Chapter 148
Chapter 148
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: Invitation
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“...You alive?”
“...”
No response. Must be a corpse.
Talion Armand scratched his head as he surveyed the massive disaster spread out around him.
The guys who’d been grouped with him were barely clinging to life, sprawled everywhere.
They were all Elpante freshmen, so most of them had some confidence in their skills.
That’s why.
Rushing in 5-to-1 and getting wiped out in 2 seconds should’ve been a huge blow to their pride.
“...”
But seeing this kind of scene just left him feeling empty.
A radius of several dozen square meters had turned into a charred wasteland.
All done standing in place, without even a staff or mana orb for support.
For a knight, it’d be like fighting bare-fisted without a sword.
‘...Isn’t this on the same level as big bro?’
He’d seen an ancient god get one-shotted firsthand, but even so, the spellcasting this woman had just demonstrated was powerful enough to make that comparison natural.
Manifesting spells through ability usage was something any Elpante student could do. Knights’ reinforcement techniques, divine blessings, crafting faculty’s forging—they all built on that foundation.
And the universal rule for all those abilities was simple: ‘the longer you charge, the stronger it gets.’
Yet.
This much power from a 2-second charge?
If she cast it like a normal Magic Faculty student—slowly, with long chants, steadily pouring in mana—what level of destruction would that unleash?
“...We’re in the same first-year class, right?”
Eliya was already overwhelming enough, but where the hell did this monster come from?
At his question, Feynol brushed back her hair with a faint smile.
“Wanna keep going?”
“No. I forfeit. The skill gap’s too wide from the start.”
With that, Talion stroked the ice tiger cub trembling atop his head. It was clearly terrified of Feynol.
He didn’t feel like scolding it for being a coward. The only reason he wasn’t in the same state as his classmates was because this little guy had thrown up an ice barrier right in front of him.
“To be fair, it wasn’t just pure mana charging. No need to feel that demoralized.”
“...Huh?”
“I was just curious how much control I had, so I tested it.”
Feynol quietly soothed her pounding heart as Talion stared at her in bewilderment.
“...”
Her chest raced.
It’d been ages since she’d even touched that power, and with her emotions slowly reawakening, she’d only dipped into it lightly.
But the result was satisfying.
‘...Control... achieved.’
Before, even a tiny bit would send it spiraling out of control.
Her hunch had been right.
The more she recovered her emotions, the better she could control the demonic power forcibly sustaining her life.
The deeper she fell for that man, the more the red demon came under her command.
So.
Once she was fully ‘conquered’ by him.
‘...I can rest.’
It wouldn’t be long.
The time when she could set down all her burdens.
And slip into eternal nothingness.
As those thoughts crossed her mind, the ice tiger cub on Talion’s head started whimpering.
“There, there. No more fighting. Don’t be so scared.”
Talion gently stroked it, and Feynol let out a sigh.
“Nice mana lifeform you’ve got there.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Talion replied awkwardly, but she meant it sincerely.
That creature was sharper than it looked.
It wasn’t just scared—it had sensed what lurked ‘inside’ her and was on guard.
And above all.
“Once it grows, it’ll pair great with you.”
“...Huh?”
“You use a spear, don’t you?”
Spears and mounts had proven their worth countless times in ancient battles.
A spearman riding a fully grown ice tiger would unleash terrifying power, no doubt.
“It’d be a competitive combo for the upcoming ‘Savior Selection’ too.”
“...Huh?”
Talion blinked in confusion.
Savior Selection? He hadn’t even heard of such an event.
A Savior was a heavy title, the hope of humanity.
Even among humans who’d proven their worth across the continent, only someone every major power agreed on—“This guy’s the one!”—could claim it.
Right now, no one had reached that level, so the seat was vacant.
But.
Suddenly ‘selecting’ one? What the hell?
The phrasing felt like they had no choice but to shove someone in because a Savior was desperately needed.
“Well, you’ll find out soon enough.”
Feynol chuckled softly.
