Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: Long Time No See?
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"...And so, the rules for the hero selection will proceed as follows."
As I was reading through the documents handed to me, Atalante threw out those words.
"It starts with Elpante, then the Crucible of Strife, and finally the Papal State's Grand Temple where the holy sword is enshrined. Candidates from each academy will go through the trials prepared by that academy."
I nodded at Atalante's explanation.
It matched exactly what I remembered of the selection process.
"Each nation nominates two candidates, and one attendant accompanies them to assist. As per tradition."
The grandiose term "tradition" was attached because no hero in history had ever acted alone.
There was always a fixed human by their side to support them.
Of course, they weren't assigned many roles. At most, just peripheral activities to enable the hero's actions.
Like a pet in a game, I suppose.
In the original story, one of the hero party's members handled that role, but now it was mine.
"The Pontifex won't attend in person... but for observation, the Papal State's Archbishop, one tribal chief from the Tribal Alliance, and from Elpante, His Majesty the Emperor will attend personally."
"...His Majesty personally?"
No matter how I looked at it, the levels didn't match.
An archbishop and a tribal chief would warrant Sullivan the Chancellor attending on this side nominally. For the Emperor to come personally...
"...He's taking a political risk as well."
The Chancellor said that with a wry smile.
"It's tantamount to implicitly acknowledging on an official stage that his own influence is actually below the Chancellor's."
"..."
Right. Even thinking about the main story progression, the Emperor was always overshadowed by the Chancellor and couldn't exert much influence.
But the key was why he would endure the humiliation of publicly exposing that just to attend here.
"...Is it because of me, by any chance?"
"You're quick on the uptake, which is nice."
Atalante brushed back her hair and nodded in agreement.
"...I have no idea in what way, but His Majesty seems to have extremely high expectations for you. Enough to pull strings like this just to see you with his own eyes."
"..."
The Emperor—I've said it repeatedly—is one of the key figures in the main scenario.
Especially in the chapter where Elnor's personality awakens as the final boss.
The biggest pillars supporting Elnor's mind are Beatrix, whom she's known since childhood, and the Emperor.
Gideon later reconciles after learning the truth about the 'truth' that rejected him, but for now, that's not the case.
"...I can't afford to disappoint him, then."
So it would be best to leave a good impression there as much as possible.
As for the hero selection itself, from what I've seen so far, it hasn't deviated much from the game's flow.
Except.
The one thing I didn't like.
"...Any chance the Papal State will cause trouble?"
"Absolutely not."
I sighed at Atalante's wry smile and response.
Just sending Cerath alone showed they were endlessly wary of 'my growth.'
If my name was attached to a massive event like the hero selection, those bastards wouldn't stay quiet.
"Any anticipated attack methods?"
"Probably... they'll question your 'legitimacy.' You're someone I forced in against all odds. They'll claim you're insufficiently vetted to participate in an event like the hero selection."
That's an attack with few countermeasures.
Honestly, I've accomplished feats beyond student level multiple times, but ultimately, the Papal State holds the supreme authority on 'demons' and 'heroes.' If they trash me, everyone has to follow suit.
Atalante let out a deep sigh and continued.
"Moreover, Archbishop Luminol of the Papal State has demonstrated 'miracles' multiple times not just there but across the continent as proof of faith. If such a person directly questions your legitimacy, your participation could become quite difficult."
"...That's a headache."
I said that while flipping through the documents.
Archbishop Luminol. Middle-aged male. His face looks peaceful at first glance, but as expected of the Pontifex's subordinate, it reeks of a black curtain schemer.
Indeed, as Atalante said, he's reached a high level as a priest; even from a veteran player's perspective, records show he's performed multiple miracles treated as high-level skills.
And among them, his specialty is...
"..."
The moment I saw that entry.
A smile crept onto my face.
"...What's with that sleazy grin?"
"Looking at this, it seems like it'd be more of a problem if this guy doesn't come."
"...Pardon?"
"From my position, this guy's better."
Who's to say I can't pull strings on their own operative.
The one they're sending to sabotage me.
Coincidentally.
I'm the perfect type to pull strings on.
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Elpante lives up to its name as the Imperial Academy, always a bustling place.
But.
Even accounting for that, the current commotion boiling over the entire academy was extraordinary.
Eliya, standing beside me, looked around with a dumbfounded expression.
