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t understand what you mean.¡± [Pretending not to know when you do is a bad habit.] Facing the Emperor¡¯s gaze, Leciel felt like her inner thoughts were being read. [I understand that the rtionship has brought not only pain but also joy. Don¡¯t focus too much on one side. You might regret itter.] After that, Euphemia conveyed a secret order. ¡°It seems you¡¯re focusing on bolstering the seals in the Sealing District rather than the Eastern Front, which is currently in a state of stalemate.¡± ¡°Just a moment, what does that mean?¡± ¡°It means that Her Majesty ns to entrust a separate guardian for each seal to us, her direct force, and the Lotus Knights, and finally to the new¡­ hero¡¯s faction.¡± ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s why we were asked to meet Arpheus.¡± There was a moment when Leciel¡¯s tone turned official. ¡°Yes, so today, as the ¡®guardians¡¯ tasked with the same seal, we¡¯vee to discuss.¡± Ban also put on a serious expression and nodded. So, they briefly shared information to efficiently guard the seals. Although detailed orders would be delivered soon, it didn¡¯t hurt toy the groundwork in advance. Ring-ring- Ban¡¯smunication bead rang just as the conversation was wrapping up. The sender was Luke. [Negotiation sessful, but Arpheus has one condition¡­] ¡­Interestingly, Arpheus¡¯ condition seemed easily achievable. Leciel nodded with a displeased expression. ¡°¡­If you¡¯re going to call yourself a hero, you should have adequate skills.¡± That concluded the conversation for now. With a brief farewell of ¡°Well then,¡± Leciel turned to leave. It didn¡¯t take long for Ban to realize that he couldn¡¯t hear the footsteps of her departing. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Leciel looked back. Ban remained in ce, still looking at Leciel. Leciel tilted her head slightly. ¡°¡­Do you have something else to say?¡± Ban slowly spoke up. ¡°We¡¯ll wee you back anytime. You don¡¯t have toe back if you don¡¯t want to. Just drop by if you miss us.¡± Each word was filled with suppressed emotions. Leciel sensed the care in his words. An awkward silence. Three years ago, the boy with tousled hair who smiled innocently shed before her eyes. She couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°You¡¯re still the same.¡± Ban smiled back slightly. ¡°You¡¯re the same to me too.¡± * * * Sector 1 of demon realm. This ce had symbolized humanity¡¯s hope twice. It was the area that resisted until the end when the First Era ended, and it was conquered. And not long ago, it heralded the beginning of humanity¡¯s counterattack. But now, all that glory was hidden beneath the veil of darkness. Whoosh- The wind,den with dense demonic energy, swept through the ruins of the city. The tall walls were half melted and covered in ashes. White bone fragments rolled around on top. And in the center of the area. Standing at the top of a giant stake that seemed to pierce the sky, an old man looked down on sector 1. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Flutter- As Theo¡¯s words fell, dozens of silhouettes that had been chillingly silent behind him simultaneously raised grotesque-shaped daggers. The hands holding the daggers didn¡¯t seem to have any flesh. Whoosh- A dark energy flowed through their grotesque bones. Lich. They were the denizens of darkness that Theo had subdued while conquering the human strongholds of magic towers. Although the bound humans screamed anew upon seeing them, there were only those here who weed their suffering. sh-! Simultaneously, hearts were cut out. The twitching organs spread out on the magic array on the ground. At the same time, a chillingly powerful force amplified within the demonic array, drawing a strange pattern as it shot up into the sky. The change happened then. Crackle- The faint starlight that had existed disappeared altogether. There was only a ck void filling the sky and earth. Suddenly, a red lightning bolt erupted from Theo¡¯s body, constantly shing back and forth in the sky, leaving a trail of crimson. And in the moment when small rifts repeatedly formed and disappeared, everyone in this ce felt the gaze of a colossal presence. Even the Liches, who had been the focus of consciousness, trembled and cowered. Andrew Orrin. Having voluntarily submitted to Theo as a coborator of the magic towers and having be a Lich, he looked at the elderly man standing at the center of the magic array with the gaze of an outsider. Only he stood nonchntly in this ce. ¡®¡­This is the power of a mere legionmander?¡¯ Trembling with fear, Orrin approached Theo. ¡°W-What in the world is happening here?¡± As he yed a decisive role in the fall of the magic towers, receiving favor, Theo replied calmly, ¡°Klk, what¡¯s happening is amunication with His Majesty.¡± Even as he spoke, the power of the lightning bolts emanating from Theo¡¯s body grew increasingly formidable. Thus, enveloped in a bright red radiance, he made contact with the presence beyond the rift. The old man¡¯s body trembled, his eyes half-opened, marking that moment. ¡°Oh¡­ Great Lord of the Demons¡­.¡± ¡­The logic of power governs the demons. Theo, who was on equal footing with Malekia, after swallowing Yol, had be so strong that Malekia had to take notice. With such tremendous power, what kind of being could induce absolute obedience in Theo? Unable to dare look at their munication,¡¯ Orrin bowed his head to the ground. Tss-tss-tss-tss-tss- Until the lightning vanished and the rift closed, no one dared to speak. Theo¡¯s movement came after dozens of hearts that had beenid on the demonic array turned to dust and flew away. Flutter- His hand pointed westward. ¡°Get ready.¡± There will be tremors inside and out. ¡°We¡¯re sealing it.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 282 Chapter 282 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The Hero put the forged identification back into his pocket and looked around. There were sounds of hawkers, the pleasant smell of freshly baked bread and spices, and the noise of street performances. The lively and bustling atmosphere of the street engulfed him instantly. It was familiar. ¡®It¡¯s been a while,¡¯ The Hero thought to himself. It was the first time since he had hidden in Harlem years ago to defeat the demons. His gaze suddenly turned towards Harlem. ¡®I wonder how Barun is doing.¡¯ But today, he wasn¡¯t looking for her. The Hero¡¯s steps led him in the opposite direction. It was the most bustling and luxurious street in the district, where influential people resided. The Hero briskly walked, taking in the atmosphere. The mood was subtly different from a few years ago, tinged with tension and unease thaty beneath the surface. People whispered continuously, their voices lowered. The Hero listened intently. ¡°That new Hero from the north¡­ Is he another fake or a fraud?¡± ¡°Well, he has aplished quite a lot of remarkable feats.¡± ¡°I hope he brings some good news. It¡¯s been a while since we heard of a satisfying victory.¡± ¡°Do you happen to know if he¡¯s a legitimate Hero following in Ted Redymer¡¯s footsteps?¡± Once again, the most talked-about topic was the new Hero, Arpheus, who had emerged in this bleak situation, bringing hope. People were both skeptical and hopeful, expressing their expectations and concerns. ¡®Still, there seems to be a glimmer of hope,¡¯ The Hero thought, feeling rewarded for his public service. As he surveyed public opinion, he quickly reached his destination. ¡®The address is this way¡­¡¯ Thunk- Since it was a street where politicians, wealthy individuals, and nobles resided, security was tight. Even between the mansions, there were soldiers surpassing knight-level guards. However, something was off. Everyone seemed to overlook the Hero, disguised in suspicious attire with a hood. The Hero smiled satisfactorily. ¨‹ Season: Activated ¡°Flowing Shadows.¡± ¡ø Among the many replicas that ??? had created, there was a famous grand thief from the First Era. A thief whose skills were beyondparison to the likes of Bucks. Now that the control over Polymorph had been lifted, his ultimate skill was also as good as the Hero¡¯s. Hero now had mastered the ¡®ultimate skills¡¯ of various fields in addition to thievery. Swoosh- Having perfectly concealed his presence, the Hero headed towards a mansion on one side of the street. Among the splendid houses, it was the grandest and most majestic. At the front gate. ¡°¡­¡± The Hero paused, looking at the intricate pattern on the door. It depicted a deity embracing a person, symbolizing protection. The deity¡¯s figure was ambiguous butposed of gentle curves, with both arms warmly outstretched. People crouched beneath the deity¡¯s embrace, smiling peacefully. Inscribed at the bottom of the pattern were the words, ¡°Sanctuary.¡± A small smile formed on the Hero¡¯s lips. ¡®They¡¯ve made it big.¡¯ He remembered Pia¡¯s disheveled gray hair and Kasim¡¯s sleep-deprived face. The image of the assistant they used to tease and the young man with blond hair who alwaysughed stubbornly came to mind. Pia and Kasim had gotten married about a year ago. ¡®The prophecy from Daelim became a reality.¡¯ Muriel, the disciple of the prophet Lace, had foretold that Kasim would meet his spouse and marry, even though he had joked about marrying a fairy. ¡®People never know.¡¯ As someone who remembered them struggling in the researchb, the Hero was amazed by how well they fit together and the tremendous strength they showed when they joined forces. Pia had gained substantial wealth as an Awakened, but shecked social skills and connections to enter high society. That¡¯s when Kasim stepped in, using his social prowess to gain support from influential nobles. ¡®They¡¯ve be beacons of light in these dark times.¡¯ Thanks to the friendly noble faction formed around the royal family, governing the country became much easier, to the point where even Euphemia would approve of their actions. Their contributions were remarkable. Thunk- The Hero stepped through the main gate slowly. Despite thete hour, there were many peopleing and going, allowing him to blend in easily with his concealment technique. Amidst this, ??? remarked. [You seem less tense thanst time]. The Hero nodded slightly. Among his former colleagues, these two were the ones who might respond positively. They had protected him when his identity was revealed on the hill. [You seem confident, they witnessed your Polymorph scene firsthand. It¡¯s a sight that humans can¡¯t help but detest.] ¡®I know, so just shut it.¡¯ [¡­¡­] The Hero couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous despite ???¡¯s words. It had been three years already. Back when his identity was exposed, he might have defended him under emotions and loyalty, but now, the chances of regaining reason andposure were not slim. ¡®Pia¡¯s presence¡­¡¯ It was felt from the top floor of the main building. Kasim hadn¡¯t returned from his outing yet, as his presence wasn¡¯t felt. The Hero followed a servant hurrying with documents. ¡®Oh.¡¯ Entering the mansion, the Hero¡¯s steps halted as he noticed the portraits on the walls. ¡®The couple seems happy.¡¯ Kasim was looking at Pia with his characteristic yful smile. Pia, although with an awkward smile, was staring straight ahead, her hand firmly holding Kasim¡¯s. Neither of them had changed much from the image in his memory. After standing in front of the painting for a while, the Hero climbed the stairs leading to the top floor. ¡®¡­Huh.¡¯ His steps paused again as he reached the entrance of the top floor corridor. It felt familiar. ¡®Could it be?¡¯ At the end of the corridor, there was a door emitting light. Since a servant was busy handing over documents, the Hero could slip in through the opening. ¡­Entering the study, the Hero stood there, captivated by memories. ¡®It¡¯s exactly the same.¡¯ Pia¡¯s study was identical to the researchb he used in Rosenstark. The arrangement of the desk, bookshelves, and the room¡¯s structure, everything was the same. It was a ce where he spent a lot of time with Pia, striving to create better lectures. ¡®And in that corner.¡¯ Spotting her buried in documents, the Hero was engulfed in a shback as if transported back several years. A soft murmur caught his ears, reminding him of that time. ¡°Why is the budget always running low?¡± The Hero almost burst outughing, forgetting the current situation for a moment. Whether as an extreme assistant or a high-ranking officer in Sanctuary, her struggle with budgets seemed unchanged. [Hehe, shall we start the replication as promised?] ¡°¡­Alright.¡± Instead of improving Polymorph, he would now replicate every colleague he met from now on. It was a promise with ???. Although it seemed to intend to make humans feel disillusioned, the Hero epted it. ¨‹ ¡­Pia Joyce is ¡°reproduced.¡± ¡ø Thud-! A massive shock hit him, and countless images shed in his mind. Her impoverished yet happy childhood. The joy of enrolling in Rosenstark and unleashing her genius. However, her school life was not as smooth as expected. ¡°That damn Momont!¡± The shame and humiliation from group bullying. The news of her hometown turning into a wastnd. The brink of despair after the failure of the ¡°Awakened¡± project she had pinned her hopes on. The Hero felt suffocated. But amid the rushing past, someone appeared, breaking through her tense emotions. It was him, the Hero. ¡®¡­She was happy.¡¯ Despite Pia¡¯s constantints, she was undoubtedly happy. Sessfully leading the Awaken project to sess, she was freed from guilt, contributing to a better future. With unwavering trust and support from the Hero, she recovered herself and her days were fulfilling. In the past, he was Pia¡¯s savior. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Let¡¯s see if these emotions persist to the end.] As ??? spoke, the scene changed. The hill where Yol was subdued. Many people surrounded the Hero, criticizing and condemning him. The emotion Pia felt at that moment was pure injustice and anger. With burning passion, her heart melted, and the injustice boiled up from deep within, rising to her throat. ¡®This is unfair. Why are those jerks bothering our Hero!¡¯ The Hero froze. ??? also seemed puzzled and stopped speaking. Gradually, scenes unfolded that the Hero didn¡¯t know. It looked like some kind of inquisition¡­ Pia and those who surrounded and supported the Hero were the subjects. Even with senior professors surrounding her, Pia stood firm and spoke her mind. ¡°I spent the most time with the Professor. I know better than anyone what he was thinking!¡± ¡°Pia Joyce! Are you defending monster from within and without in a public setting?¡± ¡°Yes! I am defending! Don¡¯t you even see?¡± ¡°What, what!?¡± ¡°He¡¯s someone who has devoted all her time and effort to children¡¯s education and a better future. Other than being human, what more can one ask for from him?¡± ¡­As she passionately shouted, Kasim looked at her with sparkling eyes. Piapletely affirmed the Hero, with no hint of doubt, acknowledging him. This was unexpected for both the Hero and ???. But there was more toe. tter- At a gathering with Kasim, Pia¡¯s face turned red as she slurred, ¡°I actually had a suspicion.¡± ¡°Yes? About what?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about the professor who improved Awakened.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Pia spoke slowly, ¡°The Principal clearly stated that the Hero was ignorant of alchemy, which is strange. How could someone like that suddenly create such a sophisticated alchemical form overnight?¡± There were other doubts as well, like not sleeping even in tiring situations, traces of hair that had been polymorphed into other people, and creating the design for ¡®Simcrum¡¯ was also hard to believe. Once she saw a cat entering through the window, she rushed to theb only to find the Hero sitting there. These were subtle clues that only someone who had spent a lot of time with the Hero, like Pia, could notice. ¡°But what does that have to do with anything? Even if he wants to be human, what does that have to do with¡­?¡± ¡­Those were the memories. Pia was deeply immersed in paperwork when she suddenly looked up. Creak- The door to the study made a small noise. ¡®Why is it open?¡¯ She wondered. The servant must have closed it earlier. Pia approached the open door with a puzzled expression, then froze as she noticed something on the floor beyond it. ¡°What is this?¡± Resembling a puppy, its eyes slowly moistened. After staring at it for a moment, Pia ran without hesitation. Tap- A voice echoed in her chest as if it would burst. It was a name she hadn¡¯t uttered in a long time. ¡°Professor!¡± * * * No one can achieveplete self-affirmation. Even the most optimistic and lenient person harbors disappointment and doubt about themselves deep down. This is why, for a moment, the Hero who ¡°became¡± Pia fell into an indescribable mood. It was because she felt an absolute affirmation towards him. Pia had spent the most time with him, watching his every move. Her affirmation was enough to erase the self-me, doubt, and shame filling his heart. Although he couldn¡¯t believe he could be affirmed like that, he was deeply moved. ¡®¡­I need to leave soon.¡¯ The Hero left a deep understanding of alchemy he gained through Polymorph with Pia. It was about the realm that even the Yussi had not fully reached but he could thanks to Polymorph¡¯s power. He thought that if it was Pia, she would recognize who left it and contribute to its development. But¡­ since it was Pia, she would surely know who left it. Suppressing his confusion, the Hero hurriedly moved his steps outside. ¡­Or at least he tried to. ¡°¡­¡­¡± A pair of blue eyes shining in the darkness stopped him in his tracks. The sharp tip of a rapier aimed at the Hero. The swirling aura of sensitivity around the man exined the reason for his exposure. ¡®¡­Kasim?¡¯ He looked unrecognizable in his grown appearance. But his sharpness and vignce disappeared as quickly as melting snow. The tip of the rapier slowly descended. ¡®Wait a moment¡­¡¯ The Hero looked at Kasim approaching step by step with trembling eyes. His expression. His eyes sparkled, mingling longing and joy. Tap- When he heard faint footsteps from afar, the Hero realized he was in a dire situation. The Hero stood still. ¡°Professor.¡± Kasim smiled broadly. ¡°¡­It¡¯s been a while.¡± Thud- At the same time, something small embraced the Hero from behind. The Hero couldn¡¯t shake it off and escape. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 283 Chapter 283 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Yeah. The hero acknowledged it. He could have defeated her and run away as much as he wanted.Pia¡¯s hand, embracing his back, firmly gripped a handle, but her strength was iparably weak. Even if Kasim said he had improved considerably, it was impossible to catch him if he ran away with all his might. But his feet didn¡¯t move as if nailed to the ground. A tightly squeezed voice was heard from behind. ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°I won¡¯t ask anything. Just stay for a moment.¡± Kasim also approached in silence and grabbed the hero¡¯s hand. It was a strange sight. But how did he recognize him? How did he look at him with the same eyes as before? The hero¡¯s mouth was blocked. The reason he could barely respond to Pia¡¯s words was because he felt the eyes around him. ¡°¡­There are many eyes watching.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± The hero closed his eyes tightly and sighed. ¡°First, let¡¯s go inside.¡± With those words, Kasim and Pia simultaneously let out a small cheer¡­ They surrounded the hero from front and back. Perhaps they were worried he would escape somewhere. The hero could onlyugh at their childish appearance. ¡®Failed. It turned out like this.¡¯ However, unexpectedly, ??? said nothing all along. He expected him to go crazy trying to reproduce Kasim. It may be that he was upset by the more positive reaction than he thought. He couldn¡¯t tell, but for now the hero followed them into the mansion. So the three arrived at the reception room. Because all the employees had been asked to leave, Pia and Kasim personally served tea and snacks. To the three people who had tea in front of the mug, a strange silence descended. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Of course, there was something to say. The throats of Kasim and Pia were full of questions to be answered. It was just being pushed down for consideration. The hero¡¯s mouth opened. ¡°¡­I¡¯m d you¡¯re doing well.¡± Pia and Kasim nodded cautiously without saying a word. ¡°Is the professor well, too?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m d. Really.¡± Kasimforted Pia, who seemed to cry. The hero shook his head, feeling the atmosphere and ventting it. ¡°But how on earth did you recognize me?¡± Kasim shrugged his shoulders and replied. ¡°At first, I thought it was an intruder¡­.¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°Your expression and eyes seemed familiar. Then suddenly my intuition went crazy! Do you understand what I¡¯m saying? Yes?¡± ¡°I have no idea¡­ Anyway, I see that you¡¯ve grown enough to see through my concealment technique.¡± A deep smile spread across Kasim¡¯s lips. ¡°I have something to protect.¡± Pu- Pia, who was drinking tea, spewed its contents. But Kasim ignored her and looked at her with a hot gaze. The hero shook his head in relief. ¡®¡­This is very nice.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t exactly the reunion he wanted, but it felt like he was back in theb three years ago. ¡­Well. It was unexpectedlyfortable. The hero also picked up the teacup. ¡°I¡¯ve heard bits and pieces of your news.¡± ¡°Yes, I never thought you¡¯d leave me hanging. I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d not show up for so long¡­¡± Pia guessed. In the case of the Sanctuary, Lotus Knights, and Dawn Knights, the hero¡¯s n was indispensable. Of course, he was also monitoring their trends and issuing appropriate instructions through Euphemia. ¡°First, congrattions on your marriage. I didn¡¯t think you two would be a couple.¡± Both of their faces turned slightly red at the same time. ¡°We owe it to the professor. If it wasn¡¯t for the professor, we wouldn¡¯t have met.¡± ¡°¡­Well, that¡¯s how it turned out.¡± A relieved smile spread naturally. ¡°Let me hear your story.¡± ¡°Huh, it might be quite long?¡± Kasim brought out liquor from the disy case excitedly. There was a short exchange of nces between Pia and Kasim. Actually, there were many things that they wanted to ask. Where have you been all this time? What exactly did you do? What are your ns for the future? Will you continue to hide without revealing yourself to your old acquaintances? ¡­Even after the demon king is subdued, will you note back? But they kept silent. That¡¯s how the enjoyable story began. Mainly, Kasim would tell a long story, and Pia would add ament. The hero listened with enjoyment, asionally throwing in questions. ¡°By the way, when did you give up on Sta¡­?¡± ¡°Ah, Professor!¡± Anyway, the sses continued to be emptied amidstughter and conversation. Kasim was fine, and of course, so was the hero. Pia was the only one getting a bit tipsy. Her sudden outburst came when the bottom of the bottle was about to be revealed. ¡°Professor, I mean it. I really hate the public. I despise them to the core.¡± A moment of silence settled. ¡°Sometimes I wonder. When the professor¡¯s identity was revealed. Did everyone truly hate him? Did they think of him as humanity¡¯s enemy?¡± ¡°Pia.¡± Kasim seemed to try to stop Pia from drinking further, but she shook her head vigorously. ¡°¡­No. Some surely understood the professor¡¯s actions and didn¡¯t think they were that bad.¡± ¡°Perhaps.¡± ¡°But once the negative opinions swept through like a wave, everyone stopped thinking. They blindly tore him apart without any judgment. It was as if every tragedy was solely the professor¡¯s fault. They just needed a target for their anger.¡± The hero silently observed Pia. Her disgust towards human crowds ran deep. It stemmed from the unfair torment she endured throughout her school years. Gulp- Pia was the one emptying the ss. ¡°¡­So, I decided I might as well be that wave. I vowed to be a massive wave that could sway the public as I pleased. That¡¯s why I created the Sanctuary. People may praise me as a saint or whatever, but¡­ that was my true reason.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The hero already knew Pia¡¯s essence, so he just listened without showing it. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Pia¡¯s pupils focused on the hero. ¡°You can alwayse back. I¡¯ll have a ce for you next to me.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s more than I deserve.¡± ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m just an assistant.¡± After mumbling those words, Pia leaned against the sofa and fell asleep. A heavy breath. It had been a long time since he saw him asleep. Kasim suggested a walk to the hero who was caught up in emotions. ¡°Would you like to walk a bit?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± . . . The two walked in silence for a while. The biting winter wind brushed against their cheeks. It was a weather reminiscent of the day when the hero and Kasim first met in Rosenstark. ¡°Pia used to say. She felt at ease only by your side. She said you gave her a ¡®ce.¡¯ She couldn¡¯t find a ce anywhere in the world, but next to you, she feltfortable.¡± ¡°¡­Yes. So, she wants to create that ¡®ce¡¯ for me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a kind of guilt.¡± He knew. ¡°A guilt of not repaying enough¡­ that kind of guilt.¡± ¡°A useless guilt. She has already repaid everything by being an excellent assistant to me.¡± Kasim clenched his lips for some reason after saying that. After hesitating, he spoke up. ¡°What¡­ do I seem like to you?¡± The voice that just a moment ago was lively in the drinking session now sank deep into thought. The hero chuckled. ¡°What do you mean? What?¡± ¡°Do I seem like I¡¯ve repaid everything?¡± Suddenly, Kasim¡¯s feet stopped. The hero also stopped and looked at him. But Kasim couldn¡¯t meet the hero¡¯s gaze. ¡°Kasim.¡± ¡°I was afraid. In reality.¡± The hero let out a soft sigh. ¡°¡­You?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What were you afraid of?¡± Kasim slowly opened his mouth. ¡°I was afraid that you would be disappointed in humanity and turn your back on us. In these times, if a figure like you were to oppose humanity, it would all be over. You might be a nightmare worse than a demon.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°While helping Pia, I kept thinking about it. What if you were ufortable with what we were doing? Maybe our actions weren¡¯t really helping¡­ I had such thoughts.¡± When the hero first came to Rosenstark. His approach was merely out of curiosity and interest. But soon after, his life, which was full of flirting with women and mocking professors behind their backs, slowly changed without any purpose. The hero reignited his passion for martial arts, and instilled in him a sense of purpose beyond the mundane and dry life. ¡®But I¡¯m still¡­¡¯ The hero¡¯s eyes met Kasim¡¯s, who was looking down at the ground. ¡°I¡¯m quite cowardly, aren¡¯t I? Pretending to be honorable and supportive in front of others, but inside, I were just calcting. While being by Pia¡¯s side, genuinely trying to help you, I was enduring with such thoughts.¡± Even without duplicating Kasim, it was clear he was pouring out his true feelings now. Perhaps even Pia couldn¡¯t hear Kasim¡¯s innermost thoughts. The hero let out a light sigh. ¡°So?¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°So, what have you aplished?¡± Before Kasim could answer, the hero continued. ¡°You helped create the unprecedented advocacy group called Sanctuary. You became a fence for the powerless and breathed hope into their dark lives. Moreover, you protected and assisted my cherished assistant as her mentor. You threw her brilliant youth into this difficult path, didn¡¯t you? Thanks to people like you, despite everything, I could still have a positive view of humanity.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that enough? Congrattions. You¡¯ve achieved your purpose.¡± Kasim¡¯s eyes were slightly reddened. The hero smirked. ¡°Besides, I haven¡¯t done much for you in the first ce. I just used you.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± ¡°So, if anything, I¡¯m the one who owes something.¡± The hero¡¯s hand flicked, hitting Kasim¡¯s waist where the rapier was attached. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly a congrattory gift, but I can give you something right now.¡± Light returned to Kasim¡¯s eyes at that moment. ¡°Hahaha¡­ it reminds me of the old days.¡± Kasim chuckled softly and then slowly raised the rapier. ¡°Even in this situation¡­ Professor, you always save me.¡± Wooooong- A golden wave emanated from the hero¡¯s fingertips. ¡°No.¡± From the Key of Valber, the hero pulled out Dark Hope and a smile resembling Kasim¡¯s appeared on the hero¡¯s lips. ¡°We saved each other.¡± His logs were still burning brightly. * * * Having enjoyed a lively sparring match until Kasim passed out, the hero left the mansion in the morning. It was regrettable not to bid farewell to Pia, but it couldn¡¯t be helped. He had a tight schedule ahead. Still, if he had time now, he might asionally visit ormunicate. Just that fact alone seemed to restore a bit of the stability the hero had lost over the past few years. ¡®¡­Butmendable.¡¯ The hero smiled contentedly as he reminisced about the sparring with Kasim. Despite being busy with running Sanctuary, his swordsmanship had greatly improved. Thanks to the responsibility of ¡®protecting,¡¯ as Kasim had put it. It was far superior to Kasim from four years ago, who was easily neutralized with an iplete Ritual 1 technique. Back then, he had to use up to Ritual 3 re to subdue him. Step by step- With a light heart, he headed towards the pce. He had asked Euphemia toe if he visited the capital, so he called ???. ¡®Why have you been silent all this time?¡¯ [¡­¡­] ¡®¡­¡­?¡¯ Just as the hero was about to call him again. [Let¡¯s talk for a moment] ¡­What can I say? A voice full of frustration echoed in his mind. [I have something to ask] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 284 Chapter 284 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The hero headed towards a park with few people. ¡®What do you want to ask?¡¯ Immediately after asking the question.His mind went nk, and he began to lose strength from his body. After blinking his eyes a few times, the hero realized that he had entered a mental world in an instant. However¡­ ¡®¡­This isn¡¯t my mental world, is it?¡¯ The surroundings were covered in hazy fog. Under his feet, there were only endless ck waves. Voices of men, women, children, and the elderly surged together and then faded away again. Thud- A faint reverberation pierced through the chaos, that was when it echoed. Thud- The hero opened his eyes narrowly and looked at the figure in front of him. For some reason, that figure looked exactly like the hero. ¡®You look upset.¡¯ [¡­What¡¯s different?] He had a bewildered expression. At first nce, it seemed like his pride was hurt. ¡®What don¡¯t you understand?¡¯ [Why do the people around you continue to show unwavering affection even though your true identity has been revealed?] He had cloned countless humans and meticulously grasped the essence of humanity. They are exclusive beings. They deeply protect themselves, seek stability, and cling to the familiar. Their exclusivity is most intense when their ¡®self-esteem¡¯ is threatened. Therefore, naturally, he thought that the hero¡¯s oldrades would change their attitudes like flipping over a palm. However, what appeared before the hero¡¯s eyes was apletely different situation, so he felt one of the most significant confusions in his long life. The hero calmly asked, ¡®You¡¯ve roughly scanned through my memories, so don¡¯t you think you know the reason?¡¯ [Are you saying it¡¯s because I showed kindness during the period of imitation?] He growled fiercely. [I did plenty of that too! No, I was much more proficient than you.] ¡®Is that what you think?¡¯ [Of course. Unlike you, who superficially pretended to understand others, I could literally ¡®read¡¯ the people around me! I fulfilled all their wishes. But¡­] His face twisted. Towards the end, there was only betrayal and rejection left. [Why were you able to achieve different results? Why is it that human nature¡­ escapes you?] For a moment, the hero pondered where to start exining. He had also looked at Zero¡¯s memories and epted some parts of the first era¡¯s essence. From the beginning, ??? hadn¡¯t just hated humans. No, he too was someone who wanted to blend in among humans and had put in a lot of effort. ¡®It¡¯s because things went awry.¡¯ They had gone through simr processes. But there was a decisive reason why the results were different, not just the performance difference of the polymorph. [It¡¯s better to answer carefully.] ¡®¡­I suddenly thought that maybe you had higher expectations than me.¡¯ [I said answer carefully.] Looking at ??? with ambiguous eyes, the hero muttered. ¡®I¡¯m not saying I was great and you were ipetent, resulting in different oues.¡¯ He felt the need to ¡®show¡¯ rather than exin. ¡®You¡¯ll realize it sooner than you think, so watch.¡¯ [¡­Watch?] Since it was a mental world, ???¡¯s emotions were vividly felt by the hero. Jealousy, envy, regret, sadness, anger¡­ lingering attachments. The hero¡¯s mouth opened slowly. ¡®Yes. Hold on a bit and watch. After all, there¡¯s not much of the journey left.¡¯ * * * After finishing all his errands, the hero suddenly turned back and looked at the pce. ¡®Has time already passed like this?¡¯ The sun was slowly tilting below the horizon, coloring the sky golden. Under the sunset, the magnificent golden dome and splendid, majestic decorations sparkled dazzlingly. The hero stood still and gazed at the pce bathed in the sunset. ¡°What is my purpose? Why am I still ying the role of a double?¡± ¡°I have no intention of quitting my role as a double.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Because humans still need the Hero. That¡¯s the reason.¡± The ce where their grand lies were about to be exposed. If things went ording to n, he wouldn¡¯t set foot in this ce again. The reason the hero visited the pce after a long time was to utilize the ¡®perfect polymorph.¡¯ ¡°Tell the ministers to gather at the pce.¡± Euphemia had already summoned all her subjects, and the hero secretly cloned them one by one. Since there was no emotional exchange anyway, there was no burden. It was just a bit annoying to categorize useful information from the cloned entities. That way, he could obtain a lot of information, and among them, there was quite a bit about their main goal, ¡®identifying coborators.¡¯ ¡®These are genuine pieces of information without a hint of falsehood.¡¯ Even though they were not directly rted to the demons, selfish nobles who were corrupt and only looked out for their own interests were exposed without exception. ¡°You just prevented a catastrophe in my jurisdiction. Dozens of operatives¡¯ catastrophes as well.¡± The Mother Ghost was truly moved. Due to pouring numerous resources into the sealing sites and the informationwork near the front lines, the authorities were struggling to maintain control. By now, behind that magnificent pce, in the emperor¡¯s torture chamber, the screams of coborators and corrupt individuals must be echoing. While punishing the viins, he also relieved hisrades¡¯ burdens, making his heart feel very light. After that, the hero briefly discussed matters rted to the seal with the emperor. Although he was worried about ??? wanting to clone her as well, he agreed to watch quietly after being told to do so, and remained silent throughout. ¡°I¡¯ve assigned Leciel to oversee the seal in the Fainel region. Soon, the Lotus Knights and the power of Arpheus will join as well.¡± ¡°Good. I should start moving too.¡± Euphemia hesitated umonly as she addressed the hero. ¡°Are you really nning to go to Fainel as well?¡± ¡°¡­I have to.¡± It was a n he had been half-hearted about until beforeing to the capital, but meeting with Pia and Kasim gave him courage. The hero had firmly made up his mind. ¡°Can I ask for one suitable disguise?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine, but¡­¡± Euphemia started to say something but sighed instead. ¡®¡­Is it okay?¡¯ She was worried that going to Fainel, where there were piles of students he had taught, might be a concern, but she couldn¡¯t stop the hero. Soon, the sealing sites would be battlefields. The hero hiding under disguise was a prudent choice on a national scale. The emperor could only nod eventually. ¡°Through the Mother Ghost, I¡¯ll pass on the personal details of your disguised identity. It might take a few days, so take a break in the meantime.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± The hero was about to leave when¡­ he noticed something and paused. ¡°You don¡¯t look very well. Is something wrong?¡± Euphemia¡¯s pale face showed signs of fatigue. Possessing the ¡®Ultimate Body,¡¯ she had far superior stamina and resistance to various toxins than an ordinary person. Seeing Euphemia looking so tired was unusual. ¡°You seem like you¡¯re about to copse from exhaustion.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°¡­I¡¯m a bit tired. But don¡¯t worry about it. You go and do your task.¡± If the emperor, who never showed signs of fatigue even in the face of difficulty, said that, it must be serious. ¡°If it¡¯s okay, I can polymorph into you and take care of state affairs for a few days. Since it¡¯ll take some time to prepare the disguise anyway.¡± A friendly offer. However, the emperor¡¯s expression subtly changed as if she had misunderstood something. ¡°¡­Polymorph into me?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll hold the fort for you, so why don¡¯t you take a vacation or something?¡± The emperor rejected outright. ¡°I don¡¯t want that.¡± The hero chuckled. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°What do you mean, why not?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡± ¡°Yes, exactly that.¡± Was she worried that the hero would seize power? The hero felt a bit gloomy at herrade¡¯s mistrust. Surprised by reading his expression, the emperor was taken aback. ¡°Not that worry, but¡­ forget it.¡± ¡°Forget what?¡± ¡°Just sometimes, your understanding of humans seems seriouslycking in certain areas.¡± Then, she threw apletely irrelevant question. ¡°There¡¯s been one thing I¡¯ve been curious about.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your sexual identity?¡± What kind of question is that? This time, it was the hero¡¯s turn to have a strange expression on his face. ¡°Are you male? You don¡¯t seem female¡­ are you entirely neuter?¡± The hero was a bit flustered, but since it was the emperor¡¯s question, he thought it must have significance and answered sincerely. ¡°Well¡­ considering that the initial form and the majority of the clones I¡¯ve created so far are male, I¡¯d say it¡¯s a male identity.¡± The emperor thenughed incredulously. It seemed like the hero¡¯s suspicion of ¡°daring to ask such a thing¡­¡± was just his imagination. Soon, a twisted smile appeared on Euphemia¡¯s lips. ¡°Leave.¡± The hero was dismissed. * * * Two figures stood in front of a cliff that looked like it had been carved out. Cliffs soaring into the sky. The wind blowing over them was so fierce that they couldn¡¯t hear each other¡¯s voices. The night-haired young man stood at the edge of the cliff, looking down at the deep and dark gorge, then turned around and shouted to hispanion. ¡°This seems to be it! The seal of Fainel!¡± The red-haired woman nodded in agreement. She looked up at her hair flying like a mane, then gave up and stretched out her hand. A breeze came rushing in and stood beside Leciel. ¡°¡­We can¡¯t see anything below, is it an illusion barrier?¡± ¡°Probably? Anyway, it¡¯s a terrain that¡¯s very easy to defend.¡± ¡°Right. Even if arge armyes, we can easily block them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we chose it as the seal site.¡± They exchanged such sentiments as they headed towards the bottom of the gorge. It was after receiving word that the knights of the Lotus Order and the aides of Arpheus would arrive soon. In fact, information about the five seals in various locations was being handled strictly confidential. After the hero¡¯s party constructed them, no one could know who was guarding which seal, where they were located, the detailed structure, or the type of protective barrier unless they were appointed as guardians. Even the guardians themselves knew nothing about the other seals. ¡°We even came without knowing what exactly is being sealed.¡± Carefully, as they descended to the bottom of the gorge, Ban swallowed his saliva and gazed into the darkness within. Even the Lotus Order, which had established a firm tradition of valor, was taking on the task of guarding the seals for the first time. The same was true for Leciel. She tried to hide her tense demeanor and muttered, ¡°By the way, I heard that when we arrive, a guide wille to meet us¡­ Where are they? Are they noting out because not everyone has arrived yet?¡± ¡°A guide?¡± ¡°Could it be one of the former guardians? I¡¯m not sure.¡± Before Leciel could finish her sentence. Thump- A faint sound of footsteps echoed from inside the gorge. The two instinctively fell silent and looked at the approaching figure with curious eyes. Eventually, the sunlight streaming through the gap in the cliff illuminated the unfamiliar individual. ¡°¡­Is that the guide?¡± He had a rather ordinary appearance that seemed toomon to be in this secretive seal. Brown hair, a moderately square face, and an average height. The only thing notable was his unusually deep gaze. Ban and Leciel looked at him with a strange sense of anticipation. ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Ignatius, the guide entrusted with leading the guardians.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 285 Chapter 285 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Ignotus continued with a simple self-introduction. He exined that as one of the ghosts of the Shadow Division, he was responsible for guiding them through the seal, and he nned to stay with them for a while, assisting with the maintenance of the facility and the convenience of the guardians. ¡°Not only myself but also a support team to assist with the overall living conditions of the guardians has already arrived and is waiting inside. I will introduce them to you gradually.¡±Leciel and Ban nodded and greeted him. ¡°Oh, I see. Please take good care of us!¡± ¡°¡­We look forward to your assistance.¡± After all,batants alone couldn¡¯t sustain themselves at the sealing ground. Ban and Leciel could sense presences inside the canyon. ¡®This is practically like an outpost.¡¯ For some reason, they felt a bit relieved to be living with the man before them. Perhaps it was due to his friendly smile and calm demeanor. Even Leciel, who was not particrly friendly towards others, found herself feeling a subtle fondness for ¡®Ignotus.¡¯ ¡°Then, pleasee inside.¡± With a faint smile, Ignotus turned around. . . . The rough locations and defending forces of the five seals were as follows: ¨C The 1st seal in the northern ¡®Lost in¡¯ where Barrett Namsov is located. The defense of the 1st seal is managed by Cuculli and her elite troops, the Namsov family, Izaro, and Maktania. This ce is the core of the seals, requiring more effort than other regions. ¨C The 2nd seal located underground in the Imperial Pce of the capital. The defense of the 2nd seal is managed by the Emperor¡¯s special forces, the Imperial Guards, the elite agents of the Shadow Division, and the former sword saint. ¨C The 3rd seal located in the depths of the Great Forest, at Lace¡¯s hiding ce. The defense of the 3rd seal is managed by the fairy warriors and some members of the Dawn Knights dispatched there. ¨C The 4th seal located within Rosenstark in the western continent. The defense of the 4th seal is managed by Rosenstark¡¯s own defensive forces and the elite knights led by Lucas, the new head of the Wellington family. ¨C Lastly, the 5th seal in the central continent, the Feinell region. Originally, it was defended by half of the Dawn Knights and Larze. However, as the frontline gradually receded, the Lotus Knights and the forces of Arpheus were recruited instead. It was judged that even they were insufficient, so Leciel, known as the strongest sword, was assigned. ¡°This way, please.¡± After briefly introducing the living area, Ignotus led them to the deepest part of the canyon. Passing through dozens of protective barriers and fearsome defensive artifacts (which seemed somewhat familiar to the children), the 5th seal finally revealed itself. Woooom¡ª The seal had the shape of a tree, resembling the body of Barrett Namsov. Centered around a gigantic ancient tree, circr patterns and geometric designs wereyered in ripples. However, since it was a magically created tree, the seal was semi-transparent and emitted a blinding light. ¡®Voices¡­.¡¯ As they approached, they could hear voicesing from an unknown source, whispering words like Keter, Chokhmah, Binah, Chesed¡­. Simultaneously, the tree¡¯s branches split into countless directions, reaching towards the ceiling. The branches intertwined, forming a mystical veil. The children were awestruck by the unfamiliar sight. Even in Rosenstark, where magic wasmonce, the atmosphere exuded by the seal was overwhelming. ¡°¡­So this is the seal we¡¯ve only heard about.¡± Ban was the first to ask a question. ¡°Can you tell us now what is being sealed?¡± ¡°Of course. Both of you have the necessary authorization.¡± ¡°Authorization?¡± ¡°No matter how many people are tasked with guarding the seal, not everyone knows its true nature. However, those like you, who y a central role in its protection, are naturally allowed to share this information.¡± Ban¡¯s eyes gleamed with curiosity at these words. ¡°¡­Who determines the granting of authorization? The Emperor? Or perhaps¡­.¡± ¡°Well, as I¡¯m just a lower rank, I don¡¯t know that much.¡± ¡°I see.¡± With a faint smile, Ignotus continued. ¡°Anyway, to exin, you both know that four years ago, Hero Ted Redymer injured the Demon King, forcing him into retreat. As a result, for the next year, the demons put a lot of effort into gathering demonic energy to heal the Demon King.¡± ¡°Yes, we are well aware of that.¡± It was a story from when they were freshmen. The Demon King¡¯s army, expected to retreat, had instead rampaged even more, nting stakes everywhere, causing turmoil in the world. Ban and Leciel, who had personally stopped the northern invasion that was part of that effort, could never forget it. ¡°But in truth, their purpose for gathering demonic energy was different.¡± Ignotus revealed the truth to the children. The demons had reopened the gateway to the demon realm, and as a result, the Demon King, who returned to his homnd, had not only recovered but potentially enhanced his true form. ¡°That¡¯s why this seal was created.¡± A supreme magic to block the connection between the present world and the demon realm, an achievement unparalleled in human history. The children, taking in this immense new truth, remained silent for a moment. It was Leciel, staring at Ignotus with an unreadable expression, who spoke first. ¡°¡­So who created this extraordinary seal?¡± ¡°As I said, my information is limited¡­.¡± ¡°Do you at least know if the second-generation hero participated?¡± Second hero. The choice of words, seeming to affirm the second hero¡¯s existence, made Ban look at Leciel in surprise. With the same expression as before, Ignotus nodded. ¡°No, I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Understood. Thank you for exining.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Beep¡ª At that moment, a brief notification sound came from Ignotus¡¯s pocket. ¡°Excuse me for a moment.¡± After checking themunication orb, Ignotus turned back to the children. ¡°The Lotus Knights and the new hero¡¯s party are arriving soon.¡± Saying he needed to leave to prepare, Ignotus began to leave. ¡°You should continue your training as usual in your living quarters. If you need any supplies or services, let me know. Oh, and of course, information about the seal is ssified.¡± Just as he was turning to leave, Leciel suddenly spoke up. ¡°Professor.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± Ignotus turned back with a puzzled expression, and Leciel slowly shook her head. ¡°Never mind. It was a slip of the tongue.¡± After Ignotus left, Ban looked at Leciel in disbelief. ¡°¡­Why?¡± ¡°Do you think he¡¯s the professor?¡± Leciel shrugged slightly. ¡°Well¡­ you never know. It¡¯s such an important seal; he wouldn¡¯t be kept in the dark about it.¡± Ban¡¯s expression also became slightly perplexed. ¡°That¡¯s true, but I don¡¯t think he woulde to the seal where we are. There¡¯s a risk of being discovered.¡± ¡°Well, if it were me, I¡¯de here.¡± Leciel had another reason for thinking so. A few days ago, she had received a brief message from Yussi. Once the principal and a student with little interaction, they had be close after Leciel dropped out, maintaining tight contact to find the hero¡¯s whereabouts. [He came to see me. He mighte to you next. If anyone suspicious appears, share it with me immediately.] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Yussi had left the Lotus Knights to Leciel and was now focusing on monitoring Kasim, Pia, and Noubelmag. Recalling Yussi¡¯s advice, Leciel answered Ban. ¡°And his name is strange. It sounds like an alias.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s rude, Leciel.¡± Your name isn¡¯t that great either. Ban swallowed thest part. ¡°In any case, we should keep an eye on him.¡± ¡°We might be wrong, though.¡± They both stared intently at where Ignotus had left. Ban was the first to turn his head and speak. ¡°By the way, are you going to teach Arpheus? Luke says he¡¯s really looking forward to it.¡± A subtle change appeared on Leciel¡¯s previously expressionless face. To an unfamiliar eye, it might have seemed insignificant, but Ban could immediately tell she was quite irritated. ¡°¡­If he has the skills to call himself a new hero, I might spend some time with him.¡± It was a roundabout way of saying no. Ban felt sorry for Arpheus, who was probably full of enthusiasm right now. He had no idea what the word ¡®hero¡¯ meant to Leciel. ¡°Well, anyway, that¡¯s that.¡± Ban grinned and patted Leciel on the shoulder. ¡°Are you ready to see your friends? They¡¯re all really looking forward to it.¡± ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Another change appeared on Leciel¡¯s face. Her rxed lips curved into a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± * * * Luke and Gerald barely had time to greet Leciel. Evergreen and Karen rushed to her first. ¡°Le-ciel!!¡± The two ran towards her with open arms and hugged the frozen Leciel tightly. Then, each took one of her ears and began to pour out what they wanted to say. ¡°How long has it been?¡± ¡°Are you eating properly? You look even thinner than thest time we saw you.¡± ¡°They say you¡¯ve been through constant battles, but your skin is still great.¡± ¡°You look even prettier.¡± ¡°How could you not contact us even once?¡± ¡°We missed you so much.¡± ¡­Leciel¡¯s small whisper, ¡°Me too,¡± was quickly drowned out. ¡°Stop standing around and get us some refreshments, Gerald.¡± ¡°We need to hear everything that happened while you were away.¡± ¡°Did you have fun with Ban?¡± Shouts close to screams erupted. The men, already looking exasperated, had retreated to the tent¡¯s entrance, and Leciel, though surprised, was blinking rapidly. But soon enough, Leciel extended her arms to embrace her friends. ¡°¡­Have you been well?¡± In the embrace of her friends, deep emotions crossed Leciel¡¯s small face. What a peace she hadn¡¯t felt in so long. For a moment, they felt as if they had returned to the happiest times of their lives. The years of tension and hardship slowly melted away. ¡­In the silence that settled over the tent, the children savored their reunion. . . . After a bout of greetings and catching up, the topic the children brought up first was, of course, Arpheus. Karen asked Leciel with a curious expression. ¡°Are you going to teach him?¡± ¡°¡­First, I¡¯ll see his skills.¡± It was a deration of intent to fight. Gerald chimed in. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not a problem for you, but that guy has an abnormal amount of mana.¡± ¡°How much are we talking about?¡± ¡°It¡¯s immeasurable. What he showed when fighting me was already incredible¡­ but I don¡¯t think that was his full power.¡± Arpheus and his entourage hade along with them all the way here. Thanks to that, they could watch Arpheus¡¯s training every morning¡­. ¡°The area around his carriage would turn entirely blue.¡± ¡°Is that even possible? He¡¯s not a dragon or something.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Anyway, it was immediately clear why the higher-ups insisted on including Arpheus as a guardian. With that level of firepower, he could wipe out lesser monsters effortlessly.¡± Surely, a formidable opponent. However, Leciel showed no sign of tension. Luke read her confidence and asked. ¡°You¡¯ve figured out how to deal with him, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯d know what I¡¯m thinking.¡± Luke nodded. Since he and Leciel had simr abilities, he could roughly guess her thoughts. He would have considered the same method if he had to face Arpheus. But¡­. ¡°¡­Can you use that in actualbat?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already used it?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Luke ground his teeth. Geniuses are really annoying. ¡­It was at that moment. Knock, knock¡ª Arpheus entered their tent with his lieutenants. Walking in as usual, he momentarily showed a surprised expression and fixed his gaze on one side of the tent. ¡°¡­.¡± Ban¡¯s eyebrows slightly furrowed. He realized why Arpheus was acting that way. His eyes were locked on Leciel¡¯s face. After a dozen seconds, Arpheus lightly nodded to the people in the tent and then stated the purpose of his visit. ¡°I¡¯vee to respectfully ask when the new Sword Saint might widen my knowledge. I apologize for the intrusion.¡± His gaze returned to Leciel. ¡®The new Sword Saint.¡¯ Despite the ttering words, Leciel remained expressionless. ¡°No need to dy. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll broaden your knowledge now.¡± Without hesitation, she left the tent with only her bare body, leaving the shapeshifter behind. The children and Arpheus hurriedly followed her as if they had made a pact. Some of the children looked a bit worried. Of course, Leciel had also achieved significant growth during their time apart, and they had heard much about her feats, but¡­ their memories were still of the freshman Leciel from three years ago. Could she truly dominate someone with Arpheus¡¯s monstrous manar? ¡®Of course, she¡¯ll win¡­.¡¯ ¡®Hopefully, she¡¯ll crush him effortlessly.¡¯ Only Luke seemed indifferent. . . . Five minutes passed. Arpheus admitted defeat without even drawing his sword. His immense mana had not manifested even once. The ¡®new hero,¡¯ who was standing dumbfounded, stammered at Leciel before him. ¡°How¡­ how did you¡­?¡± ¡°I cut it.¡± ¡°C-cut what?¡± She replied nonchntly. ¡°All the flows of your mana.¡± ¡­Cutting the uncuttable. The mental sword that transcends all limits of reality. Heart Sword. Leciel had already surpassed the realms they had anticipated. ¡­Watching in secret, Ignotus. No, the hero clenched his fist. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 286 Chapter 286 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°I¡¯ve severed it. The flow of all the mana you possess.¡± With those unbelievable words, the battle ended in an instant. If there was one constion for Arpheus, it was that, except for his apanying lieutenants, his other subordinates did not witness this utter defeat.However, that was littlefort. Arpheus stared nkly at Leciel. ¡®¡­Is something like this really possible?¡¯ Of course, he hadn¡¯t expected an easy victory. He had just confirmed the exceptional skills of Gerald, who was merely a member of the Lotus Knights and one of the lesser-known disciples of the false hero. But he had calcted that he wouldn¡¯t be so easily overpowered if he used his full strength. As his ¡®benefactor¡¯ assured him, his mana was the greatest in the human world. ¡­Yet, to be defeated without even properly drawing his sword waspletely unexpected. Buzz¡­. The mana he relied on remained coiled in his mana core, refusing to move. Its immense presence was still there, but no matter how much he tried to manipte it, it remained immobile as if it belonged to someone else. As Arpheus stood there dazed, Leciel spoke curtly. ¡°Do you wish to continue?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± As a swordsman, Arpheus could recognize the supreme level of mastery Leciel had achieved. A level of skill that rendered the amount and maniption of mana meaningless, a state of mind and willpower. Unless one¡¯s weapon skills reached a simr level to resist such profound swordsmanship, the result would be the same no matter how many times they fought. ¡°¡­I¡¯ve had enough.¡± As those watching had expected, Arpheus let his arms drop limply. But his next action was something no one had anticipated. ¡°What must I do?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°What must I do to avoid such a futile defeat next time?¡± Arpheus¡¯ lieutenants coughed awkwardly and averted their gazes. Though they felt embarrassed seeing their lord immediately acknowledge defeat and seek instruction, Arpheus himself was rather dignified. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Leciel also seemed a bit surprised, narrowing her eyes as she studied Arpheus. She hesitated for a moment. ¡®He¡¯s even more hopeless than I thought¡­ should I help him or not?¡¯ If she were alone, she would have turned away without mercy. But Arpheus was now arade who would help protect an important seal. The better his skills, the stronger their protection of the seal would be. ¡®We must bring him up to a level where he won¡¯t hold us back.¡¯ After some deliberation, Leciel opened her mouth. ¡°You must first address the dissonance.¡± ¡°Dissonance¡­?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve likely neglected the basics, relying on your mana quantity.¡± At this, Arpheus¡¯ expression became peculiar. Neglecting the basics? He was a training enthusiast who had never skipped a session, even with his busy schedule. He knew hisck of talent, so he worked even harder. ¡°¡­You need to revisit the elements that have be dull without you realizing it.¡± Instead of exining further, Leciel chose to demonstrate. ¡°First, let¡¯s start with the ¡®Endurance on the Sword¡¯s Edge.¡¯¡± ¡°¡­Ugh.¡± At Leciel¡¯s words, a faint sigh escaped from the Lotus Knights watching from afar. Someone¡¯s shoulder flinched at the same moment. Endurance on the Sword¡¯s Edge. It was a grueling basic training often assigned by the hero to their extreme disciples. ¡°¡­A nostalgic training.¡± ¡°Is it really nostalgic?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­.¡± Arpheus felt a bit uneasy at their reactions. But only for a moment¡ª Thud¡ª! When Leciel pulled out a dagger and nted it upside down in the training ground, the surroundings fell silent. It was literally ¡®upside down.¡¯ The blunt handle pierced the solid ground in an instant, making Arpheus marvel again. ¡®Is that the level of mastery with willpower?¡¯ In Leciel¡¯s hands, even a straw would perform like a famed sword. Swish¡ª Leciel pulled out another dagger. She grasped the dagger in her right hand, and with her left hand behind her back, she bnced herself on the de of the dagger embedded in the ground. ¡°Gasp!¡± It seemed almost like a suicidal act, causing Arpheus and his lieutenants to involuntarily hold their breath. But the sound that echoed was not one of flesh being pierced, but a sharp metallic ring. Screeeech¡ª! Arpheus watched Leciel with trembling eyes. ¡®¡­Is that possible?¡¯ With the tips of the daggers touching and forming a bnce, Leciel was bearing her entire weight. ¡­Extreme force concentrated on a very narrow point. Her body, glowing faintly with a blue light on the shining de, formed a perfect straight line. If she lost bnce for even a moment, the de on the ground would pierce her body. As Arpheus stared in awe, Leciel¡¯s calm voice reached his ears. ¡°This is Endurance on the Sword¡¯s Edge.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Long, slow breaths. A perfect posture without a hint of disturbance. A face devoid of distractions. ¡°When was thest time you felt the bnce of the sword, the chilling tension, and the heightened concentration?¡± Arpheus shook his head silently. ¡­He couldn¡¯t remember. His battles had always been about overwhelming his opponents with sheer mana. ¡°The path you¡¯ve chosen seems quick for now, but ultimately, it¡¯s a long detour.¡± Swish-! Leciel swiftly straightened her bent arm. She stood up with extraordinary grace, controlling the shifting center of gravity. One of Arpheus¡¯s lieutenants pped instinctively, then quickly put his hands down after noticing the eyes around him. The movement was that tense and impressive. At Leciel¡¯s level, she could have even done a handstand on the de, but that would have been excessive. Thud- Leciel, after adjusting her clothes, handed the dagger she held to Arpheus. ¡°If you can hold out for about 30 minutes, we can talk.¡± As she turned and walked away, she added a word. ¡°Of course, without using any mana.¡± She then rejoined the Lotus Knights and headed back to the camp. Their retreating figures seemed to chastise him: ¡¯How can you call yourself a hero when you don¡¯t even measure up to a disciple of the false hero?¡¯ Arpheus clenched his fists tightly. ¡°¡­Go about your duties.¡± ¡°What? Are you really going to do this absurd training?¡± Arpheus answered by lying down on the dagger. Screech-! The tips of the daggers touched, and his body wobbled precariously. It was quite different from Leciel¡¯s disy. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± His lieutenants, who had been watching with a mix of worry and disappointment, retreated, leaving Arpheus¡¯s heavy breathing echoing in the training ground for a long time. * * * A few days ago. ¡°Did you say Ignotus just now?¡± ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Well, the name¡­.¡± ¡°The name?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too unusual.¡± ¡°¡­Does it matter?¡± Ignotus. A name as unique as the new hero, Arpheus. Mother Ghost, who smacked her lips at the hero, added further exnation. ¡°Though the name is unique, there¡¯s no problem with the identity. He was a ghost unknown to even other agents, except me.¡± ¡°¡­Really? So what happened to the real Ignotus?¡± ¡°He died in the line of duty a few years ago.¡± ¡­This was part of a conversation between Mother Ghost and the hero right before departing for the seal of Feynel. In any case, disguised under this identity, the hero arrived at the destination and prepared to meet the disciples and ¡®guardians.¡¯ ¡®It was almost a mental preparation.¡¯ Even as a hero, it took great courage to face the disciples. He knew most of them had joined the Lotus Knights, affirming his actions, but he couldn¡¯t be sure of their true feelings. After all, he was a liar who had deceived them by pretending to be ¡®Ted Redymer.¡¯ There was bound to be some disappointment. Especially Leciel¡¯s state of mind was entirely unpredictable. ¡®¡­But they would have to ept it.¡¯ With such determination, the moment he faced Leciel and Ban, an unexpected proposal was made. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [For now, let¡¯s just replicate their abilities.] ¡®¡­What? Why?¡¯ [It¡¯s better to fully integrate themter.] Though the hero couldn¡¯t fathom the reason, ??? stepped back. Thanks to this, the hero could focus on aspects other than the psychological concerns of the disciples, which he had overlooked¡­. ¡®Growth, precisely.¡¯ ¨‹ Leciel Hyacinth was replicated anew. ¡ø ¨‹ Ban Dietrich was replicated anew¡­. ¡ø ¨‹ ¡­¡­ ¡ø ¨‹ Gerald Bryce was replicated anew. ¡ø The greatest talents of humanity had blossomed. All the children had be masters, each developing their own ultimate skills, and these achievements were directly transferred to the hero. He felt like a farmer who had just harvested an incredible bounty. Ban¡¯s ultimate skill, ¡®Perfect Stance.¡¯ Gerald¡¯s ultimate skill, ¡®Vortex.¡¯ Luke¡¯s ultimate skill, ¡®Chaotic Transformation,¡¯ among others. Their aplishments were so remarkable¡­. ¨‹ The mes of logs that once could not burn now shone like stars. ¡ø ¨‹ Rescue Technique: ¡®Sixth Form: Starfall¡¯ has been unlocked. ¡ø Progress had elerated rapidly, unlocking the long-dormant army technique, Starfall. ¡®Now, I¡¯ve reached a level where I can contend with the fully awakened Yol.¡¯ It was remarkable progress. Three years ago, even with the support of the former Sword Saint, the Dawn Knights, and all the forces of Rosenstark, a draw was the best oue. However, what most captured the hero¡¯s attention was the heart sword that Leciel had just demonstrated. The moment the invisible shpletely neutralized the immense mana Arpheus had been summoning. The hero felt the same awe as when he had watched Ted Redymer¡¯s swordsmanship in the past. ¡®She¡¯s already surpassed Zion.¡¯ It was unfortunate for Arpheus. The problem was that he had sparred with Leciel. If he had sparred with Ban, who specialized in defense, or Luke, who preferred firepower battles, he might have avoided such humiliation in front of his subordinates. The hero clicked his tongue and looked at Arpheus, who was still in the training ground. The ground was slick with his blood and sweat. Since Leciel left, Arpheus had been wholly focused on the ¡®de bncing¡¯ exercise. However, unable to grasp the technique, he already had several deep cuts on his body. ¡°Ugh!¡± He lost his bnce and fell again. Fortunately, he twisted his body just before hitting the de, avoiding a serious injury. Cold sweat ran down the side of his face. Still, he was not using any mana, as Leciel had instructed. ¡®This training requires maintaining perfect senses and concentration amidst growing pain and fear.¡¯ However, there was no hesitation on Arpheus¡¯s face as he mounted the de again. That determination and tenacity were why the hero viewed him favorably and supported him covertly. He had appeared as if dropped from the sky. Most of the world was curious about his past¡­ the hero had known roughly even before replicating him. ¡®He walks a path simr to mine.¡¯ Thud- The hero revealed his presence and approached him. Arpheus, focused on his training, was slightly startled and straightened his posture. ¡°¡­Who are you?¡± Thinking he had shown an inappropriate side as a ¡®hero,¡¯ his ears turned red. Without a word, the hero handed him bandages and medicine. ¡°You¡¯re bleeding quite a bit. Treat your wounds first.¡± Only then did Arpheus look at his body. As if the pain was btedly hitting him, his face twitched slightly. ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Arpheus. He, too, was deeply connected to Zero. * * * Meanwhile, in the Immortals Realm¡­ In the hidden ce where Lace first nted the World Tree¡¯s seed, the densest forest, an unusualmotion was urring. The tranquil and serene atmosphere was reced with tension and unease. The gazes of the gathered Elven priests, with their hardened expressions, were focused on one ce. Among them were members of the Dawn Knights, such as Taylor and Iira, dispatched to protect the third seal. Muriel asked their leader on behalf of everyone. ¡°Master, why have you summoned us all?¡± Lace. The elf who had lived for a thousand years and the most famous prophet had seen a very dire future today. ¡­A clear and brutal fate. A burning forest and helpless screams. Lace, postponing his answer, gazed at the lush forest and the gathered elves with dry eyes. ¡°Yes¡­ It is inevitable.¡± Woooom-! The staff made from the first fallen branch of the World Tree was lifted into the air. ¡°Theo ising.¡± Amidst the chilling silence. The old prophet finished his words. ¡°Protect the seal.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 287 Chapter 287 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Theo ising. Guard the Seal.¡± The Great Forest, which had been peaceful without any external invasions for a long time, began transforming into a defensive space as soon as Lace¡¯s order was given. Rumble¡ªSimultaneously with the iprehensible incantations uttered by the high priests of the elves, enormous ancient trees started to move as if they were alive. Branches and vines, thick as an adult¡¯s torso, intertwined to createplex mazes and barriers. Those who enter this verdant domain must beware of the roots that willsh at their ankles. Of course, this was not all. ¡°Hurry up!¡± ¡°Take your positions!¡± ¡°Never let them reach the sanctum!¡± The elves of the Great Forest lived in several clusters centered around the ¡°sanctum,¡± where high-ranking priests resided. From all these clusters, elven warriors armed with bows burst forth, running to their designated positions. Rustle¡ª The forest aided their concealment and cover with its branches, roots, and leaves. No matter how keen an invader¡¯s senses might be, finding them in this dense greenery would be impossible. Rumble¡ª Lastly, the clear streams flowing through the forest surged like fierce waves, ready to block the intruders. Some of the streams swallowed up the surrounding soil, turning into swamps that would ensnare their ankles. The forest¡¯s spiritual energy had erged the wild animals to two or three times their usual size, and they bared their fangs as they delved into the woods. It was a living, natural fortress. This miracle was possible thanks to the cooperation of the spiritsmanded by the elves. ¡°A significant army would be stopped before they even reached the seal,¡± Remarked one of the few humans in the Great Forest, a dispatched member of the Dawn Knights. Despite their words, they had wary expressions, checking their weapons carefully. ¡°Attacking from the third seal, huh? That¡¯s unexpected.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s Theo, are the first and second corpsing? That won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°At least Malekia isn¡¯ting along.¡± ¡°We need to contact headquarters.¡± ¡°Yes, and we need to ask about the status of the other seals too.¡± ¡°How did they manage to ambush us so suddenly? What were the scouting squads doing? And how did they know the seal¡¯s location?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll find out who¡¯s to me once we survive this.¡± The knights exchanged light remarks to ease their tension. Notable among them was a dark-skinned girl and a one-eyed pirate fiddling with her bowstring. Amidst the bustling activity, only two remained motionless. Lace, who sat in meditation before the world tree¡¯s hollow, and a pale-skinned girl with ck hair who stood silently behind him. Her face was expressionless as if she was detached from all themotion. Lace called out to her. As the one who nted the world tree seed and its millennium-long caretaker, he could partially share the ¡°sight of the world tree¡± and had grasped the current situation. ¡°Nyhill.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You must go outside and inform them of the situation.¡± Doubt flickered in Nyhill¡¯s eyes. Why not simply usemunication magic to report the situation and request reinforcements? Lace clicked his tongue and looked up at the sky. ¡°A nonsensical barrier.¡± It wasn¡¯t visible from the sanctum yet, but he could feel the sinister presence of the demonic energy slowly enveloping the entire Great Forest. It was a secretive barrier with no prior signs before it was nearlyplete, blockingmunication magic. The problem wasn¡¯t just themunication blockade but also the addition of confusion and illusions. Outsiders were likely seeing illusions created by Theo¡¯s magic¡ªperhaps reports from the Great Forest¡¯s supervisors stating everything was normal, or peaceful scenes of the forest as usual. Fwoosh¡ª This was significantly different from the actual forest, which had started burning from the edges. No one would have noticed anything strange, given the caster was Theo. ¡®Theo¡­ he has grown absurdly powerful.¡¯ He was already one of the strongest among the legionmanders before, but now, after absorbing Yol, his power seemed to surpass that of ordinary demons. ¡®By the time the outside notices anything amiss, the Great Forest and the seal will have already been devastated.¡¯ Lace stood and faced Nyhill. Despite the three years that had passed, she still looked like a young girl. However, her eyes were now profoundly deeppared to before. ¡°You should be able to break through to the outside, avoiding everyone¡¯s attention.¡± ¡°I will do my best.¡± To others, it might sound like aughable statement. Theo¡¯s minions were closing in on the Great Forest, and it would soon turn into a fierce battlefield. Who knows what other strange barriers or tricks might block her path, yet she was to break through alone. However, neither the old nor the young showed any signs of amusement on their faces. ¡°This power will help you ovee the evil that stands in your way.¡± Rustle¡ª A light floated from Lace¡¯s fingertip and was absorbed into the dagger hanging from Nyhill¡¯s waist. There was no more time to waste. The old prophet lightly patted the girl¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Go.¡± Vwoom¡ª As soon as Lace finished speaking, a pitch-ck shadow shot up from Nyhill¡¯s dagger to the height of a person and swallowed her. This was the manifestation of one of the two attributes of the spirit dwelling in the dagger¡ª¡¯Darkness.¡¯ It took only a moment for Nyhill¡¯s figure and presence to vanishpletely. ¡°¡­¡± Rumble¡ª Soon, the air grew sharply colder. The sky was covered with ck storm clouds, and beyond them, a great evil approached. Lace exhaled deeply and calmly. His spiritual insight allowed him to foresee the series of events that would unfold from this battle to its conclusion¡ªa perilous and grand journey. Each had their role to y in this. Just as Lace was steeling himself¡ª ¡®!¡¯ His eyes trembled violently. His mouth fell open, and his facial muscles stiffened in disbelief. ¡°This is impossible¡­¡± Living for a thousand years, Lace rarely showed any emotion, but at this moment, he could barely control even the smallest gestures. He urgently turned around to respond to the altered future. Crack¡ª A ck lightning bolt struck over the Great Forest. ¡°¡­¡± Everyone¡¯s movements paused momentarily. They felt a terribly malevolent gaze. Theo¡¯s eerie voice echoed through the forest. [Oh Lace, you sage trapped in a well. Why do you not realize it is already over?] Then, there was a chuckling sound, like rusted metal scraping. [Or have you just figured it out now?] * * * ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The Great Forest was not the only ce shrouded in the fog of war. In the North, the Lost ins. ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Cuculli stretchednguidly and looked beyond the snow-white horizon. Tiny dots gradually formed into distinct shapes as they approached. It was a legion of monsters far outnumbering the northern tribes¡¯ army she led. Cuculli pursed her lips in dissatisfaction. ¡°Tch, since when could such vermin roam freely in the North?¡± A few years ago, when the human alliance had a clear ¡®front line,¡¯ this would have been unthinkable. But after the false hero disappeared, the demons gained momentum, gradually gnawing away at the front line, leaving the alliance¡¯s territory spottily infested with demonic presence like moldy bread. The demon king¡¯s army could move much more freely now. Even the rtively monster-free northern regions were now overrun by the demon king¡¯s army. ¡®The third legion of Malekia¡­¡¯ But neither Cuculli nor the soldiers of the northern tribes behind her showed any fear. They came from a homnd wherebat was a virtue. The only change was that their enemies were now external rather than each other. They had no particr sentiment about spilling blood on this vast snowfield. In fact, many were excited for the battle ahead. This was a fundamental difference between humans and them. Cuculli grinned. ¡°¡­Well, there aren¡¯t any humans here.¡± There was Barret Namsov, transformed into an old tree. Maktania, a celestial being. Izaro, a homunculus. And herself, a dragon¡¯s incarnation. Cuculli chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s just a bunch of monsters gathered here!¡± Izaro shook his head and approached her. ¡°Queen of the North, do not becent.¡± Vwoom¡ª The staff he held, faintly glowing, pointed to the center of the approaching monster army. At that moment, something was pushing through the formation of monsters, moving forward. Boom¡ª In that instant, the tribes who had been exchanging lighthearted banter fell silent. ¡°¡­What is that?¡± ¡°A monster?¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be just a monster.¡± Boom¡ª The massive body, like a mountain range, was covered in spikes and mes. The long, sharp spikes protruding from its entire body made horrific metallic sounds, skewering nearby monsters like kebabs with each step it took. Sizzle¡ª That wasn¡¯t the end. The mes enveloping its body burned everything nearby. The snowfield melted within tens of meters around it, and monsters unable to withstand the intense heat suffered the same fate. The smile that had lingered on Cuculli¡¯s lips slowly faded. ¡°No way¡­¡± Even from a distance, its ominously glowing eyes shone like stars. Cuculli¡¯s gaze fixed on the crown-like horns atop the dragon¡¯s head. She swallowed hard. ¡°Malekia¡­¡± One of the ancient trio, the Queen of Agony, Malekia. She had manifested her true form on the battlefield. This changed things slightly. As Cuculli stared at Malekia, she spoke. ¡°Izaro.¡± ¡°Yes, speak.¡± ¡°¡­What¡¯s the situation with the other seals?¡± ¡°About an hour ago, we confirmed that arge force was gathering near the fourth seal. The othermanders have also been spotted.¡± ¡°The fourth seal¡­.¡± It was the seal protected by her friends. Cuculli furrowed her brow. Of course, she trusted her friends. And even more, she trusted the hero watching over them. The fourth seal would surely be safe. But there was something bothering her. ¡°Is Theo with the othermanders?¡± ¡°No, Theo has not been seen anywhere yet.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ that¡¯s strange.¡± Mobilizing even Malekia implied a serious attempt to breach the seals. Yet, the most powerful force, Theo and the 1st and 2nd Legions, were nowhere to be seen. ¡°¡­So, there¡¯s nothing wrong with the other seals?¡± ¡°No. We just received reports that the Imperial Capital, Rozenstark, and the Great Forest are all safe. We¡¯ve told them to stay vignt, as Theo could appear anywhere at any time¡­.¡± ¡°Could it be that Larze and the Dawn Knights remaining in the east are hiding, waiting to join us unexpectedly?¡± ¡°With two seals already under attack, I doubt they need to be that cautious.¡± ¡°Ugh, that¡¯s true.¡± Izaro also seemed troubled by something. ¡®What is the purpose of this half-hearted assault?¡¯ Even if it were any other seal, Malekia¡¯s 3rd Legion alone couldn¡¯t capture this ce. Though she was powerful, she couldn¡¯t take on Cuculli, Maktania, and Izaro all at once. The same applied to the fourth seal, where the hero and the Lotus Knights were. At this rate, they wouldn¡¯t destroy a single seal and would only lose their forces. Theo wasn¡¯t one to make such a foolish move. ¡®What is Theo aiming for?¡¯ Something was missing. But with the demon army already at their doorstep, it was difficult to figure it out. The allies were already prepared for battle. ¡°Maktania!¡± Tsutsu-tsutsu¡ª Fragments of light poured down from the sky like snow. The morale of the demi-human army, which had been slightly intimidated by Malekia, was instantly restored. ¡°The Angel of All Creation watches over us!¡± Maktania flew above the demi-humans, bestowing blessings with immense divine power. The already powerful demi-humans became even stronger. ¡°¡­Whatever it may be.¡± Cuculli looked at Izaro. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on what we need to do.¡± Thud¡ª Taking a few steps forward, Cuculli gazed at the approaching Malekia with clear eyes. ¡­Malekia, Malekia. Cuculli repeatedly chewed on the name as if it had a tangible form. In truth, from the moment he confirmed Malekia¡¯s appearance, it had been difficult for Cuculli to think rationally. Malekia. The source of the cmity that struck the North. It was Malekia who had nned to seize the power of the Ice Dragon dormant in the sanctuary and sent Kalende as the executor. Thud¡ª Cuculli¡¯s heart throbbed. The sight of her siblings¡¯ heads on stakes and the torn-apart body of Dorempa swirled in Cuculli¡¯s mind. Thud¡ª Cuculli stepped out of formation and kept walking forward. Revenge. Emotions she had to suppress as the Queen of the North were surging. And just in time. Malekia was also slowlying forward. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The exchange of nces and the sharp silence were brief. [Young dragon] The dry voice echoed in everyone¡¯s ears. [I will y your skin, chew your flesh, and disy your skull in my fortress] Cuculli replied with a nk expression. ¡°You have poor taste.¡± Malekia chuckled lightly. [Little creatures, there¡¯s no need to struggle anymore. It¡¯s all over] Just as Cuculli felt a strange difort at the pre-battle deration of victory. [He wille] Malekia¡¯s open mouth released an absurdly ominous statement. [Our king wille] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 288 Chapter 288 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The once quiet canyon was now filled with relentless noise. Sharp metallic sounds, battle cries, and the roars of monsters. The elite forces of the Demon King¡¯s 6th and 7th Corps were attacking the fourth seal of Feynel.A raid led by not one, but two corpsmanders. Though unlike Malekia or Theo, who had never been subdued, the other corpsmanders were reced frequently and were rtively weaker. Still, they were among the top-tier demons. ¡®It might be difficult for the kids and Arpheus to handle alone.¡¯ The Hero was prepared to reveal his identity if a crisis arose. ¡­However, it turned out to bepletely unnecessary. ¡°Demon King sh!¡± A grandiose name for an attack. But the scale of the magic rising from one corner of the canyon matched the grandiose name. The air in the canyon trembled, and rumbling sounds echoed everywhere. ¡°Waaah! It¡¯s the Hero¡¯s technique!¡± While Arpheus¡¯s followers cheered with boosted morale, the Lotus Knights and the ¡®Hero¡¯ looked at Arpheus¡¯s ¡®Demon King sh¡¯ with incredulous expressions. ¡®What a brute force technique¡­.¡¯ It was just a massive outpouring of mana without any intricate skill. But the result was astonishing. Boom-! Though it wouldn¡¯t work on higher-level demons, it was a catastrophe for the lesser demons and monsters. The lowly soldiers of the Demon King¡¯s army were swept away like small boats in a tidal wave. Some demons who tried to shield their subordinates with barriers visibly panicked. ¡®As expected¡­ his firepower is indeed the strongest.¡¯ However, the disciples were not outdone by Arpheus. Chaos Form. Luke activated his ultimate technique and charged into the enemy ranks. His body was already enveloped in blue smoke. Though it seemed terrifyingly explosive, Luke¡¯s eyes were as clear and calm as ake. Chaos Form was the result of mastering and harmonizing both Ravias¡¯s and Felson¡¯s martial arts. It explosively enhanced physical abilities and magic control. Boom-! With each strike from the enhanced Luke, the momentum of the Demon King¡¯s vanguard visibly faltered. It was a swordsmanship remarkably simr to someone¡¯s. Tap- A silhouette closely followed Luke, who was rampaging through the enemy ranks as if it were his own domain. ¡°Don¡¯t go too far alone!¡± Van Dietrich. His once gentle brown eyes now gleamed sharply, capturing every movement around him. ¡°Hoo.¡± Ban¡¯s breath settled low. Thousands of fine detections spread out in an instant, and the Hero couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. ¡®Is this his ultimate technique, ¡®Perfect Stance¡¯?¡¯ Ban seemed close to reaching the level of his father, Felson. Whoosh-! Despite standing in the middle of the battlefield, nothing could touch him. The enemies¡¯ critical attacks were swiftly analyzed and deflected, flowing harmlessly away. Whoosh- ¡­Some of these evasions and defenses seemed physically impossible. However, having reached the level of controlling intent, Ban maximized his reaction time and speed, achieving perfect defense and evasion. ¡®It¡¯s an ultimate technique that reverses the flow of the battlefield itself.¡¯ It was as if a 30-meter radius circle around him became an untouchable zone. Heavenly Thunder! Next, Gerald demonstrated a destructive ultimate technique using the power of thunder. Crackle-! Evergreen never descended from the sky. She darted along the cliffs, shooting wind arrows, while the flying monsters that tried to catch her consistently failed due to her speed. Howl-! Then Karen, riding the giant rune wolf, Shadow, tore through the battlefield. ¡®I don¡¯t even need to step in.¡¯ Lastly, Leciel, along with the rest of the Lotus Knights, was holding off the corpsmanders from above the canyon. Though time had passed, these wererades who had trained together exhaustively. With perfect coordination, even the corpsmanders struggled to break through them. In short, the situation was much more favorable than expected. All the Hero had to do was discreetly take out a few seemingly dangerous demons. If they could just hold on a bit longer, reinforcements from nearby would arrive, ensuring victory. ¡°¡­¡­¡± But the Hero¡¯s expression was growing increasingly serious. ¡®What on earth are they trying to do?¡¯ Those swept up in the heat of the battlefield didn¡¯t realize it, but the Hero, observing from a step back, saw it clearly. ¡®¡­They¡¯re just stalling for time.¡¯ There was no sign of any real intent to break the seal. No matter how fierce the guardians¡¯ resistance, two corpsmanders were present. If they were willing to risk death, they should be fighting with all their might. But the current attitude of the Demon King¡¯s army was inexplicably passive. ¡®It¡¯s the same with the other seals.¡¯ ¡­In fact, it made no sense that only Malekia was sent to the first seal. Did Theo put more effort into the other seals? That wasn¡¯t it either. The fourth seal, where he was, was being defended adequately, and the other seals hadn¡¯t been attacked at all¡­. ¡®Wait a minute.¡¯ The Hero stopped his train of thought. Tap- And quietly exited the battlefield, re-entering the interior of the seal. Amunication orb was already in his hand. ¡®First, let¡¯s check on the second seal again.¡¯ Beep¡ª Euphemia¡¯sposed face appeared. [What is it? Aren¡¯t you in the middle of a battle? Is it over already?] ¡°We are still in battle, but there¡¯s a bit of a lull. How¡¯s the seal in the capital?¡± Euphemia, looking tired, pressed her palms to her eyes and answered. [¡­No issues at present. It¡¯s safe. I¡¯ve been in contact with Izaro and we¡¯re maintaining maximum vignce.] ¡°¡­I see. What about Rosenstark?¡± [Hold on a moment.] Euphemia took out anothermunication orb, mumbled something, and then returned to the Hero. [The academy is safe too. I¡¯ve told Duke Wellington to be on high alert.] The fifth seal was being guarded by the noble knights led by Lucas and Rosenstark¡¯s own defense forces. Since the Hero couldn¡¯t directly contact anyone there, he asked Euphemia instead. She continued speaking. [We just received a report from the Great Forest as well; it¡¯s secure.] The Hero was silent for a moment before looking at Euphemia. Seeing the unusual look in his eyes, the Emperor tilted her head slightly. She spoke before she could ask anything. ¡°Euphemia, where did you first meet Ted in Rosenstark?¡± [¡­What? Why are you asking that all of a sudden?] Euphemia looked puzzled, but the Hero pressed on. ¡°Just answer.¡± [¡­The infirmary. I was sick and bedridden, and he was also admitted for some injury.] ¡°Good.¡± The Hero nodded and abruptly ended themunication. He then immediately connected to Nyhill, who was in the Great Forest. Beep¡ª It didn¡¯t take long for the connection to establish. Nyhill¡¯s calm face appeared beyond the crystal orb. [¡­Hero?] The Hero had sent Nyhill to the Great Forest¡¯s seal to give her a break after working tirelessly by his side. Since she would never rest if told to, he sent her to the rtively less busy southern region. It had been a while since hest saw her face. The Hero spoke. ¡°Nyhill.