Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Play (2)
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In the main storyline of Savior Rising, Yuria's past is glossed over in just a line or two.
Something like, "An artificial lifeform raised in the Holy Empire."
But I do know that when she first caught a Disconnector and went berserk, this mansion was turned into a wasteland.
And that she's still tormented by guilt over it to this day.
I've heard bits and pieces from Lucien now and then. She still has nightmares about it.
But what the hell is this?
"...What do you mean by that?"
I barely manage to keep my expression neutral as I press on.
Irritation and rage bubble up inside me, but right now, I can't afford to draw any attention to myself.
I have a role to play.
"All the servants in this mansion know it. Those cursed things will end up as 'scapegoats' without regard for little sister or big sister."
"..."
"They're essential for His Holiness to bring about the promised utopia, after all."
"..."
"You must know, too, since you've made it this far in. The 'Paradise Plan.'"
The Paradise Plan is essentially the final goal of the doctrine preached within the Holy Empire.
A utopia where everyone can pursue eternal, peaceful happiness without any fights or conflicts.
Bringing that down to earth is the aim of the Holy Empire and the Pontiff.
And I already know how that goal twists the scenario.
'...Chapter 6.'
The Holy Empire sanctuary raid quest.
The final highlight is the false god subjugation battle.
Even in Sera, infamous for its bullshit main quest difficulty, it's the section where 80% of the total player base gets wiped out.
If you haven't built up connections with the homunculus sisters, the clear difficulty becomes even worse than the final chapter.
If you haven't raised enough affinity with Lucien and Yuria, you're forced to watch the event where those two get "sacrificed" to the Pontiff.
"..."
The problem is.
Why slap words like "repulsive" or "monsters" on people you're planning to sacrifice later under the banner of their "greater cause"?
Don't they have even a shred of compassion?
"...Judging by your expression, it seems hard to accept."
"..."
"It's understandable, but homunculi were never—"
"..."
I'm starting to lose my patience.
I know these guys are all going to die soon anyway, the moment Yuria catches that Disconnector.
I know the Holy Empire has a shady side beneath its holy facade, but this is a bit much, isn't it?
"...You know."
Just as I open my mouth to snap back, a young voice pipes up from the side.
"S-Sorry to keep you waiting! My apologies!"
It's Yuria, rushing over from the other end of the hall.
And.
"Oh dear, miss. Careful not to trip."
"..."
The moment she appears, the servant completely changes his expression and beams at her, but she glares at him in disbelief.
'...Are these even human?'
There's a limit to how sleazy you can get.
How can they treat a child they created themselves—and plan to sacrifice later—like this?
Imagining Yuria in the future, clutching her chest alone in grief over killing these bastards, a rage so intense it throbs in my temples floods my head for a moment.
"...Unfortunately, it seems I still can't enter His Holiness's office."
I barely suppress the fury about to erupt as Yuria says this with a disappointed look.
"But he said he'll tell me what's inside soon, so let's go in together then, attendant."
"Of course, miss. You'll know soon enough."
"..."
I don't know what it is.
But judging by this guy's intentions, that door opening will definitely not be good for Yuria.
As I think that, a window suddenly pops up in front of me.
[ System Message ]
[ The progress of the ongoing event 'Sweet Play' has been updated. ]
[ Prevent the tragedy that will befall the target 'Yuria'! ]
"..."
Yeah.
Bad feelings never miss their mark.
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"...So it's finally happening? And this soon."
Eliya scanned the documents handed to her, her face deeply furrowed.
They detailed that the second trial of the hero selection would begin shortly, including the location and format.
She'd been suddenly summoned alone to the dean's office by Atalante, wondering what it could be about, but this was worse than expected.
"I've been holding it off as much as possible, but it seems we've hit the limit."
Atalante sighed as she replied.
It was an event jointly run by the Holy Empire, the tribal alliance, and the Empire.
Even if the leaders of each nation had agreed to delay it, when all the hegemonic powers collaborated, public eyes would eventually force it through.
And above all.
The real reason they'd forcibly delayed it boiled down to just one thing.
"...Both the tribal alliance and the Holy Empire agreed to resume after confirming Dawood had regained consciousness."
"..."
"Only a tiny circle knows he still hasn't recovered his memories, so from their perspective, there's no reason to delay anymore."
It's not something you'd reveal—that a man who can exert control over the 'Vessel of the Devil' just by breathing is in a state where he's easily swayed everywhere.
In other words, from their side, since he's conscious with no apparent defects, they see no issue pushing ahead with the selection.
Eliya rubbed her forehead against the throbbing pain and let out a sigh.
'...Okay, I get that.'
But she couldn't wrap her head around why the entire hero selection schedule hinged on Dawood's condition in the first place.
"...This is supposed to be about selecting a hero, so why does it feel like they're more interested in my attendant, Teacher, than the actual hero candidates?"
"No choice. The Empire's Emperor, the tribal alliance's Grand Chieftain—even the Holy Empire's Pontiff is watching that man's movements unusually closely."
"..."
Eliya rubbed her chin, her face scrunched up.
