Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Resolve
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The unprecedented incident of the prime minister and the duchess both passing out at the same time wrapped up with barely any fallout, considering its gravity.
“You damn, fucking, fuuuuuck—!”
“...”
Of course, Atalante dragged Elnor and Sullivan out to the infirmary with a demon-like scowl on her face, unleashing inhuman shrieks the whole way.
Our president has to be the first one swept up in messes like this and handle the cleanup. Cut her some slack.
Fortunately, there were no signs of external injuries on either of them, and thanks to Eliya’s impeccably clean handiwork, Elnor and Sullivan had blacked out without a clue what hit them.
It’s a huge stroke of luck that the victims themselves have no idea who to even question.
Atalante herself delivered the message with a rigidly stiff expression, noting that neither showed any intent for direct confrontation.
“The Petrunus family and the Tristan Ducal House were never on great terms to begin with. But they’re both aware enough that letting things escalate this far would be bad for everyone involved.”
Of course.
“That’s only when you’re not involved, Dawood. There’s no guarantee it won’t happen again.”
Naturally, there’d be a caveat like that.
I nod at Atalante’s words with a wry smile.
“...We need to find a solution fast.”
I let out a sigh with my response.
It’s not just about the clash between Elnor and Sullivan.
Conflicts between the demons are only going to intensify from here. Those two were just the beginning.
Especially with more and more demons swarming around me, the odds of such incidents skyrocket exponentially.
Eliya brought back the ability to smack demon fragments directly, but that’s a pretty unstable deterrent.
It might work on demons before they go berserk, but once their powers fully unleash like with Elnor before, even that won’t cut it.
“Do you have something in mind?”
“...”
I do.
If we can’t prevent it from happening, the next best thing is preparing a way to contain the fallout when it does.
And there’s only one thing capable of “mediating” fights on a demon level.
A hero wielding the holy sword.
Humanity’s strongest once they reach full growth.
One of the top two in overwhelming combat power in the Sera worldview, right up there with the Gray Devil.
“Judging by your face, it doesn’t seem like a method you’re thrilled about.”
Spot on.
The risks are way too high.
Not for me—for Eliya, who’d get caught in the crossfire.
“...But it’s not like we have options.”
I summon a window in front of me as I reply.
[System Log]
[ The starting point of {Chapter 4 – Night Assault} has shifted! ]
Chapter 4’s start should be months away, by my reckoning.
But thanks to the ever-twisted scenario, it’s right around the corner.
‘...It’d be ridiculous if she couldn’t wield the holy sword.’
A hero with the holy sword holds narrative importance on par with the Gray Devil, the “final boss.”
This has to happen, no exceptions. If it doesn’t, the whole world falls apart.
Late-game threats like the “False God” or “Omen’s Brand” are built around the premise of Eliya wielding the holy sword. Without it, there’s no winning.
But.
‘The risks are too damn high.’
Getting recognized by the first hero’s holy sword? Easy to say, deadly to screw up.
Eliya aced the trial in the original story, sure...
“...”
But in the game, I’ve handled most of the trials she was supposed to face.
So the question is whether she’s hit the “growth threshold” the original demanded.
She did snag that insane ability to smack demon fragments out of nowhere, but that’s separate from holy sword approval.
Still.
“When’s the hero selection starting, President?”
“A few days from now, they’ll gather candidates from each nation’s academies. The holy sword won’t let anyone past a certain age grip it.”
I nod along to Atalante’s words.
Time’s tight, as usual.
A few days means no prep—the main event hits straight away.
Which leaves one path.
“...Could you do me a favor, President?”
“What?”
“Two things. First, the contact and meeting clearance for the Divinity Faculty’s senior professor.”
Atalante narrows her eyes at me.
“I won’t ask why. It’s not hard to arrange. But you know that person’s... unique, right?”
“...I’m well aware.”
Truth be told, if he weren’t the senior professor, I’d avoid him like the plague.
“Unique” is putting it mildly, as Atalante said...
He’s a total nutjob.
“Second.”
Anyway.
I sigh and continue.
“Let me join the hero selection event.”
“...”
Atalante stares at me with a hardened expression.
“...Elpante only has one eligible student candidate.”
“I know.”
To even enter something like this, you need a track record of being whispered about as a “hero candidate.”
But.
“Not as the candidate myself—as her ‘attendant.’ Every nation sends escorts along, right?”
“That’s doable... but attendants have zero influence over the selection process.”
Atalante continues with a dubious look.
Fair point.
In the game, the hero selection trials are something the candidates handle solo. Attendants top out at coach level.
But.
“Close to impossible isn’t impossible.”