¡± At the mention of her name, a subtle look of joy crossed Nyhill¡¯s otherwise expressionless face. It was a small change only he could notice. The Hero looked intently at her. [I justmunicated with Her Majesty¡­ The third seal is secure.] ¡°What wish did you make after winning first ce in the dungeon subjugation practice?¡± Nyhill blinked slowly and then looked troubled. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [I don¡¯t remember very well since it was so long ago, but didn¡¯t I wish to continue helping you by your side?] ¡­The Hero smiled bitterly. He didn¡¯t respond and continued to stare at the girl before him. The familiar face and expression. The lush scenery of the Great Forest behind her. Swoosh¡ª All of it melted away in an instant, leaving only pitch-ck darkness. ¡­And an old, raspy voice echoed faintly, a voice he could never forget. [It¡¯s toote.] The Hero ended themunication. His mind quickly formted a n on what to do next. ¡®Alright, first things first.¡¯ The Hero focused his mind. ¨‹ Red Mage Tower Lord, Adeno Snook, replication in progress. ¡ø . . . ¨‹ Understanding is at maximum. ¡ø ¨‹ All abilities of the target are replicated. ¡ø ??? was one of the greatest magicians of the First Era, whose essence the Hero had synchronized with and absorbed. ¡­And as everyone knows, spatial maniption was an essential skill for magicians of that time. Whoooom-! Aplex magic circle appeared above the seal. The Hero, ncing once more at the battlefield, leapt into the magic circle without hesitation. * * * Theo originallymanded the 2nd Legion, which consisted mainly of chimeras created through demonic energy. However, after obtaining Yol¡¯s power, Theo ughtered all the monsters in the 2nd Legion and gradually transformed them into undead. Thus, the 1st and 2nd Legions werebined. The undead form of Yol¡¯s formidable enemies nowmanded the monsters. Along with dozens of liches that Theo acquired by conquering the mage tower. Theirbined strength was as powerful as the remaining five legionsbined¡­ leaving the guardians of the third seal seemingly without hope. ¡­But as always, the underdogs fought for a miracle. ¡°We have to stop them here!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let them advance any further!¡± The fairies lured Theo¡¯s legion deep into the Great Forest, engaging them in guerri warfare. The forest itself created traps and mazes, dispersing the enemy forces, while the fairies used the power of spirits to intercept them. Their aim was to minimize the number of enemies reaching the heart of the forest. ¡°We must lighten Lace¡¯s burden!¡± Of course, the higher-ranked monsters and demons of the legion pressed forward towards the heart of the forest, undeterred. But awaiting them there were the Knights of Dawn. As Lace and Theo shed in power. The core of both forces collided. The oue was surprisingly in favor of the Knights of Dawn. Fewer than ten of them stood valiantly against the hundreds of legion leaders. Rooooar- No matter how massive an undead was, it was helpless. If Iira¡¯s zing sword once grazed their bodies, they were consumed by an unquenchable me and annihted. ¡°Disappear, trash.¡± Even the liches, expected to unleash tremendous firepower and devastate the forest heart, were thwarted by Taylor¡¯s arrows. Crack-! ¡°The barrier! The barrier is broken!¡± Taylor¡¯s arrows, fired from her great bow, shattered all barriers and pierced through the liches¡¯ skulls. The arrows even tracked down those attempting to evade with flight magic, shooting them down. The liches tried to burn down all nearby trees to restrict Taylor¡¯s mobility, but¡­ ¡°Hahaha! Wasting your efforts!¡± The arrows, controlled by her intent, carried her as they flew freely. Three years ago, upon learning of the Commander¡¯s death, they had driven themselves harder, growing even stronger. Zzzzzzz- Then, when Muriel, Lace¡¯s disciple, rallied the fairy priests to support, the invading forces that had appeared so formidable were now being pushed back. ¡­Moreover, contrary to worries, Theo was effectively restrained by Lace and had not been able to exert significant influence while his subordinates were being driven into a defensive position. It was a moment when hope was gradually filling the faces of humans and fairies alike. [Heh¡­ heh] Theughter was dry and chilling, like the creaking of an old tree. It started small and uncertain but grew louder, echoing throughout the forest. [Chasing a ray of light, how delightful to watch] The voice was a blend of mockery, disdain, and subtle satisfaction. Everyone who had stepped into the heart of the forest looked up at Theo and Lace dueling in the sky. Cough-! Simultaneously, bright red blood spurted from Lace¡¯s mouth. [It¡¯splete] Theo¡¯s hand extended towards those on the ground. Theughter grew deeper and more intense. Finally- [Cycle, return] An evil spell swept from beneath Theo. Whoooom-! A ck, sticky fog poured down to the ground like a waterfall. ¡°Aaaah!¡± An extreme chill engulfed the victims. Even the long-lived fairies¡¯ skin wrinkled. Their once-lustrous hair turned brittle and white. The life vanished from their eyes. Age spots appeared between the wrinkles. But that wasn¡¯t all. A second spell was cast. [Cycle! Reverse!] The swords being swung and arrows being shot halted. The guardians momentarily forgot how to handle the weapons they had known all their lives. Confusion and terror filled everyone¡¯s expressions. Soon, they forgot who they were and why they fought. Those with strong mental fortitude clung to their rapidly fading memories, but they were very few. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The simultaneous sighs of those robbed of their future and past echoed throughout the forest. It had already be a hellish ce. Thud-! The shadow of the undead army loomed over the now helpless guardians. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 289 Chapter 289 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Tap-tap- Nyhill was racing through the rugged forest. As always, her steps were swift and light.But an unusual urgency mixed with her breathing. ¡®Almost there.¡¯ For an average tourist, it would take more than a week to traverse from the depths of the forest to its entrance. The forest was inherently rugged and asplex as a maze. But surprisingly, Nyhill had crossed half the forest in no time at all. ¡®Faster¡­!¡¯ While her own agility was impressive, the forest was aiding her. Srrrk- Trees moved as if alive to clear a path for her. Bushes split apart so as not to hinder her steps, and in dark areas, bioluminescent insects swarmed to light her way. That wasn¡¯t all. Whoosh-! Cliffs and deep ravines didn¡¯t matter. Vines woulde from nowhere to support her, and asionally, a massive beast would lend its back, carrying her for some distance. [Just leave your body to me, Nyhill!] Meanwhile, a spirit used the power of the earth to open paths for her, allowing her incredible speed to be maintained without interruption. Even though the undead of the first legion and the monsters of the second legion asionally blocked her way, the forest moved on its own to shield Nyhill from them. At this pace, she would escape the forest on schedule. ¡­Step- However, she suddenly stopped in the middle of the forest. A puzzled voice from the spirit echoed in her mind, but her feet refused to move. [¡­Nyhill?] Screech- Fwoosh- A burning forest. Amidst the monstrous roars, the girl stood still. It was roughly three years ago. The hero had given her the antidote for her panion,¡¯ freeing Nyhill from the influence of the shadow. Mother Ghost had tacitly permitted her release, likely due to the hero¡¯s influence. But shortly after leaving the hero in the north, Nyhill returned to Mother Ghost. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you toe back to the cage.¡± ¡°Teach me.¡± ¡°What?¡± Thanks to spending a year by the hero¡¯s side, Nyhill had gained the ability to make ¡®independent judgments.¡¯ ¡®This won¡¯t do.¡¯ She wasn¡¯t talented inbat like her peers, nor did she have abundant resources or a strong background. Though she could currently exert simr power thanks to her harsh upbringing as an agent, the gap would widen over time. She wouldn¡¯t be able to help the hero. Soon, she would be of no use. So, what options did she have to be ¡®useful¡¯? Nyhill found the answer quickly. ¡°Teach me your secret arts, Mother Ghost. Teach me the spells.¡± She would even take anotherpanion if that was the price. She would willingly return to the shadow¡¯s fold and be a loyal ghost. Mother Ghost stared at her for a moment and then spoke curtly. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll teach you.¡± Surprisingly, she didn¡¯t demand anotherpanion in return. ¡°¡­I wouldn¡¯t do such a thing and risk retaliation from that person. You have no idea of your position.¡± Thus, she learned the spells and awakened her spirituality. Thanks to the mystical power of her Origin, Nyhill showed outstanding talent in the spells. This talent was recently refined to an exceptional level by the elven priests, including Lace, in the great forest. And now. Nyhill was gripped by an inexplicable intuition. Perhaps it was the call of the spirituality she had honed over the years. ¡®I must stop.¡¯ It felt like thousands of stars were flowing through her veins. ¡®I must go back.¡¯ This sensation was not merely physical but felt like a vibration emanating from deep within her soul. It was a wisdom and guidance that defied simple exnation. ¡®I must not leave the forest now.¡¯ From deep within her heart, the path she needed to take and the decisions she needed to make became clear. Uuuuuuung- At the same time, the power of Lace, imbued in her dagger, responded with a faint vibration. [What is this!?] There was no time to exin. Nyhill reached out her hand and focused. Rumble-! The ground began to vibrate slightly. Tiny grains of earth started to rise, forming shapes as if an invisible hand were gathering them. Before long, a dozen or so dolls that looked exactly like Nyhill stood before her. Nyhill took out amunication orb from her pocket and handed it to one of them. ¡°Use the others as decoys and head out of the forest.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Even with the help of spells, it was an overuse of Origin. She must have lost a significant amount of her lifespan. But there was no wavering in Nyhill¡¯s expression. [Nyhill¡­] ¡®It¡¯s okay.¡¯ Tap- Her silhouette shot back along the path she had just taken. ¡®I have to do this.¡¯ * * * Lace¡¯s disciple, Muriel, looked around with a heavy heart. The forest, once teeming with life, was now a burning heap of ashes. Trees had turned into ckened remains. The sounds of birds, streams, andughter were reced by the rustling of half-burnt leaves. ¡°Sniff.¡± asionally, a muffled sob or groan would break the silence. Muriel, wounded, caught her breath, trying topose herself. She had resisted Theo¡¯s power with her own, but parts of her body were desated like an ancient corpse. ¡®¡­Everyone.¡¯ The guardians had fought valiantly. Despite losing more than half theirbat power to ¡®loss,¡¯ they had defeated the elite undead army. They had also bought time for nonbatants to escape through the forest¡¯s back paths. ¡­However, victory eluded them. Step. Someone walked calmly across the ash-covered forest floor. Only one person could cross the great forest with such leisurely steps now. Muriel looked at him through her blurry vision. Dusty blood mixed with her tears, but she did not close or avert her eyes. ¡°¡­Theo!¡± A wrinkled old man smiled warmly. He looked ordinary, but no one would mistake him for a human. A pitch-ck aura followed Theo like a cloak. ¡°Stop¡­.¡± Thunk- Muriel¡¯s hand grabbed Theo¡¯s ankle as he headed toward the World Tree. There was a seal inside the knothole of the World Tree. Various protective artifacts and barriers remained, but they would be of little use against Theo. ¡®I must stop him¡­.¡¯ Srrk- Theo reached out and grabbed Muriel by the throat. His hand was dry and brittle like a dead tree branch. ¡°Elves sure do have long lives.¡± Snap- He tossed Muriel¡¯s limp body carelessly. The dark aura that hovered around him like a hungry beast began to engulf Muriel. Laughing at the sight of her writhing body, Theo resumed his walk toward the World Tree. Corpsesy scattered around. ¡°¡­Tsk.¡± For a moment, a look of dissatisfaction crossed Theo¡¯s face. The losses were significant. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The main legion, surrounding the forest¡¯s perimeter and slowly tightening their grip, remained intact, but the elite troops were decimated. Theo¡¯s direct lich unit was also destroyed while fighting the elven priests. Although the life vessels remained, resurrecting them would require substantial demonic energy and time. They were a crucial asset, making their loss painful. ¡®Especially those Dawn Knights¡­.¡¯ Some were individuals Theo recognized. They had thrown their lives away, targeting Theo alongside Lace. Theirbined assault was chilling. If not for prior preparations and ack of further support from humans, Theo would have faced severe difficulties. ¡°Ha ha¡­.¡± But it¡¯s fine. Theo smiled again. He was about to reap rewards that would more thanpensate for these losses. Step- Theo stood before the knothole of the World Tree. Lace, with half of his body shriveled and bleeding from the mouth, sat leaning against the entrance. Though still breathing, he was little more than a living corpse. Theo looked down at him and murmured. ¡°A sage with a thousand years of wisdom.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°What wisdom could you have, having only looked at this world for a thousand years¡­?¡± Lace¡¯s cloudy eyes blinked. ¡°Impressive¡­ how well you¡¯ve hidden your strength.¡± ¡°Of course. There are times when one plus one doesn¡¯t equal two.¡± Theo, giving a yful response, looked deep into the hollow of the World Tree. There was an expression of admiration. ¡®For a mortal to construct such a high-level seal.¡¯ A seal with five axes. It wasn¡¯t a shoddy type that would copse entirely by breaking one axis. But it didn¡¯t matter. Theo¡¯s true goal wasn¡¯t the seal. Breaking the seal was a secondary objective. Tap- Theo¡¯s wrinkled hand touched the base of the World Tree. Lace looked up at him with a twisted expression. He knew what Theo was about to do. Theo smiled brightly at him. ¡°The tree of another world¡­ those who have lived under its protection for a thousand years.¡± The seed of the World Tree that Lace nted in the once barren southernnds. The World Tree grew to an unimaginable size, forming a forest that covered the entire south, and those blessed by it, the elves, gained longevity. Moreover,munication with otherworldly beings, the spirits, became possible. Such a tree could not be an ordinary entity of this world. Lace gazed at the World Tree with a strange look in his eyes. ¡°A tree that is itself a rift to the spirit world¡­ a conduit linking higher and lower dimensions.¡± Using the World Tree wouldn¡¯t instantly connect the demon realm to the present world to bring about the Demon King¡¯s descent. No matter how much Theo had advanced by absorbing Yol, that was a power reserved for rulers of dimensions like the Demon King. However, using the World Tree¡¯s transdimensional properties, the previously impossible act of ¡®interfering with another dimension¡¯ could be made possible again. This was a direct order from the Demon King throughmunication. Breaking a single seal¡­ would bring much greater gains. ¡®Shaking it from inside and out.¡¯ Rumble- A ck mist emanated from Theo. Creak- Like ck ink spreading in a water-filled bowl, the part of the World Tree in contact with Theo¡¯s palm turned ck. The small ck spot quickly spread like a cloud, and soon, the World Tree appeared to be infected with dark veins. ¡°Aah¡­.¡± Theo trembled. By using the World Tree¡¯s power, he was indirectly reaching their king. The chains binding him would loosen. His influence would once again touch thisnd. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Crackle- With one hand still on the base of the World Tree, Theo turned around. His face wasyered with intense anger at the disruption of the critical ritual. ¡°Hello?¡± A white-haired woman stood against the backdrop of the burning forest, wearing anguid expression. Half-closed eyes, looking bored, and a simple robe as if she was out for a stroll in front of her house. With a small smile on her lips, she waved at Theo. ¡°Long time no see?¡± ¡°¡­Damn wretch.¡± He had known even before turning around. Few could break through the barrier that had been meticulouslyid over the entire great forest. But it was infuriating. No matter how she was called the strongest human mage, she couldn¡¯t be a match for him. How could she act socently? Theoughed. It was augh filled with ridicule and contempt. ¡°You don¡¯t value your life, do you?¡± Larze frowned and shook her head. ¡°I do value it. But I¡¯ve received too much, so I have to repay it.¡± ¡­And there¡¯s still a lot more to receive. ¡°So, humanity can¡¯t go extinct just yet.¡± Larze¡¯s white hair glowed brightly, reflecting the mes consuming the forest. She continued in a casual tone, as if exchanging pleasantries. ¡°Oh, by the way, I broke all the Life Vessels in your stakes.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°House empty, gobble gobble.¡± Before Theo could even express his anger, Whoosh- a bright blue me shot from the tip of Larze¡¯s staff, White Despair, towards Theo. A Maestro-level destructive spell cast without an incantation. Rumble- The ground on either side swelled and surged up to crush Theo. Screech- Finally, a massive ice spike materialized in mid-air and plummeted down. ¡°Pathetic.¡± But Theo merely nced at it to extinguish it. His hand still touched the World Tree, infusing it with dark energy. Larze¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. ¡®Unbelievable.¡¯ ¡­Theo¡¯s hand remained attached to the World Tree. She didn¡¯t take her eyes off it. Whatever he was doing, she realized that once it waspleted, something terrible would happen. Reading Larze¡¯s panic and urgency, Theo sneered. ¡°A human mage cannot defeat me.¡± ¡°Is that so? In that case¡­.¡± Rumble- Larze intentionally drew upon her magic forcefully. ¡­At the same time, a very subtle movement took ce behind her. The camouge magic she had previously cast concealed even the faintest sign of it. The shadow moved softly, like a cloth swaying in the wind, drawing closer. Larze¡¯s wildly shaking eyes fixed at that moment. ¡°What about a ghost?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Screech- A dagger imbued with Lace¡¯s power struck Theo¡¯s palm. Whoosh- The wrinkled hand was engulfed in white mes. ¡°Arrgh!¡± Theo screamed, pulling his hand away from the World Tree. The counterattack heunched narrowly missed the ¡®ghost.¡¯ Swish- With the help of a spirit, the ghost quickly vanished into the shadows and reappeared behind Larze. Larze gently whispered to Nyhill. ¡°Let¡¯s just hold out until theter arrives.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 290 Chapter 290 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The Hero was about to move directly to the heart of the Great Forest, the Immortal¡¯s Realm. However, just before doing so, he sensed a barrier obstructing the teleportation. Unlike the barrier of the fairies who had protected the forest before¡­ this one exuded a very sinister aura.Having replicated the essence of the Archmage, he could decipher its contents. ¡°A barrier for blocking space,prehensive camouge¡­ illusion and reality maniption.¡± It was an intricate and high-level barrier, making it understandable why no one had noticed the anomalies in the Great Forest. The Hero had no choice but to change the destination to the entrance. Upon arriving at the Great Forest, ¡°¡­¡± The forest from the outside appeared as tranquil as ever. A clear and blue sky. Sunlight filtering through the leaves, and a subtle floral fragrance. Even the chirping birds. Crunch- However, the moment the Hero took a step inside, Whirrrrrr- as if turning the page of a picture book, the tranquil scenery vanished in an instant. Swoosh- The Hero drew the Sword of Hope, gazing at the floating ashes. The acrid smoke stung his eyes. Screeeech- The eerie cries of monsters broke the silence. The Hero realized the sounds were getting closer. There was no time to waste. ¨‹ Replicate recorded individual: Ted Redymer. ¡ø Whoosh- The Hero leapt, slicing off the talons and their owner lunging at him. The chimera with its grotesque form thrashed on the ground. ¡°The 1st and 2nd corps of Theo.¡± ¡­And Theo was here too. Although far away, he could clearly sense the evil presence. An indescribably sinister chill was emanating from the heart of the Great Forest. A sense of urgency slowly crept over him. ¡°I need to hurry.¡± But at this rate, it would take quite some time to reach the interior. Theo seemed to have noticed him, as all forces were focusing on him. ¡°Fighting them directly will dy me.¡± The Hero decided to test a slightly differentbat method. ¨‹ Replicate recorded individual: Yussi Glendor. ¡ø ¨‹ Replicate recorded individual: Pia Joyce. ¡ø Rumble-! With the highest level of alchemy at work, the devastated ground of the forest trembled. Large rocks clung together. Debris of earth and wood filled the gaps, forming a shape. It seemed as if a powerful maic force was at work between them. Roarrr- Finally, the colossal golem took shape and slowly rose. It wasn¡¯t just one. Despite the Hero pouring only a portion of his mana, more than ten golems were formed. Thud-! The weight crushed the ground. The golems advanced in all directions. ¡°¡­Break through the encirclement and aid the nearby fairy viges.¡± After giving the order, the Hero immediately prepared the next technique. ¨‹ Activate Infinite Technique, First Style: ¡®Massacre¡¯. ¡ø Massacre was an ultimate technique created through the essence of his disciples. As the children grew stronger, the number of ice arrows had increased from the previous twenty to nearly a hundred, appearing behind the Hero. ¡°Intercept the approaching monsters.¡± The ice arrows imbued with the magic property of ¡®tracking¡¯ from Evergreen hummed as they circled around the Hero. All that remained was to charge forward. Amazingly, all of this took ce in less than a few seconds. Even the Hero¡¯s running speed hadn¡¯t diminished at all. Synchronization with ??? had rapidly increased the replicable capacity. Thus, as he anNyhited the demon army on his path and advanced through the forest, the Hero suddenly sensed a familiar presence and came to a halt. ck- Beyond the dense trees, a silhouette appeared. ¡°Nyhill?¡± The Hero¡¯s face brightened for a moment, then immediately hardened. It was because he saw the dozen or so puppets following. ¡­It was clearly beyond Nyhill¡¯s capability to control. ¡°Did she overexert herself this much?¡± One fortunate thing was that Nyhill was still alive. If she had died, the puppets would have disappeared as well. One of Nyhill¡¯s puppets spotted him and approached. ¡°Hero.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°I will report the current situation.¡± The puppet closed its eyes momentarily as ifmunicating with the main body. The Hero watched as the puppet, identical to his disciple, opened its mouth to speak. ¡°We are currently inbat with Theo. Of the eight dispatched Dawn Knights, six are dead and two are critically injured. The chief guardian, Lace, is also critically injured.¡± The Hero¡¯s eyes wavered. ¡°Notably, Larze Gion has joined the battle. I will ry her message.¡± ¡°¡­Go ahead.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be reassured just because I¡¯m here. Theo¡¯s power is stronger than we thought. We¡¯re reaching our limit. The seal is still intact, but it seems his goal isn¡¯t the seal. Come quickly.¡± Larze¡¯s uncharacteristically terse message indicated the seriousness of the situation. The Hero¡¯s grip tightened on the ck Hope. ¡°Then, we will return to our master now.¡± Srrr- Leaving the puppets that melted into the ground behind him, the Hero started running again. Crackle- The World Tree, turning ck, watched him. * * * ¡°Wake up¡­ Please! Iira!¡± Iira responded to the desperate cries piercing her ears. As she lifted her heavy eyelids, Taylor, who had her face buried in her chest, raised her head sharply. ¡°Iira!¡± ¡°You¡¯re heavy.¡± ¡°You¡­.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Even pirates cry. Funny.¡± Tears flowed endlessly from both her single eye and the eye hidden under the eyepatch. Iira reached out and wiped Taylor¡¯s tears. ¡°You¡¯re badly hurt too. Are you an idiot?¡± Iira looked down at Taylor¡¯s lower body. Her left leg was cleanly severed below the knee. Her right shoulder was also so gouged out that the bone was visible. But Taylor was more concerned about tending to Iira than her own injuries. ¡­Because her condition was far more critical. Iira¡¯s eyelids quivered and closed involuntarily. ¡°Iira¡­ Iira! Damn it!¡± Iira had arge hole in her side. If it were anyone else, they would have died from excessive bleeding long ago, but Iira had cauterized the wound with white me and fought on. However, the wound had worsened, her strength had waned, and the fire had begun to invade her body. Her injuries were severe enough that it was a miracle she was still alive. ¡°It hurts, Taylor.¡± ¡°¡­Just hold on a little longer. I¡¯ll do something.¡± ¡°¡­It hurts.¡± In the agony of her burning insides, Iira desperately thought of someone. ¡°¡­Leader, were you in this much pain?¡± Time is cruel. Though she loved her leader dearly, it had not been long before his face became blurry in her memory. She had to think hard and hard just to recall his voice. ¡°Were you this scared?¡± But some memories were vivid. ¡°Ted! There¡¯s someone trapped here? It¡¯s a kid.¡± ng-! ¡°¡­Are you okay?¡± Right after leaving their home in the Great Mountain Range. They had suffered at the hands of some vile ve traders. It was the leader who had saved Iira from that ordeal. Since then, he had taken her with him, teaching her how to fight¡­ and how to live. One day, with the leader¡¯s help, she had managed to relocate the people from her home, who had been barely surviving in the Great Mountain Range. ¡°How does it feel to provide your people with a safe home and shelter?¡± ¡°¡­It feels good. Very.¡± His rough but warm hand patted Iira¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We will bringfort to more people, and eventually to everyone in this world. I want you to apany me to the end of that journey.¡± At first, she followed the leader simply because she liked him. But the more time she spent with him, the more she wanted to achieve his goals together. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Iira opened her eyes again. Beyond the crying Taylor, she saw the ckened World Tree. Its massive base had mostly been corroded by the contamination. Countless leaves fell lifelessly to the ground. Flowers and branches withered and drooped toward the earth. The ground shook as if an earthquake was happening. It was as if this little world was beingpletely destroyed. This wasn¡¯t it. Not this despairing, futilendscape filled with regret andment. She had hoped to die watching people, finally at peace,ugh together. The leader, Felson, Taylor, Yussi¡­ all of them, even the otherrades who nowy dead beside her,ughing together. That was the scene she wished to see as she died. ¡°It¡¯s regrettable.¡± ¡°Iira¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s regrettable.¡± Regret. Finally, Iira understood Ted Redymer. She realized what he felt when he left the world without fulfilling his mission of salvation. ¡­So, she could ept the hypothesis that the Dawn Knights had secretly pondered. ¡®So that¡¯s what it was. That¡¯s how it was.¡¯ The doppelg?nger wasn¡¯t acting out of its own greed. It continued all those lies to fulfill the mission Ted Redymer had personally entrusted to it. As someone who loved the leader dearly, it was a hypothesis Iira had difficulty epting. ¡®You were like me.¡¯ Arade inspired by the ideals of Ted Redymer, drawn toward where he shone. ¡°Chase the monster!¡± Then she remembered the sight of him running away, being pointed at by people on the hills of Rosenstark. In the moment when deep regret welled up inside her, it was already toote. Iira shook her head weakly. Crunch- It was then that they heard the sound of footsteps behind them. It was hard to believe. Could there still be a survivor here? Iira and Taylor nkly stared at the figure approaching them. ¡°¡­¡­¡± It was an unfamiliar face. But soon they realized they had encountered him once before. A vivid memory surfaced. The hills of Rosenstark. The man who had stood there calmly. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The man slowly approached and knelt. He gently took Iira¡¯s small hand, which had been grasping at the air. ¡°¡­¡­¡± He said nothing. He didn¡¯t resent them for chasing him away back then. He didn¡¯t reproach them for believing in him only now. He simply looked at her with warm eyes, as if everything was alright. A single tear rolled down Iira¡¯s cheek. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± For some reason, although he said nothing, it seemed he understood everything she wanted to say. Iira¡¯s lips quivered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­.¡± He nodded silently. It was then that he tightened his grip on her hand. ¡°¡­I understand you.¡± All the surrounding noise disappeared, and only the man¡¯s voice lingered in her ears. It was an unfamiliar voice, just like his face. But for some reason, Iira and Taylor felt that the voice was simr to the one they longed for. Gruff but kind. Somehow reassuring. That kind of voice. Whoosh- A pure white me began to flicker on the de of the ck Hope. A warm and¡­forting me. As she watched it, Iira¡¯s expression gradually rxed. She smiled faintly. ¡°Thank you¡­ Hero.¡± The Hero gripped the sword imbued with white me and stood up. A voice, choked with sobs, reached his ears. ¡°Please.¡± The Hero¡¯s hair swayed slightly as he nodded. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 291 Chapter 291 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¨‹ Recorded Character: ¡°Iira Aklin¡± has been replicated. ¨‹Recorded Character: ¡°Taylor¡± has been replicated. ¡ø The hero ran towards the knot hole of the World Tree visible in the distance. Iira and Taylor were copsed on the outskirts of the Immortals Realm. The center was quite a distance away. In the center, Larze was confronting Theo, and a fierce lightning storm was raging. Crash- The sound btedly hit his ears. The situation seemed evenly matched at a nce. ¡®¡­But reality must be different.¡¯ No matter how much Larze was an unrivaled archmage among humans, the opponent was Theo. Originally, magicians are exceedingly weak against superior magicians. They are entirely different from martial artists, who have a chance of winning even if their skills are slightlycking. No matter how much Nyhill helped, Larze was already at her limit. That was why the hero had to suppress the anger that felt like it was burning his chest whole. The enemy wasn¡¯t someone to face recklessly in a fit of rage. ¡®I am the only one who can resolve this situation. I must stay calm.¡¯ The hero, as always, suppressed his emotions¡ªanger, sorrow, and even the self-reproach for not having foreseen and prepared for this disaster. Crack-! He returned to his calm demeanor and cut down the undead that rushed at him to stop him. They were guardians resurrected by Theo¡¯s power. ¡­It was at that moment that a voice echoed in his mind. [Quite easy] The hero didn¡¯t immediately grasp the context of the words. ¡®What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡¯ [Forgiveness] ¡®¡­They must have realized Ted¡¯s intentions at thest moment, and the misunderstanding about me was cleared up.¡¯ ??? sneered. [How naive. Do you think I was talking about that woman?] ¡®What?¡¯ [I¡¯m talking about you, fool. Even a sucker has limits.] Crack-! The hero rolled and dodged the falling fragments of the World Tree. [For the past three years, they didn¡¯t issue a single statement affirming you. They pretended not to know what you had been doing all this time, even though they vaguely realized it.] [And then, they throw a simple apology before dying? That apology is ultimately to relieve their own guilt.] ??? mocked. [Let¡¯s talk about something a bit older.] [If you had been caught on that hill in Rosenstark, what do you think would have happened?] [They would have undoubtedly captured you and tortured you. They would have tried to extract everything from your identity to the whereabouts of Ted Redymer, without any hesitation, tearing your flesh and breaking your bones.] As the hero who had read Iira and Taylor¡¯s essence, he couldn¡¯t outright deny it. Indeed, they harbored such dark impulses. At the time, the members were out of their minds with grief and anger over Ted¡¯s death, and they were half-crazed with suspicion and fear of the unknown entity, the doppelg?nger. As ??? said, if things had gone a bit wrong, such an oue would have urred. The hero nodded. ¡®Yes, that¡¯s true.¡¯ [¡­] ??? was briefly silent, perhaps surprised by the easy agreement, then asked again, seemingly in disbelief. [You can now read all the essence. Why on earth do you forgive? How can you not be filled with hatred?] The hero sighed briefly. ¡®This reaction was exactly as I expected.¡¯ The hero already knew that ??? reacted violently in such situations. This was ???¡¯s deficiency and trauma. ¡®Ah.¡¯ In that moment, the hero instinctively realized that this dialogue would determine whether he would gain ???¡¯s sincere assistance orpletely sever ties with him. ¡­The hero stopped as if making a resolution. ¡®Promise me one thing.¡¯ [What?] Crash- By now, Theo and Larze were close enough to be seen with the naked eye. They were hurling magical projectiles at each other in the air, with nearly half of Larze¡¯s projectiles dissipating in the air. ¡®Swear to help me with all your might in this fight if I provide a satisfactory answer. Swear it with your name and existence.¡¯ [I swear. But¡­] ??? growled fiercely. [If you spout nonsense about seeing light in some humans, I swear I¡¯ll kill you.] It wasn¡¯t just an empty threat from a mere thoughtform. ??? had a clear way to do it. For instance, if he dragged the hero into the mental world during the battle with Theo, the hero would die helplessly. ¡­In the urgent situation, the hero carefully chose his words while recalling the dialogues he had shared with ??? in the past mental worlds. ¡®Why do you hate humans so much?¡¯ [Because they possess an inherently evil nature. Therefore, I have hated them intensely, continue to hate them, and will always hate them.] In fact, from that time, the hero had been preparing an answer for him. ??? was right; the essence of humanity is evil. The hero also despised the evil inherent in human nature. He despised the manifestation of evil that caused Ted¡¯s death and brought countless innocent people to suffer, more than anyone else. ¡°I too loathe the evil within humans.¡± ??? asked in a doubtful voice. [¡­Suddenly?] ¡°I hate humans who live their entire lives without ever relinquishing or eradicating that evil.¡± [Yes, but¡­] ¡°But some are different.¡± ??? shouted in anger. [If you start talking nonsense about some being different, I¡¯ll kill you right here¡­] ¡°I¡¯ll exin, so shut up and listen.¡± [¡­What?] Of course, there have been times when the vast majority of humans were evil. But even in the repeating history of evil, a few humans evolved. Through the painstaking education they umted. By upholding morals and ethics. They grew. ¡°They gradually established the intelligence and standards to define, reject, and judge ¡®evil.''¡± Those who learned from Ted did so. The disciples who learned from him did so. And others who learned from those disciples will do the same. ¡°They will walk the right path, make difficult choices, and prove that the values I believe in are not wrong.¡± [Nonsense!] ¡°¡­You don¡¯t have to look far. Look at Iira.¡± [Are you using that woman as proof? You must have seen the foolishness and dark impulses in a corner of her heart too!] ¡°I saw them.¡± [Then!] ¡°So what.¡± But was she truly evil? The woman who spent her entire life on the battlefield for the salvation of others? ¡°You must know better than anyone how easily someone with power can live. Then why did she choose this life, whom you im to be evil?¡± [¡­¡­] ¡°Yes, it¡¯s because she saw and followed the predecessor, Ted Redymer. She replicated him.¡± [Replicated¡­?] Humans live by imitating others, just like us. ¡°So we, who can embody the most, are paradoxically the ones who can show humans what to imitate and where to head.¡± Just as the light that started with Ted shone on him and all his connections. ¡°That must be why you appeared in the first age, where evildoers prevailed. It would have been better if you had realized it sooner.¡± ??? murmured in a subdued voice. [I¡­] The hero realized why the conversations he had with his disciples earlier ovepped with the dialogue with ???. Dreamscape. An artifact that shows the illusion desired by the viewer. The hero, who holds and practices good. Being acknowledged by humans despite being a doppelganger, was like a dreamscape illusion to ???. ??? was looking at him with such a perspective. ¡°So, you.¡± Srrrng¡ª The hero raised the ck hope. ¡°Do you wish for me to fail as well?¡± [¡­¡­] As the hero asked this, he turned towards the approaching storm of demonic energy that hade right in front of him. Rumble¡ª! There was no more time to continue talking. He had said everything he wanted to say to ???. Now it was time to fight, regardless of whether he would help or not. ¡°¡­If I¡¯ve said this much, at least you won¡¯t interfere.¡± The hero gathered his resolve and drew upon his magic power. Whoosh¡ª mes wrapped around his sword. The mes that turned his vision white gradually descended onto the sword like starlight. The white mes burned even fiercer within the ck storm of demonic energy. Like the master who shone in a hopeless era. ¡°¡­¡± At that moment, as Theo and the hero¡¯s gazes met in midair, ¡­The awaited answer returned. [I will help] * * * A momentter, there was a brief additionalment. [Not because I was convinced, but because I also hate those bastards] ¡­Of course, he ignored it lightly. With ???¡¯s full cooperation, The hero felt like he had gained an army of a thousand and immediately leapt towards Theo. He had already assessed the situation as he approached the vicinity of the Knot Hole. Nyhill seemed to have fled as she wasn¡¯t a match, and there was a presence inside the Knot Hole, with Larze struggling. It seemed tough for now, but with his assistance, the tide of the battle would soon turn. [Wait, there¡¯s something you need to know before you fight] ???¡¯s voice stopped him. ¡°Something I need to know?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [The one before you is not the main body, but an ¡®incarnation¡¯] ¡°¡­What?¡± The hero¡¯s expression hardened at ???¡¯s words. He instinctively scanned the surrounding devastation. He instinctively scanned the surrounding devastation. ¡°An incarnation this strong? That can¡¯t be.¡± He had encountered Theo¡¯s incarnation before. In the past, right here in the Great Forest, he had been cursed by it. Back then, it felt quite powerful, but now it was at a level he could tear apart in an instant. ¡°No matter how powerful it became by absorbing Yol, this doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± Maybe if it were the Demon King. But an incarnation creating a barrier epassing the entire Great Forest, corrupting the World Tree, facing Lace and the Dawn Knights, and overpowering Nyhill and Larze? Impossible. But before the hero could question it, ??? provided the answer. [He absorbed Yol. And Yol had a special ability rted to incarnations. Remember? The incarnation that killed Rosalyn.] Yol could create an incarnation on the spot and imbue it with as much power as he wanted. The hero¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°So how much of the main body¡¯s power is this incarnation using now?¡± [It seems to exceed half. It appears he adjusts it as needed. When heunched a full-scale attack on the Great Forest, he must have used 80 to 90 percent¡­ but now, it seems to be around 60 percent. He seems to not want it revealed that it¡¯s an incarnation.] The hero was shocked by two facts. One was that 60 percent of Theo¡¯s power was still overwhelmingly strong. The other was¡­ ¡°So even if I defeat him here, it won¡¯t matter?¡± Killing an incarnation did deal a significant blow to the main body. They were closely connected. He would likely lose as much power as was imbued in the incarnation for a while. But that was ultimately a recoverable loss. ¡°¡­¡± Even the hero couldn¡¯t help but lose hisposure at this fact. They had already sacrificed so much. Irreceable things. And yet, they couldn¡¯t deal a decisive blow to Theo. Half of the 1st and 2nd divisions were annihted, but as long as Theo was alive, it meant nothing. ¡­At that moment. [There is a way] ¡°A way?¡± [If you kill the incarnation in a ce where its connection to the main body ispletely severed, that power won¡¯t return to the main body but will dissipate entirely.] ¡°¡­¡± [You already know the way] The hero, who had been staring intently at Theo, slowly nodded. ¡°¡­I see.¡± . . . Meanwhile, Theo was half-heartedly dealing with Larze, keeping all his senses focused on the ¡°fake hero.¡± ¡®Hmm, maybe it¡¯s time to retreat.¡¯ He had already achieved his goal by corrupting the World Tree. He had also dealt with the annoying Lace and the Dawn Knights, so there was nothing more to ask for. He thought of breaking the seal and killing Larze as well, but the appearance of the fake hero made him hesitate. ¡®¡­It¡¯s hard to gauge how powerful that creature is exactly.¡¯ Of course, it wouldn¡¯t be as strong as when he fought their king hundreds of years ago, but he still couldn¡¯t help but be cautious. Even if it was just an incarnation, losing it would mean spending a whole year doing nothing but recovering his demonic energy. All sorts of scum might attack him during that weakened state. ¡®The resistance was stronger than expected, so I used more power too.¡¯ Alright, let¡¯s retreat. With that decision, Theo drew upon 60 percent of the power from his main body and prepared the power of ¡°Loss.¡± Larze could barely resist at her level. While she struggled to hold on, he nned to dismantle the barrier and use that demonic energy to teleport. Woooo¡ª Larze¡¯s face twisted with tension. The hero was running towards them, but it was toote. By the time his sword reached here, Theo would already be at the Demon King¡¯s Castle. Theo grinned wildly and sent his power toward Larze. ¡°Heh.¡± At the same moment, Larze¡¯s lips curved into a gentle smile. Theo frowned, sensing something ominous. ¡°What?¡± Woooo¡ª A barrier that interfered with teleportation suddenly unfolded nearby. Larze had cast a spell, disregarding her defense. Theo¡¯s eyes widened. Larze, who should have withered away immediately, was still standing. Instead, the staff she extended, ¡°White Despair,¡± was cracking and crumbling like a tree in a long drought. ¡°What the¡­¡± What¡¯s the point? He couldn¡¯t understand. She could have just blocked it; why sacrifice such a powerful artifact¡­ ¡°Is it to create an opening for the fake hero to attack?¡± But even with 60 percent of the main body¡¯s power, he was confident he could deflect an attack, even from the real Ted Redymer. Woooo¡ª A pitch-ck barrier tightly wrapped around the small body of the old man. It was a defensive spell cast with thest of her remaining mana. ¡°!¡± But there was no hesitation in the fake hero¡¯s expression as he approached. The peculiar unease that had been building up from earlier intensified. ¡°Wait¡­ no way.¡± It was the moment he recalled one of Ted Redymer¡¯s special techniques. ¡°You cannot resist!¡± The blessing of Zero, Paradox, ensnared him. Following that, the greatsword enveloped in white mes shattered the barrier, stunning Theo. ¨‹ Salvation Style ¨C ¡°Fourth Form: Ster Rift.¡± ¡ø And finally, the technique Ted devised to protect hisrades by sending both the enemy and himself into a separate subspace. ¡°¡­This bastard!¡± Theo, regaining his senses, hurriedly tried to gather his demonic energy. However, even Theo couldn¡¯t cast high-level magic to resist a technique the hero was executing with all his might, especially after deploying ¡°Loss¡± and a barrier in quick session. Moreover, with Paradox hindering his demonic energy, he was astonishingly easily captured by the power of Ster Rift. ¡°It worked!¡± Woooo¡ª Larz¨¦ cheered as she saw the silhouettes of the hero and Theo wrapped in a blinding white light. The hero felt a strange sensation of floating and recalled the exnations she had given him about Ster Rift in the past. ¡°To put it simply, it¡¯s a technique that creates a barrier unique to the user. It manifests the user¡¯s mental world into a physical form, encroaching upon reality.¡± ¡°It generates a separate space where the force of the world¡¯s logic doesn¡¯t reach, coloring it with your essence. In other words, Ster Rift¡­¡± ¡°Is a technique that invites the enemy into your personal battlefield.¡± ¡®No, it¡¯s not just my battlefield.¡¯ The hero opened his eyes. A space that was once empty was now filled with many things. On the ground, scorching white mes. In the sky, massive drawn bows. Various swords, spears, axes, and hammers were orderly nted around him. Whirr¡ª! Even mechanical artifacts hummed with energy. ¡°Now.¡± The hero turned to Theo, whose face was filled with shock. And with thebined voices of many, he spoke. ¡°Fight with us.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 292 Chapter 292 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Originally, the 4th technique, Ster Rift, was an ultimate move designed to protectrades from formidable enemies. Of course, constructing and dominating a space with one¡¯s own magic provided various positivebat enhancements, but those were merely secondary effects. In essence, it was a support skill. However, after receiving assistance from ??? and duplicating all the countless cores present in his imagination, the hero¡¯s Ster Rift transcended to an entirely different level. From the start of his vision to its edge, countless armaments continuously materialized. The innumerable cores held by the hero took on various forms and manifested. Each one emitted an immense amount of mana that could not be easily disregarded. Tsutsutsu- ¡°¡­¡­¡± Theo¡¯s face, observing this, had long lost its calmposure. ¡®The connection with the main body¡­ has been severed.¡¯ Faced with the threat of permanently losing 60% of his power, even he could not maintain hisposure. This meant bing even weaker than before absorbing Yol. If he didn¡¯t escape this space alive, all his ns would crumble. ¡®But¡­¡¯ Theo looked at the approaching hero from the far end of his vision. A chilling, subdued gaze. Though it seemed as if all emotions had been erased, he could sense a chilling anger at the edge. An unfamiliar emotion arose. Woooo- Theo drew out his demonic energy with all his might. Dark smoke flowed from his hands and coalesced, forming the shape of a demon¡¯s mouth, standing as a barrier in front of him. It was the strongest defensive magic Theo could conjure. A spell that could deflect even Malekia¡¯s breath or Yol¡¯s sword strikes, yet for some reason, Theo felt no reassurance. His wrinkled lips trembled slightly. ¡°¡­It¡¯s a dreadful day.¡± . . . The hero lifted his head to the sky filled with countless zing armaments. He felt a deep connection, as if his consciousness was linked to each weapon. The heavy weight of the weapons, their sharpness, the heat of the mes. He no longer felt like a single warrior but an entityposed of these numerous armaments. The hero realized that they were all ready to respond to his will. [You won¡¯t need any more help, right?] ¡®¡­It¡¯s already enough.¡¯ Beyond the heat-distorted view, an image kept repeating in his mind. It was the burning forest. The corpses that had been weathered and crumbled by Theo¡¯s powers. Familiar faces swallowed by shock and terror. ¡­.They were therades Ted cherished and loved, and the fairy tribe that willingly pursued the great cause, leaving behind longevity. They were the ones who had fallen. ¡°Regretful.¡± The journey¡¯s end Iira had walked with all her might was cut short, and Taylor who had closed her eyes without seeing the conclusion next to Iira. The hero lifted his head and looked at Theo. Tsutsutsutsu- Simultaneously, the armaments in the air all adjusted their angles to target him. Theo, sensing something, faced the hero with a transcendent expression. The hero kicked off the ground. ¨‹ Infinite Technique: Initiate ¡®2nd Form: Unity.¡¯ ¡ø Countless, yet one sword. The ultimate move learned from the duel with the former Sword Saint surged forward. In an instant, Theo¡¯s barrier split vertically, swallowing the ck Hope, but soon, small cracks appeared, and it began to tremble slightly. The hero took a step forward and directed his consciousness. ¡®¡­Now.¡¯ With an ear-piercing tearing sound, the armaments finally fell. Perfectly synchronized weapons didn¡¯t just shoot; they moved organically ording to the hero¡¯s will. The hero also continuously wielded the ck Hope. Theo¡¯s scattered magic bullets couldn¡¯t even touch his body. Quagga-ga-ga-gang-! With a massive impact and explosion, mes spread in all directions as the whirling white mes touched the magic forming the barrier. ¡®More.¡¯ Endless attacks distorted Theo¡¯s expression. ¡®More.¡¯ The hero felt his power merging with the armaments and expanding infinitely. The tails of mes and the thousands of glowing trajectories collided with the barrier. ¡®More.¡¯ The hero repeated. Theo. The Demon King. These damned demons. And at some point, the hero had arrived beyond the shattered barrier. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The hero looked down at Theo at his feet. From his small, shrunken body, ck blood gushed out like a fountain. The power forming his avatar was gradually dissipating. Theo¡¯s distorted expression showed pain, anger, and humiliation. Above all, the despair of losing the immense power he had painstakingly umted in an instant was overwhelming. Finally, the hero could smile. ¡°Theo.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°This is the moment of loss.¡± A gaze full of hostility and hatred passed between them. ¡°¡­Don¡¯t think this is the end.¡± ¡°That¡¯s-¡± The ck Hope was raised. The hero¡¯s smiling face turned expressionless at the same time. ¡°I should be the one saying that.¡± Thud-! The old man¡¯s head rolled on the ground. * * * The first thing the hero saw after withdrawing the Ster Rift was Larze tending to the wounded in the Immortals¡¯ Realm. Larze, with a look of utter annoyance, was swiftly moving the injured. Spotting a familiar face among them, the hero hurried over. ¡°¡­Nyhill.¡± His heart sank seeing Nyhill¡¯s eyes closed limply. Larze yawned and said, ¡°She¡¯s just asleep, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°¡­Asleep? In the midst of this?¡± ¡°Yeah. I put her to sleep with a sleep spell.¡± Larze added in a tired voice, seeing the hero¡¯s incredulous look. ¡°They kept trying to run out and fight. Taylor too.¡± Taylor was sleeping next to Nyhill, drenched in cold sweat. The hero¡¯s gaze fell on her severed knee and the wounds on her shoulder. Uuuuuung- Without hesitation, the hero drew upon his holy power. Some of the holy power he had received bit by bit from Maktania over the years flowed into Taylor. He couldn¡¯t save Iira, whose insides hadpletely burned, but it was enough for emergency treatment for Taylor. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Seeing Taylor¡¯s expression rx, the hero infused holy power into the other injured as well. ¡­Though there were barely ten injured left. Among the hundreds of fairies in the Immortals¡¯ Realm, only a handful had survived. ¡°At least quite a few fairies from the outer viges and nonbatants survived.¡± ¡°Did they?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look relieved.¡± Larze flopped down beside the hero who had finished healing. ¡°You¡­¡± The hero realized something was off about her movements. Her left leg. As he tried to use holy power again, Larze shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s Theo¡¯s doing. Maktania¡¯s holy power, being of a lower order, can¡¯t fix it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle this myself, so don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Larze continued in her characteristguid voice. ¡°Let¡¯s get to the point.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Theo wasn¡¯t here to seal anything.¡± ¡°I suspected as much.¡± The hero nodded. Amazingly, the seal remained intact amidst all the chaos. Most of the hundreds ofyers of wards set up had been destroyed, but the seal itself was still in ce. If Theo had aimed to break the seal, it would have been destroyed long ago. ¡°So what was his goal?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°The World Tree.¡± ¡°The World Tree?¡± The hero looked at the World Tree with a puzzled expression. He had noticed that something was wrong with the World Tree. Its color had changed, and it no longer radiated a holy aura but rather an ominous one. ¡®It¡¯s be dreadful.¡¯ Even after Theo retreated, the corruption of the World Tree continued. Its bark was turning ck as if scorched. From the cracks that appeared sporadically, ominous ck liquid was seeping out. The liquid emitted foul-smelling smoke as it touched the ground. The hero, still confused, asked again. ¡°Why target the World Tree instead of the seal? What could he do by corrupting it like this?¡± ¡°¡­I can answer that question.¡± A sudden elderly voice from behind startled them. ¡°Lace.¡± Larze murmured in astonishment. ¡°You. You¡¯re alive?¡± ¡­He was alive. Half of his body had shriveled up and turned ck, and the rest was disintegrating due to Theo¡¯s power, but he was still breathing. The hero narrowed his eyes. Lace stood precariously, leaning on a staff made from the branches of the World Tree. He was clinging to life for some purpose. Realizing this, the hero listened intently to his next words. ¡°¡­Theo twisted the passage of the World Tree, which connected to the Spirit Realm, and connected it to the Demon Realm. And using that, he manipted the Demon King.¡± In other words, instead of attacking the passage to the human world that they had blocked, he bypassed through the Spirit Realm to contact the Demon Realm. ¡°¡­Could a meremander do such a thing?¡± ¡°It must be thanks to absorbing Yol. Theo hid his power so well that even I didn¡¯t notice. But I did sense that a part of the Demon King¡¯s power had been severed and descended into the present world due to Theo¡¯s maniption.¡± A part of the power descended into the present world? Feeling uneasy, the hero immediately asked. ¡°What do you mean? Are you saying the Demon King has partially descended?¡± ¡°No one with mortal wisdom can determine how that power will manifest in the present world¡­ You should prepare for the turmoil that¡¯sing.¡± The hero¡¯s expression wavered slightly. He thought of his disciples left at the seal. ¡°¡­Then I must return quickly.¡± He needed to inform Euphemia and the others as well. It was then that Lace, with urgency, called out to the hero who was about to leave. ¡°I have something to give you.¡± ¡°¡­To give me?¡± Without further exnation, Lace took action. Uuuuuung-! His finger pointed towards his temple. From the wrinkled fingertip, a faint blue thread slowly emerged. The mysterious blue thread floated and quickly entered Lace¡¯s eye. Ament appeared. ¨‹ Memory Name: ¡®Choice¡¯ has been stored in the data set. ¡ø ¡­Choice? The hero tilted his head in confusion. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°The final piece you couldn¡¯t see.¡± As the hero furrowed his brows trying to infer the meaning of those words, Lace continued. ¡°Regrettably, you can¡¯t ess it immediately.¡± ¡°¡­Then when can I ess it?¡± Surprisingly, at that moment, a human expression appeared on Lace¡¯s face for the first time. ¡­It was relief. ¡°At the most crucial moment¡­ you will be able to see it along with the memory Rosalyn left for you.¡± ¡°¡­Rosalyn left a memory for me?¡± The hero¡¯s expression became even more puzzled. However, Lace only faintly smiled and pointed to the monocle named after the hero. ¡°It¡¯s already inside. Though you didn¡¯t know.¡± Before the hero could say anything more, Lace gently pushed him. ¡°It¡¯s time for you to go now.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± At those words, the hero set aside his rising questions. He silently looked at Lace, who wore a serene smile. Though death was approaching him, his expression remainedposed and calm. The hero bowed his head respectfully. ¡°You¡¯ve endured a lot.¡± There was no reply. Lace only smiled faintly and ced his hand on the base of the World Tree. It was the contaminated part. Paah! Simultaneously, all the blood vessels in Lace¡¯s body rose and turned ck. His half-closed eyes. The massive andplex flow of magic and demonic energy from the World Tree was being absorbed by Lace. The hero realized what he was doing. He was sacrificing his life to close the World Tree, which had be a temporary passage to the Demon Realm. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Slowly, Lace¡¯s body stiffened. The terrible aura emanating from the World Tree was also subsiding. Larze called out to the hero, who was quietly watching this scene. ¡°You¡¯re going to your disciples first?¡± ¡°Of course. I need to see what¡¯s happening.¡± Thud- Larze flopped back down to the ground. ¡°I¡¯ll take a rest before I go. I overused my mana, so I won¡¯t be able to go to the front lines for a while, just so you know.¡± ¡°Take care of Nyhill.¡± ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll send her to you once she wakes up.¡± The hero nodded and turned away. Larze, Nyhill, Iira, Taylor, Lace¡­ they had all done their part. Now it was time for him to go back and do his part. ¨‹ Replicating the Red Tower Master, Adeno Snook. ¡ø Uuuuuuuung- The hero stepped into the magic circle. ¡­Many things faded quickly. * * * Meanwhile. At the fourth seal where the children were, they had sessfully fended off the demons¡¯ attack. The demons, who had been dragging out a war of attrition, suddenly withdrew all their forces and retreated. The defenders stared nkly at the distant dust clouds. ¡°¡­Strange.¡± ¡°Right? Usually, they would fight to the bitter end, wouldn¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t easy to take this ce.¡± The defenders, mostly relieved, praised the Lotus Knights, Leciel, and Arpheus for their remarkable achievements as they returned to the interior of the seal. Of course, no one noticed that Ignotus had disappeared. ¡®¡­Perfect!¡¯ And the one who was most excited was Arpheus. He looked at his sword, smeared with the ck blood of the monsters, with satisfaction. ¡®¡­I¡¯ve definitely grown stronger.¡¯ Having fought directly, he realized he had be much stronger than before. He felt a newfound appreciation for the Lotus Knights and Leciel, who had diligently trained him. ¡®I should thank them at mealtime.¡¯ Although there had been a time when they didn¡¯t get along, he felt grateful for their help. Arpheus made up his mind as he headed deeper inside. To the ce where the seal was. The more frequent the inspections, the better. It was also a chance to show his subordinates his diligence. After confirming that there was nothing wrong with the barrier and the defense artifacts, he headed to the core of the seal. ¡­Arpheus tilted his head in confusion a momentter. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Trantor ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 293: Chapter 293: ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡®¡­What was that?¡¯ Returning to the barracks, Arpheus immediately inspected the core of the seal. ¡®I could¡¯ve sworn its color had changed.¡¯ Though he hadn¡¯t been briefed on the exact nature of the seal like Leciel or the Lotus Knights, he had been given all the necessary exnations for guarding it. Arpheus was well aware that this seal was imperfect and required periodic maintenance.¡®They said the closer it gets to red, the more dangerous it is.¡¯ Thus, there was a directive from the higher-ups to thoroughly check for any color changes. Arpheus carefully examined every corner of the seal, even infusing his eyes with mana. However¡­ ¡®Did I see it wrong?¡¯ The seal appeared the same as usual. It emitted a bright blue light, almost painful to look at, and asionally flickered with a mysterious hum. Keter, Chokhmah, Binah, Chesed, Geburah, Tiphereth, Netzach¡­ Return. Wasn¡¯t that an ancient, sacred chant? Arpheus listened nkly to those voices and then turned back towards the entrance. The tension quickly drained from his body. ¡®Come to think of it, they said maintenance was done just before we arrived.¡¯ The maintenance cycle was short, anywhere from a month to three months. There was still plenty of time left. He must have seen it wrong due to fatigue. ¡®I should still tell everyone to keep an eye on it.¡¯ He decided to report it to Ignotus, who was in charge of managing the seal. As he thought this, Arpheus¡¯s expression grew strange. ¡®Now that I think about it, where is Ignotus?¡¯ He was always with the guards, yet he had been nowhere to be seen during the entire demonic army attack. Although technically a nonbatant as the head of management¡ª ¡®I thought he¡¯d fight with the elite of the shadows.¡¯ Surely, he hadn¡¯t been caught up and taken down during the battle. Arpheus¡¯s expression turned worried. In truth, he had grown quite close to this peculiarly named man recently. ¡®We get along so well.¡¯ He found himself sharing various concerns and inner thoughts, something unusual for the typically wary Arpheus. ¡®He feels just like an old friend from home.¡¯ ¡­No, calling him a friend from home wasn¡¯t quite urate. Arpheus had never really had a ¡°home.¡± It was more like he felt more at ease with Ignotus than with his long-time confidants from the North. At least when he was with Ignotus, he didn¡¯t need to maintain a noble demeanor like he did in front of his subordinates. Conversations with him lifted the constant pressure and burdens that had weighed on him since dering himself a hero. It was a greatfort in the harsh routine of managing the seal. ¡®¡­I¡¯d be sad if he had died in battle.¡¯ Just as Arpheus started heading towards the barracks to look for him¡ª Tap-tap¡ª Urgent footsteps approached, and Ignotus rushed inside the sealed area, looking anxious. It was a rare sight for someone usually so calm andposed. Arpheus quickly waved with a relieved smile. ¡°Oh, there you are! I was just about to look for you out of concern. Are you alright?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m fine. I stayed out of harm¡¯s way right after the attack.¡± ¡°Haha, good job. No need to worry; the demonic army was repelled without any damage.¡± ¡°You must¡¯ve had a hard time. By the way¡­¡± Ignotus¡¯s eyes shifted to the space behind Arpheus. ¡°Is there any problem with the seal?¡± ¡°A problem¡­ well, not exactly.¡± Arpheus turned around as he continued. ¡°For a moment, it seemed like the color had changed, so I checked it.¡± Ignotus¡¯s face stiffened, prompting Arpheus to hastily add, ¡°Oh, but it was a mistake. There was no problem at all. I checked it two, three times.¡± Yet Ignotus still seemed uneasy, making Arpheus feel ufortable as well. ¡°¡­What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯d better inspect it myself.¡± Without another word, Ignotus and the hero walked into the inner part of the sealed area. Arpheus followed, looking puzzled. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­Is there any issue? I didn¡¯t see any.¡± Arpheus asked, but the hero slowly shook his head. The seal was indeed intact. The color remained blue, and the magic circle and forms constituting the seal were unchanged. ¡®¡­The seal and the children are fine.¡¯ The hero narrowed his eyes, organizing his thoughts. What exactly was the fragment of the demon king manifesting in the present world? Was it merely a chunk of power? Or perhaps a kind of avatar? And if so, what was its purpose? There was no way to know for now. ¡®I¡¯d better inform myrades and gather information.¡¯ Even if they couldn¡¯t convene immediately, it would be wise to hold a meeting viamunication. The battle at the first seal should be wrapping up soon. ¡®Well, there¡¯s no need to worry about that.¡¯ The first seal was protected by Cuculli, Izaro, Maktania, Barrett, and the Namsov family. Malekia alone couldn¡¯t break through it. Even if Theo¡¯s main body, with 40% of its power, was waiting nearby, it couldn¡¯t threaten the seal. Whew¡ª The hero sighed briefly and donned the calm mask of Ignotus once more. ¡°I¡¯ll head back to the barracks now.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. Go ahead.¡± Arpheus saw him off with an awkward expression. * * * The Queen of Agony, Malekia. Her n specialized in converting human ¡®physical pain¡¯ into demonic energy. The more captives they capture, and the more cruelly they torture them, the stronger their demonic energy bes. Thus, in the past three years, as the front lines expanded across the entire Western Continent, Malekia also grew significantly stronger, though not as much as Theo, who had absorbed Yol. ¡°Push them back!¡± ¡°It¡¯s almost over!¡± ¡­But it wasn¡¯t enough to handle all the defenders of the first seal. The battle at the first seal was rapidly nearing its end. Malekia¡¯s third legion had lost nearly half its forces in an instant. The defenders¡¯ strategy was effective. While the flying Cuculli and Maktania kept Malekia upied, Izaro and the Namsov family, along with the allied forces, quickly dealt with the third legion. When the enemy forces were reduced enough for the allied forces to handle them alone, Izaro and the Namsov family joined in subduing Malekia. However, despite nearing a situation where she would be overwhelmed, Malekia stood firmly on the snowy field, continuing the fight. [Pain is the promise etched into your flesh, indulge in it.] Wooouuuuung¡ª Malekia, who had been flying swiftly, suddenly stopped in mid-air, spreading her wings wide. Her maw opened wide, and an ominous, sticky energy,pletely different from the cool and clean northern magic, swirled at the edge of their vision. Maktania grimaced. ¡°Again? Just how much demonic energy does she have!?¡± The air was sucked into Malekia¡¯s wide-open maw. From deep within her throat, a sinister darkness emerged. A small ck me began at the root of her tongue, quickly growing and spewing out with her intense breath. Whoooom¡ª! The deep, dark purple me roared across the snowy field like a living creature. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª It not only evaporated all the snow but also vaporized the exposed soil without a trace. Even the fearless allies took a breath in. ¡°Cuculli, can you do it?¡± ¡°I have to.¡± Wooouuuung¡ª Cuculli, who had reverted to her human form to conserve mana, was once again enveloped in brilliant light. Creeeak¡ª Kneeling, her form began to change. Her fingers grew longer and harder like steel. Powerful ws sprouted from the ends, gripping the ground. As the blue scales and two horns reflected the hazy northern sunlight, the onlookers cheered, momentarily forgetting the mes in their sight. [Roaaaar¡ª!] Whoosh¡ª Giant wings, dozens of meters long, unfurled, creating a fierce snowstorm nearby. Beyond the dense snowkes filling the sky, a cold and intense energy enveloped Cuculli. Kiiiiiieeeeeng¡ª! A fierce cold burst forth like a giant waterfall. The condensed breath, in the form of a pir, shot forward with a brilliant light. Along the path of the freezing breath, countless clear and transparent ice walls sprang up. The advancing allies hid behind them. ¡°Keep low!¡± ¡°Get caught in that, and you¡¯re dead!¡± Having already experienced simr shes several times, their movements were quick and decisive. ¡­As the two breaths from the sky collided¡ª Boom¡ª! The energy wave formed by the collision swept across the surroundings, cutting through the sky and the ground. The dazzling light and swirling darkness continuously flickered at the center, where ice and mes endlessly shed. Tssssss¡ª! Heavy, damp steam rapidly covered the sky within several kilometers. In the now hazy and blurry vision, the sound of fierce wings ovepping could be heard. Soon, tworge silhouettes soared into the sky. ¡°Charge again!¡± At this signal, the armies of both sides let out shouts and roars as they shed. Cuculli circled in the sky, keeping vignt. The enormous amount of steam intertwined and flowed turbulently. The vision was as dim and murky as if covered by a gray nket. ¡®Avoid physicalbat as much as possible.¡¯ Unlike her sleek and streamlined body, Malekia¡¯s body was much thicker and tougher. It would be wiser to avoid direct confrontation and instead bombard her with magic while maneuvering evasively. Maktania, holding onto Cuculli¡¯s horn and standing on her head, whispered, ¡°Just a little longer. Victory is close.¡± ¡°Leave it to me.¡± The war that had been unfavorable for three years. Defeating Malekia and the third legion could turn the tide. The professor and friends would be so pleased. Just as Cuculli was thinking this, a giant set of teeth suddenly appeared right in front of her. ¡°Cuculli!¡± Crack¡ª! The teeth and ws of the two dragons tore into each other¡¯s scales. Painful roars, blood, and scale fragments filled the sky. A sharp voice prated Cuculli¡¯s ears. [Your pain, your screams, are sweeter than I imagined.] Cuculli gritted her teeth and responded. ¡°Shut up!¡± Crack¡ª! Cuculli¡¯s teeth once again bit into Malekia¡¯s neck, and Malekia¡¯s ws tore into Cuculli¡¯s side. The pain shot through her like lightning, but Cuculli noticed that Malekia¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change at all. In fact, there was a tremor of ecstasy. But then. Whoosh¡ª! A white light shed on the opposite side of the field. A divine spear suddenly appeared and pierced Malekia¡¯s opposite side. Maktania had somehow dropped down and ambushed her by circling around. As the massive holy power prated, a painful roar finally erupted from Malekia¡¯s mouth. Maktania, having gained recognition and strength in the current world, was now capable of much greater holy power than three years ago. [Aaaaargh¡ª!] Cuculli smiled brightly. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s sweet!¡± Whoosh¡ª! With wings of light spread, Maktania flew back towards Cuculli¡¯s head, narrowly dodging Malekia¡¯s swiftly swung forepaw. [You pesky little fly!] With zing red eyes, Malekia charged. The distance was too close, so Cuculli gritted her teeth, ready for a collision. ¡°¡­¡­¡± However, the battle inadvertently reached a lull. Maktania, Cuculli, and Malekia all focused their gaze on a small silhouette that suddenly appeared. The intruder ignored Cuculli and Maktania, fixating solely on Malekia. ¡°Malekia, stop thinking foolishly and retreat as nned.¡± [¡­Theo.] ¡°The southern side has seeded, so hurry up.¡± [It¡¯s a cause for celebration, but¡­] Thud¡ª Malekia¡¯s bright yellow eyes rolled towards Theo. Her thin, snake-like pupils widened as if finding something intriguing. [There seems to have been an incident.] ¡°¡­What?¡± [You¡¯ve be pathetically weak.] Theo sneered. ¡°So you want to have a feast here? His Majesty would be so pleased.¡± [You, who devoured our old friend, have no right to speak.] Malekia continued smoothly. [I will serve His Majesty alone.] Theo immediately retorted with a sneering face, but no one present heard his words. Rumble¡ª An ominous vibration, like an earthquake, suddenly struck. Startled, the armies at their feet momentarily fell silent. In the sudden quiet, Maktania whispered softly. ¡°It¡¯s the seal.¡± After a moment of trembling, the snowy field returned to silence. The snow fell as if nothing had happened, and the sound of shing steel resumed. However, Malekia, who had been burning with fighting spirit moments ago, seemed to have lost all desire to fight. She red at Theo with wide eyes. [No way.] Theo looked just as baffled. The wrinkles around his eyes expressed disbelief. ¡°¡­Already?¡± Of course, Cuculli and Maktania couldn¡¯t understand their conversation at all. But there was one thing they could understand. Maktania whispered slowly and very quietly. ¡°Cuculli.¡± It was as if she believed someone nearby was watching them. ¡°Let¡¯s run.¡± In the sky, beyond the clouds, a giant eye, recing the sun, was staring down at them. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 294: Chapter 294: ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª What Does the Demon King Actually Look Like? Was he simr to most other demons, taking on a humanoid form? Or perhaps he resembled a gigantic monster? Maybe he was an ever-changing, indefinite shape? These were questions many people had.However, even though it had been hundreds of years since the start of the Human-Demon War, there weren¡¯t many ounts or stories about the Demon King. There were two main reasons for this. First, because anyone who saw him didn¡¯t live to tell the tale. Second, because the Demon King rarely showed himself before humans in the first ce. In fact, throughout that long period, the number of times the Demon King appeared on the battlefield could be counted on one hand. Of course, whenever he did appear, whether it was a small army or a couple of cities, they would disappear without a trace¡­ Nheless, unlike the other demons, the Demon King did not actively participate in the Human-Demon War. ¡®If he had, humanity would have been annihted long ago.¡¯ He mostly stayed holed up in the Demon King¡¯s Castle, known as the first region of the Demon Realm¡­ only to suddenly appear and wreak havoc before vanishing again. Cuculli, who inherited the ancient dragon¡¯s knowledge through the ¡°Baptism,¡± understood the reason behind the Demon King¡¯s sporadic appearances. It was causality. A mysteriousw that mortals could hardlyprehend was binding him. Maktania exined further: ¡°Transcendental beings who have achieved a certain level of power are constrained by thew of causality in this world. Just as a body resists disease, the world itself fights against the intrusion of external threats.¡± The Demon King had exhausted most of his causality in a past battle with the original Doppelg?nger, causing him to suffer unexpected penalties as a result. ¡°¡­So humanity survived thanks to that bastard, after all.¡± The hero who learned the truth couldn¡¯t help butugh in disbelief. Because of this, even the elite Dawn Knights, who fought in the most perilous battlefields, had never encountered the Demon King. Only Ted Redymer had faced him, but he too perished and could not leave any ounts. Thus, when Cuculli was a student, she had a rather absurd worry: ¡®What if I meet him one day and don¡¯t recognize him because I don¡¯t know what he looks like?¡¯ It was aughable concern. If that being wasn¡¯t the Demon King, the king of all demons, then what else could he be? Cuculli stared nkly at the sky, where the sun used to be. ¡®¡­Eyes?¡¯ The surroundings had bepletely dark as if it were midnight. Sssssss¡ª In the darkness, only the Demon King¡¯s eyes glowed faintly. Sssssssssss¡ª His pupils did not have a fixed form. They moved and transformed continuously. At first, it seemed like one enormous pupil, but soon it split into two, three, and then dozens¡­ eventually into countless numbers. The pupils, rolling in different directions, soon merged again into onerger eye. Staring at this, Cuculli felt a very unfamiliar sensation. ¡®Uh¡­ uh?¡¯ Pride and determination¡ªthese were intrinsic to Cuculli. From the moment she followed the bloodline of the great chieftain Dorempa and let out her first cry in this snowynd. Even before horns sprouted from her head! Fear had always been a mere abstract concept to her. ¡­At least, that¡¯s what she believed until just moments ago. ¡°Hik.¡± Unconsciously, Cuculli folded her wings. She no longer had the courage to keep flying. If she could get even a little further away from that thing, she would even crash into the ground willingly. Whhhh¡ª Her streamlined body wobbled as it plummeted to the ground. ¡°Cuculli¡­ snap out of it¡­.¡± Maktania whispered urgently, but her words did not reach Cuculli. Even though she possessed the soul of a high-ranking dragon, she couldn¡¯t remain unaffected by the concentrated malice and madness of the Demon King. The ice dragon, falling from the dizzying heights. The battlefield unfolding beneath her was in utter chaos. ¡°Aaaaaa¡­.¡± All the noise from the battle had already ceased. People looked up at the sky with terrified faces. Some tried to gouge out their own eyes or break their immobile necks to escape the Demon King¡¯s gaze, but most failed. It was the same for low-ranking demons and monsters. ¡°Grrr¡­.¡± Those engaged in bloodybat all froze, looking in the same direction. The Demon King¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t just instill fear. His transcendental eyes, viewing the world as a mere ything, provoked the innate confusion and terror in mortals. It felt like being a small creature trapped in a tiny box. An overwhelming sense of powerlessness, never before imagined, surged within them. ¡°¡­Cuculli!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Please, snap out of it!¡± Just before Cuculli¡¯s body collided with the ground, her massive head was enveloped in a brilliant holy light. At the same time, the light returned to her dazed pupils. ¡°Huff!¡± Swish¡ª Her wings spread wide. Just before the crash, Cuculli soared dramatically into the sky, shaking her head as if awakening from a deep slumber. Maktania¡¯s shout reached Cuculli¡¯s ears. ¡°Are you going to let your subordinates die while you¡¯re out of it?¡± ¡°Uuuu¡­¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you be ashamed in front of your father!?¡± That statement snapped Cuculli back to full awareness. She quickly assessed the situation and used half of her remaining mana to unleash a powerful dragonmand. [Retreat! Everyone, run! Don¡¯t ever look up! Just keep your eyes on the ground!] As the materialized mana swept across the battlefield, the bodies of the frozen tribesmen began to move slightly. Cuculli didn¡¯t stop there; she used the rest of her mana to create a massive ice dome over her subordinates. Rumble¡ª Once the Demon King¡¯s gaze was physically blocked, the tribesmen seemed to regain their senses. Maktania followed up by releasing another burst of holy power. The allied forces, now fully alert, began to run. As close-knit tribal members, they carried their frozenrades as they retreated. ¡°Uuuu¡­¡± Having exhausted all her holy power, Maktania hung limply next to Cuculli¡¯s horn, her mouth slightly open. Yet, her eyes still burned with life. ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t this strange?¡± Cuculli also sensed something was off and nodded. ¡°Yeah¡­ why¡­.¡± Both turned their heads simultaneously, looking toward the direction of the seal. ¡°The seal is intact, right?¡± Moments ago, amidst the chaos, they hadn¡¯t noticed, but the seal was surprisingly intact. The seal¡¯s power was vividly present¡­ still detectable. Maktania muttered in disbelief. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense¡­¡± They naturally assumed that the Demon King¡¯s appearance was due to the seal being broken. There had been a peculiar vibration and noise from the seal¡¯s direction earlier¡­ ¡®We heard that other seals were also under attack¡­ we thought multiple seals copsing simultaneously had brought the Demon King here.¡¯ ¡­But that wasn¡¯t the case. Maktania frowned, unable toprehend. ¡°Then what is that?¡± How could the Demon King be rampaging in the mortal realm if the seal was intact? ¡°I¡¯ll remove the ice wall for now. We need to conserve our mana for the battle.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Sssss¡ª The pitch-ck sky was revealed again. Cuculli had a perplexed expression. The Demon King¡¯s eyes still glinted where the sun should have been. However¡­ ¡®¡­Something¡¯s off.¡¯ As the saying goes, even if you¡¯re dragged into a tiger¡¯s den, if you keep your wits, you can survive. Cuculli began to notice a series of clues she had previously missed. ¡°¡­He hasn¡¯t fully manifested.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not over yet!¡± Cuculli, risking everything, gathered the rest of her mana to enhance her eyesight. She looked up again. Realizing what she intended, Maktania also scraped together her remaining holy power and poured it into Cuculli. ¡®If my guess is right¡­¡¯ Cuculli raised her head, staring at the sky where red lightning crackled. Her blue eyes pierced beyond, into the hidden side of the world. Drip¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Blood flowed continuously from her eyes. While desperately maintaining her sanity, the wisdom of the ice dragon helped her intuitively understand the phenomenon before her. ¡°¡­He can¡¯t fully cross over.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°He found another passage¡­ but it¡¯s imperfect. That¡¯s why he¡¯s using the power of his subordinates¡­¡± There was a reason why the previously imposing Theo and Malekia suddenly became immobile. Wooong¡ª A massive vortex of demonic energy was being siphoned from them, heading somewhere. Though they weren¡¯tpletely destroyed, it seemed as if they were being stripped of all but a minimal amount of energy needed to maintain their existence. The vast amount of demonic energy being drawn from the twomanders was¡­ ¡°The dimensional rift¡­ a forced passage?¡± Having finally understood the situation, Maktania and Cuculli¡¯s expressions becameplex. Of course, this was much better than having the Demon King fully manifest. However, if all that demonic energy was absorbed, the oue would be nearly the same. ¡®¡­He must have recovered quite a bit of causality after returning to the demon realm.¡¯ Cuculli realized there was no time to waste. ¡®First, we need to stop the flow of demonic energy.¡¯ Swish¡ª Her giant wings adjusted their angle for takeoff. ¡°¡­Maktania. Can you fight?¡± Maktania sighed softly as the wind battered her face. ¡°Huff¡­¡± Both Cuculli¡¯s magic and her own holy power werepletely drained. This was effectively a death sentence. The original n to chase the Doppelg?nger¡¯s tail and tour the human world seemed distant now. Maktania grumbled briefly. ¡®¡­And where on earth has Izaro gone?¡¯ Did he get caught up and killed by the Demon King¡¯s power manifestation? As the end neared, Maktania felt a tinge of unfairness at the absence of Izaro, one of the individuals who had summoned her to this world. But there was no other choice. Preventing the Demon King from taking over the material world was imperative from a celestial perspective, and if the seal and herrades were all destroyed here, the doppelg?nger would be utterly devastated. ¡°Though I would like to see him cry in person¡­¡± p¡ª As Cuculli pped her wings diligently, she asked, ¡°What are you talking about all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Nothing, never mind.¡± Screeech¡ª! Soon, a sword of light appeared in Maktania¡¯s hand. With a weapon like a toothpick made from herst remaining holy power and Cuculli, who couldn¡¯t even use flying magic anymore and was using her wings to keep her massive body aloft, their eyes still burned with determination to somehow sever the flow of demonic energy and stop the Demon King¡¯s manifestation. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Right!¡± Thud¡ª! It was then that the same noise as before came from the direction of the seal. As Cuculli and Maktania hesitated at this unexpected situation. Rumble¡ª! A sound several times louder than before resonated. The air around them shook. Cuculli, feeling an inexplicable intuition, halted her wings. And soon. [Descendants of the traitors! It is time to repay our debt to this world!] A loud roar that drowned out all other sounds hit their ears. Despite its content, the voice carried a spirit of victory and determination rather than defeat and despair. ¡°What!?¡± ¡°No way.¡± At the same time, Cuculli and Maktania felt the life force of some humans near the seal abruptly disappear, like a candle being blown out. Maktania¡¯s face contorted as she realized something. ¡°¡­Wait!¡± But despite her cry, a wave of light quickly approached. In a moment of frozen time, the light spread, turning everything white. The surrounding scenery gradually disappeared, and everyone¡¯s vision turned to a world of pure white. As if all the colors in the world had vanished, with only light remaining, Cuculli and Maktania saw shapes slowly fading within it. * * * ¡®Barrett Namsov and all members of the Namsov family dead, 133 allied warriors of the tribes killed¡­ Izaro, Cuculli, and Maktania are in a state of incapacitation¡­¡¯ The Emperor walked briskly through the long corridor, recalling the report she had just received. She reflected on the sentences written at the end of the report. ¡®¡­The descent of the Demon King was temporarily halted, but its imminence remains.¡¯ Barrett Namsov, who maintained the seal, had sacrificed himself along with his family and Izaro, the homunculus of Zero, to dy the descent. Despite the tragic news, Euphemia¡¯s expression was resolute and determined, without a trace of despair. Her grip tightened on the staff she held. She took out amunication orb from her robe. Mother Ghost, who was following her closely, naturally kept watch around them. ¡°There¡¯s no one here.¡± Only then did the Emperor speak. Themunication was already connected. ¡°Are you ready?¡± [Of course] A calm voice was heard from the other end. Whether he was good at hiding his emotions or just incredibly bold, during the four years Euphemia had known him, he had never lost hisposure in any situation. Although his calm demeanor could be frustrating and pitiful at times, on a day like today, she found it very reassuring. Euphemia smiled faintly. ¡°It feels rather liberating at this point.¡± [I feel the same] ¡°Though it¡¯s earlier than expected¡­¡± [I¡¯m prepared] Thud¡ª! The Emperor entered a vacant chamber. A silent room. She ced themunication orb on the table with a thud and stared at it intently. After taking a deep breath, she spoke clearly. ¡°Begin the multi-waymunication.¡± Wuuuuu¡ª With a strange sound, themunication orb glowed, ready to cast the ¡®multi-waymunication spell.¡¯ It was the same spell Euphemia had used to summon the members of the Dawn Knights during the Stagnum escape (auction house incident). A high-level spell that consumed an enormous amount of mana, iparable to ordinarymunication spells, creating a phantom conference room to invite participants. In just a few seconds, Felson, who wasmanding the front lines, Zion, who was overseeing the defense of the capital, Noubelmag who was on a secret mission, Yussi, who had unexpectedly arrived in the capital looking for the hero, Duke Wellington who was defending the academy, and even Arpheus, who had newly been invited as a hero, would all be summoned. ¡­An unprecedented grand meeting of the human leadership would be held. And there, they would ¨C ¡°Meet an unexpected guest.¡± [And hear an unexpected proposal from the unexpected guest] ¡°Hah¡­ I can¡¯t even imagine what their reactions will be.¡± Euphemia shook her head. ¡­Though it wasn¡¯t the right sentiment for the situation, she felt like a child about to y a mischievous prank. The man beyond themunication orb briefly smiled silently before murmuring quietly. [Let¡¯s hope they don¡¯t throw stones] His words brought back an old conversation to the Emperor¡¯s mind. ¡­Perhaps it was during a time when they were left alone after a meeting, talking with a sense of despair. ¡°It¡¯s like a stage with the lights off.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯re the actors giving our all to deceive the audience.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just hope we don¡¯t get pelted with stones during the curtain call.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll try to avoid that.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± They silently smiled at each other as if they had made a pact. ¡°Well then.¡± [Well then] Swish¡ª The illusion spell enveloped them. The meeting had begun. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 295: Chapter 295: ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª One hour before the meeting. Sanctuary Headquarters, the Ark. The Sanctuary Headquarters, also known as the Ark, built in the mid-eastern part of the Western Continent, was a colossal refugee facility that housed as many refugees as all the other branches of the Sanctuarybined. Located deep underground to prevent easy attacks by demonic beings, it boasted security superior to that of many cities thanks to the enormous capital invested in it. A clean and affluent living environment was an added bonus.People praised Pia and the Sanctuary associates for their immense sacrifices to keep the refugees safe, but¡­ in fact, the Ark had a ¡®true purpose¡¯ that 99% of the residents were unaware of. ng-! The deepest underground floor. If someone were to step here for the first time, they would be extremely shocked by the scene before them. ¡°Move the materials this way!