55 - Carry Me (4)
After the last dungeon survey practical, I'd spent my personal training time pondering erosion levels, and I managed to infer another way to use the ashen bolt.
The reason I hadn't been eroded by the Black Dragon's Trajectory was simple. Since Leraji held the hierarchy of a great demon ranked higher than the 72nd—higher even than the Jet-Black Armor—this ashen bolt could fully absorb its power.
And thanks to my gamer trait, demonization, I could toggle between demon and human forms. When I'm in my demonized state, the ashen bolt's abilities are fully unlocked, letting me wield the absorbed erosion as my own power.
The problem hits when demonization wears off and I revert to my human form. That's when the ashen bolt, influenced by the erosion, tries to devour me instead.
That was the impulse I felt toward Aria during the dungeon survey. In other words, right now—trapped in the Black Dragon's Trajectory, demonized—I just needed to burn through the entire [Erosion Level: 78/110].
With that resolve, I focused every nerve and pulled the trigger.
-Beeeeeep!!!
And a crimson light began devouring everything.
Hierarchy Struggle effect: Annihilation activated!
-Shwoooooosh!!!
Twisting space-time itself, the horrifying crimson light—cloaked in dozens of layered halos—shot forward all at once.
It wasn't about hitting the Jet-Black Armor or aiming for weak points. Like forbidden magic, the light fanned out in a wedge shape.
It was no longer archery. But calling it magic felt inadequate too.
-□□□□□□□□□□□□□□!!!
The Jet-Black Armor's final roar became fuel for the red glow... and was utterly buried.
"No... way..."
Holy knight Dustin had watched countless archers on his journeys. But red archery? He'd never heard of it, let alone seen it.
And that wasn't the only shock. How had he survived the Black Dragon's curse that even Adrin couldn't dodge, and counterattacked? How could a mere first-year freshman pull off this level of skill? And he looked utterly unfazed, like he'd predicted it all—making the absurdity even worse.
Sure, the armored evil dragon was groggy, and they'd chipped away at its attack points. But the decisive blow was purely Lev Denek's, this young cadet's.
Execution... with an attribute property?
Was it divine intervention? Or all part of some fated sequence? Dustin saw it as another trial laid upon him.
Achievement Cleared!
Boss: Armored Evil Dragon - Jet-Black Armor defeated
Remaining Bosses: 97
Demon Hunt Rewards available!
Check Demon Hunt Rewards
No more thunderclouds. No black mist. Just... the Black Armored Dragon—Scarlett's object of vengeance—lay sprawled, fully exposed and flayed.
Though badly mangled.
Mastery issue...
The erosion hadn't fully drained. But the max had risen to 110, and at 0.5, it was tolerable.
I tabled the rewards window for now and faced the two approaching with stunned, numb expressions.
"Ugh."
Scarlett grimaced at the gruesome fate of the Jet-Black Armor and asked me,
"Kid, how the hell did you do that...?"
"Probably this."
I casually held out the ashen bolt Diena had given me.
"Wait, isn't this the trophy Diena took?"
"Yeah... from the Leraji subjugation, right?"
The ashen bolt now looked like any ordinary crossbow. Just dusky red in color.
"I became Professor's top disciple. I helped with a request and got this in return... Seems this demon weapon was the key to breaking the Black Dragon's Trajectory."
"......Huh..."
They fell silent. It sounded ridiculous, but it fit. Otherwise, how else to explain this?
"A demon weapon with this effect... New discovery. Better report to imperial contacts."
As Dustin pondered, I turned to Scarlett.
"More importantly, after calling me a troll, don't you think an apology's in order...?"
"What? Tr... troll???"
"Our bet was just to confirm if the armored evil dragon was here or not, right?"
Of course, I'd planned to tag along on a later expedition and squeeze them for favors. But Scarlett's stubbornness advanced the schedule to today, and shaman Umberto couldn't join, scrapping that.
Right now, I'm the one in control.
The Jet-Black Armor's corpse was mangled, so major loot like scales wouldn't fetch full price. But its essence should be intact. Loot the mouth, and I could claim the rewards solo?
"Kid, are you calling me a troll right now???"
"No need to get worked up—it's not body-shaming. Academy slang for the party-ruiner-in-chief."
"......I-I know that?"
Scarlett clammed up, out of retorts. I knew her setting: sensitive about age. This was bluffing. No such slang existed, but admitting ignorance would make her seem outdated.
"I don't love bragging, but if not for this kid—er, me—what would've happened... well..."
I glanced at Dustin. He blinked blankly, then flinched and eyed Scarlett.
"Right, Scarlett. That wasn't heroic—we got too heated. And the cadet's right: he took the curse in our stead, saved us."
"But! We weakened it with my Blizzard magic and your light sword aura!"