“...Pardon?”
“Have any of the things I’ve pulled off so far ever seemed possible?”
Same old song and dance.
I caused the butterfly effects; I’ll clean them up.
So.
Getting the holy sword’s recognition at the end is her trial to overcome.
“But I’ll make her the hero, President. No matter what.”
Paving the road to get there?
That’s on me.
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“...”
Another day survived.
The moment I get back to my dorm room, I think that while scrubbing my face.
I glance at the tiny bracelet coiled around the top of my amulet.
A gift Eliya picked up from the Tribal Alliance.
Our recent conversation replays in my head.
-Hero selection? I’ll do it!
-...
Her answer came out so chipper, I was speechless for a bit before managing to respond.
-...Do you even know what that entails?
-Hmm, the way you say it, sounds dangerous?
-Yeah, kid. You could die if it goes wrong, so please think it over carefully—
-But it’d help you, right, Teacher?
-...
I shut my mouth, stunned.
She beamed back, no hesitation.
-I’ll do it.
-...Hey.
-And more than that.
Not just that reason—she gave a bitter smile and continued.
-If I become the hero, maybe I can find my brother.
Her voice carried an unbreakable resolve as she said it.
No stopping her now.
Come to think of it, she’d always hated the “hero candidate” label but wore it anyway—to search for her missing brother.
“Kalliban.”
[...]
“I know you’re awake. Let’s talk.”
He’s been unnaturally quiet since sticking with me.
As I think that, Kalliban speaks in a low, sunken voice.
[...Playing peekaboo with your eyes covered, huh, punk.]
“Yes?”
[It was only a matter of time before my sister got thrown into that mess. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?]
“...”
Fair.
He’d have found out eventually.
[...She’s the last blood I have left.]
Kalliban spits it out.
[If anything happens to her—]
“Kalliban.”
I smack the soul linker.
Won’t hurt him, but it’ll snap him back.
“I told you because nothing will happen.”
Who do you take me for, an idiot?
You think I’d ignore the prime minister but heed the president on purpose?
[...]
A stunned vibe rises from the soul linker.
[...So.]
Kalliban presses on, strained.
[You’ve got a surefire way to get the holy sword’s approval?]
“Ways? Plenty.”
[...What way? Forget the sword—even passing selection is impossible—]
“Pfft, that’s easy.”
I summon a window.
[System Log]
[ ‘Helper in Survival’ Rule Activates! ]
[ Target ‘Eliya’ reacts acutely to your crisis. ]
[ Target’s stats surge dramatically! ]
[ Target awakens ‘Eye of Truth’! ]
The window from when Eliya clocked Elnor and Sullivan.
Two key points: She reacts sharply to my “crisis,” and her stats “surge dramatically” as a result.
‘...Even after grinding specs under Kwon Sung-nim.’
Landing hits on two demon vessels unaware is impossible.
Especially Elnor, now rivaling Kendrid Margrave in base stats.
Logically, her boosts in my crises are insane.
And that’s her edge to dominate selection.
“Kalliban.”
Deep breath, then continue.
“To be precise, she won’t pass selection alone.”
And obviously.
“We’re in it together, Kalliban.”
[...What?]
“If I keep facing mortal threats, her... ability ramps up too.”
[...]
Here’s the kicker.
To keep those buffs constant, I need constant exposure to sandwich-level threats between on-the-brink demon vessels.
“And it’s not even that hard.”
Hero selection draws national leaders, chosen heroes, and their massive entourages.
No need for demon-level; plenty of life-threatening spots without trying.
[...So.]
Kalliban sounds incredulous.
[In a room full of continent-top powerhouses.]
“Yeah.”
[You’re saying you’ll keep pulling near-suicide stunts?]
“Yeah.”
[...How? Pick fights one by one?]
“Nah.”
[As expected—]
“Make every single one charge at me like they want me dead. Petty beef won’t cut it.”
[...]
My take?
For Eliya to pass selection safe and snag the holy sword, that’s the insurance.
Become public enemy number one to everyone there.
And for that, I’ll lean into my specialty.
The one skill everyone acknowledges I’ve got.
“I’ll be the trash, Kalliban.”
[...]
“I’ll show them how low human decency can sink.”
Let Eliya handle the pure, upright image.
I’ll scrape the bottom of humanity’s barrel.
[You’ll do that against continent-level powerhouses.]
“Yeah.”
[...]
Kalliban goes silent a long while before continuing.
[...Fine. You’ve been getting tossed around lately; I forgot for a sec.]
“What?”
[Out of all the lunatics I’ve seen, you take the cake.]
“...”
I’ll take it as a compliment.
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