Hero candidates lined up in a row,
And crowds swarming around at a level that wouldn't pale compared to the Empire's greatest festivals, the Full Moon Festival and Harvest Festival.
"...Wow, this is no joke."
"Nervous?"
"With this many people, how could I not be?"
It really felt like a massive event.
In just a few days, they'd set up all sorts of facilities across this huge academy for the 'trials'—impressive work.
'...Everyone's excited.'
I thought that as I looked around.
Since we couldn't openly reveal the demon traces popping up everywhere, this event was promoted externally as a national competition to determine the 'No. 1 hero candidate.'
To others, it probably felt like a sports match.
As I scanned the surroundings with that in mind.
Warmth suddenly seeped into my hand.
I turned in surprise, and it was Eliya.
With her eyes drooping downward, she had placed both her hands over mine.
"I'm nervous, so hold my hand."
"...What?"
"Holding hands with Teacher makes me feel safe."
"..."
Come to think of it.
Back at the Full Moon Festival, with so many people, I'd grabbed Elnor's hand like this.
The difference was, then I'd grabbed Elnor's first.
Now, this one had snatched my hand instead.
Much more aggressive, in a way.
'...Everything contrasts one by one.'
As if she were my fated rival, even these little details screamed it.
"...Is that no good?"
As I silently looked at her, Eliya said that.
Her face was beaming with a smile.
But the slightly tense voice that followed showed she'd mustered considerable courage.
"...Until we go out in front of people."
"...Ehehe."
She let out a silly laugh and outright hugged my arm.
I hadn't asked for that much, but since I'd already allowed it, I let it be.
[...Kill...me...]
"..."
What was with this guy now.
[Having to watch my little sister act cute to another man... this dogshit...]
'...Hurting because Eliya's precious to you?'
[I just feel like puking physiologically...]
'...'
I couldn't understand what this bodiless guy was saying.
Truth be told, from a big brother's perspective, I could empathize seeing his sister like that.
Like watching a pet betta fish dolled up and acting cute, thrashing around—not quite—
"...Teacher, you're thinking something weird, aren't you?"
"..."
She had sharp instincts too.
To deliberately shift her attention, I changed the subject.
"By the way, didn't you say your reason for becoming a hero was for your brother?"
"Yeah? Why bring that up suddenly?"
"No, thinking about it, the means seem way too extreme for the goal."
If she just wanted to find her brother, gathering info would be normal, not becoming a hero.
"...Hm. I've already tried everything I could."
Eliya smiled faintly.
But.
Not her usual refreshing smile like a flower blooming, but a bitter one tinged with self-mockery.
"...No matter what, my means weren't enough."
"..."
"I came to Elpante hoping to find even a trace since my brother attended here, but no results..."
Her voice carried deep fatigue and faint despair.
While I'd been busy running around, she'd had her own struggles. Probably invested all her spare time searching for her brother's traces.
"So now, all that's left is relying on public means."
"Public means?"
"Being a hero means fame. Across the continent. Enough that even if I don't search, my brother might find me—and I thought maybe I'd hear news that way."
I silently gazed at her beaming face again.
Honestly, it was pie in the sky.
Probably few would risk their lives in a dangerous event like hero selection for such a personal reason.
Most would enter for grand missions, convictions, or at least national interests.
"..."
That said, put another way.
It meant that desperate.
Enough to attempt something absurd with an absurd motive.
She yearned desperately for her only remaining family.
I heard silence from Caliban in the Soul Linker.
This guy always clammed up when Eliya said stuff like this, pretending otherwise.
Because in the end, what she'd find was his death.
"..."
But eventually, she'd learn.
My role was to support her so she wouldn't collapse then.
Therefore.
"...If it's that, it might happen sooner than you think."
It was my usual routine.
My specialty was 'compression.' Pulling forward achievements that should come much later.
So.
"Pardon?"
"You'll be famous. Right after today passes."
Progress was better the faster.
At least after this 'opening ceremony,' Eliya would become a celebrity whose face was known across the continent.
Enough to give her the authority to pursue what she wanted without hindrance.
"...?"
I smirked at Eliya, whose face bore a huge question mark, and stepped toward the podium.
[Empire, Elpante affiliate, Hero Candidate No. 1, entering!]
Really like a sports match. Even an announcer type.
