Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: In the Shadows
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I've actually been pondering this for a long time.
Where I should belong.
In a way, my position offered far more freedom than Aren, the original protagonist.
I needed to leverage the knowledge I possessed and join the faction that would benefit me the most.
But no matter which side I chose, losses and gains would inevitably come hand in hand, like two sides of a coin.
At some point, a certain thought occurred to me.
'What if I created my own faction?'
How were dungeon conquests handled in the original story?
Looking back, they were vague.
Because the dungeon was there.
Because ominous demonic energy leaked from near the dungeon.
Because conquering it granted shards and items.
Those were ultimately the only reasons.
What if I could imbue dungeon conquests with a sense of purpose?
The Empire, in its cradle of comfort, had long lost any purpose in conquest.
Even Ruidel, founded with the spirit of piercing the Evil God, was no different.
The existing clubs were merely engaged in power struggles within the academy or honing individual strength.
None of them made conquering the Demon God's Dungeon their very reason for existing.
But recently, I made a promise to Mine.
That I would definitely complete the conquest of the Demon God's Dungeon.
I knew the identity of the enemy.
I knew their ultimate goal.
And if I knew what they would do next, there was no need to wait passively any longer.
It was better to actively shatter their plans.
For that, I needed a group distinct from the existing factions—one with a clear goal.
A group that moved solely for the conquest of the Demon God's Dungeon.
Just in time, Alicia had magnificently opened the door. It wasn't impossible.
So, announcing this plan in front of Climud was a kind of declaration of war.
That I would create an organization to stop them.
Now, how would they respond?
"What? You're going to create your own club? As a first-year?"
"It's not impossible, is it?"
"To prioritize conquering the Demon God's Dungeon... Our swordsmanship club also hunts monsters and conquers dungeons, you know?"
"I'm planning a club where everything else takes a backseat, with conquest as the sole goal. Digging into the Evil God's Abyss to the very end and eradicating it—that's the only purpose."
The moment I finished speaking, Climud whispered something into Termina's ear.
Termina's expression shifted subtly.
"...Hmm. Well, fine. Ambition is a good thing."
"Thank you for the praise."
"But creating a club isn't as easy as you think. You know no new clubs have been established in recent years, right?"
"Yes."
"And digging into the Evil God's Abyss to the end... Isn't that just pie in the sky?"
"Thanks to that pie in the sky, we're enjoying this banquet."
"Hmm... Is that so?"
She seemed to lose interest soon after and rose from her seat.
"Got it. I think that's enough talk. I'll relay it to the club president. Let's go, Climud."
"Yes, miss."
Climud glanced back at me one last time before leaving.
Still with that affable smile.
Of course, his eyes weren't smiling at all. I could clearly sense he now saw me as a definite 'enemy.'
Watching the two disappear into the crowd, I drained the remaining wine from my glass.
But I didn't want to let him go so easily. It would be great if Alicia had taken some measures.
"Halibal."
That's when Cecilia approached, having extricated herself from the young ladies.
"What did you talk about? Isn't that second-year senior Termina?"
"No, just club recruitment."
"...Really?"
She scanned me with suspicious eyes.
Not that staring would reveal anything.
"For plain club recruitment, that butler behind Senior Termina had a pretty menacing aura."
She noticed that, huh.
Climud's killing intent had been momentary, but it hadn't escaped Cecilia's eyes.
"No need to worry. Just a annoying senior."
"Suspicious."
Fortunately, she didn't press further.
"Anyway, don't leave my side now. Got it?"
"Don't worry. That's why I applied as your partner."
"Good. Then we should finish what we were about to do earlier..."
It was the moment Cecilia stood on tiptoe.
Wooong!
A grand musical strain echoed through the entire banquet hall.
The noisy clamor of the hall died down, and all eyes turned to the dais.
"Sigh... Rough luck today."
Tell me about it.
'I figured he'd show up.'
On the dais, a figure emerged beyond the hazy canopy.
His face wasn't clearly visible, but his silhouette alone exuded overwhelming presence.
No one here didn't know who he was.
The Emperor of the Cyrus Empire.
The Crimson Emperor, Dryverberg Cyrus.