True enough. My attack succeeded because it entered berserk, triggering the Trajectory. We barely shaved off 33% HP by turning that against it.
It was an A+ boss. Normally, impossible for my specs.
-Tremble...
But Dustin sighed at Scarlett's shaking legs, then gently supported her.
"Scarlett, you're exhausted. You couldn't have finished it like this."
"......"
"Plus, starting the fight broke our promise. We owe an apology there."
"Hmph...!"
"Lev, you saved our lives. Truly grateful."
Dustin: war hero with impeccable character. Said exactly what I wanted.
"Dustin...!"
Dustin bowed deeply to me. Finally, Scarlett shuffled over awkwardly.
The academy girl who'd always been -annoying. -whatever. -next!
An apology from a mid-thirties immature war hero. Rare sight.
"S-sor... ry..."
Anyone imperial-rank seeing this would faint. Heroes must maintain dignity, after all.
Scarlett stammered forever, so Dustin sighed again and pressed her head down.
Suddenly, she was bowing 90 degrees to me.
"Wh-what?!"
"Kid, she's dishonest despite being auntie-age. Probably overcompensating guilt. Cut her slack."
"Hey, Dustin!"
-Thwack!
"Ow!"
Scarlett stomped his instep repeatedly.
After that, cleanup was swift. Already past noon on a weekend we'd snuck out for an A+ boss kill... We agreed to keep it secret until rankings ended. Dustin called a trusted guild for the loot processing.
"Forgot to mention: you avenged Adrin. Thanks."
As apology and gratitude, they let me pick rewards first.
"Y-you're taking this too???"
"Scarlett, loot isn't the point for us..."
I naturally claimed the Jet-Black Armor's orb—dragons always have one. Gems and scales we'd sell for cash.
Back at the academy, we parted in a quiet spot.
"I won the bet, so you'll honor my request, right?"
"Yeah! Scholarship! Alchemy circle! Done?"
A war hero-endorsed circle gets massive funding as "scholarship." No more begging Kaeran.
"Punk kid... I'll watch how far you climb in rankings. Fall off after this, and you're done!"
Why so many "watching" me... She handed me a paper box while grumbling.
"And this is for Adrin's memory. Don't misunderstand...?"
"Haha... We'll head out. You being rank B... unbelievable."
Anyway, war heroes are busy rarities in the original game—rarely mercenaries. I couldn't treat them this casually around others.
Human side of a war hero. And her connections. Fun memory.
......
That said... [Check Demon Hunt Rewards]
This one's promising. Gotta check soon.
Selafi Black Dorm's small grassy garden. Yeriel, back from overseeing Edwin and Abelin's training, tended the flowerbeds intently.
When thoughts piled up, gardening was best.
Strictly speaking, Yeriel had no major reason to like Lev. She knew he showed little interest in her.
Just... He praised the dorm, brought books for upper spirit communion, fixed Gailon's attitude that scared everyone including me, took responsibility in the dungeon survey so it didn't blow up...
Friends do that much. Yeriel judged it as Lev's consideration for the public good, not her specifically.
He didn't flaunt it, but handled what he could. His rough methods made enemies, worrying her, but...
Embarrassing...!
She was the one misreading it.
-During selection trials, Aria invited Lev first, right? And she learned late via Edwin: Aria and Lev connected before her.
So overall... who he spent weekends with wasn't her business.
As Yeriel tucked stray hair behind her ear,
"Pretty."
"Eek... Lev? No, I don't look that great right now...!"
"..."
"Ah..."
He meant the flowerbed. Realizing, Yeriel averted her eyes slightly.
Thoughtfully ignoring it, he gathered her tools.
"Here. Taking to storage?"
"B-back already?"
"Already? It's almost dinner."
"R-right...!"
She nearly thought progress hadn't advanced that far.
Don't fluster...! Cheer as a friend!
She hurried after him toward the dorm.
"Lemme carry one!"
"Nah. Take this."
He handed her a cute handled box from a famous chocolatier in Arcmeon, the magic tower city.
Date... he went that far...
Must've been fun. A place she wanted to visit too.
But why give it to me...?
As Yeriel puzzled,
"Payment for helping me out."
Figured. She smiled faintly.
"Thanks..."
"No need. You worked harder minding Edwin..."
Then, her bottled thoughts spilled out typographically.
"Today."
"?"
"Was today fun?"
He looked puzzled—why ask?—and replied,
"...Not really? Wasn't fun."
"......Not... fun...?"
"Anyway, tools go in upstairs storage, right?"
"Uh...? Y-yeah."
"Cool. Got urgent stuff. Grab dinner yourself."
He climbed the stairs briskly.
"...Okay."
-......
Lev vanished from sight, and Yeriel's heart settled.
-Not really? Wasn't fun.
Why did that relieve her? Fingering the cake box, the girl thought.
Maybe there's still a chance...