I ascended the podium hearing the entrance announcement like introducing a blue corner fighter.
'...Massive.'
Representatives from each nation, here to observe the event, sat in seats veiled on all sides.
These people represented their countries. Ones who could upend the continent's balance with a word.
"..."
Among them, I glanced at the centermost seat.
The Empire's current Emperor. Cecilia XI.
She sat silently, maintaining composure to the end.
But I felt her gaze briefly fix on me before departing.
"..."
And.
I clearly knew it was a short but profound contact.
One definite sensation.
This person really came here solely 'to see me,' nothing else.
"Well met. Eliya Chrisanax. Dawood Campbell."
I turned right at the familiar voice.
From the Tribal Alliance's tribal chief side.
Ustad Han-Chai. Father of Luca Han-Chai, a member of the hero party.
He was dispatched as representative.
"The other candidates will enter soon, so wait just a moment—"
"Sorry, Chief, but we can't just have them stand by here."
Right, it'd be boring without interference.
I inwardly wryly smiled and turned toward the voice.
Archbishop Luminol.
The Papal State's representative.
Stroking his holy relic from within the veil, staring straight at me.
"...What do you mean by that, Archbishop? Are you dissatisfied with the Empire's selected hero candidates?"
"Oh, don't misunderstand. No issue with the candidates. However."
Archbishop Luminol rose from his seat as he said that.
"That 'attendant' has an irreverent aura detected."
"...What do you mean, Archbishop Luminol. Refrain from baseless suspicions."
"It's not baseless."
Then.
The archbishop's holy relic emitted sacred light.
An enormous amount of holy power. Enough to make the surrounding spectators buzz.
"'This one' will testify right now why I sensed such an aura."
As he spoke those words.
Before me, a portal tore open space.
Not mere teleportation.
A brief 'gap' between dimensions.
Then.
From within, something with an overwhelming presence emerged.
"..."
"..."
And at that sight.
The surroundings fell instantly silent.
The circular spectator seats, filled to the brim with a dizzying crowd, everyone holding their breath staring at the portal.
A portal straight from the back world to here. And emerging from it was unmistakably an 'angel' with a halo and sacred wings.
"...An angel?"
"No way, that's just something from myths and records...!"
Indeed.
His specialty I'd read in the documents.
'Angel Summoning.'
"The one representing heaven's will"
Right.
The Papal State couldn't be unaware I'd deeply contacted a demon. Having an angel 'testify' to that would plunge my position into the gutter. Execution wouldn't be hard.
Yet they waited until the selection started, exposing me before the public, for maximum dramatic injury.
Truly vile taste.
"Faithful servant of heaven's will."
The angel's voice spread heavily around.
Most listeners clamped their mouths shut; some even gasped in awe at the overwhelming presence.
Proof of myth had descended here.
"I have come to this place at your call—"
The angel's continuing voice.
Cut off the moment it saw me.
"..."
Its expression went blank.
Like, why the hell are you here?
As if we were acquaintances.
"...God's proxy?"
Archbishop Luminol uttered that.
But the angel remained unmoved. Face paling slightly, staring at me.
"..."
No way.
Considering various circumstances.
The hierarchy this person could summon was exactly a fallen angel level.
And.
Summoning a 'fallen angel' from this Elpante.
Only one angel would pop out.
A rare 'female' angel from the back world, familiar to me.
[System Log]
[ Target 'Fallen Angel A1101' recognizes you as an untouchable scum! ]
[ Negative influence is imprinted! ]
[ Receivable rewards are granted! ]
[ Skill: Dominion of Evil activates. Obtain 1 usable command on the target! ]
This one.
Definitely had this imprinted on me before.
I vividly remembered blackmailing her through the White Demon to extort orichalcum.
And the key point: I had one 'command' usable on her embedded.
"Fallen Angel."
At my words.
The fallen angel flinched.
Her pupils trembled. A far cry from the dignified demeanor moments ago.
Seeing that, I smirked and added one more line.
"Long time no see? Us."
"..."
Watching even the angel's expression crumble.
I activated the skill.
[ Activating 'Skill: Dominion of Evil.' ]
[ Exercising command right on target 'Fallen Angel A1101'! ]
[ Target absolutely obeys your words! ]
Yeah.
Absolute obedience.
Lucky.
What I was about to make her do required that level of coercion—no less would suffice.
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