Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: The Second Trial (2)
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“Demonic energy?”
Someone muttered those words.
They had probably recognized it faster than anyone else. After all, the Inquisition and the Holy Empire were the most sensitive to this aura across the entire continent.
“...Everyone, prepare.”
At those words, everyone present drew out a sacred artifact from within their robes.
Protective gear made by mixing holy water, holy relics, and the belongings of saints.
‘...The Seal of the Seraphim.’
Eliya gritted her teeth as she saw the seal engraved on its surface.
It made sense for them to charge at a human who could wield demonic energy if they had those.
They were among the Holy Empire’s most precious defensive items, believed to have even a one-time effect against a demon’s true body, if only briefly.
Against someone wielding demonic energy that was undoubtedly far cruder than the original, they would be a perfect counter.
“...Doesn’t look like Seras personnel.”
Dawood muttered after scanning them over.
“Looks like outsiders who just got equipped by the Holy Empire. Right?”
“...”
It was only natural that no fool would openly admit it.
But Dawood, who had said it, didn’t press further and simply nodded quietly.
“Not the Crescent Oath with this level of skill... must be the Apostles of the Sun.”
“Intel says they can’t wield demonic powers directly, but they can imitate them to some extent. Stay extra vigilant.”
“Did Lumino Archbishop send you?”
“Everyone. Prepare to attack. We move on my signal.”
“...Could you listen for a sec?”
Dawood said it awkwardly, but those surrounding him didn’t even blink.
Their leader sighed and opened his mouth to respond.
“...You think we don’t know you’re stalling for time? Pathetic trick.”
“...”
The words were aggressive.
But it was clear he was responding just to placate Dawood, who looked so embarrassed.
For an assassin, that guy had way too much empathy.
Maybe he was actually a decent person...?
“No, if you get it, play along a little. Isn’t that too much?”
“...”
On the other hand, there was this guy who received the consideration without batting an eye and spouted such shameless nonsense.
As Eliya thought that and eyed Dawood with narrowed eyes.
“If you don’t give me time, I can’t guarantee I’ll hold back.”
“...What?”
“First time trying it.”
Dawood sighed and placed a hand on his chest.
“I won’t be responsible if you die, okay?”
With that brazen remark.
Gray and white demonic energy enveloped the surroundings in an instant.
“...!”
Those who saw it raised their sacred artifacts simultaneously.
But the next moment.
-!
The artifacts, now clung to by the gray energy, crumbled in an instant.
Effortlessly.
Like a rock soaked in moisture and eroded, shattering into pieces at the slightest impact.
“Wha...!”
Before the exclamation of shock could fully escape.
White demonic energy seeped into the cracks of the shattered artifacts.
Then.
-!
A pure white flash engulfed the area.
●
“...Teacher.”
“Hm?”
“What was that just now?”
Eliya let out a groan mixed with disbelief as she looked at the humans scattered around.
“...Got lucky.”
“...”
Eliya fell silent at the response.
If the Holy Empire learned of this, the whole country would erupt.
No, the entire continent would.
Even if its power was less than the original.
What those humans had drawn were items modeled after the Seraphim’s barriers that suppressed even the ‘true bodies’ of demons in the Void Zone.
To pierce through them in an instant.
Just successfully mimicking a ‘Seraphim’-related power was already considered absolute defense against demons by common consensus.
And yet.
Even if it was a degraded version far inferior to the original, the fact that he could breach such defenses implied a great deal.
That he could wield demonic energy in a way that was far more ‘unorthodox’ than usual.
As if.
He were a being of a ‘higher’ rank than those entities.
“...”
This man.
He might be turning into a far greater ‘monster’ than she’d imagined.
Eliya gazed at Dawood with that thought.
He was impassively whispering something to the assassin group standing there.
Relentlessly repeating something, as if implanting a fact obsessively.
“...What’ve you been doing since earlier?”
“Brainwashing them.”
“Huh?”
“Planting seeds for later use. They’re still useful folks here.”
He explained calmly that he was using the White Demon’s power of ‘Seduction.’
Cool and collected.
As if being ambushed by these people had been entirely within his calculations.
“...”
Come to think of it, he’d always seemed to linger in realms she couldn’t reach.
She’d thought she’d caught up a bit after awakening the Eye of Truth through training with the Sword Saint, but he’d acquired something like this elsewhere and pulled ahead again.
“...Anyway, you’re one lucky bastard, Teacher. You know that? No matter how hard we try here, you just breeze through the tough stuff like it’s nothing.”
She teased him playfully, hands on her hips.
“Got lucky. Would’ve been rough if I messed up.”
“...”
Eliya’s eyes narrowed at the calm reply.
Huh.
Something felt off.
She couldn’t pinpoint it.
But it was different.
‘...He used to come off as annoyingly lucky sometimes.’
Eliya tilted her head.
She’d always known he acted like he knew everything in advance and handled it effortlessly.
He was saying the same thing now, but the unease it usually brought was lessened.
Not like he was pretending to be humble.
What was it?
Dry. Extremely so.
As if he felt no emotion at all.
His ‘emotions’ felt even fainter than before.
“...Why the look?”
“No, normally you’d pull off something tough others can’t and act all ‘This is just what I had to do...’ like it’s no big deal—”
“...What the hell do you think I am?”
