Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Do Me a Favor (2)
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Truth be told, even though it was a device left behind by the Seraph, messing with it doesn't make one pop out right away.
It's not like an alarm goes off in some important facility and the person in charge shows up immediately.
The first thing that comes, logically speaking, is the 'guard force.'
-!
And the guards angels use most effectively are generally automatons. Core-equipped combat dolls.
A mechanical giant made entirely of steel strode out from within the glow of light.
When it slammed its massive halberd into the ground, fitting its size, the entire dome seemed to rumble with a deep *thung*.
"...A bismuth-steel automaton? How are we supposed to take that thing down with just three of us?!"
Eliya let out a shriek like that.
Well, bismuth steel is the metal that makes up the core of the stars I wield. In terms of strength, hardness—no matter how you measure it, it's the top-tier metal in this world that'd have no one to complain if called second-best. No wonder it's holy sword material.
To take it down would be impossible at a student's level, just like Eliya said. You'd need to bring in an academy dean or someone of that caliber to match the threat level.
"...'
I silently stared ahead as well.
[ Crisis situation detected. ]
[ Judged as a direct threat to life. ]
[ Skill: Desperate Situation applied at A-rank. ]
A-rank, huh.
Thinking about it, it's weirder that it didn't hit EX-rank, given the gap.
But this is just a machine following preset commands. It doesn't satisfy one of the conditions for Desperate Situation rank adjustment: 'enemy.'
"...'
I let out a wry smile.
Well, considering I openly tampered with the Seraph's relic, it wouldn't matter if an angel jumped out instead of a machine.
Angels are forbidden by 'the Edict' from directly harming others, so it's inevitable. Even in situations needing real force, they can't intervene personally.
The reason it's coming out so slowly is because it's trying to figure out a way to subdue without using force.
'...Come to think of it, it's pretty funny.'
Demons have relatively free reign over the material world.
Fragments of their true bodies are scattered across the earth, their followers are vast in number even if hidden, and under the right conditions, they can manifest directly through a vessel hosting a fragment.
In contrast, angels can at best grant boons or blessings indirectly to someone.
For their true forms to emerge into the material world requires far more hassle than a demon fragment possessing a vessel and going berserk.
"...'
It's all because of 'the Edict.'
The pact between the folks at the top of the heavenly realm and the demons ruling Pandemonium.
It's a crucial device that affects the endings later on.
Angels and the heavenly realm are allies, sure.
But not as absolute as you'd think.
Just look at how a pope can wield insane holy power.
More precisely, it's factions within splitting things up.
'...Thanks to that.'
Because of the Edict's terms, angels' means of influencing the material world are extremely limited.
So in most cases, when they want to affect the material world, their influence concentrates on a single human.
That's what they call a 'hero' down here.
The orange-haired girl right next to me, gritting her teeth and drawing her sword.
"I swear, I can't live because of you!"
Eliya said that as she tried to join me, but I held out my open palm toward her.
It was a clear "stay back" gesture, so she'd get it.
"...What now?!"
She snapped with clear anger, but oh well.
I didn't bring you along this time for combat support.
If anything...
"You're better off not being here."
In this situation, your involvement would make it worse.
"...'
Eliya's mouth fell slightly open. Her eyes shook with terrifying intensity.
"...What, uh, what do you mean by that...?"
"No, I mean exactly what I said."
As I mentioned earlier, humans who receive concentrated boons and blessings from angels are called heroes. Our protagonist here is currently a hero 'candidate.'
If there's any trace of her getting involved in what I'm doing now, it could cause headaches when she's officially named a hero later.
"It's not because you're weak or useless. Don't overthink it."
Of course, I can't explain that in detail.
The sticklers up in the heavens can be more ruthless than Pandemonium's demons sometimes.
There's a high chance an outsider like me would get grilled on how I know heavenly internal affairs.
"Then why...!"
"Whoa there."
