Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Return
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“I... have no idea what you’re suddenly talking about, Your Excellency.”
Elnor uttered those words amid the still tense atmosphere.
Truthfully, it was only natural to find it hard to understand when the word “war” was dropped out of nowhere. It was perfectly reasonable to think it was some strange nonsense.
“...”
But.
She was right.
To be precise, it wasn’t because of Elnor herself, but because of the entity she harbored within her this time as well.
“Both Chancellor Atalante and the Grand Chieftain of the Tribal Alliance seem to have done their utmost to cover it up.”
Sullivan continued in a flat voice right away.
“But human ears and eyes are everywhere. The news that traces of demons were found in Elpante and the Crucible of Struggle—overlapping with the time you were there—has already become public knowledge. To the point where it could spread everywhere if not careful.”
“...”
Elnor’s eyes widened slightly at his words.
“...Demons, you say, Your Excellency?”
“Demons, Duchess Tristan.”
Hold on a second.
Going any further could be dangerous.
Revealing that Elnor harbored a fragment of a demon would introduce a massive variable into my plans. It shouldn’t come out until at least Chapter 5 for safety.
So I opened my mouth to stop him.
But in that moment, the Prime Minister glanced back at me and winked from an angle Elnor couldn’t see.
As if to say he wouldn’t go that far, so relax.
“...”
I narrowed my eyes at Sullivan.
One thing was certain.
This man really knew a lot about me.
As if we’d truly been together for a long time before.
“...I know nothing about any demon-related entities, Your Excellency.”
Elnor spoke in a stiff voice, and Sullivan shrugged as he replied.
“Whether you’re truly involved or not is honestly not the important part. What matters is the ‘incident’ it triggers.”
Simple story.
Every time demons revealed themselves, they brought disasters massive enough to ripple across the entire continent.
Even the Ye Sacha incident, which the Empire’s strongest forces—the Guardians—had staked their lives to contain early on, was recorded as the Empire’s worst catastrophe, with several cities reduced to ashes in a single night.
Thus, it was self-evident that the mere fact of demonic powers manifesting in the material world would plunge the entire continent into chaos.
“There aren’t many rulers who would welcome that fact. The continent’s balance is maintained on a razor’s edge right now. It’s not far-fetched to say that any side could invade another for their interests at a moment’s notice.”
Undoubtedly, if public sentiment didn’t calm and chaos spread, plenty of such ‘opportunities’ would arise.
Even those without such intentions might change their minds if a perfect chance appeared right in front of them. It wasn’t an impossibility.
In other words, truly.
The threat of ‘war’ Sullivan spoke of was no fantasy—it was real.
“That connects to what I mentioned earlier.”
If the entire continent shook in fear of demons, the solution was simple.
The one being who could stand toe-to-toe with those demons would simply need to reveal itself.
The human who, in history, was the only one to battle ‘all demons’ and come out even.
“...Hero selection.”
Feynol said with a wry smile, and Sullivan nodded.
“They say heroes aren’t selected—they’re chosen by fate. No matter who claims to be a hero, the authority doesn’t come from them.”
The holy sword of the first hero, kept in the Holy Kingdom.
Only the one acknowledged by that artifact is recognized as the true hero by all.
“But now... we have to force it. Even without the holy sword’s acknowledgment, we need to create a human strong enough that we can claim they can stand against the demons.”
“...What do you mean by ‘force it’?”
Elnor cut in with a cold voice.
“To be acknowledged as a hero, they must be shown wielding the holy sword. Otherwise, the public won’t believe it.”
“We make them grip it by force. If they need to be shown using it.”
Elnor’s mouth fell open.
For someone who rarely showed emotions, it was an intensely dramatic reaction, but it was warranted.
The risk for an unacknowledged person touching the holy sword was simple and straightforward.
‘...They die.’
They lose their life.
Their body shatters as the price for accessing power beyond their capacity.
In other words, what the Prime Minister was saying now was:
“...Better to stage an elaborate, well-crafted deception than let thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands perish.”
To avoid war, they’d create a ‘scapegoat.’
“...The imperial leadership has already agreed. That’s why I have no choice but to blame you, Duchess Tristan.”
Sullivan glared at Elnor with his golden eyes gleaming.
“It’s all because of you.”
A heavy silence descended around them.
And amid it.
I touched the Soul Linker in my chest again.
Within this academy was already someone selected as a ‘hero candidate.’
Someone who would undoubtedly be conscripted if a ‘hero selection’ happened.
“...”
I gritted my teeth until blood welled up.
That’s why I’d left the Soul Linker in place.
It was Kaliban’s sole reverse scale, the one thing he’d brushed off even when I’d turned into something demon-like.
His last remaining blood kin.
‘...They’re saying they might use him as a sacrifice.’
Something I could never endure.
“...”
At least it was fortunate that the kid wasn’t in Elpante right now—he was staying at the Crucible of Struggle.
If I could keep him even a little farther away, the main quest’s starting point would be delayed, and I could prepare thoroughly in time to prevent—
[System Message]
[An event related to the target 'Eliya' will be generated soon!]
“...”
System. Please.
Read the room.
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“Elpanteeeee—!”
Eliya hopped off the train and spread her arms wide as she shouted.
