Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: 22. Backside Realm
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Being friends with someone for ten whole years means you've seen all their good sides and bad sides.
In other words, Beatrix had built up some resistance to Elnor's bizarre outbursts, which erupted every time she seemed to forget about them.
"Hey."
Of course, even she had moments when she just couldn't hold back.
She had no idea what was causing it, but Elnor's behavior lately looked like she was suffering from emotional instability or something.
Sighing out of nowhere by herself, her eyes suddenly bloodshot. Tensing up and then deflating while lost in thought.
"What's up with you again?"
"..."
The pen in Elnor's hand snapped with a crack.
Beatrix sighed as she watched the solid ore pen break like rotten wood.
Elnor often gripped things that hard when she was 'holding something back.'
So her following voice was gruffer than usual.
"Don't make me think about it. I finally managed to forget, and it's getting in the way of work."
"...Explain yourself, you bitch."
Elnor shook her head instead of answering Beatrix's gritted-teeth demand.
"Forget it. Talking won't solve anything, so don't worry about it. I'm working hard, aren't I?"
Yeah. She had to admit that much.
Elnor wasn't the type to slack off on duties even normally, but her current pace was downright ferocious.
"...It's better when you work like this, at least. Things have been tough lately."
"This level of administrative workload is unusual. Is there some major project going on?"
"The Tribal Alliance is sending over some transfer students. You've heard the name, right?"
Elnor frowned at that and checked a nearby document.
"The faction pushed out in the coup? The great chieftain's daughter?"
"Yeah. It's basically an asylum request. The Empire accepted it."
The great chieftain's daughter was practically a celebrity on par with imperial royalty.
And for a guest of that stature, even the academy—championing student equality—would have no choice but to allow 'attendants' and such.
It was no stretch to see it as an entire losing family faction fleeing here en masse amid power struggles.
"On top of that, next semester the Holy Kingdom is sending their regular delegation. The saintess herself is coming."
"..."
Elnor nodded silently and filed the document away.
Her expression looked even more crumpled than before.
"...Isn't a regular delegation just routine? Why would someone that important come personally?"
"No idea. Rumors say the academy requested something. The headmaster pulled some strings."
Elnor's face crumpled even more.
"Why are you so annoyed about it?"
"Even scraps of info paint a picture. The academy's plotting something."
"Probably. When has it not been scheming once or twice?"
"They're already advancing something with Dawood Campbell. Add the chieftain's daughter and the saintess, and it's clear they're scheming with them too."
"...True enough? But those two getting tangled with some baron's kid? Their status is way too high for that."
As Beatrix narrowed her eyes and responded, Elnor replied in a clear voice.
Her tone remained serious and composed.
"By common sense, yes."
"Then why act like this?"
"My mood's soured."
"..."
"Why make me think of that man alongside other women?"
"..."
Beatrix pressed her forehead.
"What bullshit is that?"
"When I think of Dawood, I want only him in my mind. The idea of other women in that picture—"
"Get back to work. Before I smash your skull so you can't think at all."
As she growled, Elnor sighed and picked up her pen again.
"You're right. I need to handle a full day's work without issues even if I take one off."
One day out of nowhere.
No wonder she'd been working so hard—something requiring a whole empty day in her schedule?
Beatrix tilted her head curiously.
"Why? Got some important appointment?"
Another pen snapped, the sound echoing raw through the office.
Probably because Elnor gripped it tight the moment she heard the question.
"Send you the bill for repairs?"
"So don't make me think about it."
"...Explain what it is first, then whine. Just tell me. Leave it alone, and you'll smash all the office furniture."
Elnor pondered for a moment.
Then she cautiously placed her hand on the armrest.
A grinding crunch soon echoed from there.
"..."
Just how much was she holding back to do this?
As Beatrix thought that, Elnor finally spoke with effort.
Her voice was profoundly serious, pained, and steeped in melancholy.
"Beatrix."
"What."
"I miss Dawood Campbell."
"..."
Beatrix clutched her face.
The headache she'd barely quelled earlier was back.
"You said meet in three days, so finish all your work by then, right?"
"..."
"How can you go three days without seeing him? That's too much—"
"...Last warning. Work."
Beatrix snapped coldly, and Elnor finally pouted and grabbed another document.
Fortunately, its contents were intriguing enough even for her.
"Three days from now is the Full Moon Festival?"
"Yeah, time flies like that."
Full Moon Festival.
The Empire's grandest holiday.
Even academy staff stationed right by the Void Zone dropped everything for rest during it.
'Which makes it the most vulnerable time too.'
A sword-trained warrior couldn't help but think that way.
Coincidentally, it lined up with her meeting Dawood.
She smirked and filed the festival documents.
Anyway, three days from now was important.
In several ways.
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[System Message]
[Updating additional information for the Main Quest!]
[ Main Quest ]〖 Chapter 1 – Purifier 〗
[ Resolve the incident in the 'Twilight Pupil' smoothly! ] [ D-3 ]
[ Reward: Gain advantages in Main Scenario branches! ]
I scan the window floating before me.
