Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: That's How It Happened
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〚What the hell does this even mean?〛
Marquis Riverback muttered those words mid-flight.
His tone dripped with incredulity and mockery.
He had chased after this man using his demonic flight ability fueled by demonic energy, after all.
It was only natural to doubt that flying this high and fast would have any effect whatsoever.
“What, of course it means something.”
But Dawood Campbell just shrugged and replied.
The marquis could tell he was still holding something back, but he snorted and raised his hand anyway.
At this point, it was just extending his life by a few more seconds.
〚Well, it probably just means it’s not much better than that. Now die...!〛
He had meant to say, “die.”
If only the black mist pouring from the essence embedded in his chest hadn’t scattered away with a hiss.
No, it didn’t stop there.
His entire body began to “melt away.”
Its outline collapsed, like wax melting near a flame.
〚Wha...!〛
Marquis Riverback stared down at his own body in stunned disbelief.
〚Th-this is...!〛
It was a body fused with the essence from the Forerunner. An invincible body that even this sly bastard couldn’t overcome.
So why was this happening?
“Let’s think about this logically.”
Dawood smirked and spoke to the crumbling marquis.
He turned off the beeping alarm on his wristwatch as he did.
As if.
He had set the alarm knowing full well this would happen at exactly this moment.
“Doesn’t it seem weird that someone without any real combat ability could use such powerful skills without limits?”
〚What...?〛
“One of the main side effects of demonization is burnout. Your body collapses from overuse of demonic energy. Didn’t the Forerunner explain that when he gave it to you?”
〚...Ridiculous... nonsense-〛
In truth, he had never heard of any such side effect.
All he’d received was the essence, presented as a “mark of loyalty.”
“If you hadn’t gotten cocky right after consuming the essence, you really could’ve been dangerous. I didn’t have many cards prepared either.”
Dawood said this as he drew a cylinder from his belt.
Just minutes ago, he probably couldn’t have been this relaxed. Against the demonized Marquis Riverback, all this man could do was flee for his life.
But now.
Marquis Riverback, his body disintegrating in real time, could only watch with wide eyes.
He simply hadn’t done so to crush him thoroughly and completely.
As the marquis wordlessly opened and closed his mouth, Dawood chuckled and manipulated the cylinder’s casing.
Ectoplasm refined for explosion. Infused with holy power.
〚...〛
Marquis Riverback sensed it upon seeing it.
He would not survive this place.
“There were plenty of ways to handle this. Coming with the man-eaters to break the barrier, or charging at me and Elnor from the start not to ‘win’ but to ‘kill.’ You could’ve done that honestly, but you didn’t.”
That was true.
If he had charged from the beginning, he could’ve definitely killed either this man or the Tristan Duchess.
‘If I’d gone all out to kill them thoroughly from the start...!’
He gritted his teeth at the thought.
“I planned for that possibility, but... not bad.”
〚Not bad?〛
“You only died once.”
Dawood said it with a calm expression.
〚...What?〛
“You could’ve killed me two or three times if things went wrong, but you screwed up and it ended with one. Pretty good effort.”
〚...〛
Still that calm tone.
Even if he had succeeded in killing this man two or three times.
The end result would still be the same.
‘This bastard...!’
Suddenly, a chill ran up Marquis Riverback’s spine.
A familiar sensation.
One he’d felt all day facing this man.
Everything about him was seen through. Even things he didn’t know himself. All possible variables controlled.
〚You... everything from the start was just to stall for time... all of it...!〛
Appearing alone with the Tristan Duchess to provoke him. Every action deliberately needling him.
Even.
Being constantly on the defensive, even “dying once.”
All of it calculated from the beginning.
He had known from the start that waiting just a little longer would neutralize him.
Every action and goal from the outset wasn’t to defeat him, but to buy time.
The moment he failed to realize that, he had already lost!
〚Th-this...!〛
He.
Once again.
From start to finish.
Played in the palm of this guy’s hand!
〚You fucking bastard, I’ll chew you to deaAAAH-!〛
Dawood smirked and held the bomb out toward the marquis’s front.
It wasn’t for nothing that he’d asked Percy to make it more like a “cannon.” Detonating it point-blank could backfire on him too.