Beneath the dais stood Alicia and Aren, his face tense.
"Listen."
As the low, solemn voice resounded, everyone in the hall knelt.
Duke Ragnar and Duke Victor, heads of the two great ducal houses; Raygal, the leader of the nobles; Count Dane; even Killien.
Regardless of commoner or noble, upperclassman or not, all paid homage to the Emperor. Cecilia and I knelt as well.
Even amid this, my eyes sought Termina.
She was among the upperclassmen, but Climud was nowhere to be seen.
'Well, a servant couldn't follow her even here.'
That made sense.
Excluding the absent crown prince, there were two more people missing who weren't servants.
'Adelin and... Luna Grace.'
The Empire's Greatest Sword and the sole daughter of Duke Grace. Why weren't these two, who should obviously be here, present?
I'd been trying to interact with the playable characters somehow. I'd even built ties with Eugene, Ran, and Elia.
But getting along with Luna in particular had been difficult.
Did she even properly attend the academy?
She vanished like a ghost after the mandatory Scout Team class.
This banquet was the same.
Her father, Duke Victor, was right there prominently, yet his daughter Luna was nowhere to be seen?
Before I could fully form the question, the Emperor confirmed everyone kneeling and began his speech.
Dryverberg's voice filled the hall.
The speech celebrated the Empire's victory and praised the students who conquered the third Evil God's Abyss.
It flowed seamlessly, as if the absence of a few meant nothing.
"Especially, I express the Empire's gratitude in name to Princess Alicia, who led this conquest to success; Aren Bright, successor of the Extreme Divine Sword; and Saintess Mine Rose, who couldn't join us here today."
As the speech neared its end and I inadvertently lifted my head.
'...Huh?'
For some reason, I felt an intense gaze piercing me from beyond the canopy.
'What? Just my imagination?'
But the speech ended without incident.
Thunderous applause erupted.
The Emperor raised his hand, and the music changed.
A waltz melody filled the hall.
The banquet's second act, the dance, had begun.
By imperial palace etiquette, the first dance went to the most honored guests present.
As the Emperor withdrew behind the canopy, eyes turned to Alicia and Aren.
Alicia extended her hand to Aren.
"Aren Bright. May I request the honor of the first dance with the Empire's hero?"
"Y-Yes... It would be my honor."
The two began dancing at the center of the banquet hall.
"We'll have to yield the first dance to them."
Cecilia's whisper dripped with regret over the earlier interruption.
"But I won't yield the second. Got it?"
"Of course."
I watched the dancing pair.
Alicia perfectly leading Aren, who moved stiffly like a robot from tension.
'Impressive.'
Even after receiving reports of a church bishop infiltrating, she focused on the dance as if nothing was amiss.
As Alicia and Aren's dance concluded, others eagerly took their partners' hands and stepped into the center one by one.
"Come on."
Cecilia looked up at me and extended her hand.
Her blue eyes sparkled like glass under moonlight.
"Now it's our turn, Halibal."
I placed my hand on her waist.
Instead of a sword.
⁎⁎⁎
"Tch."
Climud, having slipped out of the hall, prepared to leave immediately.
With the Emperor's speech beginning, all servants had to withdraw to designated areas.
This made evading watchful eyes much easier.
'Halibal Belder.'
He mulled over the name of the variable.
When he first told Termina to sound him out, he'd intended the common scene of an academy upperclassman recruiting a promising first-year.
If lucky, recruit him into the swordsmanship club and keep him under surveillance.
But to declare creating his own club?
One focused solely on Demon God's Dungeon conquests?
There was no benefit in spilling such plans to Termina, who might belong to a rival club.
Rivalries between Ruidel clubs were beyond imagination.
No matter how talented Halibal was, the moment a first-year announced a new club, he'd face concentrated fire from the others.
So why reveal the plan to Termina despite the risk?
Simple bravado?
Arrogance or boasting?
Still green, after all?
'No... Wait.'
Was it really said to 'Termina'?
Climud trusted his instincts above all.
They had propelled him from the gutters to his current position—nothing but his sense for danger.
'...He knows about me?'
Maybe not.
No, it had to not be.
Malius and Elevre were purged without interrogation, so Halibal had no way of knowing about the church.