¡± ¡°Hurry up! Move faster!¡± First, there were elves, dwarves, and humans gathered together. Ahir, the legendary cksmith of the elves and the mother of Noubelmag, was busily moving with her subordinate cksmiths. Even the dwarves, known to be at odds with them, were working alongside them. All of them had skills worthy of being called master craftsmen. Under their delicate handiwork, the work materials quickly took shape. Of course, it wasn¡¯t just cksmiths here. Robed magicians busily moved among the steel columns erected like a giant¡¯s skeleton. The designs in their hands were all for enchantments, each astonishing in its own right. These individuals were the survivors of the Magic Tower, which had been attacked by Theo years ago. Summoned by the Emperor, they were preparing a secret project here, vowing revenge. Lastly, in theboratory behind them. Schrs in white research robes, alchemists, and experts from various manufacturing fields were having heated discussions, piling up valuable magic stones and rare materials like mountains. ¡­And Noubelmag, the chief overseer of this ce, gazed at the scene from the control tower. ¡®Three years¡­¡¯ It had already been three years since this project started. A project in which all avable human and material resources were invested. It was about to bear fruit,bining lost technology from the First Era obtained by numerous expeditions that sacrificed their lives, and the ancient magitech vision obtained by the hero from ???. ¡®¡­It will bepleted in a week.¡¯ Thud- Noubelmag then headed back to the office. He had just received the bad news from the northst night. Therefore, he could easily guess the agenda of the uing meeting. Woo-woo-woo- The promised time was approaching. cing themunication orb on the table, Noubelmag bit into a pipe and closed his eyes. Tsst-tsst-tsst- Illusion magic engulfed him. * * * Euphemia opened her eyes. The conference room created by illusion magic. The courtiers who had arrived early stood up and greeted her. ¡°Your Majesty, were you well?¡± The Emperor¡¯s golden eyes scanned their faces. ¡°¡­¡­¡± There were no insignificant people here. Only the strongest strategists and warriors, whose loyalty to humanity was unquestionable, were present. Felson. Currently on a mission at the front lines, he was dressed in armor covered in dust and soot. The main forces of the Dawn Knights under hismand were in a simr state. The Saintess, Barun, was absent as she was on a campaign to provide healing. Larze also came into view. She too, still weary from fighting Theo in the Great Forest, took her seat with a very tired face. However, her red eyes were sparkling intensely. She knew what would happen today. Next, Yussi, who took her seat with a dark expression, came into view. She whispered something to Pia next to her, but fell silent when she sensed the Emperor¡¯s gaze. The Emperor shifted his gaze again. Pia¡¯s husband, Kasim, surprisingly, was not beside Pia but in a corner of the conference room. ¡®He must have been talking to his disciples.¡¯ He seemed to have been easing the tension of the stiffened children. Not only Leciel from the Dawn Knights, but also Ban, Luke, Gerald, Evergreen, and Karen. The key members of the Lotus Knights were all gathered. Although they had recently emerged as a tremendous new force, this was their first official meeting, and they all had awkward faces. Rnd Bryce, Gerald¡¯s father, and Felson, Ban¡¯s father, nced at them with affectionate eyes. Opposite them, Lucas, who had inherited the title of Duke, exchanged greetings with his friends with a pleased expression. The Imperial Armymanders and the heads of the various knight orders were also present, their eyes gleaming sharply nearby. ¡°Ahem, ahem¡­¡± At the far end of the table. Arpheus, looking as if he might suffocate from the pressure, was ncing around. No matter how bold he was to dere himself a new hero, attending such a meeting was a different matter. Feeling the Emperor¡¯s gaze, Arpheus hastily bowed his head. The Emperor recalled the hero¡¯s words and looked away. ¡®¡­He said it¡¯s worth watching.¡¯ After surveying the conference room, Euphemia finally turned her gaze to one of today¡¯s main protagonists, Noubelmag. When their eyes met, he nodded briefly, signaling that he was ready. ¡°As you all know, there was a simultaneous attack by the Demon King¡¯s army yesterday.¡± ¡­The Emperor got straight to the point. A crisis had arisen that could not be ovee unless everyone worked together. There was no longer any reason to hide anything. ¡°We sessfully defended the fourth seal without much difficulty, but the third seal suffered devastating damage, and the first seal was breached. Additionally, it has been confirmed that a part of the Demon King manifested briefly near the first seal. A report has been prepared, so review the details after the meeting.¡± Swish- Thick reports appeared on each table. But no one immediately looked at them. Everyone stared at the Emperor with expressions of disbelief. A silent shock swept through the conference room. ¡°The first seal has been breached?¡± ¡°¡­The Demon King? Why?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t the other seals intact? How did he manifest?¡± If it hadn¡¯t been the Emperor speaking, the conference room would have quickly turned into chaos. For example, Arpheus, who didn¡¯t even know exactly what the five seals were preventing, looked like he was suffocating. ¡°Fortunately, Guardian Barrett Namsov and his n sacrificed themselves to thwart the Demon King¡¯s manifestation. They also managed to block the interdimensional passage he was trying to use.¡± Of course, no one felt relieved. The first seal had been breached. This was practically a death sentence for the five seals. ¡®The seals were iplete from the start¡­¡¯ Therefore, they needed periodic maintenance, and they couldn¡¯t be guaranteed permanent. With the first seal and Barrett Namsov, the mainstays of the seals, gone simultaneously¡­ ¡®At most six months¡­ at least three months. Within that time, the seals will bepletely neutralized.¡¯ There was neither the leisure nor the capability to reconstruct them. The Emperor watched the agitated high officials and delivered a decisive statement. ¡°Yes, the descent of the Demon King is imminent.¡± A cold, heavy air settled in the conference room. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª A chilling silence. Everyone stared at the Emperor with stern faces. The same question arose in everyone¡¯s mind: ¡°So what¡¯s the n?¡± The Emperor continued to speak slowly. ¡°Fortunately, we have been granted a bit of time.¡± This was thanks to neutralizing Theo and Malekia in the process of defending against the attacks. Theo had lost half of his power, and Malekia was in no condition to return to the battlefield for some time. Moreover, they had defeated the elite forces of the Demon King¡¯s army, including the lich units. As a result, the main force of the Demon King¡¯s army was retreating from human territory for the first time in years. ¡­They had time to reorganize. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean we can wait idly for the Demon King¡¯s descent.¡± That was obvious. Even if they gathered all their forces for six months, it would be a drop in the bucketpared to the Demon King¡¯s augmented forces. A clear strategy was needed. The Emperor¡¯s voice grew stronger as everyone realized this. ¡°Therefore, we will attack the Demon King¡¯s castle next month.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Silence descended upon the conference room once again. It didn¡¯t take long for enormous question marks to appear on everyone¡¯s faces. ¡°Why attack the empty Demon King¡¯s castle?¡± ¡°And so soon, next month?¡± ¡°The Demon King¡¯s castle isn¡¯t just over the hill¡­ How do we n to cross the demonic realm and attack it?¡± Somemanders raised their hands to express their objections to such an absurd conclusion. But Euphemia dismissed them all. ¡°Quiet.¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡± ¡°Do you think I am a fool and don¡¯t already know what you want to say? I will exin the reasons for attacking the empty Demon King¡¯s castle and how we n to seed, so wait a moment.¡± Euphemia¡¯s gaze turned to Noubelmag. ¡°Noubelmag.¡± At the sudden call, all eyes in the conference room focused on him. Except for those involved in the secret project, everyone had puzzled expressions. ¡°Please present the results of the past three years without omission.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Noubelmag, with a pipe in his mouth, walked towards the center of the conference room. Vwoooom- Soon, arge screen appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°What is that¡­?¡± As their gaze was inevitably drawn to the massive, unknown structure on the screen, Noubelmag calmly began to speak. ¡°Allow me to introduce it.¡± A faint smile spread across his usually expressionless face. A voice filled with irrepressible pride echoed through the conference room. ¡°The mobile fortress, Avalon.¡± * * * Outside the conference room door. The hero stood quietly, listening to the voices from within. Originally, it was a ce that was not implemented, but Larze had prepared it for his dramatic entrance. ¡°The mobile fortress, Avalon.¡± As Noubelmag¡¯s exnation continued. The hero recalled the final n he and the Emperor had made. The reason for attacking the empty Demon King¡¯s castle. It was because it was anticipated to be the ce where the Demon King would descend. ¡®Because it is the ce where demonic energy, the energy of the demonic realm, is densest in the present world.¡¯ The burden of interdimensional travel and the loss of causality would be significantly reduced. At the moment when the hero and the Emperor reached that conclusion, an unexpected report came in. ¡°Exploration team reporting! We have confirmed that the demonic energy from all over the demon realm is being drawn towards Zone 1 of the demon realm.¡± ¡°The demonic energy maintaining the stakes in the western continent is also heading towards Zone 1!¡± This made the hero and the Emperor harbor a single doubt. ¡®Why are they in such a hurry?¡¯ Even though the effectiveness of the seals was diminishing, there was still time before the dimensional passageway would fully open. ¡®There shouldn¡¯t be any need to gather the demonic energy so soon, should there?¡¯ This doubt deepened further when they heard Cuculli¡¯s follow-up report. ¡°But there¡¯s something strange.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Malekia and Theo. They didn¡¯t seem to expect the Demon King to appear so soon either.¡± An early appearance that even his trusted aides didn¡¯t anticipate. Moreover, he even tried to quickly break the first seal by forcibly stealing his subordinates¡¯ demonic energy. ¡®He could naturally descend in a few months, so why go to such lengths?¡¯ Just then, ??? unexpectedly spoke up. [Why the rush? Because of you.] It was an answer he didn¡¯t expect. ¡®¡­Because of me? Why?¡¯ [Because you possess the power of Ted Redymer, one of the two beings who cornered the Demon King.] ??? continued with a sneer. [Think about it. As soon as the Demon King learned you were a doppelganger, he immediately returned to the demon realm. Why do you think that is?] The hero voiced the absurd answer, though he didn¡¯t quite believe it himself. ¡®¡­Because he felt threatened?¡¯ [Correct. He perceives you as an immense potential threat, a monster with the cheating ability of polymorph and the supreme essence of Ted Redymer.] ¡®Not entirely wrong.¡¯ [But by the time the Demon King realized your existence, you had already defeated Yol andpletely disappeared. There was no way for him to find and kill you.] ¡®If I had stayed at the academy¡­¡¯ [The Demon King would havee to kill you at all costs.] The hero finally understood what ??? was getting at. ¡®He couldn¡¯t find me, so he went back to the demon realm as a second-best option, to fully prepare himself.¡¯ [Yes, in the demon realm, he could recover in less than a year. He probably thought he coulde back and eliminate you before you became more dangerous.] But an unexpected variable arose. Barrett Namsov, who had been just a human, umted power over centuries through the art of timberization and cast the great spell of dimensional sealing. As a result, the Demon King¡¯s return was dyed by several years, and as he feared, the hero rapidly grew stronger after epting ???. The hero nodded in understanding. ¡®But I¡¯m still much weaker than the Demon King¡¯s true form.¡¯ [¡­Who cares? I assure you, the Demon King can¡¯t urately gauge your power right now. He¡¯s just probing.] ??? seemed amused by the predicament of the past enemy. [So what should you do now?] The hero grasped the answer. ¡®¡­We should attack the Demon King¡¯s castle. The ce where he¡¯ll attempt to descend.¡¯ [Hm, you¡¯re not entirely a fool.] Fortunately, they had a decisive weapon ideally suited for the assault on the Demon King¡¯s castle. A mobile fortress originally designed with the intention ofbating the Demon King. Avalon. A fortress made of a massive amount of iron and mana, it was like a living war machine. Hundreds of mana cannons and barriers. A structure enchanted with every existing destructive and defensive spell. The numerous functions created by humanity¡¯s geniuses numbered in the hundreds. Most importantly¡­ ¡®It can teleport.¡¯ A feature included in case of a critical situation. Given its size, it could only use the function once despite its enormous reserve of mana stones, but it was immensely useful for an assault. ¡®Normally, teleportation to the heart of the demon realm would be impossible due to the demonic energy¡­¡¯ Ironically, the Demon King was currently drawing all the demonic energy in the demon realm to Zone 1 for his early descent. Once the density of demonic energy drastically fell, teleportation within the demon realm would be possible. The mobile fortress carrying a hundred heroes could instantly strike the deepest part of the demon realm. ¡®It would be a fatal blow to the Demon King, who is eager to descend as soon as possible.¡¯ If the first zone, the very root of the demon realm in this world, were devastated and the gathered demonic energy scattered, what would the Demon King do? [He would have no choice but to descend more ipletely, more forcefully.] ¡®¡­What if he doesn¡¯te? What if he waits for aplete descent, even at the cost of his foothold in this world?¡¯ [We still win. It would mean delivering near-annihting blows to the Demon King¡¯s army without his interference.] ??? added. [I know. It¡¯s a risky and reckless operation. But¡­] ¡®There¡¯s no other way.¡¯ [Exactly.] ¡­It was true. Six months. To wait slowly for inevitable death and destruction, or to struggle and fight back somehow. If it was between those two options, thetter was the obvious choice. The hero was reminiscing to that point when¡­ ¡­Beyond the door. Euphemia¡¯s sharp voice pierced his ears. Though she feigned calm, her voice slightly trembled at the end. Even as an Emperor, she knew how absurd what she was about to say was. ¡°Therefore, we need a captain to lead this humanity¡¯s final operation, tomand the mobile fortress and the heroes aboard.¡± The hero closed his eyes and took a deep breath repeatedly. ¡°Then let me introduce them.¡± Euphemia¡¯s voice sounded as clear as if she were right beside him. ¡°Our greatest ally, who will be the strongest force of humanity.¡± Click- The hero¡¯s rough hand grasped the door handle. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 296: Chapter 296: ------------------ Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Leciel intently listened to Noubelmag¡¯s exnations, enhancing her understanding of Avalon. With Larzze using illusion magic to transform the background to resemble the interior of Avalon, the attendees were all wide-eyed as they explored the mobile fortress. ¡®So many functions to learn.¡¯ There were dozens of installedbat modules: anti-air cannons, anti-ground cannons, energy emitters... Even maintaining, repairing, and managing all of these required the crew to be proficient, as there weren¡¯t enough personnel to handle each task individually. Although Noubelmag had simplified the processes as much as possible with automated systems, it was still a daunting challenge for the martial artists. Leciel gazed with a weary expression at the numerous control panels inside Avalon. ¡®To learn all these operations within a month¡­¡¯ However, her friends seemed very excited. Truthfully, Leciel also felt a twinge of excitement. The vast and majestic interior, enormous magic screens, hologram maps,munication devices... The interiors, a fusion of steel and magic, had a way of sparking childhood memories. It was akin to her sense of security and satisfaction when she made a small fort with pillows and nkets on her bed. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Even the older adults, trying to maintain their dignity, were discreetly looking around with sparkling eyes. Leciel felt a bit embarrassed watching Zion, sitting in her assigned seat, fiddling with various things with an excited expression. Gerald, too, wore a wry smile as he watched his father bombarding Noubelmag with questions. ¡°Is this my seat...? Oh my, there are all sorts of features here.¡± Everyone had been assigned their seats, also known as cockpits. Since the heroes boarding Avalon were already somewhat decided, Noubelmag had adjusted Avalon¡¯s equipment to specialize based on their abilities. ¡°For example, a turret that fires mana bullets amplified by the passenger¡¯s mana.¡± Optimal equipment tailored to each user. Thus, during battle, dozens of people would simultaneously control the defensive artifacts embedded in Avalon. Noubelmag looked at the wide-eyed people with satisfaction and continued speaking. ¡°Thepletion of Avalon will be noter than next week. You will have ample time to board and test the functions, so there¡¯s no need to worry.¡± As Noubelmag finished speaking, the Emperor, leaning against the wall, raised a hand. ...It was time to move into the second act of the meeting now that the general introduction was over. The background of Avalon¡¯s strategy room slowly faded away, revealing the spacious conference room again. The people''s expressions finding their seats were noticeably more hopeful than before. This was likely due to witnessing Avalon¡¯s grandeur. The Emperor silently observed them before making a bombshell announcement. ¡®I have no idea how they¡¯ll react.¡¯ Even with her keen insight, she couldn¡¯t predict it. But the die was already cast. Euphemia took a deep breath. ¡°We will need a captain tomand the mobile fortress and the heroes aboard it for humanity¡¯s final mission.¡± People sharing their impressions of Avalon looked up in surprise at those words. ...A captain? Leciel tilted her head. ¡®The tone seems like she¡¯s referring to someone not here...¡¯ Almost all of humanity¡¯s capable individuals were gathered here. It was strange. Leciel instinctively turned to look at Ban, wondering if he had any idea. ...She was met with the rigid face of a young boy. At the sight of that expression, an unknown chill ran through Leciel¡¯s body. A strange shiver welled up from deep within her chest. Her heart began to beat slowly, and goosebumps formed on her skin. ¡®Wait a minute...¡¯ Leciel turned back to the Emperor. Her mouth was opening in realization. ¡°Then, let me introduce them.¡± ¡®Wait a minute.¡¯ There was no apparent logic or rational basis. But Leciel could immediately tell who was about to appear. ¡°Leciel?¡± Evergreen looked at her with a worried expression. But Leciel had no time to reassure her. The Emperor¡¯s hand pointed to the front door of the conference room. ¡°Humanity¡¯s greatest ally.¡± ...Wait a minute! Despite Leciel¡¯s internal scream, the conference room door opened without hesitation. Leciel forgot to breathe as she stared beyond it. She had thought about this moment hundreds, no, thousands of times more. ¡®Ah...¡¯ What would she say if she ever met the Hero again? What expression should she make... what should she ask first? In the end, the same questions kepting to mind. What was he thinking when he deceived them? Why did he say those things to her even though he wasn¡¯t the real Hero? What was the support and encouragement back then all about? Leciel had believed the day would soone when she could ask those questions directly. It was why she had thrown herself into the most dangerous battlefields. Because if it were him, he would find her no matter what. Then she would grab him and hear the bted exnation. ...Those expectations were repeatedly betrayed night after night. Leciel¡¯s questions gradually changed. What did they, what did she mean to him? ...Was he even alive? Moments of resentment and worry fluttered like fallen leaves in the wind. Tak-! As Leciel tried to stand up, Luke and Ban grabbed her wrists simultaneously. In the meantime, the Hero fully revealed himself and crossed the conference room. ¡°......¡± The room was now so quiet that even a pin dropping could be heard loudly. Everyone¡¯s eyes were on him. For some reason, the Hero appeared exactly as they remembered him. Silver hair, silver eyes, a neat and upright face. The noble elegance and intense presence draped over his body. Those watching were overwhelmed with indescribable emotions at the sight of the once-loved Hero. ...But soon, they realized something was different. The warmth andpassion that had always been in his eyes werepletely gone. What remained was only cold, mechanical indifference. No, it seemed to be tinged with cynicism and disdain. While everyone noticed the change and flinched, thud-! The Hero finally stood at the center of the conference room. His tightly closed mouth opened without hesitation. ¡°Nice to meet you; I am the captain of Avalon...¡± The Hero, who had been about to say something, stopped. His eyes slowly dimmed. ¡°There¡¯s no need to mention names. Just call me captain.¡± * * * The Hero gazed at the confused conference room. Countless eyes darted between him and the Emperor. Eyes demanding an exnation. Some openly disyed their dissent. Considering the power of the imperial authority, their reactions revealed their great dismay. ¡°Your Majesty, are you truly appointing that man as the captain of Avalon?¡± ¡°Please reconsider! This is akin to pouring oil on a fire.¡± ¡°What reason does that enigmatic creature have to help us genuinely?¡± Particrly, the opposition from the noblemanders and imperial army leaders unfamiliar with him was fierce. The Hero didn¡¯t take offense... their reactions were quite reasonable. ¡®Of course, I expected such reactions.¡¯ Over the past three years, the demons hadn¡¯t only focused on invasions but also made great efforts to inform humans about the menace of ¡®doppelgangers.¡¯ They spread various horror stories and rumors through coborators, even secretly informing them that the catastrophe led to the downfall of the First Age. ¡®They made humans recognize that the doppelgangers were the fundamental cause of their miserable situation after the First Age.¡¯ This was also why the Hero had been unable to step forward publicly. Despite Pia and Kasim¡¯s best efforts to spread positive opinions, it had little effect. Some even believed he had tried to take Ted¡¯s ce and be the Hero himself¡­. Even Euphemia found it difficult to defend him publicly. ¡°Everyone, please, calm down a bit.¡± Unexpectedly, Lucas tried to calm the nobles, but unfortunately, the influence of the newly appointed young Duke wasn¡¯t significant. Only a glimmer of surprise appeared in the Hero¡¯s eyes. ¡®...I didn¡¯t expect him to defend me.¡¯ He thought Lucas would resent him for expelling him from the academy and making his life difficult, but it was unexpected. Despite his efforts, the conference room was turning into a marketce. The Hero watched this quietly. He deliberately avoided looking at the strangely quiet side. In his mind, the conversation he had with Euphemia echoed. ¡°So how do you n to convince people?¡± ¡°Convince them¡­.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t n to exin everything in detail.¡± Taking Ted¡¯s ce wasn¡¯t for personal gain but because Ted asked him to. Despite the challenges, he worked hard to honor Ted¡¯s will. Even now, as a public enemy of humanity, he still cared for humans, so he asked them to trust him again. To correct the distorted history, clear up misunderstandings, and seek cooperation. ¡®That¡¯s the straightforward approach.¡¯ He didn¡¯t entirely rule out this idea. But¡­. ¡°There¡¯s no time left.¡± Could he afford to seek understanding, persuade, and ask for recognition individually? The Hero shook his head. People don¡¯t easily believe what they haven¡¯t experienced firsthand. Could they truly believe him no matter how many facts he verbally listed? ¡®No.¡¯ There was a simpler way. The Hero had vaguely anticipated that his return would unfold in this manner when he left Rosenstack. Euphemia asked with a peculiar expression. ------------------ Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ ¡°Surely¡­.¡± ¡°Yes, the decision will be made before their dissatisfaction and fear of me explode.¡± The Emperor¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°So you¡¯re just going to force your way through.¡± ¡°In this situation, neither side has any other choice. It will work.¡± ¡°...You choose to y the viin. It¡¯s quite old-fashioned.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s effective.¡± The Hero¡¯s resolve was so firm that Euphemia didn¡¯t add more. She knew. He wasn¡¯t seeking personal honor but was looking out for humanity¡¯s future. Affection and recognition. Honor and glory. Once, these had driven him to long for and integrate into human society¡­ but now they seemed utterly useless to him. All Euphemia could do was murmur bitterly. ¡°In the end, you have to keep acting.¡± ¡­Acting. Reflecting on those words, the Hero looked at the conference room again. One of the dissenters was staring directly at him. ¡°You. Why appear like this now that your identity is exposed? It¡¯s truly insulting.¡± ¡°Is this appearance ufortable?¡± The Hero chuckled coldly. ¡°I thought it would be familiar, so I chose it. My mistake. Just wait a moment.¡± Creak¡ª Without hesitation, the Hero polymorphed into his true form. ¡°W-What!?¡± ¡°Oh my¡­.¡± Even for him, it was the first time polymorphing in front of so many people. The tant reconstruction of bones and muscles. For a moment, the conference room was filled with disgust. The Hero remained expressionless. ¡®...This works even better.¡¯ Shedding Ted Redymer¡¯s appearance, he finally looked directly at the people he had avoided. The children seemed to be trying hard not to show their surprise. Some mumbled attempts to call out to him were seen. ¡°P-Professor¡­.¡± But as soon as their eyes met, they instinctively looked away. The Hero understood their reaction. Meanwhile, the Dawn Knights didn¡¯t appear particrly hostile. They must have heard about the Great Forest incident from Taylor. Felson kept his eyes closed, and Larze watched with sparkling eyes, seemingly finding the situation fascinating. Nubelmag and Barun¡­. ''¡­¡­.'' Surprisingly, they looked at him with eyes ofpassion. The Hero shifted his gaze. Lastly, Yussi and Luciel. Both were staring directly at him. As if he would disappear like a mirage the moment they looked away. The pair of red and blue eyes held emotions that, despite his preparation, the Hero found hard to face. ¡®I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ Excuses welled up to his throat. But now, he couldn¡¯t show them what they wanted. The Hero turned back to the crowd and spoke. ¡°Let me ask you. Does harboring suspicion against me change anything?¡± He suddenly recalled the preliminary briefing. Back then, he had desperately tried to imitate Ted. Now, he was emting the ??? he had seen in Zero¡¯s memories. An inhuman entity with absolute power. Overbearing and arrogant, yet a beacon of hope in desperate times. ¡°Do you think you have any choice in this matter?¡± The Hero exuded an aura by replicating countless spheres with different attributes. Different types of mana surged, exuding a ruthless presence. A power that humans instinctively feared. The kind of strength that defied thews of nature. As eyes that pierced, probed, and dissected everything emitted a cold light, the attendees felt the deep fear humans had felt before ??? in the First Age. The Hero spoke a stern truth as he looked at them. Relying on an individual like Ted Redymer for humanity¡¯s survival, how could they hope to survive the Demon King¡¯s grasp now that he was gone? They needed to find a new pir of support as soon as possible. The humans lowered their heads. ¡°Indeed. I possess the power to dismantle this Human Union. Yet, instead, I proposed an alliance to your Emperor.¡± Euphemia watched the Hero¡¯s act with a nk expression. ¡°Whether my reasons are goodwill towards humanity, capriciousness¡­ or as you fear, some sinister plot.¡± A firm voice that allowed no dissent continued. ¡°To avoid immediate extinction, you have no choice but to take my hand.¡± The Hero met their stares with cold eyes. Then he dered. ¡°I will board Avalon as the Captain.¡± ¡®Doubt me, hate me, fear me as much as you want.¡¯ ¡°So just follow quietly.¡± At the moment of the showdown All forces must be united to bring down the King. Anything else was unnecessary. "¡­¡­." No one immediately agreed to the Hero¡¯s near-threat proposal. Those who remembered his former self seemed deeply confused. There was no need to wait for answers or appeasement. The Hero waved his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve said all I wanted to say. Now get out.¡± With this, Larze forcibly cut off themunications. She, who had been smiling brightly, said¡­. ¡°You sure know how to make a speech~!¡± With those words, she exited as well. The Hero was left alone with the Emperor in an instant. For some reason, the Emperor looked even more exhausted. As she took a step closer, the Hero spoke first. ¡°Was it okay?¡± ¡°¡­You spoke more mildly than I expected.¡± ¡°Having my students there kept my words from getting too harsh.¡± Euphemia smiled weakly at the Hero¡¯s joke. ¡°¡­Everyone understood. They¡¯re not fools. They¡¯ll ept this non-alliance alliance and hand over the initiative to you.¡± ¡°Good. That saves a lot of time.¡± "¡­¡­." Looking calmly into the Hero¡¯s eyes, the Emperor spoke gentler than usual. ¡­.Gentle, in that her usual bluntness was slightly softened. ¡°When all this is over safely.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you never have to struggle again.¡± The Hero blinked in surprise, then smiled awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to that.¡± . . . After ending themunication, the Hero opened his eyes as Ignotus in the Fourth Seal. ¡®I¡¯m tired.¡¯ The multimunication, where consciousness was summoned to a separate illusion space instead of regrmunication, was exhausting. The Hero shook his head to clear his dazed mind. ¡®It¡¯s time to get back to work.¡¯ Until Avalon waspleted, there was work to be done in the Fourth Seal. The Hero reached out to store themunication orb before leaving the tent. "¡­¡­!" A presence. In the corner of the tent. ¡°Is that right?¡± Before he could turn his head, a clear voice reached his ears. Red eyes alternated between looking at themunication orb and the Hero. The Hero immediately understood what was happening. ¡°Professor?¡± ¡°Ah, I called you wrong.¡± From the first day in the Seal, Leciel, who had suspiciously eyed him, had rushed to his quarters as soon as themunication ended. She had seen him during themunication, confirmed her suspicions, and then waited. ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ Even the quick-witted Hero couldn¡¯te up with an appropriate response to such an unexpected situation. All he could do was feign ignorance. ¡°What do you mean, wrong?¡± But it was toote. ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Luciel¡¯s eyes red with a bright light. ¡­The Hero, who had just portrayed a terrifying doppelganger, could only swallow nervously. ¡°Professor¡­ no, Captain.¡± Leciel concluded. ------------------ Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 297: Chapter 297: ------------------ Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ The sun was short in midwinter. The setting sun that descended through the narrow entrance of the canyon seeped into the tent, turning Leciel¡¯s red hair golden. It was a scene reminiscent of a memory from a distant past on some coast.But the fact that that time''s loose, warm atmosphere was nowhere to be found now was painful. Leciel called him again with a quiet but firm voice. ¡°Professor.¡± ¡­The hero realized that denying further was meaningless. Leciel would be sure of his identity no matter how much he denied it. Lying again here would only be unnecessary deception and would deepen the wounds. The hero¡¯s mouth opened. ¡°¡­Yes.¡± The awaited answer came. Leciel¡¯s gaze wavered momentarily; she was swept up in a whirlwind ofplex emotions. A slightly staggering body. She was so tense, fearing that the hero might escape. The hero unconsciously tried to support her¡­ but withdrew his outstretched hand. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Facing Leciel after a long time, The hero had no choice but to admit that he had overestimated himself. Even though he had known and prepared for this moment, Facing Leciel¡¯s wounds right before him, it felt like he was back to his naive old self. Even his once confident tongue was now frozen. The deep, well-like gaze stared at him. The Leciel¡¯s eyes, he remembered, were not like this. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Meanwhile, Leciel could not easily open her mouth either. ¡®You have to speak well.¡¯ The thoughts she had been suppressing, They were chipped away and diminished when she tried to speak them out. In a slightly unexpected form. ¡®I want to convey my thoughts and feelings urately.¡¯ Throwing out the past three years recklessly like a child was something she hated more than death. So, even though it was the moment she had longed for so much, she had no choice but to shut her mouth. In the strange silence between the master and disciple, p- An uninvited guest suddenly entered the hero¡¯s tent with a cheerful voice. ¡°Hey, Ignotus. Are you busy?¡± Looking back, Arpheus was holding an expensive-looking bottle of wine. Ah, yes. Today must have been a harsh day for him as well. Dragged into a meeting discussing humanity¡¯s survival before fully recovering from yesterday¡¯s battle fatigue, he was tense all day. He probably wanted to rx and seek advice from Ignotus, whom he had be quite close to. But the timing was terrible. Arpheus, smiling and taking out cheese-like snacks, froze upon noticing the visitor. ¡°Oh, um.¡± Sensing the tense atmosphere, He lowered his voice slightly while observing Leciel¡¯s expression. ¡°¡­Would you like to join us?¡± ¡°Leave.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Without looking back, Arpheus disappeared. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡­If hisck of tact had helped in any way, it was that the terribly stiff atmosphere had slightly eased. Leciel let out a light sigh and opened her mouth. ¡°Do you have anything you want to say?¡± At that moment, a voice whispered in the hero¡¯s head. [Stop hesitating and replicate itpletely] It suggested that finding soothing words would be much easier if hepletely replicated the essence now. ¡®Nonsense.¡¯ The hero instinctively shook his head. Although it wasn¡¯t a rejection of her, Leciel nodded as if she understood. ¡°Then I¡¯ll start.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I have a lot to say.¡± Once she started speaking, it felt easier. Yes, now she would say it all. Everything honestly. What the hero meant to her. How harsh the past three years had been. And what she would do now. ¡­The preamble is like this. This would be the best start. ¡°I missed you.¡± * * * ¡®I can¡¯t just hate himpletely.¡¯ A year after the hero disappeared. Leciel suddenly realized this fact while lying on a sickbed. It was right after she sustained an injury that required her to be bedridden for at least a month due to carrying out a mission recklessly. Now, her superior, Felson, spoke with a frightening expression that was too terrifying to be shown to his son¡¯s friend. ¡°If you act recklessly on the battlefield again, you will be permanently expelled from the knighthood.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The same goes for returning early while hiding an unrecovered state.¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± ¡°Recoverpletely before returning.¡± A leave of absence she had to take. It was the first time since leaving Rosenstark that she put down her sword. In the tedious hospital ward, Leciel suddenly decided to reflect on this situation from the beginning. Starting with this question: ¡®Why do I like the professor so much?¡¯ There were many immediate reasons. Thanks to the hero, she reconciled with her grandmother. Her skills improved significantly due to his devoted teachings. She gained precious friends. She umted countless joyous memories she wouldn¡¯t have dared to dream of alone. ¡®I couldn¡¯t help but like him.¡¯ ¡­But even so, should his absence be this painful? The past year felt like ten without exaggeration. Every day was too long and tedious. Throwing herself into the madness of the battlefield to clear her mind was only a temporary solution. Whenever she had a moment, her thoughts always becameplicated with the thoughts of the hero. His words and actions constantly reyed and were reinterpreted in her mind. Leciel found it unbearably frustrating. ¡®The others seemed fine long ago. Why am I the only one like this?¡¯ Of course, Leciel knew that her feelings for the hero differed from those of her friends. Even beforeing to the academy, the hero was her every goal and dream. ¡®...But this is too much.¡¯ When she regained her senses after swinging her sword, she would think, ¡®Will the professor be satisfied with my skills when he returns?¡¯ She was always eager for her achievements to reach his ears. When she saw an unfamiliar face at the garrison, she would follow them, thinking, ¡®Just in case.¡¯ She spent every day in such torment. ¡®I¡¯m crazy.¡¯ Even though she resented and felt betrayed by him for deceiving her, all her actions still revolved around him. The reason she was lying on the sickbed now was that she had overexerted herself, thinking he might visit if she copsed. If Felson knew, he would expel her immediately. ¡­Or maybe he already knew. Leciel clenched her teeth. ¡®This is not right.¡¯ Fortunately, Leciel had someone to consult about these symptoms. She provided a clear answer. [You thought you found the meaning of life, but it was suddenly taken away.] ¡°What?¡± Yussi Glendor exined to her junior with dry eyes. ------------------ Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ She had a simr experience. When she retired after losing her limbs and left the hero¡¯s side. All daily life lost its meaning. The only things that truly mattered were those rted to the hero. Leciel retorted in confusion. ¡°Isn¡¯t that too pathetic? Why¡­." [Both you and I didn¡¯t have very happy childhoods.] Yussi suffered severe abuse from her family. Simrly, Leciel, who also had emotional deficiencies, buried herself in swordsmanship. Coincidentally, they had something inmon. [What were you thinking while barely enduring those horrible times?] ¡°I¡­.¡± [It¡¯s obvious. You were looking for a reason to endure those times. I wanted to get rich through alchemy and take revenge on my family, and you wanted to defeat the hero with your swordsmanship and gain your grandmother¡¯s recognition. Futile and trivial life goals¡­ we were in the same context.] "¡­¡­." [But, if we had achieved those goals, would we have been happy?] Leciel was silent, feeling as if Yussi was peering into her soul. [Then, we met someone who presented us with lofty, glittering goals like justice, salvation, and public welfare.] [Moreover, that person wasn¡¯t just a slick-talking chatan but an righteous, virtuous, honest, and noble person.] [How could twisted people like us not be captivated?] ¡­And realizing that such a great person needed them to achieve such precious goals. [How did you feel when you realized that?] Leciel suddenly recalled something the hero had said. ¡°I need you.¡± ¡°Those who will stand by my side and witness the end of the demons.¡± ¡°I¡­.¡± [You must have felt like you finally escaped an endless maze.] Yes, there was nothing wrong with Yussi¡¯s words. ¡®That¡¯s right.¡¯ Learning the sword from the hero, receiving his praise, and spending time together felt like, Being one of the subjects in a masterpiece painted by a great artist. Part of a noble n. A guarantee that her life was never meaningless. ¡®As long as I could be with him until the end, anything was fine.¡¯ But the hero left without any warning. After leaving, he never once looked for her. She thought she was part of the picture he was drawing and dreaming of¡­ but in reality, she was just a dried-up paint smudge in the corner of the palette. [If you think of yourself as a stray dog that has lost its master, it¡¯s easy to understand. A puppy reminiscing about the old days while suffering from cold, hunger, and thirst. It¡¯s easy to understand, isn¡¯t it?] ¡­At the time, Yussi was not in her right mind after hearing of Ted¡¯s death, and thus, she was more brutally candid and cynical than usual. But Leciel couldn¡¯t refute any of her words. ¡°......¡± She understood the cause of her problems. But, of course, the situation didn¡¯t dramatically change. Leciel was still distressed, bored, and sometimes resentful. She lived as if the unseen hero was watching her. ...On one of those days when even that waiting started to dull, He suddenly appeared again. ¡°I will ascend as the captain of Avalon. So follow me without question.¡± Leciel, who usually struggled to read others¡¯ emotions, could clearly understand why the hero acted like a ¡®terrifying presence¡¯ in the meeting. Like the day the preliminary briefing was held. Like the past year. The hero needed the extreme children; he needed her. ...She hadn¡¯t forgotten. ¡®That¡¯s enough.¡¯ What he had been doing all this time. Why he hadn¡¯te to see her? What was he thinking when he lied? If she could hear a few exnations, that would be perfect, but for now, this was enough. ¡°...So that¡¯s how it was.¡± Leciel concluded her exnation of the past three years. ¡°......¡± The hero, who had been silently listening, just stared at her... Unexpectedly, he looked confused. ¡°...A puppy? Master? Leciel... hold on a second.¡± ??? took the opportunity to shout angrily in his head. [See? She¡¯s spouting nonsense. Just replicate it.] ...It was true. For Leciel, who wasn¡¯t good with words, it was too difficult a task to coherently convey the manyplex emotions that had swept through her over such a long time in front of the person involved. ¡®I understand the context.¡¯ The hero tilted his head. ...He understood the overall context of forgiving and moving forward. However, the detailed content took a lot of work to grasp. This was because Leciel, despite feeling she had approached the conversation calmly, had actually spent over 30 minutes alternately sobbing and venting her anger, making her story somewhat disjointed. Particrly at the part where shepared herself to a puppy, her emotions overwhelmed her, making it harder to understand. So the hero calmly asked again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but could you repeat that...¡± ¡°L-let¡¯s talkter.¡± Having exhausted all her courage, Leciel¡¯s face turned beet red as she hastily left the tent. The hero and ??? watched her retreating figure nkly. [... She¡¯s still a child. I thought she¡¯d at least put on a sword dance.] ¡®.......¡¯ Indeed, she was a child. Though she spoke little, seemed mature, and was incredibly powerful, it was easy to forget that she was young. The hero repeated one of the things Leciel had babbled about. ¡°So don¡¯t leave again and stay like before.¡± ...Like before. It was about a week before Avalon would bepleted. In other words, seven days were left until the final preparations for the decisive battle began in earnest. It seemed clear what needed to be done in that time. ¡®Since I¡¯ve been found out anyway¡­.¡¯ It wouldn¡¯t hurt to go all out. . . . The next day. It was an embarrassingly early morning to call it dawn. ¡°Snore¡ª¡± ¡°Snore¡ª¡± The sound of children in deep sleep filled the tent of the Lotus Knights. Thud¡ª Heavy footsteps echoed. ¡°Wake up.¡± ------------------ Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 298: Chapter 298: ------------------ Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ An Age of Chaos In the empire, every citizen must serve. Those who returned after years of harsh military service often reportedmon symptoms...¡°I, I¡¯m telling you, I was discharged! Please check the records! Please!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no such record.¡± One of these symptoms was frequently dreaming about re-enlisting. Surprisingly, extreme students also experienced simr phenomena in recent years. This was thanks to the year they spent with the hero at Rosenstark. Of course, it was a delightful and happy time, but as fulfilling as it was, it was also challenging. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯vepleted all the training you ordered! I swear!¡± ¡°Again. Who told you to increase your mana in the middle?¡± ¡°Please, spare me...¡± ¡°Are you going to beg a monster like that?¡± Even though Gerald knew it was a dream, his body trembled. After being severely scolded for messing around during orientation, the hero made Gerald undergo tremendous physical training, leaving a very taxing memory. ¡®...No way, how long has it been since I left the academy!¡¯ In his dream, the hero relentlessly woke him up and made him run around the training ground. With adamantium weights on his limbs and a track enchanted with gravity magicid out before him, Gerald took a few steps and then gave up, lying down. ¡°I don¡¯t care! It¡¯s just a dream anyway.¡± ¡°Get up.¡± ¡°Screw getting up.¡± ¡°Get up.¡± ¡°No, I absolutely won¡¯t.¡± ¡°GET UP!¡± In response to the all-too-real voice, Gerald sprang up from his bed. ¡®W-what was that?¡¯ Outside, it was still dark. He wasn¡¯t in Rosenstark but in the Lotus Knight¡¯s barracks of the Fourth Seal. Ah, the nightmare must have been too vivid. It qs probably because he met the ¡°Captain¡± in today¡¯smunication fantasy. ¡®Ugh, I need to get back to sleep.¡¯ Smiling warmly, Gerald reached for the nket on the floor... ¡°What?¡± All hisrades were standing at attention on the floor. His heart sank with a thud. ¡®I¡¯ve seen this scene somewhere before?¡¯ For example, at the entrance of the freshman dormitory before dawn exercise. Gerald squinted his eyes and surveyed the surroundings. The only light in the barracks was the dimmp at the entrance. Someone was standing beneath it. ¡°Gerald Bryce, get up.¡± Before his eyes met the stranger¡¯s, an unfamiliar voice rang out. But why? Gerald, without a moment to think, hurriedly jumped out of bed. ¡°G-Gerald Bryce! I¡¯m up!¡± Known in the world by the moniker ¡°Lightning Spear,¡± the new hero Gerald stood straight, his military discipline intact, feeling like a freshman once more. He couldn¡¯t understand it himself. Gerald¡¯s eyes focused forward. ¡°...Ignotus?¡± The man standing with folded arms in front of hisrades was someone Gerald had spent the past few weeks with at the Fourth Seal. Although they hadn¡¯t exchanged many words due tock of interaction, why was he barging into the barracks in the middle of the night and waking them up? And why were hisrades simply watching this absurd act? ¡®I guess I need to step up and say something.¡¯ Just as Gerald was about to leave the line, something familiar caught his eye. ¡®What the...?¡¯ A great sword darker and more profound than the surrounding darkness. It represented humanity¡¯s hope and was a symbol of terror for demons, a weapon signifying the will to save humanity. ...His stiffened mind quickly processed. Yes, Polymorph... the ability to change one¡¯s appearance freely. ¡°Hello, I am Ignotus from the Dark Division, managing the Fourth Seal.¡± ¡°Ha, nice to meet you. It¡¯s a pseudonym, right? Hahaha.¡± ¡°...Still lively as ever.¡± ¡°Hmm, still? Have we met before?¡± ¡°Who knows.¡± Reaching a conclusion, Gerald stiffened. ¡°...Ugh.¡± The hero looked at him and chuckled. Gerald, who had transformed into a gruff bearded giant over the past three years, still seemed like a young boy to the hero. The other kids lined up, too. They pretended to be serious in their stance, but their faces showed unmistakable delight and joy. The hero observed them silently, gazing at the fruits of hisbor, the seeds he had sown finallying to fruition. It was a moment he had awaited for a long time. ¡°You must have had a good time while I was away.¡± ¡°No, sir! We worked hard!¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯ll see. I wonder if you can perform well in the approaching final battle.¡± Thud¡ª The hero struck the ground with his ck sword of hope. ¡°Everyone, gather at the training ground. You have three seconds. Move.¡± ¡°Move!¡± The kids ran outside, feeling as if they had returned to a few years ago. Their faces were mysterious. While they were excited, they were also terrified of the hellish training they were about to endure after so many years. However, once they realized that theirrades shared the same expressions, they couldn¡¯t help butugh. They arrived at the training ground where Leciel and Nyhill, who had been warming up, turned to face them. A blue-haired girl¡¯s distinct, sharp voice greeted them from amunication orb in Nyhill¡¯s hand. [Hey guys~ How are you all doing?] The kids stopped, their faces mixed with surprise and emotion. ¡°Wow...¡± A faint smile spread across their lips for a moment, but then everyone burst intoughter simultaneously, as if on cue. They remembered their first meeting on a clear spring day in the schoolyard¡ªthe blue sky visible through the ssroom windows, the ckboard filled with the hero¡¯s rough handwriting. The cozy lounge where they chatted all night and the fun academy events¡ªthey all came rushing back. Their shared memories filled the void of the past three years stained with pain and sorrow. The same kind of smile spread across the hero¡¯s lips as he leisurely walked from behind. Suppressing his overwhelming emotions, he spoke. ¡°From now on, you will climb the gorge barehanded and without mana. The first one to reach the top wins.¡± ¨‹ The unique ability of the ck Hope: Domain is activated. ¡ø * * * ------------------ Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ By the time they finished all the training, the sun was already high in the sky. Winter midday weather can be fantastic at times. The sky was a clear, transparent blue. The sunlight was warm and gentle, and the air was cool enough to be refreshing. The snow umted on the heads and bodies of the kids lying down sparkled like small diamond pieces. ¡°Whew...¡± The hero gazed at his disciples, standing with his back to the wind blowing over the gorge. In truth, he hadn¡¯tpletely lost touch with the kids over the past three years. Whenever he had time, he watched over them from a distance and sometimes directly intervened or asked hisrades for help if they got involved in perilous battles. This was why the survival rate of the Lotus Knights, who stood at the forefront of the frontlines, was exceptionally high. But... ¡®Twenty-one, twenty-two.¡¯ The hero habitually counted the kids. His hand, counting further, grasped at empty air. They started with thirty-one in the extreme training group. Cuculli and Lucas left during the process, reducing the number to twenty-nine. When it was revealed that the hero was a doppelganger, three more left. And in the past year, after the Lotus Knights started their activities outside the academy in earnest, four died in action. The hero recalled their names. ¡®Deindart, Aidan, Albie, Julia.¡¯ The four graves in the national cemetery stirred in his mind. One of the Sanctuary branches was massively ambushed by the demon army, and his four disciples sacrificed their lives to protect the refugees. It happened while he was fighting ??? in the mental realm. He learned about it onlyter when he visited the national cemetery not long ago. Standing in front of his disciple¡¯s tombstone, holding flowers, was an experience he could never forget. The arm that easily swung the ck Hope felt endlessly heavy with just a few flowers. This loss was something he had anticipated from the beginning. His initial purpose ining to Rosenstark was to train humanity¡¯s prodigies into forces that could oppose the demons. In fact, having only four deaths in three years was far fewer than he had initially expected. It was miraculously highpared to the survival rate of a typical knight order or army. He thought he had prepared for this. He thought so. The hero spoke. ¡°You don¡¯t have to ascend to Avalon if you don¡¯t want to.¡± At that moment, the kids held their breath, extremely flustered. ¡°...Professor?¡± The hero bit his lip. ¡°I mean it. You don''t have to if you don¡¯t want to ascend to Avalon. You can stay in the rear. I won¡¯t hold anyone responsible.¡± He knew that what he just said was not entirely rational. If the final assault through Avalon failed, humanity would face nothing but extinction. They might prolong their lives a bit, but death would still await them. Moreover, giving only his disciples a choice while forcing everyone else to fight was hypocritical and cruel. However, the hero did not want to retract his words. ??? clicked his tongue. [You¡¯re speaking and thinking like a true human.] He was fine if they fought because they wanted to. But if any of the kids were fighting solely because they were swept up by the cause he had been championing or because they couldn¡¯t resist the oppressive atmosphere, he couldn¡¯t bear responsibility for their deaths. [What are you doing? Don''t you need all the force you can get?] He would have felt much less guilty if he had spent the past three years with the kids. He had clearly stated that only those who were ready to fight should join the extreme group. But unlike his promise, he let go of the reins midway. He didn¡¯t see them through to their full growth. To suddenly return and push them into the battlefield was beyond unreasonable. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Seeing the hero¡¯s hardened expression, the children¡¯s faces became noticeably serious. There was a brief murmur among them. However, surprisingly, as if they had already anticipated what the hero would say, they quickly provided an answer. ¡°Professor.¡± The student who answered was neither Ban, Luke, nor Leciel, which was unexpected. ¡°Aileen.¡± The student was alwaysst in the extreme training, and the one with the lowest chance of survival in the uing battle. She started speaking softly. ¡°We were taught by you, who inherited the will of the former hero. Therefore, we have an obligation to save humanity.¡± ¡°...It was I who failed to fulfill my duty first. So, I can bear the remainder of your obligations for you.¡± ¡°No, Professor.¡± At the beginning of the semester, Aileen would tremble just by making eye contact with the hero. Now, she shook her head gently. ¡°That¡¯s not just our duty; it¡¯s also our right.¡± Behind her, the other students nodded in agreement, not a single one dissenting. Aileen continued with a resolute expression. ¡°To burn oneself and shine brightly in a dark world.¡± The hero gazed at his students in silence. ¡°Let us act as we have been taught.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°Captain.¡± Aileen finished with a yful smile. The childrenughed along with her. The hero couldn¡¯t take his eyes off them. Did he realize that the look in their eyes now was the same as his own when he used to look at Ted? The look of someone who had found something brilliantly shining, worth pursuing for a lifetime. Yes, there were two ways to dispel darkness. Either be a shining light oneself or be a mirror that reflects that light. ¡®... They¡¯ve already be it.¡¯ The hero couldn¡¯t help butugh heartily. Right before him were the ¡°heroes¡± who proved that the path he had walked was not wrong. * * * ng! In the basement of the Sanctuary headquarters, the ¡°Ark.¡± In the vast space, the only sound that echoed was a single, rough hammering. Hundreds, thousands of eyes that had been moving busily were now all fixed on one ce. ¡®AVALON¡¯ Noubelmag, holding up the finallypleted sign, walked towards the front of the mobile fortress. Everyone followed him in silence. Thud! The sign was attached. Screws were tightened. The sign gradually found its ce at the fingertips of the old cksmith. As the cold touch of steel was covered with body heat, Noubelmag¡¯s heart also pounded. Creak¡ª Just before the final hammering, Noubelmag paused and looked down at his hands. The steel fortress was born from the fire fueled by countless nights and hopes. ¡®Please.¡¯ Countless images shed through his mind. A ruined city. People trembling in fear. And the warriors fighting to protect them. Leading them, ¡°him.¡± ¡®Save them all.¡¯ Bang! The sound of metal resonated. ------------------ Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 299: Chapter 299: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ The reason Arpheus wanted to drink with Ignotus was simple. ¡®¡­What should I do now?¡¯ He wanted to talk to Ignotus, who had always been a good listener. In fact, Arpheus had been in a daze since he was summoned to the multimunication.¡®Fight the Demon King in a month?¡¯ Of course, when he was dered the new Hero, he expected to face the Demon King someday. ¡®¡­Muchter, though.¡¯ Arpheus was a man who excelled at self-awareness. Even though his swordsmanship had rapidly improved under the guidance of Leciel and the Lotus Knights, he knew he was still not skilled enough to handle top-level demons. Among those he saw in the multimunication, few were weaker than him. If he was dragged to the 50th district of the Demon Realm in such a state¡­. ¡®I¡¯m sure to die a meaningless death. Even if I use my hidden abilities¡­ can I survive among those monsters?¡¯ However, refusing to board would make it difficult to show his face anymore. The hard-earned honor would plummet, and his followers would likely disband. ¡­For Arpheus, who called himself a hero for a single goal, it was the most frightening thing. ¡®But I don¡¯t want to run away.¡¯ The horrors he witnessed while acting as a hero, even briefly, strengthened his resolve. Though Arpheus wasn¡¯t a man of an immense sense of duty, he wasn¡¯t a coward who would waste his power while humanity declined. In his confusion, as if things weren¡¯t bad enough, ¡®he¡¯ appeared. The fake Hero he thought had disappeared forever. Arpheus was shocked upon seeing him. ¡®¡­He could crush someone like me with one hand.¡¯ To make matters worse, contrary to his expectations, others didn¡¯t reject the fake Hero. Instead, they acknowledged him as the captain (albeit somewhat forcefully) and followed him. Arpheus instinctively knew. He would never rise as the new Hero. It was the moment when the grand n he had built from long ago crumbled. ¡°Ugh¡­.¡± This was why the man who always trained at dawn skipped his training today. Arpheus woke up, suffering from a terrible hangover. The daylight was already bright. He started to get up to go for training, albeitte. - Hiyah! A loud shout came from outside. Arpheus, startled, rushed out of his tent. ¡®What¡¯s happening outside?¡¯ His lieutenants were nearby. However, the loyal lieutenants didn¡¯t notice himing out and were engrossed in watching something. There¡­. ¡®¡­What is that?¡¯ Ignotus was drilling Leciel and all the Lotus Knights in the training ground. Heroes of humanity rolling around as per hismands. Arpheus blinked, unable to understand. At that moment, a ¡°Professor!¡± cry pierced his ears. His alcohol-clouded mind began to interpret the scene before him. ¡®Oh, damn it.¡¯ ¡°Ha-ha, Ignotus, I¡¯ve developed a new technique. It¡¯s called Demon King sh!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not good now but will be a proper hero someday.¡± ¡°Would you like to practice some swordsmanship too? Even an intelligence agent needs somebat skills sometimes. I can teach you my limited skills.¡± The world was tormenting him. Arpheus retreated back into his tent. Luckily, Ignotus didn¡¯t seek him out. . . . Time mercilessly flew by, and the day before Avalon¡¯spletion had already approached. The designated passengers had to depart for ¡®The Ark,¡¯ the headquarters of Sanctuary. All the Lotus Knights, Arpheus, and his two most skilled lieutenants were to go from the Fourth seal. Since there were many of them and the Ark wasn¡¯t far from the central Fainel region to the mid-eastern part, they nned to travel bynd. However, the activation of Avalon was a top-secret matter. They had to avoid being seen by the enemy and move separately. ¡°See you at the Ark.¡± ¡°Travel safely.¡± ¡°You too.¡± After the Lotus Knights departed, Arpheus was about to move with his confidants. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± For some reason, their ¡®captain¡¯ didn¡¯t leave and kept staring at Arpheus. When the confidants hesitated and looked around nervously, the Hero casually touched Arpheus¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll go together.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°I have something to talk about.¡± ¡°Talk about what?¡± As countless thoughts raced through his mind, the next words that sealed any refusal whispered into his ear. ¡°It¡¯s about the blessing of Zero.¡± Arpheus¡¯s face hardened. * * * Clunk- Inside the wagon disguised as a merchant¡¯s cart. Sitting ufortably among the goods, Arpheus fidgeted with his feet, looking uneasy. His gaze was about 70% on me and the remaining 30% on Nyhill, who was driving the cart. When their eyes met, he quickly averted his gaze. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± An ufortable silence. Neighing- The sound of horses following the cart was loud. Though he seemed curious about why many riderless horses were brought, Arpheus kept his mouth shut. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± He looked rather pitiful, having been so bold and cheerful when he thought of the Hero as Ignotus, but now finding it difficult to act that way. ¡®I wouldn¡¯t mind if he actedfortably.¡¯ Hero didn¡¯t dislike Arpheus. In fact, the Hero had some affection for him. Though he was somewhatcking as the next Hero, he was a decent person. More righteous than average and kind to his subordinates. Knowing his background, he felt more inclined to care for him. ¡°Isaac Harbor.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± It must have been a strange name to him. Yet, Arpheus, who had been shrinking back, sprang up as if pricked by a thorn. After a moment of confusion, he nodded as if understanding something and sat back down. ¡°¡­You knew after all.¡± ¡°That you are from the Harbor family?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Of course, Hero knew. Right after, Arpheus dered himself to the world. The intelligence unit began investigating him, and once he could fully replicate, he ¡®read¡¯ Arpheus as well. This was because there was a possibility he was a bastard disguising himself as a righteous man to cause chaos. Thanks to this, he knew everything people were curious about regarding Arpheus'' origins, goals, and the source of his ridiculously immense mana. Arpheus. The name he hid from the world was Isaac Harbor. He was unexpectedly from a high-ranking family in the Empire. ''Though he was an illegitimate child.'' Indeed, his life was far from smooth. Somewhere in his childhood, Arpheus'' father was discovered by his influential inws to have amoner wife and an illegitimate child. The problem was that he had no children with hiswful wife. Under pressure from his inws, he chose a very simple solution. Complete eradication. Sensing this, Arpheus'' mother began to flee with young Arpheus. Their escape miraculously continued to the outskirts of the Great Mountain Range, but eventually, his mother died due to worsening injuries and illness, leaving eight-year-old Arpheus alone in the world. "...It was there that I encountered the blessing of Zero." "Indeed." "To be precise, I met the one who inherited Zero''s blessing." He listened quietly, even though he already knew all this through replicating. Growth, Insight, Transposition, Severance, Efficiency, Paradox, Precognition, Evolution. The person who found young Arpheus possessed the blessing of ''Growth.'' ...Growth, like other blessings of Zero, was an extraordinarily unique ability unimaginable for ordinary humans. ''The ability to imbuend with mana, enabling the cultivation of various elixirs and nt mana.'' The possessor of Growth could exert an iprehensibly powerful influence on crops. The growth rate was tens of times faster than normal crops, and even nting ordinary herb seeds would result in rare mystical herbs. "Nirvana... It was that person." "The ck-rated criminal, Nirvana." "That person...!" Arpheus tried to retort but closed his mouth. It was known to the world that the ck-rated criminal who vanished decades ago, ''Nirvana,'' was the possessor of Growth. An evil person who cultivated man-eating nts to harm people. The only criminal who ever escaped from Stagnum, the prison where the expelled Desmond, who caused the auction house incident, was imprisoned. However, surprisingly, she whimsically took in the orphaned Arpheus and raised him with utmost sincerity. Feeding him all kinds of elixirs. ''A source of abnormally strong mana.'' Thanks to this, almost no humans could match Arpheus''s mana. After Nirvana died, Arpheus returned to the world. Seizing the highest honour of a hero to exact revenge on his family. "...Though I missed the timing." The former head of the Harbor family died in battle against the demon army just before Arpheus proimed himself a hero. It must have been a rather hollow situation for Arpheus. However,mendably, he decided to fight for justice. Even if it was just a child''s desire for recognition. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ ''Anyway, Arpheus''s true strength is not in his immature swordsmanship.'' Nirvana left him as her sessor, bequeathing the inheritance of Growth. Along with the secret techniques of nt magic that made her the most powerful criminal. [...A useful ability] That''s how ??? evaluated it. Arpheus seemed to hide his nt magic as it was inappropriate for a ''hero,'' but he couldn''t afford such luxury in the uing battle. Hero extended my hand to Arpheus. "Hand it over." Arpheus''s eyes darkened with despair. "...I can''t give you Growth." "Not that." "...Pardon?" "When you left the Great Mountain Range, you wouldn''t have left empty-handed." Numerous elixirs and rare herbs were harvested during his years in the Great Mountain Range. They were urgently needed resources for humanity now. I continued speaking. "Think of it as paying off a debt." "Debt...?" "Achievements." While in the North, the numerous monsters and terrible creatures the Hero hunted down. People mistook those achievements for Arpheus''s deeds, who was active nearby. "...You chose to stay silent when it suited you." "...Ugh." Arpheus''s face turned red with embarrassment. "Of course, I didn''t bother correcting it. It was a wee development for humanity to have a new hope then." "Still, I understand that I have to settle ounts. Understood." Wooong- Arpheus opened the entrance of the backpack he was carrying. The knowledge of the magician he gained through replicating read the forms and magic circles inscribed on the backpack. ''Space expansion magic.'' It wasn''t a high-grade artifact that essed a separate subspace like Valber''s key, but it was still a relic from the First Era. That, too, must have been part of Nirvana''s inheritance. And then... tter- Dozens of mystical herbs poured out from it. Enough to make the carriage''s luggagepartment look cramped. Arpheus seemed somewhat relieved. "I''ve already given some to my subordinates and sold some, so the quantity has slightly decreased." "..." "Take as much as you need. I can''t use them all before I die anyway...." Arpheus sighed deeply as he spoke. Originally, mystical herbs were treasures more valuable than gold to martial artists, as they significantly increased one''s absolute mana. Even scions of prestigious families could rarely consume more than one. "Then. I''ll take them without hesitation." Hero picked up half a dozen roots and handed them to Nyhill, the coachman. "Eat these first." Arpheus was appalled. "Wait a moment!" "Why, do you suddenly regret it?" "No, that''s not it. Mystical herbs'' effects don''t stack if consumed at once. They must be taken properly, and the effects absorbed gradually over time...." Hero nodded while picking up and chewing a fewrge ones. His stomach felt warm. "I know that." Arpheus seemed at a loss for words. "But why..." "As you said, there''s no time to spare less than a month before the final battle." With a light gesture, the Hero signaled Nyhill to chew the herbs without hesitation. It felt like eating a snack. "Good." He gave the mystical herbs to Nyhill first to replenish the life force she used up in the Great Forestst time, and second, because she needed to overextend her ''puppet magic'' from now on. "Then, let''s begin." tter- The carriage and the following horses stopped. While Arpheus widened his eyes, Crack- Numerous puppets emerged from the earth, fully dressed and looking almost indistinguishable from humans. Figures such as Zion Hiyashin, Felson Dietrich, and Lucas Wellington, who attended the meeting, were among them. Arpheus, seeing puppet magic for the first time, looked like he was about to faint. "To your positions." Nyhill would have been exhausted normally, but she was in high spirits. The elixirspletely offset the magic consumption. For the next three weeks, Arpheus'' elixirs would ease Nyhill''s burden of controlling the puppets from afar. Hero gave a brief exnation to the dazed Arpheus. "We can''t let it be known that the leaders are absent." Even if the main force of the demon army had retreated, he didn''t believe they would abandon reconnaissance. ''They would likely be even more thorough.'' Avalon''s maneuvering must remain unknown until the veryst moment of striking the depths of the demonic realm with the spatial transfer. There shouldn''t be any major battles until then. As long as the puppets looked and acted the part, deceiving the demons'' eyes would be easy. "......" All at once, the puppets mounted and dispersed. Hero used spatial transfer magic to send those who needed to go far. Despite the intense magic consumption, the elixirs quickly replenished my power. "Spatial transfer magic, just who are you...." He patted the shoulder of the bewildered Arpheus. "Today''s generous investment will surely pay off." Hero was sincere. Clip-clop- The carriage set off again. * * * They arrived at the Ark by early dawn, having travelled for half a day. The waiting staff of the Ark guided them to the underground where Avalon was located. They said that among the passengers, the children and they were the first to arrive. The others were on their way. The children seemed to be resting in their assigned quarters. "Then, rest well." After greeting Arpheus and Nyhill, Hero boarded Avalon. ng- The metallic floor echoed with a heavy sound. Though he had asionally monitored the construction of Avalon through video, this was his first time ''experiencing'' it. As he passed the entrance of Avalon, [Wee, Captain! Please state your destination.] "...The captain''s office." [Current location: Central Hall. Guiding you to the captain''s office.] Zzzzzzz- Like the Iris of Lace projecting stored terrain information, a faint light appeared before his eyes. Many features were integrated thanks to the participation of skilled magicians from the Magic Tower and the Rosenstark School of Mysticism. He walked through the corridors adorned with various information panels and holographic disys, observing his surroundings. ''Where are the resident member and Noubelmag...'' Maybe it was toote, or perhaps they didn''t want to be seen. He pushed aside sentimental thoughts. What he needed to do now was to formte detailed ns. Passengers would start arriving from tomorrow. Along with familiarizing them quickly with Avalon''s functions, he also needed to devise strategies for subduing the 50 sectors of the demon realm. He was sketching a simple outline in my head when, [You''ve arrived. This is the coremand center of the mobile fortress Avalon, the captain''s office. For guidance on key functions and authority....] The dry voice trailed off as Hero reached the captain''s office. But the Hero had no time for detailed exnations. "!" There was already a visitor ahead of Hero. Heroposed his voice. "Yussi." At his call, Yussi lifted her head to look at him. It felt like he had been transported back three years ago. "......" Her once messy hair was now neatly styled like when she was the principal. No traces of being worn out by alcohol. Clear, distinct eyes. Fair, clean skin. Dressed in what seemed to be Avalon''s ck uniform, she spoke. "I need to make a quick trade." ...Her calm demeanor caught Hero off guard for a moment. Yussi, in the most normal state he''d seen in three years, uttered the craziest words. "Don''t even think about escaping. I just nted a bomb in the power room." ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 300: Chapter 300: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ "I just installed the bomb in the engine room." Those words echoed in hero¡¯s ears like thunder, making hik feel faint. Suddenly, he recalled a nickname Yussi had in Rosenstark a long time ago. Crazy woman."No¡­." No. Hero shook his head immediately. No matter how reckless Yussi was, she wouldn''t go to such extremes. Blowing up the mobile fortress on which all of humanity''s hopes and dreams depended? Hero spoke with certainty. "That''s a lie." "Yeah." Yussi answered breezily. "I lied just like you." "¡­I thought so." "Right, why would I blow it up after investing so much in this? That''d be unprofessional." Then she casually knocked on the captain''s room door with her hand. "Open this for me. We can''t just stand in the hallway." Her nonchnt attitude on unfamiliar ground was unexpected, even for me, who had replicated her not too long ago. It seemed a lot had changed in her mindset over time. Bzzz¡ª Yussi walked through the opened door with steady steps. A voice whispered in my mind. [Are you still not going to replicate her? Aren''t you curious what''s in that little head of hers?] ''Not now.'' [You really like taking the hard way, don''t you?] As Yussi headed towards the round table in the captain''s room, she suddenly spoke up, her back still turned to me. "By the way, there''s something I want to ask." "What is it?" "A few weeks ago, at the bar." "¡­¡­." "That was you, wasn''t it?" Hero decided not to lie anymore. "Yes." Surprised by his straightforward answer, Yussi''s steps slowed for a moment before resuming their normal pace. "Seems like you''re done with lies now." Thud¡ª Yussi sat down at the round table and stared at the hero. Her gaze urged him to sit across from her. They exchanged silent nces for about ten seconds. Hero broke the ufortable silence first. "You said it''s a deal." "Yeah, I brought something quite valuable. If the deal goes through, I''ll give it to you." "¡­Something valuable?" She was confident. Yussi had never lost her identity as a merchant. If she considered it valuable in such a situation, it must indeed be useful. ''She said she went into the demonic realm to find me over the past three years. Did she get it there?'' But after a moment, hero shook my head slowly. "You have a debt to me. If there''s something you want, just say it. You don''t need to offer anything in return." "¡­A debt, huh." Yussi''s usually calm expression trembled slightly at that moment. "I told you, I''m here for a deal." "¡­¡­." "I don''t want any favors without a return¡­ anymore." Her stubborn expression seemed to reject any objections. Hero nodded and sat across from her. "If you''re that insistent, then let''s hear your terms." "First¡­." She pointed her slender finger at his face. "Get rid of that hard-to-look-at face." "¡­¡­?" "Show me the hero." He froze for a moment at her unexpected request. He didn''t expect Yussi, of all people, to ask him to polymorph into Ted. ''I thought she hated me taking his form.'' But at the same time, he understood. ¡­Humans sometimes seek irrationalfort. heplied with her request without further questioning. "Turn around for a moment." "Okay." Without a word, she turned her chair around. Hero polymorphed into Ted for the first time in a long while. The height of his perspective increased suddenly, and gray hair covered my vision. Crack¡ª Only the sound of bones cracking echoed in the now quiet captain''s room. After transforming his robe into the suit Ted usually wore in Rosenstark, I was about to call Yussi¡­ but he hesitated. Her shoulders were trembling slightly. "Yussi." At the familiar voice, her trembling increased. Slowly, Yussi turned her chair back to its original position and spoke calmly. "This is just as hard to look at." With that, she began to cry suddenly. It was a strange and sad sight. Her cold expression remained the same, but transparent blue tears flowed continuously from her eyes. Quietly, but relentlessly. The tears ran down her cheeks and soaked the cor of her uniform. Hero said nothing as she wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and took a deep breath. Her reddened eyes looked at him. She seemed filled with both longing and confusion. It was as if she was reminiscing about old memories for a moment. "What I want¡­" Before he knew it, she had switched back to formal speech. But he had no intention of correcting her. Hero nodded quietly. "Tell me about the Ted Redymer I don''t know." "The Ted you don''t know?" "Yes. I''ve been away from him¡­ for too long." Indeed. Eight years ago, Yussi had to leave the Dawn Knights due to her injuries. Worried about her forcing herself onto the battlefield, Ted had ordered her to Rosenstark after much deliberation. That''s why she begrudgingly took on the role of principal. ¡­And it was around that time that he met Ted. By a twist of fate, he had experienced the years she hadn''t, the years she didn''t know about Ted Redymer, up close. Desperately, she bowed her head, seeking that piece of him. "Tell me." "¡­¡­." "Anything. I need to know." He nodded. The Ted Redymer that Yussi didn''t know... Many things came to his mind. It was a side of Ted Redymer that many people, not just her, didn''t know. ''Yes.'' Even before the final battle began, he had wanted to leave this with someone. "Ted was¡­." * * * It was after the battle ended and Ted returned to the hideout as usual. "Oswell, Veloke, Rikart, Aelgar. Remember these names." I held the needle. It was the first ''inscription'' he entrusted to me. The crooked letters he had inscribed himself were on the upper part of his back. I moved the ink-soaked needle to the center of his back, where his hand couldn''t reach anymore. ''Not much space¡­.'' But even without the tattoos, there wasn''t much room. New wounds, like fish scales, covered his back. Carefully, I started inscribing the names Ted had mentioned, avoiding the wounds. "Uh¡­ let me know if it hurts." There was no way a needle would hurt him. But Ted clenched his teeth as if the tiny letters hurt more than the wounds that were a few handbreadths wide. Then he quietly murmured. "¡­It hurts." At those words, I would stop the needle and look away. Because I wasn''t skilled enough to inscribe neat letters on a trembling back. . . . "Would things have turned out better if it weren''t for me?" The hideout had a lot of alcohol. "There must have been someone more suitable to be the hero." "Not really." "If he had led myrades, the oue might have been better. Maybe I took the opportunity from such a hero by stepping up hastily." "That''s not true. Who could do better than you?" "¡­Sometimes, I envy your certainty." These were the kinds of drinks that brought out someone''s weaknesses, focusing more on inebriation than vor. Sometimes Ted would drink them straight from the container, as if feeling a deep hunger. "No, I don''t even have to go that far." "Uh, you''re drinking too much." "If I had thought things through more carefully and made better strategies¡­ if I had trained harder with my sword." "How could you train harder here?" "Many things would have been different." Ted iled towards the unreachable spot on his back. "My ipetence¡­ myck of ability killed them." ¡­Recalling up to this point, I thought about how Yussi remembered Ted. An indomitable leader. A man who never lost his decisiveness andposure, even under the worst conditions. Always presenting the best solution, leading the organization with iron determination. ¡­One sad thing about Ted Redymer was that most people in the world believed he was an unfaltering superhuman. What''s sadder is that he intended it that way. "¡­¡­." Yussi couldn''t continue her words. The hand clutching her chest tightened, as if suffocating. "I¡­ I¡­." I could tell what she wanted to say without hearing it. It was unreasonable despair. How could someone who wasn''t a god take responsibility for all the world''s tragedies? There was no need to, in the first ce. More people were saved by yourpetence than were killed by your ipetence. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ But I also couldn''t say those words aloud. Because I thought my shallow words wouldn''t be enough tofort the despair he felt from such a high and deep perspectivepared to mine. Anyway, those asionalments gradually decreased in frequency. When his broad back was finally filled with the names of hisrades. Ted seemed to shake off all his worries and pains and began heading to the battlefield¡­ and not long after, he died in the battle against the Demon King. * * * The silence in the captain''s roomsted long. "¡­¡­." "¡­¡­." Yussi, not being a fool, must have vaguely guessed the pain hidden behind Ted''s strong exterior. The otherrades must have too. But hearing it from someone who had observed it firsthand was apletely different experience. "¡­¡­." Yussi''s expression was hidden by her hair falling forward. After a long while, she spoke. "You''ve met the condition, so I''ll give you the reward." "¡­Alright." She brushed away the hair covering her face and said. Her face was as dry as when she first entered the captain''s room. It didn''t seem like she intended to share her feelings with hero. ''I hope she doesn''t me herself too much.'' He wasn''t foolish enough to think she would be unaffected. Of course, Yussi was fundamentally ruthlessly indifferent to others. ¡­But her empathy, narrow and rare, ran very deep when it did surface. Especially if the subject was Ted. "It''s fine¡­." Yussi cut me off, turning her head. "That''s enough. Change back to your original form." His original form. He pondered whether to replicate Ignotus''s appearance or the original, choosing thetter. Crack¡ª Yussi stared at me intently for a moment, then took a deep breath. "The Three Sacred Treasures." "¡­¡­?" "You must know about them." ¡­Back to business. He nodded. The Three Sacred Treasures were relics from the First Era, the most powerful among all relics. The ck Hope, a greatsword that granted the highest level of gravity magic, "Domain." The White Despair, which had belonged to Larze but was now destroyed by Theo, offered positive effects to all types of magic. Andstly, the re-colored peace, known only as an armor artifact with unknown location and detailed abilities. [PR/N: The true name of ¡®re-colored¡¯ peace will be revealed soon.] He muttered, a thought crossing my mind. "Could it be¡­." Yussi nodded. "While searching the demonic realm for you, I found a clue about the re-colored peace." A giant anticipation stirred in his chest at that moment. ''Re-colored peace.'' Though its exact abilities were unknown, he had personally experienced how extraordinary the ck Hope and White Despair were. If the re-colored peace was of simr caliber, it would be a tremendous help in the uing battle. ''Another stroke of fortune, after Arpheus.'' At that moment, the voice whispered again. [Hmm, I don''t know the details about the re-colored peace either. Intriguing.] ''¡­I was already anxious about the battle with the Demon King, but this is good news.'' [With your current level, a head-on confrontation is impossible. You''ll need artifacts like these just to survive.] He immediately asked Yussi. "You said you found a clue. Do you have the actual item?" "Half of it." "Half?" "The Re-colored Peace consists of two parts." Hero tilted his head in confusion. "Two parts?" He knew the Re-colored Peace as an artifact simr to the ''Boen'' myrades had made for me in the past¡ªa ring that transformed into armor when its owner infused it with magic. By the way, Boen was damaged beyond repair in the battle with Yol. "No. The Re-colored Peace isn''t armor. That was a misunderstanding passed down because its previous owner had a simr artifact. It''s actually a ring and a ne. Two parts." "¡­A ring and a ne?" Clink¡ª Yussi, as if she had nothing more to say, pulled a ck ne from her pocket and ced it on the round table. It was exactly the same color as the ck Hope. At that moment, an eerie intuition crept over him. Yussi continued in a calm voice. "You already have the other part." An iprehensible statement. But he quickly realized the truth. "¡­Nouvelmag told you." "I repaired 17 of the 18 artifacts in the key. I couldn''t touch one." When the hero first received Valber''s Key from Nouvelmag and explored its contents, he found a ring that had no function. Nouvelmag couldn''t identify it either, but it was carefully stored in Valber''s subspace for some reason. The color was¡­ "It was pure white." ng¡ª Yussi pushed the ck ne towards the hero. "Combined, they be Recolored." Herp slowly picked it up and asked. "Do you know its function?" Yussi hesitated for a moment before speaking, her face contorted strangely. It was a look of regret and longing for an impossible scenario, which he only understood after hearing her exnation. "It will prevent unavoidable death." "¡­¡­?" "I''m not sure if it''s a recovery artifact, a defensive one, or something that causes an iprehensible miracle. But that''s what the record said." He looked at the ne in my palm. A thin chain and a circr medal. Aside from the color, there was nothing special about it, just like the ring in the subspace. The design and aura were simple. Maybe the function would activate when worn together with the ring. ''An ability to avoid destined death, what could it be?'' [¡­A human who gives an extra life to a doppelganger] While hero and ??? were lost in different thoughts, Yussi suddenly stood up with a dry expression. Hero hurriedly spoke. "Thank you¡­." "I refuse any thanks or any kind of significance." "¡­¡­." "I''m a rational alchemist and a calcting merchant. I judged that the Re-colored Peace would be most useful in your hands." After saying that, she strode across the captain''s room with her long legs. But instead of leaving immediately, she stopped in front of the door. Her fists clenched tightly at the seams of her pants. "¡­You said you tried to replicate not only the hero''s appearance but also his actions perfectly." "That''s true." He was surprised that Yussi brought up such a sensitive topic, but he affirmed it. "Then what was that act of healing my limbs with the Divine Touch?" "¡­What?" "Did you do it just because you can heal any wound and because there was no better use at the moment? Or¡­." He knew exactly what she was asking and what she was curious about. So he cut her off. "There is something called understanding." "¡­What?" "It''s a value that increases the more urately and deeply you grasp your subject. As it rises, doppelgangers gain many advantages in replication." He briefly exined the concept. "When I used the Divine Touch to heal you." Yussi still faced away. But hero could vividly picture her expression as if it were right in front of him. "My understanding of Ted increased." "¡­¡­." "Just because he left you and couldn''t be with you during tough times didn''t mean he didn''t think of you as arade." There was no response. Thud¡ª! The captain''s room door closed. Hero continued speaking calmly. "And I also want you to stay with us until the end of this journey." The sound of her footsteps faded a few secondster. * * * The next day. As soon as all the warriors boarded the Avalon, preparations for the final decisive battle began in earnest. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 301: Chapter 301: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Thud, thud¡ª The centralmand and strategy room of Avalon. Passengers began to arrive one by one in the ce that oversaw all operations and strategies. The number exceeded fifty. However... ¡®Even they are only a part of the whole.¡¯ The total number of passengers on Avalon was over two hundred. The walls were filled with themunication screens of those who couldn¡¯t enter due to the limited space. The Hero stood before the holographic map, slowly scanning their faces. The passengers were divided into three major groups. The list was as follows: Felson, Larze, Taylor, Barun (who insisted on boarding to supply mana to Avalon¡¯s mana turrets) and 20 members of the Dawn Knights. The Royal Guard, including Euphemia and Mother Ghost, and 30 members of the Shadow Ghosts. The elite warriors of the North, including Cuculli and her brother Waldif, were twenty in number. Thirty elite elven archers from the Great Forest. The Lotus Knights, including Nyhill, twenty-three in total. Thirty elite noble knights led by Lucas. Kasim''s group from the Sanctuary (including many young professors who had left Rosenstark in the past), twenty in total. Arpheus and his two lieutenants. The seven swordsmen led by Zion Hiyashin. These were the warriors. ¡®As for the magicians¡­¡¯ The Hero¡¯s gaze turned to the group wearing robes. Thirty survivors from the Magic Tower. Nearly ten professors and students from the Rosenstark Department of Mysticism had also boarded. The purple-haired girl, Beatrice, known as the second Larze, was also present. Finally, the engineers, twenty in number. Yussi, Noubelmag, and Pia attended themand room as their representatives. They were key members of the hundreds of engineers involved in Avalon¡¯s design and construction, on board to repair any damage during battles and handle unforeseen situations. Noubelmag¡¯s mother, the greatest cksmith of the elven race, ¡®Ahir¡¯, was also on board to enhance the passengers'' equipment. In essence, the continent¡¯s top manufacturing skills were gathered here. ¡®Not to mention, there''s Maktania and Izaro too.¡¯ ¡­They were the elite of the elite. This final task forceprised individuals whose skills, loyalty, and faith in the human alliance were beyond doubt. The Hero felt a peculiar sense of emotion, knowing he would lead them. ¡®Has such a force ever been gathered in the entirety of the Second Age?¡¯ The conquest of the Demon Realm and the Demon King¡¯s castle was unimaginable until three years ago when humans nted their g in the Demon Realm. ¡®Even Ted¡¯s great battle to defeat the Demon King urred outside the Demon Realm.¡¯ But now, they had to target the Demon King¡¯s castle directly, taking advantage of his iplete incarnation. Without a thoroughly devised strategy, only defeat awaited them. ¡®¡­There¡¯s no turning back.¡¯ Everything would be decided within a month. Either humanity would perish, or the demon race would. After a deep breath, the Hero stepped forward. The murmuring conference room fell silent. Eyes filled with doubt, distrust, hostility, goodwill, anticipation, and hope¡ªall directed at him. The heavy atmosphere underscored the fact that everyone''s fate depended on this mysterious figure. ¡­The Hero opened his mouth. ¡°Now, I will exin the outline of Operation ¡®Light Bringer¡¯.¡± Fortunately, no one presentcked discernment. All attendees set aside their personal feelings and listened to the Hero¡¯s briefing. He began without a preamble. ¡°As expected, the concentration of demonic energy across the Demon Realm is rapidly decreasing. The outskirts are already essible to regr troops.¡± All the demonic energy in the Demon Realm was converging towards the Demon King¡¯s castle. ¡°Three weeks.¡± The Hero held up his fingers. ¡°In three weeks, the demonic energy will thin enough to allow spatial travel to the depths of the Demon Realm.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°By then, the demons will start preparing for the Demon King¡¯s descent.¡± The room grew even quieter, and the specific timeline added to the gravity. The Hero, looking at their pale faces, continued calmly. ¡°We willnd in the Demon Realm just before that.¡± Thud¡ª The Hero¡¯s pointer indicated a corner of the holographic map: the easternmost end of the continent. ¡°The point of arrival via spatial travel will be here, the 46th Sector of the Demon Realm.¡± It was the farthest they could go without being significantly affected by demonic energy. At that moment, Kasim spoke up in the front row. ¡°¡­The 46th Sector. The distance we need to break through is considerable.¡± ¡°We have no choice. Trying to go deeper risks our coordinates being twisted by demonic energy,nding us in the wrong ce.¡± The ¡°wrong ce¡± referred to ces like hundreds of meters underwater or thousands of meters in the sky. ¡°We can¡¯t waste our one chance like that.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± The Hero extended the map, drawing a straight line from theirnding point to the Demon King¡¯s castle. "The problem is, no matter how quickly we try to break through, they''ll swarm us before we get halfway through Sector 46." "Who are ''they''?" "The Demon King¡¯s army led by the remainingmanders." Their numbers were too vast to estimate urately. Hundreds of thousands of monsters and hundreds of demons. As the people¡¯s faces darkened instantly, the hero shook his head. "Of course, we don¡¯t intend to handle their entire force alone." "Then..." "The Imperial Army will move." There were many capable strategists among the generals who couldn''t board Avalon due to theirck ofbat skills. They were currently relocating their forces near the Great Mountains under the pretense of pursuing the retreating Demon King¡¯s army. "They''re helping us divert attention from Avalon while preparing for a feint operation." The conference room buzzed. "A feint operation..." "That''s right. Three days before the operation begins, they¡¯ll first break through the Demon Realm''s outskirts. They n to destroy all the unguarded stakes and head deep inside." At that moment, a hand was raised. Felson Dietrich looked at the hero with interest. "With the core forces absent, I wonder if they¡¯ll really fall for the feint. They might just ignore it." The hero responded immediately. "Don''t worry about that." The dolls made by Nyhill would appear all over the battlefield, and personnel like Larze, capable of teleportation, would provide constant support. "It will be enough to make them think it¡¯s a suicide squad." Understanding dawned, and exmations of admiration were heard. "If that works, most of their forces will head west." The defenses of the deeper sectors, including Sector 46, would weaken. The hero nodded. "So, we only need to focus on reaching Sector 50 with our full strength intact." That was the primary objective. Of course, no matter how sessful the feint operation was, the defense of Sector 50, essentially the core of the Demon Realm, would still be solid. To break through it swiftly with maximum force. Then, the Demon King¡¯s castle¡­ they would destroy the core of the first stake driven into this world. "That will force the Demon King into a corner." By then, the core of the Demon King¡¯s castle would have gathered all the demonic energy from the entire Demon Realm for the Demon King¡¯s descent. If the suicide squad managed to infiltrate, this energy would dissipate meaninglessly, which would practically spell the demons'' temporary defeat. The total amount of demonic energy was the proof of their dominance in this world. If the Imperial Army destroyed all the stakes while advancing, and that energy was lost, it would be an irreversible loss. The Demon King¡¯s descent would be uncertain. ''The demons would be in just as dire a situation as we are.'' The hero clenched his fist and looked around at everyone. "So the Demon King will most likely confront us before we touch the core." Through an iplete descent. Considering the damage to causality. That¡¯s how they would appear before them. "This is the only way we can currently defeat the Demon King." ¡­If the descent werepleted properly, it would be a sure defeat. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ In the past, Ted could defeat the Demon King because the Demon King had already expended much of his causality, and they were outside the Demon Realm, which was advantageous. But currently, the hero¡¯s skill still did not match Ted¡¯s. Even with full power borrowed from ???, it would be difficult. Thus, the hero finished exining the outline of ''Light Bringer.'' "......" An ufortable silence descended in the conference room. Noubelmag, who had been chewing on his pipe with his eyes closed, summed up everyone¡¯s feelings with a blunt statement. "In other words, we need a miracle of miracles of miracles." Although the hero had exined it concisely, each stage of ''Light Bringer'' was of an unprecedented level of difficulty. From the beginning, it involved a direct breakthrough from Sector 46 to Sector 50 of the Demon Realm, where no human army had ever set foot. ''And that''s only if the feint operation is sessfullypleted.'' If even one stage of the operation faltered, it would be over. Avalon would sink, carrying humanity¡¯sst hope with it. Just as everyone was hardening their expressions, the silent hero spoke again. "If we need a miracle, we have to create it with our own strength." Blink- The holographic map disappeared, and very dense text appeared on the screen. At the same time, Pia and Kassim began distributing mountains of documents to everyone in the conference room. "...A schedule?" The expressions of those who checked the contents became peculiar. "Combat module adaptation training... Avalon functionality theory and practice, sparring with the captain... survival training... what is mana extraction?" "...Hell week? Wait a minute. There''s no sleep time in this week?" Only the children of the Lotus Knights nodded, as if they had been expecting this. This wasn¡¯t just a schedule. A meticulously crafted training n tailored to each individual. The hero calmly concluded the meeting. "Since the fate of humanity is at stake, I trust everyone will cooperate." * * * The passengers¡¯ morning started in the underground engine room. Rubbing their sleepy eyes, they left the living quarters and lined up in front of the massive magic stone known as ¡®Avalon¡¯s Heart.¡¯ Evergreen ced her hand on the metal pipe connected to the magic stone and muttered. ¡°Ugh, I really hate this feeling.¡± Luke patted her on the shoulder in agreement. ¡°Me too.¡± Woooooong- As soon as they finished speaking, the mana stone began to absorb their mana. Despite having considerable manapared to their peers through steady training, their mana emptied in seconds. Beep beep beep- At the same time, the numbers on the panel in front of them started to rise. The panel quantified the amount of mana the magic stone had absorbed. For an average person who had never trained, the usual number would be between 10 and 20. Luke tapped the screen with his finger. "1277." Evergreen replied, panting. "I got 985." Though their mana was quickly drained, their expressions were surprisingly bright. "Both of us have improved since a few days ago." It was the captain¡¯s directive. "The more effort you put in, the more shots Avalon can fire on the day of the decisive battle." The more stored energy, the better. Passengers had to pour their mana into Avalon¡¯s power source once in the morning and before bed. Surprisingly, this also helped with their training. Emptying their mana halls artificially and then recovering increased their maximum mana and recovery rate. "At this point, we¡¯re more like crew members than passengers." "I agree." "Hey, look over there." Gerald, who recorded a score of 1100, approached and tapped their shoulders. At the end of his gaze was Arpheus, veins bulging all over his body. An unbelievable number was disyed on his panel. [8324¡­ 8520¡­] "Is he even human?" "¡­Seriously." While the amount of mana didn¡¯t necessarily equate to strength, it was an impressive number. However, there was someone Arpheus couldn¡¯t surpass. Cuculli Evans Mana Score: 21082 Her name was proudly disyed above the giant magic stone. For reference, Leciel recorded around 2000, and Ban around 1800, while the Dawn Knights had scores ranging from 4000 to 8000 each. This showed how extraordinary Arpheus and Cuculli¡¯s mana levels were. After draining their mana like this, they proceeded to physical training and sparring. They would have matches against the various martial artists gathered here. Of course, since there was no space inside Avalon, training urred in the underground training grounds. By lunchtime, they took a short break to replenish their mana in the recovery room filled with herbs that someone had cultivated. Then, they went straight to the control room for lectures on Avalon¡¯s various functions. ¡®¡­There were all sorts of features.¡¯ Each person was allocated a mana turret to control, divided into anti-air and anti-ground, and capable of efficiently targeting both single and multiple enemies. It took three full days just to learn the theory of operating these next-generation turrets. ¡°Ugh! I give up! I¡¯ll just go out and use a breath attack!¡± ¡°¡­I give up.¡± Cuculli and Leciel, who had always hated studying, were especially distressed. Moreover, throughout Avalon, there were devices for purifying demonic energy and activating barriers in case of an emergency, and they had to memorize the locations and operating methods of all these devices. Finally, they had to familiarize themselves with the functions of the new weapons created by Noubelmag. By the time all these tasks were finished, it was roughly nightfall. They would drain their mana once more before returning to the living quarters to sleep. ¡®It feels like being a freshman again.¡¯ Despite the grueling schedule, all the passengers¡­ no, the crew members diligently followed the captain¡¯s curriculum. Probably because they didn¡¯t want to leave any regrets. "Alright, let¡¯s get going." Today, a slightly special training awaited them. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 302: Chapter 302: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ The training camp at Avalon was also an opportunity to practice various tacticalbinations. It was a chance for people who had only heard of each other¡¯s reputations but had never properly met to finally face each other. During the free training time inserted between the Hero¡¯s curriculum, an exciting arena of interaction unfolded. Just like Luke was now facing Larze.¡°Then, I look forward to working with you.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Luke clearly understood his role in the uing battle. While the Hero confronted the demon king, he had to hold back the onught of the demon king¡¯s army. Among them, the most troublesome enemy would likely be Theo. ¡®I need to get used to fighting against a magician.¡¯ His previous experience against the mysticism department at the school festival (Iron Arrow!) was far from sufficient. Luke gripped his greatsword tightly. ¡°Here Ie!¡± He intended to go all out from the start. Chaos Transformation. As Luke activated his special move, his muscr body was instantly engulfed in a blue aura. An artificially induced state of extreme stress was created. It wasn¡¯t just his physical abilities that were enhanced. His eyes received visual information much more sensitively, and his hearing also became equally acute. His survival instincts and reflexes were maximized. On the other hand, pain and fatigue were reduced to almost zero. It was a state where he could easily lose his sanity, but the Felson¡¯s training method he had learned earlier calmed his rampaging mind, allowing for quick judgment and immediate responses. ¡°Ho¡­ not bad.¡± Larze¡¯s expressionless eyes lit up with interest. ¡°At this level, you¡¯re about as good as Ted from his school days?¡± She slowly raised her staff. Luke quickly closed the distance before her destructive magic could be unleashed. However¡­ ¡°Still crude.¡± The expected bombardment did not ur. Instead, a stone wall rose with a rumble. Beyond it, Larze was already floating in the air. Luke immediately reacted, climbing the stone wall¡­ but was instantly seized by a strange sensation. Buzzing- A cold aura touched his skin. His body stiffened, his vision wavered, and eerie whispers echoed in his ears. Luke desperately shook his head, but his surroundings were already twisting and distorting. ¡®Status ailment magic?¡¯ He had been hit by this before by demons adept in magic. Luke hurriedly focused his mind to shake it off. But at that moment¡­ ¡°Still foolish, my son.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°Do you really believe an orphan like you can save the world?¡± Ravias¡¯ head was rolling on the ground. His bloodied mouth twisted in a mocking smile as the headless body appeared, holding something up. It was the executioner¡¯s axe Ravias had thrust forward when he had demanded ¡®execution¡¯. ¡®¡­ It¡¯s an illusion.¡¯ Instinctively, he swung his sword and kicked. Ravias¡¯ body and head dissipated powerlessly. But it wasn¡¯t over. ¡°Luke¡­ it hurts.¡± A voice came from the opposite side. Luke froze even before he turned his head. Evergreen, with half her body covered in burns, was crying. Her green eyes, filled with pus, pinned Luke in ce. ¡°If you had someone to protect, you should have just run away and lived! Why did you drag me into this hell!?¡± ¡°Hah.¡± His hand stiffened in that moment. Bang-! Suddenly, bullets flew from all directions and hit him. He tried to react urgently, but it was toote. One bullet pierced his sword barrier and struck his abdomen. ¡°Ugh!¡± With a sound like something bursting, Luke slid back. Even as he clutched his stomach, he did not fall. His crimson eyes still faced forward. ¡­The voices and hallucinations that tormented him vanished simultaneously. ¡°Hmm, you still keep your wits about you? Not bad.¡± ¡°¡­ It¡¯s terrible.¡± Larze spokenguidly. ¡°Not all magicians prefer straightforwardbat. Theo enjoys manifesting his magic this way.¡± ¡°I see.¡± As Larze slowly approached and waved her hand, Luke¡¯s mana, which he had gathered to defend his mind, wavered unstably. ¡°With your level of mana control, it¡¯s difficult to resist Theo¡¯s magicpletely.¡± Keeping one¡¯s mind sharp was momentary. During intensebat, if one was subtly hit by status ailment magic, they could be incapacitated helplessly. ¡°Illusions, weakness, despair, madness, decay¡­ You¡¯ll face all sorts of status ailment spells.¡± ¡°Then what should I do?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no other way. You have to get as used to it as possible. Both mental and physical pain.¡± Luke took a deep breath and gripped his sword again. ¡°Please, something stronger.¡± Larze¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡°Alright!¡± . . . ¡­Meanwhile, on the other side of the training ground, Lucas and the noble knight squad were receiving the exact same training from Beatrice. * * * On the other hand, Leciel was inside aboratory within Avalon, not at the training ground. It was a ce where the unique scent of old books, herbs, and various chemicals mixed. ss bottles containing liquids of various colors glowed under the dim lighting. ¡°Begin.¡± At Yussi¡¯s signal to start, Leciel gathered his concentration and reached out to touch the de of the shapeshifter. Whoosh- The sword ignited. The mes that initially flowed along the de and sometimes red up fiercely soon settled into a calm, steady pattern. Yussi, who had been watching, spoke up. ¡°Even if elemental imbuing is a basic alchemy skill, you¡¯re fast. You have talent.¡± ¡°¡­Thanks to you.¡± ¡°Hmm, most martial artists can¡¯t even grasp it, but it¡¯s intriguing.¡± Over the past three years, Yussi had asionally taught Leciel some alchemical forms. It was at Leciel¡¯s request. ¡°Rather than converting the attributes of sword energy, it¡¯s much more efficient to just imbue the element.¡± A sword imbued with ¡®fire¡¯ was highly effective against monsters with strong regenerative abilities. Of course, Leciel could also somewhat use Iira¡¯s white sword, but the white sword consumed an extreme amount of mana, so it needed to be reserved for strong opponents. In preparation for the uingrge-scale battle, the more ways to deal with minor enemies, the better. ¡­It was then that grumbling voices were heard from a corner of the alchemyb. ¡°Restrain Leciel!¡± ¡°¡­Unfair. It¡¯s unfair. Being good at alchemy too.¡± ¡°First, confiscate that face!¡± Evergreen and Karen were yfully jeering. They were not focusing on elemental imbuing (having tried butcked talent) but were learning from Pia thebinations and effects of various poisons to apply to their arrowheads. However, as thoroughbred martial artists, they were making slow progress in mastering theplex chemical forms. Whine- Karen¡¯s rune wolf, Shadow, who had be her dedicated mount, whined in boredom and rolled on the floor. Pia pped her hands to get everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Everyone~ let¡¯s focus. It would be less tiring to teach this to Shadow.¡± ¡°Professor¡­ that¡¯s too much.¡± ¡°What¡¯s too much is that you haven¡¯t memorized even tenbinations in an hour~¡± Faced with the stern instructor who had returned with a spicy attitude from the capital, the children, pulling faces, buried their heads back into their notes. ¡°Professor Pierre is pitiful!¡± In the meantime, Karen made a bold statement and received an additional set ofbinations to memorize. As Leciel twitched her lips while watching them, Yussi casuallymented. ¡°Doggie. Are you happy?¡± Leciel¡¯s face turned bright red as memories of confessing to the hero came flooding back. ¡°¡­Doggie? Master? Leciel¡­ wait a minute.¡± Seeing Leciel stammering, Yussi chuckled. ¡°Good for you.¡± ¡°¡­What about you, Principal? Did you have a good conversation?¡± ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ ¡°Who knows¡­¡± Yussi answered indifferently, then tilted her head. ¡°But how do you know I talked to that person?¡± Leciel froze like a statue. ¡°¡­You spied.¡± ¡°Uh, no, I didn¡¯t?¡± ¡°¡­ Didn¡¯t?¡± ¡°It was a coincidence.¡± Leciel confessed honestly. In fact, she had been the first passenger to arrive in Avalon. Even knowing the hero wasn¡¯t there, she had been loitering near the captain¡¯s quarters. Then, by chance, she spotted Yussi waiting for the hero¡­. ¡°I only watched from a distance¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Never mind.¡± Yussi shook her head. Leciel stole a sideways nce at her. After the conversation with the hero, the dangerous aura that had seemed ready to explode at any moment was gone. However, for some reason, she looked more hollow and precarious. Leciel asked cautiously. ¡°Are you okay, Principal?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I quit being the principal. Why do you still call me that?¡± "¡­¡­." ¡°Well, you kids still call that person a professor.¡± Leciel silently nodded. She didn¡¯t want to call her by any other title. Her friends probably felt the same way. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve decided to ept it.¡± ¡°¡­ There¡¯s no reason not to.¡± ¡°Right, for you guys.¡± Although their situations seemed simr, they were distinctly different. They had all been deceived by the shell of Ted, but the children had started their rtionship with the ¡®doppelganger¡¯ from the beginning. Therefore, as long as they could forgive the lies and deceit, they could return to how things were before. Unfortunately, Yussi could not escape her hell¡­ because Ted Redymer was already dead. Her fate had been sealed since four years ago. ¡°The end of the journey¡­¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Yussi smiled at the questioning Leciel. ¡°This time, we will use a catalyst to increase the firepower.¡± Leciel nodded reluctantly. * * * Thud-thud-thud- Gerald wandered through the mobile fortress, sweat that hadn¡¯t yet cooled dripping to the floor. ¡°Damn it¡­.¡± Anyone who knew his usual self would be shocked to see him now. The cheerful Gerald¡¯s face was twisted in a grimace. It was because of the ¡®victory¡¯ he had just achieved in a sparring match. Why was he upset after winning? It was because his opponent had been his father. ¡°Haha, you¡¯ve really improved.¡± When they reunited after a long time, father and son, as martial artists, immediately started with a bout of spearmanship. At first, Gerald hadn¡¯t even considered the possibility of winning. Rnd Bryce. His father had always been like a mountain to him. Gerald vividly remembered the moment he first picked up a spear. Late at night, mesmerized by his father¡¯s formidable spear techniques in the training ground, he had toddled over and grabbed a wooden spear. From then on, whether practising basic spear techniques, learning the family¡¯s secret techniques, receiving the family spear when he entered the academy, or even during his time as a Lotus Knight, Gerald had never once thought he could defeat his father. ng-! Yet, after a fierce battle, Rnd Bryce dropped his spear. Though the victory wasn¡¯t easy, it wasn¡¯t particrly difficult either. Only then did Gerald notice the wrinkled face and weakened grip. ¡°How¡­ why¡­.¡± His father patted his shoulder with a proud look. ¡°You¡¯ve grown, and I¡¯ve aged. That¡¯s all, my son.¡± Had this happened in his younger days, Gerald would have been overjoyed. ¡­But with the final battle approaching, his father¡¯s aging brought sorrow and fear instead of joy and a sense of aplishment. ¡°Why are you grinning like an idiot after losing?!¡± Why did the son get angry at his weakened father? Even as Gerald stormed out of the training ground, his father watched him with a fond smile. ¡®Maybe I should ask the professor to exclude Father.¡¯ ¡­No, that would be a humiliation worse than death for a man who had lived his whole life as a warrior. ¡®But he has toe back alive! The youngest is only three!¡¯ Thinking of his little sister toddling around the garden and his mother watching warmly, Gerald could only hold his head in his hands. He was stuck. He felt like screaming his lungs out. ¡°¡­Ugh.¡± It was then he noticed an empty water bottle discarded on the ground. The fortress¡¯s automatic cleaning system hadn¡¯t picked it up yet. Kicking it would be the natural thing to do. Thunk-! With a satisfying sound, the bottle soared in a perfect arc¡­ And hit someone on the head. ¡°Ah.¡± Gerald forgot to apologize, eyes widening as he looked at the victim. ¡®Was there such a passenger on Avalon?¡¯ Calling her merely beautiful felt inadequate. Her long, lush silver hair was tied up, and her harmonious features were enhanced by a sharp jawline, exuding an air of elegance and ssical beauty. What was more surprising was her bare face, free of makeup. Dressed casually, she stared nkly at Gerald, seemingly as taken aback as he was. Her slightly parted lips were adorable. Without realizing it, Gerald blurted out, ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry! If I¡¯d known such a beautifuldy would be hit, I would have thrown my heart instead of the bottle¡­¡± He thought it was a pretty good line. But her reaction was tepid. ¡°¡­What?¡± And why did her calm, subdued voice sound so familiar? He¡¯d definitely heard it somewhere before. Gerald tilted his head in a mix of puzzlement and anxiety. ¡®Wait a minute¡­.¡¯ Looking closely, one could see that her embroidered and high-quality clothes were not ordinary attire. He turned his gaze back to her face. ¡®¡­No way.¡¯ No way. The person sitting at the head of the conference table earlier shed through his mind. The face behind the borate, dignified makeup¡­ No! ¡°Your Majesty!¡± Gerald dropped to his knees, bowing deeply. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 303: Chapter 303: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Euphemia, having ordered the Mother Ghost to stay behind, was inspecting the hull of the Avalon. This was humanity¡¯s ultimate weapon, marking the culmination of her tireless efforts over the past decades. Even the Emperor needed time to fully immerse herself in the moment''s sentiment. ¡®...It¡¯s soon.¡¯She stood on the brink of a moment that would either see the fulfillment of everyone¡¯s long-held dreams or their fading away. Realizing this, even Euphemia, who had always been aposed and confident ruler before her subjects, couldn¡¯t help but confront her suppressed tension and fear. It felt like experiencing a sh of her life beforehand. Memories from when she was a young princess, far removed from the throne, to now, kept surfacing and subsiding in a disjointed manner. At some point, as she was lost in these thoughts, Thunk! For the first time in her life, her head, which had never permitted any projectile to strike, was lightly jolted by an impact. Turning her head, she saw a young man with an oily expression hurriedly approaching. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m so sorry! If I had known such a beautiful person was here...¡± ... The following five minutes unfolded like this. Gerald was prostrated in shock, and Euphemia had helped him up. ¡°How dare a lowly subject mar the royal body of Your Majesty... I deserve to die a thousand, no, ten thousand times over... Please, just once...¡± Realizing that the Emperor¡¯s expression was far from wrathful, Gerald cautiously lifted his head. ¡°Such magnanimous grace!!¡± ¡°Quiet, Gerald Bryce.¡± ¡°Y-yes.¡± Euphemia was not the kind of tyrant who would punish Gerald for such a minor mistake, especially given his long-standing loyalty as the heir to the Bryce family, a member of the Death Squad, and her disciple. In fact, she felt rather refreshed. For some reason, it reminded her of her days as a student at Rosenstark, where unreserved peers, led by Ted surrounded her. With a determined step, Euphemia resumed walking down the corridor. Gerald hurriedly followed a few steps behind, responding to her silentmand to follow. ¡°What were you thinking about so deeply that you didn¡¯t notice a person, let alone recognize it was your Emperor?¡± ¡°Uh...¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me honestly, I¡¯ll have no choice but to inform your superior that you¡¯ve been cking off during training.¡± ¡°Eek!¡± In truth, Euphemia was curious about other people¡¯s thoughts, especially on the eve of the decisive battle. What concerns did they harbor? It was a small curiosity of hers. ¡°Actually...¡± Stammering, Gerald began to share his story. He spoke of Rnd Bryce, his ailing father, his worries about the uing battle, and his restless wandering. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°...¡± Silence often felt more ufortable for subordinates. Desperate to fill it, Gerald hastily brought up a new topic. ¡°Y-Your Majesty¡¯s father. What kind of person was thete Emperor?¡± ...He regretted asking as soon as he did. Euphemia chuckled. ¡°You probably have a general idea about what he was like.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s...¡± The Emperor sighed softly and murmured, ¡°As is known, he was an ipetent tyrant... and a cruel husband.¡± Gerald felt like biting his tongue and buried his head. ¡°But he was a good father.¡± Thunk. The Emperor halted. Her expression, reminiscent of the distant past, was not overly dark. Feeling as if he had grabbed a lifeline just before falling, Gerald continued, ¡°So, he was a good father.¡± ¡°To me, at least.¡± Thete Emperor had five children: two princes, including Euphemia, with his main wife, and one princess and one prince with his concubine. Amid the inevitable fierce power struggles, he wanted to protect his beloved youngest daughter. ¡°That¡¯s why he sent me to Rosenstark.¡± It was around when her brothers began to fight for power, leveraging their maternal families. No one paid attention to the harmless, young princess. Some brothers even promised her a peaceful life if she stayed out of their way. ¡°But I couldn¡¯t live like that.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Having forgotten his earlier fear, Gerald was now listening with bright eyes. Despite his stern face, it was quite endearing. The Emperor smirked and continued her story. ¡°Because if one of them had taken the throne, Ted¡¯s wish would never have been fulfilled.¡± Her brothers resembled thete Emperor to an astonishing degree: dull, ipetent, and indifferent to humanity¡¯s salvation, destined to be future tyrants. ¡°And historically, such tyrants hated ¡®heroes.¡¯¡± They would have trampled Ted Redymer the moment he began to stand out. ¡°That¡¯s why I decided to be the emperor.¡± Rosenstark, which thete Emperor thought of as a sanctuary, was the perfect ce to gather talent. Euphemia secretly gathered her supporters there. Young nobles discontented with the corrupt imperial family, capablemoners...those dreaming of rebellion. They were deeply captivated by the charismatic, ruthless, and strong princess. Thus, she meticulously prepared for a ¡°coup.¡± ¡°By the time I graduated, I struck my eldest brother, who had won the power struggle, and his faction, led by my uncle.¡± Blood flowed like rivers, and the imperial pce burned and copsed. That¡¯s how Euphemia ascended the throne. Gerald swallowed hard. He knew well what happened afterwards. The bloody purge. Those who had sucked the lifeblood of the empire regurgitated it. The power structure, which copsed in an instant, was rebuilt under the new order Euphemia advocated. This was the basis for the Emperor''s current absolute power. ¡°Thanks to that, I could support Ted without limits.¡± As the story concluded, Gerald was deeply impressed. ¡°Your Majesty became the emperor to fulfill the dream of the former hero.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s one way to interpret it. Why¡ª¡± The Emperor smiled pleasantly. ¡°Is that not eptable?¡± Thinking about it, Euphemia realized she might have wanted to tell her story to someone rather than listen to Gerald¡¯s. Gerald, staring nkly at her face, quickly turned his head. ¡°It sounds like an incredible love story.¡± ¡°Love? Hahaha...¡± The Emperorughed out loud, looking at Gerald. Despite his weathered face, she was reminded that he was still a child. ¡°In this era, an emperor cannot love an individual.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± ¡°But I can say I loved the ideals he showed.¡± Euphemia squinted and looked down the corridor. The Mother Ghost was quietly approaching. It seemed there were more matters to handle. Thus, this pleasant conversation had toe to an end. The Emperor''s gaze fell on Gerald, who was deep in thought. ¡°¡­And now, those ideals rest on your professor¡¯s shoulders.¡± ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Thunk¡ª The Emperor¡¯s hand patted Gerald¡¯s head. ¡°So make sure to fulfill my love, Gerald of the Bryce.¡± Thud¡ª Gerald watched the departing Emperor with a nk expression. It was the end of his 233rd unrequited love. * * * At 9 PM, when all the activities of the Avalon¡¯s passengers had ended, the children gathered in the lounge in the living area to chat. It was a nostalgic scene reminiscent of the freshman dormitory lounge. ¡°Really, the Emperor told you that? Gerald, she said she believes in you and asked you to fight hard for the hero¡¯s ideals!¡± ¡°Hmm, aren¡¯t you making it up?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not!¡± ¡°What¡¯s so special about you that the Emperor would share personal stories and tell you such things? It doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Gerald lost his temper and yelled at Cuculli¡¯s logical rebuttal. ¡°See? He just gets mad when his lie is exposed.¡± ...Of course, they all knew Gerald was telling the truth. They just found his reaction amusing. At that moment, ¡°Oh, Ban. What took you so long?¡± They looked curiously at Ban, who had just returned to the lounge. Despite the cool interior, he was sweating profusely. Copsing onto the sofa, Ban mumbled, ¡°...Training.¡± Cuculli dropped arge ice chunk on him. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Special training.¡± ¡°Huh? With whom?¡± ¡°With Zion.¡± The unexpectedbination made the children¡¯s eyes widen. ¡°What kind of special training?¡± At Gerald¡¯s question, Ban recalled the torturous hours earlier. ¡°Chess fencing.¡± Zion had suddenly taken out a chessboard and exined the bizarre rules of ¡°chess fencing.¡± The rules were as follows: Each turn was 3 minutes. During the opponent¡¯s turn, one sword strike could be made. ¡°Since you have the qualities of a magic swordsman, I¡¯ve heard you¡¯ve been training magic intensively. Chess fencing is great for quickly developing the multitasking ability essential for a magic swordsman.¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°Moreover, it will be beneficial in this operation, where we must fight against overwhelming numerical superiority.¡± Ban had to focus on the game while dealing with the unpredictable sword strikes of the Sword Saint. The sword strikes were challenging to handle even in a perfect state. Moreover, Zion showed no mercy, as if Ban were a demon, so he couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. The result of the chess game was 3 wins and 22 losses. Ban felt like his brain had melted. ¡°Hmm, you just need to focus on defense and y chess roughly. It¡¯s not like anything is at stake.¡± ¡°......¡± Ban remained silent at Gerald¡¯s question. ¡°You like Leciel, right?¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°It seems my dull granddaughter hasn¡¯t realized that yet. If you don¡¯t win even once, she might find out. Hoho.¡± Who would¡¯ve thought the Sword Saint would resort to such a petty threat? Ban shuddered as he recalled her personality, which differed entirely from Leciel¡¯s despite their simr appearances. Would Leciel be like that when she got older? ...Maybe it would be a bit cute. ¡°You were gasping for breath, and now you¡¯re smiling. Why?¡± Gerald shook his head. Starting with Ban, the other children began to gather. Their only pleasure was chatting in the lounge for about an hour after gruelling training. Leciel, Evergreen, and Karen, who had been learning alchemy, joined in, and Nyhill was already dozing off in a corner. ¡°But where¡¯s Luke?¡± ¡°Right. He¡¯s not here. That¡¯s strange.¡± ¡°Maybe he went in early? I saw him getting a pretty intense scolding from Larze earlier.¡± ¡°No way. Not with Evergreen here.¡± Usually, Luke would cling to Evergreen,menting the time apart due to training, but this was unusual. However, the mystery didn¡¯tst long. Creak¡ª The lounge door opened, and Luke walked in. ¡°......?¡± But the children were even more puzzled when they saw him. He was precariously carrying a mountain of papers. Thunk¡ª Moreover, the stack of papers ced among them was nk. The children, thinking they might be some kind of notice, tilted their heads even more. ¡°¡­What¡¯s this?¡± Before answering, Luke began distributing pens to the children, acting unusually polite and careful for his usually rough demeanor. ¡°Ah.¡± ¡­By then, the children had a good idea of the purpose of the papers and fell silent. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s time to write.¡± Not many immediately picked up their pens. They quietly exchanged nces and stared at the papers for a long time before finally picking up their pens. Aside from the current passengers, no one knew they were on the Avalon. Not even their closest family and friends. They probably didn¡¯t even know that humanity was on the brink of extinction with the impending arrival of the Demon King. If things went wrong, these letters would be delivered to them. Therefore, these letters would convey theirst words to their loved ones, who would face sudden loss and despair. Scratch¡ª Pens moved, aiming to fully encapste their existence, love, and responsibility in their wills. * * * Time flew by, and the departure day of the Avalon was imminent. However, there was an operation team that needed to move ahead of them. ¡°General.¡± In the heavy atmosphere of themunication room, the Emperor, dressed in formal attire, stared intently at the flickeringmunication orb. On the other end was a veteran general who had devoted his life to the imperial family and humanity, kneeling and awaiting hermand. He was the grand general leading the hundreds of thousands of troops gathered near the great mountain range. He had sworn to charge into battle despite knowing their role was merely to buy time. Euphemia spoke. ¡°March forth. Fight bravely and lighten our burden.¡± ¡°I willy down my life to carry out yourmand.¡± It was the moment the final act of the Great War of Humans and Demons began. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 304: Chapter 304: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ General Royce nel gazed at the thousands of soldiers lined up before him. His unit was tasked with advancing from the northernmost edge of Operation Sector 17. Included in his forces were not only his original subordinates but also soldiers brought in by neighbouring lords. Over the past two days, they had quickly crossed the rugged Great Mountain Range and arrived at the entrance of the Demonic realm. By now, forces in other sectors would also face the Demonic realm after simr processes. ¡°That is the Demonic realm¡­¡± ¡°Finally¡­¡± The moment the scenery of the Demonic realm came into view, even the knights who had appearedposed couldn¡¯t stop their murmurs. Their eyes, filled with determination, fixed on the Demonic realm. In this era, humans were educated about their lifelong enemies, demons and monsters, from birth. As they grew, they lost friends, neighbors, and family to these foes and fought them in their own ways until they died and were buried. The Demonic realm was the source of most of the misfortune and disasters they faced in their lives. There was no one who wasn¡¯t shaken. Even the renowned General Royce, who had led countless battles, had nevere this close to the Demonic realm before. ¡®Just as expected.¡¯ Royce squinted his eyes, staring at the Demonic realm. He didn¡¯t feel as much of a chilling sensation as he anticipated, and the demonic clouds that had previously hindered visibility were long gone. Mutated nts and animals were hardly visible. Of course, there would be a few demons lurking inside, but with this force, it would be as if they didn¡¯t exist at all. They could break through the barriers and advance within half a day. ¡®The reason must be that all the demons have gone to the 50th sector.¡¯ The soldiers were burning with fighting spirit. ¡°It¡¯s finally our turn to attack.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for this moment for so long.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s shove our spears up the asses of those retreating bastards.¡± It was no wonder, as they believed the operation was to chase and deliver a decisive blow to the regrouping Demon King¡¯s army before they could fully reassemble. Hiss¡ª General Royce took out his pipe and lit it. He was the only one among the thousands of humans who knew the true nature of this operation. The weight of this knowledge weighed heavily on the old general¡¯s heart. ¡®It can¡¯t be helped.¡¯ The first stage of the Light Bringer n: Diversion. ¡®We have to be the bait.¡¯ They were not the main force in this battle. Their role was to lure out the defensive forces hidden deep within the Demonic realm as much as possible. ¡®And to hold out.¡¯ Their only task was to pave the way for the suicide squads. Even though they were considered elite, Royce knew. The deeper they went into the Demonic realm, the more they would face things that ¡®ordinary humans¡¯ could not possibly withstand. ¡®It will indeed be nothing but stalling for time.¡¯ ¡­Ordinary humans. General Royce savored the bitter taste of his pipe tobo as he mulled over the words. This term applied even to him, who had no magical aptitude and had to choose the military academy over Rosenstark. But he did not feel particrly resentful or regretful about being assigned the role of bait. ¡®Not everyone can be a protagonist.¡¯ Everyone has their own role to y. Besides, even if theyined about being treated like chess pieces, the suicide squads treated themselves the same way. No matter how he thought about it, their survival rate didn¡¯t seem likely to be higher than that of the diversionary forces. ¡®If we are pawns, they are queens.¡¯ Pawns sometimes survive until the endgame, but queens often die before then. As he recalled the faces of the heroes, a voice interrupted his thoughts. ¡°General, the signal has been confirmed. We have received the order to advance from the Grand General.¡± A middle-aged lord from a neighboring territory, recently incorporated as an adjutant, approached and whispered. He was quite an impressive-looking man. Despite his age, his body was sculpted and solid. The light in his eyes under his thick brows was intense but also warm and gentle. A well-worn bow dangled behind his back. Royce suddenly spoke. ¡°¡­I hear your daughter is a member of the Lotus Knights.¡± At the same time, an unmistakable pride and longing appeared on the face of the middle-aged man, who had been tensed with nervousness. ¡°Yes, she is.¡± ¡°You must be proud.¡± ¡°Hahaha, I sometimes wonder how I managed to have such a wonderful daughter.¡± Gazing quietly at the face of Lord Solintail, Royce raised hismand rod. ¡°¡­I wish luck to you and your daughter.¡± Mounted on his horse, Royce took the lead. The biting winter wind blew harshly. Everyone held their breath, waiting for hismand. ¡®Finally.¡¯ The old general took a deep breath. ¡®This will be myst battlefield.¡¯ Recalling the stench of all the battlefields he had experienced, he shouted. ¡°Charge!¡± The phnx advanced forward. * * * 48 hours before the teleportation. ¡°All forward units in the operation area have entered the demonic realm!¡± Before the report was even finished, Avalon¡¯s control room became twice as busy. Dozens of people ran between numerous holographic disys and control panels. ng! The sound of boots hitting the metal floor was loud. This marked the beginning of the first phase of Operation Light Bringer. It meant that within 48 hours, they, too, had to be ready to teleport to the 46th sector of the demonic realm. It was arge-scale teleportation magic to transport this massive hunk of metal and hundreds of passengers. There was a lot to prepare for. Dozens of eyes scanned the various pieces of information being updated. They were agents skilled in analysing and gathering information, specially selected by the Mother Ghost. ¡°Currently checking the environment of the target location, the 46th sector of the demonic realm! A strong demonic energy cloud is still forming, making it difficult to set urate coordinates.¡± ¡°However, the density is steadily decreasing! By the time we start the second phase of the operation...¡± ¡°By the time what! Just tell me the estimated sess rate.¡± ¡°It¡¯s 96%.¡± ¡°Good! Keep monitoring it.¡± Wuuuuuung¡ª! Larze and Izaro were focusing all their magic on one side of the control room. They continued their concentration with their eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to all themotion around them. Surrounding them were 30 magicians from the Magic Tower, also raising their magical power in the same posture. Zzztzztzztzzt¡ª A myriad of images shed through their minds. They were using their contracted familiars to thoroughly scan the demonic realm. All of them were magicians of at least the Maester level. Each could deploy at least ten familiars, and Larze handled as many as a hundred. Normally, the dense demonic energy would have made it impossible to operate the familiars, but fortunately, the concentration was low enough to allow for reconnaissance. ¡®...We need to confirm if the diversion has deceived the demon army and is advancing west.¡¯ The army¡¯s size, speed, and route were all crucial information. The uracy of the information could determine the survival of the western forces. ¡°Huh?¡± Chijijijik¡ª The images the magicians were viewing were broadcast live on the video panels. One of the agents watching clenched his fist and shouted, ¡°They¡¯re moving!¡± ¡°How many corps are there?¡± ¡°So far, we can visually confirm the 4th and 5th Corps!¡± ¡°The 6th and 7th Corps are also present!¡± ¡°It seems that, as expected, all corps except for Theo and Malekia''s are on the move!¡± A sigh of relief swept through the entire control room. If the enemy hadn¡¯t moved, the hero or Larze would have had to personally disrupt them through teleportation, even at the cost of reducing their own strength, so the sess of the first phase of the operation was a significant achievement. ¡°I¡¯ll disy the march route!¡± ck dots began to appear on the holographic map. The ten thousand demons slithered from the east like a ck fog, moving toward the west like a wave. The even more horrifying thought was that just as many demons would be densely packed near the 50th sector of the demonic realm. Kulk¡ª! asionally, some familiars were torn apart by the demons, causing the magicians to cough up blood. However, they had already prepared solutions for the internal injuries. The magicians, writhing in pain from the bacsh, rummaged through their robes and pulled out ¡®Arpheus¡¯s Elixir,¡¯ chewing it vigorously. ¡°Grr.¡± Instantly, the pained expressions disappeared. The rage from seeing their longtimerades brutally killed in Theo¡¯s assault, and even worse, reanimated as undead without being able to rest in peace, awakened theirtent potential. ...Thus, everyone in the control room exerted their utmost strength to prepare for the second phase of the operation. The martial artists were also not idle. ¡°Ahhhhh!¡± ¡°Extract more magic!¡± ¡°There¡¯s still 48 hours left until departure. You can pass out!¡± Therge-scale teleportation would consume all the stored mana stones and most of the energy sources they had diligently collected. To ensure Avalon¡¯s mana was sufficient for the subsequent battles, the martial artists took turns pouring everything they had into the power room. They were all at the point of losing their dignity, crawling on the floor. The former Sword Saint leaned against the wall with a pale face, and the Knights of the Dawn, unable to stand, sat down. Even Cuculli, who boasted nearly infinite mana, eventually copsed limply. Meanwhile, the engineers, having alreadypleted checks on the major facilities, focused on inspecting the ¡®secret weapons.¡¯ It was a project they had prepared for over three years. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ To prepare for the unpredictable battles in the demonic realm, the hero had ordered various measures in advance, and the engineers had executed them brilliantly. These were the so-calledst resorts. The engineers were sweating profusely in a space prepared in the lowest level of Avalon. ...And overseeing all these proceedings, the hero watched from the captain¡¯s quarters. He was resting as everyone was fully dedicated to preparing for the battle. There was no other choice. If he tried to do something, the others would stop him at all costs. ¡°...¡± The hero turned his head away from the screen and looked at the dimly lit captain¡¯s room. Someone, speaking in a strangely intriguing tone, spoke to him. [How do you feel? Do you think you can win?] ¡®It depends on the state in which he is summoned.¡¯ [Hmm... so the key is time.] The hero nodded. In 48 hours, they would arrive at the 46th sector of the demonic realm, and the operation would be a race against time. They needed to break through to the 50th sector before the demons sent west returned and before the Demon King could fully descend through the gathered demonic energy . The observation team had estimated roughly 72 hours until all the demonic energy was sucked into the 50th sector. [So, within 24 hours, you have to break through the 46th, 47th, 48th, and 49th sectors swarming with monsters and then capture the Demon King¡¯s castle.] ¡®That¡¯s right.¡¯ [It¡¯s a tight schedule.] ¡®I think we can manage up to that point.¡¯ The problemy beyond that. As the hero absentmindedly stared at the white ring on his finger, he reached out and tugged at the ne. Thebination of the two was the Peace of Gray. Unlike ck Hope or White Despair, no power could be felt from this. ¡®...Avoiding inevitable death.¡¯ [Are you afraid of death too?] The hero smiled bitterly. ¡®It¡¯s not wee.¡¯ The hero had a few advantages when facing powerful enemies, including the generals. One was that the enemy did not know about his existence and abilities, and the other was that he could challenge them after several practice runs using the avatar data in the Iris of Lace. However, unfortunately, he could not utilize either of these advantages this time. Thus, the hero had asked ???: ¡®I would appreciate it if you could share your battle experience with the Demon King.¡¯ Of course, he had witnessed them fighting in Zero¡¯s memories, but he hadn¡¯t seen it clearly because Zero had fled in a hurry. All he knew was that the aftermath of the battle caused the ruined city to crumble into dust from the shock and noise. [Hmm, how should I exin this?] ¡°...?¡± [No, just give it up. As merely a fragment of the original, I can¡¯t properly show you that experience, and even if I could, it wouldn¡¯t help.] This was an uncharacteristic attitude from someone who had been quite cooperative recently. The hero immediately asked: ¡®Why not?¡¯ [What do you think the power of demons fundamentally derives from?] The hero hesitated for a moment. Even for a doppelganger who couldprehend and replicate all beings, demons were a challenging existence. ¡®Because they can¡¯t be replicated.¡¯ Strangely, the doppelganger could only replicate beings from ¡°this world.¡± It couldn¡¯t replicate Maktania, spirits, monsters, or demons. There were special cases, like being able to use part of Enoch¡¯s power, ¡°Despair,¡± after consuming him in the imaginary world, but typically, demons were beyond the doppelganger¡¯s reach. This was likely the case for ??? as well. [Yol¡¯s death, Theo¡¯s loss, Malekia¡¯s pain, Enoch¡¯s despair... they all have onemonality.] ¡®...Amonality?¡¯ [It¡¯s simple. It¡¯s the fear humans harbor... it¡¯s fear. And fear is often described as the unfulfilled desire.] The unfulfilled desire to continue living. The unfulfilled desire to stop time from fleeting away. The unfulfilled desire to maintain a state of peace and freedom from pain. The unfulfilled desire to escape painful reality and achieve sweet dreams. It was easy to understand. As the hero nodded, ??? continued: [The more universal the fear, the more powerful the demon possessing that power is. It¡¯s difficult to resist.] ¡®I know.¡¯ But there are always exceptions. Demons had been hunted down by those who overcame these universal fears. [Now, what do you think the power of the Demon King, who stands above all these fears, might be?] His supernatural body, extreme physical strength, and power made the other generals seem like child¡¯s y. What other unique power did he possess? The hero¡¯s eyebrows trembled slightly as he thought. ¡®Don¡¯t tell me...¡¯ [That¡¯s right. If that power manifests, you will meet the most miserable death, unable to resist. So there¡¯s no need to ept mybat experience.] ??? spoke in a somber tone. [What you need to focus on is ensuring that he descends to this world in a state where he can¡¯t use that power. In other words, you must capture the Demon King¡¯s castle within the given time. Only then can you conclude the battle with purely physicalbat, without his conceptual powers interfering. Understood?] ...The hero slowly nodded. ¡®Yes, that was the n from the beginning.¡¯ [Good, so don¡¯t waste your energy on unnecessary things and focus on how to deal with him using your abilities. He¡¯s a very tough opponent. Well, it might be easier than expected if your gathered forces reach the Demon King¡¯s castle with you.] ??? finished with a cheerful voice. However, the hero had one more question. ¡®Wait a moment.¡¯ [...Do you have another question?] ¡®Did Ted and you fall victim to the Demon King¡¯s power?¡¯ ??? was silent for a long time before answering. [Ted Redymer, I¡¯m not sure... But I...] His voice turned somber. [Yes, I was definitely a victim of that power.] * * * In the depths of the 50th sector of the demonic realm. Tap-tap. Tap-tap. Footsteps and the sound of a staff striking the ground created a strange harmony. Murky eyes watched the demonic energy being sucked into the 50th sector of the demonic realm. The highly concentrated demonic energy writhed as if alive and seemed as sharp as a de. The demonic energy rushed toward the Demon King¡¯s castle as if drawn by an invisible hand, then suddenly halted at the castle''s massive gates. Zztzztzztzzt¡ª And then, as if paying homage to the Demon King, the demonic energyid low to the ground before quickly being sucked into the castle. It was a pure evil energy wrung from countless souls. Rumble¡ª! The castle itself seemed to tremble with delight, glowing with a dark red light. Watching the endless procession of demonic energy , Theo murmured quietly and turned his head. ¡°It¡¯s time to prepare for our guests.¡± ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 305: Chapter 305: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ 24 Hours Before Teleportation. Theo closed his eyes and visualized a map of the Demonic realm in his mind. The Demonic realm was home to a vast array of demonic creatures, so diverse that even the demons themselves hadn''t fully mapped them all. Among these creatures were mole-like beings that fed on the soil contaminated with demonic energy. They were the deep underground patrollers whom Theo had subjugated and used as scouts. These unnoticed creatures were currently tracking the movements of the human army, mirroring their every move from underground. ''... These bugs are really kicking up a fuss.'' Elite troops. The defenses of the Demonic realm, left to face the humans who had fought against demons for a long time, were far too weak. The human army was pushing forward like a tidal wave, turning the entrance of the Demonic realm into a mess. Theo''s wrinkled face twisted into a sneer as he felt a surge of old, pent-up anger, a sense of liberation, and pleasure. ''They don''t even realize they''re just decoys and bait.'' At first, Theo thought the humans wereunching a full-scale attack and was ready to respond immediately. But something felt off. Although notable figures, including the hero, had appeared in various parts of the battlefield... ''They haven''t stepped intobat situations. Why? Speed is crucial.'' Even after the demons had arrived and started holding the front line, they didn''t take a direct role in the fight. Theo instinctively realized he had been deceived. ''They''re just soulless puppets.'' Thus, the humans were aiming for a diversion. Theo was certain. However, he couldn''t withdraw the troops he had sent. It would be troublesome if they reached deep into the Demonic realm unchallenged. There would also be problems if too many of the stakes were destroyed. Instead... "Everyone''s returned well." Theo had recalled all themanders back to the Demonic realm. Now, on both sides, only shell-like forces remained. It would likely just be a war of attrition for the next few days. It was safe to ignore it. "...We need to prepare for their real attack." Theo looked at themanders under hismand. Excluding the absent Third Corps Commander Malekia, there were four present. Fourth Corps Commander Meragon, Priest of Solitude. Fifth Corps Commander Astaon, Schr of Madness. Sixth Corps Commander Rakasa, Priest of Hatred. Seventh Corps Commander Linnes, Seductress of Lethality. Although they were wedpared to the ''Old Three,'' they were still the most powerful demons currently alive. He nned to use these remaining demons and his remaining forces to block the main attack. ''Soon.'' In a day, all the demonic energy in the Demonic realm, except for the core, would be drawn into the Demon King¡¯s Castle. And the humans had a few high-level magicians capable of teleportation. ''They''ll form a suicide squad ande via teleportation.'' Once the Demon King descended, all the battles would be meaningless. The humans would have no choice but to gamble on this final move. Theo chuckled and looked again at the Demon King''s Castle. The first stake driven into this world. The towering structure was enveloped in a dome-like, blood-red barrier. It looked like an egg. The red light was slowly, but surely, deepening in color as it absorbed the clouds of demonic energy gathering around it. The moment that barrier turns from crimson to pitch ck, the arcane ritual inscribed in the core of the Demon King¡¯s Castle will bepleted. Then, the dimensional passage blocked by the humans will be torn open, and the ruler of the demon world will descend upon thisnd. Theo shuddered in his emaciated body. ''Until then, we can enjoy a little fun with our guests.'' Suddenly, a painful, bubbling breath escaped his throat. He had recalled a recent humiliation. Although Theo had transcended many emotions over his long existence, that was something he could never forget. "Theo, it¡¯s time for your loss." Eyes filled with hatred and disdain. The beheading of his incarnation. The tremendous power he had obtained by absorbing Yol was over half gone. That hideous creature, pretending to be noble, with its ridiculous hypocrisy... ''They''ll pay the price for their arrogance.'' Breaking through to the Demon King¡¯s Castle? Nonsense. They will be swallowed by the Demonic realm and, in despair, witness the descent of the Demon King. Theo would make sure of it. "They''ll likely...e through Zone 46. Position troops nearby. Be ready to detect teleportation magic and strike all at once." * * * "The imperial forces have now breached the outskirts of the Demonic Realm and are engaging the 30th division." At the same time, in the captain''s room of Avalon, the voices of leaders from various groups echoed as the hero spoke calmly. "Therefore, by now, they must have noticed the existence of our strike team. There''s a high probability they expect us tounch a surprise attack using teleportation. They might have even figured out our operational location." The members in the captain''s room nodded quietly. "They''re likely thinking this is a golden opportunity. After all, they''ll be facing us, the core force, in the depths of the Demonic Realm, the most disadvantageous battlefield for humans. They might be in the mood to throw a party." However, the hero''s eyes remained cold and calm despite discussing the unfavourable situation. Noubelmag responded, "They''ll have prepared ambushes, traps... every possible countermeasure." Yussi also nodded and added, "They''ll have done everything to slow us down." They would have used every imaginable method to dy them. It was a clear disadvantage for those who needed to make a time-sensitive attack. "No matter what tricks they''ve set, can''t we just force our way through? We have Avalon." "The magic, firepower, and durability of Avalon aren''t infinite. If we push it too hard and Avalon breaks down early, we''ll have to traverse the Demonic Realm, where the demonic energy is exceptionally thick, with nothing but our bare bodies." Debates continued in the conference room. The hero, who had been silently listening, suddenly spoke up. "So, we''ll set a trap of our own." It was a trap that exploited a crucial w the enemy had overlooked. There was some opposition, concerned for the captain''s safety... but as usual, his opinion prevailed without exception. . . . The hero''s eyes gleamed. The meeting had ended, but a few remained behind. Noubelmag, Felson, and Zion stayed in the captain''s room without concern. Zion and Felson were casually discussing the terrain of the 46th sector of the Demon Realm in front of a holographic disy, while Noubelmag sat across the round table, gazing at him with deep contemtion. These three shared something inmon. Before his identity was revealed, they had formed fairly close rtionships, but after his true identity was exposed, they hadn''t had a proper conversation. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ [Is it because they didn''t express any particr resentment towards you?] The hero thought that this was likely true. Unlike some others who had immediately shown feelings of betrayal and hatred, these three had not expressed any such feelings. Even now, as they faced him, they remained calm in expression and demeanour. [If I clone them, I could figure out what they''re plotting.] ''I won''t.'' [Ugh...] It was at that moment that Noubelmag spoke, unexpectedly continuing the discussion. "There was a reason we kept the construction of Avalon a secret." "...If the existence of Avalon had been revealed, we wouldn''t have been able to carry out this operation." "They don''t know about it, right?" "They definitely don''t." The Hero could assert this confidently. For the past three years, they had gone to great lengths to conceal Avalon''s existence. They had begun initially constructing Avalon on the Ark precisely for security reasons. The demons closely monitored the movement of resources, especially strategic materials like mana stones and ores. In response, the Hero had smuggled theponents in the bundles of refugees entering the Ark. Some were genuine refugees indebted to them, while others were agents disguised as refugees. Like ants carrying food, they transported materials to construct Avalon between the branches of the Sanctuary and the Ark. These materials included fortification stones, artifacts from the First Era, and top-grade mana stones for powering devices. The essential materials, which were inevitably traceable, were transported directly by the Hero using Valber''s subspace. The greatest smuggler was born using the subspace, which could contain anything, even a doppelg?nger who could transform into anyone. The movement of personnel, including researchers, was disguised as efforts to improve security and living conditions within the Sanctuary. As a result, even the demons and coborators who meticulously monitored humanity''s movements did not anticipate the creation of Avalon. "They think we''ll fight as we usually do, unarmed. They¡¯ve grossly underestimated our firepower." Unaware of this fortress, where all magic and science have been concentrated, the key to this operation is to exploit that oversight as efficiently as possible. "Is that why you¡¯re being used as bait?" "Without enticing bait, we can''t draw them out all at once." If sessful, they could reach the Demon King¡¯s Castle much faster than nned. Noubelmag sighed briefly and muttered. "...This isn''t about imitation; it''s just resemnce." "It¡¯s about resemnce." "Is that so?" Hiss¡ª The pipe let out a puff of smoke. As their gazes met through the pale blue haze, the Hero realized that Noubelmag was about to get to the point. "Do you remember the day we first met, four years ago?" "Of course." The gloomy vige. The old artifacts from the water attribute. The shadow of the stakes. The old man sitting in front of his son¡¯s grave in the abandoned mine. A series of images quickly shed through the Hero''s mind. "His deceased son was struggling to fulfill his unfulfilled desires in this world." "......" "Doesn¡¯t that sound familiar?" Noubelmag looked directly at the Hero. "I just wanted to say that I understand you. How hard it must be to hold onto the wishes of the dead." "Noubelmag." "Well, in my case, I was digging myself into a hole by misunderstanding my son¡¯s request, but you and Nihil saved me." Noubelmagughed just as he had three years ago when the Hero remembered him. "If you have any guilt, let it go." It was at that moment that Felson and Zion, who had been conversing on the side of themand room, approached and sat beside him. Felson gently ced his prosthetic hand on the Hero''s shoulder. "I came because I also have something I want to say." "Felson." "To put it bluntly, I owe you a great debt." Felson looked at the Hero with his eyes, which resembled Ban¡¯s. There was no trace of hostility or betrayal in them. It was a surprising fact. "A debt?" "I''m talking about Van." "......" "After Jenny''s death, he was suffering endlessly. You were the one who pulled him out of that demonic energy. The boy who used to tremble whenever he held a sword is now the leader of the Lotus Knights, known as the Torch of Humanity. The Dietrich estate receives letters daily from people saved by Ban. Just recently, there was a letter from a boy who almost lost his mother." Felson ced his prosthetic hand on his chest and extended his other hand slowly forward, bowing his head respectfully. "Jenny must be so happy and proud from above. She always boasted that her son was a genius and would surpass both of us as swordsmen one day." "......" "And now, I stand with Ban in this final battle for humanity. It is the greatest honour and pride for the Dietrich family." "...I, too, am honoured to have known you and to have been able to teach Ban." The Hero sped Felson''s calloused hand. Zion, who had been watching the two with a gentle smile, spoke up. "Noubelmag, Felson, and I¡ªdo you know what the three of us have inmon?" "I do not." "Firstly, we were all endlessly foolish, gnawing away at ourselves and those dear to us." Zion¡¯s wrinkled eyes formed a crescent shape as she continued. ¡°Secondly, we were saved by you after being foolish.¡± ¡°Zion, I¡­¡± ¡°We cannot consider you a ¡®fake.¡¯¡± The Hero, who had been about to say something, fell silent. Noubelmag, Felson, and Zion¡¯s eyes were all on him. Zion spoke clearly. ¡°To Ted, you were arade who shared a dream, a child, and a disciple.¡± The Hero, usually confident in his eloquence, found himself unable to speak. ¡°You will seed.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°He knew it, and so do we.¡± * * * [Coordinate settingplete] [Magic power charge has reached 99%. Teleportation will be possible in 10 minutes.] Ten minutes before teleportation. A quiet silence filled the control room. While all the humans stepped away from the control panels and prepared for battle, Avalon''s internal voice began to report the situation instead. [Expected remaining magic power after teleportation: 47%] [Activating propulsion system] [Barrier activation in progress, current status: 100%] [Activating turret system, confirming all passengers'' magic connections] ... The sound of countless machines filled the air. Holographic screens flickered and changed rapidly. A man who had been watching this stood up alone and picked up the greatsword leaning against the wall. As everyone in the control room watched him, he said, ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll go ahead.¡± A brilliant light of teleportation magic enveloped him alone. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 306: Chapter 306: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ An intense pressure and a slight nausea emanated from deep within his insides. The Hero took a deep breath, trying to shake off the aftereffects of teleportation. Fortunately, the difort subsided quickly, thanks to his experience with the process. ¡°...Alright.¡±He clenched and unclenched his fists. His body was in good condition. Thanks to Izaro and Maktania¡¯s assistance with the mana, he had a decent amount left despite the long-distance travel. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived properly.¡± His dual-colored eyes scanned the surroundings meticulously. Even a small amount of demonic energy could distort the flow of existing magic, making teleportation potentially deadly. He had been worried that they might havended in the wrong ce, but fortunately, thendmarks matched the holographic map he had studied exhaustively. ¡°So, this is Sector 46...¡± The ruins of a civilization from three hundred years ago greeted him. Copsed and weathered buildings, surrounded by oddly-shaped weeds and vines,y strewn with rusted and broken items on the ground. [It¡¯s quiet, huh? I thought they¡¯de rushing at us as soon as we arrived.] ¡°We¡¯ll see if it stays quiet for another minute...¡± The Hero¡¯s hand gripped the hilt of his sword, ck Hope. [Heh, looks like they¡¯re stunned to see you appear alone.] Unlike him, ??? spoke with a sense of nostalgia. [It¡¯s quite a change.] ¡°What is?¡± [Sector 46 used to be the main city of the Holy Church. Its splendour and luxury were beyond imagination. The marble and goldid out on the streets... Ah, you might still find some gold if you look hard enough. It was a ce of unparalleled opulence.] Not just Sector 46, but the entire 40s were rich regions. The 50th Sector had once been the capital of the Magic Empire. [The Far East of the Eastern Continent was especially prosperous. Its climate, terrain, and resources... It was and blessed far more than the West, and flowing with milk and honey.] ¡°Too sweet, they didn¡¯t realize their teeth were rotting.¡± [Exactly.] The Hero had arrived at a za on one side of the city. His gaze fixed on a broken and weathered fountain. Instead of water, a ck, viscous liquid flowed within it, emanating a foul stench. Inside, finger-sized insects writhed. ¡°Even though the demonic energy has dissipated, the mutations remain.¡± ...He must avoid contact with anything here. Crack! As the Hero stomped his foot, the strange crimson moss-like life forms attempting to climb his boots were crushed. This was the first time he had ventured so deep into the Demonic realm. Thest ce he had searched for the ¡°Paradox¡± was the 43rd Sector a few years ago. Tap. As he ascended the tallest spire of a nearby building to survey the area, memories of that time came flooding back. ¡°The demonic energy was so thick.¡± Just standing there had drained a significant amount of his mana. The demons and monsters he encountered were twice as formidable as those in the Western Continent. An ordinary person, unable to manipte magic, wouldn¡¯tst a moment here. But now, the density of demonic energy in the 46th Sector seemed less than a tenth of what it had been in the 43rd Sector. [Of course. It¡¯s all being drawn over there.] At ??? ¡¯s words, the Hero turned his head eastward. Zzzzz. It was an extraordinary sight. In the direction of the 50th Sector, nothing could be seen. It was as if someone had poured dark red paint across a corner of andscape painting. Even focusing his magical senses, it was the same. The demonic energy, densely packed to an unprecedented degree, blocked all external views, interconnected like a living organism. A cold and eerie aura. The sum of human suffering over the centuries existed not far from here. ...The Hero squinted his eyes, trying to gauge the density, when ??? gave a short warning. [They¡¯reing.] ¡°Of course, they can¡¯t hold back for long.¡± Tap. Without hesitation, the Hero leapt from the top of the spire. Buzz. At the same time, he activated one of his ultimate skills, Heaven¡¯s Net. A supreme detection technique thatbined magic with highly advanced sensing capabilities. In an instant, information about every terrain feature and the monsters hiding within flooded his mind, as if seen from above. ???ughed in amusement. [There must be tens of thousands.] Monsters crawling out of the ground. Monsters flying from the tops of tall buildings and from the distant sky. Monsters lurking in the shadows of the ruins. The once silent surroundings were now filled with the horrible noises made by the monsters. The sound of damp, squelching footsteps and the cking of teeth filled the air. Though scattered in various locations, the monsters moved toward him as if they were one hive mind. ¡°They¡¯ve prepared quite the ambush.¡± It was like dropping a piece of sweet cake in the middle of an anthill. [How do you feel?] ¡°I feel relieved, actually.¡± [Relieved?] It would have been incredibly troublesome if we hadn¡¯te and lured them out first. ¡°I shudder to think what would have happened if all of them hadtched onto Avalon.¡± [Pretending to be bold. Can you hold out until the reinforcements arrive?] The Hero lifted the ck Hope. ¡°...Hold out?¡± Under the dull sky of the Demonic realm, a dark aura wrapped around the nearly meter-long ck sword. At the same time, a condensed Nova manifested. White lightning crackled around his entire body. His perception and thoughts elerated intensely, calcting the most appropriatebat methods for the situation. ¨‹ Replicating recorded individual: Ted Redymer... ¡ø ¨‹ Replicating recorded individual: Larze Gion... ¡ø ¨‹ Replicating recorded individual: Leciel Hiyashin... ¡ø ¨‹ Replicating recorded individual: Yussi Glendor... ¡ø ¡°Your jokes aren¡¯t even funny.¡± ¡®Come at me¡¯, the Hero¡¯s eyes glowed a bright blue. * * * Theo and Malekia knew that the human forces would arrive, but they couldn¡¯t leave the vicinity of the Demon King¡¯s Castle. They were the pirs of the descent ritual, responsible for controlling the immense amount of demonic energy pouring into the 50th Sector. No subordinatemanders could be entrusted with this task, nor did they want to share the glory of the descent. ¡®There¡¯s no need to share the credit for the descent.¡¯ Thus, only four subordinatemanders and their troops were present in the 46th Sector. Theo was inmand as always, so all situations were immediately reported to him. ¡°We¡¯ve detected teleportation magic!¡± As expected, such a report came, and Theo prepared to mobilize the ambushed forces. ¡®They¡¯re desperately clinging on.¡¯ It was a simple n. Time was on their side. They didn¡¯t need to win or annihte the enemy. They just needed to hold them back. However... ¡®What is this?¡¯ In an unforeseen situation, Theo hesitated to give orders. ¡®Why did only one persone?¡¯ He had been sure they would bring all theirrades up to the limit of teleportation capacity. It made sense; this was the decisive moment, the final battle. There was no need to hold back any power. But when the light of the teleportation faded, only one silhouette appeared. Theo quickly extended his demonic energy. ¡®Did the others head to a different area?¡¯ ...That wasn¡¯t it either. The only ce where teleportation magic waves were detected was in the 46th Sector. The conflicting situation led Theo to all sorts of spections. ¡®Could they have failed to cooperate due to differences?¡¯ Theo immediately shook his head. ...No. Even if humans were foolish, they wouldn¡¯t be so blind. ¡®Then is it a time-dyed attack?¡¯ ...That was the most usible guess. While the Hero held off the forces, the rest of the party would break through to the Demon King¡¯s Castle. A faint sneer formed on Theo¡¯s lips. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ ¡®Foolish. So foolish.¡¯ He almostughed. ¡®I overestimated humans.¡¯ Theo knew that some humans had grown strong enough to threaten even the demonmanders. But they weren¡¯t a threat to the Demon King. The only threat to the Demon King was the Hero. Therefore, Theo had predicted the battle would unfold as follows: The human forces would protect the Hero while advancing toward the Demon King¡¯s Castle. But instead, the Hero remained as bait while the others charged ahead? The advance to the Demon King¡¯s Castle might be easier, but... ¡®Do they think they can face the King alone?¡¯ ...It was pure arrogance. As Theo pondered, his eyes glinted coldly. ¡®Whatever the case, it¡¯s a favourable situation.¡¯ Theo had long noticed the Demon King¡¯s disdain for doppelganger. The haste for the descent was to avoid giving the enemy time. ¡®The only rival.¡¯ In other words, if they could inflict even a minor wound on the Hero, it would make it easier for the Demon King to deal with him after descending. Theo clenched his fist as if grasping something invisible. Losing his unique status and bing just anothermander was an opportunity he didn¡¯t want to miss. The demons¡¯ journey wouldn¡¯t end with conquering the human world. They would use the power gained here to conquer the heavens and other dimensions. The question of who would stay closest to the Demon King and grasp the sweetest fruit would depend on how they handled this defensive battle. Theo couldn¡¯t hesitate any longer. ¡°Ignore everything else. Focus all your power on him.¡± No matter how powerful the doppelganger was, its power was not infinite. ¡®Even when it fought against the King in the past, it was the one who got tired in the end.¡¯ They had ambushed tens of thousands of monsters. Byunching a mass assault, they were bound to weaken the enemy¡¯s strength. After giving the order to charge, Theo observed the battlefield through the eyes of his subordinate demons. As expected, within minutes, the Hero was buried under so many monsters that he was barely visible. All the monsters scattered near the expected arrival point converged around him. Boom! The Hero was unleashing sword auras and magical bombardments, cutting down dozens at a time. However, overall, it was just a minor loss. Theo watched this with amusement. ¡°First, we¡¯ll grind down the lesser demons and monsters, and then we¡¯ll deploy the higher demons andmanders.¡± It didn¡¯t matter if the reinforcements appearedter. As long as the Hero was held back, they couldn¡¯t significantly impact the battle¡¯s oue. Even if they realized something was wrong and tried to rescue the Hero, they would have already suffered losses in time and strength. Theo smiled as he watched the wall of monsters surrounding the Hero. Itsted until he felt an immense magical presence above the 46th Sector. Theo¡¯s expression twisted into a quiver. ¡°Teleportation?¡± Could it be the reinforcements arrivingte? Theo looked at the sky, where the mana was swirling. Whoosh! It was indeed the magical trace that followedrge-scale teleportation. However... ¡°What on earth ising through?¡± It wasn¡¯t the presence of humans. Theo faintly ¡°sensed¡± something crossing the space and opened his mouth. ¡°Disperse....¡± Therge-scale teleportationpleted at that moment. An intense light shone from the sky of the Demonic realm, prating even closed eyelids. The monsters on the ground temporarily lost their sight. In the ensuing darkness, the sound of metal shing and the low hum of machinery reverberated, causing the ground to tremble. ¡°What is that...?¡± The mobile fortress Avalon loomed over the battlefield like a colossal metal monster. Vreeee! The sight of Avalon¡¯s main cannons all opening was truly magnificent. As the metal petals blossomed, the sparks from the nearly charged magic energy cores scattered like pollen. Theo shouted at the top of his lungs from the distant Demon King¡¯s Castle, knowing his voice wouldn¡¯t reach. ¡°Disperse!¡± * * * [All main cannon energy charged] [Avalon¡¯s remaining mana: 12%] [Stability check in progress] [Excessive mana input. Overload risk increased] [Cooling system activated] [Safety devices disengaged] [Target coordinates being set] [Target locked... adjusting all cannons towards ¡®Ted Redymer¡¯] This attack was impossible under normal circumstances. No one would stand still, knowing the enemy was preparing a terrifying strike. Moreover, charging the energy cores of the main cannons to the brink of explosion took time, giving the enemy plenty of time to retreat. But this time, an exception had been made. They could create such a situation ¡°forcefully.¡± The state of charging the magic to the critical point during the teleportation. A trump card that could only be used during the unexpected first appearance. If the target were human, their concentration would break during teleportation, making this method impossible. But Avalon was an inanimate object made of steel. Thanks to several ovepping conditions, this special... all-out bombardment could be unleashed in mere seconds. [Insufficient mana!] [Reducing the output of the lift propulsion system] Almost all systems except the attack modules were already off, and Avalon began to sink to the ground slowly. ¡°Hold tight!¡± ¡°Aim carefully!¡± ¡°Stay focused! After the first barrage, we need to clean up the rest!¡± ¡°Will the professor be okay?¡± The passengers shouted variousmands as they held onto the controls. Rumble... The fortress trembled with an incredible vibration. Overload warning lights shed everywhere. Ear-piercing rm sounds. The inside of the vessel heated up like an oven from the excessive use of magic. And finally... The emperor¡¯s calm voice, who had takenmand in ce of the captain, resonated throughout the ship. ¡°Fire.¡± * * * He looked up. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as if time had stopped. The massive shadow of Avalon cast over the ground. Hundreds of cannons revealed themselves. The tremendous power gathered at their tips. Every movement was meticulously coordinated. The air around trembled. The main cannon at Avalon¡¯s front focused such immense firepower that even the doppelganger couldn¡¯t hope to withstand it. ??? whispered. [If you take a direct hit, there won¡¯t be even dust left. Even the doppelganger¡¯s regeneration can¡¯t handle that.] ¡®...So I mustn¡¯t get hit.¡¯ The Hero ran. He grabbed a fleeing demon by the back of the neck and lifted him. As the demon¡¯s face contorted with confusion and fear¡ª ¡®Now.¡¯ ¨‹ Activation of Salvation Ritual Form 4: Ster Lift. ¡ø The Hero¡¯s figure disappeared into a rift in the dimension with the demon in tow. Boom! Half of the monsters in the 46th Sector were wiped out immediately after. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 307: Chapter 307: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ ¨‹ The Fourth Salvation ritual: Discontinuation of Ste Lift. ¡ø The hero, who had effortlessly severed the neck of the demon dragged into subspace, timed his return to reality perfectly. The first thing that greeted him was the sound of his boots sizzling against the ground. Quickly, the hero enveloped himself in magic. [What a mess.] He agreed with ??? ¡¯s sentiment. For years, he had gathered mana stones, melted them all down, and injected that energy into a magic circuit from the First Era, renowned for its unparalleled efficiency. He then processed it into the form of a shell and fired it all at once. As a result, a massive destruction urred that couldn¡¯t be replicated by any other means. Sizzling¡ª! As if gouged out by a gigantic beast, a vast crater remained on the ground. Even hundreds of meters away, mes continued to consume nearby mmable materials, and the remaining buildings gradually melted in the ze. Ash scattered in the air. If it were a human, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to breathe, fearing the heat would burn their lungs. ??? muttered in low admiration. [Wow, even thergest monsters didn¡¯t leave a single bone behind.] ¡®It would have been impossible for those with physical bodies to withstand.¡¯ [Are the generals okay? They must¡¯ve at least lost a limb or two.] ¡®Not sure¡­.¡¯ The generals had been observing from behind while sending their subordinates forward. They were likely far enough from the epicenter to avoid serious harm. [Check with your senses.] ¡®Not now.¡¯ The recent bombardment had made the mana in the atmosphere wildly unstable. Even the hero, with his excellent control over mana, found it impossible to conduct a wide-range sensory check at that moment. Thus, the hero wasted no time in drawing the ck Hope. ¡®Let¡¯s regroup for now.¡¯ ¨‹ ck Hope¡¯s Unique Ability: Domain Activated. ¡ø The target of the gravity-like force was Avalon, which hadnded hundreds of meters away. The moment the Domain was activated, the hero shot through the air like iron filings attracted to a powerful ma. Thud¡ª! Hended on the deck, rolling once before the hatch opened. He swiftly entered with fluid movements. Voices and noises immediately flooded his ears. ¡°Hurry up!¡± ¡°We need to restore it as quickly as possible!¡± ¡°Did you send all the magicians to the power room?¡± ¡°What about the herb stock? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s already out!¡± It was time for the technicians to shine. They were running around, sweating profusely, to maintain Avalon¡¯s systems, which were overloaded from excessive operation. ¡°The cooling system keeps shutting down!¡± ¡°Attach two ice magicians for now!¡± ¡°Quickly!¡± Beep-beep-beep¡ª Red warning lights shed. The corridor was chaotic with warning sounds and the rumbling of the floor. The hero grabbed a passing technician and asked quickly. ¡°How long until we can move?¡± ¡°F-ground movement should take about ten minutes.¡± Avalon, this steel behemoth, could astonishingly move, befitting its ssification as a mobile fortress. It was a product of countless studies, various magical enchantments, and the legacies of First Era technology. [It¡¯s hard to believe this thing can move; I hope it doesn¡¯t break down midway.] ¡®Let¡¯s hope not.¡¯ Traditional wheels couldn¡¯t support Avalon due to its immense weight. Therefore, the techniciansbinedplex machinery with magical elements to create something resembling a caterpir track. They ced wheels within the looped track and enchanted everyponent with micro-levitation magic, weight-reduction magic, friction-reducing magic, self-repair magic, and more, allowing the fortress to generate powerful propulsion despite its massive weight. ¡®So it can navigate through harsh terrains like a demon realm.