She opened her mouth to say more, but before I could respond, the automaton swung its halberd down at my position.
No need to activate Sword Focus. A-rank Desperate Situation handles this with ease.
The problem is, I don't have a way to deal effective damage to it either.
'That's why it's perfect for guards.'
Even with my lacking attack power against it, the reason angels use automatons often is they're optimal for 'buying time.'
That thing really doesn't die.
Even if Desperate Situation hit EX-rank, taking it down would be a pipe dream for me.
[It looks tough. Can you cut that with a sword?]
Yuria tilted her head beside me, floating those words.
Unlike Eliya reacting to my actions, she showed not a hint of tension even with this huge, powerful foe appearing.
"...'
I slipped past the automaton's plunging strike toward me and rummaged through other thoughts.
It hits me anew, but yeah, her sensibilities are a bit off from normal.
Most demon vessel candidates are like that, but hers is especially severe.
More precisely, her emotions overwhelmingly focus on things related to 'me.'
Joy, sorrow, fear, anger—whatever.
'...It's scary.'
For real.
Due to the White Demon's nature, her fusion with the demon fragment and her soul is already complete, probably. Still, it's scary.
I can't even guess which way these feelings might twist later.
Right now, it's just anxiety if she's too far from me.
But if something goes wrong...
She might go full "I want to be with you forever" and plan a suicide pact or something...
"...'
Chills run down my spine.
At the very least, I need to make sure Elnor doesn't end up like this.
Her fusion will complete soon too.
'Anyway.'
I do have a way to deal with the automaton right now.
Using her.
But that method is... yeah.
It makes me feel like trash.
"...'
I sigh and glance between her and the automaton.
Well, gotta do it anyway.
That's why I brought her.
"Yuria."
[Yes. It's fine.]
"...'
No.
At least hear what I'm about to ask before deciding.
[More importantly, you called my name for the first time? I'm so happy!]
Don't do that.
Don't make me feel even more like trash...!
"For now, take that off and put it on your wrist."
I pointed at the collar.
No matter what, doing it while she's still wearing that would be weird.
[Do, do I have to take it off...?]
"...'
Why are her eyes welling up again.
Did I say something unforgivable?
"No, uh... don't take it off. It's fine..."
It felt like convincing her would take forever, so I gave up and gripped the collar firmly in my hand.
Solid and sturdy. I get why the guy I commissioned it from smirked slyly and swore 'it won't break no matter what you do to it.'
Even after I stressed repeatedly it wasn't for that, he gave me that 'I get it, I know' look. Still pisses me off thinking about it.
"...'
Anyway.
It should work for this too.
"Hup!"
With a grunt, I yanked the collar back.
Then, immediately, I 'threw' Yuria—like slinging a stone.
A-rank Desperate Situation makes this easy.
She went flying with a choked *gasp*.
Then she *bonk!*ed into the automaton's head and slid down its body with a clatter.
Like a comic panel.
"...What the hell are you doing?"
"What are you doing, I said?"
Eliya glared at me like trash from the side, but I ignored her.
It's all necessary.
-!
The automaton spotted Yuria nearby and shifted its target. The halberd rose again.
If it came down as is, it'd be lethal.
I eyeballed the distance between the automaton and Yuria.
A step and a half.
That should be... about right.
"Wait, that's dangerous...!"
Before Eliya could finish.
Yuria's hand drew Severance in a flash.
And the next instant.
-!
-!!!!
In one strike.
The automaton was bisected.
"What...!"
Eliya's jaw dropped.
"...I didn't even see it...! Wait, isn't she a student?! She's stronger than Dean Konrad?!"
I smirked at her stunned face.
Yeah. That's why I twisted my body to never step within three paces.
Severance's curse grows merciless the closer you get, intensifying within two paces.
Even a bismuth-steel automaton gets shredded.
Since it was just shy of two paces, that's why it looked like that. If it'd been one pace...
At this point in the scenario, no one among the characters could survive a one-shot from Yuria.