But Climud decided to act assuming the worst-case scenario.
The church's plan had been prepared for decades anyway.
No harm in proceeding more thoroughly.
'I'll have to discuss him with headquarters.'
Climud headed straight for the palace rear garden.
He planned to use the pre-inscribed return magic circle to head back to base.
The moment he concealed himself in the shadows.
The surroundings bathed in brilliant light.
"Hey, big guy there. What are you doing?"
A woman stepped out from the shadows, and Climud reflexively halted.
Long, cascading golden hair.
A sword casually sheathed at her waist.
The Empire's Greatest Sword, Adelin Windsor.
'...Why is she here?'
Faint waltz strains lingered in his ears.
The banquet was still in full swing.
The Empire's Greatest Sword should be attending.
He could've disposed of any random interloper unnoticed, but this was Adelin Windsor.
Even for him, an opponent where victory was slim even at full strength.
If he dragged this out even a little, other powerhouses would sense it and rush over.
Climud decided to play innocent.
"No way... Lady Adelin? I never expected to encounter the Empire's Greatest Sword here. Is something the matter...?"
"Hmm. Less 'matter' and more slacking off?"
Adelin glanced discontentedly toward the banquet hall.
"I hate that stuff. Came out for some air because it was stuffy."
"Haha. Quite right. Even I get heart palpitations sharing space with the VIPs."
"Not an answer to my question? What are you doing?"
"Our miss found the banquet hall stuffy, so I was heading to scout a spot for some air."
"Strange."
Adelin tilted her head.
"I peeked earlier, and Termina was chatting animatedly with the others."
'...She's not here by chance.'
She knew he was Termina's butler.
Climud chose his words carefully.
He could fabricate excuses endlessly.
But for some reason, his mind clouded over repeatedly.
No matter what excuse he made, his gut said this woman wouldn't budge.
'No choice.'
After a brief silence, what came from Climud's mouth wasn't an excuse, but a question.
"But did you come here alone, Lady Adelin?"
"Yeah. Had someone to go with, but got turned down. Why? Gonna be my dance partner?"
"Haha. If a nobody like me is acceptable, gladly."
He laughed heartily, but focused all his senses on Adelin's movements and breathing.
'Alone? Manageable.'
Just then, Adelin yawned as if tired.
'Now!'
Fwoosh!
Black fireballs erupted from Climud's hand, surging toward Adelin.
Simultaneously, he spun and sprinted at full speed toward the return circle.
Boom boom boom!
The black flames split in two before reaching Adelin.
The sword that had been meekly sheathed at her waist was now in her hand.
"Hmm. Black flames... Church member, huh?"
'As expected, she knew.'
Screeech!
Adelin swung her sword lightly, a golden sword aura slashing across Climud's back.
Blood sprayed, but Climud didn't stop.
A wound like this would heal quickly.
'Just around this corner—the circle!'
The moment he desperately rounded it.
Kaboom!
Blazing heat scorched his vision.
Where the return circle had been inscribed, a massive flame spear impaled the ground, reducing the surroundings to ash.
Reflexively looking up, a pink-haired girl descended amid fiery afterimages.
Then, Adelin's voice from behind.
"You've been up to things like this all along? Even Her Highness the Princess... How on earth did she get a hold on Lady Grace's weakness?"
The girl's identity: Luna Grace.
Landing, Luna said to Adelin.
"It was my request first, so please don't worry too much."
"Meaning you wanted this?"
"...Yes. I chose to live in the shadows."
"For what, exactly?"
"For someone not here."
Climud clicked his tongue.
'...Trouble.'
Ahead: the magic dynasty's genius flame mage.
Behind: the Empire's Greatest Sword.
Two powerhouses who couldn't move without major backing had appeared here as if by appointment.
'Halibal Belder. It's him. He must've persuaded the Princess to move these two.'
The moment he thought he'd dug a trap, he might've already been caught in the boy's snare.
"So, what now? Gonna come quietly? I could end it painlessly."
"Kh... heh heh..."
Climud's face twisted beast-like.
"...To think I'd use this here."
Right after.
Crunch!
His body began swelling with grotesque noises.
The banquet was still in full swing.