Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: First Trial
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Yuria Grayhauncher's circle of acquaintances is extraordinarily narrow.
The only person she's publicly acknowledged as a friend is Eliya, and beyond that, the only ones she even talks to are her sister, Ophelia Knight, and Dawood.
One could say she fulfills every condition necessary for her social skills to be catastrophically shattered.
“...”
“...”
In that sense.
The person standing before her right now was incredibly uncomfortable.
“...U-um, uh, S-Student Council President.”
She desperately fiddled with the new collar Dawood had gifted her as she opened her mouth.
After all, when facing this person, it was the only thing that gave her any sense of relief.
“What brings you here...?”
“...”
No response.
Yuria inwardly grimaced.
Why had she barged in out of nowhere and put this pressure on her?
And why was her sister out of town at a time like this?
‘...The hero selection starts today, right?’
She'd heard the real “trials” were beginning today. Dawood, Eliya, and that mage Peynol she'd seen before would all be there.
As those thoughts crossed her mind, Elnor gracefully set down the teacup she'd been holding to her lips.
‘...Whoa.’
Yuria let out an involuntary sigh of admiration in her head.
Every movement exuded elegance. It made her realize anew that this woman was the real deal—a noble lady from a prestigious house.
She might occasionally act out in bizarre ways, but she possessed more than enough qualities to captivate any man.
A genius swordsman, with the literary talent to serve as student council president.
And above all, beautiful.
Compared to Yuria herself—who was short and slender for a woman—Elnor was enchantingly alluring in a league of her own.
Yes.
She and Yuria were on entirely different “levels.”
Even Dawood would probably see Yuria as just a little kid if they stood side by side.
Maybe not even as a woman.
“...”
That realization made her clutch the collar Dawood had given her tightly without thinking.
Still, even so.
This was the token of the promise that man had made to her. A device that let him recognize her as someone precious.
And as she held it.
-Really? You think that's true?
The “voice” that invariably appeared whenever she felt this anxiety echoed shrilly in her mind.
“...”
It was that voice again.
What used to sound like simple tinnitus had lately taken on a distinct form, resounding clearly in her consciousness.
It felt like there was another inhabitant inside her body.
-Someone like you, a charm-less little brat? Who'd ever like that?
And that voice.
As always.
-If you're just going to sit there doing nothing, hand it all over to me. At this rate, some other “color” will steal him away. You'll get abandoned, ignored, crying your eyes out, watching another woman monopolize that man?
“...”
-You're a loner, aren't you? You've been alone for so long, cold, lonely, hurting.
So very.
-And now, after finally finding some warmth, you're going to let it get taken away?
“...”
-By another woman?
It spewed words that gouged at her heart.
But.
‘...No.’
Yuria pressed her chest and bowed her head.
The moment she gave that answer, a jolt shot through her entire body. An energy filled with the implication of “How dare a wretch like you defy me?” surged from her heart, racing through her limbs.
Even so. Absolutely not.
‘...I won't let you control me again.’
She couldn't.
She mustn't listen to words like these.
Hadn't she nearly committed the sin of threatening Dawood's life because of it before?
That man would never betray her. She would believe in that.
As she bit her lip against the pain swirling through her body.
Elnor, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke up.
“By any chance, do you hear a ‘voice’ too?”
“...Pardon?”
Yuria swallowed dryly, feeling as if her heart had dropped.
It was a miracle she hadn't let it show.
It was probably thanks to her sister always drilling into her never to reveal that she carried “something” in her body.
And even more than that.
Her instincts screamed that she absolutely could not let this woman find out about “that.”
“W-what are you talking about...?”
As Yuria responded, sweating profusely, Elnor's gaze coldly scanned her up and down.
As if she already knew it was a lie.
“...Hm, well. I had a feeling you definitely had one.”
From the way she said it, it seemed she didn't actually know.
‘...Ugh...’
