Chapter 15
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Variable
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There's a common trope you see in plays.
Just when the protagonist is in a crisis, a whole slew of other problems happens to pop up all at once.
At the same time, any allies who could help vanish, forcing the protagonist to solve everything on their own.
It was absurd that such a cliché was playing out in reality, but regardless, the situation spiraling into chaos was exactly what the Prophecy Book had foretold.
“We should leave this to the professors and teaching assistants and get out of here quickly.”
Ruina was right.
The professors and TAs had been stationed throughout the area precisely to handle unexpected incidents like this.
It might take them some time, but they would manage to resolve the situation. Of course, there would likely be some casualties in the process, but that wasn't their concern.
“No, we’re not doing that.”
But that wasn't what Pernyan wanted.
“We’re going in.”
“Are you insane?”
“Hardly.”
This was what I came to see. It was also why I'd gone to the trouble of bringing Ruina along—to prepare for this very situation.
“The monsters in the northwestern region are a known quantity. They’re not particularly high-level.”
The western part of the northern mountain range was an area for the lower-year students, after all.
“Even if they’ve gone berserk, do you really think we’d lose to them? Not with you and me here.”
“…Did you perhaps anticipate this and bring me…?”
She's annoyingly sharp.
“Don’t be ridiculous. How could anyone predict something like this?”
“That’s true.”
“There’s an elixir not far from here. You want me to give up on it? Especially after I promised you a reward?”
“…Given the circumstances, you can call it off.”
“No, I can’t pass up the elixir.”
He shook his head firmly.
“Is an elixir more important than our lives?”
“You’re making me repeat myself like a parrot. I’m not weak, and you’re here. Why would our lives be in danger?”
Right after Aint defeats and knocks out the challenging Verian, a massive monster rampage instigated by demons occurs.
While the professors and TAs are scrambling to deal with the rampage, Verian, empowered by a demon, goes after him.
And Aint Armian struggles against an overwhelming foe, struggling and struggling until he finally awakens.
It was the moment Aint Armian first encountered a demon, arguably the most crucial scene in the Prophecy Book. I had to witness it with my own eyes.
To gain final confirmation of the prophecy.
“If you won’t go, I’ll go alone. You can head back. The deal is off.”
Without waiting for Ruina’s response, Pernyan strode away.
Ruina stared blankly at his retreating back.
“…What’s so special about an elixir?”
Of course, it wasn't that they weren't valuable. But no matter how precious an elixir was, could it be worth more than one's life?
Ruina simply couldn't understand Pernyan.
“Does he really think I can't go just because he told me to?”
Pernyan wasn't weak. And since he knew how to use artifacts to cover his own weaknesses, he probably wouldn't run into any major trouble, even with the monsters rampaging.
…Probably.
“……”
Ruina let out a long, deep sigh.
If she left him here and he ended up dying, she felt she would never be able to sleep soundly again.
“Wait!”
Biting her lip, she chased after Pernyan.
* * *
“I thought you told me to go alone?”
“I never said such a thing.”
Ruina took the lead, forging a path with long strides. In the dense mountains, there were no proper trails, so it was more efficient for her to lead the way.
“We are getting the elixir and leaving immediately. That's it.”
“So you’re helping me?”
“Do I really need to say it again?”
“Right. We’ll do exactly that. We’ll leave as soon as we have the elixir.”
“Which way?”
Hmm. Pernyan unfolded a map, checked their position for a moment, and then set a course to the west.
Just then, Ruina stopped in her tracks. Her grip on her sword tightened.
Not far from them, a student was fleeing from a pack of monsters.
“Help me! TA! TA!”
With dozens of monsters hot on his heels, he looked to be in a precarious situation.
“Do you want to help him?”
“He’ll die if we leave him.”
“We can’t be seen.”
“But…”
Pernyan checked the map again.
“There are no TAs nearby, but there’s some decent backup. He’ll be rescued soon.”
“Backup?”
At that moment.
─!
An arc of dark blue sword energy cut through the air.
The pack of monsters chasing their prey was split in two, and flesh and blood flew.
“Behind me!”
With a short cry, the blade flashed again. Each time the sword pierced the air, a monster fell without fail.
“Valoci…!”
The rescued student hid behind the man. The battle ended so quickly it made the preceding chase seem meaningless.
The difference in their levels was that stark.
“Thanks, Valoci.”
“It was nothing.”
“…Ah, but…”
The student hesitated, belatedly remembering the objective of the midterm exam. But Valoci shook his head.
“I have no intention of chasing grades in a situation like this. I’m going to find the TAs. Let’s go together.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
The two students disappeared beyond the bushes.
Ruina, who had been watching them with her presence concealed, muttered under her breath.
“…Valoci Vienderk.”
The monster who had crushed Verian, the former second-rank, with an overwhelming difference in skill and became the top student of the Knight Department.
“See? Wasn’t I right?”
“You certainly were.”
“What do you think, seeing him in person? Could you win in a fight?”
“He wasn’t using his full strength, so I can’t gauge his true level, but.”
Ruina nodded, as if it were obvious.
“I don’t think I would lose.”
“Good. That’s how it should be.”
I didn't know whether Valoci Vienderk would become a Royal Knight or not. But Ruina was a candidate officially recognized by Sir Gardner Alpenparsen.
No matter what kind of talent Valoci was, there was no reason for Ruina to fall behind. Not in terms of talent, and not as Aint’s companion.