¡¯ Additionally, though it couldn¡¯t sustain it for long periods, Avalon even installed a flight mechanism. However, whether moving through the sky or onnd, it required a significant amount of mana to operate. ??? grumbled. [So, we¡¯re stuck here defending ourselves until we regain at least minimal mana reserves.] ¡®Better than facing endless attrition against tens of thousands of monsters for hours.¡¯ [Who¡¯s arguing?] Thud¡ª It was then that Euphemia, escorted by the Mother Ghost, approached the hero. Though she appeared to maintain a semnce ofposure, a slight relief was visible in her eyes. She brushed the soot off the hero¡¯s coat with a light touch. ¡°...We weren¡¯t toote.¡± ¡°You too.¡± The hero pretended not to notice the tremor in the emperor¡¯s hand. Though she was called the Iron-Blooded Emperor, it had been over ten years since she had personally been on the battlefield. Given what was at stake in this battle, she must have felt especially anxious as the emperor. ??? chuckled. [She¡¯s brave, I¡¯ll give her that. Despite herck of strength, she still thought about joining the suicide squad.] There had been considerable debate over the emperor boarding Avalon. However, Euphemia insisted strongly until everyone conceded. ¡°If this operation fails, humanity has no future. My life is no longer worth discussing.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, please reconsider.¡± ¡°Reconsider? Listen well, everyone. I have the right.¡± No one could refute what she said next. ¡°To stand at the watershed where we see if my friend¡¯s lifelong dream will be realized or crumble!¡± Moreover, the emperor could practically contribute to Avalon¡¯s power. Although Euphemia herself wasn¡¯t as strong as an ordinary knight... ¡®The royal family possesses a treasured artifact passed down for generations.¡¯ The first emperor, who was close friends with Zero, had received a treasured artifact as a gift. Only those with royal blood could use it, making Euphemia the sole current user. With it, she could at least protect herself. Thus, for various reasons, the emperor had joined this perilous mission. [It seems effective in boosting morale.] While ??? muttered something, Euphemia gently took the hero¡¯s wrist. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the control room. I¡¯ll brief you on the situation along the way.¡± * * * The Heros prepared for battle while the technicians checked the fortress and the magicians replenished the power. The children sat in their assigned control seats, gulping nervously. Wearingrge goggles linked to external image orbs and gripping the turret controls tightly, they looked somewhat ridiculous, but no one had the nerve tough in such a tense moment. Even the seasoned knights of the Dawn Order were sweating. They had experience facing tens of thousands of monsters before, but back then, they had at least thousands of allied troops with them. Now, they had to hold out in a steel fortress with no ce to run, making the situation particrly special. ¡°They¡¯reing.¡± A screeching sound announced the approach of the monsters outside the bombardment range. The vanguard monsters screamed as they approached the still-burning mes but pressed forward regardless. They came in various sizes and shapes, the onlymonality being their grotesque appearances. As they relentlessly advanced, they swung multiple limbs, sharp ws, and tentacles. Gerald muttered a curse under his breath. ¡°Crazy bastards¡­.¡± The demons were in a desperate situation too. The unexpected appearance of Avalon and the overwhelming strength of the suicide squad far exceeded their expectations. If Avalon reached sector 50 with its current state and passengers intact, even Theo and Malekia would struggle to hold out. They had to do something to hinder them, either by destroying the mobile fortress or reducing the number of passengers. It was a do-or-die situation. Sweat dripped down the children¡¯s faces, the heat inside and the tension of the impending battle stifling their breaths. Just as their breathing grew heavy... ¡°We have enough firepower.¡± A familiar voice rang out. ¡°The primary goal now is to avoid being surrounded before the mobile fortress starts moving. We only need to hold out for ten minutes.¡± ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ His instructions were clear and confident, as if he already knew the oue. His voice, calm andposed, helped steady their racing hearts. ¡°First, target the flying monsters. They¡¯re just as desperate as we are. Look, their formation is breaking, with the flying monsters moving ahead of the ground forces.¡± Listening to the hero¡¯s voice, the crew in the control room focused on the screens. Indeed, as the monsters struggled to advance over the burning ground, the flying creatures were noticeably moving ahead. ¡°When they get within range, Cuculli and her subordinates should release as much cold as possible onto the ground.¡± Cuculli, her brother Waldif, and the northerners nodded. Avalon¡¯s turrets amplified the caster¡¯s magical attributes, making theirbined powerparable to a dragon¡¯s breath. ¡°As a result, a massive amount of steam will rise, obscuring the enemy¡¯s vision.¡± The hero''s voice remained calm even with the flying monsters just 30 seconds away from entering range. ¡°At that moment, everyone else fires the turrets simultaneously to create a barrage in the sky. Those who wield wind attributes should aim at the ground to form a wall of fire.¡± This was to dy the ground monsters¡¯ advance as much as possible. The fairy Heros and Evergreen nodded in agreement. It was a critical situation. Even if the n wasn¡¯t perfect, themander had to act as if it was. That was the duty of amander. Euphemia¡¯s gaze was fixed on the side of the hero¡¯s face as he spoke, an expression of admiration evident. Lastly, the hero gave a final reminder. ¡°We must consider the possibility of damage to the hull.¡± Due to theck of mana, most barriers had been neutralized. If those creatures managed to cling to the deck, the main guns and turrets responsible for Avalon¡¯s firepower could easily be destroyed. ¡°If by any chance, they break through the barrage and get onto the deck¡­.¡± There was no need to finish the sentence. A passage was leading directly outside from one side of the control room. The martial artists would have to step in and eliminate the intruders. Seeing the resolute expressions on their faces, the Hero nodded lightly. ¡°Then, Cuculli.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Cuculli responded energetically. Although she was always smiling, the corner of her mouth visible under her goggles was set firmly today. In the brief moment, she waited for orders, Screeeeech-! A faint, eerie sound echoed in the control room, piercing through Avalon¡¯s steel tes. ¡®They¡¯re close!¡¯ The hands gripping the control sticks tensed. ¡°Fire.¡± Ziiing-! A pale blue magic bullet was fired. The ice magic shot through the air, hitting the burning ground directly. Itnded just below the lead of the flying monsters. Crackling-! Fire and ice collided violently, spreading a cacophony of noise. Boom-! Simultaneously, a massive column of steam rose. The hot steam swelled at an incredible speed, engulfing the creatures. Like volcanic ash erupting and covering the sky, all surrounding visibility was engulfed in white mist. Though Avalon¡¯s own visibility was obscured, it didn¡¯t matter. The sky was already so filled with monsters that there was no need to aim precisely. The Hero raised his voice. ¡°Fire!¡± ¡°Fire!¡± Everyone in the control room echoed, pulling the triggers. The mana within their bodies traveled through Avalon¡¯s circuits and was fired from the turrets. Ratatatatatat-! Avalon''s steel walls and floor vibrated, and a deafening roar tore through their ears. Different types of magic filled the dark sky of the magical realm. ¡°Fire!¡± ¡°Fiiireee!¡± Screeeeech-! ck rain fell incessantly beneath the white mist. It was the dark blood of the monsters. As the Hero counted their numbers, he suddenly roared like thunder. ¡°Target the enemies on the ground!¡± nk- The turrets adjusted their angles and continued firing magic bullets. Despite the considerable consumption of mana, the crew¡¯s expressions gradually brightened. The experience of boarding a steel fortress and sweeping away monsters with advanced technology they had never seen before was honestly quite exhrating. ¡°Aim at the sky again!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The monsters struggled to approach. Thanks to the first massive bombardment, their formation had been shattered. As the crew sighed in relief, the Hero suddenly raised his voice. ¡°Avalon! Deploy the barrier!¡± [Insufficient mana!] [Deploying minimal barrier¡­] But the mechanical voice was drowned out halfway by a piercing screech. While everyone was confused, wondering what was happening, Thud-! A small sound was heard. Normally, it would be inaudible amid the bombardment¡¯s roar. However, those instinctively sensing the outside presence caught something. ¡°They broke through the barrage?¡± ¡­Something was on the deck. Feeling chills running down his spine, the Hero hurriedly switched the screen. Crackle- As the steam surrounding ¡®it¡¯ thinned and its form became visible, someone in the control room gasped. ¡°Seductress¡­.¡± The Seventh Legion Commander of the Demon King¡¯s Army, Linness the Deadly Seductress. Also known as the Demon of Betrayal. Her distinctive appearance made her unmistakable. Linness, with the form of a winged woman, was an incredibly beautiful being, almost unbelievable for a demon. In an instant, the gaze of those with rtively weak mana was naturally drawn to her. Under the sky reddened by the bombardment, her skin shone white and smooth like moonlight. Long, glossy ck hair draped over her shoulders and waist. Infinite allure resided in her deep eyes like the abyss. ¡°Ahaahahaha!¡± Her crimson lips, vivid like red roses, parted as she let out a bewitchingugh. Simultaneously, some of the magic bullets being fired into the air twisted and collided mid-air. The barrage was broken as other bullets were intercepted. Taking advantage of this gap, the flying monsters swarmed toward Avalon. ¡­Even though she was a lower-rankingmander, she was still amander. Her powerful demonic energy pierced through Avalon¡¯s thick armor and pricked the passengers¡¯ skin. The first to rise from the control seat, oveing the shock, was¡ª ¡°I will handle her personally.¡± It was Gerald. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 308: Chapter 308: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Linness, the seductress, was a rtively recent demon who had made her presence known on the front lines. Together with her n, each boasting exceptional beauty, she would approach humans, charm them, and turn them into coborators to extract information. The guilt and betrayal felt by those who had abandoned humanity for mere lust became Linness¡¯s sustenance, allowing her to ascend swiftly to the rank of legionmander. Despite everything, sending Gerald, who would lose his mind at the sight of a skirt, to face Linness was absurd. "Get a grip!"Thwack-! Gerald''s father, Rnd Bryce, put an end to Gerald''s support for Linness''s subjugation by smacking him on the back of the head. At that moment, Gerald, already half-bewitched, groaned and snapped out of his trance. Screeeeech-! A sound like metal scraping against ss echoed through the air. [Warning!] [Barrier output has decreased to dangerous levels.] [Immediate action required.] Linness''s hair and ws dug into the deck, stained with demonic energy. Even the scales on the tips of her wings, which resembled those of a bat, made terrifying noises as they shot out in all directions. ng-! Amid the constant nging of metal, Thud-! Adding insult to injury, flying demons began tond on the deck. Having pierced through the bombardment, each one was formidable. Just as the hero gripped his sword and prepared to rush out, "Let us go!" "Professor, stay inside!" Some of the crew, led by the Lotus Knights, dashed toward the passageway. They seemed to have an order amongst themselves. Most of the children followed, except for Cuculli, who had to keep emitting cold air. Yussi was among them. Lastly, Karen, riding Rune Wolf and Shadow, shouted as she charged ahead. "Leave the small fry to us!" While the hero was still dumbfounded, Euphemia curtly remarked, "You are supposed to face the Demon King." "But¡­!" "No one will let you fight. If anything happens to you before the battle against the Demon King, it will haunt us for the rest of our lives." Linness was the only legionmander who had shown up. No one knew what the others were plotting or where they were hiding, waiting for the hero to appear. The demons'' primary target was always the hero. However, before making a rational judgment, the hero was swept by worry and anxiety over the fact that the children had ventured into the perilous exterior to face a legionmander. [You raised them for this, and now you act like a nanny?] As the hero''s hand gripped the ck sword tighter, Euphemia''s hand covered his. "Think logically. Even if half the passengers die, the mission seeds if you reach the 50th sector safely." "I¡­" "You are exhausted from the diversion tactics. For now, rest." Her argument was so rational that it left no room for rebuttal. The hero''s grip loosened. [If you want to help, sit down and take the controls. More areing.] As ??? had said, more demons were indeed approaching. It was a genuinely hair-raising sight. If they had not managed to take out half of them in the first bombardment... [If everything had gone ording to the demons'' n, you might not have reached the 50th sector before the ritual waspleted.] The hero sat in a vacated control seat and took hold of the controls. Heat, almost like warmth, emanated from the palm of his hand. He could feel how desperately they had fought. ¡­A low, deep resonance echoed in his ears at that moment. Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-! The heavy, rhythmic vibration felt like a giant heart slowly beating. The crew members'' faces lit up with hope. [Mana required for activation secured.] [Infinite track is functioning normally.] [Due to the high ground temperature and uneven terrain, travel may be somewhat rough.] [Adjusting suspension system!] Theponents of the infinite track slowly began to move. Thus, the pursuit to the Demon King''s castle in the 50th sector had begun. * * * Thud-thud-thud-! Avalon moved. The children looked at the rampaging Linness beyond the shaking deck. "Watch out for her hair!" Her hair shot out like wires at the approaching crew. Each strand had a hardness surpassing steel and could extend and contract at will. As her hair coiled around her, Linness looked as if she were wrapped in a ck cocoon. ng-! Sparks flew as the barrier around the deck shed with her hair, unable to hold out for long. At that moment... "Prettydy... hehe." "Evergreen! Snap out of it!" Luke grabbed Evergreen by the shoulder as she was trudging towards the area where the hair was swinging. A few more steps and the hair would have mercilessly cut her. The charm seemed to work regardless of gender. "Huh... huh?" Evergreen¡¯s face turned pale as she saw the hair swishing before her eyes. Luke, looking down, hurriedly pulled her away. "Don''t look directly!" As Linness''s power intensified, even just looking at her could enchant them. For archers like Evergreen and Karen, it was an absurd situation. They had to check their target to attack. "Come here." But simply avoiding eye contact was not enough. A voice filled with endless allure echoed through the air. Luke fought the overwhelming desire to drop his sword and run to Linness. ''Damn, she''s tricky.'' It would have been much easier if she were a legionmander with just physical solid power. They could have overwhelmed her with abined assault. However, Linness was a type of demon that couldn''t be taken down by brute force. ''She''s specialized in stalling.'' The match-up was unfavourable. Linness moved around the deck lined with turrets like an actor on stage. Chasing after her and striking was impossible since they couldn¡¯t look directly at her, and using area-of-effect attacks would be self-destructive. While Linness wasn''t very destructive, she wasn''t aiming to harm the children in the first ce. ng-! The barrier''s durability was steadily decreasing. ''We need to hurry!'' To make matters worse, flying demons and ground demons were closing in. An uncountable number of them. Those demons would eventually get on deck if they didn¡¯t quickly deal with Linness and return to the turrets. ''We can¡¯t let that happen so soon.'' ¡­It was then. "Just focus on Linness!" Yussi, wearing her Alchemy Gloves, approached the edge of the deck. The demons kicked up dust as they charged, now only 100 meters away. They were closing in. Despite Avalon moving at top speed, it was slower than a carriage due to its bulk. Yussi watched the pursuing demons and suddenly raised her arms to the sky. ¡­Some of the leading demons recognized Yussi and gasped. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ "Massacrer!!" "It''s the mass murderer!" Swoosh- The shells continuously exploding in the sky had her Alchemy Gloves absorbed their residual magicpletely. The silver gloves, absorbing mana of different natures, began to glow. "You pesky little bugs!" Yussi''s eyes shone with a multicoloured aurora. "Die!" Boom-! A massive explosion erupted from the Alchemy Gloves'' emitter. The wave of fused mana surged towards the rear of Avalon. The demons hastily erected defensive barriers with their demonic energy, but it was futile. Thebined attack pierced through any form of defense, exploiting their vulnerabilities. Screeech-! The vanguard of the pursuing demons was swept away. The momentum of the flying demons also slightly diminished. Evergreen and Karen, who thought they couldn¡¯t help in dealing with Linness, focused solely on intercepting the demons. Swoosh-! Numerous magical arrows added to the firepower of the barrage. It had little effect despite the mesmerizing appearance of Linness''s minions trying to charm them. "We''re already immune to pretty faces!" Shadow also dashed across the deck, biting and tearing at the demons. ¡­Thanks to them, they gained a little more time. Luke took a deep breath and sought a way to tackle Linness. The hero always said there was a way to conquer any formidable foe, and if one remained calm and assessed the situation, strategic approaches would be possible. ''You get charmed just by looking. Making eye contact makes it even stronger. How on earth...'' Clunk- Luke''s awareness reached the shield strapped to his back at that moment. It was a relic from Deindart, who had died a heroic death, holding the line until hisrades could retreat during a disadvantageous mission. Although once a rival, Deindart was a man worthy of respect. Luke never neglected to maintain the shield, which now reflected the surroundings clearly like a mirror. ¡­This was it. Luke raised his voice. "Ban, shield!" They had been in sync for three years. With just those words, Ban understood Luke¡¯s n immediately. Nodding lightly, Ban suddenly charged forward like a rhino. Even Linness was surprised by his aggressive advance. Hundreds of strands of hair soon surrounded Ban. His gaze remained fixed on the ground. However, with his ultimate skill, Celestial Net, and Perfect Stance activated, he could hold Linness off momentarily. ng-! Ban''s sword moved imperceptibly, cutting down all the hair, ws, and scales targeting him. At the same time, Luke silently moved to the opposite side, minimizing his presence. With his back to Linness, he took one step, then another, approaching her quietly. His friends seemed to understand his intent, attacking Linness to distract her. At the moment, his heart pounded wildly, and Linness''s reflection appeared on the shield''s surface. Luke clenched his fist. ''Alright, the charm effect is lessened.'' Though his head felt a bit foggy, it wasn''t enough to hinder his swordsmanship. Luke continued to approach, keeping his eyes on her reflection in the shield. Just as Ban intentionally staggered and allowed a few attacks to distract Linness, Luke struck like lightning. Empowered by the Chaos Bloom, his strike was as fast as a sh of dark light. "Ahhhh!!!" "Damn it!" The attack hit its mark, but Linness sensed it at thest moment and moved, causing the strike tond on her face instead of her neck. ''...Damn!'' The beautiful face was now obscured by spurting ck blood. Linness screamed, covering her face with both hands. "Ahhhh!" Hearing the scream up close, Luke''s body froze. At the same time, the attacks that had been directed at Ban now turned towards Luke. He was ready to sacrifice a limb or two. ''In exchange, I''ll take your neck.'' He explosively increased the portion of power from Ravias¡¯s cultivation method within the Chaos Bloom. Luke''s eyes turned blood red, filled with madness that stripped away the enchantment. He could deliver a precise strike even under the pain of being shed by the hair. ''It''s worth the price to take down a legionmander.'' Luke looked Linness straight in the eyes for the first time and swung his sword. ¡­Or at least, he tried to. Crash- Luke stared nkly at the spearhead piercing Linness''s head and protruding from her mouth. Slowly, Linness fell forward. Gerald, with his eyes closed, twisted and pulled out the spear. Swoosh- ck blood gushed out like a fountain. Even for a demon with strong vitality, this was a fatal wound. "You..." "Phew, I''m d I hit the right spot." Gerald, opening his eyes and grinning, revealed a confident smile. But Luke noticed his thigh was stained red with blood. Gerald must have stabbed himself to resist the charm. Drip- Blood trickled down his pant leg. ''...Impressive.'' Luke honestly admired him. Who would have thought that Gerald, known for being weak against women, would y a crucial role against a charm-wielding legionmander? Oveing his weakness through sheer willpower, he had acted impressively. "See, Karen, you''re the only one for me." "...Go clean your wound." Perhaps that was why Karen, for the first time in four years, didn''t coldly dismiss Gerald. As they chatted, Ban and the others gathered around, tidying up the area. "Ha, we barely got her. Even a bottom-rung legionmander is tough." "We''ve dealt with all the demons on the deck." "Let''s get inside quickly. We need to control the turrets." "Right, but..." Karen, rubbing her sore shoulder from drawing her bow, tilted her head. "Where''s Leciel? She came out with us earlier." "Yeah? Where did she go?" At that moment, Whoosh- Thud! Something flew from the ground, rolling across the deck. The kids'' expressions turned curious. "It''s a demon''s head... it seems." Soon after, Leciel, looking somewhat tired, jumped onto the deck, apanied by Mother Ghost. Mother Ghost told the curious children about the head rolling at their feet. "It''s the 6th legionmander, Rakasa." "......?" "He was nking us with elite subordinates for an ambush." "...And?" "I asked for help, and Leciel cut him down." A contented smile spread across someone''s face as they watched this unfold. It was a moment worth remembering. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 309: Chapter 309: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Operation: Four Hours After the Commencement of Light Bringer Avalon entered the next zone, the Demonic realm¡¯s 47th sector and the demon horde¡¯s pursuit finally began to cken. They seemed to need time to reorganize after suffering greater-than-expected losses. ¡°We¡¯re moving out of the enemy¡¯s sight.¡±¡°Retrieving power from the turrets.¡± ¡°Three, two, one.¡± ¡°Ceasebat mode.¡± ¡°Phew...¡± Those seated in the cockpit all let out light sighs in unison. Karen removed her goggles and looked at the person beside her. ¡°Hey, you should rest too. Who knows when we¡¯ll get another chance.¡± Gerald, who was nursing a wound on his thigh with a grimace, tried to maintain a stern expression. Karen¡¯s face tightened slightly. ¡°...Does it hurt?¡± ¡°What is pain? Gerald, who has defeated a legionmander, knows nothing of such things.¡± ¡°Ugh, acting tough even now.¡± Cuculli, who had been watching them, smirked. ¡°Oho, love blooming in the Demonic realm.¡± Surprisingly, Karen didn¡¯t deny it. Everyone, expecting her usual vehement denial, was taken aback. Even Gerald blinked in surprise. Karen frowned at the reactions around her and snapped. ¡°...What.¡± Then, thest to let go of the control stick, Ban joined the conversation. His bangs were soaked with sweat. ¡°It¡¯s good to rest, but don¡¯t let your guard down too much.¡± Luke added a word. ¡°They haven¡¯t retreated far. They¡¯re maintaining a certain distance. They can attack again in five minutes.¡± ¡°Five minutes...¡± ¡°Damn it, let¡¯s just rest for a bit.¡± The children staggered out of the cockpit. Leciel approached the Hero. ¡°Professor, aren¡¯t you going to rest?¡± The Hero shook his head, removing his hands from the controls. He gestured for them to rest, indicating he would keep watch. Unlike his human disciples, this much exertion hardly affected his energy levels as a doppelg?nger. ¡°Thank you.¡± The children, who would normally have stayed with their master,y down quietly on the bedding spread out on the floor, unable to endure any longer. Resting to conserve their energy was more beneficial. Evergreen rummaged through a nearby shelf, looking for snacks. Top chefs prepared a variety of food for the assault team. ¡°Anyone want something to eat?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I can¡¯t swallow anything right now...¡± ¡°Me! Me!¡± ¡°...Alright, give Cuculli something.¡± The children chuckled, seeing Cuculli happily munch on preserved food. It momentarily felt like they were back in the academy caf¨¦ years ago. The clear sky, cool breeze, and the faint chatter echoing in their ears. Gerald teased Karen half-seriously, half-jokingly. Evergreen and Luke gazing at each other, making everyone cringe. Cuculli devouring the snacks with astonishing speed... For a moment, their expressions turned bitter. ¡°Damn...¡± They looked around briefly. The reddish steel walls and the humming machinery. Though the gunfire had ceased, it still echoed in their ears. A strange sense of suffocation weighed down on their chests. Crunch- It was then that Ban suddenly approached Cuculli and took a snack from her hand. Cuculli stared wide-eyed in silent protest. Ban simply shrugged. ¡°Hmm, tastes better when it¡¯s taken.¡± The children, understanding the intention behind the exaggerated tone, snapped out of their reverie and started chatting again. ¡°So, we¡¯ve been in the Demonic realm for four hours now?¡± ¡°Wow, feels like days have passed.¡± ¡°But we made it through the 46th sector safely. We¡¯ll get through the 47th, 48th, and 49th too.¡± ¡°And then the professor will beat up the Demon King?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°And we¡¯ll return and be heroes in the history books.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°Sounds like a good n.¡± ¡°...You know, maybe I¡¯ll go to grad school when this ends. Be a professor.¡± ¡°Ooh...¡± Some headed to other sections of the cockpit to check on their families. As soon as she had a moment, Zion came over from the Royal Guards¡¯ section to find her granddaughter, a mix of worry and pride on her face. ¡°You¡¯re fearless. nning to fight a legionmander alone.¡± ¡°I thought I could do it. I had help from Mother Ghost, too.¡± Leciel shook her head as if it was no big deal. She wasn¡¯t bragging or being modest; she genuinely had little feeling about her achievement of taking the head of the 6th Legion Commander. Zion shook his head. ¡°Who do you take after to be so impressive?¡± ¡°The professor.¡± ¡°......¡± At this moment, each took a brief and limited rest amidst the battlefield. Buzz- A small noise interrupted the conversations. ¡°... What¡¯s that?¡± Buzz- The screen connected to the deck¡¯s crystal ball lit up in the cockpit¡¯s center. The noise wasing from the screen. The children¡¯s eyes were drawn to it, captivated. The screen showed the city at the center of the 47th sector. Someone¡¯s trembling voice echoed everyone¡¯s thoughts. ¡°What the heck are those things?¡± Their eyes widened slowly. The influence of demonic energy. The degree of erosion depends on its concentration. Examples of demonic energy contamination and so on. These were things drilled into them from thepulsory courses at Rosenstark as soon as they enrolled. But the 47th sector, where they had just arrived, presented a grotesque scene that no example or lesson had ever covered. Ban murmured in a subdued voice. ¡°...So that¡¯s why they stopped chasing us.¡± ¡°Oh my God...¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t demonic energy supposed only to affect living things? Does it affect inanimate objects too? I¡¯ve never heard of that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what we were taught.¡± Until now, their knowledge held true. However, the buildings in the 47th sector seemed to refuse to remain mere structures. Groan- The walls and pirs rippled like flesh and bones, twisting into organic forms. Windows, where there should have been, were reced by bloodshot eyes, slowly blinking as they stared at Avalon. Though made of stone, wood, and sometimes metal, their exterior looked warm and soft, almost like living beings. Chomp, chomp¡ª ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ The passengers turned away in unison as one building¡¯s entrance opened like a giant mouth, slowly chewing. Just watching it felt like it was sapping their mental strength. The assault team immediately began discussing the situation. Leaders from each group quickly gathered in front of the screen to talk. ¡°Why aren¡¯t they attacking us? Do they not harbour hostility towards us?¡± ¡°Hardly. They must be waiting for an opportunity. Or maybe, like tree-shaped demons, they¡¯re rooted and can¡¯t move beyond a certain radius.¡± ¡°Hmm, that makes sense. Fortunately, it seems not all buildings have transformed. We should proceed carefully, avoiding them as much as possible.¡± ¡°...Who knows how long we can keep avoiding them? If we go much further, there might be more buildings with eyes than without.¡± ¡°But we have to avoid them as much as possible, don¡¯t we? Engaging with demons of unknown strength in our current situation would be reckless.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re suggesting we go around the city center?¡± As the debate continued, the Hero, who had been lost in thought, spoke up. ¡°This is an unnecessary discussion.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have time. Thus, we have no choice.¡± Detour? Reconnaissance? With less than a day left before the Demon King¡¯s advent, there was no time for such things. ¡®They must be hoping we waste time like that.¡¯ ...Though it was a ruthless decision, arriving even a bit earlier was more important than conserving strength. They had to reach the 50th sector before all those demonic energies converged. Step¡ª The Hero parted through the crowd¡¯s gaze and returned to the cockpit. ¡°We¡¯ll force our way through.¡± [Avalon will now move at maximum speed. Passengers, please be mindful of your safety.] A resonant voice announced. . . . As Avalon was breaking through the 47th sector with formidable momentum, they encountered an unexpected problem just as they passed through the city center. The 47th sector was originally a city dense with various researchplexes. The closer they got to the city center, the more numerous the researchbs, workshops, and material stores became. The ¡®mutated¡¯ buildings, lurking within theplex ruins, attacked Avalon unprecedentedly. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Noubelmag?¡± The Hero took off his goggles at the call. Noubelmag was leaning against the cockpit with a serious expression. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± He got straight to the point. ¡°The underside of the hull was just damaged.¡± The Hero¡¯s face hardened. ¡°The underside? How did they manage to attack the underside?¡± ¡°Well...¡± Noubelmag quickly exined the situation. In the First Era, there were skyscrapers that, the Second Era, people couldn¡¯t even imagine. These skyscrapers had separate spaces underground and rebar to support the upper structures. ¡°So, the mutated ones attacked from underground?¡± ¡°Yes. Unfortunately, a hole was made in the fuel tank. Our precious fuel is leaking onto the ground. Some other equipment also sustained damage.¡± The fuel, essentially the lifeblood of Avalon, consisting of liquefied mana stones and refined mana contributed by the passengers, was leaking away. Noubelmag continued with a resolute face. ¡°We need to stop and repair it immediately. If we leave the hole unattended, Avalon won¡¯t even make it to the 48th sector, let alone the 50th.¡± ...Stopping. The Hero nced at the screen. Beyond the dark mist of demonic energy, grotesque shadows were flickering. It felt like being thrown into the middle of a nightmare. ¡°How much time do you need?¡± ¡°Thirty minutes. The problem is...¡± The Hero felt a sense of foreboding. Noubelmag wasn¡¯t one to draw out his words. ¡°... What¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°...The damage can¡¯t be repaired from the inside. We need to go outside.¡± The Hero¡¯s gaze turned back to the hellish exterior. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll go myself.¡± ¡°... You¡¯ll go personally? What about the other engineers?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not me, thirty minutes won¡¯t be enough. I guarantee it.¡± ¡°But...¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t forgotten who designed and built this, have you?¡± The Hero stared at Noubelmag. He knew from multiple experiences that bending this old man¡¯s will was impossible. ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll keep attacking from underground. Once the hull stops, the demons waiting for an opportunity will swarm in. So, assign people to protect me.¡± Noubelmag spoke in a subdued voice. ¡°I¡¯m not joking; it¡¯s going to be extremely dangerous. You¡¯ll have to protect a nonbatant like me in the thickest demonic energy. You might have to die in my ce.¡± ¡°I...¡± ¡°I refuse that as the repair supervisor. Wasting your strength here would be putting the cart before the horse. You know that better than anyone, so don¡¯t be stubborn.¡± The Hero and Noubelmag¡¯s gazes shed intensely in the air. Noubelmag repeated his conditions. ¡°Let me reiterate the conditions. First, you can¡¯t go. Absolutely.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°Norge groups. The lower hull is cramped.¡± The conditions continued steadily. ¡°We need a small number of people with the skill to withstand countless demons and unknown mutants for thirty minutes and the resolve to die if necessary.¡± The Hero turned his head. The eyes of the cockpit were all on him. Quite a few hands rose simultaneously. There was no sign of fear. Everyone was hoping to volunteer for the mission. ¡°......¡± But it felt like choosing who to send to their death for the Hero. Desperate gazes silently intersected. The Hero could only make a ¡®rational¡¯ decision. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s decided then.¡± Thud¡ª Noubelmag, with a pipe in his mouth, picked up a hammer. ¡°Then, lead the way.¡± ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 310: Chapter 310: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ [One minute before activation stop] [Detail Operation Registration: Lower Repair] [We will provide the necessary materials for external activity to the operation personnel] As the hull of Avalon gradually slowed down, a dull thud echoed inside.A series of items fell from the ceiling. A ck leather coat and a mask that could cover the entire face. A small bag. ¡°No need to exin how to use these, right?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The two¡¯ operation personnel¡¯ selected by Noubelmag and the Hero skillfully gathered the materials. The so-called, 3-piece set. Masterpieces crafted with the utmost care by the technicians. The coat was for protection, shielding the body from demonic energy contamination. Of course, martial artists at a certain level could block demonic energy contamination with their energy, but only to a certain extent. Going out unprotected in such dense demonic energy contamination would quickly deplete their energy. This protective clothing made of new materials minimises energy consumption while being more durable than most armour. Even if their energy was utterly exhausted, it would protect them from contamination for about thirty minutes. The mask also had the ability to purify demonic energy contamination. The filter, made from processed sacred stones, filtered and absorbed the demonic energy contamination in the air. Its role was to minimise the demonic energy contamination umting in the body. Lastly, the bag contained various medicines. Anti-magic contamination agents, painkillers, energy boosters, stimnts, and so on. It was packed with medicines to support bothbat and recovery. The most noticeable was a small potion with a ckbel. ¡°Five seconds to death.¡± It was a suicide potion. For when they were captured by the demons and faced a fate worse than death. When they were mortally wounded beyond hope of survival. Just before their minds broke from enchantment or contamination, etc. It was a frequently reported item. [Avalon, activation stop] Finally. Pshhhhh- Avalon stopped with the sound of steam escaping. As the sound of the power stones and the endless tracks stopped, the inside of the ship became eerily quiet. Clomp- Only the loud footsteps of the operation personnel heading towards the exit echoed in the silence. Just before the hatch opened, they were given a brief moment to say goodbye to their loved ones. Noubelmag reflexively looked for the ck-haired girl. Fortunately, Nyhill was not far away. Right next to the exit. Holding tightly to the dagger he had made for her, she looked at Noubelmag with trembling eyes. The old man strolled towards her. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Watching someone being selected for a dangerous mission was all too familiar to Nyhill. She had been with her fellow shadwos since she was very young. Each time the number 10 was called, it went up to 9, then 7, then 5, and eventually, she became number 3. Looking back, there were those she could call friends among them. Watching their backs as they left the dormitory at dawn, what did young Nyhill think? What did she want to do? Tap- Nyhill took a step towards the approaching Noubelmag. Her slow steps gradually quickened until she was running. Noubelmag looked slightly surprised at the running Nyhill, then extended his arms and embraced her back. Beyond the mask that covered her entire face. The wrinkled corners of his eyes narrowed in satisfaction. ¡°Warm.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°Who can call you a shadow now?¡± Thud- His thick palm tousled the girl¡¯s hair and then left. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± Noubelmag gathered the equipment on the ground and headed for the hatch. Clomp- Among the remaining operation personnel was Felson. He approached his son. ¡°Ban.¡± ¡°Father.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s shake hands, son.¡± Ban slowly extended his hand. He, too, was lost in the memories of his childhood. ¡°Ban, say goodbye to Dad.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to.¡± Felson was a knight. Most of his life was spent on the battlefield, not at home. At that time, Ban did not understand the situation well and felt a lot of resentment. A heartless father who left his struggling mother and young self behind for the battlefield. After his mother died at the hands of Enoch, the resentment grew even stronger. Because Felson spent even less time at home, wandering the entire continent in search of the dream demon. So, when he was a little older, Ban would lock himself in his room even on the days Felson went on expeditions. Ignoring the faint sighs outside the door. But as time passed, and he himself stood on the battlefield. Ban finally understood his father. The beliefs, honor, and duty that weighed on his father¡¯s back at the time¡­ the awkwardness and suffering. What kind of image did his father hope to see in his son, standing alone at the door? Ban felt he now knew the answer. Clench- Ban grasped Felson¡¯s hand tightly and smiled broadly. With pride and self-esteem. ¡°Complete your mission ande back safely!¡± In response, Felson looked at Ban quietly before bursting into heartyughter. ¡°I thought you were brave because you took after Jenny¡­ but looking at you now, I see you take after me too.¡± Then, extending his prosthetic hand, he gently caressed his son¡¯s teary eyes. ¡°You¡¯re such a crybaby.¡± ¡°¡­Dad.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t cry in front of the girl you like.¡± Felson sped his son¡¯s hand with both of his. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± Thest was Taylor. She looked quietly at Felson and Noubelmag exchanging their farewells and smiled faintly. Her husband, who had been in the support unit of the Dawn Knights, had long since passed away, and her closest squadmate, Iira, had recently fallen in battle. Taylor exchanged brief eye contact with her fellow knights and headed straight for the hatch. She was moving with the prosthetic leg Yussi had given her. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Just when it seemed she would leave without hesitation, she stopped. Then she looked at the Hero. ¡°You.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°If you were the realmander, what would you say to me now? You should know, right?¡± The Hero nodded. Taylor opened her mouth briefly but then shook her head and hand simultaneously. ¡°Never mind. Tell me when you get back.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Hisssss- The sound of the hatch opening was heavy and grand. With the creaking noise of metal, thepressed air escaped with a sharp sound. Soon, a low, deep vibration shook the hull as the hatch opened. Before the swirling, sticky air of the magic realm. Taylor, Felson, and Noubelmag stood in a line. Felson raised his prosthetic hand to his eyebrow in a salute. ¡°We are deploying.¡± . . . The silhouettes of the three quickly disappeared into the thick ck fog. The hatch closed again, and silence fell for a moment. The Hero¡¯s stern voice echoed within the hull. ¡°Thirty minutes.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°We will defend the hull with all our strength.¡± Even before he finished speaking, the distant howls of monsters cut through the air. Sharp, scream-like cries, mixed with pain and anger. The Demon King¡¯s army, having noticed Avalon¡¯s anomaly, was advancing again. * * * ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Sss- Noubelmag fumbled with the punctured fuel tank with his steel-gloved hand. ¡°It¡¯s literally leaking.¡± The steel tentacles, which were part of the mutated buildings, ravaged the fortress''s lower part. While it was hard to damage the upper part, tightly packed with barriers and armor, the lower part was different. The lower part of the fortress was inevitably vulnerable. It was concentrated with essential equipment like the mobility device, mana stones, and fuel storage, generating immense heat regrly. The lower part had to adopt a rtively open structure to cool and ventte. Moreover, theplex magic circuits engraved there limited the enchantments for defensive spells. ¡®Although I paid some attention to the outer walls¡­¡¯ In the end, they sumbed to the tentacles¡¯ attacks. As Noubelmag examined the ruined lower part, his eyes widened. Drip-drip-drip- He spotted a point where red, blood-like magical liquid rapidly flowed out. ¡°Found the exact damage point! I¡¯ll start repairs, cover me!¡± ¡°Got it, leave it to us!¡± Hisrades, in abat stance on the ground. Noubelmag¡¯s focus returned to the fuel tank. It was time to concentrate. Felson and Taylor¡¯s eyes also grew fiercer. The distance between the repair point and the ground was about two meters. Noubelmag was hanging from the ceiling like a cicada, using a metal hook on a pipe, while they stood on the ground. If they missed even one tentacle emerging from the ground, Noubelmag would be in danger. ¡°They¡¯reing!¡± Fwoosh-! A massive amount of energy formed a from Felson¡¯s body, permeating the ground. At the same time, Taylor grabbed her great bow and pulled the string with all her might. In fact, they had already outlined how to deal with the tentacles attacking from underground. ¡®It¡¯s the optimalbination.¡¯ First, Felson would detect the entire underground area and locate the tentacles. ¡°I¡¯ll mark them!¡± Next, he would control the energy used in detection to attach it to the tentacles. There were a great many, but they had already spread out like a. For Felson, whose energy control was superhuman, it wasn¡¯t tooplicated a task. ¡°Good!¡± Now it was Taylor¡¯s turn. Called the Divine Archer, she had reached a level where arrows were no longer necessary. Crunch-! As her fingers grasped the empty bowstring, mana from within her body condensed into the shape of arrows. In the blink of an eye, five mana arrows appeared. Although they seemed intangible, each one was more powerful than most destructive spells. ¡®And most importantly, they can pass through obstacles since they don¡¯t have a physical form.¡¯ Whiz-! Burrowing into the ground, the mana arrows tracked Felson¡¯s mana and intercepted the approaching tentacles. Taylor¡¯s speed at drawing the bowstring was beyond imagination, and soon over fifty arrows had dug into the ground. Boom-! Explosions erupted deep underground. The ground trembled slightly. Felson, still pressing his palm to the ground, raised his voice. ¡°Good, they¡¯re all annhited.¡± ¡°They¡¯lle again soon, right?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± ¡°We have to keep this up for thirty minutes, so let¡¯s conserve our energy.¡± Felson nodded and stood up in response to Taylor¡¯s words. From above, where he was focused on repairs, Noubelmag spoke with satisfaction. ¡°It¡¯s indeed you two.¡± Taylor also chuckled. ¡°Hey, Noubelmag. It seems you like this coboration of cripples?¡± Felson couldn¡¯t help butugh at her words. She was right. Taylor had lost her leg fighting Theo¡¯s undead army in the Great Forest, and Felson had lost his right arm in a battle with Yol three years ago. Though they had trained as hard as possible with prosthetic limbs, their skills were inevitably far from their prime. There wasn¡¯t much difference when dealing with small fry, but they would becking in battles against great evils like Malekia or Theo in the deepest parts of the demonic realm. ¡°So, we volunteered.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite touching to be surplus personnel that can die at any time.¡± ¡°If we hadn¡¯t been selected, you would¡¯veined a lot, but now you¡¯re just saying that.¡± ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t hit the mark like that.¡± They giggled, looking at each other¡¯s faces. Taylor, who was once a pirate. Felson, who came from a noble family. Their backgrounds were so drastically different that they often shed in the early days of their enlistment. But such things had long since be meaningless. ¡°Here theye again, a lot more than before.¡± The tentacles surged again. The ground had turned into something resembling an erged mudt. A muddynd filled with holes from which mana seeped. Traces of the tentacles¡¯ path. Bang-bang-bang-! Taylor poured a barrage of arrows around the holes like a bombardment. Felson also leaped, cutting down any tentacles she missed. Despite their massive size and speed, the tentacles were sliced through like straws before Felson¡¯s sword. Wiping her sweat, Taylor looked at Felson. ¡°Has it been about twenty minutes now?¡± ¡°It seems easier than expected.¡± ¡°Thank goodness. I would have been upset if I had died alongside a gentleman.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not into pirates either.¡± ¡°Of course, your type is your student.¡± Felson, who had once had a rtionship with a student while serving as a visiting professor, had no choice but to shut his mouth. ¡°¡­Anyway, I¡¯m d things are going well. Did I put on airs unnecessarily in front of Ban?¡± Their biggest worry was that the Demon King¡¯s army, keeping their distance, would approach Avalon and eventually reach the lower parts. In that case, they would have to deal with tentacles and monsters simultaneously with their small numbers. No matter how elite Felson and Taylor were, they wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand such concentrated attacks in this confined space. ¡®That was the biggest risk of this operation.¡¯ But, perhaps because those above were holding out well, the Demon King¡¯s army couldn¡¯t easily approach. Taylor also nodded. ¡°Fortunately, it doesn¡¯t seem like these mutated buildings are under ¡®control.¡¯¡± ¡°Right. If they were, there would be at least ten more holes in the fuel tank by now.¡± ¡®Not under control.¡¯ This meant no connection existed between the Demon King¡¯s army and these special mutants. Not all monsters followed themands of the demonic beings. For example, the rare monsters lived independently in the demonic realm. To deal with an entirely new type of monster (if it could even be called that), a process of subjugation with overwhelming mana was necessary. ¡®¡­It seems they don¡¯t have the capacity for that.¡¯ Relieved, Felson raised his voice. ¡°Noubelmag! How much longer?¡± ¡°Ten minutes!¡± ¡°Good! Hang in there!¡± ¡°¡­Leave it to me!¡± Wiping off the mana fluid covering his face, Noubelmag focused again on the repairs. His hands moved with precision, wielding shining tools. The master craftsman¡¯s movements were smooth and confident, filled with years of experience and skill. ¡°¡­Stop leaking, you bastards.¡± He whispered, intensifying his concentration. The damage to the lower part had been somewhat anticipated. He had prepared a special sent to stop the flow of the mana fluid. This sent would react with the mana fluid to form a stronger bond. ng-! He attached metal tes around the area and carefully applied the sent to the holes. Sizzle- Sparks flew as the sent reacted with the mana fluid. Finally, the flow of mana fluid began to decrease, and the old man¡¯s expression brightened. ¡°¡­Five minutes!¡± ng-! Noubelmag¡¯s hammering hand gradually slowed. ¡°Five minutes left.¡± ¡­There was no response. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 311: Chapter 311: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Noubelmag slowly tilted his head downward. He had prepared himself to face a horrifying scene. There¡­ "Damn it."Noubelmag exhaled the breath he had been holding and muttered a low curse. Felson and Taylor were still there. Safe. "I almost had a heart attack. Why isn''t anyone responding?" "......" But still, no answer came, and Noubelmag soon realized something was wrong. ''...Come to think of it, why did the underground mutants'' attacks stop?'' The ceaseless tentacle attacks that had been shooting up from the ground had ceased. The next moment, he noticed Felson''s expression as he touched the ground. As a seasoned veteran of countless battles, Felson never lost hisposure in the face of danger. But now, that unshakable calm was being severely rattled. Felson''s low muttering reached Noubelmag''s ears. "...An empty space?" Noubelmag was about to ask what he meant, but Felson raised his voice first, nearly shouting. "Noubelmag! Hurry up! This isn''t looking good." Demanding an exnation in a situation like this would be the act of a fool. Noubelmag immediately set aside his doubts and focused back on his work. Unfortunately, the protective gear and mask he relied on were wearing out faster than expected. ''For the amount of material used, it can''t evenst 30 minutes?'' The concentration of demonic energy was that thick. Maybe it was just his imagination, but it seemed to be getting thicker. For someone with as little mana as he had, being exposed to this level of demonic energy with only his bare body would knock him unconscious in an instant. Already, his body was starting to itch, and soon enough, it felt like he was immersed in a tank full of insects. His vision began to blur. tter¡ª Noubelmag frantically rummaged through his bag of chemicals, pulling out anything he could find. He opened his mask and shoved the contents into his mouth. "Goddamn it..." Nyhill. He thought of the slight warmth nestled in his chest and, with trembling hands, picked up his equipment again. * * * Meanwhile, Taylor was anxiously watching Felson. "What the hell is going on?" Without lifting his hand from the ground, Felson answered. "...I extended my sensory perception a bit deeper and found something." "What did you find?" "...A huge empty space." Taylor tilted her head in confusion. An empty space beneath the city? "Exin it more clearly." "...If a snake''sir was about 30 meters in diameter, it would look like this." "What? Thirty meters in diameter?" They both tried to recall all the monsters they knew for a moment. A creature that big, living underground, didn''te to mind. It was a rare urrence for veterans who had encountered all kinds of monsters on the battlefield for decades. That could only mean... ''It''s a new type of mutant. Most likely, it''s a building that has transformed...'' That would exin the absurd size of the 30-meter diameter. Could a massive building have transformed into a snake or worm-like creature and then burrowed underground to create tunnels? The grotesque thought sent a shiver down Felson''s spine. Taylor pressed for more answers. "...Can you sense its presence? Is it there?" "There''s nothing within the range of my sensory perception. Extending it further is impossible; it would drain too much mana." "Damn it..." Taylor bit her nails, her eyebrows furrowed in frustration. "Wait a minute. Considering all those small tentacles have retreated..." "Yeah, it could be a sign that the big one is about to appear." "But you haven''t sensed anything yet." "For a creature big enough to dig a tunnel of that size, it could cover hundreds of meters in the blink of an eye." "Underground? Is it really a worm?" Though the monster hadn''t even appeared yet, the pressure was overwhelming. Felson instinctively gripped the signal device strapped to his waist. The palm-sized machine had buttons of various colors. In an environment thick with demonic energy like this, regrmunication via messages or voice was impossible. Instead, they used this device to send brief signals tomunicate with the headquarters. The functions ranged from requesting reinforcements to extending time, reporting missionpletion, and even issuing an emergency retreat order, abandoning the mission and using propulsion devices to withdraw immediately. Taylor asked cautiously, "Should we request reinforcements?" But after some thought, Felson slowly shook his head. "There''s little chance of receiving meaningful support against a giant worm that roams underground." "True, pulling out that much firepower would put too much strain on the upper ranks." Even now, Avalon concentrated all its firepower on dealing with the swarming monsters. If they pulled away top-tier personnel like the hero, Zion, or Leciel, it would only increase the burden. It could even backfire and cause damage to the upper echelons. Taylor nodded in agreement. "So, if that thing shows up¡­" "We''ll have to handle it ourselves. The best-case scenario is that the repairs are finished before it arrives," Felson replied, but he kept the rest of his thoughts to himself. The truth was that finishing the repairs wouldn''t solve everything. If such a massive creature were to fall under the demons'' control... "It would be a threat to Avalon all the way back." Would the demons really leave such a helpful monster alone? Felson''s expression grew increasinglyplicated. Taylor urged Noubelmag. "Noubelmag! How much longer for the repairs?" "......" "Noubelmag?" "Just... just a little longer." Taylor looked up in surprise at the unusually weak voice. "Are you okay?" "I''m holding on. Just two more minutes..." But Noubelmag''sst words were drowned out by an ominous noise. Grrr¡ª It was a sound like a massive stone rolling beneath their feet. A brief moment of silence followed. Felson sprang to his feet. "It''sing!" He had detected something writhing in the empty space beneath them. But even as he sensed it approaching, he couldn''t react immediately. He was paralyzed. "What the...?" "What is it!?" "Its size..." Even a seasoned veteran like him couldn''t immediately think of a way to deal with something so massive, something the size of a building, rising up from beneath the ground. He could only grip his sword, which felt woefully inadequate against such an enemy. Boom! ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Meanwhile, the noise from underground grew louder and more frequent. Boom! It now sounded like explosions, as if the earth itself was being forcibly torn apart from within. And then, suddenly... "..." "Did it stop?" The movement of whatever had seemed poised to burst out of the ground stopped. The sounds began to fade. But Felson''s grim expression did not rx. Click¡ª Felson picked up the signal device. After a brief moment of consideration, he pressed a button. It wasn''t the button for requesting support or for reporting missionpletion. Taylor, watching from the side, shouted in shock. "Emergency retreat!? Are you serious?" The emergency retreat button was the only one that allowed the fieldmander''s decision to override the captain''s. Once headquarters received this signal, the flight device would automatically activate. It was a mechanism that consumed an enormous amount of stored mana in just a short activation. It was, quite literally, Avalon''sst resort, meant for when the fortress was facing critical danger. Once the "emergency retreat" was initiated, Avalon would immediately take to the skies and escape the area, regardless of whether the mission personnel had returned. The boosters in the lower part of the fortress would activate, propelling it away. Taylor''s sun-tanned face turned as pale as a sheet. "Felson! Are you crazy¡ª" Woooom¡ª A massive column of red mes erupted from the boosters. The mes glowed red, lingered briefly in a vibrant orange, and then shifted into a searing blue, indicating their extreme heat. Fortunately, they were far enough from the outer boosters; otherwise, they would have melted on the spot. Even now, the heat was so intense it was nearly impossible to breathe. But without offering any further exnation, Felson grabbed Taylor''s arm andunched himself off the ground. He swung over to Noubelmag, who was still in shock. nk¡ª His prosthetic hand firmly gripped a pipe, while his other hand still held his sword. "Brace for impact!" And just at that moment¡ª Crack-crack-crack-crack-crack¡ª The ground beneath them disappeared with a deafening roar. "Wha¡ª" Taylor was at a loss for words. The ground had copsed, sending up a massive cloud of dust and debris. The powerful vibrations engulfed their bodies, even as they hung in the air. The enormous hole left by the vanishing earth also began to devour the surroundingnd. Luckily, Avalon was partially airborne, or it would have been sucked into that abyss. As Taylor started to admire Felson''s quick decision to issue the emergency retreat order¡ª Grrrrrr¡ª A massive shadow slowly emerged from the deep, dark hole. "Shit..." Taylor swore loudly, then proposed a usible theory. "Did an entire magic tower mutate?" Nothing else could exin it. A cylindrical body, approximately 30 meters in diameter, stretched upwards, its length unseen, likely extending for hundreds of meters. Its maw, which seemed to be its mouth, gaped open, swallowing everything around it. Whoooosh¡ª A massive suction force emanated from the 30-meter-wide mouth. They finally understood how that creature had managed to create such an unnaturallyrge tunnel underground. It had swallowed the soil and then expelled it. The acidic fluid dripping from around its mouth likely served to corrode the rock, making it easier to consume. The problem was that the suction was so powerful that Avalon was tilting precariously, unable to ascend properly. Creeeeak¡ª The ship groaned continuously under the strain. Even Taylor and Felson, with their near-superhuman strength, struggled to hold on against the force of the suction. Noubelmag reached out and attached extra safety hooks to them. It was then that Felson spoke. "Noubelmag. Are the repairsplete?" "Barely finished, right before that thing showed up." "You''ve done your part, then," Felson said, his determined gaze fixed downward. "Now it''s time for us to do ours." This time, it was Taylor''s turn to be shocked. "...What?" "We have to deal with that thing." Taylor quickly realized why Felson was suggesting such a reckless idea. Embedded deep in the head of the massive, thrashing worm was the Demon King''s emblem. Taylor, who had been about to argue, immediately closed her mouth. "Ha, damn it. The demons finally managed to bring that worm under their control, huh?" This meant that this unprecedented monster would move ording to the demons'' will from now on¡ªserving as one of the Demon King''s army''s ultimate weapons. It would likely have a severe impact on Avalon''s advance. The creature had already easily copsed the ground beneath them. If something like that started chasing Avalon, the dy would be unimaginable. But Felson didn''t seem as grim as one might expect. "It''s alright. From a broader perspective, this could even be considered fortunate." "...What?" "The demonic energy within that creature surpasses that of most high-rankingmanders. Can you imagine how much demonic energy was consumed to control such a monster in such a short time forcibly?" "...It must be an enormous amount." Energy that should have been used for the Demon King''s summoning ritual had been expended elsewhere. They must have taken a desperate gamble due to Avalon''s rapid advance. It was not an ideal situation for the demons either¡ªa temporary fix that only dyed the inevitable. As a result, the Demon King''s descent would be even more iplete. "If we can neutralize that thing, it would be a double win for us." Taylor looked down below. Into the pitch-ck darkness. She could see countless teeth spinning wildly, ready to grind anything in their path. "...Teeth, on a worm, of all things." Taylor let out a deep sigh. "Damn it, I didn''t even get to go to the sea this year." Felson chuckled and replied, "But isn''t this the perfect opponent for a cripple and a one-armed man? You''re bound to hit something no matter how wildly you swing." With that, they both turned to look at Noubelmag, who slowly shook his head. "Noubelmag." "Don''t do it. I''ll kill you both, I swear!" "Pass on a message to Ban for me," Felson said. Taylor chimed in, "And let the captain know for me." Behind the mask, Noubelmag''s wrinkled face twisted in frustration. "Deliver the messages yourselves! What do you think I am, a carrier pigeon?" nk¡ª Ignoring him, Felson and Taylor simultaneously unhooked their safety lines. "You were always a son to be proud of!" "Sorry for being such a cheapskate!" Whoosh¡ª In an instant, the two silhouettes disappeared from Noubelmag''s sight. His aging eyes couldn''t even keep up with their speed. And whatever they did next, a short whileter, the giant creature below them let out a terrifying scream. Whoooosh¡ª! The suction force that had been holding Avalon in ce suddenly vanished as if it had never existed. The ship began to rapidly ascend. As he watched the 47th sector grow smaller in the distance, Noubelmag muttered nkly. "Damn fools." The old man''s eyelids trembled slightly. "...Not even a word abouting back alive." ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 312: Chapter 312: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Whooooosh-! Having activated its propulsion system, the Avalon quickly left the 47th Sector¡¯s city center. Despite the massive buildings and mutated creatures boasting towering heights, none could reach the soaring Avalon to attack it. Fortunately, the demon king¡¯s forces opted to bypass the rampaging mutated creatures rather than forcing their way through, leading to a temporary ceasefire.As themotion within the mobile fortress gradually subsided, Noubelmag returned. He had lost consciousness and was hanging from the lower part of the Avalon, only to be rescued by the hero who personally went out to retrieve him. ¡°Medical team!¡± Noubelmag¡¯s wrinkled body was tainted by dark veins of corruption from the demonic energy. Nyhill sat down expressionlessly, pressing the cold hand of the weakening Noubelmag against her cheek. ¡°Administer the antidote!¡± ¡°He¡¯s already been overdosed!¡± "Call for Maktania! Get Maktania!" As the passengers watched anxiously, Maktania squeezed out what little holy power she had left and poured it into him. She had used up most of her holy power in the previous battle with Malekia and was trying to conserve what remained, but now there was no choice. Noubelmag was irreceable. ¡°...Please!¡± Fortunately, the holy power took effect immediately. Hisboured breathing eased, and as the colour slowly returned to his face, people finally let out sighs of relief. The first words Noubelmag spoke after regaining consciousness were the names of hisrades. ¡°Felson... Taylor.¡± His hand waved weakly in the air as if trying to grasp something, only to fall limply. Everyone watching bowed their heads in sorrow. They had all seen the recorded footage and knew exactly what had happened, and the decisions Felson and Taylor had made. Even those who weren¡¯t close to them murmured words of tribute, paying respect to their courage and dedication. ¡°...They were true heroes.¡± ¡°Yeah. They jumped without a moment¡¯s hesitation.¡± ¡°Today, I witnessed what true chivalry is.¡± Meanwhile, the Dawn Knights remained silent for a long time. They simply stood there, reflecting on the memories they shared with the two. Losingrades on the battlefield was amon urrence. Yet, the pain was always unfamiliar and sharp, making it hard to ept. ¡®But we must ept it... for now.¡¯ No, perhaps it was better not to think about it at all. In the silence, eptance and avoidance coexisted. Mission execution came first, mourning and remembranceter. This was something Ted Redymer, their formermander, had repeated endlessly. You¡¯ll only suffer more losses if you get caught up in your emotions. Thus, they quietly diluted their grief in their own ways. ...And then Ban slowly walked across the control room and out into the corridor. * * * ¡°Ban.¡± Ban, who had been leaning against the wall, turned his head. A girl with sky-blue hair was looking at him. ¡°Cuculli.¡± ¡°...Are you okay?¡± Not only Cuculli, but all their friends stood behind her, watching him with worried eyes. Ban faintly smiled and shook his head. ¡°Could you leave me alone for a bit? I want to be by myself right now.¡± ¡°Oh, okay... I understand.¡± Cuculli¡¯s footsteps seemed to grow distant, but then they stopped. ¡°... It¡¯ll get better.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°Call us whenever you need. I¡¯ll be there for you just like you were there for me.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Stay strong.¡± With those words, Cuculli and their friends returned to the control room. In a corner of the corridor, where only the hum of the fortress¡¯s machinery could be heard, Ban once again sank into his imagination. In his imagination, he was confronting the hero. ¡°Professor, let me down.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Let me go alone. It won¡¯t make much of a difference here if I¡¯m gone.¡± ¡°Ban!¡± He forcefully shook off the arms of his friends, who tried to stop him. Like a madman, he yelled and stomped his feet. ¡°I can save them.¡± ¡°Alone? How?¡± ¡°Just cut down everything and find them. Is there anyone here better at sensing than I am? I¡¯ll go and find them myself. Why are you stopping me when I¡¯m saying I¡¯ll go and bring them back!!¡± His father¡¯srades turned their gazes away in pity or clicked their tongues. ¡°Ban! Don¡¯t let Felson¡¯s sacrifice be in vain.¡± ¡°Sacrifice, my foot!¡± He threw punches at those who spoke such words. It didn¡¯t matter who they were. After causing a scene, he would eventually step off the Avalon, receiving scornful looks from everyone around him. Then, leaving all his duties behind, he would run like a beast through the demonic realm. Cutting down every monster that got in his way. Toward his father, who must be left in that bottomless pit. Ban chuckled. ¡°... It¡¯s easy.¡± Running into the abyss was, indeed, an easy choice. All he had to do was surrender to the overwhelming grief and anger coursing through his body. ¡°...Ha.¡± But if he were to eventually stand before his father after ying countless monsters, what would his father say? And what would his mother, watching from the heavens, think? The boy already knew the answer. ¡°...Why.¡± Why did his parents have to be such great people? Throwing themselves onto the de to stop the Nightmare Legion Commander. Facing death without hesitation to fulfill their duties. Why did they have to be such people? Sometimes, it would have been fine if they were just ordinary. ¡°Why did they have to be so great? Huh?¡± They made it impossible for their son to choose the easy path. Ban clenched his fists tightly. ¡°Son, you are a brave person.¡± The voices of two people echoed in his ears like a hallucination. Ban spoke aloud the next words that would follow. ¡°And a brave person is someone who chooses the difficult path.¡± ...The response came from the other side of the corridor. ¡°Indeed, that is so.¡± Ban took a deep breath. ¡°...Professor.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ ¡°You must be really proud of me, right?¡± The hero slowly walked over and ced his rough hand on Ban¡¯s forehead. Once. Twice. Just like his father used to do the night before he went off to battle. Ban, who always pretended not to notice and closed his eyes, kept his eyes wide open this time and epted the warmth. ¡°Always.¡± Dietrich. In their veins flows the noble dignity that values duty over personal desire. Perhaps that was why. The boy who inherited that blood most strongly willingly returned to the cockpit. * * * Just as the hero returned to his seat in the cockpit, Euphemia, who had been wandering nearby, approached and casually remarked. ¡°You look tired.¡± ¡°But he managed to pick himself up on his own.¡± There was a brief silence. ¡°¡­No, I meant you, not Ban Dietrich.¡± At those words, the hero looked away from the control panel to gaze at her. Her golden eyes were scrutinizing him as if searching for something. ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°Is that so? You don¡¯t look well.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget. Even if half the passengers die, the mission is a sess as long as you safely reach the 50th Sector.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten, so there¡¯s no need for you to remind me.¡± Despite it not being ament worth snapping at, his response was sharp. This only served to prove that she was right. However, Euphemia simply nodded calmly. ¡°That¡¯s a relief then.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯re now at the 48th Sector. We¡¯re halfway there.¡± Hero stared at the screen floating in the center of the cockpit. Before he knew it, Avalon had crossed the boundary between the 47th and 48th Sectors. Approximately 8 hours had passed since the operation began. ¡®The speed is better than I expected.¡¯ They had passed two out of the four sectors they needed to break through. He could feel how flustered the demons were, given that their speed far exceeded their expectations. Their military operations were haphazard, and they even had to use the demonic energy intended for descent rituals to control the giant mutated creatures. ¡®Now is when it matters most.¡¯ After gathering everyone from the other sections into the cockpit, the hero began to discuss the operation. It was to anticipate what kind of strategy the enemies might deploy. ¡°I think there¡¯s a high probability they¡¯ll take a big risk in the 48th Sector.¡± Euphemia, who had been staring intently at the holographic map, answered in a low voice. ¡°Or they might withdraw their troops instead.¡± ¡°Right. We can expect two main scenarios.¡± They would either engage us in an all-out battle to stop us or hold back for a final showdown in the 50th Sector. Zion and Cuculli added their thoughts. ¡°Personally, I think it¡¯s more likely that they¡¯ll withdraw their forces.¡± ¡°Hmmm, that does seem more probable, doesn¡¯t it?¡± If the battle were to take ce in the 50th Sector, the demons would have several advantages. First, the terrain is highly favourable for defense. Being the capital of the Magic Empire, the 50th Sector had a terrain much more advantageous for those defending it. Moreover, with the thickest concentration of magic, it would be advantageous for battle in various ways. However, considering the massive disadvantage of their arriving right before the descent ritual, it was uncertain whether they would take such a gamble. ¡­It was then that Larze, who had been silent all along, spoke up for the first time. ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d definitely deploy a small guerri force.¡± ¡°Guerri?¡± ¡°I also agree that they¡¯ll avoid a war of attrition.¡± Everyone turned their gaze toward her. Larze continued her exnation in a slow but clear voice. ¡°By now, they must have realized that brute force is useless against Avalon.¡± ¡°¡­So you¡¯re saying they¡¯ll attack Avalon itself with a small elite force?¡± ¡°Most likely, it¡¯ll be the divisionmanders foaming at the mouth as they charge at us.¡± Larze¡¯s crimson eyes glinted brightly. ¡°They¡¯ll nibble away at Avalon bit by bit and then¡­ boom, at the 50th Sector!¡± She conjured an illusion with a flick of her fingers, depicting Avalon exploding and the troops being flung away while monsters swarmed from all directions in 1/50 scale. As everyone watched in silence, Larze continued. ¡°Think about it. Right now, an unprecedented amount of demonic energy is pouring into the 50th Sector, creating a ridiculous situation where even the demons can¡¯t control the area. Like the mutated creatures in the 47th Sector, simr monstrous threats are likely spread across the 48th and 49th Sectors.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying they¡¯ll withdraw the rtively weaker demons and monsters to the 50th Sector and only allow the stronger ones to remain active?¡± ¡°Umm, do you think they¡¯ll really withdraw the weaker ones peacefully?¡± The Hero narrowed his eyes. ¡°You just said they would, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°If I were them, I¡¯d have the weaker demons absorbed by the stronger ones.¡± ¡°!¡± A noble knightmander tilted his head in confusion. ¡°Even then, it would still be beneath the level of a divisionmander, wouldn¡¯t it? Both Theo and Malekiah are confined to the 50th Sector.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°What do you mean, so? We can handle that with ease¡­ Didn¡¯t Miss Leciel just take care of Rakasa by herself earlier?¡± Larze chuckled. Snap! When she snapped her fingers, the video feed from outside, which had been disyed on one side of the cockpit, suddenly expanded to cover the entire ceiling. ¡°Magnify it.¡± ¡­The moment the center of the 48th Sector came into view, a heavy silence descended upon the cockpit. ¡°What on earth is that¡­?¡± ¡°I told you. There¡¯s an unprecedented transformation happening that even the demons can¡¯t control.¡± In contrast, Larze looked somewhat excited. She must have been thrilled by the ¡®bizarre phenomenon¡¯ that even she hadn¡¯t anticipated. Her slender finger pointed to the sky over the 48th Sector, shrouded in pitch-ck clouds. Rumble¡ª! At that moment, a loud, sharp thunderp echoed, and simultaneously, a downpour of jet-ck rain began. This rain was unlike any ordinary raindrops. Each drop sparkled like a ck jewel, emitting a chilling coldness. The streams of rain, writhing as if alive, turned everything they touched into darkness. It felt as if that rain was slowly eroding the world. ¡°In short, earlier, we were catching sharks out of water¡­ and now, we must dive into the sea.¡± Larze¡¯s eyes gleamed as she finished speaking. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We have a way to turn the tables.¡± ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 313: Chapter 313: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Larze''s confident words caused a stir in the cockpit. "A way to strike back?" Could there really be such a clever strategy in this dire situation? All eyes, filled with hope, turned to Larze, who responded with a confident grin."Alright, let¡¯s start the briefing. I¡¯ll begin with the overview!" She stood up abruptly and positioned herself in the centre of the cockpit. "The enemy believes our goal is to break through to the 50th sector as quickly as possible, so they¡¯re doing everything they can to slow our advance." It was an attitude that, while slightly irritating, inspired confidence. The hero chuckled and added his voice to the conversation. "That''s right." "Now, let''s think a little more flexibly." Snap- As Larze snapped her fingers, the screen that had been showing the outside world shrunk, and a holographic map of the 48th sector appeared before everyone''s eyes. "They believe our objective is to break through. But what if it isn''t?" "What?" "What if there was another n hidden within the n?" Larze smiled mischievously. Half-convinced hero spoke up as he nced at the spot where her gaze lingered. "A stake?" "You¡¯d understand right away, having seen Zero¡¯s memories." "No way¡­." "Exactly. There was a simr moment, wasn''t there?" At her words, a scene shed through his mind. The moment when the Demon King and ??? were engaged in a decisive battle. Zero had used all his strength to infiltrate with a stake. Then, he overloaded the core where demonic energy had umted, blowing away half the city and the two exhausted absolutes. "An explosion of the core¡­." Hearing this, Cuculli raised her hand. "What''s that supposed to mean?! Isn¡¯t it impossible for anyone but demons to handle the core?" Larze affectionately patted her on the head, her hand skillfully navigating between Cuculli''s sharp horns, and continued her exnation. "Yes, it¡¯s difficult for humans to handle." Indeed, it was so. For centuries, humans had tirelessly researched the secrets of the core, a device that absorbed the mana of nature and converted it into demonic energy. They believed the reverse would also be possible if they could uncover its secrets. But despite their countless efforts, humans ultimately failed to unravel the core¡¯s principles. ''Except for Zero, of course.'' Only he could understand and manipte the core¡¯s workings, even if only slightly. ...The artificial core in the Sealed Forest was the result of that knowledge. But after his sudden death, research on the core came to a standstill. "But we have a homunculus who inherited Zero¡¯s vision!" All eyes in the cockpit turned to Izaro in the corner. "¡­¡­." His expression stiffened awkwardly under his robe. Of course, the knowledge Izaro possessed was iplete. No matter how much Zero had poured his heart into creating the homunculus, it could not fully contain all the powers and visions Zero had gained at the cost of his lifespan. "But what if we add the power of Barrett Namsov, Izaro, and the greatest magician of the second era, who inherited the visions of the first era?" Miracle, Larze. The hero repeated her epithet in his mind. "Are you saying you can replicate that explosion?" "To some extent." Lucas, who had been silently listening, raised his hand. "But how is that going to strike a blow? The explosion would only ur after Avalon has passed, and since the enemy operates in small guerri units, would a demonic energy explosion really inflict any significant damage¡­?" It was a sharp point, showing that his time after being discharged from the hospital had not been wasted. But Larze merely wiggled her finger from side to side. "Well, it would be nice if a few high-ranking demons got caught in the st. But that¡¯s not what we¡¯re aiming for." Snap- Larze¡¯s eyes turned a vivid blue as the screen changed again. She shared her vision, enhanced by high-level magic. The people stared at the screen, their eyes widening. "¡­The 47th sector?" "Why the 47th sector all of a sudden?" The scene showed familiar terrain and writhing building mutants. It was undoubtedly the 47th sector, which they had passed through a few hours ago. As Ban frantically scanned the area with a desperate expression, those who btedly noticed the change gasped in shock. Larze chuckled. "Yes, it''s clean, isn¡¯t it?" "Oh¡­." The 47th sector was clear. There were still some residual dark energies, but it looked no different from the outskirts of the cursednds. The nauseating, thick, demonic energy fog was nowhere to be seen. Larze¡¯s eyes gleamed fiercely. "Those bastards. They''re collecting the demonic energy after we pass and sending it to the next sector. They need time until the descent ritual isplete anyway, so they¡¯re using it to block our path." Over the past few weeks, therge-scale movements of demonic energy had already proven that demonic energy could move freely between cursed sectors. The hero nodded and muttered. "So they''re nning to gather all the demonic energy at the 50th sector when the timees and use it for the descent ritual." "Exactly. Until then, the demonic energy is being used as a strategic weapon." Larze switched the screen back to the 48th sector in front of them. Ssshhhhh- Avalon¡¯s hull was slowly entering the ck rain pouring down from the demonic energy clouds. Gulp- The sound of simultaneous swallowing echoed through the cockpit. "My God¡­." It was difficult to see due to the darkness, but the bizarre phenomena in the 48th sector were revealed with each sh of lightning. Rumble-! In the brief shes of light, the raindrops sparkled like shards of ck ss. The horrific and overwhelming sight left everyone silent and fearful. But Larze¡¯s voice remained cheerful. "Alright, now I¡¯ll exin the essence of the operation, so focus." As she finished speaking, Larze raised her hand. At the same time, a fireball the size of an adult¡¯s head appeared at her fingertips. Her slow but clear voice continued. "Magic materialized with mana, its fuel is the mana in the atmosphere." Larze then pointed at the screen, which showed the ck rain. "The explosion caused by overloading demonic energy, its fuel is demonic energy itself." "Ha¡­." "In simple terms, demonic energy is the oil, and the explosion is the fire. After it burns, what¡¯s left is, well¡­ just smoke and ashes." Larze¡¯s eyes shone intensely like stars for a moment, allowing no room for disagreement. Everyone¡¯s gaze focused on her lips. "Our objective in this operation is to vaporize the demonic energy they¡¯ve painstakingly gathered." Only then did the people understand what Larze meant by "striking back." It wasn¡¯t just a strike. It would be a fatal blow. Cheers and apuse erupted from various parts of the cockpit. The magicians who already followed Larze were now gazing at her with nearly worshipful eyes. However, the exnation was not yet finished. ¡°Of course, there are a few prerequisites,¡± Larze said, for the first time losing the smile on her face. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Sensing the seriousness, the others fell silent, though some had already guessed what she was about to say. ¡°First, a small team must secretly infiltrate the stake. That part should be easy. The demons are entirely focused on stopping Avalon¡¯s advance, so they won¡¯t even consider the possibility that we might be targeting the stake instead.¡± A small team. The listeners mulled over those two words in their minds. ¡°The problem is, as Duke Wellington mentioned earlier, the explosion must happen after Avalon has passed through the 48th District.¡± A cold silence descended upon the control room. ¡°Wait¡­¡± ¡°Exactly. Someone, whether me or Izaro, will have to stay behind to trigger the explosion. And a few warriors will need to stay with us to fend off the demons, who will undoubtedly swarm us as soon as they realize what¡¯s happening.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Larze looked around the room with calm eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t lie and say this is a safe operation.¡± Even in the best-case scenario, where the demons¡¯ interference was minimal and there was enough time to escape before the core exploded, it wouldn¡¯t change the fact that they¡¯d be stranded in the heart of the demonic realm. ¡°Avalon will already be far away by then.¡± But even with all these risks and sacrifices, this was an operation that was hard to refuse. The benefits would be enormous if the n seeded and the core absorbed and exploded with the 48th District¡¯s demonic energy. First, the immense loss of demonic energy would further weaken the Demon King¡¯s descent. Moreover, with the demonic energy destined for the 49th District gone, breaking through to the 49th District would be much easier. There was even a chance that more than just half of the forces would make it to the 50th District, as initially expected. ¡­Though the team would be sacrificed. ¡°So, Captain?¡± Larze looked at the Hero with an expression that showed she was curious about his decision, leaving him with a final word. ¡°Please give your orders.¡± The Hero remained silent, staring at the holographic map deep in thought. He finally spoke just as the ck rain of the 48th District began to batter Avalon¡¯s barrier. ¡°Very well. We¡¯ll adopt the operation.¡± His unusually decisive eptance left some with puzzled expressions, but the Hero continued in a firm tone, making it clear he wouldn¡¯t entertain any objections. ¡°From now on, we¡¯ll select the team.¡± * * * The selection of the team was quicker than expected. All the members were volunteers, and the Hero personally approved them. There was significant dissatisfaction regarding the selection, but there was no time to argue further. ¡°Everyone, to your positions!¡± As Avalon fully entered the center of the 48th District, the demons, as Larze had predicted,unched their attack with small but powerful guerri forces. Scree-e-eech¡ª Boom! Purple demonic shells rained down on Avalon from beyond the demonic clouds. The demons'' strategy was clear: bombard the barrier with long-range demonic artillery to weaken it and thennd on the deck when they saw an opportunity. In the demonic energyden clouds, they had an almost infinite ability to recover demonic energy. They nned to pour all their firepower into overwhelming the warriors and then devour the remnants of the team. ¡°A ground battle will break out soon. Defend yourselves as best you can, but conserve your strength!¡± On the human side, the focus was on defending critical equipment. As the barrier shrank, Avalon¡¯s exterior became exposed. Crash! Boom! The turrets were destroyed one by one. All the equipment, except for the main cannons and detection systems, began to suffer damage. The once smooth and sturdy armor was torn apart and corroded by the rain. Yet, not a single person¡¯s expression wavered. ¡®It¡¯s fine as long as we keep moving.¡¯ Their only focus was on enduring, drawing all attention, and pushing through the 48th District, remembering their mission amid the chaos. The deafening sounds of shells striking, the vibrations, the shing warning lights, the ear-splitting rms, and the endless sound of rain. Amid this turmoil, the Emperor looked at the leader of the team. It was nearly time for the team to be deployed. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll entrust this to you.¡± In the Emperor¡¯s hand was an artifact that had been passed down through the imperial family¡ªa gift from Zero to the first Emperor, who had been his friend. It was an artifact that had protected the Emperor, the human rallying point, from countless assassination attempts by demons and their coborators. The selected members stared in awe at the legendary artifact. Unlike a typical crown adorned with various sizes of diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds, this crown was made entirely of an unknown pale-white mineral. However, intricately detailed magic circles were etched into its non-reflective surface in fine patterns. Its name was the Crown of Governance. The artifact created a formidable concealment field that protected its owner and those nearby. The Emperor slowly extended her hand and ced the crown on the leader''s head. The strange scene, resembling a throne transfer, left the people in the chamber holding their breath. ¡°As only the imperial bloodline can activate it, I must apologize for activating it now.