Even if the holy power couldn’t harm humans much, this was made assuming the explosion of the “entire academy.” Safety first.
“Hey.”
Along with that word.
“Got any cooler last words?”
The holy power bomb detonated.
●
“Talion. Excellent work.”
“...No big deal.”
Talion, waiting at the prearranged “landing zone,” gave an awkward smile and looked up at the sky.
The massive light scattering around from the holy bomb I’d just detonated evoked an aurora—terrifying in its intensity.
‘Firepower is the best, after all.’
I smirked and gazed at it too.
The devil’s essence was such a insane item that without firepower this intense, it could spell disaster.
Even if Marquis Riverback’s body collapsed, the essence itself could survive and parasitize another nearby lifeform.
I hadn’t predicted this exactly, but preparing such extreme firepower from the start was the right call.
“...”
A devil that could produce something like that just by infusing a bit of its power. Elnor, who carried such a devil inside her. Eliya, who would grow to the point of subduing it later.
It hit me anew just what level of monsters they were.
Somehow I’d survived getting tangled up with them.
I turned away, mulling that over.
“H-hey, bro? Where are you off to now...!”
“Got somewhere to be!”
I bolted off saying that.
My destination: the academy’s outer wall. Where Elnor was embedded.
‘...Gotta clean this up.’
I’d done minimal first aid before dragging the purifier around to prevent major issues, but she’d gone all out for me.
Least I could do was carry her to the infirmary myself.
As I ran thinking that, several windows popped up in my view.
[Main Quest completed!]
[Rewards granted!]
[‘Essence of Evil 1’ granted!]
[‘Hero’s Fragment 1’ granted!]
[5,000pt granted!]
Along with those messages scrolling up, two gems materialized in my hand amid a glow.
One radiated pure white luster, the other oozed ominous black smoke.
[Essence of Evil]
[Item: Story]
[Material that can interact with Epic items. Special events occur upon fusion!]
[Hero’s Fragment]
[Item: Story]
[Material that can interact with Epic items. Special events occur upon fusion!]
“...”
I stopped running for a moment and glared at them.
‘...They’re giving me both?’
These decided major branches in the overall scenario.
Most items labeled “Epic” held significant story weight due to their powerful effects.
Fusing these items set “alignments,” triggering all sorts of butterfly effects across the scenario.
Fusing the Hero’s Fragment granted random “good alignment” effects; the Essence of Evil granted “evil alignment” ones.
Depending on which item you fused them into before certain events, key characters could grow stronger, weaker, die, or survive—outcomes flipped entirely.
Even the Chapter 2 boss, the “Boy King of the Fallen Kingdom,” had wildly varying clear difficulties based on how you used them.
To be precise, he was practically impossible to beat without them.
‘And they’re giving me two.’
Normally you’d choose one: Essence of Evil or Hero’s Fragment.
The boosted difficulty must’ve amped up the rewards accordingly.
And it was definitely worth all the hardship.
Two items that could twist the scenario each—huge.
I smirked and pocketed the Essence of Evil for now.
No immediate use for it.
But the Hero’s Fragment was different.
[Would you like to fuse ‘Hero’s Fragment’ into item ‘Soul Linker’?] [Y/N]
I tapped Y without hesitation, and the white gem sank into my equipped amulet instantly.
[Soul Linker] [Exclusive Equipment]
[Enchant: Epic] [‘Hero’s Fragment’ Fused]
[Equipment imbued with a great soul. Raise sync rate to awaken the soul’s consciousness.]
[Always infused with mana due to the great soul’s influence.]
[Current mana charge: 0%]
[Current sync rate: 9.98%]
[Stage 1 soul consciousness awakening is near!]
[Special effects from Hero’s Fragment unlock upon soul consciousness awakening!]
‘Nice.’
The Hero’s Fragment slaps all sorts of positive effects onto good-aligned gear.
Feeding it to the item boosted sync rate massively too, so steadily improving as a priest should awaken it soon.
Then, I’d truly feel why it’s a “great soul” inside.
But the next window made me frown immediately.
[Story item use confirmed!]
[Exclusive quest for target ‘Eliya Chrisanax’ generated!]
[Meet conditions to unlock the quest!]
[Chance of involvement with ‘Heretic Inquisition’ greatly increased!]
