57 - Ranking Battle (2)
Clarice Academy, Hall of Connections. Hazel stood in front of the alchemy circle's sub-room, glancing around warily before quickly shutting the door.
Now I really have no idea! She had made a promise with Lev Denek. To keep quiet about everything happening in the alchemy circle. And to grant him one request.
—There's a traitor in your circle.
—Eek? You expect me to believe that?
—Yeah, I wouldn't either. That's why check the test subjects every day, and if you spot anything weird or unusual in the discards, contact me with this crystal.
He claimed there was a traitor inside the alchemy circle and asked her to observe this experiment closely. Whether to believe him or not was up to her, but...
W-what is this??
Hazel had actually discovered it. She didn't know who, but microorganisms had been observed in a test subject slated for disposal. This unidentified creature seemed to have absorbed the amniotic fluid from the discarded homunculus and was gradually growing.
But seriously, is it okay to just hand this over...?
In the end, Lev Denek had taken the test tube containing the creature. She couldn't exactly stop him. Thanks to Lev, she could attend school, and he had even resolved the financial issues for her alchemy circle.
I really have no clue! All Hazel could do was hope nothing major went wrong.
* * *
Leaving the Hall of Connections and finding a secluded spot away from prying eyes, I pondered the situation.
▶[Parasitic Demon Worm]
[Named F-Rank Monster]
[Insect-Type, Composite]
[Danger Level: ?]
[Traits: Can grow to adult form if a host is available]
[Current Status: No host, Larva]
The grotesque larva-form parasitic demon worm inside the test tube.
"Hmm..."
Hard to believe this named monster would cause that uproar in Chapter 3 once it grows. Anyway, implanting it in Kaeran His would be pointless. The guy's picky and unnecessarily meticulous. Figuring out how to even plant it in him is one thing, but a mere F-rank monster like this? He'd notice and remove it immediately.
So, once again, I'm exploiting a system loophole.
"Larva..."
Right now, the parasite is in larva state. To kill it and get the parasitism skill, it probably needs to reach adulthood. No telling when that happens, and killing it now likely won't drop a proper skill.
Aha!
A brilliant idea struck me.
What if I use Black Dragon's Trajectory?
It should accelerate monster growth, and this thing is a monster.
Infect.
> Infect: 0.5/110
Perfect—0.5 Infect left after not fully dumping it into the pitch-black armor.
Black Dragon's Trajectory it is, then.
Not sure if choosing a reward like this is right, but other skills have substitutes, and the only way I reduce Infect myself is attacks in demonized state. Can't always rely on Aria's purification, so this skill ain't bad.
Reward: Black Dragon's Trajectory.
As I selected it,
The status window popped up.
Register Black Dragon's Trajectory. Calmly slotting it into my ultimate slot, I focused on the parasite in the test tube.
—Whoooosh...
Black mana, clinging like residue in my body, rose and poured into the target.
.
.
.
Did it... work?
> Infect: 0/100
Only 0.5 Infect, so tiny compared to the armor, but... effects kicked in immediately.
—...
The small larva skipped growth stages and became an adult.
"Ugh."
It thickened into an even grosser form. I immediately activated Demon Eye.
▶[Parasitic Demon Worm]
[Named F+ Rank Monster]
[Insect-Type, Composite]
[Danger Level: High]
[Traits: Seeks new host to parasitize and reproduce]
[Current Status: No host, Adult]
Now for the rest...
Kill the parasite myself to acquire the skill. This tiny bug, barely filling the test tube, would wreak havoc with the right host—just like in the fanfic. A normal human would've noticed bodily anomalies and purged it, but it latched onto a homunculus and reproduced endlessly.
Parasitism sounds nasty and grotesque, which is why so many readers dropped here... I remember.
Anyway, killing it now would derail the story ahead. But things have come this far. A demon monster's a demon.
Goodbye.
I administered the dewormer Hazel had separately prepared into the test tube.
.
.
.
Sizzling, unpleasant sounds.
"Ugh..."
Hazel's pesticide worked perfectly.
Named: Parasitic Demon Worm defeated
Remaining Named: 140 entities
Demon Hunt Reward available!
The familiar window appeared with the reward.
▶[Parasitism]
[Lv. None] (Composite Skill???)
Designate a target as host and parasitize??? Host weakens continuously; over time, environment forms for parasite reproduction??? Reproduction rate increases debuff speed??? Acquisition Difficulty: ???
▶[F+ Rank Monster Kill Reward]: Gain 60 Extra Points. Random stat +0.1.
As expected.
Glitch city with all the ???s. Whatever. I selected Parasitism.
[Parasitism]
A skill unobtainable in the original game or fanfic: Parasitism.
Hard to classify since it requires the caster to infest another's body. And I'm no bug, so I can't use it directly.
> Player 'Lev Denek' does not meet conditions for Parasitism
As expected. Me getting this skill glitches the setting, given my closed beta gamer judgment.
Like demonization, it'll rearrange to fit the original.