¡± The jewels on the crown shone brightly for a moment, illuminating the surroundings. When the light faded, there was nothing¡ªno trace, no presence. The Emperor clenched her teeth and stared at the empty space as she spoke. ¡°You have 30 minutes. Reach the stake by then.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°You stubborn fool. You idiot.¡± At the moment the Emperor, unable to contain herself, spat out curses, forgetting all decorum¡ª ng¡ª The hatch opened with a hiss ofpressed air. Simultaneously, a low voice came from the empty space. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Ten seconds passed. The Emperor stood still, gazing at the ck rain before turning away. ng! The hatch closed. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 314: Chapter 314: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ After the group of 48 left with their stakes in a desperate mission, Euphemia, who had been observing the movements of the demonic guerris, issued the nextmand. ¡°Everyone, take a rest, leaving only the minimum personnel required for interception and defense.¡± The children, who had been gripping the controls tightly under the Emperor''s orders, finally let go. In truth, there was no longer any point in controlling the turrets. The demonic bombardment destroyed most of the weapon modules, except for the main gun and a few intercept turrets. Rather than expending their focus trying to hit the advanced demons flying beyond the demonic clouds (who, ording to Larze''s spection, had grown stronger by absorbing lower-ranked entities) with their remaining weapons, it would be better to prepare for the inevitable assault on the deck. Thus, the crew in the control room headed to the battle-ready room. The room was filled with supplies prepared for the imminent battle. Noubelmag and the cksmiths crafted additional auxiliary weapons and gear, as well as maintenance materials, herbs cultivated directly by Arpheus, and alchemist potions. Protective clothing and masks were also avable, more than sufficient for the number of people. After briefly inspecting the items, the crew gathered in small groups or isted themselves in corners, each reflecting on the uing battle. ¡°¡­This feels really strange,¡± Karen muttered as she let go of her bowstring after testing it a few times. Evergreen, who was with her, asked, ¡°What does?¡± ¡°Just¡­ I feel weird. In a few hours, we''ll be seeing the Demon King''s Castle with our own eyes.¡± Luke, who was always by Evergreen''s side, joined the conversation. ¡°¡­If the operation goes well, that is.¡± ¡°The operation will go well. The professor is going personally. The problem is¡­.¡± Karen''s ck eyes swept across the quiet battle-ready room before fixing on the ceiling. Even through the thick armor and barriers, the powerful demonic energy of the demons could be felt vividly. ¡°It¡¯s us. We have to hold out. Even if the strike team sessfully detonates the stakes, if the main force is annihted¡­ Ugh, damn it. Forget I said that.¡± ¡°Karen¡­.¡± Seeing Evergreen¡¯s worried expression, Karen forced augh and waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Before I say anything more useless, I¡¯d better go feed Shadow. You two enjoy your time together.¡± With that, Evergreen and Luke were left alone. The other children, perhaps out of respect for the couple''s time, deliberately kept their distance. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± They put down the weapons they had been fidgeting with meaninglessly and looked at each other. Crimson eyes met emerald ones. Soon, without anyone leading, both smiled faintly. Evergreen was the first to speak. ¡°Like Karen said, it feels strange.¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m more nervous than when I took on my first solo contract.¡± Evergreen''s eyes gleamed with interest. It was rare for Luke to bring up his days as a mercenary. She asked cautiously, ¡°What was the contract?¡± ¡°It was nothing special¡­ Just to find and bring back someone who had disappeared.¡± His first solo contract. It was, in fact, one dictated by the mercenary group''s rules. The mission was to track down a deserter, capture them, and then bring them back to camp, where they would be executed in front of everyone. He remembered the night before he set out, unable to sleep, tossing and turning with mixed emotions. His exnation omitted crucial details, but Evergreen pulled Luke¡¯s head into her arms and gently patted him for some reason. ¡°You must have gone through a lot.¡± ¡°¡­Evergreen.¡± ¡°This is a secret, but¡­ do you remember when the pre-orientation happened 4 years ago? Remember?¡± Luke shook his head. He had been on a mission at that time and hadn¡¯t attended. ¡°I got lost after going to the bathroom and wandered around for ages. I would have missed the entire pre-orientation if it weren¡¯t for the servant I ran into. I was such an idiot.¡± Luke chuckled softly. Evergreenughed along. ¡°That¡¯s too bad. If I¡¯d shown you the way back then, I could have made a move on you early. Wouldn¡¯t that have made the start of the school year more fun?¡± ¡°Dream on. The old you would have thought, ¡®Who¡¯s this hick?¡¯ and ignored me. You were always grumbling.¡± ¡­At least, that was how he was until the auction house incident. Back then, he thought of his peers as nothing more than flowers grown in a greenhouse and believed he was the only one who had lived through misery. But as it turned out, they all had scars and pasts as painful as his own. He had learned a lot and had grown to resemble them through that process. ¡°¡­Can you forget it?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Please.¡± Evergreen''s eyes narrowed yfully. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it if you kiss me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy.¡± With that, Luke, who had been leaning on her shoulder, turned his head and kissed Evergreen on the forehead and then on the lips. Evergreen chuckled as if she couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°You used to be so nervous, taking up three minutes just to do that. Time sure flies.¡± ¡°Evergreen¡­ please.¡± Evergreen smiled softly. Luke''s head shook with herughter, and soon, the tremor grew more intense. Evergreen ran her hand through Luke''s jet-ck hair. ¡°Anyway¡­ that country bumpkin who used to get lost in big buildings is now marching right up to the Demon King¡¯s Castle.¡± ¡°¡­So how do you feel about it?¡± ¡°Well¡­ you said you were nervous. I guess¡­.¡± Evergreen ced her hand over her heart. ¡°My heart is calmer than I expected.¡± Luke tilted his head in surprise. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Hmm, maybe because I¡¯ve already achieved everything I wanted?¡± ¡°Everything you wanted?¡± ¡°Remember the dream?¡± The illusionary artifact the hero used during freshman year. Of course, he remembered. ¡°Back then, because I was the first to undergo the counseling, everyone asked what kind of dream I saw.¡± ¡°Yeah, I remember.¡± On the other hand, Luke had been thest to be counseled due to Ravias'' summons. ¡°I told them I saw a peaceful Solintail.¡± ¡°Yeah. A ce with no monsters attacking every day, no vigers crying over lost children, no smell of burning corpses¡­ just a beautiful meadow with a gentle breeze. I had a long, peaceful conversation with the professor there. At the time, I thought I was just homesick, but in hindsight, that was my dream and my wish.¡± Her voice, filled with nostalgia for those days, made Luke listen in silence. Evergreen¡¯s hand gently stroked his hair again. ¡­and he, too, felt a strange sense that he would miss this moment dearly one day. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you. Everything.¡± ¡°Evergreen.¡± ¡°I never imagined you were serious when you said you¡¯d handle my contract for free.¡± ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Luke handed over Ravias¡¯ mercenary group three years ago to one of his subordinates. With just one condition. Evergreen continued speaking calmly. "If we fail this mission, peace will vanish like a mirage. But for now, the mere fact that no bad news has arrived from home is enough to let me breathe easier." "That''s a relief." "Yeah. After all, that was the whole reason I enrolled in the academy in the first ce." Evergreen let out a soft sigh before continuing. "It''s a bit pathetic, isn''t it? To be so relieved just because things have improved for my territory." Luke quickly shook his head. "Why would you say that? You''ve fought hard for everyone." "I''m not a hero like the professor, Luciel, Ban, or the others... and maybe Ick your broad-mindedness." It was then that Evergreen''s tone changed. "But at some point, I started to have other desires." Luke slowly straightened up at that. "...What kind of desires?" "The desire to see your dreamse true." "My dreams?" Evergreen took Luke''s hand and spoke. "The vision you saw in your dream. Standing beneath the triumphal arch, being celebrated as a hero... with more and more people recognizing your achievements, receiving everyone''s love and respect in the light." Luke was momentarily at a loss for words. It was because Evergreen remembered something they had talked about in passing with such vivid detail. "You said you felt embarrassed, calling yourself a dreamer, but I actually thought your dream was amazing. You always felt like a flower blooming in the mud to me." Amazing... a flower blooming in the mud? That kind of praise suited others far more than him. It was just a childish wish. A projection of his desire not to die as a mere mercenary, as Ravias had wanted. Luke awkwardly shook his head. "Evergreen!" Karen appeared, panting, with Shadow in tow, waving her hand. "Lord Gilhaim wants to see you for a moment." Gilhaim was the leader of the elves dispatched from the great forest. Since they were both archers, it seemed he wanted to discuss strategy with Evergreen. Evergreen smiled faintly as she stood up. "I''ll be back." "...Okay." Watching Evergreen''s figure fade into the distance, Luke murmured to himself without realizing it. "My dream changed a long time ago." ...And he would strive to make that dreame true. . . . The full-scale assault by the demons began three minutester. * * * Swoooosh¡ª Beneath the camouge created by the Crown of Governance. The assault unit advanced toward the stakes like ghosts. Tat-tat-tat¡ª Though they were sprinting at full speed with heavy equipment, the wet ground made almost no sound. A massive, grotesquely shaped structure towering in the center of the 48th sector loomed over them. "Ten minutes to the target." Heavy ck raindrops pounded relentlessly on the camouge. As expected of an artifact meant to ensure the emperor''s safety, the camouge blocked a significant portion of the demonic energy. Amidst the harsh and sharp friction sounds, only the rhythmic breathing echoed. "Increase speed." At the Hero''smand, the assault unit quickened their pace. Larze and Izaro at the rear also elerated their flying magic. As the tension built, as if it were about to burst, Larze''s slow voice pierced everyone''s ears. "It''s started." At those words, the assault unit''s eyes all turned to a single point, as if on cue. Avalon. Of course, they had advanced far enough that the distance was considerable, but none of them had the limitations of ordinary vision. Each one''s mana surged into their eyes. Swoooosh¡ª In that moment, when only the sound of rain was loud, like the calm before the storm, a sharp, piercing sound rang out. Screeeeech¡ª! Demons of various sizes descended like lightning, tearing through the ck clouds. Boom-boom-boom¡ª! Some of the turrets activated, forming an anti-aircraft barrage, but it was not enough. Amidst the shes of cannon fire, fierce shadows flickered. It looked like a bird of prey, swooping down to snatch its prey. "Looks like the legionmanders have arrived too." Even in this thick storm of demonic energy, the two intense presences could be nothing other than them. The 4th Legion Commander, Meragon the Priest of Solitude, and the 5th Legion Commander, Astaon the Schr of Madness. ...BOOOOM! A faint explosion, apanied by a sh of light so bright it was visible even from this distance, erupted from Avalon''s deck. The battle had begun. For the assault unit, who had left behind their loved ones, it was a scene that made it difficult to move on. "...Don''t worry. Once we start detonating the core, over half of them wille rushing over here." It was only after Larze''s non-consoling constion that everyone could turn their eyes away. She set aside her usual yful demeanor and spoke in a businesslike manner. "Don''t forget. It''ll take about an hour to properly rig the core to explode." Even with the help of the Hero and Izaro, who had replicated the essence of the magicians, that was the best they could do. In the meantime, the rest of the assault unit had to protect them at the entrance to the stake. "That''s not all." The Hero took over Larze''s words and spoke up. "Rigging the core to explode is just the beginning." It was the start of their escape n. "We need to be out of the st range within ten minutes. Even at full speed, it''s going to be a close call." And they had to do this while cutting through the demons and monsters swarming at them. After that, they had to break through the demon realm on foot and catch up to the advancing Avalon. It was a series of impossibly difficult operations stacked on top of each other. But the faces of the volunteers showed no trace of despair or resentment. Only the determination to seed in this mission. "......" The Hero gazed at each of them, silently reciting their names. Larze. Izaro. Maktania. Zion. Leciel. Arpheus. Yussi. "Alright, then..." The Hero''s eyes focused forward again. "Let''s go in." The entrance to the stake was right in front of them. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 315: Chapter 315: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ While the majority of the demon forces were focused on attacking Avalon, a minimum defense force was still left at the stake. The stake itself had high defensive capabilities due to its inherent strength. However, the movements of the assault team breaking through were precise and intricate, as if they had been perfectly synchronized for a long time. This was thanks to the hero who had ''understood'' them through replication and could utilize their abilities in the most effective way.A low hum echoed as Izaro''s magic spread throughout the stake, identifying and disabling the traps located all over. The sharp tendrils hidden in the walls, the acidic liquid held in the ceiling, and the spikes and pits on the floor were all neutralized. Meanwhile, Larze focused on blocking the stake¡¯s surveince systems from sending any signals outside. Once the stake waspletely isted, the hero''s quiet voice resonated. "Charge." Zion and Leciel led the way. Without a word, they sprinted towards the entrance of the stake. Their speed was almost equal until suddenly, Leciel surged ahead. It was a reckless charge with no intention of hiding her presence. She quickly descended to the lowest floor of the stake. Creak. Sensing the presence, a horde of monsters spilled into the corridor. Leciel''s red eyes calmed. "Leciel, be careful¡­." Before Arpheus could finish his sentence, the shape-shifter transformed into the form of a rapier, and an overwhelming disy of quick swordsmanship unfolded. Bang! Dozens of sword shadows pierced through critical points from multiple directions in an instant. The speed was so fast that the sound of wind being sliced followed only after the swords had already struck. All the monsters in the path copsed to the ground, spraying ck blood without even having a chance to counter or defend. Each one had been precisely stabbed in their vital points. The swift swordsmanship had pierced through the monsters¡¯plex bones and tough hide in the blink of an eye. The most astonishing part was that her running speed hadn¡¯t slowed down at all. To those watching, it looked as if the monsters simply fell like straw dolls as Leciel ran by. Even the monsters'' unique regenerative abilities were useless. Yussi, who had raised her hand to assist, slowly lowered it again. ¡°Wow, she even mastered alchemy quickly.¡± Crimson mes, which Yussi had taught her through battle alchemy, fiercely ignited using the monsters'' ck blood as fuel. Under the light that now illuminated the inside of the stake like a torch, the rest of the assault team entered. Their destination was the top floor where the core was located. She abruptly halted as Leciel stepped onto the stairs leading to the upper floors. ¡°...More areing!¡± Her voice echoed. Everyone¡¯s gaze shifted upward. The structure of the stake was as follows: the center was a hollow cylindrical shape, surrounded by circryers of dozens of floors. The problem was that the defense forces on each floor were now rushing towards them from the corridors, stairs, and even the walls. Some were jumping, some flying, and others crawling. ¡°There are more than I thought?¡± ¡°They must have pulled the small fry over here.¡± There were even a few demons among them, all looking bewildered at the situation. In a time when they should have been heading towards the 50th Sector, the sudden attack on the stake made no sense. ¡°Whew¡­¡± Watching them, Arpheus took a deep breath and drew his sword. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do this.¡± Arpheus had volunteered for this mission with a purpose. Recently, he hade to realize just how foolish his dream of bing a future hero had been, thanks to witnessing the doppelganger and its disciples. ¡®I aimed for something beyond my reach¡­ something too high.¡¯ But that didn¡¯t mean he intended to give up fighting. Boarding Avalon and volunteering for this mission were proof of that. ¡®If I give up everything and return to the Great Mountain Range, I might survive longer.¡¯ But that would mean returning to the life of a fearful bastard child, trembling as he ran from his father. An end to a life that was constantly dragged around by circumstances. He was tired of such misery. Now, he had resolved to face the shadow cast by his fate head-on. ¡®Well, bing a renowned hero would be fine too.¡¯ He decided to chase a new, more realistic goal. ¡°Alright,e at us!¡± With Arpheus¡¯s bold shout, the assault team gathered in a wedge formation and began to charge upward. The hero, however, was nowhere to be seen among them. . . . Meanwhile, the hero, along with Maktania, Izaro, and Larze, was heading for the top floor of the stake¡ªnot from the inside, but from the outside. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry. We need to reach it before they notice.¡± This had been the n from the start. A straightforward assault from the bottom floor would be a waste of time. So, the moment the hero gave the order to charge, he turned back, exited the stake, and scaled its outer wall. While the assault team drew attention, he aimed to reach the core on the top floor first¡ªa simple diversion tactic. Swaaash. Izaro and Larze soared upward using flight magic, while Maktania flew by manifesting wings. The hero, utilizing the unique power of the "Domain" granted by the ck Hope, was already ahead of them. ¡°We¡¯re almost at the top floor. Be ready.¡± Maktania sped up as she spoke. ¡°Malekia will be conducting the summoning ritual at the 50th Sector, so probably one of his demon subordinates will be guarding the core.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± The hero nodded and elerated further,nding at the top of the stake. Everything on the ground looked smaller than toys from this height, but all that was visible were the dark rain and clouds. After briefly ncing in the direction where Avalon might be, the hero raised the ck Hope high. ¡°Well then.¡± nk. The great sword pierced the rooftop. Massive energy surged through the de. A resplendent light, rising from the darkness, slowly converged into a pure white hue. Condense¡¤Halo. The hero unleashed the powerful energy swirling around him through the tip of the sword, and¡ª Boom! The white sword aura shattered the stake¡¯s solid outer wall, creating a Larze hole leading to the top floor. Izaro muttered in quiet admiration. ¡°¡­No need for destructive magic, it seems.¡± The hero sheathed his sword and nodded his head. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll go in first.¡± With a light movement, the hero leaped andnded on the top floor. He immediately began surveying the area. His gray eyes trembled slightly. ¡°¡­Hah.¡± The 48th sector was Malekia¡¯s domain. Therefore, the top floor of this stake must be where she usually resided. The hero noticed something protruding through the ceiling debris. ¡®Are these all torture devices¡­?¡¯ Malekia, the Queen of Agony. It seemed she had collected every torture device in existence in this room. From familiar tools like shackles, scissors, tongs, and branding irons to grotesque items whose purpose was impossible to guess. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ The walls and floor were stained with bloodstains that appeared to have been left deliberately. And then¡­. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The hero came face-to-face with someone¡¯s face, twisted in fear and horror. A face he recognized. He couldn¡¯t not recognize it. Even if they weren¡¯t personally acquainted, he was also a member of the Dawn Knights. ¡®¡­So she disyed it.¡¯ The hero had learned of Malekia¡¯s twisted hobbies. She captured strong enemies alive, tortured them, and, at the moment their pain reached its peak, severed their heads and preserved them, keeping them in her chamber. Those who followed him were momentarily speechless at the sight of the countless heads on disy. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Maktania clicked her tongue, saying, ¡°I knew these beings shouldn¡¯t exist.¡± Larze sighed and looked away, remarking briefly, ¡°Is this supposed to be fun? How childish.¡± While Izaro¡¯s face darkened with renewed hatred for Malekia. Izaro, who shared some of Zero¡¯s memories. It was likely that many of his old acquaintances had met simr fates at Malekia¡¯s hands. ¡°But you know what?¡± Fwoosh¡ª Larze burned the heads to ash with a burst of mes and murmured as he watched the ashes scatter. ¡°There¡¯s no one guarding the core?¡± At those words, everyone¡¯s gaze turned to the center of the vast room. A massive structure resembling a heart was pulsating. Thump¡ª Thump¡ª The core, ck and red veins contracting and expanding like a living organism, squirmed. Even the strongest squad members felt their breath catch at the overwhelming demonic energy swirling nearby. Then, the hero, who had been standing still, suddenly drew his sword. ¡°¡­Found you.¡± ¨‹ Activating Infinite Style Second Form: Unity. ¡ø ¨‹ Activating Salvation ritual Fifth Form: Horizon. ¡ø Vwoooom¡ª A blue scabbard of magic materialized in the air. Before the others could even widen their eyes in surprise¡ª Boom! A massive sword shot out of the scabbard with invisible speed as a magical explosion urred within. ¡­And a sharp scream echoed from a ce where nothing had been. ¡°Graaah!¡± A demon, split in two, fell to the floor with a st. It was another familiar face. The Demon of Deception, Okultus. One of Malekia¡¯s top-tier demons who had attacked the children during the northern assault. True to his lineage of Agony, he had formidable regenerative abilities, and despite being split in half, he let out a furious roar. ¡°You vermin!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You dare intrude in the Queen¡¯s chamber¡­.¡± He couldn¡¯t finish his sentence. Boom! Maktania¡¯s foot, wrapped in light, crushed his head. ¡°Queen, my foot.¡± She then looked at the hero with sparkling eyes. ¡°How did you know? That guy¡¯s concealment skills were impressive.¡± ¡°The way the ashes scattered looked unnatural.¡± ¡°Hooh¡­.¡± Maktania marveled. Not only was his observation sharp, but his power was also impressive. To take down a top-tier demon in a single strike. Though his former, weaker self had been endearing, his now overwhelming strength was quite admirable. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± As the hero awkwardly sidestepped her intense gaze, Larze stretched and pointed at the core. ¡°Well, now that the hindrance is gone, let¡¯s get started.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s hurry.¡± The hero nodded. A monocle in front of his left eye shed with light. ¨‹ essing stored information: ¡®Core Structure, Principles, and Applications.¡¯ essing stored information: ¡®On Artificial Cores.¡¯ These are entries saved by the previous user, Zero Requiem. ¡ø Things were different now. The hero, acknowledged as a true savior, had been granted ess to most of the information in the collective database. Knowledge Zero had gained while detonating the Demon King¡¯s castle core appeared as tiny text in one corner of his vision. It would be invaluable in manipting the core. This was one of the reasons he had to be here personally. As he finished his preparations, Larze grinned and asked, ¡°So which magician are you going to replicate?¡± Suddenly, ??? interrupted. [Izaro is out. For some reason, it¡¯s impossible to replicate him fully.] ¡®I¡¯m aware.¡¯ Zero, Rosalyn, Izaro. None of them were candidates for replication. Replicating Zero was entirely impossible, and while Rosalyn and Izaro¡¯s appearances could be copied, their abilities and memories were blocked. That was likely due to measures Zero had taken. In the end, the choice was clear. ¨‹ Selected individual: Larze Gion for replication¡­. ¡ø Larze grinned broadly. ¡°You chose the best.¡± By the time the hero finished his preparations, Izaro was already examining the core. A task so massive that it would require thebined efforts of three grand mages. Maktania readied her holy power to block the demonic poison that would require their full focus and magic. ¡°Then, let¡¯s begin.¡± As the hero¡¯s words fell, massive waves of magic poured from the three and burrowed into the core. The core throbbed violently as if struck by a hammer. Rumble¡ª! Soon, a deafening roar filled the air, and the entire stake¡­ no, the entire 48th sector, began to shake. The hero murmured quietly, ¡°Now¡­ What will you do?¡± He directed his words at the elite demons fighting Avalon. If they sensed something was wrong with the core and came here, it would mean letting Avalon go, and if they continued attacking Avalon, it would mean allowing the explosion to proceed. A choice between two options. Whatever their decision¡­. ¡°Now it¡¯s your turn to take some losses!¡± Larze shouted joyfully. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 316: Chapter 316: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ 30 minutes ago, Avalon. Red warning lights flickered inside the fortress as a dry voice echoed through the air. [Warning! Enemy drop detected. Assessing the number of enemy units.] Thebat personnel, already on standby, gripped their weapons tightly. [Detected: Over a hundred high-level demons. Analysis indicates two of them are of legionmander rank.] It was as Larze had predicted. The valuable demons had been infused with the demonic energy of the lesser ones, greatly empowering them. The 5th Legion Commander, Astaon the Schr of Madness, and the 4th Legion Commander, Meragon the Priest of Solitude, were leading the assault themselves. [The drop will bepleted shortly. All forces, prepare for immediatebat!] Viiiiing¡ª* Holograms of Avalon appeared throughout the interior. Red dots crowded around them. Euphemia, observing the scene, murmured softly. "They''re splitting their forces in half." Half of them were headed for the deck. They likely intended to destroy the turrets and various instations before scattering to infiltrate the interior. ¡®Their primary target is probably the engine room.¡¯ The other half were heading for the ground. They were aiming to disable the tracks and propulsion system¡ªthe means of Avalon¡¯s movement. These were the obvious targets for those who needed to dy Avalon¡¯s advance until the descent ritual wasplete. "What do you n to do?" At that moment, Noubelmag, who had just regained hisposure, approached, leaning on his staff as he asked the question. "There¡¯s the option of using the secret weapon here." But the Emperor decisively rejected the idea. "No, I intend to reserve that for when we face Theo and Malekia at the 50th sector." "Then, it¡¯s a full-scale battle... With the main forces pinned down, we must proceed with caution." Avalon''s forces still numbered around 200, twice as many as the enemy. However, if they engaged the enemy recklessly with their main forces depleted, the casualties would be significant. "...Yes, we must be cautious." "Then I¡¯ll head to the bunker with the technicians. Good luck." Euphemia nodded lightly. The conditions they needed to uphold in this battle were as follows: ¡®First, we must minimize damage to Avalon itself.¡¯ There were still 49 sectors remaining. Furthermore, they needed Avalon intact to face the legions of Theo and Malekia, who awaited them at the 50th sector. Along the same lines, they couldn¡¯t afford to lose too many troops. ¡®Even in the worst-case scenario, at least half must survive.¡¯ Finally, they needed to avoid slowing down their advance, whether due to the destruction of their means of movement or dys in escaping the core¡¯s explosion radius. Euphemia smiled bitterly. "The difficulty level is quite high." Even someone as ustomed to pressure as she was found it hard to breathe. But as she thought of her fallen friends, her breath gradually steadied. ¡®Was Ted always navigating such operations?¡¯ Her thoughts wandered further. ¡®And that guy, too.¡¯ When the doppelg?nger first approached the Imperial Pce to propose the "lie," Euphemia had found him unreliable. But now, he had led them to the doorstep of the Demon King''s castle. She couldn''t afford to show poor results to her two friends. The Emperor mentally reviewed the strategy that would satisfy all these conditions and finally raised his hand. "Alright, let''s begin." A calm voice followed. "Take your positions." * * * Flutter¡ª The demon, Kress, spread his massive wings and quickly circled around Avalon. His rough breath escaped between his teeth, which were clenched in jagged rows. "Hah... Hah." He was overwhelmed by the immense demonic energy boiling within him. This was thanks to having devoured countless lower-ranked monsters and demons. Though it wasn¡¯t as efficient, he now possessed several times his previous strength. However, Kress''s face showed more anxiety than joy. ¡®I must get inside this damned hunk of metal, and quickly.¡¯ The demons had abandoned any hope of survival from the outset,unching this assault. The power disparity was too severe. ¡®We can¡¯t possibly fight those monsters and elite humans with just our forces.¡¯ Their sole objective was to buy time. Therefore, he needed to get inside before the doppelg?nger appeared and sliced his head off. Initially, he had aimed for the main hatch on the deck. But that was already heavily guarded by the chieftain of the ice dragons, a wolf-mounted archer, and some fairies. After constructing a massive ice wall, they entrenched themselves for a prolonged siege. "Come at me, you weaklings! The daughter of Dorempa is right here!" "Volley fire! Let¡¯s add some arrows to decorate their horns!" Attacking recklessly would only waste time. So, the 4th Legion Commander ordered some of his troops to scatter and search the entirety of Avalon for an entrance. That¡¯s why Kress was now flying in circles around Avalon¡¯s massive hull. "You damned rats!" Kress hurled a magic st at the exterior wall in frustration. But whether it was the human magicians inside giving their all or the barrier was simply active, the shield remained intact. They might break through with enough time, but they didn¡¯t have that luxury. Kress¡¯s eyes darted back and forth frantically. ¡®¡­But it¡¯s quieter than I expected. Has the doppelg?nger not joined the battle yet?¡¯ ¡­It was at that moment. Fsss¡ª A hissing sound pierced through the noise of the battlefield, reaching Kress¡¯s ears. Startled, Kress turned to see a secondary hatch slowly opening on the side of Avalon. A small silhouette was sneaking out. They were likely heading to support the troops on the ground and the tracks. ¡®This is my chance!¡¯ Wooong¡ª Formidable demonic energy concentrated in Kress¡¯s wings. Like an eagle swooping down on its prey, Kress dived straight for the open hatch. "Bad luck for you!" ¡­Under normal circumstances, he might have been a bit more cautious. But fear that the doppelg?nger might show up and slice his head off, coupled with the anxiety of needing to stop Avalon as soon as possible, left him no room for rational thought. "Everyone, over here! I¡¯ll keep the entrance open!" Kress thought he was about to crush the girl¡¯s face with his talons. ¡­Or so he thought. "No use shouting. They won¡¯t hear you." Nyhill appeared, disappearing like a mirage before reappearing a few steps away. Only then did Kress realize that inertia had already carried him into the interior of the mobile fortress. Whoosh! The auxiliary hatch mmed shut behind him with a loud noise. "What¡­?" And before him stood... "Demon! Taste the sword of Wellington!" Lucas¡¯s sword, honed through years of relentless training to avoid disgrace before his friends. "Die!" "For the House of Montague!" "For Her Majesty!" And then, the swords of the nobles he led came pouring down. Kress fought back fiercely, releasing amplified demonic energy. But surrounded by five or six skilled knights, and with daggers flying in from blind spots, he couldn''t hold out to the end. ¡­Operation name: Venus Flytrap. Kressy down next to the body of a fellow demon who had been caught earlier. "You vile¡­." "Shut up! As if you''re any less vile?!" With Lucas''s roar of anger, recalling a truly ''vile'' act he had suffered years ago, Kress lost consciousness. . . . "Are there any seriously injured?" "No, sir." Lucas sighed in relief. It was indeed worth handpicking only the most outstanding knights. Despite having faced a high-ranking demon, all hade out with only minor injuries. ''Well, they are the best, after all.'' Though not quite on the level of the Dawn Knights, all of them were heroes renowned across thend even before Lucas ascended to the rank of Duke. The fact that he could lead them was due to his status. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Lucas looked at another key yer. "Nyhill, you worked hard too. Thanks to you, it was handled easily." She had taken on the dangerous task of luring the enemy, masked their presence and sound with magic, and even assisted in battle. "Are you hurt?" ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ "No." "Good, I''ll count on you next time too." "Sure." ¡­It seemed she didn''t want to continue the conversation. Lucas chuckled as he was about to start the hunt again. Thud¡ª Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed, and he quickly turned around. But Lucas''s raised sword lowered again. "Hey, Evergreen, Luke." It was the two who had been assigned to another auxiliary hatch on the same floor. Evergreen nced at the corpses on the floor and pped her hands. "I came to help, but it looks like you didn''t need it." "Ah, thanks. I''ll ask if I need it." In the past, Lucas would have ridiculed and looked down on Evergreen, a country noble, and Luke, a mercenary, but now his attitude had changed 180 degrees. The Enoch incident had a significant impact, but more so were the attitudes they showed afterward, which deeply moved him. Evergreen had consistently sent letters of concern and asionally organized drinking parties with their peers. Thanks to her, he was able to reconcile with and properly apologize to his estrangedrades. Luke was equally cool. ¡®You were really annoying back then. There were more than a few times I wanted to beat you up.¡¯ With a few words like that, he seemed to have let everything go and treated him kindly. Lucas was immensely grateful to both of them for many reasons. "So, how many have you taken down?" "Four." "Already?" "Two of them came in at once." Lucas was reminded once again of their exceptional talents. The surrounding knights were also quite impressed. "You two might have killed the most." "Who knows? Cuculli is on the deck, and¡­ more importantly, there''s Ban on the ground. I wouldn''t bet against him." "True. Ban and Leciel are a bit special." Lucas nodded. Ban had grown so much that Lucas felt foolish for ever being jealous of him. ''By now, even ten of me wouldn''t be a match for him.'' ???????? ??????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? [TL/N: ording to google trante this loosely trantes to, ¡°Tear apart thoughts, ignite all discrimination, awaken sleeping passion¡±.] Lucas continued speaking. "We might be able to wipe them out before they even reach the professor." ??????? ???????? ?????????: , ???????? ???????? ?????? [TL/N: ording to google trante this loosely trantes to, ¡°Silences that shake themselves: Come to the dominion of chaos.¡±] Luke shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows¡­ if they''ll keep going down this easily¡­." As Lucas continued the conversation, he suddenly felt a splitting headache. "Agh. But don''t you hear something strange?" "Sound? What sound?" "A muttering¡­." Luke looked puzzled at Lucas''s words. But it didn''t take long for his face to suddenly contort. ng! The sound of metal. Lucas stared in shock at the sword that was blocked right in front of his ribs. It would have pierced his heart if Luke hadn''t blocked it. "¡­Sir Janice?" The sword strike hade from one of his own knights standing right beside him. Dull eyes, lips moving incessantly, irregr breathing. Though the situation was hard to understand, Lucas''s ''intuition'' kicked in before ''understanding.'' "Psychic attack!" Before his shout even finished, numerous sword strikes flew around them. Some blocked, some struck. Amazingly, not a single drop of blood was shed, thanks to Luke and Nyhill deflecting all the strikes aimed at their allies. Luke then shouted, blocking in front of Evergreen. "Subdue them first!" So, Luke, Evergreen, Lucas, Nyhill, the four warriors in extreme, pushed and kicked the knights with blurry eyes as they retreated. "Snap out of it!" "Damn, they won''t listen!" Evergreen was the strongest among them. Her fists, strengthened by the immense draw force she used on her bow, left the knights sprawled on the ground like frogs,pletely incapacitated. Their helmets were dented as if a cannonball had hit them. Luke shuddered, and Lucas spoke, relieved but puzzled. "What the hell is this¡­?" No matter how strong the psychic attack, how could it control people so recklessly? This was an irrational phenomenon. But before Lucas could voice his thoughts, Thud¡ª Footsteps echoed from the dark corridor. Along with the iprehensible chant. ????? ?? ????? ?????, ???? ????? ?????????? [TL/N: This one loosely trantes to ¡°You are my offspring, go back to your roots.¡±] Hollow eyes gleamed from within the shadows. The group momentarily forgot to retreat and stared at the uninvited guest. Their heads turned as if drawn by invisible strings. "That is¡­." The first thing that caught their eyes was the bony, skeletal figure, barely covered by faded rags. A tall, towering figure, in stark contrast to its frail body. Because of this, it tilted its head as it looked at them. The extremely gaunt face gleamed with malevolent energy. Lucas whispered the identity in a low voice. "The 5th Legion Commander¡­." On that emaciated hand rested arge tome. Wuuuung¡ª The crimson light rising from the open pages softly illuminated the corridor. Its eyes darted between the book and the group. Thud¡ª The 5th Corps Commander, the Schr of Madness, Astaon, stood before them. In that brief moment, Lucas felt a shiver from the intense demonic energy emanating from him. "Damn it, no wonder the other demons were weaker than expected." Luke muttered under his breath. "Yeah¡­ the Legion Commanders must have absorbed the demonic energy. A lot more than their minions." "He''s much stronger than the 6th and 7th Corps Commanders, isn''t he?" "¡­Stop stating the obvious. Damn it, which idiot let him in through the auxiliary hatch?" Should they attack or retreat and bring reinforcements? As they hesitated, Astaon''s lips moved again. ???????? ??????: ????????? ?????? ??????? ? ???????? ?????? ? ????????? Still, the chant was iprehensible. But this time, the group understood its meaning. The mouths of the unconscious knights on the floor opened simultaneously and echoed the interpretation. "Breaking the chains of reason, I lead you to the sea of madness and the kingdom of chaos." Astaon''s finger pointed straight ahead. ???????? ??? "Go mad." ¡­It was aimed precisely at Luke. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 318: Chapter 318: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ The hero''s party safely returned to Avalon. Along the way, they spotted elite demons hastily heading toward the stake, but they were not dyed by them. "What on earth is happening...?" "Protect the core!""How could mere humans touch the great core of the demon world...?" The demons were in aplete panic, rushing toward the stake. They must have been desperate to stop the explosion. However, as Larze had dered, no such luck existed for them. The explosion urred precisely at the scheduled time, and unless they were exceptionally quick-witted, they were likely all caught in the st. "Perhaps only the demonmanders survived." Thanks to this, there were no further pursuits. Additionally, as expected, there were no disturbances as they passed through the 49th sector. The demonic energy had already dissipated. There were no monster hordes blocking their path. It seemed they nned to conserve their forces and confront them in the 50th sector. ...So, this is truly the final battle now. The hero turned his gaze toward the image showing the outside. At the edge of his view, the Demon King''s castle slowly came into sight. It was the first stake ever nted in this world. It was difficult to clearly discern its appearance just by looking, as a barrier, as dark red as dried blood, surrounded it. However, the hero, who had seen the castle once before through Zero''s memories, remembered its form vividly¡ªa bizarre structure that seemed it should not exist even in nightmares. "Ipletely understand if you''re lost in thought, but could you spare a moment?" The hero looked at Mother Ghost. Taking his gaze as permission, she began speaking without dy. "Then, I¡¯ll report the damage." Avalon suffered considerable damage while facing the elite demons without its main force. First of all, there wasn''t much left of the deck equipment. A few video orbs, the main cannon, and six turrets¡ªmost of the turrets were destroyed. The technicians were running around on the deck, trying to repair as much as possible, but it was uncertain if they could fix even one more before arrival. "...Next." The next report was on casualties. Half of the elves and northern tribes guarding the main hatch had died. Some of the royal guards, Shadows, and imperial knights assisting with defense also perished. Additionally, four members of the Dawn Knights, who had been defending the endless tracks on the ground, were killed. ording to Ban¡¯s report, the desperate demonsunched near-suicidal assaults on the endless tracks, and the fallen knights willingly sacrificed themselves to stop them. Now, only fourteen Dawn Knights remained. Arpheus''s confidants all perished. Just before entering the captain''s quarters, the hero had seen Arpheus muttering, with a bitter expression, "Thank you for following a deficient leader like me," as he looked at his subordinates covered in white cloth. Several magicians from the Tower, who had overexerted themselves in the engine room, were teetering on the brink of death from mana depletion. Injuries were rampant, and Barun, who was in charge of treatment, hadn¡¯t left the infirmary. Mother Ghost finished the report quickly and in a businesslike tone. "As harsh as it may sound..." "Yes, the damage is less than expected." "Yes, indeed. We are in a very favorable situation." Far more survived than their initial goal of half. If they hadn''t detonated the core and continued fighting until the final battle in the 50th sector, where all the demonic energy had gathered, they would have been half-destroyed before the Demon King''s descent. So, the strategy was correct. And it seeded. "......" But the hero couldn¡¯t simply be pleased. Nor could he feel sorrow. "...Good job. You may leave now." "Yes." Mother Ghost paused as she was about to leave the captain¡¯s quarters and looked back at the hero. He was leaning back in his chair, eyes closed. Suddenly, she realized that an emotion she would never understand was swirling inside him. "Shall I put a ''Do Not Disturb'' sign on the door for you?" The hero slightly opened one eye and smiled faintly. "Please do." . . . The faint sound of the fortress operating filled the captain''s quarters for a while. It was equally quiet outside. One hour to the entrance of the 50th sector. Thirty minutes until the scheduled assembly. Everyone was likely spending time on their own. ...The hero was no different. "......" Step¡ª After sitting still for a while, the hero slowly got up and approached a mirror in the corner of the captain''s quarters. He then set aside his true appearance, which he had maintained throughout the operation, and assumed the form of Ted. A familiar face reflected in the mirror: ash-colored hair and eyes, a peculiar atmospherebining an innately warm nature with the coldness forged by his role as a hero. The memory of standing in front of the mirror after first replicating him naturally came to mind. "...I think I can replicate you easily enough." When he showed such confidence, Ted smiled for the first time. "I hope you can." Looking back now, it was a ridiculous notion, but he really believed it at the time. Back then, Ted was quite a dull person. His speech, demeanor, habits, even his minor gestures¡ªall were static and simple. So the hero had arrogantly thought he could quickly y the perfect double. ¡®But...¡¯ The hero reached out to touch the mirror. ¡®Ten years wasn¡¯t enough.¡¯ It had been about ten years since he first met Ted. It had been four years since he decided to be the real hero. The hero let out a dryugh. ¡®...Only four years.¡¯ He had truly run without rest. Looking back, those were years of such intense and dense experiences that it felt suffocating. The hero quietly spoke while gazing into the mirror as he reflected on those memories. "In the end, I came in your ce." ...I came in your ce. With yourrades, with the bonds forged through what you gave me, and standing before the dream you had. The hero turned his gaze to the Demon King¡¯s castle, staring at it quietly. Nothing would feel like a waste if he could be here with Ted. If only he could show Ted that his dedication and suffering had finally borne fruit. If only he could show that nothing Ted did was in vain... just that. ¡®Then, what kind of expression would you have made?¡¯ At the very least, it would¡¯ve been an expression so splendid that the sorrowful face hest saw would be forgotten in an instant. Because of this, the hero couldn''t easily take his eyes off the mirror. [¡­In the end, you still act like a human.] "......" [If you''re a doppelganger, think like one.] Before the hero could ask about the strange words, the voice continued. [Do you think you came here in ce of that human? Not a chance.] The voice spoke calmly, as if stating an obvious fact. [You were brought here.] ...An audacious thought that only a doppelganger could entertain. The hero could onlyugh bitterly. "Is that so?" [Yes, so stop dwelling on that friend of yours inside you. A formidable foe awaits you just ahead.] The hero slowly averted his gaze from the mirror. "That''s an unusually good point." [I''ve always made good points.] Knock, knock¡ª The sound of knocking was heard just as their conversation was wrapping up. Only one person would knock despite the "Do Not Disturb" sign. "Eupehmia." "You...?" Euphemia was momentarily surprised to see him in Ted''s form. Then, as if she was about to say something, she opened her mouth... but ended up smiling faintly instead. "Are you going to fight in that form?" The hero hesitated before shaking his head and releasing his polymorph. "No. I want to fight as myself." "Yes, I think that''s the right choice." Euphemia said as she reached out and lightly grasped the hero''s wrist. "It''s time to go. Everyone''s gathered." "Is it that time already?" ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ "Yes, the main character shouldn''t be absent from such an asion." "You..." A sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. She had said it to him at the victory celebration after Ted''s death, as she sent him onto the stage. She was the emperor who smiled slyly, perhaps choosing the same words deliberately. "Let''s go to the end of this long deception." Indeed. The hero firmly grasped her hand in return. It was time to bring everyone to a happy ending. * * * At the edge of the 50th sector. The Demon King''s castle, shrouded in a crimson barrier, stood as the backdrop for the assembled demon army. The Malekia''s legion, the minions of pain, presented their irond, highly regenerative bodies at the front. Behind them stood the undead army that Theo had absorbed from Yol. The sound of bones creaking echoed simultaneously. The green glow emanating from their empty eye sockets shone eerily in the darkness. Malekia and Theo had not yet shown themselves. They were likely pouring all their efforts intopleting the descent ritual in the Demon King''s castle. Instead, the 4th and 5thmanders, who had barely escaped the explosion of the 48th sector, stood at the forefront, ring coldly at the approaching Avalon. The total strength of the enemy forces was estimated to be around 30,000. And they were all enhanced by the dark magic. ...Hostile gazes filled with malice poured onto the approaching Avalon as if they had physical weight. On the other hand, the assault unit was barely 200 strong. They stood on the deck, perfectly aligned, facing the demon army. In ten minutes, they would collide with the enemy''s vanguard. The man at the front spoke at that moment. "Avalon, prepare for the final battle." [Final battle mode activated.] [Switching all systems to maximum output. Preparing for directbat with the enemy. Switching to melee mode, initiating closebat systems.] A clear voice resounded. [Best of luck to everyone.] Even with all the turrets destroyed, Avalon was far from useless. Whirrrrr¡ª! The debris of the destroyed turrets detached and were discarded to the ground. In their ce, various barricades, camouges, smoke generators, and bunkers took over. Avalon was being fortified for closebat. "Everyone, to your positions!" Without hesitation, the assault unit members ran to their designated spots, while the hero watched them with hollow eyes. "......" There was no need to exin the final operation again. Everyone was already thoroughly familiar with it. They would prate the enemy''s core and send him into the Demon King''s castle. After he breached the castle, they would guard the entrance with their lives. ...It was a simple and straightforward n. The hero let out a low sigh. "Listen, everyone." It wasn''t a loud voice. It was a voice that could easily be drowned out by the sound of Avalon''s engines and the distant roars of the monsters. But the assault unit members all turned their gazes to the hero. No, they had been watching him from the start. "I''ve been watching over you all for hundreds of years." The hero''s words, revealing his inhuman nature once more, brought a flicker of surprise to the assault unit''s eyes. "I''ve witnessed the pain your parents endured during those long years." But as his next words followed, the curiosity quickly subsided. "It was no different from what their parents had to endure. And the generation before that was no exception either." "......" "What has your life been like?" The hero didn''t wait for an answer. There was no need to speak; it was clear their lives had been filled with pain. Each of them stood there, having ovee their own sorrows. Euphemia, the children, the Knights of Dawn, and all the other members of the assault unit were no different. They were here after leaving behind sorrows they shouldn''t have had to bear. Srring¡ª The hero raised the ck sword, ck Hope, high into the sky. Whoosh¡ª A surge of powerful magic erupted, and white mes engulfed the de. ck Hope shone brightly like a torch against the pitch-ck sky of the demon world. "The time hase to break that chain of evil." The suffering would end with this generation. "So that no more unjust sorrows and wounds remain." Barun, who had silently walked onto the deck, recited the creed of the Knights of Dawn. "...We shall be the dawn that dispels the cold night cast over this world." Srring¡ª The sound of metal echoed across the deck simultaneously. Everyone gripped their weapons tighter, their eyes fixed on the hero. The hero met each of their gazes and recalled the words of a certain someone that had lingered in his ears for the past four years. "Please, Ted Redymer, bring a future for humanity." ...Was he watching him? The hero looked at Hope, which shone with a radiant light. Beyond the flickering light, the towering Demon King''s castle loomed. But now, there was no longer any fear or hesitation. It felt like a fireball was rising up his throat. The hero shouted in the loudest voice he could muster. "For the glorious future that awaits us!" ...And for his noble friend, who fell too soon. At his shout, the assault unit eagerly responded with a collective roar, raising their weapons. "For the Empire!" "For Her Majesty the Emperor!" "Our leader is watching!" "Father!" "...Kids! Are you watching!" The hero lifted his head. A surge of exhration washed over him. The enemy was already within reach. The sound of growling monsters, the mor, the barrage of magic bullets, and the towering Demon King''s castle. Amidst it all, the hero felt as though he finally heard the long-awaited answer. "You can see this through to the end." And then the vanguard of the demon army crashed onto the deck like a wave. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 319: Chapter 319: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Everything was pitch ck. The thick, oppressive demonic energy was so dense that it obscured even the faces ofrades only a few meters away. Out of the darkness, tendrils, ws, and teeth emerged. The monsters, twisted to their extreme by the malevolent energy, had taken on the worst possible forms, far beyond anything human imagination could conceive. These nightmarish creatures charged at the death squad as if to devour them whole. ¡°Evergreen!¡± A tendril,ing from a blind spot, grabbed the ankle of a nimble girl and lifted her into the air. Evergreen was whisked dozens of meters up from the deck. Just before she could be mmed to the ground, Luke disyed superhuman strength and severed the tendril. Boom! But it wasn¡¯t over. As they fell, clinging to each other, teeth and ws rushed toward them, as ifpeting to strike first. They would have been in grave danger if the Hero had not sent a timely halo their way. ¡°Thank you, professor!¡± The overwhelming numerical disadvantage. Even facing a single one of these creatures could easily devastate a small vige, yet each member of the squad had to contend with more than a hundred. However, their resolve didn¡¯t falter. ¡°Get lost!¡± Even Evergreen, who had nearly be a corpse on the ground, wasted no time firing arrows at the monsters the moment she touched the earth. The others were no different. In the pitch darkness, facing the monstrous howls and stench of the creatures, they held their ground without flinching. The Hero¡¯s words echoed in their minds: ¡°It¡¯s time to break the cycle of evil.¡± ¡°For the glorious future ahead of us!¡± The few remaining elves naturally recalled the burning great forest. They remembered their families and neighbors, who turned to dust in Theo¡¯s hands, and the rotting World Tree along with their leader. Their grip on the bowstring didn¡¯t waver. The magicians from the Magic Tower were the same. They spent countless nights together for decades, researching and debating with their fellow magicians. Though they sometimes argued due to their stubbornness, they cherished one another. When those colleagues were brutally murdered and then reappeared before them as liches, they wept tears of blood. The once bright intellect and curiosity had vanished, leaving only decaying skeletons, casting destructive spells. ¡°Die!¡± ¡°Let it all out!¡± Even if it meant destroying their mana circles, they would see this through to the end. The magicians in the engine room crawled on the ground, pouring out their mana, while those on the deck unleashed magic with all their might. ¡°For Dorempa¡¯s revenge!¡± ¡°North Hail!¡± The northern demi-humans who lost their revered chieftain needed no prompting, and neither did the other humans. There wasn¡¯t a soul there who hadn¡¯t lost loved ones to the forces of evil. The root of all the misfortune they had experienced throughout their lives was always them. Now, they had a chance to root out that evil for the first andst time. No one wanted to retreat. Standing firm with their backs against each other, they held back the monsters like a breakwater. ¡°Hold on! We can¡¯t retreat!¡± ¡°This tragedy ends with our generation!¡± As the Hero hurried to provide support and ensure their survival, his gaze turned once more to the Demon King¡¯s Castle, shrouded in a crimson-ck barrier. Rumble! It wasn¡¯t far away. However, the atmosphere around the Demon King¡¯s Castle was so alien it felt like an entirely different world. The demonic energy rose like a tornado, connecting the ground and sky, with lightning shing inside, emitting a terrifying glow without pause. Each bolt seemedrge enough to engulf Avalon whole. But what was most frightening was the gradually emerging presence of the Demon King. Of course, the descent wasn¡¯tplete yet. However, everyone there could clearly feel the deep, dark presence slowly permeating the world. ¡°Two hours,¡± Larze whispered as she passed by the Hero. ¡°We have two hours to reach the front gate of the Demon King¡¯s Castle. Anyter, and we¡¯ll be toote.¡± She gauged the distance. Without the monsters¡¯ interference, it would be a journey of less than 30 minutes. But¡­. Whoosh! A gust of sword wind momentarily scattered the demonic energy, revealing Avalon¡¯s path forward. Screech! The monsters were literally throwing themselves to stop Avalon¡¯s advance. Flesh was ground up in the treads of the endless tracks, and even after being crushed, they continued to attack. The walls of corpses continued to form, forcing Avalon to st them apart with its main cannon to progress. And yet, themanders of the demon army had not even shown themselves. ¡®Time is running tight.¡¯ It might be necessary to disembark from Avalon. Going on foot would be faster. ¡®It¡¯ll consume more energy¡­ but it¡¯s better than arrivingte after the descent isplete.¡¯ As the Hero calcted the timing, familiar silhouettes suddenly leaped off the deck. ¡°Yaaah!¡± ¡°Clear the path! Hurry!¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ It¡¯s do or die!¡± It was the Lotus Knights. As the Hero looked at them in surprise, the Dawn Knights led by Yussi followed suit. Yussi grabbed the Hero¡¯s arm as she passed him. Her low voice followed. ¡°Let¡¯s go. To fulfill the captain¡¯s dream.¡± Their early charge had not been agreed upon with the Hero. It was much more dangerous than fighting with the support of Avalon. ¡­But in terms of ¡®reaching the Demon King¡¯s Castle quickly,¡¯ it was the most efficient. Vroom! As they fell to the ground with the Hero, Yussi raised her alchemy glove, glowing red-hot. The transmutation circle spun in a spiral, withplex symbols floating in the air. At the same time, a sphere of massive energy formed near theirnding point. Simultaneously, the elemental particles in the atmosphere responded to hermand and began to converge. Boom! A vortex of elements continuouslybined with a deafening roar. The sphere, emitting intense heat and light from a series of chemical reactions, rotated rapidly and shot forward. ¡°Run¡­.¡± A sh of light and mes. Dozens of gigantic monsters blocking their way instantly evaporated. It was a strike as powerful as a full-powered st from Avalon. Yussi, staggering for a moment, pushed the Hero¡¯s back. ¡°Run!¡± He had no intention of leaving her defenseless. This time, the Hero grabbed Yussi¡¯s wrist. ¡°You fool!¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°Save your strength. You can shoot that again, right?¡± ¡°¡­After a short rest.¡± ¡°Alright, rest. On my back.¡± The hero slung Yussi over his shoulder. At the same time, the Lotus Knights and the Dawn Knights charged into the open space. Karen, riding Shadow, was at the forefront. The mobility of the Rune Wolf was overwhelming. She shot forward in an instant, firing arrows wildly at the nearby monsters. ¡°Look here! You ugly bastards!¡± If Evergreen, with his high-tension longbow, boasted overwhelming destructive power, Karen was an archer who utilized a short bow for rapid fire and suppression. The monsters, quickly turned into pincushions, roared as they chased after her. The monsters that had momentarily scattered now regrouped. ¡°Uraaah!¡± Whenever monsters swarmed too close and put her in danger, Gerald, sitting behind her, would assist with his powerful spear techniques. Gerald, gripping the Shadow¡¯s body tightly with his legs, swung his spear like a windmill, shattering the tentacles and ws of the monsters in one go. Karen wouldn¡¯t want to admit it, but she had great synergy with Gerald, who delivered powerful strikes with each blow. As they sessfully herded the monsters and returned, they were met by the rapidly heating barrel of the main cannon. Woooooong¡ª ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Avalon squeezed out all his remaining magic. ¡°Shadow!¡± As the Rune Wolf sharply turned, the main cannon fired with a thunderous roar, spewing a magic bullet. Once again, the front line was sted open. The monsters hurriedly gathered to block the path, but... Crack-crack-crack¡ª Cuculli erected ice walls andid down ice sheets, slowing their movement. In the meantime, the children of the extreme squeezed into the gap. ¡°Professor! Go!¡± ¡°Leave this to us!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about anything!¡± Aileen, Karen, Gerald, and about twenty others. It seemed they had already reached an agreement among themselves. After assigning Leciel, Ban, Luke, Evergreen, and Cuculli to the hero, they rushed out to face the swarming monsters. ¡­Their still youthful faces showed no trace of hesitation. ¡°I want disciples who will see the end of these enemies with me.¡± Full circle. These were the words they remembered hearing before they even became the hero¡¯s disciples. At the time, they didn¡¯t understand the weight of those words at all. Their minds were filled only with the desire to serve the hero, the greatest of humanity, and to receive the benefits of that. But over the past few years, The children had experienced many things and changed. They finally realized what their talents, efforts, and the fruits of those efforts were all for. ¡®¡­This is the moment we¡¯ve longed for.¡¯ The hero, the light of this world and its only hope. At the same time, their proud teacher. It was enough just to send him to the Demon King¡¯s castle without a single scratch. Of course, it would have been better if they had the ability to stay with him until the end, but that was likely the role of another friend. The children of the extreme nced back once before charging toward the wave of monsters. Not just them, but other troops also began jumping down from Avalon one by one. It seemed they intended to clean up the pursuing monsters and follow closely behind. ¡­The hero¡¯s footsteps moved forward almost simultaneously. A rational decision. Cold logic. It was what he had emphasized to his disciples so many times. The best thing to do in this situation, the way to ensure the survival of the most of theirrades, was¡­ To stop the Demon King¡¯s descent as quickly as possible. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The weight of everyone¡¯s expectations and lives pressed down on him. His breath caught in his throat for a moment, but he couldn¡¯t stop. He mustn¡¯t stop. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The hero charged forward with his disciples. The enemies stepped forward, ensuring he wouldn¡¯t have to swing his sword once. Forming a wedge with the hero at the center, they charged forward. Luke and Ban shed through the monsters rushing head-on. Luke, in his chaotic form, wildly swung his greatsword, unleashing bursts of firepower, while Ban provided steady support with his stable swordsmanship. Leciel and Evergreen took charge of the rear. With powerful sniping, Evergreen held back therge monsters, and Leciel swiftly cut through their weak points before retreating. In the air, Cuculli, transformed into a dragon, was blocking the flying monsters. Her capable shaman brother, Waldif, was riding on her neck. Even while dealing with the flying monsters, the two of them asionally used magic to support the ground forces. The support troops from Avalon were also diligently catching up by now. Larze, Maktania, Izaro, Lucas¡­ The hero moved forward, receiving everyone¡¯s support. ¡°Professor, may you have a victorious return.¡± ¡°See you in a bit!¡± ¡°Thank you, always!¡± When themander of the Fifth Legion, the Schr of Madness, Astaon, blocked the path, Luke and Evergreen left the formation. ¡°Doppel! Just keep running straight!¡± It seemed Maktania intended to take on the Fourth Legion Commander, the Priest of Solitude Meragon. From that point on, the hero also had no choice but to step forward and wield his sword. He dashed forward, shing with his sword of hope in a state of near-transcendence. Reaching the Demon King¡¯s castle as quickly as possible. That was all that was left in his mind. Swoooooosh¡ª! Before he knew it, ck rain began to pour down, creating an eerie bnce with the red blood spreading beneath his feet. The hero desperately hoped that bnce would be broken, but no matter how much the sky roared with thunder, it didn¡¯t change. His breath caught in his throat once again. How much more must be paid as the price to reach peace? ¡°Professor! Go!¡± ¡°You must win!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Mother.¡± But he kept running. This world, which had lost its rationality and happiness and had only been groaning in prolonged agony. In that ce, ¡ö¡ö ran breathlessly. ¡°So, you¡¯vee this far.¡± ¡­A worn-out voice blocked his path. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 320: Chapter 320: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ At the Entrance of the Demon King''s Castle. Theo gazed at the man standing before him. Covered in dark blood and sweat, he stood precariously, with steam rising from his entire body. He looked more like a demon than a hero."¡­¡­." The crushing fatigue and pain weighed down on him. At a nce, he seemed on the brink of copse. But the moment Theo met his gaze, he instinctively took a step back. Srrng¡ª ck Hope pointed unwaveringly at Theo. At the same time, a raspy voice echoed in his ears. "Move." "...It¡¯s astonishing." Theo reluctantly admitted the formidable presence of this doppelg?nger. The unexpected early arrival of this being forced Theo and Malekia to abandon their ritual, meeting him here instead. It would have been interfered with if they continued the ritual, making the summoning even more iplete. The summoning would proceed, but their king wouldn¡¯t manifest in a satisfactory state. It would be a tremendous disservice and a disastrous mistake. What had initially seemed like an overwhelming victory had spiraled out of his control. "You¡¯ve ruined everything." Feigning the hero¡¯s survival to buy time, he had dragged the frontlines all the way to the Demon King¡¯s Castle¡ªa ce no human should have breached. The thread of humanity, which should have been severed long ago, had somehow clung on. "But now, this is the final act." Theo had already assessed his opponent¡¯s strength. His wrinkled fingers pointed at the hero''s face. "Aren''t you much weaker than before?" The demons believed the hero to be a doppelg?nger, an incarnation of a legendary hero from the First Era. They had no idea that Zero was actually a homunculus created from that hero¡¯s essence. To them, remembering how he once fought on equal terms with the Demon King, the hero''s current form seemedughable. Of course, he was strong enough to kill Yol and easily defeat the highest-ranking legionmanders...but facing the Demon King was a different matter. "Look." Theo turned his back to the Demon King¡¯s Castle and gazed at the battlefield that filled his view. Malekia, already transformed into a monstrous dragon, was fighting Cuculli in the sky. Ban and Leciel were on her back, assisting her. In the distance, Avalon was advancing slowly, belching ck smoke, while the vanguard struggled in a desperate fight against formidable foes. They were barely holding on now, but the situation would be increasingly dire as time passed. "The only way they survive this is if you defeat our lord." The hero, catching his breath, responded. "¡­Then there¡¯s no problem." Theo let out a harshugh. "You¡¯ve truly be human, haven¡¯t you, monster? Only humans always deceive themselves." ¡­And then, something unexpected happened. As soon as Theo finished speaking, he stepped aside, not intending to fight the hero. Thud¡ª Instead, he turned his attention to the three silhouettes approaching from behind. It was Izaro, Larze, and Yussi, all deeply hooded. Larze waved with a broad smile. "Hello, Theo. Long time no see?" Despite having been soundly defeated by Theo in the Great Forest, Larze seemedpletely unconcerned, exuding an air of ease. Feeling slightly annoyed, Theo frowned and gathered his demonic energy. "¡­Larze, stay focused. He¡¯s not an easy opponent." "Hmm, he seems easier than before, though?" Izaro and Larze also began to draw on all their magic. Alchemical forms floated around Yussi, rising into the air. Thud¡ª The hero nced at hisrades and then began walking the path Theo had cleared. The gate of the Demon King¡¯s Castle was now just ahead. "¡­¡­." The vast amount of demonic energy that had once surrounded the outside of the castle was now being drawn inside. There were no other demons or monsters to sense within the castle. It would be a battlefield between just two¡ªhimself and the soon-to-descend Demon King. This was truly the final battle. Theo muttered as he watched the hero move further away. "Enter and pay your respects to our lord." "¡­¡­." "You carry a small hope as you stand before that deep darkness. Then, you will realize what it is you are fighting against." Before the hero could respond, Larze snidely remarked. "Man, you sure talk a lot." At that moment, the magic gathered in Larze¡¯s hands exploded. Theo hastily cast a spell to defend himself¡­ "Aha, you''re scared, aren¡¯t you?" Wuuuung¡ª But Larze''s magic wasn¡¯t an attack. A soft blue light began to swirl around her fingertips. The light grew more intense and, as Larze finished her final incantation, shot up into the sky. Wuuuuung¡ª The once-dark sky parted as the ck clouds split. From between them, a glowing orb emerged. The rapidly growing orb unraveled into a gleaming thread, coloring the sky in a square shape. "¡­¡­?" Until that moment, no one had guessed what Larze¡¯s magic was for. Even Theo, who had raised his hand to counterattack, and Izaro, who was on the same side, could only look up in bewilderment. "¡­¡­." But the previously noisy battlefield fell silent when something appeared on the massive "screen" that had formed in the sky. Thud¡ª The hero walked toward the Demon King¡¯s Castle. Only his back was visible, so his expression couldn¡¯t be seen. But those who knew him could easily imagine it. Ten steps. Five steps. One step. With each step, it seemed as though the darkness of the world receded. Like aet streaking across a lightless sky. The Second Hero walked resolutely past the gates of the Demon King¡¯s Castle. The image wasrge and clear enough for everyone to see. For Euphemia, who was giving orders on the deck of Avalon. For Mother Ghost and Nyhill, who stood by her side. For Noubelmag and the engineers running around with hammers inside the heated hull. For the warriors desperately swinging their swords to protect their fallenrades. For the lovers facing the mad schr. For the only celestial being allied with the hero. For Cuculli, entangled with Malekia as they flew through the sky, and for Ban and Leciel with him. For the two heroes who had just barely defeated a colossal mutant and were climbing out of the 47th sector. ¡­And perhaps even for those watching from above¡ªthe deceased. "Waaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!" Finally, a tremendous roar echoed through the demonic realm. It wasn''t just any roar. It was a collective wish and power, condensed with humanity''s dreams and hopes. "..." In thest moment, the hero looked back. A deep smile crossed his lips. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ * * * Thud- The sound of boots hitting the cold floor echoed loudly. The chilly air prated to the bone, the endless corridors and stairs with stone walls and ck-and-white floors. The interior of the Demon King''s castle differed greatly from what Zero had seen. Except that the upper part, which was blown away by the explosion back then, had been neatly restored. [Hmm, it''s been a while.] ''...Did you fight the Demon King at the top of this ce?'' [Yes. We fought for days.] The exterior of the Demon King''s castle was a tower shape, not much different from the other stakes. But the inside was not the simple cylindrical structure that was always seen; it was really built as a "castle,"plex in its design. However, contrary to popr belief, there were no mountains of gold and silver treasures, no terrifying traps, no ominous sacrifices or altars. ...Yes. The Demon King''s castle, several timesrger than any other stake, waspletely empty. There wasn''t even any lighting, so it had to be illuminated by magic. He looked at the dark spaces the light could not reach and then turned away. It wasn''t ordinary darkness. The moment you stared at it, it felt as if your consciousness was scattering, being drawn into the endless shadows. Thud- He started walking again. ''This feels like... being left alone in the world?'' [It''s not entirely wrong. You could say that this ce is partly within the demon realm.] ''What about the descent?'' [It seems to be in the final stage. No more than 30 minutes before it manifests.] Thirty minutes. Perhaps because it was in the final stages of the descent, the overwhelming and intense presence of demonic energy that had been felt earlier was no longer there. Instead, it felt like the space itself was sinking, heavy and cold. [Where do you n to face it? I hope you''re not thinking of waiting quietly in this narrow corridor.] ''I''ll head to where it will descend.'' [The deepest part... I once fell there while fighting that bastard.] The moment ??? finished speaking, a series of images shed before his eyes. A massive space surrounded by pitch-ck walls. Arge throne ced on one side. The throne, made of solid ck stone, had no decorations. It seemed to be the Demon King''s chamber. [I''ll guide you.] ''Please do.'' As they headed toward the ce of descent, ??? and he had a few conversations. For example, something like this: [Do you think you can defeat that thing? I think it''s impossible.] ''It depends on the state in which it descends.'' [Ted couldn''t do it perfectly either. That''s a bit disappointing.] ''But I have your power now, so it should be fine.'' [You''re quick to acknowledge my greatness.] ...Or something like that. [It would''ve been interesting if you''d sided with the demons. After all, Polymorph is a catastrophic ability from a human''s perspective.] ''Zero would have cried in his grave.'' [Haha, just imagining it feels good. Maybe I should have joined hands with the Demon King?] He also asked a question. ''Come to think of it, you said Zero was your first ymate. What kind of rtionship did you have? Why did you spare him and let him live?'' [That''s... I''ll tell you if we survive this battle.] ''You''re dodging the question.'' The closer they got to the ce of descent, the fewer words were spoken. ''Do you have any regrets in your life?'' [Wouldn''t I?] ''That was a stupid question. I admit it.'' And so, just before our destination. He suddenly thought that it might have been a little lonely without ???. An existence that was his origin but lived apletely opposite life. It was then that ??? unexpectedly brought up something else. [I still don''t think your way of life is right.] ''Really?'' [...But I don''t think it''s entirely wrong anymore, either.] I chuckled. ''Is that so? I think your life was wrong, though.'' [...You bastard, always so smug.] ''I''m not saying I''m great. It was just a bit unfair, that''s all.'' Five minutes before the descent. Standing in front of the door leading to the deepest part of the Demon King''s castle, he reflected on the past years. ...No, ''years'' is an inurate expression. He reflected on the ''humans'' he had passed by. ''I was just a bit lucky, that''s all.'' Then he pushed open the final door. But the n to calmly prepare for the showdown over the next five minutes did note to fruition. The moment he stepped forward. Clink-! The Iris of Lace, which had been sitting in front of my left eye, shattered. ''...!?'' [What the!] It was at the same time. The voice he thought he''d never hear again pierced his ears. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 321: Chapter 321: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Darkness engulfed everything in the blink of an eye. Although no message appeared due to the shattering of Iris of Lace, he immediately grasped what was happening. The situation was identical to when he first visited the Library of Memories to view Ted¡¯s memories. Darkness consumed his vision, and only a voice could be heard.¡°My brother, have you been well?¡± Rosalyn''s figure emerged from the darkness: white hair, white eyes, a calm and graceful face, and a neatly arranged priest¡¯s robe. He had never felt any special affection or longing for her. She had treated him like a chess piece, following Zero¡¯s orders. However, meeting her at the end of this journey, after being together from the very beginning, stirred emotions within me that he couldn''t quite understand. Perhaps it was because, in his absence, she had given her life to protect Rosenstark. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Words came to mind, but he needed a moment to collect his thoughts. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to meet you at this moment.¡± But, unfortunately, what returned were the same predetermined words, the same predetermined responses. ¡°Please be informed that most interactions, including conversations, are restricted.¡± ¡°¡­Is that so?¡± A brief exnation followed. The Rosalyn before me was merely an information ry device, not even a thought-form. It was a mechanical existence that responded only to preset inputs, devoid of reason. A slight sense of emptiness lingered in my chest. ¡°Thus, only a brief guide is possible.¡± ¡°What kind of guide?¡± ¡°Regarding the memories left behind by my true self, Rosalyn Requiem.¡± Rosalyn¡¯s image raised her hand. White light began to spread in the darkness. ¡°Before essing the memories, I will convey the words left by my true self.¡± He listened closely, and after a brief silence, the voice continued. ¡°Hello, my brother.¡± The previously expressionless image now smiled brightly, as if it had regained life. ¡°If you are hearing this greeting, then I am no longer a homunculus in this world.¡± A subtle y on words. A soft chuckle followed. It was the same voice, but it carried warmth that the image could never replicate. ¡°First of all, congrattions. After a long and arduous journey, you have reached your destination, with just one step remaining.¡± Even though he knew she couldn''t hear, he responded. ¡°Thank you, Rosalyn. You yed a significant part in getting here.¡± ¡°But before youplete that task, I believe you should know the truth.¡± The truth. The unexpected word momentarily took him aback. ¡°When you asked before if there were any remaining memories of the master, I said there weren¡¯t.¡± ¡°Yes, you did.¡± ¡°That was a lie. In fact, one memory remained. The memory of the veryst moment.¡± Rosalyn¡¯s image smiled awkwardly, yet somehow it seemed relieved. ¡°To the master, sharing this memory would be considered the utmost defiance.¡± ¡°¡­And yet, you¡¯re showing it to me. Despite following Zero¡¯s orders without question.¡± ¡°But considering that the master did not erase this memory from me, I think a part of him might have wanted this memory to be conveyed to you.¡± He was at a loss for words. His curiosity surged, wondering what kind of memory it could be. ¡°I believe you have the right. The right to choose what you believe is right.¡± Those were herst words. Rosalyn¡¯s image shattered into countless pieces. He gazed nkly at the glowing fragments in the darkness. Soon¡­. Paaaah! The light rapidly intensified, flooding the entire space. . . . ¡­When the hero opened his eyes again, he found himself in aboratory. The room was filled with intricately arrangedb equipment,rge and small sks, test tubes, and otherplex devices whose purposes were unknown. ¡®This is¡­.¡¯ But among them, one thing stood out above the rest. [Whoa¡­ Look at that.] A device simr to the bio-reactor he had seen in Depikio Lugo¡¯sb was emitting a mysterious light at the center of theboratory. The massive device looked almost like the heart of some living being. Tiny bubbles swelled inside the ss exterior, and the green culture fluid fluctuated irregrly. And within it¡­. [It¡¯s you.] ¡®¡­Yes, it¡¯s me.¡¯ Upon closer inspection, abel reading ¡°¡ö¡ö¡± was attached to the lower part of the device. And¡­. ¡°Yes¡­ It¡¯s inevitable. It has to be.¡± A man, busily moving in front of the hero, was jotting something down on a piece of paper. His profile looked familiar, likely from spending so much time with Izaro. However, his demeanor had drastically changed. ??? muttered in a low voice. [If I ran into him on the street, I wouldn¡¯t recognize him.] The hero was equally surprised. To put it simply, he seemed obsessed. His eyes bore the fatigue of countless sleepless nights, yet his gaze was eerily sharp and obsessive as he stared at the device. His hair had been disheveled for a long time, and the various chemical stains on his robe sleeves,bined with the blue smoke constantly rising from the pipe in his mouth, created an unsettling atmosphere. ¡®Like ??? said, he¡¯s so different from how he appeared in the memories.¡¯ Zero had once been a warm and kind person, albeit somewhat hot-tempered. The hero had admired his noble spirit when Zero took responsibility for a fairy spouse during the first era, where non-human species were ostracized, and tirelessly worked to prevent tooz Namsov¡¯s tyranny. ¡®Did he suffer too much after single-handedly rebuilding the second era and preparing for what came after?¡¯ Decades had passed since then, and Zero had changed beyond recognition. The hero looked at him with aplicated mix of emotions. ¡®¡­By the way, is this Rosalyn¡¯s perspective?¡¯ That was correct. Adjusting his viewpoint, the hero saw Rosalyn standing a few steps behind Zero, watching him with deep concern. Her lips parted slowly. ¡°Will you dispose of it?¡± After a brief but heavy silence, Zero slumped into his chair, shaking his head. ¡°No, I can¡¯t. I cannot destroy the arrangement with the highest chance of defeating the Demon King with my own hands.¡± ¡°Then¡­.¡± ¡°n B.¡± Rosalyn remained silent. However, the hero noticed the growing discontent on her face. She had always referred to him as ¡®Master¡¯ and held him in high esteem. What could n B possibly be to make her wear such an expression? ¡°Rosalyn.¡± The hero wasn¡¯t the only one who noticed her dissatisfaction. Zero turned his chair and spoke expressionlessly. ¡°Remember this. We have failed.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Wepletely failed to instill in him an absolute and eternal goodwill towards humans.¡± ¡°Perhaps Depikio Lugo will seed¡­.¡± Rosalyn couldn''t finish her sentence. It was because Zero had suddenly stood up and positioned himself in front of her. ¡°Do you really believe that?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ ¡°Answer me, Rosalyn.¡± Rosalyn answered quietly. ¡°No, I don''t.¡± Zero, who had been ring at her for a long time, returned to his seat. This time, he turned his back to the bio-reactor. ¡°Whether it''s good or evil, intentional or not¡­.¡± A slow, tired voice continued. ¡°A doppelg?nger is inevitably a being that will bring chaos to the human world. That¡¯s my conclusion. So this is just a minimal safety measure.¡± ¡°¡­But he¡¯s likely in a state where he loves humans enough to defeat the Demon King, right willingly?¡± ¡°Loves humans, you say. That might be true.¡± Zero put down his pipe. ¡°But a hundred years from now¡­ two hundred years from now, will he still be able to love humans?¡± At that moment, ??? spoke for the first time, with a confused voice. [Wait a minute. No way¡­] The hero didn¡¯t respond and continued to listen to the conversation. He was gradually realizing where this story was headed. ¡°I''ve ced the life of a single homunculus and the safety of all mankind on the scales. The first era¡¯s humans suffered enough from trusting in unknown oues and meeting disaster.¡± ¡°Master¡­.¡± ¡°My mind is already made up.¡± After finishing his words, Zero reached out and caressed the surface of the bio-reactor. It was near where the hero¡¯s face was located. As if shaking off any hesitation, Zero clenched his hand tightly. ¡°n B. When the Demon King¡¯s destruction is confirmed, the experiment subject who fulfilled his purpose will also be destroyed.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Yes, that will do. That will¡­.¡± Rosalyn stood still, then slowly turned around. Her voice, sounding choked, continued. ¡°Master, do you really¡­ If this was your n, why did you give us names¡­.¡± ¡°Rosalyn.¡± Rosalyn did not answer and simply headed out of theb. Perhaps it was her first act of defiance. Even at that moment, Zero continued to gaze at the hero within the bio-reactor. His sigh, mingled with mutterings, reached the hero''s ears at the end of his memory. ¡°I''m sorry. I¡­.¡± Aplexboratory. Zero. Rosalyn. His own self with closed eyes. Everything quickly faded and disappeared. The hero returned to the pitch-ck darkness. ¡®¡­Do I still have more memories left?¡¯ But Rosalyn''s apparition did not appear. Only silence and darkness existed in the space. Perhaps it was to give him time to process the shocking truth he had just faced. The hero let out a long sigh and sank to the ground. ¡®¡­Well, that¡¯s good.¡¯ Now, the parts that hadn¡¯t made sense became clear. The prophecy of the Observer, Lace, shed through his mind. ¡°The Demon King led to your birth, so your death will also be with the Demon King.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ that¡¯s how it was. In a way, it was inevitable¡­.¡± And those ufortable expressions that Izaro had asionally shown. He, too, must have known this ending as Zero¡¯s homunculus. The dreams he had before must have been along the same lines. Dreams in which Zero tried to ask for his forgiveness, apologizing for all that had happened. As the many pieces of the puzzle fell into ce all at once, the hero could onlyugh in disbelief. ¡°The right to choose what you believe to be correct¡­.¡± It was a choice that¡¯s difficult if difficult, easy if easy. The hero murmured softly. ¡°Rosalyn really knows me well.¡± It was then that ???, who had been silent, spoke in an angry voice. [You fool. Do you really intend to y into Zero''s hands until the very end? Even knowing all this? You should be turning around and running away right now, and even that might not be enough!] ¡°If I were afraid of death, I wouldn''t havee this far in the first ce.¡± [Do you think this is just about death? Even if everything ends well, you''ll be pushed to oblivion with no reward¡­] As ??? continued speaking, he slowly fell silent. It was because he noticed the hero''s trembling hand. [You¡­] ¡°Could you please not say anything?¡± [Grr¡­] ??? let out a growl, as if his anger was boiling over. Yes. Just as the hero couldn¡¯t fully understand his own life of hatred and persecution. He, too, could not fully understand the hero''s feelings. But one thing was certain: he was still going to fight the Demon King. ¡®You should¡¯ve set a better example. One that Zero could trust us by.