Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: 25-4. Everyone Needs a Headache Pill
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A building in the academy primarily occupied by second-year students.
There, Nex Aureus had summoned his purple phoenix to confront the Hero Cult.
"Nex, get in front again!"
Behind him, the black-haired saintess pressed her back against his.
"...Those trash bastards."
Just moments ago, a fanatic had pretended to beg for his life before pulling out a weapon and swinging it, leaving a slight cut on Sharutineth's cheek.
"No one's hurt now, right? Everyone!"
With her vampiric traits, she enveloped her fists in holy power to repel approaching enemies.
"Thanks, Sharutineth..."
"No problem!"
At the same time, she scanned the surroundings, ready to heal any injured classmates, bustling about busily.
"Nex, I'm fine. So don't act rashly."
"Got it, Shar. I'm trying."
He immediately activated Helios Midnight to neutralize magic and weapons, attempting to protect the students.
However...
"There he is—Nex Aureus!!"
"Spirit arts against spirit arts! To your positions, quick!"
"Prophecy says we can't lose!!"
As if his technique had been exposed, a group in white robes summoned water spirits and closed in steadily.
"...The Omniknowledge Demon King, huh. Looks like normal methods won't cut it."
His purple eyes gleamed as he assessed the enemies before him. Activating the Phoenix Cradle would prevent him from going to rescue others.
He'd seen it when Licht the junior mentioned it, when the family head used it—immobilized in place. Same when he practiced alone.
'At least until reinforcements arrive, no Cradle.'
He didn't even know the full enemy force outside. Even Ten Heroes descendants' spirit arts had weaknesses.
Was activating the Cradle here exactly what they were baiting him into? The thought flashed through his mind.
Force him to use the second-years' strongest defense, pinning his feet, then strike elsewhere. That dilemma loomed before Nex.
"Magnolia Swordsmanship. Form 4. Clear Stream."
Then it happened. Like an incoming tide, waves surged through the corridor. Blue ripples like ocean swells bypassed the students and swept away half the enemies in one go.
"...Licht, my junior!"
Licht appeared from somewhere, wearing his Black Knight helmet. Seeing fanatics attacking students with magic and weapons,
"Their formation's broken...! We almost forced Nex to use the Cradle!"
"That Black Knight helmet... the Demon King mentioned..."
He charged in swiftly, cutting down enemies around Nex and Sharutineth. Arrows flew straight at him, but Licht deflected them without even pausing for breath.
"What the—? I heard he was weak to ranged attacks—"
The bow-wielding apostle gaped at Licht. What kind of monster was that? Reports hadn't mentioned anyone with that level of power.
His swordsmanship had reached a considerable realm.
Sword Master was the precise term. With another swing, not a single hair on any student was harmed—only the white-robed Hero Cultists fell.
"...Senior Nex. You're still holding up."
"Still? What do you mean by that?"
Having felled all the enemies, Licht stood before Nex and Sharutineth. Puzzled by the odd phrasing, Nex questioned it.
Licht's brown eyes narrowed behind the helmet, as if uncomfortable.
"These guys are probably targeting you, Sharutineth, and Mardol."
"Mardol? Not like before...!"
The Second Saintess, Sharutineth, knew Pine Granasia's past ties to Magic Hat. She covered her mouth with both hands, gasping.
"That's why 'still.' In case you'd been taken already."
"Yeah, you've been a hostage before."
"Those utter scum. Trying to mess with our Shar again?"
The purple-haired man bit his lower lip, seething. His usual cool demeanor vanished in his heated words and actions.
"Senior Nex. Use the Phoenix Cradle—cover the whole building."
"...Is that okay? From what I saw with the Hero Cult earlier, they seem to want me to use it."
"I've got you covered. Fate, prophecy—whatever they babble."
Licht stared Nex straight in the eye and spoke. His resolute will eased Nex's mind instead.
"People can overcome it."
"Right. If our wise hero says so."
Satisfied with his junior's attitude, Nex smirked foxily and activated the Phoenix Cradle.
"Phee—!"
The massive purple phoenix soared once, then doubled in size,
"...I'm not the hero, Senior."
its enormous wings enveloping the academy building in an invincible barrier. Though Licht denied being the hero,
"What you're doing right now screams hero."
"..."
"To me, a hero is someone who does what the name implies."
"I see..."
Nex patted his junior's shoulder encouragingly. Licht hesitated as if to say more, then stopped.
"Oh, and. Have Senior Sharutineth help so you don't tire out, Senior Nex."
"Got it, Licht junior!"