“Probably because of me that it’s happening soon.”
“...”
“I figured you’d be better off knowing ahead.”
“...”
“So you can help that guy’s ‘Savior candidate’ more in the selection. The Inquisition and Holy Kingdom will definitely try to check him, I bet.”
He had no clue what she was talking about.
Talion scratched his head in bewilderment.
“...No idea what you mean, but thanks for praising the little guy.”
In the end, Talion stuck to responding within his understanding.
As he spoke awkwardly, the ice tiger cub whimpered again.
“...I said no fighting. What’s with you?”
Talion gave a wry smile and stroked it.
He’d thought it wasn’t a coward, but maybe he needed to retract that—
“...What?”
But before he could finish the thought.
Feynol muttered blankly.
She’d felt what the ice tiger had sensed.
Her head snapped toward the hill where Dawood was, beyond the slope.
“...Impossible.”
Her face paled as she whispered.
“...H-Hey? Where are you going? The test’s still—”
Talion tried to stop her as she spun around.
“That’s not important right now. We need to get to that guy immediately!”
“...Huh? You mean big bro?”
Of course. Who else?
Because right now, she felt.
“...Something that shouldn’t exist is here.”
“Huh?”
“A being that defies logic itself!”
As long as the world’s laws were intact.
This aura she sensed shouldn’t exist.
Burning ice. Frozen lava. A nonsensical fusion like that.
And that presence.
Was coming from right near Dawood.
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One thing I’m realizing anew.
Elnor’s defenses in the romantic department are surprisingly low.
Especially when there are eyes around. It multiplies several times over.
“...Ahh... ugh...”
While Bricks, half-out after taking a hit from me, let out a weird groan, Elnor twisted her body and twirled her hair around her fingers.
It was like the pleasant thrill from those sounds inside her was battling the thought that this wasn’t why she came.
“...Y-You’re not trying to sweet-talk me again, are you, my lord?”
Looks like the latter won this round.
Her face flushed, stammering it out, but she’d managed to say it.
But as I said before.
She’s weak in this area.
So, she endured once?
“Less sweet-talking, more like your body reacting naturally.”
“...”
“Who’d be happy seeing someone precious treated like a convenient tool?”
Let’s see if she endures a second time.
Still not falling?
“...S-Still, calling me your woman and all that... why in front of everyone...”
Elnor muttered timidly.
The distance to the platform was far enough that barely anyone could hear, but she worried anyway.
“Because Elnor’s my woman.”
Attack chance.
Third time’s the charm?
Still holding out??
“...”
Elnor gaped, speechless, glaring at me.
Hmm, not enough?
Let’s pile on one more.
“I’d say it no matter who’s in the world. Elnor’s my fiancée. I’m the luckiest guy alive—”
Before I could finish, a fist slammed into my gut.
A precise liver shot, like a awl to the spot.
“...”
As I crumpled without even a scream, Elnor spat out the words, her fist trembling.
“Y-You need to have some decorum!”
You could’ve just said it.
Did you have to hit me so hard my vision’s ringing?
[Haa...]
“...”
[Why’s Boy King asleep right now? Perfect timing to cheer—]
Shut up.
I endured the all-encompassing pain and turned my head.
Luckily, Elnor had paused her soul-baring fang game and assault demands.
Time to summon the one who’ll definitely react.
‘...Come out.’
I thought that and locked eyes on the platform where the prime minister sat.
A well-known rumor in Imperial high society.
Prime Minister Sullivan wasn’t on good terms with House Tristan.
The strongest anti-minister nobles were Margrave Kendrid and House Tristan. The empire’s two great nobles propped up the emperor, keeping the minister from fully devouring state power.
That’s the common theory.
In the original story, Sullivan and Tristan were bitter enemies, chafing at each other.
So.
Showing this level of closeness with Elnor should provoke some reaction from them.
As I thought that, a window popped up.