¡¯ [That¡­ Damn it, I¡¯m sorry.] ¡®Forget it.¡¯ The hero chuckled as he stood up. ¡®Well then, shall we go?¡¯ But the return to reality did not happen immediately. Fwoooosh-! ¡®¡­¡­?¡¯ [¡­¡­?] The space, which had been filled with darkness, began to be filled with light once again. [Wait, what is this?] ¡®¡­Another memory?¡¯ And when the brilliant light had all faded away. The hero, having forgotten even his sense of despair, could only stare at the new owner of the memory. ¡°¡­Ted.¡± ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 322: Chapter 322: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Before Lace died in the Great Forest, his words echoed in his mind. ¡°You¡¯ll be able to see it when you need it the most¡­ along with the memory Rosalyn left for you.¡± At the time, he was too preupied to ask for details, and after that, too many significant events happened in rapid session, causing him to forget. ¡®Surely¡­.¡¯ ¨‹ Memory Name: ¡°Choice¡± has been stored in the information set. ¡ø Yes, it was a memory named ¡°Choice.¡± And to think it was Ted Redymer¡¯s memory. He stared at Ted absentmindedly. He was leaning against the trench wall, gasping for breath. He had lived as Ted for a long time. But seeing him through another¡¯s eyes after so long brought forth an indescribable emotion. [...So, this person had the greatest influence on your personality?] ¡®Yes.¡¯ [The only human who inflicted a meaningful wound on the Demon King.] ¡®That¡¯s right.¡¯ ??? seemed quite intrigued. [Hmm, so this is a memory Lace observed with magic?] ¡®It must be. He knew everything about me after all.¡¯ [Why did Lace want to show you this scene?] ¡®Maybe I¡¯ll understand if I see more of the memory.¡¯ He focused on Ted again. Judging by his face, it seemed rtively recent¡­ probably shortly before his death. ¡®¡­Wait a minute.¡¯ [Why?] ¡®Is this during the Great Battle?¡¯ Since this was Lace¡¯s observed view, he could see Ted¡¯s surroundings from a bird¡¯s-eye view, as if he were looking down from the sky. The terrain resembled the area near the mountain range where the Great Battle took ce. Moreover, the human and Demon King¡¯s armies fighting fiercely were of considerable scale. Crucially¡­. ¡°Commander! The enemy is approaching!¡± A middle-aged man rushed to Ted and reported. The moment he saw his face, he realized exactly what situation this was. That man¡¯s name was ¡®Ziefried Ubel.¡¯ He was a member of the Dawn Knights who retired after sustaining severe injuries in the Great Battle. Even now, his arm looked torn to shreds. ¡®If that¡¯s the case, the ¡®enemy¡¯ approaching is¡­.¡¯ Ted¡¯s calm voice echoed within the trench at that moment. ¡°Withdraw all troops immediately.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°I said withdraw all troops. That includes the Dawn Knights.¡± ¡°Wait a minute. Then, what about you, Commander¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m staying. Who else will stop the enemy if I leave?¡± Ziefried shook his head as if he couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. But Ted didn¡¯t allow any objections. His rough hand gave Ziefried a strong push on the back. ¡°Is this insubordination? We¡¯re racing against time here.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Move, Ziefried. Many lives depend on you.¡± In the end, Ziefried clenched his teeth and retreated. ¡°Take care, Commander.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Ted, who answered the faint plea carried by the wind, leaned back against the trench wall again. It wasn¡¯t long before the human army began to withdraw from the battlefield like the receding tide. He remembered how strangely few casualties the regr army had suffered despite the intensity of the battle, where even half of the Dawn Knights and Ted died. ??? spoke in a gruff voice. [You learned this from him.] ¡®Learned what?¡¯ [Making endlessly irrational choices.] He wanted to refute it but couldn¡¯t and kept his mouth shut. [Throwing yourself away to save receable people when you¡¯re irreceable? In this situation, it would have been right to let the army and knights charge at the Demon King while you retreated.] ¡®¡­If he had been that kind of person, he wouldn¡¯t have made it this far.¡¯ [Hmph, very oue-oriented of you.] Perhaps thinking that the criticism was too harsh, ??? added in a somewhat softened tone. [Well, to some extent, I agree with you.] ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ [Anyway, it looks like he¡¯s about to fight the Demon King. Lace must have wanted to show you that battle scene.] But from that moment, ???¡¯s voice didn¡¯t reach his ears. He stared at Ted. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± At his hands, trembling slightly. At his face, pale as lead. The hero, no, Ted. No, the young man barely in his thirties was taking deep breaths, desperately trying to suppress his fear in the lonely trench. As the army retreated, a silence descended on the battlefield. But the quieter it became, the louder and more ragged the breathing in the trench grew. He couldn¡¯t say anything at the sight. ??? muttered in a bitter voice. [From the great hero of salvation back to being human.] The trembling that began in his fingertips had now spread to his elbows. Ted twisted and clenched his trembling wrist with his other hand. A low groan escaped between his clenched teeth. ¡°Please¡­.¡± It sounded like a plea. He couldn¡¯t take his eyes off him. ¡®¡­So this is thest thing I¡¯ll learn about Ted.¡¯ Until now, he thought he knew Ted¡¯s true self, which others didn¡¯t know. His weaknesses. Mostly rted to sadness and loneliness. Whenrades died during operations. When he missed saving a life. The anguish he felt while bearing the weight of responsibility alone. He thought it was sufficient to share those emotions. Even if it was part of deepening his understanding, he used to talk to his sincerely. ¡­But it seems he wasn¡¯t enough to share his fears. [No matter how close a friend you are, you can never reveal your entire inner self.] ¡®I¡­.¡¯ [I know.] ¡®I never once thought that Ted would have fear.¡¯ [Everyone probably thought the same.] Only after being left alone did Ted finally shed his armor of steel and reveal thest core he had hidden away. The fact was excruciatingly painful. The hero¡¯s fear. An emotion that had never been understood in his entire life. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ An emotion he thought could never be understood. Ted¡¯s myth, revered by all, couldn¡¯t coexist with fear, though it could with sorrow. He knew Ted used the 7th technique, Eclipse, in his showdown with the Demon King. A forbidden technique that would inevitably kill him by causing all his magic to go berserk. With that in mind. What was Ted thinking right now? "......" The trembling in Ted stopped at that moment. He ran a hand through his sweat-drenched hair and gazed at the sky. "I thought it was dawn, but it¡¯s actually dusk." He pressed the ck Hope to the ground and stood up. "Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. Dawn wille eventually." Muttering something iprehensible, he immediately fixed his gaze on a point in the air. "If it''s you, you must be watching me, Lace. After all, you are the observer." Coincidentally, his gaze met mine. His eyes, filled with a myriad of emotions, stared at me. "I have something to tell the guy from the future." He listened. Even ??? remained silent at this moment. "Make sure my efforts weren¡¯t in vain, and carry on my will until the end. Fight for humanity¡­." Ted smiled faintly as he continued. "Well, I guess I didn¡¯t even need to say that. You¡¯ll do just fine." For some reason, from the moment Ted started talking to me, he seemed to have shaken off a considerable amount of his fear. His eyes were calm and serene, as if awaiting rest after a long journey. His mouth slowly opened. "...You once told me that even though you weren¡¯t human, you had a human heart, and that¡¯s why the world felt so cruel. Do you remember what I said in response?" Of course, he remembered. "Keepughing, talking, and loving like a human. One day, you¡¯ll be grateful for the human heart you have. I said something like that." Tedughed as if he could see him standing right in front of him. "So, how was it?" Laughter burst from his mouth as well. Was there even a need to say it? Those long, painful years of struggle were worth it because he found joy in them. "Yeah. I think I know even without you telling me. You did well, didn¡¯t you? And you¡¯ll keep doing well." Step¡ª Ted walked out of the trench. At the edge of the horizon. An indescribable being was slowly approaching, devouring all the light. The ck Hope faced forward at the same time. "Listen." With the activation of the 7th Form, Eclipse, Ted¡¯s entire body was enveloped in a radiant light. His body, which had trembled in pain for a moment, quickly regained itsposure. An empty battlefield. The warrior who raised the ck Hope walked forward without hesitation. "You¡¯re not a monster, a tool, or a mere cog in some grand n." Before he knew it, meteors were raining down from the darkened sky. Blinding light erupted from all directions, and the ground trembled. In the midst of the chaos, they looked at each other. "You¡¯re just human." In the end, thest emotion reflected in his eyes was neither fear nor regret. It was a quiet certainty that all he had lived through was not in vain. * * * The viewing of the memory ended. As he returned to reality, ??? spoke to me in a tone that suggested confusion. [He knew as well] ¡®What do you mean?¡¯ [That it would turn out this way. That in the end, he was never meant to be the one to defeat the Demon King] ??? slowly voiced its reflection. [At some point, he must have realized, even if vaguely, that his life was merely a means for the doppelganger. That''s probably why he discarded Iris of Lace] ¡®......¡¯ [And yet, he fulfilled his duty to the end. Humans are truly strange andplex creatures] By the time he heard thatst remark, he had fully returned to reality. Perhaps thanks to Rosalyn and Lace''s magic, no time had passed. Five minutes until the descent. I stood still before the door leading to the deepest part of the Demon King¡¯s castle. ¡®¡­He left a gift until the very end.¡¯ If Iris of Lace hadn''t been shattered, a notification would¡¯ve popped up saying that Ted''s understanding had increased. Along with a notification saying the 7th Form, Eclipse, had been unlocked. All the information and principles rted to Eclipse were absorbed into my core. ¡®Even with a doppelganger''s regenerative ability, this technique would be hard to withstand.¡¯ He almostughed out loud at the thought of using this with a human body. [Are you really going to fight? Whether you win or lose, you¡¯ll die anyway.] Before he could say anything, the voice continued. [Well, you¡¯ll fight, won¡¯t you. I think I understand you a little now.] ¡®¡­¡­¡¯ [In the end, you¡¯re just like him.] ??? let out a sigh. [Ted, too, fought the Demon King, risking certain death, and you¡¯ll do the same.] ¡®You¡¯ll help, right?¡¯ [...Yeah. I have to get my revenge too.] He turned his gaze back to the door. A soft red light began to seep through the crack in the door. It was a color he had never seen before. It didn¡¯t look like paint, nor did it resemble blood. And beyond it, something immense and iprehensible, an infinite darkness, was moving. He felt as though my very existence was fading like a faint shadow. The Demon King awaited. The Hero opened the door. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 323: Chapter 323: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Boom¡ª The thick darkness greeted the hero, who had stepped inside in the deepest part of the Demon King''s castle. The darkness was almost tangible, as if it had substance. Even when the hero infused mana into his eyes, his vision remainedpletely obscured. The hero tried casting a light spell, but it extinguished almost immediately. Boom¡ª The darkness was so intense that even the bravest might hesitate to take a single step forward. It was strange; before opening the door, a clear light had been seeping through the crack, yet the interior was pitch ck. Instinctively, the hero turned to realize the entrance had vanished. A mysterious voice whispered: [Let''s go.] ''Right.'' Boom¡ª From the moment the hero stepped inside, the only thing guiding them was the sound. The sound, which resembled a heartbeat, led the hero forward. Boom¡ª Step¡ª Boom¡ª Step¡ª Boom¡ª ¡­Ssh. The rhythmicbination of footsteps and the heartbeat created a strange cadence. The hero noticed that the once cold, hard floor had turned into something damp and sticky. Walking on the slippery surface, the hero followed the sound of the heartbeat. It felt as if he was walking into the insides of some massive creature. Sss¡ª Before long, a faint red light began to rise from the edge of the hero''s vision. Though it illuminated the darkness, it was far fromforting. In fact, it was so unpleasant that the hero almost wanted to look away. Step¡ª A few more steps revealed a magic circle with a diameter of several dozen meters. [...A summoning circle.] ''Should I try casting Halo?'' [No. It''s likely toote for physical attacks to be effective.] The countless symbols that made up the magic circle were glowing red, writhing as if alive. The sound wasing from the ceiling above. Boom¡ª The hero looked up. Boom¡ª ''It''s the core, as I suspected¡­'' This core was several timesrger than the others the hero had encountered. With bizarre protrusions and spikes, the core clung to the high ceiling, writhing incessantly. Then, it spat something out. Drip¡ª A drop of ck liquid fell from one of the core''s protrusions. It was a highly concentrated form of demonic energy. Although it resembled the torrential demonic energy the hero had faced hours earlier, its potency was iparable. A human touching it would be dissolved to the bone instantly. [It seems the core has almost exhausted itself. Was it used to power the magic circle?] The hero nodded. This demonic energy had been sent from across the demon realm to empower the summoning ritual. Since the ritual was nearlyplete, all the demonic energy would have been consumed. Indeed, despite being near the core, the concentration of demonic energy in the air wasn''t too high. ''But where is the Demon King¡­?'' [Nowhere to be seen.] There was no sign of any presence. The hero frowned slightly and looked up at the core again. It continued to writhe, struggling to expel the remaining demonic energy. One drop. Two drops. It looked as if an invisible hand was squeezing a heart to extract its blood. Drip¡ª The hero naturally followed the falling drops with his eyes. From the protrusion, the drop fell¡­ it took a few seconds¡­ until it was sucked into someone''s mouth. A very peculiar sigh reached the hero''s ears. Even the hero, who had experienced things beyond human imagination, had never heard a sound like this before. [Did you hear that?] ''I did.'' The hero continued speaking slowly. ''And¡­ I see something.'' [What?] ''Ahead.'' The hero''s eyes focused forward again. ¡­There was no doubt about it. Until a moment ago, the hero was the only one in this space. With senses sharpened to the extreme, there was no chance of being mistaken. Yet, at some point, something was now standing in the center of the summoning circle. It stood there, mouth open, catching the falling demonic energy. How could one describe its sudden appearance? Its emergence was so abrupt and natural that it felt as if the hero''s consciousness and perception had surrendered to its presence. Attack? Retreat and regroup? While the hero pondered their next move, the thirsty sigh continued. It was louder than before, and although it seemed toe from the creature''s mouth, it echoed from all directions simultaneously. The air grew heavier. The hero''s eyes started to burn as if they were on fire. ???¡¯s voice murmured softly: [The Demon King...] ''That... is the Demon King?'' [No doubt about it.] ''But it looks so different from the image in Zero''s memories.'' [The summoning must have been iplete.] It looked as if space and time were distorting around it. The creature''s form was constantly changing, without any fixed shape. The hero observed what could be called its face. The positions of its forehead, chin, and cheekbones kept shifting, and from time to time, grotesquely twisted eyes would break through the skin, only to disappear again. The eyes varied in size and shape; some resembled human eyes, but most did not. Although they all pointed in different directions, they blinked simultaneously. ¡­And then there was the body. It was impossible to discern the Demon King''s true form. Where did it begin? Where did it end? At times it appeared humanoid, at other times like a mass of countless tentacles, or perhaps like endlessly swirling ck smoke. It wasn''t justrge and powerful; it seemed as though an infinitely vast and deep space had beenpressed within it. However, the hero could only study its body for a few seconds. Suddenly, countless bubbles boiled up from the sticky ck substance on its surface, obscuring its form. The Demon King, though, paid no attention to the hero,pletely focused on the demonic energy falling from the ceiling. ¡­Despite being a being that had once regarded the hero as a formidable opponent, it didn¡¯t even nce in their direction. [Yes, it''s certain. The summoning was iplete. There''s no way it could have fully seeded after we disrupted so much of the demonic energy needed for the summoning. However¡­] ¡®¡­However?¡¯ [It seems to have gone wrong in a way we didn¡¯t expect.] The mysterious entity, who had absorbed the knowledge of all the schrs and archmages of the First Age, was quick to understand the situation. [The Demon King cheated.] The voice turned somber. [Only its ¡®power¡¯ has crossed over. Only the power was summoned.] The hero, unable to immediately grasp the meaning, questioned the statement. ¡®What do you mean¡­?¡¯ [It separated its pure power and sent it to this world, leaving behind its intellect and consciousness.] ¡®Wasn¡¯t the Demon King¡¯s goal to dominate this world? If only the power came through, isn¡¯t that a risky move? What could be the point¡­?¡¯ [There is a point. This way, it¡¯s less constrained by thews of causality.] The Demon King¡¯s sigh echoed once more, sounding far more desperate and sorrowful this time. The mysterious entity''s speech quickened as well. [Do you remember what I once told you?] ¡®What did you say?¡¯ [To be cautious of its authority, that conceptual power.] He remembered it. If, during the Great Battle, the Demon King had restored causality and used that power freely, no matter how awakened Ted was with the 7th form, he would not have been able to achieve victory. The unique power of the Demon King that once defeated ???, who could single-handedly confront thousands of humans in the First Era. ...It was said that the moment the Demon King used that power, it would be tantamount to his defeat, so there was no need for an exnation. The Hero¡¯s eyes slowly dimmed. [Just stay still. Don¡¯t do anything. Whatever you do now will be meaningless. We have no choice but to wait until he activates his power...] ??? stopped speaking. They both simultaneously realized something. The sound that had been ringing regrly in their ears had stopped. ¡®The core...¡¯ [It stopped.] A peculiar silence. The core was no longer emitting demonic energy. ...The Demon King¡¯s gaze, which had been fixed upward all along, now had enough reason to shift. [It¡¯sing, focus on evading.] The Demon King slowly raised his arm. No, from the perspective of those facing him, it was uncertain if it was even an arm. The figure of the creature, seen through the bubbles, momentarily blurred like smoke. The arm, once within their field of vision, expanded infinitely as it was raised. ...And finally. The moment they sensed something bursting forth from the end of it, The Hero instinctively drew upon his mana. [...What? No! Stop!] As ??? shouted fiercely, The Hero¡¯s magic formed a barrier, enclosing the Demon King. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ * * * ng- The ring and ne that encircled his neck and fingers shattered. As the objects that had provided a fleeting peace fulfilled their role and crumbled away, ???¡¯s harsh curses rang in his ears. [You bastard, I knew you would do this. This is why I told you to stay still!] ¡®But wasn¡¯t it worth it?¡¯ [Shut up and focus on regeneration.] ??? berated the Hero in a very agitated voice. [...If you have time, you should thank Yussi. If it wasn¡¯t for that artifact, you¡¯d already be dead!] Thest few minutes could be summarized as follows. The Ster Rift didn¡¯t hold out for long and shattered. The once sturdy Demon King¡¯s castle was more than half-destroyed, and the Demon King was currently floating over all the chaos, exerting the power ??? had so feared. ¡®...I couldn¡¯t just let the sacrificial forces get caught up in that. You know that, right?¡¯ [So you used the Ster Rift to abduct the Demon King?] The oue was, in a word, good. The Hero survived, and hisrades had time to retreat thanks to the dy in the manifestation of the power. At the edge of his vision. He could see Avalon distancing itself and the sacrificial forces forming ranks nearby. All those who had been fighting scattered noticed the danger and quickly regrouped. The Hero sighed in relief and looked back up at the sky. ¡®...So what is that? Exin it now.¡¯ Wooooong- The iprehensible power emanating from the Demon King¡¯s body was overturning the entire world. What words could possibly describe that scene? It was like pouring ck paint all over the upper half of a pure white canvas. No, perhaps a more fitting description would be that it looked like a vertical ocean of night. We on the ground were the beach, and the sky where the Demon King floated was the sea. The ck substance flowing from his body was surging towards the ground inyers like waves. No matter how deep the darkness of the Demonic Realm, asionally stars and the moon would peek through thick clouds. But the darkness of the Demon King erased all of that. His eyes became the light source instead. A bizarre, crimson light. As that light descended, it felt like someone was drilling into their brains, a powerful and unsettling difort rising. ...Even a doppelg?nger, immune to mental attacks, nearly fainted from the contamination. If the sacrificial forces hadn¡¯t kept their distance, they would have gone mad instantly. Even now, despite the considerable distance, people were fainting in droves. [...It¡¯s faster to just see it for yourself.] The darkness, crawling forward, first encountered the demons. At first, it seemed they stayed in ce to greet and worship the Demon King. But that wasn¡¯t it. They were frozen in ce, unable even to think of fleeing. Sssss- The darkness engulfed them. One wave in and out. And then... ¡®...They¡¯re gone.¡¯ About a dozen upper-ranked demons disappeared without a trace, as if they had never existed. Like a piece of ice dropped intova, there was no sound, no resistance. But the Demon King¡¯s hunger seemed insatiable. Grrrrr- The Hero looked up at the sudden roar. A massive shadow was flying over the ruins of the Demon King¡¯s castle. Malekia. ...She, too, was being chased by the darkness. But, having exhausted herself fighting Cuculli, her escape didn¡¯tst long. Crunch- A long, sharp tendril of darkness extending from the Demon King¡¯s fingertip pierced her wings. ¡°Your Majesty! Why would you do this to me?¡± A sharp scream. The massive dragon, dozens of meters in length, was disintegrated in seconds. Her scales, once as tough as steel, and her teeth,rger than greatswords, all turned into ck smoke and were absorbed. ¡°Your Majesty!¡± Her pitiful death cry was thest. The Queen of Agony, who had ruled over humans with terror for centuries, vanished without a trace. ...Atst, the darkness seemed to pause, as if satisfied. Crunch- Crunch- Crunch- Then, a chilling sound echoed all around as if something were being chewed. [If we are replication, that creature is theft.] Against the backdrop of that sound, ???¡¯s low voice resonated. [Dissolution... that might be more urate. The moment any living being touches that darkness, they lose all their power, life force, memories, ego... everything that maintains their existence and bes part of the Demon King.] ¡®...Bes part of him?¡¯ [Yes, of course, it varies by individual, but no matter how strong they are, they can¡¯t resist to the end. They slowly lose parts of themselves and are absorbed.] ording to the exnation, this was a power on apletely different level from the demons they had faced before. [In other words, you be the core, suffering eternally within the Demon King, generating demonic energy.] At those words, the Hero looked back toward the Demon King. The demons, who prided themselves on their strength, were being devoured by the darkness without even a chance to scream. The more of his kin he devoured, the clearer the Demon King¡¯s form became. It was a scene that hinted at the Demon King¡¯s intentions. ¡®Now I get it. He ns to devour everything here, and then use that power as the foundation for a proper descent.¡¯ [Correct. Even the Demon King couldn¡¯t guarantee victory over you if he descended in his current state. So instead, he¡¯s chosen to cause chaos and eliminate all threats before making his move. Now that you¡¯ve grasped the situation, what¡¯s your n?] Fortunately, the Demon King seemed to believe the Hero was already dead and didn¡¯t pay any attention to him. As a result, the area where he stood was the least affected by the encroachment. But soon, the darkness would encroach. He had to act before that happened. ¡°¡­¡­¡± After a brief moment of silence, the Hero spoke calmly. ¡®¡­Then the answer is bing clear.¡¯ [What?] ??? thought that this time, the Hero¡¯s resolve would finally crumble. Even when he had far greater power than he did now, facing this absurd authority had shattered his fighting spirit. But what ??? encountered was the same calm andposed Hero as always. There was no bluffing or falsehood. No one knew this better than ???, who was inside the Hero¡¯s mind. ¡®Let¡¯s rify one thing.¡¯ [¡­What is it?] ¡®You fought the Demon King for days on end. If, as you said, that darkness consumes and steals everything, how was such a battle possible?¡¯ ??? answered honestly. [I had countless cores within me. Even the most exceptional geniuses numbered in the thousands. No matter how strong the Demon King was, he couldn¡¯t take them all at once.] However, losing them one by one had been inevitable. At first, he had the upper hand, but in the end, he had been miserably defeated. The Hero murmured slowly. ¡®¡­The Demon King can''t endure indefinitely in this state either. He¡¯s just as pressed for time as we are.¡¯ Whether it¡¯s intelligence or strength, they were both concepts that could not exist independently. Forcing them into a tangible form and separating them cannot leave one in a normal state. In some ways, it was an act that carried far greater risks than the creation of an avatar. [That may be true, but¡­] Wooooooong- Before ??? could finish his sentence, the Hero¡¯s body was already engulfed in a brilliant light. The Seventh ritual, Eclipse, Ted¡¯s technique that allowed a human to stand against the Demon King. It felt like mes were rushing through his veins beneath his skin. Having a vague sense of what the Hero intended to do, ??? sighed quietly. [Our essence is merely a shell. What do you think will remain if you lose all your cores?] This wasn¡¯t right. No matter how prepared the Hero was for death, this was beyond the bounds. There was a stark difference between fulfilling the mission and disappearing in an intact state, and being sucked into a void after losing everything. ¡°We¡¯ll see¡­.¡± But the Hero¡¯s unwavering gaze was fixed on the darkness pouring out towards Avalon. ¡°A lot will remain.¡± ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 324: Chapter 324: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ The hero blinked his eyes open and closed. Wooong¡ª The quiet flow of mana now poured out like a torrent. The amount and density far exceeded expectations. A tremendous force filled his body, as if it was about to burst. ??? muttered with a mix of admiration and concern in their voice. [¡­It¡¯s true that a human using this technique would inevitably die.] The hero¡¯s body no longer existed to maintain life; it was merely a conduit for mana. The overwhelming power made it impossible to conceal his presence any longer. The hero felt the chilling gaze of the Demon King upon him. [He has noticed you.] ¡®¡­Let¡¯s go.¡¯ The target was Avalon. The ck sludge that had flowed from the Demon King¡¯s body had already engulfed most of the surroundings of the Demon King¡¯s castle and was heading toward the location where Avalon was anchored. The hero carefully avoided the sludge, moving as quickly as possible. Chiiiiiik¡ª He tried to create a foothold with mana as a test, but it was of little use. It only held off the erosion for a moment before dissolving and being swallowed. Increasing the density might allow it to hold out a bit longer, but the limit was clear. The hero chuckled wryly. ¡®So, if Ie into direct contact with that sludge, it will strip away my essence?¡¯ [Correct.] ¡®And the essence that¡¯s taken bes the Demon King¡¯s power?¡¯ [No.] ¡®Why not? Isn¡¯t it supposed to absorb everything it touches?¡¯ [To be precise, it breaks down the target and rebirths it as demonic energy.] The hero immediately understood the exnation. ¡®So, it¡¯s different if the essence is non-corporeal?¡¯ [Yes. Only we can replicate and utilize the absorbed target as power. Not even the Demon King can understand or apply that principle. He can only¡­ separate and take it.] ¡®So he takes it without understanding¡­.¡¯ [And just as our level of understanding influences our replication, the same goes for him. You saw Malekia earlier, right?] The hero nodded. Malekia had a powerful essence, but since she shared the same attribute of "demon" with the Demon King, she was absorbed much faster. ¡®So that¡¯s why you were able tost longer.¡¯ [Exactly, to him, a doppelganger was likely an entirely unknown existence.] The hero suddenly had a thought and asked, ¡®Wait, then what about beings like Maktania who have divine power¡­?¡¯ [Logically, it would be harmful.] However, the overwhelming difference in power meant it didn¡¯t have much of an effect. [Among my essences were some of the most revered priests from the First Era. Yet, he devoured them just the same.] ¡®Alright, I understand.¡¯ ¡­His own divine power might be a little different. It was a higher-dimensional power directly received from Maktania, and¡ª ¡®It¡¯s been amplified several times by the Eclipse.¡¯ The Eclipse greatly increased all energies within his body. Naturally, his divine power as a champion had also increased significantly. [¡­Well, it¡¯s more effective than human divine power. But don¡¯t face him head-on.] ¡®Got it.¡¯ [If your questions are answered, dodge now.] Swooooosh¡ª Suddenly, a massive ck wave surged from the side. The height was over tens of meters, and it moved faster than an arrow. The hero did his best to evade, but there was more than one wave. Inevitably, the tips of his feet brushed against it. ¡°!¡± In an instant, a bizarre sense of happiness surged, making his mind dizzy. He wanted to be a part of that, to sleep forever without being disturbed. The hero barely shook off that sticky feeling. ¡­But the demons weren¡¯t so fortunate. Some intangible force was binding them. ¡°Aah¡­.¡± Beneath him. The terror-stricken faces of the demons slowly melted into joy, then soon vanished into nothingness, like a sandcastle swept away by the tide. A satisfied sigh echoed around him, though he couldn¡¯t tell where it came from. The Demon King. Considering he bore the title of "King," one might expect him to be a bit refined. However, he was a being most aligned with their essence of violence, plunder, fear, and hatred. Tadak¡ª The hero continued to dash between the flooding waves and the melting demons. Although quite a distance remained, the hero''s current physical abilities surpassed even the peak of Ted Redymer. Despite the countless obstacles, he soon reached the point just before Avalon. ¡­But the ck sludge had also crept dangerously close. The hero¡¯s eyes fixed on the still, anchored Avalon. Compared to the surging waves, the giant structure of the mobile fortress looked pitifully small. ¡®¡­Why is it staying still?¡¯ [They¡¯re probably at their limit. Ordinary humans¡­ just recognizing the Demon King¡­ that ability¡­ most of them would lose their minds.] The Demon King appeared after the intense battles that raged from the 46th to the 50th sectors. The slowly eroding mental strength must have been quickly exhausted. The moment the hero elerated even more, Tsutsutsutsutsutsu¡ª From the side of Avalon, the surface of the sludge roiled violently, and gigantic tidal waves began to rise. There wasn¡¯t just one or two. The waves that rose as if to swallow the sky surged toward Avalon all at once. There was no more time to hesitate. Bang¡ª! The hero pushed off the ground. The force was so strong that the ground cracked and caved in. But he was no longer there. In the dark sky. A single light soared. ¡°Break!¡± The power of blessing paradox was activated first. The power of a transcendent being that intervened in the veryws of the world. The hero, who had perfectly replicated Ted and absorbed even ???, had reached a higher level of existence. The tremendous power he unleashed now was iparable to what he had once wielded in the Demon Realm. Rumble¡ª The waves, miraculously, stopped for a moment, rippling in ce. In that brief instant, the hero prepared a sword strike with all his might. Wooooong¡ª The divine power first enveloped the ck Hope, followed by an immense amount of mana. The third ritual, re,pressed the magic to its utmost limit. But no matter how much it waspressed, the size of the sword energy didn¡¯t shrink. It was because the powerful mana was being constantly replenished. The hero once again roared and raised the ck Hope. ¡°Break!¡± At that moment, Kaaabang¡ª! A pir of light towering like a tower struck the leading wave. As the hero¡¯s sword energy and the sludge collided, the immense forces repelling each other created a moment where the world seemed to stop. -------! But soon, the mana thatposed the sword energy was absorbed, and the light began to fade. Even so, the hero¡¯s expression remained unchanged. He continued to grip his sword, oveing the massive resistance. As the darkness began to swallow up all of the hero¡¯s sword energy, Hwaaaaaaa¡ª! The divine power stored within the sword energy burst out like mes, splitting the wave head-on. It felt as if the entire Demon Realm brightened in an instant. Chiiiiiiik¡ª The ck steam quickly covered the sky, spreading like dark clouds. Even more astonishing was that the surface, which had seemed infinitely deep, split open in an instant, parting to the sides. ¡°Hoo¡­.¡± The hero, watching the sludge scatter to either side as if fearing him, sheathed the ck Hope. Avalon was safe. A voice filled with admiration echoed in his ear. [Heh¡­ That was insane.] To crush the Demon King¡¯s authority with sheer firepower. Even the ??? in his prime couldn¡¯t have easily done that. ¡®¡­It¡¯s too early to be happy.¡¯ But that was short-lived. Rumble¡ª The ck sludge roiled violently, filling the gap once more. A considerable amount had evaporated, but it was not visible to the naked eye. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ This scene showed that defeat was inevitable if it came down to a battle of firepower. ¡­But neither the hero nor ??? despaired. [You felt it for sure, right?] ¡®Yeah.¡¯ There was one thing they had realized from the recent sess. [Keke, so there¡¯s still a way to survive.] ¡®Hold on.¡¯ ¡­Another attack would soon be iing. The hero quickly surveyed the deck. Among the wrecked barricades, he saw the fallen members of the resistance squad. Most had already lost consciousness. Those who retained their senses seemed to have no strength left to fight, as they desperately resisted the invading demonic forces. "..." Amidst the chaos, a group of children huddled together. Only after counting them did the hero manage to let out a sigh of relief. They mouthed something rapidly. Though he couldn''t hear them clearly, he could guess what they were saying. "Wow, it''s the professor!" "I told you he''de!" "Professor! Hang in there!" No doubt, these were the kinds of cheers they were giving. Even in this dire situation, on the brink of death, they never lost their faith in him. This trust gave the hero strength. He looked at them quietly. ''...Please.'' Unfortunately, there was no time for conversation. A brief exchange of nces was all they could afford. But that was enough. It was okay that they couldn''t fight alongside him. Just making it here had been enough. Now, it was his turn to fulfill his duty. [Stay sharp. They''ll be here soon.] ''I know.'' The hero slowly walked towards the bow, keeping his head straight. [It''s quite an apocalyptic sight.] ''...'' The ck sludge had finally swallowed all 50 strongholds of the cursednd. With a rumble, the ck tide rushed in, tearing down the boundary between sky and earth. The bottom of Avalon had long been consumed. Though the propulsion devices kept the ship afloat, it wouldn''tst much longer. There really wasn''t much time left. [You only get one shot at this.] ''I know.'' After the recent skirmish, he was certain that the Demon King''s state was far more unstable than expected. [There''s a reason he''s in such a rush.] Absorbing his subordinate demons indiscriminately was suspicious. As a ruler of a dimension and a transcendent being, the Demon King was bound by the chains of causality. In other words, without his subordinates functioning as extensions of his will, it would cause him significant problems. [Yet he devoured all the elites in those 50 sectors, even his close aide Malekia.] It was a clearly irrational move. But they had reached a conclusion. [He''s that desperate for aplete summoning ritual. Think about it: the summoning ritual was iplete, yet the "power" still crossed over. He''s in a state as fragile as ss about to shatter.] That''s why he was so desperately gathering demonic energy and recklessly trying to wipe out the resistance. If he didn''tplete the summoning ritual soon, his very existence would be at risk of annihtion. ...And the hero had a way to amplify that instability further. [Did you find where it is?] ''More or less.'' [Good. Do it!] Even before ??? finished his encouragement, the hero focused his mind and drew out the cores of Felson and Ban. The technique he was about to deploy was Celestial Net, a from the heavens. Woo-oo-oo-ooong¡ª In an instant, the intricately refined mana intertwined, creating a massive and tightly woven. Something got caught in the immediately after. ''Found it.'' [Now give it a good hit.] Speed would be more crucial than raw power this time. Crack-crack-crack-crack¡ª The white lightning of Nova enveloped the hero''s body, and in an instant, his silhouette vanished from the deck. The Horizon''s prow gleamed at the same moment. ¡°!¡± Mana shrouded the ck Hope, and an explosion erupted from within the magical scabbard as the sword of ck hope was swung at unbelievable speed. Swaaaaaaak¡ª The giant sword, shing like lightning, pierced the wrinkled neck of the hidden enemy before he could even react. ¡°Graaaargh!¡± Theo, who had been hiding in the sky, plummeted to the ground. He had cast the highest level of invisibility magic, but the hero''s Celestial Net, infused with amplified mana, operated on a different level. "Direct hit." The hero added more force to the sword impaled in Theo¡¯s neck. There was a way to destabilize the Demon King''s condition further. That was to eliminate the sorcerer who had orchestrated and maintained the summoning ritual from start to finish. Theo, with a distorted face, spat out a desperate curse. ¡°H-how?!¡± ¡°You were the one holding your kin in ce, weren''t you?¡± On the way to Avalon, the hero had sensed some unseen force preventing the demons from escaping. ''It was Theo''s magic.'' Given that Malekia had been absorbed while Theo was nowhere to be seen, it hadn¡¯t taken long for the hero to figure out what was happening. Theo had been frantically trying to manage the iplete summoning ritual. ¡°Yourcency has given me this opportunity.¡± ¡°Graaaargh!¡± ¡°You''ll atone for your treason with your body.¡± The hero mmed the immobilized Theo into the ck sludge¡­ and the irrational Demon King eagerly devoured the loyal sorcerer who had been struggling to stabilize him. [...Is it done?] The once-calm surface of the sludge began to ripple violently. [It''s done! It worked!] As ??? cheered, the hero leaned against the railing and looked down. The flow of demonic energy, which had been stabilizing, now stretched out more erratically than before. There was no sign of control. Bang¡ª! Some parts of the sludge even began to stter everywhere, like heated oil. And right after that, the hero heard a terrifying wail. It was not just an expression of anger, but a sound filled with deep pain and resentment. "...Yes. It''s done." With that, the hero precariously climbed over the railing. As the resistance fighters scattered across the deck cried out in shock at what they guessed he was about to do, the hero caught his breath, preparing to throw himself into the darkness ahead. ??? spoke softly. [¡­Hang in there.] And then, one step forward. Just before his foot left Avalon''s deck, his steel-blue eyes turned not to the threat before him but to whaty behind. What had once been a means to an end had now be his goal. The reason for this entire journey. Thest bit of fear that had gripped him vanished. The hero felt a sense of weightlessness as he plummeted downward. Nothing could stop him now. Nothing at all. [TL/N: I picked this up in the middle but damn¡­ what a growth mc has had.] [PR/N: BRO JUST LIKE TED WENT IT¡¯S SO SIMILAR THEY¡¯RE SO SAME.] ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 325: Chapter 325: ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ At first, he didn¡¯t feel anything. No sense of time, no sense of space. Only darkness and emptiness existed. Where was he? How long had he been like this? He tried to recall something, but there was nothing he could remember. Complete nothingness... ambiguity. One thing was certain, he had lost myself. It felt as if the boundaries of his existence had crumbled, everything was blurred. There was no fear, no relief, no confusion, just something that "used to be him." He felt a dreadful void. His consciousness shattered into pieces. There was no need to resist. Yet, at that moment when he was struggling without knowing why, He began to feel something very faint in the pitch-ck darkness. A very slight movement. A tiny fragment of light. Though it felt distant and unreachable, he was staring at it for some reason. He didn¡¯t know what it was or why he was so desperate to see it, but the light drew in all of his consciousness. "Go forward," a whispering voice said. In a space where he had felt nothing, the light and sound were overwhelming stimuli. ¡®...What is this?¡¯ The voice continued. Sometimes it was informal, sometimes polite, sometimes it was a man''s voice, a woman¡¯s, an old person¡¯s, a child¡¯s... The voices were different, but they all demanded the same thing. To move forward. ¡°Huff!¡± He sat up. Just a moment ago, he couldn¡¯t even feel my body, but now his senses were so clear that they felt almost raw. ¡®...Where is this?¡¯ The first thing that returned was pain. His skin felt like it was freezing cold while also being scorched. When he rubbed it with his hand, he felt the sticky sensation of mud. Uuuuuung¡ª As he gathered my mana and divine powers, fortunately, the mud slowly peeled off. But the space was still dark and gloomy even in the bright light. Everywhere he looked was an endless pitch-ck world. It was meaningless to keep his eyes open. He stood still, unsure of where to go. The voices that urged him to move forward had long since vanished like an echo. He was about to take a step forward, aimlessly. {Dopple, can you hear me?} A familiar voice. He stopped instinctively. ¡®...Maktania?¡¯ {Thank goodness, the terminal is working properly.} ¡®No, how... is this possible?¡¯ {Because you''re my champion. How does it feel to be a priest receiving divine revtions?} ¡®...It¡¯s amazing.¡¯ He then asked the most pressing question. ¡®What¡¯s the situation outside?¡¯ {It¡¯s okay. You can rest easy.} Rest easy? An unexpected answer. ¡®Okay? Does that mean Avalon is safe?¡¯ {Yes. As soon as you jumped in, all 50 masses of mud started to merge into a sphere. The waves stopped. The demonic energy subsided. Now everyone is out on deck, watching.} As he said before, the Demon King¡¯s power was not infinite. In an extremely unstable state, when a massive amount of prey voluntarily jumped in, it seemed the decision was made to focus on him, abandoning other targets. ...Right at that moment, another voice echoed in his mind. [Ugh...] This time it was a more familiar voice. [It¡¯s already cramped as it is, and now something else crawls in.] It was ???. Unlike a thought-form, he groaned in pain and finished with a low curse. [Damn, I felt like I was dying again when the connection was briefly severed.] Despite his usual grumbling, Hero couldn''t help but smile faintly, forgetting the situation for a moment. What a noisy way to end things. Afterughing for a while, the endless darkness didn¡¯t seem so suffocating anymore. [Alright, let''s move. You know better than anyone what needs to be done, right?] {Dopple, listen carefully.} Grrrrrr¡ª Just then, a terrifying roar echoed from a distant ce. It was a chilling sound, like thousands of monsters roaring simultaneously. The ck mud surrounding me shook violently. But it wasn¡¯t just anger contained within. [It¡¯s trembling in fear. Let¡¯s go finish this.] {Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll endure this together.} [...Who said ¡°we¡± would?] {It will be very hard and painful, but I believe in you.} The direction he had to go was already decided. He started walking toward the direction of the roar. The first few steps were easier than he expected. The mud squirmed aside, and he could move forward without difficulty. But at some point, the mud''s behavior changed, perhaps realizing that he was approaching their master. It wrapped around his ankles, slowly pulling him down, or condensed like stones, pressing down on his entire body. Patsutsutsu¡ª! The barrier created by his mana sparked violently, resisting the mud. But even with the near-infinite power amplified by the Eclipse, the overwhelming mass of mud quickly exhausted it. He ran as fast as he could while the barrier held out. ...And yet the Demon King¡¯s roar still seemed far away. Tsutsutsu... How much longer did he run? When the barrier was emitting a light so faint it couldn¡¯t evenpare to when it first appeared, ??? whispered softly. [Now the real battle begins.] With those words, the barrier disappeared without a trace. Cold, sticky mud engulfed his body. * * * On the surface, nothing much had changed. The mud obstructed the hero, and the hero moved forward. Every time the hero advanced a step, the mud desperately tried to stop him. It poured down from the sky, wrapped around his ankles from the ground, and created a maze-like path in front of him. It was very threatening, but... there was also a sense of urgency. This was because the Demon King was in an extremely unstable state. He needed toplete the full incarnation ritual as soon as possible to summon the "intelligence" remaining in the Demon Realm. Otherwise, his existence would copse. So he hurried to kill the hero, the greatest obstacle. Even in his mindless state, the Demon King continually moved toward that goal. Gurururuk¡ª The mud attacked again. The hero was gradually realizing how "dissolution" manifested. It materialized things that had no physical form, then indiscriminately tore them apart and devoured them. ...At first, it was the cores he had replicated long ago. ¡°Hey, let''s hit the jackpot again today!¡± Whose voice was that? ...Right, it was Buck, who used to run through the back alleys of Harlem with him. A Doppelganger experiences and feels "humans" more deeply than other humans. Even in the past, when perfect replication was impossible, that remained unchanged. Their lives. Their memories. Their emotions. Observing, understanding, and mimicking all of these was the essence of a Doppelganger. ...So there was no way he could forget, no matter how old the memories were. But at some point, Bucks'' face began to fade. The voice, the time spent together, and finally, even the name. Everything slowly became blurry and deleted. ??? asked calmly. [...It¡¯s a terrible feeling, isn¡¯t it?] ¡®Indeed.¡¯ What could be the most terrible thing a sentient being could experience? Death? Pain? Aging? No, the hero could now say with certainty. The answer is the copse of identity. It¡¯s the feeling that parts of yourself are being slowly cut away. The pieces of life you held onto so tightly slip through your fingers like sand. A core wasn¡¯t just about power. It was a bundle of everything rted to the subject. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ ??? added in aforting tone. [You''re holding on well.] If an ordinary human had touched this ck mud, they would have already lost their sense of self and been absorbed by the Demon King. However, the doppelganger was also a being ustomed to handling such conceptual powers. It sacrificed the less important core memories first and defended itself so that as little as possible was devoured. Even... {I''ll help you.} As if poisoning the food, it infused divine power into the parts being devoured. Had it been in a stable state, it would not have taken much damage, but now, it was fatal. The more the ck mud devoured the hero''s core, the more it struggled in agony rather than delight. A growl of pain grew louder. As the situation escted, the Demon King abandoned thest bit of finesse and began indiscriminately ripping out the hero''s cores. At that point, the hero also lost the thread of reason, desperately clutching only the cores that had to be protected, and walked forward. In that moment, many things left him. "...Hero, please." The core of a swordsman who breathed hisst breath in the great forest. "Help my daughter to enjoy many things. Small joys, fears, all the intense emotions." The memories of a chieftain who once ruled the north. "I''m d you returned safely." The prayer of an old man who sincerely wished for Ted''s safe return. Many other pieces disappeared as well. The hero wanted to scream, but no voice came out. The bloody-smelling ck mud clogged his throat and overflowed from his nose and eyes. It was painful and miserable. It was confusing and painful to keep moving forward while embracing his increasingly iplete and crippled self. Step. However, the hero''s stride never halted for even a moment. Though he couldn''t see or feel anything, he kept moving forward. ...And then it happened. {Doppel.} A warm voice echoed in his mind. {It''s time to say goodbye.} That one sentence was enough for the hero to understand what Maktania was about to do without any exnation. A deep emotion and sorrow pierced his heart. The hero''s gaze fixed on the faint light that appeared in the pitch-ck darkness. ¡®Thank you for being human until the very end.¡¯ He heard a clear,ughing voice. {Sometimes, that''s what makes you endearing, your stupid moments.} ¡®...What?¡¯ {It''s not for humans. Foolish.} ...Indeed, the Demon King''s subjugation would also benefit the Celestials. Just as the hero was about to ept that reasoning, Maktania said something unexpected. {It''s for you.} ¡®...For me?¡¯ {Everyone, including you, is fighting for this world, for humanity. So, can''t I at least do this for you?} The hero felt a warm sensation enveloping his body. {Fighting fiercely, shouting, and moving forward¡ªthat''s been your life, hasn''t it?} Maktania continued speaking gently. {Despairing and agonizing over endless suffering and absurdity, yet never giving up¡ªthat''s who you were.} ¡®Maktania.¡¯ {Could you keep doing that until the very end? So that everyone can see and feel it clearly.} ¡®Maktania!¡¯ The light pierced through the darkness that blocked the hero''s path. With a violent tremor and a sh of light, the ck mud crumbled helplessly. Tap. Without saying a word, the hero ran down the path that had been revealed. {...Run, my champion.} The voice, likely created by the hero himself, echoed like a hallucination in his ears. Tap. The hero kept running. He knew that soon the boundary of his existence would copse, and he would return to a meaningless illusion with no form left, but he didn''t stop. A quiet voice whispered as the Demon King''s agonized roar grew louder. [...Tch, to think it would end like this.] ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ [Aren''t you afraid?] For the first time, the hero slowed his steps. ¡®¡­And you?¡¯ [I don''t know.] ¡®That''s surprising. I thought you''d pretend not to be scared until the very end.¡¯ The hero''s tone was half-mocking, but the voice didn''t get angry. It just murmured in a calm voice. [What is a human?] ¡®¡­You.¡¯ [Even after embracing hundreds of thousands, I still can''t understand.] A hollowugh echoed in his mind. [Knowing that you lose everything at the end and still moving forward.] ¡®You¡­.¡¯ [Do all humans live with such feelings?] Struggling in pain to achieve what they want, growing, and eventually fading away¡ªthat was the typical pattern of human life. ¡®Then I guess we''re all achieving what we want at the end.¡¯ [Haha, is that so? If you say so, it must be true.] The hero''s words seemed to bring some relief to the voice. [Though we started differently, the process was simr, and the end will be the same... You''ll die as a human, won''t you?] ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ [If that''s the case... then I suppose I didn''t do too badly either.] With those words, the voice was no longer heard. Instead of the cores the hero had desperately protected, the voice''s residual thoughts were sucked into the ck mud. It was the most burdensome thing the Demon King had absorbed thus far. Kuaaaaaa¡ª! Not a roar, but a clear scream. A painful wail filled the space. The hero was close. He moved his body in the direction of the sound. Step. Only a few cores that most strongly supported his identity remained now. When they were slowly devoured, he felt a bit bewildered. It seemed that all the definitions of who he was and what he had lived for would vanish along with those cores. But they didn''t. When those cores finally left him, instead of despair, a strange sense of peace found him. The space that had been filled with countless colors, sounds, and scents was now quiet. ...There were still things that hadn''t left. "¡­¡­." And finally. The hero exhaled a long breath and stopped. The Demon King''s trembling eyes stared at him. "Haha¡­." A smile resembling so many others spread across his face. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 326: [The End] Chapter 326: [The End] ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ I walked. The mud that had clung to me for so long had all disappeared. The terrifying screams that had once made my heart sink had turned into faint moans. "......"The one who downgraded humans to mere prey, to objects of one-sided plunder. The demon who brought misery and sorrow to this world. The Demon King was now pathetically shriveled, writhing on the ground. I stood before him, pondering how to describe my current feelings. When was it? Someone had definitely told me. That after despair, hope woulde. That after night, the sun would rise. That after flowers wither, they bloom again. So even at the end of this seemingly endless winter, spring woulde. As if they were sure of it. As if it were as clear as a mathematical form. As if it were as righteous as aw, someone had told me. ''...Who was it?'' Perhaps because of the fragmented memories, I couldn''t recall it immediately. But the feeling I had when I heard those words was vivid. A heart full of anticipation and a faint but burning hope. I murmured, "Yes, that''s right. It was true." The Demon King looked up at me with crushed eyes. There was no longer any fight or will left in his gaze. Perhaps in exchange for my fading memories, my feelings of hatred and relief became even clearer. Osciting like a pendulum between those two emotions, I continued to mutter, not knowing to whom. "...It was heavy." Too many noble and righteous people had died. Too many kind and innocent ones had suffered. I had seen too many sacrifices from those who bore responsibility and conscience. Too many things had depended on the tip of my sword. It was always heavy even amidst the battlefield''s cries and the night''s silence. Every moment was a continuous choice. No matter how much I thought about it, I could never know if the results were right or wrong. "But I did well enough, right?" I lifted my sword. Sling- The ck greatsword was worn and rugged. It looked so dull that it seemed like a mere lump of metal now. But it could still perform onest strike. "Hoo..." My consciousness was still a jumbled mess, all tangled up. But one fact was clear. The moment I swung this sword, Humanity would be liberated from its long suffering. Those who had left before us would finally smile before God. And those who remained would live in a peaceful and tranquil world. ...But I would not be there. For a moment, it felt as if a cold wind had seeped into my chest. I gazed at the sword that had paused in mid-air. "......" I remembered seeing someone else''s hands trembling like this not too long ago. What choice did he make? As I dug through my memories, I suddenly let out a smallugh. "No, no." What did his choice have to do with anything? "This is my decision." I wouldn''t imitate anymore. Every life I lived, Every moment I experienced was mine. Even though many parts of it were patched together from other people''s lives, the one who felt, experienced, and lived through it was me. I had created myself from within imitation, and I had crafted my way of being. Therefore, even now, when those core elements were long gone... I remained. I was still me. So¡ª "Let me bring humanity a future." I would answer the words that had started this journey in my own way. Of course, the answer had been decided long ago. "Yes..." I smiled slowly. Strength returned to the hand that held the sword. This time, it didn''t tremble. "I''ll take you there." ...To the freest future possible! I swung the sword down. The sensation of the Demon King''s skull shattering was deeply satisfying. * * * "Everyone, stand by!" "Don''t lose focus." "You never know when it might jump out." Even as the Avalon forces regained consciousness and recovered their strength, the ck sphere remained before them. The massive sphere, which had absorbed all the world''s despair and darkness, continued to tremble and shake even after the hero had entered it. For those waiting outside, it was a nerve-wracking sight. "How long has it been since the professor went in?" "...Three hours." "...Damn, time sure drags on. It''s almost dawn, isn''t it?" Fortunately, all the demons and monsters had long been swallowed by the ck mud. So there was no external threat to the forces. But none of them let their guard down. "......" Everyone stood on deck, gripping their weapons. Even the Emperor herself hade out and was silently staring at the ck sphere. Thanks to the unexpected turn of events during the final battle at the 50th sector, there weren''t many casualties. But since the oue of the most crucial battle had yet to be determined, Optimism was premature. ...It was at that moment when the tension that had settled over them suddenly dropped. "Huh, huh!?" From one side of the deck, A confused voice came from where the Lotus Knights were stationed. "It''s breaking! It''s breaking!" Breaking? What''s breaking? Before anyone else could grasp the meaning, Crack, crack, crack¡ª Simultaneously, massive cracks formed on the ck sphere, and intense light burst through the gaps. The blinding light overwhelmed those who had grown ustomed to the darkness and had concentrated their mana on their eyes. Everyone cried out as they shielded their eyes from the light. "Ugh!" "Wh-what? What''s happening?" A momentter, Cuculli, the first to open her eyes, muttered in disbelief. "What''s happening, you ask?" Everyone quietly waited for him to continue. Cuculli took a deep breath, then reached out towards the light that illuminated one side of the dark sky. "...The dawn is breaking in this world." Wooooooong¡ª A radiant white light pierced through the sky of the cursed realm and soared upward. It was a colossal pir of light, visible even from the other side of the continent. Finally, it reached the edge of the sky. The pir of light grew even brighter as it gathered boundless energy. In a moment where it felt as if time had stopped, everyone held their breath. BOOM¡ª! The explosion reverberated like a silent shockwave across the sky. In that instant, particles of light scattered like stars, and the sky was simultaneously painted with new colors. Avalon. No, the world was enveloped in silence. The light descended, erasing the boundary between sky and earth. It marked the end of centuries of suffering, sorrow, and despair. All darkness was absorbed by the light and vanished as if it had been drawn in. The light was intense yet warm, as if it understood all the sins and pain of humanity, spanning its long history. People unknowingly shed tears. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ No one was an exception. Everyone realized that after this light disappeared, the world would never be the same. They were about to embark on a new journey in a new world. It was a scene they had imagined countless times, for a very long time. "...Is this real?" "Is it really over?" "Wait... wait!" "Ah...." "Thank you, everyone. Thank you." The starting points of the onlookers were all different. A cold and hungry back alley. Afortable room in a splendid mansion. A shabby barn. A mountain of gold and silk. A fiefdom still reeking of blood. A battlefield littered with corpses. They had all walked different paths. But they met at a single milestone along the way and ultimately reached this point together. A world without demons. A new era. Their lives were now their own. Tssss¡ª ...And finally, the light that had brightly illuminated the world gradually began to fade. The hero of this victory slowly revealed himself. Step¡ª The Hero staggered as he approached Avalon. All the passengers, as if they had made a promise, moved as one. Even those who had followed the hero from the start, and those who had inwardly rejected him, were no different. Salute¡ª Their hands rose to their foreheads in a crisp, precise salute. In that moment, filled with pride, respect, radiant smiles, and gratitude, the Hero copsed to the ground. The emperor rushed forward. * * * "...Wake up." I opened my eyes to the voice calling me. A familiar face wore an unfamiliar expression. "Ah, Euphemia." By some miracle, when the Demon King perished, a part of what he had taken returned. It included the memories of my loved ones. It was truly fortunate. I could bring things to a proper end. Euphemia reached out her hand. "...What are you doing here? Let''s go back." "Yes, we should go back." I tried to take the hand Euphemia extended to me. But unfortunately, all I could manage was a brush. The disintegration magic nted by Zero had already progressed more than halfway. It was bing increasingly difficult to exert physical force. "......" But my hand didn''t fall to the cold ground. Euphemia had grabbed my sleeve instead. Her joints, where strength was concentrated, were abnormally pale. It was then. "P-Professor...?" "You..." "No, what is this...?" "Professor!" The group of crusaders who had btedly followed surrounded Euphemia and me. My blurry vision suddenly cleared. Evergreen and Karen were weeping uncontrobly. Gerald had his back turned, his shoulders shaking violently. Luke and Ban looked as if they were about to tear their lips apart. When I met Cuculli''s gaze, she mouthed the words "Thank you." ...And both Leciel and Nyhill wore expressions full of regret. It was clear that leaving myrades behind would be just as difficult. Noubelmag, who had bowed his head deeply. Barun and Zion, kneeling in prayer for me. Arpheus was still saluting. Kasim, supporting the limp Pia, bowed his head to me. Amidst themotion, I saw Izaro leave. Surprisingly, Yussi stayed by my side. That damned Larze had a smirk on her face for some reason. Well, it was better than seeing her bawling his eyes out. Finally, Euphemia, my first aplice. "This isn''t right." "...Euphemia." After a suffocating silence, the emperor''s eyes turned blood-red. "This isn''t right!" A torrent of incoherent words spilled out. She spoke of taking turns. That it was now the world''s turn to love me. That I deserved to enjoy what was rightfully mine, the emperor cried out in rage. "How ridiculous... you fool." Thud¡ª She fell to her knees in the mud, reaching out to support my drooping head. Grateful that she allowed me to face the people, I looked at those who wept for me. "......" Suddenly, I recalled my very first memory. When I first faced this world, my first awareness was undoubtedly loneliness and pain. But how was it at the end? "Thank you for crying for me." It was dazzling. The sun was rising, the dawn was breaking. I squinted my eyes and looked up at the brightening sky. I used to despise this sight. The sky where dawn breaks. Another day begins. A world where only I cannot take root. But now, it was blindingly beautiful. All my actions. All my sacrifices. Everything had meaning. The proof was scattered everywhere. I asked them aloud. "Does this world still need a hero?" The answer came after a brief moment of silence. Warmth enveloped me. Euphemia whispered. "No, it''s okay. It''s all okay now." "How... amusing." Indeed. There was nothing left to do butugh heartily. "It''s amazing." [TL/N: This was a journey that i¡¯m d i was on. Thank you for bearing with me and my mistakes.] [PR/N: My first novel that I pr¡¯ed. Damn. Sadder stories iing.] ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 327: Side Story (1) Chapter 327: Side Story (1) ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Side Story 1 - Buck and Doppelganger This is me, Buck. I¡¯m a third-rate thief now, but one day, I''ll be a great bandit. This is the journal of that future man.Today, I¡¯m going to write about my new friend. He¡¯s a bit of an odd one. We met about a month ago, I think? It was a day like any other when I dropped by Cain¡¯s gambling den. Everyone in the Harlem underworld knows that Cain''s goons cheat at cards. So, I figured I¡¯d try my hand at some tricks too after a long time... And the result? Damn. I got caught and beaten to a pulp. "I told you, if you get caught again, I¡¯ll chop off not just your hands but your head!" The situation was a real mess. The alley where I was getting beaten up was deserted, and these guys were too busy pounding me to even care that I was coughing up blood. I seriously thought I might die from this beating. That¡¯s when he appeared. Honestly, I was surprised. Why? Because he was obviously an outsider. But I wasn''t in a position to be picky. ¡°Hey, buddy! Long time no see!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± He gave me an annoyed look, but I shamelessly kept going. ¡°Help me out! I¡¯ll reward you if you do! Huh? Where are you going! Please!¡± He sighed deeply and stepped into the fight. At that point, I thought he could handle himself... Turns out, he was a klutz. We both got beaten up together. ¡°Oof! Ugh! Ack!¡± The only good thing was, the guy could really take a beating. He looked delicate, but surprisingly, he was tough. He took so many punches that even Cain got exhausted and walked away, huffing and puffing. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re pretty sturdy.¡± "¡­Did you even know who I was when you asked for help?" "Who cares who you are? There¡¯s no one in Harlem without a story. Whether you¡¯re a monster or a murderer, as long as you¡¯re good to me, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Well, thanks to you, I didn¡¯t end up half-dead. Let¡¯s go grab a drink. My treat!¡± The money I was treating with was the same money I¡¯d slipped from Cain¡¯s goons while they were beating me up. Anyway, that¡¯s how we became friends. At first, he seemed wary, but after a few drinks, he opened up quickly. He was actually a pretty friendly guy. But in Harlem, friendly guys usually end up dead pretty soon. So, I decided to help out this poor newbie a bit. Taught him some tricks, showed him how things work in this ce¡­ And a month went by. I started feeling that this guy was different. It was like¡­ a smell. Not to brag, but I¡¯ve been a criminal and a lowlife all my life. I have a keen nose for people who are stuck at the bottom, unable to escape. People who live like worms, driven by inertia and routine. But this guy, how should I put it¡­ He felt like someone who would eventually break free from this mess. Like he¡¯d soar high, to a ce I could never reach. So yeah, I started getting these ridiculous hopes. That maybe, if I stuck around him, I might somehow be a decent person... ¡°Hey, Buck!¡± I snapped the journal shut in surprise. My ¡®friend¡¯ was leaning against the wall, motioning for me. ¡°Let¡¯s go to work.¡± . . . As always, the job went smoothly. Small-time requests that trickle down from the higher-ups. They paid surprisingly well considering the low risk, so Buck had a wide grin on his face. He jingled the coin pouch, then took out just slightly less than half and handed it to his ¡®friend.¡¯ ¡°Heh, sticking close to old man Vasquez¡¯s rear end really pays off. Let¡¯s sweet-talk him and get another job soon.¡± But for some reason, his friend didn¡¯t look happy. Buck flinched, thinking he might¡¯ve noticed the uneven split. ¡°¡­I¡¯m not taking any more jobs from Vasquez.¡± ¡°What? Why not!¡± Buck started hopping mad, but his friend was firm. ¡°They¡¯re all dirty jobs.¡± ¡°Hey, how do you expect to survive in Harlem without doing dirty work?¡± ¡°There are better jobs. They just pay less.¡± ¡°Exactly! They pay less! No women, no booze, no gambling!¡± Buck clutched his chest in frustration as if his heart would burst. But sadly, his troubles weren¡¯t over yet. Clink-! Buck looked at his friend in disbelief. ¡°What¡­ are you doing?¡± ¡°Charity.¡± His friend had just dropped arge portion of his coins into a beggar''s tin in the alley. The ragged woman and her daughter¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Th-thank you, sir. Thank you so much.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Buck howled. ¡°Are you swimming in money? Just give it to me instead!¡± At that, the beggar woman clutched the tin to her chest, fearing he might snatch it away. Buck red at them, frustrated. It was a familiar face. They were the ones who lingered around whenever his friend tossed them coins, as if it had be a habit. Buck growled. ¡°You really don¡¯t know Harlem yet, do you? What do you think that woman will do once she¡¯s saved up enough money?¡± ¡°Who knows.¡± ¡°She¡¯ll clean up her daughter, doll her up, and sell her to a brothel. Just wait and see if I¡¯m wrong.¡± ¡°The kid can hear you. Watch your mouth.¡± ¡°Let her hear! Maybe she¡¯ll realize her fate and make a run for it!¡± ¡°¡­Buck.¡± His friend¡¯s icy stare made Buck shut his mouth. The beggar woman and her daughter had already run off. ¡°Damn it. I¡¯m gonna go y some cards.¡± ¡°I¡¯m good.¡± ¡°Of course, you are.¡± ¡°¡­Don¡¯t even think about cheating. Cain said he¡¯d kill you if you get caught again.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah! What are you, my mom?¡± Buck grumbled irritably as he made his way to the gambling den. A momentter, a low mutter escaped through his gritted teeth. ¡°¡­Just wait and see.¡± . . . And a few dayster. They were on their way back from another job. His friend looked as calm as ever, but Buck¡¯ face was scrunched up in frustration. Because they had taken on a ¡°decent job¡± just as his friend wanted. His earnings were halved. ¡°Ugh¡­.¡± ¡°If you hate it that much, take on other jobs by yourself.¡± ¡°¡­Come on, do you even hear yourself? How am I supposed to handle those dangerous jobs on my own?¡± ¡°Then stop whining.¡± "Why is this bastard so heartless only to me!" It was at that moment when he grabbed the back of his neck. Buck, who had been making exaggerated gestures, suddenly noticed something and widened his eyes. "Whoa whoa whoa?" "......" "Look over there, you jerk!" Buck pointed towards the middle of the alley. It was the spot where the usual beggar mother and daughter were begging. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ ¡­Just as Buck had expected, the daughter who was always with her was nowhere to be seen beside her mother. The shabby nket the daughter used to wear was now draped over the mother''s shoulders. Buck burst outughing and patted his friend''s shoulder. "See? What did I tell you? No matter how smart you are, I know Harlem better." "......" Without giving his friend a chance to respond, Buck approached the beggar mother and started intimidating her. "Hey, you wretched woman. Where''s your cute little daughter? Did you sell her off and now you''re all alone?" But he didn''t have time to hear the answer he was expecting. Tap-tap¡ª The sound of small footsteps echoed from the entrance of the alley. "......" Buck stared in disbelief at the little girl with a backpack. Tap-tap¡ª The cheerful child passed by Buck and stood in front of his friend, bowing politely. The friend''s usually stoic face softened with a faint smile. A hand gently patted the little girl''s head. The beggar mother also bowed toward the friend. ¡­Watching the scene from a few steps away, Buck was ovee with a strange feeling. He hurried over to his friend''s side and whispered. "Honestly, I wasn''t wrong, was I? Right?" "Really?" "If it had been any other beggars in Harlem, something like that would have definitely happened." "Well¡­ probably." Buck hesitated for a moment and squinted at his friend. "You¡­ you already knew that woman wasn''t like that, didn''t you? How did you know?" "I observed." "¡­Observed?" "I''m good at it." "What a ridiculous thing to say." His friend didn''t bother to exin further. As usual, he returned to his quiet demeanor and continued on his way. ¡®Seriously, sometimes this guy is hard to deal with.¡¯ His friend''s footsteps came to a halt, a little whileter. Buck sighed and spoke up. "You''re looking at that again?" It was a poster stuck to a filthy wall. The wall was soiled daily with vomit and urine from drunkards, but the poster remained clean. A short phrase was written at the top of the poster. For the freedom of humanity. It was a poster recruiting soldiers to fight against the demons. His friend sometimes stared nkly at that poster. "What¡­ are you seriously thinking of bing a soldier?" It was meant as a joke. But the response came in a serious tone. "Someday, I want to." Buck couldn''t understand and asked again. "Why? For whose sake?" Humanity? The Empire? What had they ever done for people like them who were barely surviving? When they were facing all kinds of misfortunes and hardships, how did they help? "......" But his friend didn''t offer much exnation and simply took a nce around with his deep-set eyes. At the stinking alley, the chattering beggar mother and daughter at the entrance, the other beggars lying around like garbage with dead eyes¡­ even the faint curses and shoutsing from unseen ces. "¡­At least, I can go through misfortunes I¡¯m responsible for." Buck had no idea what his friend was trying to say. ¡®Sometimes, he talks like someone who reads a lot of books.¡¯ But somehow. At times, he felt that his friend¡¯s demeanor was radiant and noble. More so than the high-ss nobles who frequented Harlem''s brothels. More so than any of the people he''d met in his muddy life. . . . Humans inherently seek out rare values. Buck'' tightly closed lips moved slightly. "Hey, that thing." "What?" "I, uh¡­ well, you know, like you¡­." It was strange. Though embarrassed and unable to put it into words, his friend understood him perfectly and responded. "You already know how." "¡­I do?" "Yeah." Thud¡ª A hand briefly patted his shoulder before leaving. His friend smiled, which was rare, and greeted him. "See you tomorrow, Buck." "¡­Yeah." On his way home. Buck stopped in front of a beggar he always passed by near his house. The man, who imed to be a veteran of the Demon War, always held out a money jar with his one good hand. Clink¡ª The beggar lowered his head with difficulty. Buck watched him for a moment, then¡­. "Wha, what?" He reached into the jar and snatched up some money. "¡­W-what." The beggar looked at him in shock. But to avoid getting hit, he quickly averted his eyes. For some reason, seeing that made Buck inexplicably angry. "With this paltry sum, it''s not going to be enough anyway." "E-excuse me?" Lately, he''d only been getting lousy jobs, so his wallet was in bad shape. "I''ll triple it and bring it back." Ping-! Buck flicked the coin with his fingers and grinned. . . . Buck came back to me as a cold corpse, about six monthster. They said he died while trying to stop a little girl from being kidnapped by a human trafficking gang. It was an ending that didn''t quite suit someone who was infamous for getting beaten up at gambling dens. "Is this the ce?" "Shh, be quiet." What I thought would be an empty funeral was actually filled with mourners. One by one, flower bouquets, as if plucked straight from the streets, were ced on top of Buck. I learned about the things he''d been doing while I thought he was just cking off at gambling dens. ¡®¡­Observing, my foot.¡¯ By then, a child was standing behind me. The little girl with the backpack. The girl Buck had saved bowed her head slightly, holding a flower. The face that used to be covered in dirt had changed so much that I could hardly remember what she used to look like. "......" The girl smiled slightly andid the flower on top of Buck. Moved by the sincerity in her eyes, I found myself nodding unconsciously. "You already know how." "¡­I do?" "Yeah." He. Of all people, would have known the best way. . . . Yes, that happened. The warm memory suddenly resurfaced in my mind. ¡®¡­¡­?¡¯ But what¡¯s going on right now? I squinted at the bright lights floating around me. ¡®I was definitely¡­.¡¯ Vague images shed before my eyes. ¡®What was I doing?¡¯ Another light approached me as I struggled to remember. ¡®Wait a minute. This memory¡­.¡¯ ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 328: Side Story (2) Chapter 328: Side Story (2) ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Side Story 2 - In the World You Were In Ate afternoon in early summer. Euphemia slowly opened her eyes on the hospital bed. A gentle breeze blew through the curtains, brushing against the room, and outside, children''sughter could be heard.But it wasn''t the sounds from outside that woke her. "I can''t believe this! Do you have nine lives or something? Why do you keeping back so badly injured every time!?" "..." "Sigh, I''ll wrap you in bandages, so just lie still today!" The sharp voice of the nurse echoed loudly from behind the curtains. Euphemia frowned slightly. ''...What¡¯s all themotion about?'' What could be so exciting that they¡¯d forget a princess was in the ward? "..." After a moment of contemtion, Euphemia closed her eyes again. ''...Never mind, I''m too tired.'' Though she wouldter attain the ''Ultimate Body'' and be an iron-willed person who could stay awake for days, right now, she was nothing more than a frail girl who easily copsed under the pressure ofst-minute cramming for finals. ''I should¡¯ve at least tried to nap.'' Of course, even if she had failed her exams, the professors would still have given her good grades. But Euphemia didn''t want to receive such special treatment. ''They¡¯re all just rotten, busy trying to curry favor with the imperial family.'' The motto of Rosenstark Academy, that everyone is equal within its walls, had long since lost its meaning. ''If I were my father, I would have reced them all.'' Rosenstark. An educational institution dedicated to nurturing talents who would bear the future of humanity¡ªits importance could not be overstated. Even she, who had spent most of her life secluded in a distant pce, understood this. But her father, the current emperor and one of the most infamous rulers in the empire''s history, was only interested in indulging in pleasure and paying attention to ttering sycophants. ''...Damn it.'' What annoyed her even more was the fact that no matter which of her foolish siblings inherited the throne, the same oue would follow. Frustrated, Euphemia, now wide awake, gave up on sleeping and got out of bed, intending to take a walk around the ward to clear her head. "..." "..." However, she stopped in her tracks when she noticed a boy on the bed across from hers. Silver eyes and hair. Bandages soaked with blood and pus. A body covered in scars. Ted Redymer. The name popped into Euphemia''s mind. In the half-year since she had enrolled, even in a different department, she had heard the name countless times. ''They said he¡¯s the most talented student in Rosenstark''s history, right?'' ...He was also notoriously famous for his inhuman appearance. The princess quickly admitted it. ''At least half the rumors are true.'' They silently exchanged nces for about ten seconds. But the seemingly endless staring contest abruptly ended when¡ª Cough! The boy violently coughed up blood. As the nurse on duty rushed over to check on him, Euphemia abandoned her idea of walking and sat on a bed across from him. Precisely across from him, facing him directly. "How did you end up in such a state?" The question came naturally, as if they were already acquainted. The answer was just as natural. "I went into a practice dungeon." Euphemia frowned slightly. "Freshmen aren''t allowed in dungeons, are they? It''s something only upperssmen do during their practice sessions." "I sneaked in." "...Why?" "There''s nothing like realbat to make you stronger faster." "Why do you need to get stronger so quickly?" After a brief silence, Ted responded with a question of his own. "Let me ask you one thing." "I don''t like answering questions with questions." "Why did you storm out of the ward with such a sour expression?" ...A sour expression? Euphemia doubted her ears as she responded. "Why are you curious?" "I''m just wondering what kind of worries royals have." A provocative spark flickered in his otherwise indifferent eyes. "After all, it doesn''t matter how much more brutal this world gets; it won¡¯t affect people like you." This was a statement that couldn¡¯t be protected by Rosenstark¡¯s school rules. But instead of reprimanding him for his insolence, Euphemia let out a shortugh. "...Do you deal with ufortable questions byughing them off?" "No?" Tap. The princess got down from her bed and stood in front of the boy, who was covered in wounds. The subtle smell of disinfectant, the sunset outside the window. Golden eyes met silver ones as they faced each other up close. "I feel like getting to know you better." "Fine, just don''t hang me from the gallows." "I won¡¯t. I promise." ...Yes, that was their first meeting. . . . "Euphemia, looking back, we¡¯ve had a lot of memories." "...We used to be together all the time when we were young." The friendship that began in the hospital ward quickly expanded into other areas. The nearby vige tavern, the ssroom, the secret hideout where they plotted rebellions... and finally, the burning imperial pce. Ted had ced the bloodstained crown on her head himself. "And you apologized while doing it." "Yeah." "You said you were sorry for giving me the throne." "I did." "Why?" "...You have this bad habit of asking questions you already know the answer to." Ted spoke in a light, friendly tone, as if he had returned to their childhood days. Euphemia nodded. "I want to hear it from you." "In this cursed era, a righteous emperor must be someone who can lift a scale asrge as a hero¡¯s." "...A scale?" "Someone who carefully observes the bnce, and when one side is too heavy, they ruthlessly cast off the weights on the other side." "Ted." In the vision crystal, Ted gave a shortugh before continuing calmly. "Thank you. Thanks to you, the weights on the other side of the scale felt a little lighter." ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Euphemia felt as though she had swallowed something hot and sharp. "Ted." "Yeah." "...Are you really going to die?" "Yeah." "Are you really, really going to die?" The image of the wounded boy on the hospital bed shed before her eyes. The friend who had run alongside her for over a decade, all for one goal, was now disappearing. A wounded boy passed before her eyes as he lied on his sickbed. A friend who had run alongside her for years toward a shared goal was now gone. Euphemia was overwhelmed by fear and sense of loss more intense than she had ever felt before. ...A doppelg?nger? A stand-in? What use is any of that? Who could possibly rece Ted Redymer! "No one will know you died." "Euphemia." "Everyone will cheer and rejoice! But you''re dead! This isn''t fair!" The emperor clenched her fists so tightly they nearly shattered. Ah, she began to despise that stand-in, someone she had never even had a proper conversation with. "...I''ll announce your death. Your death deserves to be known." "Euphemia." Ted smiled faintly. "I know you won''t do that. I trust you won''t let everything go to waste." "Ted! Why are you doing this to me!?" "You know. This world still needs a hero." [PR/N: Damn.] The emperor, who had never considered another hero, finally copsed before the video crystal. Through her sobs, a gentle voice reached her ears. "An emperor shouldn''t cry." "Shut up." "Take care of him." "..." "We''ll meet again, muchter." And at that moment, a strange voice ovepped Ted''s. "...Does this world still need a hero?" Ah. It finally came to her. The 50th sector of the Demon Realm. The light that bloomed in the darkest ce. That relieved expression and the body that scattered into pieces. ''...A dream?'' The emperor, who had reached forward, realized she was lying in bed. The light she thought was dawn was just the bedroommp, and her pillow was embarrassingly damp. Euphemia curled up like a shrimp. Yes, it had been like this every day for nearly a year. "Damn bastards." No! Such a mild curse didn''t release her anger. Euphemia shouted at the top of her lungs. "You bastards!" At that moment, a startled voice came from nearby. "I-I apologize, Your Majesty." The royal physician and Mother Ghost bowed deeply. ''...The royal physician?'' Why was the royal physician here when it was not a day for a check-up? ''Wait. What day is it today?'' Strangely, her memory before she fell asleep was hazy. ''I have so much to do...'' The emperor tried to rise from her bed but felt dizzy and copsed back down. Mother Ghost hurried to support her. "Please take care of yourself, Your Majesty. You copsed from overwork just yesterday." "...I copsed from overwork? Me?" Indeed. Even with a body enhanced by divine power, no one could go nearly ten days without sleep and remain standing. After listening to Mother Ghost¡¯s detailed exnation, Euphemia grasped the situation. "Fine, I understand. Bring me headache medicine and my documents." "...Your Majesty." "Hurry. The royal physician may leave." After sending away her worried servants, the emperor rose from her bed and approached the window. ''Is it morning already?'' Beyond the window, the capital''s skyline was bathed in the gentle golden light of dawn. A soft breeze carried the city''s sounds into the room. Buildings spread out like a vast ocean. Between them, an unprecedented vitality flowed. The emperor took a deep breath. ...It had been almost a year since magic disappeared from this world. The continent was in a period of immense upheaval, and as a result, the imperial administration was suffering from unprecedented overwork. There were dozens of urgent issues that needed to be handled immediately. Territorial division with the other races. Development and purification of the eastern regions. Local lords fighting over the rapidly expanding economy and the interests involved. Excavation of relics and ruins from the First Era. The still unresolved rewards and recognitions. Manpower was severelycking, and every day brought unexpected problems. But one thing was certain. Humanity, once stalled, was now moving forward, step by step. "..." The emperor reached out her hand toward the capital outside the window. The dawn light painted her hand in gold, and long shadows seeped into the room. For a long time, Euphemia stood still, wrapped in light and shadow. "...I miss them." After a moment, she added softly. "I want to show them." She wanted to show the Heroes a world that no longer needed heroes. To walk those peaceful streets together, cloaked and with a drink in hand. To talk about how hard it was, how much they struggled. Tough together. Euphemia slowly closed her eyes. "...Your Majesty." Mother Ghost approached cautiously and handed over the documents. Euphemia returned to her role as the cold, calcting emperor and began reviewing the urgent matters. One task stood out as the top priority. "It''s only two days away..." The first anniversary of their victory. An event where the heroes would gather and receive the crowd''s praise was just around the corner. As she reviewed the guest list, her gaze stopped on one name. ''Larze Gion...'' That grinning face shed before her eyes. "Look forward to a surprise, Your Majesty." A surprise, huh. "I just hope it''s not something strange." "...Your Majesty?" "Nothing. You may go. Isn''t it time for breakfast?" The emperor smiled faintly and left the bedroom. A world without them. ...Yes. This world no longer needs a Hero. And she would ensure it stays that way. Two heroes were enough. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 329: Side Story (3) Chapter 329: Side Story (3) ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Side Story 3 - Hymn Swoosh¡ª It was a day when dark clouds hung low, pouring rain like a curtain. As usual, I found refuge in an abandoned barn. The musty smell of rotting wooden nks and damp earth assaulted my nose. "Filthy... yet cozy." Cobwebs filled the corners. The floor was a muddy mess from the rain seeping in through the roof and walls. Soon enough, the water would rise to my ankles. But I couldn''t move an inch from the haystack. ...There was nowhere else to go. And no ce I wanted to go either. Iy down and counted the days. Today marked roughly five years since I intentionally distanced myself from humanity. "It''s still lonely." But the thought of returning to human society didn''t cross my mind. It was just as lonely there. "Sometimes, it''s even lonelier." My polymorph was iplete. No matter how well I understood my target, my form would break if I let my guard down or reached my mental limit. If my understanding of someone was low, I couldn''t even replicate them. In other words, I was in a state that made it very unsuitable to stay anywhere for long. How often had I let my guard down, only to be nearly exposed? The experience of seeing eyes once filled with love and friendship suddenly turn to fear and disgust... no matter how many times I went through it, I never got used to it. ¡®I deserve a break.¡¯ ...Despite knowing that such an ending awaited me, I still craved warmth and threw myself into their midst. Like those raindrops squeezing through the rotten wooden nks of the roof. I struggled to dream a sweet dream, even for only a few months. Plop¡ª The sound of the rain echoed in my ears. I stared nkly at the muddy water pooling on the floor. ¡®Is this the limit of a doppelg?nger?¡¯ A life like floating duckweed. Empty rtionships. Frail hopes and inevitable disappointments. Humans often say that true death isn''t physical death but being forgotten and denied by everyone. If that''s true, how many times have I died already? ...And how many more times will I die? Step¡ª A sound reached my ears, cutting through the rain. My head snapped up in an instant. ¡®A person?¡¯ In an abandoned vige on the northeastern frontier? An unpleasant chill ran down my spine. I grabbed my sword next to the haystack and stood up. ¡®Bandits? A merchant group? Thugs?¡¯ I soon realized all those guesses were wrong. There was only one set of footsteps. And, as if the destination had already been decided, they were heading straight for the barn without hesitation. Were they just seeking shelter from the rain? Or... "...This could be troublesome." I peeked through the gap in the wall at the uninvited guest. Their hood was pulled down deep, making it impossible to see their face. But their overwhelming height and massive build were unmistakable, even through the downpour. And... was that a sword on their back? What kind of sword was that huge? It looked like wielding it would break their back and shoulders. ¡®A hero, perhaps.¡¯ I¡¯d heard rumors that warriors using enormous swords had be popr following the Hero since a few years ago. I never thought I''d see one in person. ¡®What a ridiculous sword.¡¯ I shook my head and extinguished thentern''s me. Whoosh¡ªthe barn was instantly swallowed by darkness. I hid between the pirs, concealing my presence. Step¡ª The footsteps grew louder. I calmed my breathing and slowly drew my sword. Was this a traveler seeking shelter from the rain? Or a thief drawn by the light? ¡®Or maybe a monster hunter?¡¯ If rumors about a shape-shifting monster had spread, and they''d tracked me down... The odds were low, but as a doppelg?nger, I couldn''t ignore the possibility. Besides, I''d never killed a witness before. I just ran away, hoping people would dismiss their testimony as nonsense. That fear of pursuers was always there. Shing¡ª That''s why I aimed my sword at the uninvited guest''s neck as soon as they entered. ¡®Sorry, but I have no other choice.¡¯ They froze, seemingly startled, unable to react. I quietly sighed in relief. ¡®A guy who can''t even handle his size. Lucky me.¡¯ I lowered my voice, trying to sound threatening like a gangster boss. "I have already booked this hotel. I''d appreciate it if you quietly left." But it was no use. Despite my eviction notice, the uninvited guest just turned their head towards me, standing still. My resolve to kick them out solidified. ¡®It''s too risky to share the same room.¡¯ I tightened my grip on the pommel. "Guess you need to see the coffin to wake up." Of course, I had no intention of killing them. A simple threat should be enough to scare them off. ...Or so I thought. . . . "Ugh!" What just happened? I thought as the rain poured down on me. I could see the barn wall blown wide open. And beyond it, the uninvited guest stood there as if nothing had changed. ¡®...What hit me?¡¯ It was quite a shock that I hadn''t even noticed the opponent''s movement. Although I¡¯d never trained in advanced martial arts, I had umted countlessbat experiences over the years, possessed superhuman strength, and mastered various skills from different professions. I could easily handle a gang of bandits, thugs, or even four or five mercenaries. But this guy... Step¡ª The man, who had stood like a statue, began approaching. "...Sorry. I didn¡¯t realize you''d be such an easy target." With those humiliating words, he reached out and picked me up by the nape. He gently set me down on the haystack in the barn... It felt like I had turned into a kitten. But the sense of humiliation vanished with his next words. "I thought you might be some formidable demon since they called you an unknown creature." My entire body tensed up. I looked up at him, dumbfounded. "...You." Whoosh¡ª He removed his hood, revealing silver hair that shone in the moonlight streaming through the broken wall. His perfectly sculpted features... A face I knew all too well. It left me breathless. I barely managed to utter his identity. "Hero..." His silver eyes peered at me through his visor. "Hmm, I didn''t think my face was that well-known. But you recognize me." ...Of course, I recognized him. He was someone I admired and revered. I¡¯d seen his chronicles and portraits drawn by his followers more times than I could count. "Did youe to hunt me down?" ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ I''d nevermitted a crime deserving of being hunted by a hero. I desperately tried to defend myself. "I''m not a monster, so... I''m a very good-natured creature, believe it or not..." "I know." "You know?" "Yes. Didn''t you try to hit me with the t of your de?" He nced at my sword, lying in the muddy water. ...Take a deep breath. There''s no immediate hostility or killing intent. "Um..." Just as I was about to ask why he hade to find me cautiously, his mouth opened first. "I want to see that ability of yours, the one where you can replicate humans." ...My words quickly got stuck in my throat. ''So, he knows that much.'' It wasn''t wise to ask where he got the information or to exercise my right to refuse at this moment. Without a word, I focused my mind. The easiest thing to polymorph into right now... Yes. Buck would be best since I understand them well. "Ho..." The only sounds echoing in the barn were the asional creak of bones and the patter of rain. The Hero, intrigued by my polymorphing, slowly observed. "Exin your ability." I briefly exined the understanding and duration of it. As the Hero listened, his face grew more thoughtful, and by the end of my exnation, he had a rather satisfied smile. "I didn''t expect such a being to exist. This is perfect timing." "...Perfect timing?" "I''ll exin in detailter." Just as I tilted my head in confusion, an unforgettable scene unfolded before my eyes. "You." The moonlight seeped through a hole in the wall and softly settled on the muddy floor. The rippling water, catching the light, moved slowly. Raindrops carried by the wind fell one by one onto the surface. The barn floor now sparkled like a night sky filled with stars. Among the shimmering lights, the Hero extended his hand. "Would you like to take my ce?" ...Take his ce? I stared nkly at him from atop a pile of hay. The moonlight flowed like waves from the tips of his outstretched fingers to his entire arm. It felt absurd, like an impossible dream. Yet, it also felt like a moment I had been desperately waiting for. One thing was certain: the anxiety and emptiness that had gued me for so long were finally leaving. That must be why my mouth moved on its own. "I''ll do it." I grasped the moonlight. "...Though I''m not sure how well I can." The Hero pulled me up with strength. . . . The departure was immediate. With only a single word, "Follow me," the Hero hastened his steps without dy. He headed southwest... the road leading to the capital. I hurriedly chased after him. His legs were so long that I almost had to run to keep up. As I stared at his broad back, I impulsively spoke. "I... have a question too." The Hero''s pace slowed just a little. "I can''t exin right now how I came to know of your existence or what you''ll be doing." "...That''s fine." His pace slowed a bit more. "Really? Then what do you want to know?" "How do you fight like that?" The Hero came to aplete stop, turning halfway to look at me. "Repeat that." I rephrased my question. "How can you fight so hard for something without the promise of certain rewards?" That was always my question. From reading about his life and following his actions through written records, I was always curious. Justice, salvation, virtue. Where does the courage to embark on such an uncertain journeye from, without guaranteeing a definite reward? ...From everything I''ve seen and felt over countless years, one thing is certain. Humans are beings who cannotmit wholeheartedly to something without the assurance of a reward or sess. They harbor both good and evil within, making it impossible to pursue only pure ideals. Yet the Hero was an exception. All his actions converged toward a single goal. Thus, there were two possibilities. Either everything was meticulously crafted for public image, or there was a part of him that I didn''t understand. Before I took his ce, I wanted to know the answer. The Hero remained silent for a moment, then spoke. "Is that question necessary to raise your understanding?" "...You could say that." "Then I''ll dly answer." The Hero, who had been facing forward, turned to me. Nothing but empty ins surrounded us. The sky was a murky navy blue. It was long past the time for the sun to rise, but the clouds were too thick. "Your question suggests that for our fight to have meaning, it must yield corresponding results. Is that right?" "...Yes." That was exactly it. If I were the Hero, I''d be terrified to my core. Realistically speaking, humanity''s chances of defeating the demons were close to zero. One could even say the demons were slowly strangling humanity. ...Victory was so distant it seemed unattainable. All his hardships, efforts, and sacrifices were in danger of being in vain. That''s why I admired him but found it difficult to understand. A Hero who could throw his entire finite life into the shining yet elusive goal of saving humanity. "You''re mistaken about one thing." "Pardon?" ...But the Hero gave a clear answer. "Rewards don''te from results. They are found in the process itself¡ªin the moments when we fight, suffer, question, and doubt." "...Those moments are the reward?" "Yes." The Hero said. "There is no certainty in this world. epting that is the first step. Then, within that uncertainty, you decide what to believe in... and what to protect." "......" "Through endless choices, we define who we are." The path we choose defines who we are. That was what he was saying. "I chose to believe." "......" "Even if I fail, someone else, and if they fail, another will prove my choice was right. They will lead humanity to salvation." He murmured softly. As naturally as the night turns to day. As flowers wither and bloom again. As winter ends and spring arrives. Just like those inevitable facts. "Humanity, no matter the circumstances, will eventually lean towards good. I chose to believe that." "......" "That''s why I can fight." The Hero turned and started walking again. The morning sun, peeking out, softly illuminated his back. ...I watched him endlessly, reying his final words in my mind. "I wonder what you''ll choose in this process¡ªsomeone who is not human, yet possesses a human heart." That must have been when it started. * * * I opened my eyes again. An empty, endlessly vast space surrounded me. My sense of time waspletely jumbled. It felt like decades had passed, or perhaps not even a second. ''The memories...'' Almost all of them had faded. The dazzling light that once filled the area had now left only one light in the empty darkness. That light was quite different from the others. ''...What is this?'' Whose memory is this? I had already reviewed the memories of all the significant people. "......" ...I didn''t hesitate for long. I reached out my hand. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 330: Side Story (4) Chapter 330: Side Story (4) ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Side Story 4 - A Lot Will Be Left Behind "Hi, honey?" Karen woke up on a soft bed. A pair of eyes looking down at her formed a gentle arc. Karen covered her face with a pillow again. "Ah... I thought you were a demon." "What a harsh thing to say to your boyfriend." "Sorry." Karen stretched and hugged Gerald. Gerald patted her back and whispered. "Did you sleep well? You seemed to be sleeping so soundly, I didn''t wake you." "...Yeah, I didn¡¯t have any nightmares today. Maybe I was just tired." Gerald chuckled mischievously. "You must have been. I probably should''ve let you go further yesterday. It''s exhausting returning from the 50th sector of the Demon Realm." "Hmm, the 50th sector, but I feel like we didn''t even leave the capital." "Karen!" Karen giggled and reached for the table. Freshly baked warm cookies and fragrant tea awaited her. A boyfriend who looked fierce but was kind. ...Ah, it was a perfect morning. Shadow, from under the bed, barked as if asking for some too. "By the way, why are you in uniform?" "Did you forget? There''s a ceremony today." "Oh, right... Can''t we go in the afternoon?" "I want to meet up with the others first and catch up. It''ll be too hecticter with the banquet and everything." Karen''s face began to light up with a smile at those words. "Sounds good... I need to hear how those guys have been." Holding hands, Gerald and Karen left their grand mansion together. * * * At the center of the capital''s shopping Sector, a workshop was spewing noise and smoke in all directions from early morning. But no oneined. One of the workshop''s co-owners had bought up all the surrounding properties at double the market price. ...The entrance was lined with thetest equipment. For those in the manufacturing business, it was a dreand of tools, with cksmiths and alchemists bustling about. "Ugh! Didn''t we agree not to take any new reservations for a while?" "The workshop owner said to take them, what am I supposed to do?" "Ugh... The workshop owner is not human!!" "Are you talking about me?" "Eek!" Now that the long war had ended, other workshops were much quieter than before. But this workshop''s products were so special that they rarely had time to rest even during peaceful times. ...It was only around noon that they managed to sit down for a moment. "Good work, everyone." "Let''s grab something to eat." As the craftsmen scattered in small groups, one woman was thest to put down her hammer. Her face was peaceful and serene, with ck hair that softly flowed over her shoulders, resembling someone in particr. The workshop owner, Noubelmag, approached her with long strides. "I told you to take the day off today. We have the ceremony soon." "...But you came out too, Noubelmag." "I''m the workshop owner!" "If the owner is working, should the staff rest?" "Ugh..." When Noubelmag let out a dissatisfied sound, the woman''s thinly pressed lips curved into a faint smile. "...Alright, let''s eat. Don''t work on an empty stomach." "I''ll just serve this one customer and then I''ll go." Nyhill approached a woman who was hesitantly lingering at the workshop entrance. "Hello, are you here to make a reservation...?" But unusually, the woman trailed off, and in the end, she just stared at the ''customer'' nkly. "......" "......" At first, Nyhill didn''t recognize her. It was a bare face, without the usual mask. But she clearly remembered those eyes. The highly trained stealth and calmness in her movements too. ¡®...So that''s what her face looks like.¡¯ Nyhill stood in front of Mother Ghost, wrapped inplex emotions. "What brings you here?" "Nice to see you, Nyhill. You recognized me after all." Nyhill''s eyes trembled slightly. "You¡¯re not calling me Number 3 anymore." "Of course not, there are no more ghosts." In the past year, the Shadow Division had undergone a massive reorganization. The inhumane agent training process had beenpletely abolished, and existing agents could leave the organization with substantialpensation if they wished. Surprisingly, Mother Ghost first suggested this reform to the Emperor. She argued that the Shadow Division could still function effectively with a new approach. Nyhill silently stared at Mother Ghost. ...No, at the unnamed middle-aged woman who was now looking around the workshop with curious eyes. "When everything was wrapped up... I thought of you." "You must have already known how I was doing." "Confirmation in person is always better than just reading about it. You know that." After finishing her inspection, Mother Ghost¡¯s gaze returned to Nyhill. "So, how are you?" "How am I...?" "You''re doing good work." Mother Ghost pointed to the disy case at the entrance. It showcased the workshop''s main products¡ªprosthetic arms, legs, and eyes. They were devices that reced lost body parts. "May I touch them?" "...Yes." Mother Ghost carefully touched the prosthetics with an unreadable expression. Her voice, barely a whisper, resonated quietly. "I once assigned you to cut off and extract things like these." Nyhill nodded silently. "Was it painful?" "...Yes." "Of course it was." Nyhill still couldn¡¯t understand Mother Ghost¡¯s intentions. But one thing was clear¡ªMother Ghost was very ufortable. Ignoring the fact that it was unlike her, why had shee all this way if she was going to be so restless? As Nyhill pondered this small mystery, Mother Ghost spoke again. "The blood on your hands is not your own." Ghosts were necessary. But perhaps there could have been a different way, a better way. Mother Ghost let out a deep sigh. "I wanted to tell you that." Only then did Nyhill look straight into Mother Ghost¡¯s eyes. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Their gazes met. The cold eyes that had always watched her from behind the mask¡­ and the desperate eyes that sought atonement and forgiveness. Light and shadow. Yes, it was the humanity he had always spoken of. "Heh, haha, hahaha¡­." For the first time, Nyhillughed in front of Mother Ghost. It was augh that brightened her entire face and spread naturally. Leaving behind the slightly stunned Mother Ghost, she turned around. "I''ll be going now. My friends are waiting." At the workshop entrance, Gerald and Karen were waving energetically at her. Nyhill walked a few steps toward them, then turned back with a faint smile. "...I''m d I didn''t remain a ghost till the end." Mother Ghost, who had been staring endlessly at her retreating figure, turned her gaze back to the disy. The wall above it was filled with tokens of gratitude left by people: a portrait of a child who had learned to walk again, letters and drawings written with a prosthetic hand. People who had regained their lives. "Somehow¡­." Mother Ghost took a deep breath. "...I''m ashamed." Why did she suddenly think of the man who used to put money into her mother¡¯s collection box without fail? She let out a short sigh. "...I guess I should try living well." Tap, tap¡ª Just like when she carried her school bag and walked toward all the world''s possibilities. Mother Ghost''s now lighter steps headed towards the imperial pce. . . . A massive triumphal arch stood tall at the city''s entrance. A grand arch soaring toward the sky. The images of the crusaders who had boarded the Avalon were vividly carved into the solid stone. The bombardment at the 46th Sector. The battle with the demonic beasts at the 47th Sector. The ck rain and stake explosion operation at the 48th Sector. The battle at the Demon King''s Castle in the 50th Sector... Of course, the soldiers who had bravely advanced to the outskirts of the demon realm were also depicted. The final battle was immortalized as a magnificent piece of art, taking its ce among existing works. Alongside the heroes who had fought for humanity for centuries. Clip-clop¡ª A carriage was passing through the triumphal arch. Normally, the roads leading from the triumphal arch would be bustling with tourists, but now, for the safe passage of the esteemed guests, the road waspletely blocked off. Clip-clop¡ª Yet, people were gazing at the carriage with highly excited expressions, without a hint of irritation. Passersby bowed their heads in respect and gave loud apuse. Some rushed to nearby flower shops, bought bouquets, and scattered petals in front of the carriage. The woman inside the carriage lightly tapped her husband sitting beside her. "Look outside. It''s your first time seeing thepleted triumphal arch." "...Just a moment." Meanwhile, cheers erupted from outside. The crowd, recognizing the emblem on the side of the carriage, let out a roar. "The ins and the Bow¡­." "Solintail!" "Evergreen! Evergreen!" "Then Luke must be with them too!" "Ohhh, the Immortal Mercenary King!!" The 4th Legion Commander, who had kept the front line despite his body being mutted by the Mad Schr, was a story often recounted by the crusaders. His feats were even grandly carved into the central part of the triumphal arch. However, Luke did not even nce at it. "Look outside, it was your dream." Feeling frustrated, Evergreen got up and tried to open the window herself. That¡¯s when Luke shouted as if in a seizure. "Be careful!" His gaze was fixed on Evergreen¡¯s round, swollen belly. His arms were already in a ready position, afraid she might fall. "Be careful!" "I just got up for a moment¡­." "Please, just be careful!" The one being worried over looked exasperated. "Luke, seriously! Why are you making such a fuss!" Evergreen stubbornly waved her hand out the window. Luke, unable to do anything, reluctantly showed his face. The cheers grew even louder. A fellow passenger, watching this, burst intoughter and then pushed Luke aside to reveal her own face. "Tada~! I''m here too!" The crowd cheered even louder. "The King of the North! The King of the North!" "Cuculli!" "Today''s market sales are guaranteed!" "Prepare to greet the big spender!" For the record, Cuculli had flown from the North to the capital, and upon spotting her friends'' carriage, had eagerly joined them. And so, the three of them crossed the capital amidst an overwhelming wee. Only Luke had a dark expression. What if that loud noise hurt the child and the mother? His handsome face was turning pale by the second. "Damn it, I should have just stayed out. The journey from Solintail to here must have been hard enough!" Evergreen shook her head. "I also wanted to see the kids after a long time. Instructor and Professor Pierre too. And others as well." Cuculli chimed in from the side. "Yeah, Luke, stop making such a fuss." Luke habitually started to curse but stopped himself. "..." Cuculli teased him with a yful question. "By the way, do you want a son or a daughter?" Luke answered immediately. "A son." "Huh? That''s unexpected. Why?" "A daughter in this harsh world? I wouldn''t be able to live in peace. If some wolf-like guy snatched her away¡­!" He would kill him. Seeing the madness in Luke''s eyes, Cuculli clicked his tongue. "The Lord and Lady of Solintail must have thought the exact same thing." "What?" "They raised her with all their love, only to have her taken by a bandit-like guy!" The two started a small scuffle, careful not to disturb Evergreen. She swallowed the words that had risen to her throat. ''They didn''t raise me with love though¡­.'' ¡­Leaving the two idiots who had started wrestling, Evergreen gently caressed her swollen belly. A slow smile spread across her lips. In a month, she would be able to show her child this world. Evergreen turned her green eyes toward the window. A world filled with infinite possibilities, one that she, her beloved husband, her friends, her respected teachers, and their colleagues had all fought to protect. ¡®I¡¯m really¡­ looking forward to it.¡¯ Evergreen carefully ced her hand on her belly. Her eyes sparkled with love. It was the purest and most lovely sight in the world. Cuculli and Luke stopped fighting. ¡°Phew, by the way, have you decided on a name?¡± At Cuculli''s question, both shook their heads. ¡°We were going to name the baby after the professor.¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°Come to think of it, the professor never told us his real name.¡± ¡°¡­True.¡± ¡°Cuculli, got any good names?¡± Luke grimaced and shook his head. ¡°How could he? Her own name is Cuculli. You think she¡¯d have good name suggestions?¡± ¡°¡­Wanna die?¡± A heated debate followed. Cuculli suggested northern names, and Luke recoiled in horror. Then, at some point, Cuculli tilted his head. ¡°Oh right. Where did they say to meet us?¡± Evergreen¡¯s lips quivered slightly. She tried to smile, but the weight of longing made it difficult. Luke answered in her stead. "The columbarium." "..." "Let''s go pay our respects. It''s been a while." ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 331: Side Story 5 Chapter 331: Side Story 5 ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Side Story 5 - As If Every Moment Is a Will After the war. In the middle of a vige where restoration work was in full swing. "Hey, kids, look over here."A gentle voice, out of ce in the destendscape, rang out. It was a warm and clear tone that made anyone who heard it smile unconsciously. The children, who had been ying, burst intoughter and turned towards the source of the voice. "That¡¯s it. Beautiful." A shabby-looking artist took out a small canvas and began to work quickly. Her hands were rough and calloused, but the lines that emerged from her fingertips were astonishingly smooth and delicate. Initially, the children were a bit wary, but they were soon captivated by the paintings. Every time a picture waspleted, they would flock around. "Wow! Is this me? Do I really look like this?" "Wow... It''s so pretty." Whenever the children eximed, the artist would respond, "You¡¯re even prettier in person." "No way..." "It''s true. I''m just not skilled enough to capture all your beauty." At such replies, the children wouldugh even louder. They each struck cute and charming poses, and the artist chuckled along with them. Red hair peeked out from beneath her deeply pressed beret, swaying as she moved. ¡­Of course, there were some who viewed her with disdain. "We''re not nobles, why do we need portraits?" "She''s probably charging for these drawings, isn¡¯t she?" "She seems like a con artist." The adults watched her gruffly, but when the children beamed with joy, holding theirpleted drawings, they quietly joined the queue. The nameless artist greeted them with a faint smile. Despite their rough skin, damaged by rebuilding homes and clearing wastnds, and the lingering traces of hardship and suffering from the long war, there was now an emotion in their eyes that hadn''t been there a year ago. ¡­A firm hope. A belief that the world would take a step forward. That it would wake from the long winter, ovee the harsh cold, and begin to sprout. Over the past year, Leciel had carefully drawn everything left behind by her master. Victory. All that came from "victory" and all that came from "war." "Phew¡­" It was now dusk. Leciel stretched and looked at the people dispersing in small groups. The smoke rising from cooking fires drifted with the sunset, leaving a pleasant aroma in the air. The scene, bathed in warm light, reminded her of a seaside she once saw in a dreamlike vision. "......" Leciel pressed down on the aching feeling in her chest. ¡®¡­No.¡¯ She had to be happy. She couldn¡¯t allow herself to be unhappy amidst what her master had left behind. ¡®He wouldn¡¯t want that.¡¯ That¡¯s why she had picked up the brush. She had to choose the way to be truly happy. Swiik, sss. Leciel began to paint again, capturing the shadows of people illuminated in a humble home and the ruins tinged with the glow of sunset. She only stopped when she noticed a small presence behind her. "Excuse me¡­" "What is it?" It was the first child who had asked for a picture. ¡°¡­Can I learn how to draw too?" The traces of his meal were still evident on his lips, showing he had rushed over right after eating. Leciel couldn¡¯t help but smile. She reached out and patted the child¡¯s hair. "I can¡¯t teach you for long, though. I have to leave in two days." A bright smile spread across the child''s face. "That¡¯s okay!" Worried she might change her mind, he quickly ran and sat beside her. His eyes sparkled with childlike curiosity as he examined her art supplies. "Hehe, I look forward to learning, teacher." The child handed her a steaming potato, which he seemed to have stashed in his pocket. ¡­Teacher. Leciel grinned and took a bite. "Call me Professor." . . . Thud¡ª Ban entered the columbarium. He was a little earlier than the time he had agreed upon with his friends. Today was not a day when outsiders or tourists were allowed. The soldier on duty frowned, prepared to turn away the uninvited guest, but upon recognizing him, the soldier snapped a sharp salute. Ban nodded silently and walked past him. Thud¡ª The cold air and a strange stillness enveloped him as he moved deeper inside. Under the dim lights, Ban slowly surveyed the long rows of stone coffins, each marked with a metal que bearing a name and date. The starting dates varied, but the end dates were mostly the same. This was the resting ce of heroes¡ªthose who had died fighting for humanity¡¯s freedom. Sadly, there weren¡¯t many stone coffins with actual ashes in them. Most of the bodies had been unrecoverable. ¡­Ban''s steps finally came to a halt. Lucas Wellington (Imperial Year 280.04.11 ~ 300.12.08) For everyone¡¯s glory. Ban ced one of the bouquets he had brought beneath Lucas¡¯s stone coffin. The wrapping paper on the bouquet read, ¡°For our war hero, from Arpheus¡¯s Flower Shop!¡± in elegant script. After the war, Arpheus had ventured into various businesses, including food cultivation and pioneering, with the flower shop being one of them. Flowers that bloomed regardless of the season, thanks to Zero''s blessing of "growth," were extremely popr. The flowers Ban had chosen were marigolds. Theirnguage of flowers signified sorrow of parting, an early farewell, and mourning. Ban gazed at the unopened buds. ¡®¡­I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d die like that.¡¯ It was before the flood of the Demon King¡¯s "melting" reached them¡­ during the fierce battle against numerous high-ranking demons. Lucas had fallen while defending Avalon from the invading demons. ¡­He had done it to protect the engineers, most of whom were of different races ormoners. Noubelmag and Pia had also survived thanks to Lucas. "......" Ban closed his eyes. ¡°Barbaric and lowly beings.¡± He still vividly remembered the Lucas of his youth, who had been arrogantly condescending. The nobleman who had stood firm in front of the weak, even after being pierced all over his body, felt like apletely different person. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Perhaps that¡¯s why the old hatred and resentment he once harbored had entirely disappeared. Ban recalled Lucas''sst will. He was one of the few fallen soldiers who could leave a will because he had died within the hull. ¡°I know it''s shameless, but... could you let me rest next to the heroes?¡± He made that request with a childlike expression that didn''t quite fit in with the group. "......" Ban sat down, leaning against the wall. Starting with Lucas''s sarcophagus, the sarcophagi of the fallen were lined up next to each other. The extreme survivors, who had started as thirty-one, were now eighteen in total. Fifteen, if you exclude the three who left on the day the hero''s identity was revealed on Rosenstark Hill. The faces of his fallen friends were superimposed over the nametes. Deindart''s sarcophagus. Below it was a note scrawled with the words, "Rest in peace, brother. Thank you." He had died while guarding the rear during the retreat of the Lotus Knights. Aileen''s sarcophagus. It was inscribed with the words, "You were alwaysst, so what was the rush this time?" She had died clearing the path for the hero heading towards the Demon King''s castle. Beorn, Olivia, and Liam. They had fallen to the Demon King''s "Dissolution" while evacuating the wounded. Even as the ck wave engulfed them from behind, their eyes remained on the wounded ahead, not on their own fate. There were many other sarcophagi. ... Too many. Afterying down all the bouquets, Ban sighed and looked up at the ceiling. A murmur, like a sigh, escaped his lips. ¡°When I first enrolled in Rosenstark and volunteered for the extreme course...¡± It was a story from when he was still a coward. ¡°I thought I''d be the first to die if we ever fought the demons, just as the professor said.¡± He couldn''t even swing his sword properly in front of monsters. It must have been frustrating for hisrades to see such a pathetic disy from someone they would have to rely on in the future. But instead of harshly reprimanding him, his friends moved forward together. They waited for him and cheered him on. They were all truly remarkable people. Surrounded by the traces they left behind, Ban traced his memories. ... And eventually. Whenever this kind of longing reached its end, it always brought the face of one person to mind. ¡®Professor.¡¯ It was a memory he could never forget. The demonic realm at dawn. Bathed in that dim light, his master shattered into pieces. That final question,den with relief and regret. ¡°Does this world still need a hero?¡± Thanks to him, a hero was no longer needed. But he was still needed. As much love as he had poured into the world, the world needed to return that love. He shouldn''t have disappeared with a face that said he had already received his reward. "What about you? Do you want to stay in the extreme course?¡± ¡°Think carefully about what you want to achieve bying to Rosenstark.¡± ¡°As a swordsman before a professor, I believe in your potential.¡± ¡°... Ban, mountains with deep valleys are usually tall.¡± Ban slowly stood up. ¡®I should visit soon.¡¯ Unfortunately, his master''s sarcophagus wasn''t here. The Emperor had prepared a ce for the hero in the highest tower of the imperial pce. So that he could endlessly overlook the world he had protected. ... He nned to visit there first after the victory celebration was over. Swoosh¡ª Ban turned around. His friends, who had arrived before him and were waiting, waved at him with big smiles. It had been a while. This was because Ban had remained in the military even after the war had ended. He had spent the past year focused on purging and developing the eastern regions, and naturally, he hadn''t been able to see his friends during that time. But, as expected, time didn''t matter. ¡°Wow... This guy. He didn''t retire, and look how old he''s gotten. I almost mistook you for old man Felson.¡± ¡°... Have you looked at your own face, Gerald?¡± ¡°Why are you picking on our Gerald?¡± ¡°Oh my God, Karen....¡± The moment he faced the familiar faces with whom he had shared daily hardships and joys, he realized that nothing important had changed. Gerald,ughing heartily, approached Evergreen¡ª ¡°Wow, by the way, our adorable niece ising into the world soon?¡± Luke intervened. ¡°Move your face away. It¡¯s not good for prenatal education.¡± ¡°You bastard!¡± Cuculli intercepted Karen''s question about the baby''s name. ¡°The name will be Kuriri! Or... Krillin!¡± ¡°Don''t talk nonsense!¡± ¡°There''s no word the dad can''t say in front of his kid!¡± Amidst themotion, Nyhill carefully approached Evergreen and gently touched her swollen belly. As she did so, she handed her a handmade doll. Finally, when Leciel, wearing a beret smeared with paint, appeared, the kids couldn''t help butugh, forgetting the location altogether. Ban was the same. The ragged artist''s look was far from appropriate as the appearance of a first love. Leciel, too, shrugged as if she didn¡¯t understand, then gave her characteristic giggle. ... They were still there. Somehow changed yet unchanged. Clinging to what was important as time flowed swiftly by. ¡°Well, then.¡± Afterughing for a while, Ban stretchedzily. A boyish smile spread across the young man''s face. ¡°Shall we get going now?¡± * * * - Unreleased Will To my students. By now, you too must be finishing your wills. I swear to do my best to ensure those wills never see the light of day. I hope these papers will return to your hands as small traces you canugh and reminisce over someday. (...Omitted...) I''ve long had the thought that this battle might be myst. But now, more than fear, I feel a sense of certainty. It''s probably thanks to you. Thank you. (...Omitted...) Sadly, even after all this journey, the world will sometimes be harsh and cruel to you. That''s just the way it is. But I''m certain of one thing. You will ovee all of it, and in the process, be stronger and more resilient. So, my beloved students, my stars. Love and fight with all your might. Even when you''re exhausted and feel like crying, never stop. Live every moment of your life with passion. And make your lives shine brightly. ... I will pray. That infinite luck and blessings are with you on your path ahead. And that one day, our paths may cross again. Never forget that I always believe in and love you. - Your Professor. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 332: Side Story (6) Chapter 332: Side Story (6) ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Side Story 6 - Lies ''...Where is this?'' The Hero awoke, taking in the unfamiliarndscape from hisst memory. A vast, deste rocky area. Sharp winds howled as they brushed past his ears. The Hero, dazed for a moment, corrected his question. ''Whose memory is this?'' In front of him was a boy, someone he''d never seen before, sitting on arge rock, staring at him. The boy looked somewhat cute, but nothing particrly stood out about him. ...They had certainly never met before. But soon, the perspective shifted to third-person, and the Hero roughly understood the situation. ''...Zero?'' A flicker of recognition crossed the Hero''s eyes. Zero looked younger than in any memory he had seen before. ''At best, he looks like he''s in his early twenties.'' His dark brown hair showed no signs of graying. There wasn¡¯t a single wrinkle on his face, and youthful confidence filled his expression. Curiosity surged within the Hero. ¡®The First Era, long before the ¡°Gate¡± opened.¡¯ So who was this boy sitting alone with Zero? As the two started a conversation, the Hero focused on them. "Um, excuse me..." The boy, seeming shy, asked Zero something in a small voice. "...Do you think humans will dislike me? My abilities... My existence is definitely a threat to them, isn''t it?" The Hero''s eyes trembled slightly. But despite his shock, the conversation continued. Zero responded in a gentle voice. "Ordinary humans might, yes." "...Ordinary humans?" "I''m saying you''re lucky to have met me!" "Uh, who are you, exactly?" Thump- Zero pointed to himself with his thumb. It was somewhatical, yet hard to look away. "I''m a magician!" Beneath his thick eyebrows, his bright eyes sparkled. "Magicians are different. We explore the unknown and seek understanding in the iprehensible! Beings like you are always wee." ...Suddenly, a long-forgotten memory surfaced. After decimating the Holy Army gathered for his extermination, Zero sat down in a daze. At that moment, someone approached him. That person had said this: "It¡¯s been a while, magician." This memory, from when the "Gate" opened and the Demon King arrived, bringing the First Era to the brink of destruction, came flooding back. "You''re the first of my mates of the game. Sit there and decide who you''ll root for, though the result will be the same regardless." The Hero finally recognized the boy''s identity. However, ??? lookedpletely different from how he remembered. ...He was just an innocent child. ''He called him the first of his ythings.'' The Hero focused on the conversation again. The young Zero was confidently persuading ???. "Come with me. Of course, not all magicians are kind... Actually, most of them are pretty entric... But mypanions are good people. They won¡¯t harm you. I promise." ??? tilted his head in confusion. "...Companions?" "I''m part of a small magic tower nearby." "So, what will I do there?" The boy kept asking questions, but Zero answered them all without a hint of annoyance. "We''ll teach you about yourself. In return, we¡¯ll provide a safe environment and teach you about humans. How about it? We¡¯ll exchange knowledge and be panions''." The Hero silently watched them. Until ??? smiled softly and nodded. ''...You were the same back then, too.'' ??? possessed the original Polymorph ability, allowing him to replicate the essence of anyone he encountered. Of course, at this early stage, his ability wouldn¡¯t be asplete as it was at its peak. But there was no real need for the ¡°safe environment¡± or ¡°exchange of knowledge¡± that Zero mentioned. Still, ??? willingly took Zero¡¯s outstretched hand. The reason was obvious. ''He was curious about humans.'' Thus, the young magician and the boy set off on the same path together. "By the way, what''s your name?" "Uh... The person I replicated is named Martin." "No, your real name." "Uh... I don''t think I have one." Zero burst intoughter, seemingly incredulous. "Well, we¡¯ll have to give you a name, then. I need to introduce you to people, after all." ??? bounced on his toes, clearly delighted. "Then... I¡¯ll leave it to you." After a moment¡¯s thought, Zero grinned confidently and patted the boy on the head. "Possero." "Possero...?" "It means ''possibility.'' It suits you, don¡¯t you think?" "...Yes!" As the boy¡¯s bright eyes sparkled in the fading light, darkness gradually settled around them. The Hero could onlyugh bitterly in the growing gloom. "Another ''-ro,'' huh, you damn archmage." As everything was once again swallowed by darkness, the Hero sensed someone nearby and turned his gaze. "......" An old, worn-out armchair stood in the darkness, and an elderly man sat slumped in it, staring nkly into space. His face was lined with deep wrinkles, and liver spots dotted his skin. His body had copsed in on itself like wet salt. Yet, despite the frailty, the Hero could easily recognize glimpses of the young magician who had just been full of life. Step by step, the Hero slowly walked toward him. Their eyes met. The old man spoke first. "You don¡¯t seem surprised." "I figured we¡¯d meet at least once before the end." "Why is that?" After some thought, the Hero replied. "Because you¡¯re a magician." The old man met his gaze with empty eyes. * * * After blinking a few times, the background had changed again. This time, thankfully, it was a ce the Hero recognized. Creak- The armchair made the same familiar sound. The Hero asked for confirmation. "This is the house you used to live in." "It is." "And that chair is where your wife used to sit." "Your memory is good." The Hero recalled the fairy woman gently cradling her swollen belly. A scene he could never forget: Zero, middle-aged, looking at her with a blissful expression. "There must be many things you¡¯re curious about." "There are." As the Hero nced around the house, he asked, "So, what happened to Possero after that?" Zero hesitated, as if the question caught him off guard. "He got along well with me and mypanions. We kept Possero¡¯s existence a secret, and he began learning about humans in a safe environment." "Is that all?" "...No." For the first time, something resembling emotion flickered across Zero¡¯s face. "There are no eternal secrets. As you likely know well." "......" "Rumors of a shapeshifter... a doppelganger, spread to the upper magic towers. It didn¡¯t take long for one of my foolishpanions to fall for their schemes." "And then?" "The tower captured him... subjected to torturous experiments, but eventually escaped." The Hero, puzzled, asked again. "Possero just let that happen? He can read the essence of people. He must have known what they were nning." "...He didn¡¯t want to believe it. He didn¡¯t want to believe that the person who had treated him the best had betrayed him. You understand that, don¡¯t you?" ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Zero looked at the Hero with hazy eyes. "Whether a doppelganger or a human, it''s the same. Sometimes, we turn away from the truth, even when it¡¯s right in front of us." "......" "Both tend to look away from the obvious." The Hero met Zero¡¯s calm gaze. Zero continued in a dry tone. ¡°I decided to believe what I didn¡¯t want to believe.¡± ¡°What is it that you didn''t want to believe?¡± There was no immediate reply. Zero, sinking deeply into his armchair, turned his gaze away from me. After a brief silence, a rather unexpected question followed. ¡°What do you think the world will look like in the future?¡± ¡°¡­Well, I don¡¯t know. No one can say for sure.¡± I added, ¡°Since the demons are gone, things will probably be much better than before, right?¡± ¡°Do you remember the first era?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It was an era of abundance and peace, beyondparison to the second era, but it eventually copsed due to human selfishness and desire.¡± I frowned, knowing where this was going. ¡°Are you so sure of failure in the future just because we failed once?¡± ¡°What if it wasn¡¯t just once?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°What if this isn¡¯t the second era, but more like the hundredth era?¡± At that absurd suggestion, I was left speechless. Zero¡¯s hand trembled. Vmmmm¡ª Then a strange image appeared before my eyes. It was as if I was watching the development of civilization recorded at billions of times the normal speed. From caves to huts. From stone buildings and fortresses. To towering skyscrapers that seemed to pierce the clouds. Metal objects soared through the sky, and dazzling lights caught my attention. While I was marveling with my mouth agape, Explosions and mes erupted, and everything turned to ashes and disappeared. Zero spoke calmly. ¡°If dozens of civilizations have already vanished, and we are standing on their remains, what then?¡± ¡°¡­Is that true?¡± ¡°It¡¯s why I devised n B¡­ to end your existence.¡± The old man continued, His voice like a judge delivering a final verdict. ¡°I love humanity. But it¡¯s inevitable that they will one day be consumed by their desires and fall into corruption. So, what will happen to someone like you, who reflects humanity¡¯s nature?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Without a doubt, you¡¯ll be another disaster. Just like Possero.¡± Humans have always sumbed to their desires. Thus, the chain of conflict never ends. Eternal peace doesn¡¯t exist; there¡¯s only fleeting respite. That was what Zero said. An enormous anger, disappointment, and confusion welled inside me for the first time. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t want to, the world won¡¯t leave you alone. Of course, you might disappear without causing any harm, just like how you killed the Demon King, prepared for your own destruction.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t want to leave even a small threat behind. I wanted the humanity I loved to reach their free end. I decided to eliminate all variables.¡± ¡­It was at that moment. The anger and resentment building inside me suddenly dissipated. As I watched Zero calmly continue speaking, I was overwhelmed by a strange feeling. Something felt off. And this wasn¡¯t the first time I¡¯d felt it. ¡®When did this start?¡¯ Right. When I saw Zero¡¯s final memory, Rosalyn left me. ¡°A doppelg?nger is destined to bring chaos to the human world. That¡¯s my conclusion. So, this is merely a safety measure.¡± ¡°Even after a hundred years¡­ two hundred years, will he still be able to love humanity?¡± Why would someone voice their distrust of humanity? It was a disadvantage to let the other person know. The answer was clear. ¡®¡­Because they want to believe.¡¯ Because they hope their doubts will be proven wrong. Suddenly, I remembered Zero cing his hand on the bio-reactor where I had been stored and murmuring an apology. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡­¡± In that instant, my thoughts elerated. From the beginning, how had Rosalyn sent me that memory? A typical homunculus could never go against its master¡¯s will. And why had Lace, the great sage of the Grand Forest and Zero¡¯s coborator, left me a prophecy that I would die alongside the Demon King? I would¡¯ve been better off not knowing. Why had they all given me a ¡®choice¡¯? ¡®¡­So that¡¯s what it was.¡¯ I stood before the frail, shrunken old man. Zero looked up at me with an expressionless face. His eyes seemed devoid of light, as if staring into deep darkness, and his lips were tightly sealed like a lock without a key. Faced with someone who seemed like they wouldn¡¯t respond no matter what I said, I took a deep breath. ¡°Did you see it?¡± ¡°See what?¡± ¡°Us, falling to our desires and perishing at the end of a chain of conflicts.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t see it.¡± ¡°Did you see me turn away from humanity in disappointment?¡± ¡°That too, I did not see.¡± ¡°Do you know what will happen centuries from now?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± I took his wrinkled hand and made him point to me. ¡­Just as he had done before Possero. ¡°You¡¯re a magician, aren¡¯t you?¡± At that moment, a subtle change urred on his dry face. ¡°One who seeks the unknown and pursues understanding amidst the iprehensible.¡± It was almost imperceptible at first, but his eyes began to flicker, slowly filling with a new light. ¡°A human who explores new truths in the face of new adventures! A fool who throws themselves into difficult choices!¡± Then, like thunder breaking a long silence, Emotion flooded Zero¡¯s face as if the dam holding back a lifetime¡¯s worth of energy had burst. Without breaking eye contact, I said, ¡°That was you¡­ and the me that you created.¡± His eyes came alive in an instant, and his lips trembled slightly before finally forming a soft curve into a smile. It wasn¡¯t just a smile of simple joy, but a powerful expression of life that had been suppressed for too long bursting forth all at once. ¡°¡­Yes, that¡¯s who we were.¡± A voice full of life reached my ears,pletely different from before. We looked at each other for a long time. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°¡­For what?¡± ¡°For proving through your life that I wasn¡¯t wrong.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°For giving up on life when you desired it more than anyone else. For showing me what might save humanity in this harsh world.¡± ¡­What? I tilted my head in confusion at his iprehensible words. Zero reached out and embraced my shoulders. Feeling like a child, I dazedly allowed myself to be held. A gentle voice, one I had never heard before, whispered in my ear. ¡°Go home, Auro.¡± My eyes widened. Could it be¡­ right now¡­? ¡°The child who carries the name of dawn.¡± ¡­And then a bright light enveloped me. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 333: Side Story (7) Chapter 333: Side Story (7) ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Side Story 7 ¨C The Stars and the Astronomer (1) 9 yearster. Early morning, the capital. Young students in uniform and their parents were gradually gathering at the academy. However, few headed straight to the building where the entrance ceremony was being held. Most were busy givingst-minute words of encouragement to their nervous children, who stood stiff with tension. Among them was a particrlyrge man. With short, cropped blonde hair and a well-groomed beard, he looked to be somewhere between a young and middle-aged man. He was whispering something to his son. "You better behave. If you go around bragging that you''re my son, you''re dead, got it?" Smack¡ª Just as he said that, a hand smacked him on the back. "You! You always say the worst things to him. Try saying something nice for once." "Alright, alright..." "Anyway, I''m going to submit the paperwork, so stay put here." "Yes, ma''am!" Gerald waited until Karen disappeared from sight before turning back to his son. "You heard that your dad was always first in school, right? You better not tarnish that reputation." "Liar." "What?" "What ''first''? You were always goofing around and getting scolded by the professors!" Gerald looked at his son in shock. His 8-year-old son, Sanderson Bryce, who had inherited his own bright blonde hair and his wife¡¯s dark skin, stared back. "Who told you that?!" "Mom and sis Leciel." "......" "Dad, you''re such an idiot~!" Looking at his son pouting mischievously, Gerald momentarily forgot his dignity and locked his son in a headlock. "Ahhh! Let go!" "No!" "Seriously! It''s so embarrassing!" Their fierce father-son scuffle was cut short when Karen returned. Seeing passersby recognizing them and whispering ("Isn''t that Lord Gerald? The war hero." "Shh, just pretend you didn''t see. I''m sure there''s a reason."), a vein popped out on her forehead. "Sanderson Bryce. Gerald Bryce. Attention." Both turned pale at hermand. Fortunately, before Karen''s anger could explode, a savior arrived. "Sanderson, hi!" "Sanderson, hello¡­" Two children in identical uniforms to Sanderson''s came running over. "Hello, Aunt Karen! Uncle Gerald! I missed you!" "Hello, Aunt Karen. Uncle Gerald." With bright green eyes and curly ck hair, the identical twins instantly captured the attention of everyone around with their adorableness. "Hehe, the capital is still so busy!" The boy was energetic and full of life. His warm smile and bouncing steps reminded one of someone familiar. Meanwhile, the girl seemed much calmer and cooler. "...Stop acting like such a bumpkin." Though her eyes scanned the surroundings with a hint of boredom, the slight twitch of her lips and the flush in her cheeks betrayed her excitement. Karen and Gerald exchanged nces and chuckled. ¡®They¡¯re exactly like their parents.¡¯ Ethan and Yuri. They were the children of Luke and Evergreen. "Kids, slow down! You¡¯ll trip!" "Let them be. It''s been a while since they¡¯ve been able to walk together." "Hehe, should we?" "Hold hands." "Okay!" Soon, their smiles grew even brighter at the sight of their friends approaching in the distance. "Hey! You¡¯re still as sickeningly sweet as ever!" Waving his arms like a windmill, Gerald greeted them as if he were back in school. Karen didn¡¯t stop him this time¡ªshe was already running towards Evergreen. "It¡¯s been so long!" "Karen!" Nearly a decade had passed. Once, they¡¯d seen each other every day like family, but now, their own busy lives had made meetings rare. Especially since Luke and Evergreen lived in the Solintail estate. But that didn¡¯t mean their bond had weakened. The four of them embraced tightly, quietly savoring the joy of their reunion. It was Gerald who spoke first. "Looks like we¡¯re meeting again at ''Rosenstark.''" At his words, all four turned their gaze simultaneously. p¡ª Their eyesnded on the banner hanging on the front of the building. (Congrattions) Rosenstark Gyros Campus Opening (Celebration) Evergreen responded to his words. "Well, it¡¯s just a branch campus!" Indeed, today was the opening day of the ''Rosenstark Gyros Campus.'' Unlike the main campus, which had been created to train magicalbatants, this branch was designed to cultivate administrators to oversee civil affairs. All of the harsh and brutal major and general education courses their parents'' generation had taken werepletely abolished. Instead, new subjects had been introduced, includingw, history, administration, sociology, and welfare and ethics. The entrance age was set unusually low, in line with the philosophy that a leader''s values should be established from childhood. Furthermore, as a school bearing the prestigious Rosenstark name, admission was determined not by status or wealth, but by rigorous evaluations of character and intellect. The current emperor had expressed great support for these changes, which had drawn many applicants. ''This academy is different from our time... no more death rates being recorded.'' The former students¡ªnow far too old to be called that¡ªgazed at the academy building, lost in nostalgia. "Shall we head in?" "Let¡¯s." As the children excitedly ran ahead, the parents followed them through the main gate. Soon after, a soft murmur escaped their lips. "...They¡¯ve done a good job decorating." "It¡¯s beautiful." "I wish I could go back to being a student!" "Time really flies." Though the campus wasn¡¯t as grand as the main one, it was orderly and well-kept enough to stir fond memories. "Looks like it¡¯s this way." The building where the entrance ceremony was being held was a little further inside. They walked across the gently sunlitwn, the soft rustling of grass in the breeze brushing their ears. "......" Theughter of friends after sses, the yful whispers in the library, the chalk scraping the board, and the low voice that echoed through the lecture halls. It was all just a nostalgic illusion, but it felt as if those beloved memories were buried everywhere. Evergreen, noticing the subtle changes in his friends'' expressions, quickly changed the subject. ¡°¡­By the way, where are our professors?¡± ¡°They must be inside, working hard. They¡¯re doing the course introductions today too, right?¡± Gerald squinted and shrugged. ¡°Man, those two as professors.¡± ¡°Why not? They fit the role.¡± ¡°What were their subjects again? Ban¡¯s was history, and Leciel was¡­.¡± Karen answered. ¡°Art.¡± The group simultaneously grinned. ¡°Art at Rosenstark.¡± ¡°¡­Cool.¡± ¡°The kids are going to love it.¡± In a world where peace had returned, previously neglected values were being reevaluated. Evergreen, as if it were her own achievement, excitedly babbled on. ¡°Leciel, though, she¡¯s been super famous for a few years now. She¡¯s been doing exhibitions and magazine interviews. She¡¯s made a ton of money too! Her paintings are amazing.¡± ¡°Hm¡­ is it really that big of a deal?¡± ¡°Yep, it¡¯s that big.¡± Gerald, who had been grumbling, suddenly turned around at the sound from behind. But his surprise didn¡¯tst long. He couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter, and so did the rest of the group. ¡°Oh my God, Leciel.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Her long, wavy red hair cascaded naturally over her shoulders. Despite the passage of time, her beauty remained unchanged. However, the friends'' gazes weren¡¯t fixed on her perfect face but rather on what was perched on top of it: a pair ofrge, clunky sses. ¡­It was a design they had seen countless times before. Leciel bit her lip, fiddling with the sses frame. ¡°¡­Do they not suit me?¡± It was hard to say they didn¡¯t suit her, even as a joke. But when someone tries to imitate an idol, regardless of how it looks, it often appears both cute andical. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ ¡°You should¡¯ve just dyed your hair silver while you were at it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re nning to rip off your shirt during the presentation?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have many scars, though.¡± ¡°Yeah, no tattoos either.¡± ¡°Extreme art ss¡­.¡± By the time Leciel¡¯s pale face turned redder than her hair, the group finally remembered that they had forgotten someone. Luke asked. ¡°But where¡¯s Ban?¡± Leciel was quick to follow the change in topic. ¡°He¡¯s prepping for the presentation. Almost done, so he¡¯ll be out soon.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, heavy footsteps echoed from the front. Karen''s jaw dropped as she saw their friend round the corner. ¡°How did he get even bigger after he got discharged?¡± Ban, who used to be about the same size as Luke, was now about 1.2 times wider. He greeted them with a smile, carrying the children who had run ahead on each of his shoulders and head. ¡°Our little gentleman anddy here wanted to enjoy a short adventure.¡± ¡°¡­I can¡¯t even. Thanks, Ban!¡± Evergreen rushed forward to take the children. Ban gently set down Sanderson in front of Karen and then stood beside Leciel. His dark brown eyes nced at his pocket watch. ¡°Five minutes left. We should head in soon.¡± ¡°¡­What took you so long?¡± ¡°There were just so many things we wanted to talk about. I didn¡¯t realize I was such a chatterbox.¡± That was why Ban had chosen to teach history. Leciel smiled faintly. ¡°¡­That¡¯s nice.¡± The friends, pretending not to care, subtly watched the two of them. But the way Ban looked at Leciel now was more rxed than excited. After nine long years, it seemed that he had finally seeded in turning an unfulfilled love into friendship. Gerald discreetly pulled Ban aside and whispered. ¡°Well, good job. I¡¯ll set you up with something nice next time.¡± Ban scratched his head awkwardly and replied quietly enough for only the men to hear. ¡°¡­I haven¡¯t given up yet.¡± ¡°!¡± Luke and Gerald looked at Ban in amazement. Yeah, Ban had always been the type of guy who didn¡¯t know how to give up. He was also the kind of guy who always chose the hard path. ¡°Well, anyway, we¡¯ll have a deep chat at tonight¡¯s after-party.¡± The after-party. A knowing smile spread across the faces of the married men. ¡°Everyone elseing too? Nyhilil, Cuculli¡­?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t just be the kids. The dean¡ªsorry, the president now¡ªand Professor Pierre will be there too. And a few others might drop by.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Where do you think? The usual ce.¡± ¡°Nice.¡± With that, they entered the building where the entrance ceremony was taking ce. But at that very moment, Evergreen stopped in her tracks, eyes fixed on a painting hanging at the far end of the hall. The others also came to a halt, following her gaze. It was a familiar painting. ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t that¡­?¡± ¡°It is. The painting Larze presented to Her Majesty during the victory ceremony. What¡¯s it doing here?¡± Leciel answered. ¡°Her Majesty gifted it to the academy.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen this.¡± Larze¡¯s magical painting. It depicted the day of Avalon¡¯s departure, captured in moving form. Their memories were instantly drawn back to ten years ago. ¡°Okay, okay. I know you¡¯re busy, but just gather around for a moment.¡± At Larze¡¯s mysterious call, the knights who had been busying themselves around the hangar gathered together. They all wore puzzled expressions. Larze stared at them for about a minute, then waved them off. ¡°All right, that¡¯s it. Dismissed!¡± ¡­At the time, they had thought it was just another one of Larze¡¯s silly pranks. Who would have thought she had immortalized that moment in magic? ¡°¡­¡­¡± The students silently took in the painting. Their younger selves standing side by side. Some of theirrades whose faces they could no longer see. The iron fortress that had once traversed the Demon Realm. ¡­And there, standing tall on one side of the painting, a man gazing down at them. Beneath the title ¡°The Immortal¡± was a message, written in the Emperor¡¯s elegant script. ¡ªRemember the sacrifices made to protect this world, and lead it forward. As their eyes naturally shifted to the children, they heard a familiar voice echoing through the walls. [To all new students attending the entrance ceremony, the event will begin shortly. Please take your seats in the designated area¡­] Recognizing the voice, they hurried toward the auditorium. But¡­. ¡°Parents, please wait outside.¡± Surprisingly, the parents weren¡¯t allowed to enter. Ban chuckled and exined. ¡°It¡¯s academy policy. They¡¯re afraid the parents will interfere too much, so they don¡¯t let them in.¡± ¡°Wow, they¡¯re serious.¡± ¡°Of course. Have you ever seen the dean do things halfway?¡± The children, now separated from their parents, looked a bit nervous. The adults could only smile at their anxious expressions. ¡°All right, then.¡± Step¡ª Luke was the first to take a step back. The others followed suit. The children watched, confused, as the adults retreated. ¡°¡­¡­¡± After a brief deep breath, they all said the same words, as if rehearsed. ¡°Take care of them.¡± ¡­Yes. Every possibilityy before them. Proof of the battles fought and the roads they had traveled. The world they had protected would now be cultivated and reborn in the small hands of these children. Imagining that future made their hearts swell with hope and anticipation. ¡®Now I get it.¡¯ They finally understood why their master had been looking at them with those eyes for so long. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The adults turned their gaze toward the sunlit courtyard. ¡°Wee to the extreme.¡± It almost felt like a voice was echoing through the unfamiliar hallway. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 334: Side Story (8) Chapter 334: Side Story (8) ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Side Story 8 - The Stars and the Astronomer (2) ¡°Nyhill, where are you going?¡± ¡°She¡¯s running away!¡± ¡°Catch her!¡±Nyhill hurriedly dashed toward the door, leaving her friends, who were looking for her, behind. ¡®I''m scared.¡¯ The friends she hadn¡¯t seen in a long time had turned into even worse drunkards than during their school days. Was the stress of raising kids driving them insane? They were like people dying of thirst, desperate for alcohol, and it was terrifying. ¡­ But what scared her the most was the fact that the after-party was far from over. ¡°Ugh¡­ Where are you going?¡± Arpheus, who had left earlier, was sprawled out in the hallway and struggled to speak to her. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m just going to get some fresh air.¡± ¡°¡­ You¡¯re heading to the Hero¡¯s Monument, aren¡¯t you?¡± Nyhill nodded. Arpheus staggered as he stood up. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± He reached his hand out toward the window. Woooong¡ª A small mana ripple swept through the air, and a pale orange flower suddenly bloomed from the ground. Trumpet vine. A flower with the meaning of waiting and longing. Arpheus smiled brightly and handed it to Nyhill. ¡°Be careful¡­ uuurgh¡­¡± He copsed again. The after-party was taking ce at a royal pce atop the highest tower, where the memorials for the two heroes were located. Not wanting to disgrace the shiny floors, Arpheus quickly crawled toward the bathroom. Nyhill watched him with pity. ¡®What was the Emperor thinking, issuing such an order...?¡¯ In the past, she wouldn¡¯t have dared to think such disrespectful thoughts, but as she walked away, they crossed her mind. There was one reason why humanity¡¯s heroes had lost their dignity and were now drunkenly staggering around. ¡°Anyone who uses magic to sober up will be punished by imperial decree!¡± The Emperor¡¯s enthusiastic promation. It was quite an unreasonable demand, but¡­ knowing how hard she worked for the state, they couldn¡¯t easily refuse. The Emperor only took a break once a year, on these asions when the Special Forces members gathered. ¡­ Of course, some of them genuinely enjoyed it. ¡°Hahaha! The Ice Dragon doesn¡¯t lose to alcohol!¡± Cuculli danced around, with empty bottles stuck to both of her horns. She asionally cast ice magic, freezing the attendees¡¯ drinks. It was a sight to behold. ¡°More beer! Alchemize more beer, Yussi!¡± Noubelmag joined in too. He carried his nemesis, Yussi, on his back, shouting songs at the top of his lungs. It was quite the spectacle¡­. And then¡­ ¡®They kept giving me drinks.¡¯ With her cheeks flushed red, they hugged her tightly, shouting. ¡°To Nyhill¡¯s new beginning!¡± A new beginning. Yes, Nyhill was about to leave the capital. For the past 10 years, she had worked as a prosthetics maker under Noubelmag and Yussi, diligently honing her skills. Now, she was nning to travel across the continent, directly finding injured people in the slums and making prosthetics for them. Her friends had cheered her on with all their hearts. ¡°That¡¯s really cool.¡± ¡°If the professor were here, he would¡¯ve been so proud.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s that, but for now, let¡¯s drink!¡± And so, countless drinks piled up in front of her. Even Nyhill, who had undergone all sorts of poison resistance training in the past, couldn¡¯t help but get drunk. ¡®¡­ I¡¯m dizzy.¡¯ Still staggering, she gripped the bouquet tightly and headed outside. Fwoosh¡ª The cool spring night breeze brushed against her forehead. The chirping of crickets, the rustling of leaves, and the clear sky filled with stars. As she walked, theughter from the pce quickly faded, and a peaceful silence settled in. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Nyhill stood quietly before the Hero¡¯s Monument. ¡°I¡¯m here again.¡± She gently ced the bouquet of trumpet vines at the monument''s base and then sat down, leaning against it. The stone seemed cold and hard at first nce, but it was made from a rare ore, always radiating warmth. ¡®It¡¯s just like him.¡¯ Her jet-ck eyes gazed up at the sky. Her vision swam, distorted by the lingering effects of the alcohol. In the wavering sky, countless stars poured down. It looked like someone had scattered jewels on a piece of ck silk. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡± She muttered, curling herself up. In truth, whenever she looked up at a night sky full of stars like this, one memory always came to mind. ¡­ It was from her childhood. She was sitting under a bridge, nibbling on a piece of bread she had found in a trash bin. Above her head, beyond the stone ceiling, she could hear the endlessughter of people. Having lived her whole life in the slums, Nyhill couldn¡¯t understand the context of their conversations, but she always listened to their voices. Stories of delicious bakeries, school friends, and ideal marriage partners. As she focused on these sounds, eventually, everything would grow distant, and the quiet night would arrive. ¡®There was a sky as beautiful as tonight''s.¡¯ The nights in Harlem were dark, so the stars that adorned the sky were bright and plentiful. But even their light couldn¡¯t prate the darkness beneath the bridge. And so, young Nyhill thought to herself: ¡®If the people above the bridge are shining like stars, then I must be the darkness beside them.¡¯ A being that floated through time without light or meaning. Nyhill believed that she might spend her whole life trapped in that darkness. And that belief solidified when she became Ghost No. 3, a mindless killer and violent criminal. ¡­But why was it? Why did someone start calling her a ¡°star¡±? ¡°¡­¡­¡± Someone looked at her, hidden in the darkness, found her light, and connected her with others who were already shining, giving new meaning to her life. There was someone like that. Nyhill closed her eyes. The voice she missed so much echoed in her ears like an auditory hallucination. ¡°My beloved students, my stars.¡± Because of that person, she could live not as Ghost No. 3, but as the human being, Nyhill. Because of him, she could stand alongside those who shone brightly and shine with them. Nyhill sped her hands to her chest. ¡®I miss you.¡¯ She couldn¡¯t help but say it aloud. ¡°I miss you.¡± ¡­ Just like always, tears burst forth uncontrobly. Curled up in a ball, Nyhill wept. Ten years had passed. She had hoped that people¡¯s words about time healing all wounds were true. But the forgetfulness that time granted was far weaker than she had expected¡­ and she still missed her teacher. ¡°¡­ Nyhill?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± At the sound of her name, Nyhill hastily wiped her eyes. A short but sturdy silhouette appeared from the darkness. "Ahem, ahem." Noubelmag pretended not to notice, feigning indifference until Nyhill had erased all traces of her tears, then approached her. A hand patted her shoulder. "¡­I wondered where you''d gone, and of course, you were here." Sniffing, Nyhill wiped her nose. "I''m sorry. I''ll head back soon." "No need." Noubelmag shook his head before continuing. "I''ll exin, so stay as long as you''d like." ¡­In truth, Nyhill also wanted to linger a little longer, so she nodded. "Thank you." "By the way, are you not cold? Shall I bring a nket or cloak¡­?" Noubelmag paused. His gaze was fixed on the memorial stone. "You should be fine." The memorial stone, made from a heat-emitting ore, was practically a massive heater. With that, Noubelmag turned and strode away. Nyhill watched his back for a moment before leaning her head against the memorial again. Thanks to Noubelmag, at least, she no longer felt like crying. The problem was¡­ ¡®Ah¡­¡¯ ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Drowsiness. She had cried enough to drain her energy, the alcohol still lingered, and her body felt as warm as if she were buried under a nket. To top it off, she''d stayed upte for several nights in a row, working hard to prepare for the after-party. "Mmm¡­" It was no wonder Nyhill''s eyelids began to droop. Thunk¡ª Her shoulders rxed as the tension drained away. As her body slumped and her consciousness faded entirely. . . . Rustle¡ª The sound of grass reached her ears, and Nyhill briefly regained her senses. Slowly, she blinked her heavy eyes. ¡®What was that sound¡­? More importantly, when did I fall asleep?¡¯ Yet still, the wave of sleep was overwhelming. The alcohol and drowsiness weighed heavily on her body. Instinctively, Nyhill clutched the cloak draped over her. It was warm andforting. ¡®So sleepy¡­¡¯ She drifted back into a deep sleep with a vague sense of unease. . . . "!" Nyhill''s eyes shot open. The unique mix of refreshment and anxiety one feels after oversleeping hit her all at once. ¡®Ah.¡¯ Chirp chirp¡ª The birds above sang as bright sunlight streamed down. Judging by the time, Nyhill¡¯s face paled. ¡®How many hours did I sleep?¡¯ She felt guilty for being absent for so long. ¡®It was thest time I could see everyone before leaving the capital.¡¯ Her friends must have been really disappointed. The drinking party had long since ended, and there was no sign of activity from the pce annex. Everyone must have passed out by now. ¡®I should head back.¡¯ Whether to clean up or prepare something to help with the hangover, there was probably something she could do. Nyhill sprang up. And then¡­ "¡­¡­?" Thud¡ª A cloak slipped off and fell to the ground. Nyhill stared nkly at it for a moment. ¡°¡­What?¡± A cloak with no distinctive features. ¡®Who covered me with this?¡¯ But who could it have been? None of the attendees yesterday had worn such a cloak. Nyhill slowly picked it up from the ground. It was soft and warm. ¡­It was probably from that day. The day when strange things began happening to them, one by one. * * * Auro was enveloped in a radiant light, focusing on the voice in his ears. "Before we begin, let me ask you one thing." "Yes." "This journey will be unimaginably painful and grueling. To wander as a spirit without a body¡ªit''s a punishment befitting hell. It''ll be endlessly lonely and futile." In fact, Zero had intended from the start to revive Auro. If Auro willingly sacrificed himself for the sake of everyone else, that would be enough to grant him the right to return to life. After all, Auro was someone with an unparalleled desire for life. For him to give that up for others was sufficient reason in Zero¡¯s mind. Therefore, Zero had nned to reassemble Auro and grant him a ¡®human¡¯ life once again. But¡­ "Now is yourst chance if you want to change your mind. I don''t know how long the suffering willst. It could take years before you''re fully restored." There was a problem. Restoring Auro was far more difficult than Zero had anticipated. He had not only been subjected to the disassembly spell but had also beenpletely consumed by the Demon King''s ¡®Dissolution.¡¯ Of course, rebuilding him was possible, but¡­ "You''ll have to reach out to them, and they''ll have to pull you back. Constantly¡­ without giving up." "Yes." "Will you still want them after an eternity of suffering? Will the humans, so prone to forgetfulness, still long for you?" Zero spoke with concern in his voice. "You might arrive in a world where everyone has forgotten you." "It''s alright." "¡­It''s alright?" "Yes." But Auro''s voice was unwavering. "Because no matter what, I have to see it through." "See what?" There was no hesitation. "A world where heroes are no longer needed." Auro only smiled brightly. "A world where the heroes will be shining." ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter 335: Side Story (9) Chapter 335: Side Story (9) ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Side Story 9 - The End of Dawn (Final) I live because I was born. I was born because I wanted to live. In the case of a doppelg?nger, thetter was closer to the truth. Our creation and transformation are entirely driven by will. For that reason, Zero created me using the essence of thepletely unknown being, Possero. Even Possero, who lived such a wretched life, longed for life, and that¡¯s why I could be granted existence. Then what about me? How much do I desire life? ¡®I must go back.¡¯ I opened my eyes in a space of nothingness, devoid of any light or sound. Zero called this ce the "in-between." It was where the soul stays until the body is reconstructed to return. ¡®I¡­ must go back.¡¯ Everything was ambiguous. I couldn¡¯t tell if I was floating, where I was going, or if I was even moving at all. I didn¡¯t know if time was passing either. With no distinction between day and night, my sense of time had faded. It would be hard to tell if a day, a week, or even a year passed. The thought that my time here might have only been a fleeting moment sent shivers down my spine. But what scared me even more was that this waiting had no end. "You must approach them, and they must pull you in. Constantly... without giving up." I advanced. Now that I had started down this path, there was no hesitation. I moved forward, recalling the brightest moments of my life. I trust that they, too, would pull me back. But being alone in a space of nothingness, as Zero had said, was close to punishment. My consciousness began to fade. I frequently forgot who I was and why I was here. Faces, voices from my memories¡ªones I believed I¡¯d never forget¡ªbegan to fade like old paintings. It felt like trying to carve a giant mountain with a dull pickaxe. ¡®This isn¡¯t right¡­¡¯ Just as I was about to lose my sense of purpose and direction, not even knowing what I was waiting for¡ª "Waah-!!!" The loud cry of a baby sharply awakened my dimming consciousness. I opened my eyes wide. What on earth was a baby¡¯s cry doing in this space of nothingness? But it wasn¡¯t an illusion. "Waah-!" I couldn¡¯t believe what I was seeing. "...Evergreen? Luke?" It felt like I was watching them through a translucent veil. A room bathed in warm sunlight. The two of them were looking at twins lying on the bed. Evergreen gently stroked one of the babies¡¯ hair, and Luke chuckled softly. I stared nkly at the two newborns, their skin still wrinkled, as if in a daze. "Should we go with the names we decided on?" "Ethan and Yuri¡­ I like them." After a brief pause, Luke continued. "Actually, I wanted to name one after the professor." "But he never told us his name in the end." "It might have turned out to be something really strange, though." "That¡¯s impossible. I bet the professor¡¯s name is cool too." The two chuckled and then leaned against each other. "I¡¯ve imagined what his reaction would be if we handed him our children." "He¡¯d pretend to be stern but secretly dote on them when no one¡¯s watching, don¡¯t you think?" "That¡¯s exactly what I think." "Isn¡¯t it?" I stared nkly at them. The peaceful faces of the sleeping twins and my now grown-up students. Zero¡¯s words shed through my mind again. "You must approach them, and they must pull you in. Constantly... without giving up." Could it be...? Just as I began to form a hypothesis, Evergreen and Luke¡¯s figures blurred. I was left alone again in the empty space. But it was different this time. "I must go back." The sense of purpose I had forgotten burned brightly once again. An inexplicable power lifted me up. I began to move. The "crossing" between this space and reality continued. "I thought you¡¯d never get married, but this is a blessing for the family." "Father!" "I¡¯m just joking." I even witnessed Gerald and Karen¡¯s wedding. I watched, astonished, as they kissed. ¡®Gerald¡­ what kind of dirt do you have on her?¡¯ Iughed as I watched the guests enjoy the wedding, their faces all familiar. To my surprise, the Emperor herself officiated the ceremony. Karen, who came from amoner background, looked like she might faint at any moment, but she calmed down when Gerald held her hand tightly. As Euphemia bestowed her blessings on them, she whispered: "If he could see you now, he would have been so happy." At her words, Gerald burst into tears without resistance, and Karen, startled, tried tofort him. The children¡¯sughter echoed around me. I couldn¡¯t help butugh along with them. "...Is life treating you well over there?" I even met Euphemia. "How dare you." She sat alone on the terrace of the imperial pce, gazing at the city lights below like stars. "You left me to deal with all the trouble and just disappeared." She raised her ss, as if I were sitting in front of her. ...Whenever the strength within me waned, numerous intersections with reality would appear before my eyes. "To paint a good picture, you must have affection for your subject." "Yes!" "Alright then, try again." I saw Leciel, who had be a wandering painter, diligently teaching others how to paint, though there was a sadness in her expression as she set down her brush. "Yaaawn!" I even saw Cuculli, lying alone on a giant iceberg, grilling fish, and staring up at the sky as if lost in thought. "...How should I interpret this part?" Ban was buried in a mountain of history books at the library. "I wonder how the professor would have exined this." His initial simplicity stood out more than the valor he had shown on the battlefield. Next was Nyhill. "Thanks to you, I can walk again. Thank you. Truly, thank you." "...No, it¡¯s nothing." She had be a skilled prosthetic maker, receiving gratitude from a customer. ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Her once short hair now reached past her waist. It was a moment that made me truly feel the passage of time. ¡­And so, days, weeks, maybe even months or years passed. The intersections with reality appeared at unpredictable intervals. At some point, I became certain. ¡®So, it¡¯s possible for a crossroads to appear when they strongly desire me.¡¯ As time passed, I became able to exert a small amount of physical force. I could even take out a cloak from the supply room and cover them with it. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡­Zero seemed to think that if I faced these scenes, I would surely be in agony. He wasn''t wrong. No matter how much I shouted, no matter how much I called out, they couldn¡¯t see me. They couldn¡¯t even notice my existence. Once the scene of happiness was over, I would be thrown back into a void, walking an endless path with no knowledge of how much time remained. Zero¡¯s low voice echoed in my ears. ¡°You could end up in a world where everyone has forgotten you.¡± If more time passed like this, I might truly end up crashing into a world where no one remembered me, just as Zero feared. Clench¡ª I tightly clenched my fists. ¡®¡­It¡¯s okay.¡¯ I reassured myself. Of course, it was painful and frightening. The loneliness I felt was like the never-ending moments when I was locked up in an isted barn in the past. ¡°But still¡­¡± It didn¡¯t matter what kind of suffering awaited me. Good stories are always filled with unexpected pain and sadness. We must endure them and move forward in order to witness the ending. It was the biggest lesson I learned from my past life. A resolution I had proudly shared with the children. ¡°I¡¯ming to see you.¡± I ran. Towards them, who were hundreds, thousands¡­ no, perhaps an immeasurable distance away, too vast for human words to describe. At some point, I began to hear voices that I shouldn¡¯t have been able to hear. They must have been figments of my imagination. ¡°You fool, still as stubborn as ever, not taking care of yourself. This time, live for yourself a little.¡± A gruff but warm voice. {Yahoo! Dopple, keep running! Run and seize what you deserve! You¡¯re worthy of it!} A kind voice that always cheered me on. ¡°¡­I told you, if it were you, you could finish the race.¡± My eternal hero was with me too. ¡°When have you ever seen me say something wrong?¡± Soon, they all shouted in unison: ¡°¡°Go, Auro!¡±¡± It felt as if I had wings on my back. My body felt light. I couldn¡¯t see anything, but the sensation of flying was the only way to describe the refreshing feeling I had. I forgot mybored breathing and just kept moving my feet. And then, before my eyes, a brilliant light appeared. There was no need to look back anymore. I leapt forward. * * * I stared nkly ahead. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The sun was gently rising above the horizon. The sea shimmered beautifully, as if filled with gold. The waves that had been cloaked in darkness slowly took on a soft purple hue, then quickly turned into shades of orange. ¡®¡­Sunrise?¡¯ The clouds surrounding the rising sun were tinted with a rosy hue, creating a watercolor-like scene between the sky and the sea. It felt as if the world was being born anew. The magnificent view would continue until the sun fully rose. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡­And I knew this ce. The 50th sector of the Demon Realm. And of death once nketed in overwhelming demonic energy now had faint light seeping in. I stood still until the brilliant sun fully rose above the horizon. Until the sharp morning sunlight chased away the cool air and erased thest shadow on the ground. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Thus, the dawn finally came to an end. I stood there, gripped by an indescribable emotion. A gentle breeze lightly brushed past my ear¡­ and with it, a yful voice. ¡°What are you staring at so wistfully? You can see it again tomorrow, can¡¯t you?¡± The moment I heard her voice, it felt as if no time had passed at all since the past. I slowly turned around. ¡°Wee back, sleepyhead.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯ve all been waiting for you for so long.¡± Despite standing with my back to the sun, why did it feel so dazzling? I met the eyes of each and every one of the many faces surrounding me. Without words, the warmth in their gazes was clear. ¡®Wee back.¡¯ Yes. The first thing to say, after all, must be this. A short phrase, but one that held so much, fitting to mark the end of a long journey. ¡°I¡¯m home.¡± ------------------ HELHEIM SCANS Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2 ------------------ Chapter : Chapter : This chapter is missing , we are fix soon ! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!