It appeared after receiving the invitation from Marquis Riverback.
'Branch advantages, huh.'
I scratch my cheek at the reward text.
I know it well. It popped up randomly in the game a few times.
Normally, rejecting Marquis Riverback's 'offer' in the Twilight Pupil leads to the chapter highlight: escape or battle. Chapter 1 paces fast.
Branch advantages add an easier clear option beyond those two.
'That's good.'
The Purifier is a Chapter 1 boss—handle it once right, and it's smooth sailing after. Far better than later bosses needing repeated fights.
That one handling is a pain, though.
'That's why I called this guy.'
I glance at Eliya rubbing her hands against the chill. Our spot's pretty high up.
"..."
She'll help massively with this job.
I thought seducing her would be tough, but she OK'd it without hearing details—surprising me more.
'We're friends, right? What's to worry about?'
Complete with hearty add-ons like that.
I chuckle and call to Eliya.
"Hey."
"Yes?"
"Take this."
Eliya tilts her head at the item I hand over.
"...What's this?"
"Something necessary."
That's all I can say for now.
Its appearance warrants the question.
I'm handing her a several-meter-long iron rod. Too long to guess its use.
What I'm holding is a disk big enough for two people.
As Eliya puzzledly takes the rod, I look skyward. Checking my watch occasionally.
This spot with her is the rooftop of Gregory Hall. Originally a spire, now a viewpoint.
One of Elpante's tallest buildings. Shorter than the central clock tower, though.
"...You said you needed help, so I came. But what are we doing up here?"
"Gathering."
"...Pardon?"
"Just wait a bit."
I glare nearby as I say it.
Finally, the sight I've awaited unfolds.
"...Huh?"
Eliya mutters beside me as light gathers high above—even from this vantage, dizzyingly so.
Even in phenomenon-plagued Elpante, it comes once every few months, briefly. Probably unknown to students, most staff. Her confusion's natural.
"Good. Get ready."
"Y-Yes? Ready how?"
I instruct the flustered girl to slant the rod against the ground. Then roll my disk atop it, affixing to the end.
Like a spoon laid flat, probably.
"Good. Now lie on this."
"...Pardon?"
"Quick."
I flop onto the disk. Pat the spot beside me, urging her.
"What's this about?"
She grumbles but flops down next to me.
"So, we lie here and stargaze or something?"
"For now."
Eliya hesitates before replying.
"...Heh. The sparkling's kinda romantic. What, ditching the Tristan Duchess for me—"
"That's romantic to you? Thick-skinned."
"Huh? Why?"
To most, Gregory Hall's just 'tall.' But to DLC-clearers like me, it's special.
The portal to the 'Backside World' drops bizarre material items absent from the main game.
That angel-infested space from before.
"That's the entrance to the Backside World."
"..."
Eliya glances between me and the gathering lights, uncomprehending.
Then ponders the words, her face paling.
"...What?"
"Backside World entrance."
"Why the hell would that open here?!"
Normal reaction, really.
'Backside World' simply put is Savior Rising's 'hell'—a demonic realm.
Only post-full-clear DLC. Survival difficulty goes without saying.
'...Didn't want to go this far, but I have to.'
If the damn main scenario hadn't twisted, I wouldn't consider it. But the needed item is inside.
I fondle the black card in my pocket, smirking.
Gregory Hall portals include spirit realms, familiar realms, etc.
The headmaster who gave me this 'Key to Other Worlds' probably assumed safe spots. Quick in-out material grabs. Otherworlds are perilous.
Never imagined the survival-worst 'Backside Realm.'
"..."
Much less what I'm about to do.
"...At least it's high up and far. Floating that high, it won't affect us much."
"Normally, yeah. Can't even enter without surviving-inside ability."
Portal at that insane height fits.
Each class needs survival strategies, skills for bare entry.
Priests need holy bridges that far; knights, jumps that high; mages/shamans, flight spells...
Complicated, mighty constraints abound.
"Normally, yes. Normally."
Unless using a crude, primal method.
"...Why add 'normally' twice?"
Eliya's face changes.
She noticed her body 'fixed' to the disk.
From me pressing the button underneath to activate it.
"..."
"..."
As Eliya silently wonders, the rod I laid crunches into the ground.
"...Teacher."
"Yeah."
"No way, but really?"
"Yeah."
The rod bends into an arch.
Disk tilts with it.
Yes.
Like a trebuchet pre-launch.
These two are a set. Niche use, but Elpante's secret vault guarantees performance.
Hurl 'stone' from sling sky-high, blinding speed, ferocious force.
Enough to 'launch' me and Eliya to the portal.
"We're... going in there now?"
"Yeah."
"...Into the Backside Realm, no gear?"
"It's fine. Quick job."
Yeah. Somehow it'll work.
I'm confident.
Dangerous as fuck, though.
"..."
Eliya grins wide.
"You're one crazy bastard, fuck."
"..."
No time to reply.
Eliya and I launch into the air at terrifying speed.
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