Just as expected, a response from—
[System Message]
[ Target ‘Sullivan’ feels intense rage! ]
[ Negative influence imprinted! ]
[ Negative imprint 1 stack! ]
[ Receivable reward granted! ]
[ Skill: Dominion of Evil activates. Gain 1 command token usable on target! ]
[ This individual exerts massive influence on the scenario! Subsequent quests will change entirely based on interactions with them! ]
[ ‘Gift: Black-hearted Bastard’ reinforcement conditions met! ]
‘...What?’
My eyes widened at the content.
No.
Sure, getting mad makes sense.
But if memory serves, this skill...
[Skill Info]
[ Skill: Dominion of Evil ] [ Grade: E ]
[ Exerts influence on good-aligned individuals sufficiently affected by you. ]
[ Affected individuals must fulfill one request from you. ]
[ Currently applied: Lucien Grayhauncher, Sullivan Axion Petronus, Eliya Chrisanax ]
...Only works on good-aligned people.
Yet.
The prime minister... good-aligned?
The guy who definitively caused Gideon’s death and triggered Elnor’s rampage.
A good guy?
‘...What the.’
What’s going on here?
Absurdity filled me as a ‘golden’ portal opened before my eyes.
One of the colors symbolizing House Petronus. The prime minister’s personal hue.
“...”
Hold up.
Opening a portal costs a mana stone worth at least a house. And he’s using it just to come from the platform here?
Makes sense for a prime minister, but it screams ‘urgent.’
Like he couldn’t hold back from intervening right now.
“Long time no see, Duchess Tristan.”
Elnor hurriedly knelt as the prime minister stepped out slowly.
She looked unusually flustered.
“...I see you, Your Excellency.”
Few in the empire required such formality from her, but the prime minister was the standout exception.
So he just nodded curtly, skipped further reaction, and went straight to what he wanted.
Like.
Pulling me up from the ground.
And hugging me tight to his chest.
“...!”
Elnor shot up in horror from her kneel.
Such a breach of protocol, even forgetting courtesy.
“Your Excellency, what are...!”
“You haven’t changed a bit. Truly.”
The prime minister was tall for a woman. Even compared to my decent height, our eyes were level, so grabbing my nape and pressing pulled my face right into her chest.
A soft, fluffy sensation enveloped my face.
“...”
No.
Seriously.
Wait.
What is this?
[System Message]
[ Target ‘Elnor’’s corruption level is rapidly increasing! ]
As I squirmed in the prime minister’s embrace, I watched Elnor’s eyes drain of life in real time, her earlier blush turning hollow.
No, this is seriously unfair.
I didn’t do anything to this woman...!
“Did it hurt? You’re not someone who deserves violence like this.”
“...”
“You’ve been through a lot, Dawood. The test ends here—get some rest.”
In that position.
She spoke with a sticky, ‘affectionate’ tone.
‘...What?’
This situation. What the hell?
I couldn’t adjust. Couldn’t comprehend.
If it were a demon vessel, I’d buy it—they latch on without reason.
But this woman.
Why is she acting like this toward me?
“...Care for dinner together after so long, Duchess Tristan?”
Still holding me, she tossed those words at Elnor with a gentle smile.
Her tone was even.
But anyone perceptive would feel the icy menace beneath.
Like.
Facing an enemy to ‘eliminate.’
“...I have so many questions about Dawood.”
And that line.
Would surely infuse hostile intent into Elnor’s already blank expression.
“...”
Instinct kicked in.
‘...This.’
The system notice about the prime minister’s rage.
Her ‘rage’ wasn’t at me, but Elnor.
Relations with House Tristan seemed sour like in the original.
But not mad that I was close to Tristan—it was rage that trash like Tristan dared be close to ‘me’!
‘...Ah.’
Why.
Why.
Why another bomb like this...!
[You achieved your goal, though?]
“...”
[The prime minister crashed the party and flipped the board. She won’t jump you for a night together now. Congrats, dude.]
“...”
[No clue what’ll happen at dinner, though.]
Please.
Don’t jinx me like that.
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