‘...What?’
The sudden “generation” of the protagonist’s exclusive quest grabbed my attention instantly.
Elnor’s exclusive quest was game-changing, affecting the scenario and “ending.” And now it was opening for the final boss and the protagonist?
Plus, increased odds of tangling with the Heretic Inquisition, infamous as one of the empire’s top two most notorious groups.
“...”
I’d consider dipping into the shadow realm if needed, but the Heretic Inquisition? Pass.
It housed the “villain” I least wanted to deal with in this game.
‘Dragon Fang Phainol.’
Half-dragon mage. Genius-level magic, inversely proportional to his explosively rotten personality. Main figure in Chapter 4 too.
In terms of pure danger, some said he edged out even Chapter 4’s final boss, the “Seeker”—a human with more rough edges than most.
If I met him and Fatal Charm procced passively?
“...”
I didn’t even want to imagine it.
‘And all that...’
Just from feeding the Hero’s Fragment into this amulet.
All tied to awakening the soul inside.
‘This thing inside might be a bigger deal than I thought.’
I pondered that while staring at the amulet, until the academy’s outer wall finally came into view.
Elnor’s position too.
“Hey, Dawood. You’re here?”
“...”
But Elnor wasn’t there.
Instead, President Atalante waved cheerily.
When did she get here?
“I took the Student Council President to the infirmary myself. She’s badly hurt, but she’ll recover quickly. No aftereffects either. You did great first aid.”
Atalante rattled that off with a smile and toddled toward me.
Yeah. Smiling on the surface.
“...Are you angry?”
This was pure rage. For real.
Her eyes weren’t smiling at all.
Cold sweat beaded down my back.
“D-does it show?”
“...”
She wasn’t even denying it.
Listen well if you don’t want to die, basically.
“...You seem to have gone through a lot, so.”
Atalante scanned me up and down and said.
“Let’s move somewhere and talk comfortably.”
Seemed like.
I had no right to refuse.
●
“...Aren’t you going to handle the cleanup?”
Sitting in Atalante’s office, I eyed the tea offered before me and asked that first.
A human who swallowed a devil’s essence had caused chaos inside and outside the academy.
I’d handled Marquis Riverback, and the man-eaters in the city probably vanished thanks to it.
But the chase had wrecked plenty, and a massive holy explosion had just rocked the skies above the academy.
Chaos surely lingered everywhere.
“That’s fine. It was all contained without casualties thanks to a student’s efforts.”
But Atalante grinned nonchalantly.
“Still...”
“Elpante has a long history, Dawood Campbell.”
“...Pardon?”
“It’s a place operated for nearly a millennium right next to where devils are sealed, crammed with nobles and elites with strong egos. You think worse hasn’t happened?”
“...”
“That doesn’t even qualify as cleanup material.”
Elpante. Even crazier place than I thought.
This level of commotion didn’t even register.
“Above all, this was all within expected parameters.”
“...Pardon?”
Atalante smiled at me again.
Watching her for a moment, the implication sank in, sending chills down my spine.
‘...She could’ve handled it all alone if she wanted.’
Obviously.
Few on the continent could handle her unleashing her full power.
The scenario always portrayed her as top-tier.
“This time, I just watched. You seemed to have planned everything from start to finish, so I went along with it.”
Atalante propped her chin on the desk.
“That’s why I’m angry, student.”
She sighed and looked at me.
“You got involved with a devil, right?”
“...”
“I already know, I’m just confirming. No excuses.”
Her eyes sharpened as she continued.
“One of the Gray Devil’s authorities, ‘Corrosion,’ spread widely centered on your location. The Heretic Inquisition won’t miss it, and the Holy Kingdom overseeing heresy trials will take interest.”
Another sigh, then.
“And this is something only I know. During the Corrosion, the only ones there were the Student Council President and you.”
Cold sweat poured out.
Yeah, involved.
Deeply.
Confessed to by one of the strongest devils, healed by it, the works.
“Do you even realize what situation you’re in now?”
Atalante sighed and closed her eyes.
But when she opened them, her gaze held genuine worry, despite her anger.
“From your actions so far, you knew what you’d be up against. Right?”
“...”
“Then why didn’t you seek more active help? Don’t you trust me?”