> Error resolved: Parasitism adjusted for player 'Lev Denek' → Active, Curse-type basic skill
> Penalty: Changed to 1-time use skill
▶[Parasitism]
[Lv. None] (Active) (Basic Skill) (1-Time Use)
Designate target as host, inflicting Lv.4 curse where parasitic demon worm reproduces. On success, random skill level of host continuously drops; transfers to next skill on deletion. (*No skills? Degrades traits/stats) (*Debuff speed affected by worm reproduction rate) Acquisition Difficulty: None
Fixed: Parasitism now an active curse spell. Tooltip detailed for my gamer status.
Effect-wise, it's practically demon king-tier...
Biggest weakness? Only Lv.4. Hit Kaeran, and his rainbow resistances would insta-null it: [Target 'Kaeran His' immune]. Yeah, resisted~.
Need a mindset shift.
Kaeran and I are fundamentally different. He's a local basking in author favoritism; I'm a possessed gamer. So, I'll use this curse on... my own skill.
Exploit the gap between fanfic and game so he never notices.
"Parasitism, on myself."
> Target 'Lev Denek' is self. Proceed?
> [*Current curse resistance cannot resist]
"Cast."
No hesitation. A creepy sound and purple message appeared.
Inflicted with Parasitism Curse!
One random skill now parasitized!
Luck Triggered! (Second-Best): Least needed skill infected
...?
Luck here too? Heart pounding, I opened my skill window.
▶[Parasitized · Fireball (Proficient)] [Lv. Max] (Active) (Basic Skill) (Infected!)
1-circle magic - maximized Fireball. High mana cost, but free control (*Converts to blue flames!) Exp: (Max) Acquisition Difficulty: Common
[*Skill level continuously drops]
[*On drop, parasitic demon worm manifests in body]
[*On skill deletion, transfers to next skill]
"...!"
Confirmed: The useless Fireball from killing the flame demon got picked. Prepared to endure any skill, but luck pulled through.
Parasitized Fireball... This might just work...?
* * *
Days later, Clarice Academy's flagship event, the Ranking Battle, began. The 10-day spectacle drew crowds from across the empire—war heroes, royals, knight orders, major guilds—turning it into a festival.
Not for cadets, though. Duels normally grant 2-week rest, but Ranking Battle rules allow just 1 day. The point? Prove profs wrong with real skill if you disagree with your grade.
—One more confirmation!
The rules, drilled into us by instructors: Up to 2 duels per person; no limit on being challenged. Can refuse higher-rank challenges. S-ranks often fight peers. Crowds come for the spectacle anyway.
Kaeran had applied ages ago; our duel was scheduled for opening day.
"Everyone's at a festival but me..."
Cooped in the training room for days, the bustling crowds felt like an amusement park. Chuckling wryly, I headed to the Hall of Strife.
.
.
.
Today's Matchups
Kaeran His (Rank S)
Lev Denek (Rank B)
"A-4 Group matches over here...!"
In the Hall of Strife, second-year Yeriel Artina helped guide juniors and spectators, but couldn't hide her dismay.
"Lev... really... doing this again...?"
Among her A-group assignments: familiar name, Lev Denek. Opponent? Rank S freshman practically top dog. Even she knew as a senior; same-years would see the massive gap.
"Yeriel! First-year Rank S dueling here, right?"
Fellow second-years approached for shift change.
"Yes."
"Whoa, look at the crowds."
"Just here for that prettyboy freshman's face~, outcome's obvious."
"Yeah."
"Seats probably booked by recruiters scouting Kaeran already?"
Good—they didn't know about me and Yeriel. No reason to advertise dormmates.
Cadet predictions didn't vary much by year.
As long as he doesn't get hurt...
Post-Gailon, first-years' views of him improved—a relief. But dueling the spotlight vice-top...
Why does he keep catching my eye...!
Does he want outsider status? Then, a magic dept cadet she'd skipped grades with, Daisy, teased.
"What's top second-year think? Who wins?"
"Hmm...?"
"Oh yeah, Yeriel, didn't Kaeran approach you before? What'd you talk about?"
"N-nothing...!"
"C'mon, something there~?"
"No...!"
Yeriel shut it down. But something nagged.
So that's why he came...
Before dungeon survey practice, Kaeran visited Selafi Black Dorm. Lev was out.
—Lev Denek here?
—Living in a dump like this~?
—Surviving? Doesn't suit you.
Handsome face aside, he'd pestered her annoyingly.
—Not here for dorm? Then leave.
—...Feisty. Was gonna plug it for you.
—Door's that way.
—Got it, bye.
That smug grin and flippant vibe.
Why's he so popular...?
Lev wasn't polite either, but never offended. Kaeran was transparently sly. Objectively, though, Kaeran wasn't weak. Skipping to second-year classes, profs hailed his cheeky genius nonstop. Tougher foe than Gailon for Lev.
But why...
—Focus on your duties, Yeriel, not mine.
Would Lev win again? Just bias from friendship? Checking her wristwatch,
Wonder if I can watch till the end...?
Tight schedule. War hero Umberto had just pigeon-posted, wanting a Selafi Black Dorm tour—could she introduce?
"Yeriel, where you going? Skipping the match?"
"Yeah... just a sec!"
"Oho, someone's too worried to watch~?"
"Seriously... no?"
Let them misunderstand.
Lev...!
Yeriel's mind was filled only with him.