Yuria inwardly shed tears as she shakily lifted her teacup with trembling hands.
Her stomach churned. Just being watched by a woman who exuded such mature allure was pressure enough for someone like her. It even stirred feelings of inferiority.
So, when she heard the next words.
She couldn't help but be startled.
“Well, it doesn't matter if you don't. Could I borrow your skills for a bit?”
“...”
She nearly spat out the tea she was drinking.
“...Pardon?”
“Let's do a job together.”
Even seeing Yuria coughing and choking, the response came in a flat tone.
‘...This is weird.’
What could someone who seemed so perfect possibly need from her?
As Yuria wondered that, her eyes full of question marks, Elnor's gaze fixed on the sword strapped to Yuria's back.
“...A blade of immense value, and your handling of it is remarkably proficient. I can tell your skill without even seeing it. As the rumors say.”
“Rumors...?”
“In the Knight Faculty, word spread about a tiny killing machine in the first academic district that slices anything that approaches into pieces.”
“...”
What kind of ridiculous rumor was that? Yuria grimaced again.
A killing machine? No matter what, she was still a girl with a maiden's heart. She'd never done anything to earn such a fearsome nickname...
“...Normally, I wouldn't dream of asking a favor from a girl near that man.”
Elnor sighed as she said it.
Yuria gave a wry smile in agreement.
Yeah, that made sense.
She'd heard this woman was stalking Dawood.
She'd obviously know when that man came to see her.
“I have an opponent I want to beat. Someone I absolutely don't want to lose to.”
“...An opponent you want to beat?”
“A thieving stray cat with the cheek to try prying out a fixed stone, despite being a loose rolling one.”
“...”
“It's got this annoyingly golden color too. Just looking at it pisses me off.”
Hmm, that.
From Yuria's perspective, Elnor looked the same way.
But she was the one closest to that man. Dawood probably saw meeting her as half a “dangerous flirtation.”
‘She hasn't even tried walking around with a collar herself...!’
Feeling a strange sense of pride, she inwardly sneered at Elnor.
Of course, only inwardly—timidly. She had no boldness to express it outwardly.
Anyway.
“...A thieving stray cat?”
If it meant keeping something like that away from Dawood, she'd at least hear her out.
“Yeah. That one's definitely plotting something in this hero selection too.”
Considering Sullivan the Chancellor's personality, there was no way he'd openly show such favoritism toward Dawood without making a move.
Especially during this ongoing “hero selection.”
He was surely up to some scheme.
“We just need to teach that thieving stray cat its place.”
“...Um, is it very dangerous?”
“No need to kill anyone or risk dying. I promise.”
Yuria scratched her cheek lightly.
Even so, asking for her “sword skills” meant something risky was definitely involved.
If she jumped into this without telling her sister, she'd get an earful later for sure...
“As an advance payment, I'll give you a photo of Dawood.”
“...”
What was this woman saying?
“...An advance payment? Usually, that's money or valuables...?”
“What are you talking about? Is there anything in the world more valuable than this man?”
“...”
“Money or valuables more important than him? I'm personally recruiting talent, so this is what I'm offering.”
“...”
Was that logic... sound?
No, of course she liked Dawood's photos too.
Those thoughts rattled in Yuria's head.
“Photos of him looking sleepy, smiling, exercising, studying, eating...”
As the photos were laid out one by one on the tea table.
Her gaze wandered over them, entranced.
“...”
Handsome.
Cute.
Adorable.
Her heart raced.
She wanted to frame each one, treasure them.
Yuria swallowed hard.
“...They came out well.”
“These are the best selected from over 300 shots a day. I brought them specially because I value you highly.”
“...”
One thing was certain.
This woman was a stalker. A severe one.
“And finally. If you complete the commission successfully.”
With those words, Elnor pulled another photo from her bosom.
It was back-facing, but even that white blank space had a strange magnetism that captured Yuria's eyes.