She got the Grand Chieftain's interest. It was the most straightforward kind. His daughter Riru was openly smitten with Dawood, after all.
But the Emperor and the Pontiff? Why?
"So, how is Dawood's condition right now?"
At Atalante's cautious question, Eliya swallowed dryly without meaning to.
Well.
The intent was probably worry about whether he could even participate in the second trial without his memories.
But she couldn't exactly admit that a feeding frenzy was unfolding over his vulnerable state, with everyone trying to take a bite.
Just recently, she'd heard Seras and Riru had a massive blowout over Dawood and gotten thoroughly wrecked by Elnor.
And she herself had piled on an outrageous lie on top of that.
"...He doesn't seem too bad."
Eliya forced a smile as she answered, and Atalante's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Really?"
"..."
It felt like she already knew and was asking anyway.
As Eliya struggled to hold her smile while inwardly sweating bullets, Atalante spoke again, eyes still narrowed.
"I heard that earlier, in the dorm where that man stays, students Seras and Riru had a huge fight."
"..."
"...Of course, given their natures, I get how they lose it at the sight of Dawood, but we have to consider his current state."
Atalante continued with a sigh.
"It's not the brazen, thick-skinned Dawood Campbell we knew. Right now, he's an artificially pure blank slate soul. No one knows if he'll warp from shock or act out unpredictably."
"...Y-Yeah..."
"In my view, his mental state is still extremely precarious. Piling on more shocks there could lead to... serious consequences."
Actual beads of sweat formed on Eliya's forehead at Atalante's words.
She desperately tried to come up with an excuse.
"N-No way something bad would happen. They've all been properly warned after that big scolding, so they'll know to keep it in check."
"..."
"I-I'm telling you, really? After Student Council President wrecked them last time, I heard Riru and Seras have been behaving!"
As Eliya tried to say this to Atalante's dubious expression, she suddenly clamped her mouth shut.
"...Huh?"
She let out a puzzled voice at the sudden surge of vitality coursing through her body.
Of course, as someone who trained daily, her physical condition was always at peak.
But.
Like before, didn't this sensation always hit whenever Dawood felt a "threat to his life"?
"...!"
"What's wrong?"
Atalante asked quizzically at Eliya's hardening expression as she stood, but Eliya urgently replied, unable to explain at length.
"...Teacher might be in danger right now!"
"...Pardon? What do you—"
"Hard to explain, but we need to go to him now!"
"..."
The silver lining was that Atalante was just as invested in Dawood's safety.
Instead of probing further at this messy explanation, she grabbed Eliya by the scruff and hastily drew up a spell.
"...He's probably at the dorm by now."
Spatial transfer. Coordinates: right in front of Dawood's private room.
Once the enveloping light faded, Eliya frantically scanned near Dawood's door.
Nothing seemed off. Just one woman standing there, chin in hand, staring at his door.
Seeing her, Eliya muttered blankly.
"...Rana?"
Rana Ray del Vibum.
The lich previously bound by Dawood and used as bait.
But what business did she have here?
"Um, Eliya? Long time no see!"
"...Long time indeed, but what brings you here, Rana?"
"Oh, no, I came to say hi to Dawood, and it was all noisy somehow. A bunch of women showed up wanting to hang out with him, making a fuss."
"..."
"Dawood looked tormented, like, 'Have I really been with this many people?'"
Eliya averted her eyes from Atalante's piercing glare landing beside her.
It was like hearing a scream in her ear: 'You said it'd be fine? Fine?!'
"And in the midst of that, Dawood asked me, grasping at straws... if I'd been one of them too."
"..."
An ominous feeling surged in Eliya and Atalante simultaneously.
"...And what did you say?"
"I just reminisced with him, step by step, about what he did to me during the last trial. Fond memories, one by one."
"..."
"I told him he's the first man I've seen do such cruel, brutal, immoral things so casually. Isn't he, really?"
"..."
Eliya and Atalante's faces turned ashen.
-No one knows if he'll warp from shock or act out unpredictably.
Exactly.
They'd just said that moments ago.
And what Dawood did to Rana was, by any measure, beyond imagination—pure trash.
"...Did I say something I shouldn't have?"
As Rana blankly asked, echoing down the hall, Atalante flung open Dawood's door.
The room was empty.
And terrifyingly neat, as if he'd tidied up before heading off to some grand undertaking.
"..."
Atalante, face pale, quickly scanned the room.
She was searching for any clue to his current state, and she found something.
A small note on Dawood's personal desk.
"...What does it say?"
At Eliya's tense question, Atalante stared at the writing without answering.
Minutes passed.
More minutes.
Finally, Atalante placed the note back on the desk with trembling hands.
Eliya, who had been watching quietly, rushed over and checked it.
[I think it's better if someone like me doesn't exist. Everyone, goodbye.]
"..."
"..."
Silence enveloped them.
How much time passed?
Atalante spoke in a quivering voice.
"...Gather every woman who's been clinging to that man. Now. Time's critical."
Then.
"...If you don't want me to kill you all, find that man right now—!!"
A thunderous scream like a death knell burst from Atalante's lips.
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