'...That's why there's a tactic to exploit this openly.'
In-game, it's called 'the mixer.'
Simple method: shove Yuria right into the enemy ranks however you can. She shreds everything nearby indiscriminately.
What I just did is similar.
"..."
Yeah, super trashy, but effective.
'...Probably useful in Chapter 2 too.'
It's key against the boy king.
The 'penalty' of Severance's curse is that it unleashes that power indiscriminately, friend or foe.
What I'll take from this is the power to 'distinguish.'
[W-wow! Took it down in one hit!]
"Hey, wait. Hold on!"
The problem is, even in that state, she tries to cling to me without hesitation.
I backpedal in panic to adjust distance.
Yuria pouted and stopped, looking like a dog that fetched the disc but didn't get head pats.
[No praise...?]
"...'
No choice. I pick up a long rod that popped out from the wrecked automaton.
I pet Yuria's head with it from afar.
"...Good girl."
[Hehe...]
Hmm.
Is it generous that she likes this, or straight-up terrifying...?
"...What the hell are you two even doing?"
"..."
Shut up.
You've been sniping at me nonstop.
But anyway, no time to bicker with her.
We demolished the automaton in seconds, so before any 'no force' excuses, the angels are in emergency mode. Someone's coming soon.
And right as that thought ended.
The surrounding glow shimmered stronger.
-!
Then, from the white light, a winged figure in armor emerged.
White plate armor. Blue hair down to her ankles—a woman.
I know her. Female angels are rare among them.
Virtue Angel. Themed around nobility and virtue, known for granting 'miracles' to mortals.
In the heavenly hierarchy from Sera, she's pretty high up. Like a senior executive.
"An, an angel?!"
Eliya freaked out beside me. Makes sense; to her, it's like seeing a celebrity in person.
But her appearance surprised me too.
'...Higher up than expected.'
I never thought I'd face the Seraph directly.
Those show up near the endings. No chance now, no matter the chaos.
Especially since her position is diametrically opposed to demons.
I figured some low-rank angel would show, but a Virtue Angel personally? Unexpected.
'...Nice.'
But in a good way.
Unexpectedly shortening the timeline.
To lift Severance's curse, you need to negotiate with a high angel, and a Virtue Angel is even better than I hoped...
For 'extracting' it.
I'm going with a pretty radical method.
"...This was your doing, wasn't it?"
The angel said to me with a benevolent smile.
"...'
But looking in her eyes, I couldn't keep that train of thought.
Her eyes twitched, lips quivered.
She's pissed.
Well, who wouldn't be if something happened to a special charge their superior told them to manage?
"I don't know what you were thinking..."
The Virtue Angel spread her wings wide.
Golden feathers scattered majestically nearby. Then holy power began gathering terrifyingly.
'Probably next is...'
Instead of physical force, angels specialize in mental 'suppression.'
Directly infiltrating the opponent's mind to control actions without harm.
Rather than serious damage to me, it'll probably just pin me down here to stop the nonsense.
"Have you steeled your resolve...?"
"Yes. I'm ready. Get that creepy thing over with quick."
"...'
I cut off the angel's imposing words, and she stared at me, momentarily speechless.
Can't argue with that, can you?
'...Holy power, yet so shady. No idea why.'
I sigh inwardly.
Holy skills interact heavily with the mind. Good compatibility.
Seems angels aren't exempt.
What kind of angel does brainwashing or mind control?
"You really need some education!"
With that, the Virtue Angel fired holy power at me.
Immediately, a thick sensation of something 'intruding' into my consciousness hit. Like another mind mixing into my head.
Holy power wielded directly by an angel. Even top powerhouses would yield control helplessly.
"...'
I smirk.
But in my position, I welcome her doing this with open arms.
'Gotcha.'
If she 'intrudes' directly into my mind...
I've got preparations too.
"...!"
Right away.
Her eyes went wide.
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