'Valoci Vienderk. He's another one I need to observe carefully.'
Pernyan committed Valoci’s image to memory.
“What’s how it should be?”
“Oh, nothing. Let’s hurry. We’ll be late at this rate. I’ll use magic from now on.”
Rumble, rumble. Pernyan manipulated the ground and shot forward.
“Yes.”
Ruina gave a small nod and followed. Then she tilted her head.
'Late for what?'
Weren't we just going to get an elixir?
* * *
They were late.
That was Pernyan’s assessment.
Broken giant trees, a deeply gouged landscape, shattered piles of rock, and the corpses of monsters strewn everywhere.
The scene, reminiscent of a battlefield, showed that an incredibly fierce fight had taken place here.
And at the center of the devastation lay a single, limp figure.
“…What is this?”
“A battle took place.”
“…Verian Calburden?”
Ruina recognized the fallen figure.
“Wait…!”
Before Pernyan could stop her, she rushed over. After checking the unconscious Verian’s wounds and breathing, she let out a sigh of relief.
“He has some injuries, but thankfully, he’s alive.”
“You shouldn’t approach him carelessly!”
“What are you saying? He’s collapsed!”
Ruina gave him a look of disbelief. Unable to convince her about the Prophecy Book just yet, Pernyan swallowed a groan.
“We might be discovered. He seems to have been eliminated, so the TAs will come for him.”
That wasn't going to happen.
The sudden monster rampage had ruined the midterm exam itself, and the TAs didn't have the luxury of paying attention to every single student.
At least, not until Verian, consumed by demonic energy, rose to attack Aint.
“Even so, we can’t just leave a collapsed person here. The monsters are acting strangely, aren’t they?”
“That’s why…”
How am I supposed to explain this?
Pernyan glanced at Verian. Fortunately, he showed no signs of getting up just yet.
The moment he thought that.
Kkrrreeeeek—
An indescribably bizarre sound echoed.
Pernyan’s gaze instinctively shot toward Verian.
The eyes that had been peacefully shut were now open.
That wasn't all.
Not only were they bloodshot to an inhuman degree, but the skin all over his body was grotesquely swelling and contracting.
“What in the…?”
“Ruina! Drop him and get back, now!”
Ruina, startled, scrambled back.
The man seemed to plummet to the ground, only to spring back up as if launched.
*Haaa.* A heated breath expelled a cloud of black vapor. Two red orbs for eyes darted between Pernyan and Ruina.
And then.
──!
An explosion of killing intent erupted.
Seeing this, Pernyan realized.
“…This is insane.”
Something had gone wrong.
* * *
The man's appearance was grotesque.
Parts of his skin were stained black, and his eyes were no longer just bloodshot but had turned a vivid, crimson red.
He made no effort to hide it; the overflowing killing intent and hostility were suffocating.
Above all, the black energy seeping from his entire body evoked a sense of foreboding and an instinctual repulsion.
“…What in the world is that.”
Ruina didn't know what it was, but Pernyan recognized it clearly.
That was demonic energy.
And that man had been tainted by a demon.
The prophecy was right.
Having reached these three conclusions in rapid succession, Pernyan quickly assessed the situation.
The red pupils weren't looking in the direction where Aint, the one who had done this to him, had disappeared. They were fixed on Ruina and Pernyan.
It was the worst-case scenario.
'This is why I told her not to approach him carelessly.'
We should have gotten away before he woke up.
No, forget it. There was no point in blaming Ruina.
A student lying unconscious amidst a monster rampage.
Anyone who didn't know about the demon would have naturally tried to help.
'However...'
I won't blame you, but since you woke him up, you can deal with him.
“What in the world is that…”
“Ruina. First, calm down and listen to me.”
Pernyan slowly sidestepped. The gaze followed him perfectly. It was clear the creature had no intention of leaving them to go after Aint.
“That’s demonization.”
“…Demonization?”
“He’s been tainted after receiving power from a demon. Judging by those eyes, he has almost no reason left.”
“Are you saying a demon has appeared in this world again? And in Verian Calburden’s body?”
Ruina was horrified.
“How do you…?”
“Can you beat him?”
“…I don’t know.”
Ruina bit her lip.
His aura, constantly amplifying along with the demonic energy, had long since surpassed the limits of Verian.
She couldn't easily gauge her opponent's level.
“Right. I figured as much.”
Pernyan wasn't disappointed.
This was a monster tainted by a demon that had appeared for the first time in a thousand years—the same monster that Aint, even with Sir Gardner Alpenparsen's help, had only barely managed to defeat after awakening.
There was certainly a gap between the current Ruina and Aint, but even considering that, this would be no easy opponent.
Still, it was fortunate.
“Ruina.”
Because he always acted while assuming the worst.
“Hold out for ten minutes. I’ll give you a signal when I’m ready.”
He had a countermeasure of his own.
“Good luck.”
“…What?”
Without waiting for Ruina’s reply, Pernyan turned his back and fled.
Her stunned gaze was fixed on his back, and at that same moment, the tightrope-like standoff shattered.
───!
Verian moved.
A blade steeped in demonic energy bore down on Ruina.
“Kuh…!”
She let out a groan from the unimaginable impact.
“You…!”
─!
──!
In a brief moment, they exchanged dozens of blows, and she had no choice but to let the rapidly retreating Pernyan go.
She trembled with a sense of betrayal.