“Why are you so excited? It hasn’t even been that long since you left.”
There was a curt reply, but Eliya spun around without changing her smiling expression.
She already knew from experience after spending weeks together.
This person always sounded gruff, but deep down, they were incredibly kind.
And more delicate than expected.
“I missed Teacher! It feels like almost a month!”
“...Can’t you say that quieter? Aren’t you embarrassed?”
“Yeah, didn’t Liru miss Teacher too?”
“Like hell.”
Liru Garda snorted as she said it, and Eliya tilted her head, eyes drifting aside.
There was the box Liru cradled preciously in her arms.
“Isn’t that a gift for Teacher? You held it so carefully the whole way here.”
Eliya pointed at the package in Liru’s arms, and she flushed red, yanking it behind her back.
“Wh-what gift?! Do I look like someone who’d prepare something like that?!”
“...”
Wow.
She’s so easy to read.
Eliya crept toward Liru with a mischievous grin.
This woman only reacted like this in one case.
Whenever anything about Teacher came up, she acted just like a boy caught liking a girl.
“Just tell me a little. I won’t spread it around. What is it?”
And lately, spending time with Liru, Eliya had realized one thing: this woman was surprisingly easy to tease.
Especially now, with such a strong bond forming between her and Liru.
‘...That trip wasn’t a choice—it was essential.’
Of course, there had been clashes between her friends and Liru before, and she’d seen her as one of the people chasing after Teacher, leading to friction.
But while being dragged through hellish training under Grand Chieftain Kasa Garda, a camaraderie like comrades-in-arms had long since blossomed between her and Liru.
“...It’s not a gift, I told you.”
As those thoughts crossed her mind, Liru replied curtly. She even whipped the package behind her back again.
Huh. More stubborn than usual.
Normally, a little sweet-talking would make her cave eventually.
‘...She’s similar to Yuria in that way?’
Both of them boasted such narrow circles—no same-age friends of the same sex.
Push hard with a friendship attack, and they’d fold easily.
So, here.
“Gotcha.”
Eliya darted behind Liru and reached for the package.
The motion was light, but the speed was blinding. She’d always shone in close combat before, so most people would fall helplessly.
“Eek.”
Eliya was flicked away.
Liru had shoved her forehead hard.
‘...What the hell.’
Eliya pouted, feeling it unfair.
She’d felt it multiple times sparring friendly with Liru under Kasa, but Liru definitely had some bizarre ability.
It was like.
She often reacted as if seeing a few seconds into the ‘future.’
Even just now, it should’ve been an unpredictable move, yet it was as if something ‘inside’ her body was helping Liru.
‘...Both her and me—we came back with ridiculous powers.’
In retrospect.
The ability she’d ‘unlocked’ under Kasa was even more extreme.
Eliya touched the eyepatch over her right eye with a wry smile.
Her eye wasn’t injured or anything. Just.
Looking around without it made her head hurt too much.
Too much ‘information’ to take in.
As she thought that, the flushed Liru trembled with fists clenched and said.
“Cut it out! I’ll really hit you hard!”
“...”
She’s such a good person.
Even after all this, no harsh words—just threats of hitting.
Is this the same person who used to throw punches at the slightest offense?
“...People’s personalities really change when they fall for someone.”
“Why do you keep linking me with that guy...!”
“I never said Liru likes anyone?”
“...!”
Eliya stuck out her tongue with a “Nyah,” backing away from Liru, who was on the verge of steaming from her ears.
‘...Ah, seriously.’
Eliya giggled inwardly.
Truthfully, she couldn’t have even joked like this before.
Just the thought of another woman near Teacher would’ve made her anxious.
But after gaining this ‘eye,’ the world looked a bit different.
In various ways.
“Then, even though it’s late, shall we go see Teacher first!”
She said energetically, stroking the eyepatch over her right eye.
No matter what, it was clear she’d become a completely different person after training with Kasa at the Crucible of Struggle.
So, at least she should show Dawood quickly what had changed.
But that plan was hitting snags from the start.
“...With the Prime Minister?”
Eliya asked, and Ophelia Knight, sitting in the supervisor’s office, replied in a drawling voice.
“Yeahh—he’s apparently with him. I wondered where he was all day, and turns out he’s stuck with him right now—”
Wait, why would someone like the Prime Minister even be at the academy?
And what was keeping Dawood there?
As Eliya pondered, Liru scratched her head with a troubled look.
“...No helping it. If he’s in a place like that, we’ll have to find him later—”
“No, we can’t do that.”
Eliya cut her off firmly, and Liru’s eyes widened.
“...What?”
“A very strong... ‘intuition’ tells me Teacher needs me right now.”
“...”
What kind of feeling was that?
She’d just teased Liru about her personality changing, but this one had changed too.
Still as lively and sociable as before.
But in certain aspects... more ‘stubborn,’ maybe.
Like she had parts where she wouldn’t compromise at all.
If she felt she had to do something, she’d do it no matter what.
Just look at her next words.
“We’re crashing it!”
“...”
Liru pressed her temple against the throbbing headache.
Clearly, Eliya had changed after the training with Kasa.
‘...She’s insane, this one.’
Seeing her spout such lunacy so casually.
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