“Well, this time I handled it without your direct help, didn’t I?”
“And next time?”
“...”
I shut my mouth at Atalante’s sharp words.
“You’re already at the center of all this chaos, Dawood Campbell. The eye of the storm.”
She continued sternly.
“Devil worshippers are tenacious. If they learn you and the Student Council President are linked to a devil, they’ll pursue you to hell’s end. This commotion is likely just the start.”
“...”
Probably.
I’d internalized it countless times, but I was already deeply entangled in the main scenario.
Tangled this much with Eliya and Elnor? It was basically locked in.
I’d given up on living as an extra long ago.
I sighed and responded.
“...Next time something happens, I probably can’t expect direct major help from you, President.”
True enough.
Atalante, at the Eternal realm, could solo most situations, but directly opposing devils and their ilk was limited to a select few “designated” to do so.
Eliya and the hero party were that type, plus a few others... but not Atalante.
Systematically fixed that way. World inhabitants couldn’t defy it no matter what.
“So next time, whatever happens, you plan to handle it all alone again?”
“I’ll request support.”
I’d keep dancing on the edge, suffer like hell, hurt like hell, agonize like hell.
No choice. My fate was sealed that way.
Nothing left but to survive with all I had.
Atalante pursed her lips at my answer.
Then.
“Pffahaha-!”
She burst into cheerful laughter echoing through the office.
‘...What’s with her suddenly?’
A jarring emotional shift from my perspective.
“...From the president’s view, burdening one student with that much is shameful, in a way.”
“Pardon?”
“The plan was completed long ago. But it was too heavy a burden for you, so I delayed finalizing it until the very end.”
“...So, what exactly are you.”
“This time, letting you handle it fully was to test your ability. If you fell short even a little, I’d have scrapped it... but you proved your worth perfectly. Yes.”
Her words tumbled out suddenly, and I just rolled my eyes.
What?
Huh.
What the hell?
“And I’ve confirmed your resolve to push through whatever comes. Now I’m sure it’s safe to reveal it.”
Atalante straightened with a sigh.
Dignity filled her eyes. The aura of an Eternal over a millennium old.
“Dawood Campbell.”
Her solemn tone straightened my posture too.
What? What was she about to say?
“You’ve noticed we’re plotting something centered on you at the academy.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Obviously.
Was she finally explaining it?
“What I’m about to tell you is top secret no one else should know. Involved parties include the imperial family, tribal alliance chieftains and warlords, the Holy Kingdom’s Pontiff and archbishops. But only a tiny few know the full story.”
“Uh, y-yes?”
“It concerns the world’s fate. Naturally.”
Uh, w-what?
That serious?
What the...!
“First, the plan’s ultimate goal.”
Atalante continued solemnly.
“The fate of the entire continent at stake.”
Her eyes brimmed with overwhelming charisma.
The Eternal over a millennium revealed the “ultimate goal” of this world-fate plan.
“I’d like you to take several wives.”
“...”
“...”
“...”
I rubbed my ears for a bit.
Cleared my throat.
Blinked a few times, then asked Atalante.
“Pardon?”
“Pardon?”
“No, pardon?”
“What exactly are you curious about?”
Her bold counterquestion hit me with a splitting headache.
What.
No, what the hell.
“Was the sentence too complex? I mean, harem. Harem. Polygamy. I want you to do that...”
“Wait. Hold on.”
I clutched my head and stopped her.
“Let me sort this out.”
Hey. No.
No way.
“The plan known only to a tiny elite of the continent’s most powerful and influential, a plan so vital it concerns the world’s survival?”
“Yes.”
“And that plan’s ultimate goal is for me to build a harem?”
“Precisely, you must seduce certain people.”
Atalante shrugged.
“The Student Council President, who’d risk her life for you now, is included. Arguably the most important part.”
“...”
“All means needed for the process will be supported materially and morally by the continent’s hegemonies.”
“...”
I barely caught my breath.
“So, in other words.”
Breath catching, I forced out the final line.
No idea why, middle steps entirely skipped, but summing up what she’d said.
The conclusion.
“If I don’t build a harem, the world ends?”
“Yes.”
“...”
This was insane.
No other reaction possible.
“...Could you explain the reason?”
At my dying voice, Atalante beamed.
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