“I'll give you this.”
“...W-what is it?”
“A photo of him drying his hair after a bath.”
“...”
“His upper body is exposed.”
“...Let's hear the details.”
Elnor nodded.
As if she'd known she'd bite.
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[System Message]
[ Target ‘Yuria’ and target ‘Elnor’ form a party! ]
!! Butterfly Effect !!
[ The formation of this party greatly increases the likelihood of influencing other vessels as well! ]
[ High possibility of changes in the actions of target ‘Seraph,’ target ‘Lilu,’ and target ‘Sullivan’! ]
[ Interactions between targets will intensify! ]
[ High possibility of impact on the Main Quest! ]
“...”
What the hell.
‘...What's this Butterfly Effect?’
Now it wasn't just from my actions— even if I just sat here twiddling my thumbs, problems were exploding externally.
I wished they'd stop tormenting me.
‘Just let me get past the Main Quest without this...’
Thinking that, I looked around.
The first stage of the hero trials was extremely straightforward.
They'd created a mock dungeon close to real combat conditions and awarded points mainly to those who reached the center first.
‘...This is actually dangerous.’
Watching Eliya loosen up at the starting line with a slightly tense expression brought that thought naturally.
I'd just recently subjugated a monster on the level of an ancient god, so dungeon clears held no thrill for me anymore.
Frankly, having students do this was insane to begin with.
They could actually die if things went wrong.
“...”
Well, they'd be fine.
The hero candidates, including Eliya, were all monstrous freaks who defied logic.
Take this guy, for instance.
“Hey.”
I turned at the tap on my shoulder.
There was the stalker.
The tongue sorcerer.
The monster who'd led the Kingdom of Valkasus to ruin, having wandered through countless ages.
“...”
“...”
What the hell was this guy's deal, acting buddy-buddy with me?
I scowled at him, and he raised both hands, stuck out his tongue, and backed away.
“Whoa, careful, you'll punch me.”
“...”
Instead of answering, I just sighed deeply.
Good thing Valkasus was asleep.
If he were awake, the Soul Linker could've gone berserk without issue.
Last time, I'd been in “mutation” mode from the Seal of the Otherworld, so there'd been no chance for communication anyway.
But that didn't make it okay for this guy to casually chat me up like nothing happened.
“...What. We're not close enough to chat like this.”
Honestly, it was absurd.
I knew there was some connection between the Holy Empire and the Foreseer, but for him to slither into the hero selection so nonchalantly and play hero “candidate.”
“...”
But I was the only one who knew.
Given this guy's combat power, ignoring him as much as possible was smartest.
Telling Atalante or anyone else would just stir up a hornet's nest. No one in Elpante right now could “handle” him.
Best not to poke the bear first.
I had no idea what his intentions were in brazenly approaching me like this, but if he stayed quiet for now, no need to escalate.
“No. Just wanted to ask a few things.”
The stalker said that, then stared blatantly at my chest.
“How's the apostle doing?”
“...”
He meant Tatiana.
He seemed to know her soul was “bound” to me now.
Probably heard something about my “seal” from the Foreseer.
“...”
“Whoa, whoa. Don't glare like that. Let's get along for the time being.”
“...No interest in befriending the Foreseer's lackey.”
He chuckled.
“That's a bit hurtful.”
What followed made no sense at all.
“Our boss sent me here to protect you?”
“...?”
What?
“What kind of bullshit-”
[All hero candidates to your positions!]
The announcement boomed, and the stalker grinned.
“Well, see you later. The other candidates aren't pushovers, so don't fall behind.”
“...Wait. I wasn't done-”
“Catch you later~”
He vanished with that flippant farewell.
So decisive I couldn't even grab him.
I frowned in his direction.
‘...Came here to “protect” me.’
Setting aside whatever the Foreseer's intentions were in sending him with that order.
“...”
Exactly.
Protect me from WHAT?
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