He responded incredulously, but Eliya kept staring him down with narrowed eyes.
More seriously than before. Dawood seemed more flustered instead.
“Teacher.”
“Yeah?”
“...Don’t change too much, okay?”
She didn’t know why she said it.
But somehow.
Lately, he felt like he was drifting further from being ‘human,’ bit by bit.
-If I ever seem about to do something weird again, you balance me out.
He’d said that not long ago, so he was aware.
But if it kept going like this.
One day, he might turn into something completely ‘other.’
That vague anxiety washed over her.
“...”
Dawood looked at her silently, then let out a chuckle.
“...Thanks for worrying. It’s fine.”
“...”
“I’ll stay vigilant so it doesn’t happen.”
Eliya pouted dissatisfied at his response.
She’d heard it before.
But it wasn’t enough to convince or reassure her yet.
“...Won’t cut it. Gotta put a leash on you so you listen to me in advance...”
“Huh?”
He looked puzzled as she muttered to herself, but instead of explaining, she stood up.
“...Let’s move anyway.”
She seemed resolute about something.
“I scouted a good camping spot earlier.”
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[System Message]
[ You attempted to synthesize ‘Gray Devil’s’ demonic energy and ‘White Devil’s’ demonic energy. ]
[ Synthesis resulted in a ‘Critical Failure’! ]
[ Effects end with the energies of ‘Gray Devil’ and ‘White Devil’ simply growing stronger than usual! ]
[ ‘Gray Devil’ and ‘White Devil’ demonic energies cannot be used until recharged. ]
“...Hm.”
He scanned the message window with narrowed eyes.
His earlier “Got lucky” to Eliya wasn’t empty words.
It looked easy from the outside, but they’d taken heavy losses too.
If those artifacts had been even a bit stronger, he probably couldn’t have broken through.
‘...Was this even a skill with success or failure rates to begin with?’
The thought came with disbelief.
If he’d known there were probabilities involved, he wouldn’t have used it so casually.
Especially with the penalty of total unusability until some refill method—whatever that was—he didn’t even know.
“...Sigh.”
He sighed and closed the window.
Still, it wasn’t all bad.
Even a failed skill had demolished their trump card, proving its overwhelming might.
Which meant.
‘...What happens on a critical success then?’
It’d probably return something beyond imagination.
Hard to use in normal situations, but perfect as a last-resort gamble.
Better to see this as trial-and-error to figure it out.
With that, he sorted his thoughts and tossed another armful of dry logs onto the crackling campfire.
Starting a fire in the ‘Forest of Illusions’ where the Second Trial unfolded was suicidal by default, but safe spots existed.
This place, thick with ‘Illusion Trees,’ automatically distorted perceptions around it. Magical beasts and other hero candidates alike wouldn’t approach easily.
That’s why they could leisurely build a fire amid lurking dangers.
She’d found this spot somehow. He’d wondered why she’d led them here to camp when she suggested it.
“...”
But that was that.
‘...Why no greeting after so long?’
He glanced down at the Soul Linker as he thought it.
The one who’d usually be the loudest the moment he snapped to would now be the quietest.
‘Caliban?’
[Shut up.]
‘...’
He closed his mouth at the sullen response.
It carried an intense anger toward him, for some reason.
He could guess.
‘...What happened while I was out?’
The moment he asked, a sigh came first.
Then the sullen voice continued.
[Shut it.]
“...”
No.
This reaction was making him anxious.
“...At least tell me why...”
[...Lots to say.]
Caliban continued in a gloomy tone.
[The whole night feels like hell already.]
“Huh?”
[Spent days watching my little sister in every disgraceful state imaginable. Feels like tonight’s the peak.]
“...?”
Why?
They were just camping here tonight, nothing more.
‘...Hm?’
He realized something odd only after speaking.
‘...Huh?’
Thinking about it, yeah.
We’re camping together, right?
Just the two of us?
With Eliya?
“...”
Sure, he’d tangled with all sorts of women so far.
But had he ever been stuck in a ‘just the two of us’ situation for this long...?
As that thought crossed his mind.
“...Um, Teacher.”
A voice that chilled his spine suddenly sounded.
Eliya, who’d stepped out to gather more firewood.
“...”
But.
If she’d gathered firewood, she should’ve been exercising.
Why did she smell like good fragrance instead of sweat?
Looked like she’d showered somewhere. Her hair swayed refreshingly wet.
As if.
She’d prepared herself meticulously for ‘something.’
“...Yeah?”
“We’re alone. Just the two of us.”
Her face was oddly flushed as she said it.
“...Huh?”
“Thanks to the Illusion Trees, no one’s coming here, and we have to spend the night together until tomorrow.”
“...R-Right, and?”
Eliya beamed.
Cold sweat poured down his face even more in response.
“Teacher.”
“...”
Suddenly, he realized one thing.
Why Caliban had stayed silent until now.
“Hope nothing happens. Right?”
“...”
You.
Why.
Are you talking like something’s definitely gonna happen...?
[Hey.]
Caliban said in a near-whimpering voice.
[Please, just don’t do it where I can see.]
“...”
Long time no hear it.
Shut up.
Please.
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