At Licht's advice, the all-black-clad saintess immediately stuck by the purple-haired man's side, starting her healing.
"You two look great together, Seniors."
"Joking in this situation, Licht junior...?"
"Gotta crack a joke or it'd be too depressing."
Licht spoke briefly, eyeing the purple-haired man whose neck and cheeks flushed from the contact. Blood crusted his hands and helmet.
"Licht junior, you're heading to rescue Mardol, right?"
"Busted. How'd you know?"
"...If not, you wouldn't have made Nex use the Cradle on us."
Her red irises faintly glowed, vampiric trait on display. Pinpointed, he bowed his head helplessly.
"Like I said before, take care of our Mardol."
"..."
The Black Knight lifted his head. His eyes now showed a maturity unlike his past self.
"Even without you saying, I'll protect her."
Hearing Licht's reply, Sharutineth let out an "Oh?" in surprise, unable to hide it—but unlike before, he didn't deny it.
With that brief encounter ended, I teleported again via Dennis to Mardol's location.
"...Licht?"
"Mardol, you're safe... Thank goodness."
I sighed in relief at the sight of the heavily armored glass knight. Kainel and Ariel were there too.
They hadn't encountered the Omniknowledge Demon King yet, it seemed. But where the hell were we?
"...The drill field?"
Grand Hearts Academy's drill field was enclosed by a massive dome-like glass wall. The ground inside bore dozens of magic circles, forming a bunker.
"Ta-da! I drew all these! Helmet guy!"
As I eyed the floor suspiciously, red twintails bounced as the mage approached me.
"Hehe, copied what I saw at the sword training grounds! They can't get in now!"
"Ariel... You're way too hyped. We haven't beaten the Hero Cult yet."
Kainel chided her from the side. Our oblivious mutt and tsundere cat seemed fine too. I'd figured they'd flee if they met the Demon King.
"Kainel."
"What, Licht?"
"...Honestly, I thought you'd run. Sorry for doubting you."
I apologized to the blond hero. If the hero capable of facing the Demon King in the sequel fled, it'd be a huge disadvantage.
I hadn't trusted my friends enough. No cheat items or max-level Ten Heroes party for me now.
"Licht, you're so oblivious. Think the 'Light Hero Kainel' would bail?"
"Not thrilled hearing that from you..."
"So trust people more, Licht."
I had my experiences and path walked so far.
He threw my own words back at me. Kainel was turning sly like Ariel.
"Licht, blood."
Mid-conversation, a muffled voice came from beside me.
"I'm fine, Mardol. I didn't get hurt."
It wasn't even my blood. She fretted over the Hero Cultists' blood on my helmet and hands.
"...Really. Thank goodness, Licht."
Mardol was such a warm person. Seemed deep inside too, once you knew her.
I couldn't let her be toyed with by the Demon King anymore.
'She even worried about my pyrophobia.'
I wanted to chide her as she fussed over me repeatedly, but let it be. Past me would've bolted, mistaking her for the crown prince.
'I've changed a lot, Lee Soo-hyun.'
Now I truly had friends inside the game. Met characters beyond the screen, built bonds.
With Dennis and Drake too, and the hero-mage couple, Kainel and Ariel.
"Licht, you vanishing suddenly scared us."
"Sorry. Late because I went to protect Seniors Sharutineth and Nex."
"...Figured as much. You're always the same, Licht."
And close with Mardol Granasia. Without me, what life would she have led? Probably no ties with the hero couple.
Lonely, cold, sharp as glass, rejecting others.
They say friendships form mysteriously. Now I couldn't even recall how we'd gotten close.
"Mardol, I'm fine, really. Stop touching."
"Payback for before, pervert Licht."
"..."
Missing our Nameless Saintess a bit, but maybe this happiness was enough—then,
'What the...?'
Something odd entered my view.
"...Apostle of Gluttony?"
A toad-like man appeared afar, spewing black smoke. Opposite of my Shadow Fangs—the outside darkened pitch-black.
—Bang.
The world blackened so thoroughly external visibility vanished. A third gunshot rang out, shattering the glass wall,
and the toad man's smoke sought to engulf the drill field. Smoke should be slow, but this moved unnaturally fast.
"Everyone, hold your breath!!"
I tried stirring wind with Void Slash to counter the apostle's attack, but it was futile. The gusts couldn't push the transparent black smoke.
'Phantasmal pass-through. This feel...'
An apostle who recreates trauma, feeds on the resulting fear to empower himself. Only Gluttony's Methus could do it.
Like with Lust's Serbi, I collapsed unconscious on the rough sand.