Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Audacious
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The situation wrapped up more quickly than expected.
The biggest factor was that the Pontiff himself, the very person at the center of the incident, had let it slide without any fuss, making it hard for anyone else to step in and complain.
“...That said, a lot more groups will want to get involved with you after this.”
Atalante left those words with a sigh.
“The Empire and the tribal alliance will start paying serious attention to your whereabouts now. You’d better prepare yourself mentally.”
I already knew that, Dean.
‘...It’s all part of the predetermined sequence anyway.’
As I progress through the main scenario, I’ll inevitably get deeply entangled with them, whether I like it or not. Better to draw attention early and seize the initiative to control the board myself.
The tribal alliance chieftains, the imperial family—they’re all a den of vicious schemers out for their own gain. The Holy Kingdom goes without saying.
Just positioning myself in this irreplaceable spot blocks most attempts to manipulate me at will.
Sure, annoyances will come flying my way later.
“More importantly, what about the sisters?”
Anyway, those other matters can wait until they hit me.
The key to advancing Chapter 2 is them, after all.
That’s why I settled things with the Holy Kingdom in the first place.
“The Saintess hasn’t fully regained consciousness yet. It’s not serious—she should come around in a day or two. Her little sister is sticking by her side to nurse her.”
“That’s a relief.”
I rack my brain as I respond.
“So, she can make the delegation schedule?”
“...After charging in and saving her from the Pontiff himself, that’s what you ask?”
No choice—it’s the most important part.
I chuckle at Atalante’s incredulous tone.
The Holy Kingdom’s regular delegation always thoroughly inspects Elpante and performs ‘blessings’ throughout.
And that’s the first step in lifting the severance curse on Yuria’s sword.
The event itself triggers the healing of her trauma.
‘Not much time left...’
Only about three days at best.
Considering the purifier boss fight from Chapter 1, it’s best to assume the scenario always rolls toward the absolute worst.
And thinking about what awaits three days from now, the Boy King boss event is guaranteed to erupt from that side.
In other words.
If I can’t lift the severance curse on Yuria within that time, it’s basically game over.
“Please let the Saintess know I’d like to see her face once she wakes up.”
So, yeah.
I’ve cleared away any interference the Holy Kingdom might throw.
What’s left is.
“...talking about fulfilling ‘your’ long-cherished wish.”
Truly saving her.
●
[You have completed the Main Quest!]
[1 ‘Echo of Holy Fortification’ has been granted!]
[1 ‘Seed of Evil’ has been granted!]
I stroke my chin as I watch the windows cascade down.
I’d already met the clear conditions by saving Lucienne earlier, but with everything going on, I’m only claiming the rewards now.
[Echo of Holy Fortification]
[Material: Growth Material - Divinity]
[Fusing with a ‘Divinity’-related item that can grow will raise the item’s grade by one level.]
I gaze at the blue mana stone in my palm.
Not bad.
Main Quest reward items usually depend on who’s involved in the linked quests.
In a situation like this, where it’s obviously tied to divinity users like Lucienne and Yuria, the rewards lean that way too.
‘And...’
I just happen to have the perfect item for this.
I smirk as I examine the palm-sized censer in my hand.
In the original story, growing the Ultrim of Divinity would probably enhance its embedded skills.
The ‘Asceticism’ skill that converts all added stats to durability, and the ‘Guardian Shield’ skill that summons a shield as tough as that durability stat.
I’ve already put them to good use in their current state, but factoring in typical growth from materials like this, they’ll become far more powerful.
‘The crafting department’s in for some work.’
I’ll probably need to visit them soon for various requests anyway—I can commission the Ultrim upgrade at the same time.
With that thought, I swipe the window away.
There’s one more thing I gained.
[Seed of Evil]
[Currency: Special]
[Can be exchanged for special skills in the Point Shop.]
[Current count: 4]
This one.
Including the ones from Eliya and Talion before, plus this Main Quest clear, that makes four total.
Originally, I’d planned to use them in the purifier boss fight, but I couldn’t find suitable ones and gave up.
‘But...’
With four, there are definitely useful skills available.
For example.
◎ Probing Eye
[Skill: Special]
[Price: 4 Seeds of Evil]
[Once per day, view an opponent’s stats.]
[You have purchased the ‘Special Skill: Probing Eye’!]
[From today, you can check an opponent’s stats once per day.]
Seeds of Evil are rare currency that only drop from gift rewards or Main Quests, so this skill—simple as it is—is incredibly powerful.
Information is never a loss, after all.
“Ah, Dawood.”
And right on cue, a perfect test subject appears before me.
I look at Elnor approaching from the end of the corridor, her heels clicking expressionlessly upon spotting me.
[Using ‘Probing Eye’.]
[Loading target’s information.]
[24-hour cooldown applies to the same target.]
Getting info on her is top priority.
People like Elnor or Eliya—my future actions hinge entirely on their growth benchmarks. They’re key scenario figures.
[Elnor Erinarije la Tristan]
[Trait: Vessel – Gray Devil]
[Status: Calculating the distance between Tristan Duchy and Campbell Barony to fend off sleepiness.]
[Notes: Has tailed someone per Dawood Campbell’s orders for 72 hours straight. Extremely fatigued, but seeing Dawood Campbell has improved her mood.]
“...”
It spits out even these minute details—definitely worthy of a four-Seed skill—but the important part is below.
[Status Info]
[Standard]
Strength: S
Agility: S
Durability: S
Luck: C
Authority: A+
[Supernatural]
Mana: B
Spell Power: F
Divinity: F
???: EX
[Misc.]
-Currently fused ‘Demon Fragments’: 1
-Stage 1 Fusion Progress: 80%
-Corruption Progress: 2%
‘...As expected.’
Setting aside the dazzling stats that make my eyes spin, I scan the ‘Fusion Progress’ and ‘Corruption Progress’ at the bottom.
Standard entries for any demon vessel.
‘Fusion at 80% already.’
This measures how much the fragment has ‘blended’ with the vessel’s core.
The most noticeable effects are changes to personality and stats—like Yuria, whose dependency and obsession deepened from the White Demon fragment.
Her previous rage that awakened possession must have had a big impact.
At 100%, she’ll undergo a major personality shift like Yuria. For now, it seems limited to adding that mysterious ??? stat.
“...”
At least I hope Elnor doesn’t turn scary like Yuria.
With that thought, I shift my eyes elsewhere in the window.
Corruption progress gauges mental strain on the vessel. When it fills, the fragments inside go berserk.
Even one fragment causes disaster; all gathered together? Straight to game over.
‘2% is good.’
Normally, Elnor at the start of Chapter 2 would be around 20%.
But her biggest stressors—Eliya and Gideon—are too busy with me to bother her.
As those thoughts run through my mind, words fly from Elnor.
“I wanted to die during that time.”
“...”
You’re at 2% right now.
Maybe hold off on 92% corruption-level lines the second you see my face.
“...Why?”
“The target you asked me to tail... he’s no ordinary human.”
Elnor sighs and brushes back her hair.
It’s rare for her of all people to say that, but given the target, I get it.
“...Still, I grasped his general behavioral patterns.”
So I know it’s not an empty claim.
“...Really?”
My eyes widen as I ask, and Elnor hands me a stack of papers.
They detail exactly where and what one person did throughout the academy during midterms.
‘...Wow.’
She actually pulled it off.
I’d asked, but I thought it was near impossible.
As expected of the final boss.
As that sinks in, Elnor plants her hands on her hips and thrusts out her chest.
*Ahem*—posing smugly. Expressionlessly.
“You could thank me a little more...”
I yank her into a tight hug.
An impulsive burst of joy.
“You were amazing, Elnor! Seriously, thank you! I’ll repay you properly later!”
“...”
I leave Elnor frozen in place and dash off.
I need to meet the ‘target’ of these reports right now.
●
“...”
Elnor silently looks down at her uniform.
With a solemn expression, she removes her coat and carefully folds it over her arm.
‘...I need to preserve this.’
Yeah.
She has no intention of washing it for as long as possible.
As that thought crosses her mind, she recalls Dawood’s ‘hands’ that had just pulled her into a fierce embrace.
‘Bigger than I thought, slightly?’
Then, she should make the ‘ring’ she’s crafting a bit larger.
“...”
I wonder what face he’ll make when I give it to him.
Will he be flustered? Happy? Or...
Right there, on the spot...
Approve. Immediately.
“...Don’t get your hopes up for nothing.”
She mutters that to herself, then resumes walking with strict poise.
But even so.
Her lips twitch upward.
Unable to hide her anticipation.
●
Someone who’s seen the future turn into the past countless times often falls into the delusion that he’d never value time.
Wrong. Far from it.
Valkasus knew better than anyone how precious even a fleeting moment of ‘now’ truly was.
That’s why he had the refined hobby of admiring scenery.
The academy’s clock tower.
Seated inside the building piercing the heavens, he had the best view of the sun sinking beyond the sky.
As sunlight fades and darkness creeps in, spaces untouched by light reveal changes in his arm’s form.
Not a change so much as revealing its ‘true nature.’
The outline melts and drips. Assimilating into the shadows, it scatters poison.
The price of eons. The yoke of the world’s laws upon him.
“...”
He gazes at it briefly, then chuckles and strokes it.
“...You should train your stamina a bit.”
No sooner do the words leave him than someone comes panting up to the clock tower’s summit.
Any healthy Elpante student could manage this distance with effort, but this one shows clear signs of utter physical exhaustion, teetering on collapse.
His bloodshot eyes and ragged breaths might seem comical, but Valkasus offers another word instead of mockery.
“Are you Dawood Campbell?”
“...Do you, huff, know, me?”
“You sound like you’re about to keel over. Sit first.”
Valkasus gestures to the seat beside him.
Dawood stumbles over and sits, panting heavily before finally continuing.
“How do you know me?”
“The Foreseer insisted I meet you. Said you’d be the biggest obstacle to my plans here.”
Dawood nods slowly.
“...I see.”
He nods agreeably.
In his mind, he recalls everything he knows about the man.
The Boy King. Chapter 2’s ‘background.’
Why ‘background’ not final boss? Because he’s utterly impossible to fight and defeat.
King of ancient undead millennia old.
A monster closer to a ‘phenomenon’ or ‘concept’ than ‘human.’
A ruler whose humble wish for his people’s eternal happiness was returned in the most horrific form.
For such a being to speak of ‘plans’ here.
Considering the main scenario, the answer would be absurdly obvious.
The next question, born of hope it wouldn’t be so, follows.
“...Kill everyone here, resurrect them as undead, and rule them?”
Valkasus nods readily.
His response is equally plain.
“Three days from now.”
“...”
Dawood lets out a massive sigh.
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