Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Homecoming
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[Item Info]
[Soul Linker] [Exclusive Equipment]
[Enchant: Epic]
[Fused with ‘Hero’s Fragment’] [Fused with ‘Essence of Evil’]
#1
[Spirit: Kallivan – Guardian, Knight of Dawn]
[Current Sync Rate: 12%] [Stage 1 Unlocked]
[Additional Functions]
[■ Skill: Mindscape]
#2
[Evil Spirit: Valkasus – Alchemist, Last King of Armada]
[Current Sync Rate: 10.00%] [Stage 1 Unlocked]
[Additional Functions]
[■ Trait: Alchemy – Basic]
Such windows slithered past my eyes like melting jelly.
And with that, my consciousness was pulled back into the material world.
“...Ugh.”
The pain hit me first, so intense it dragged a groan from my lips. But something even stranger came with it.
My head felt unnaturally soft.
“...”
I blinked, wondering what was up, and my vision gradually cleared. Someone’s face came into view.
Crimson eyes glaring down at me like they wanted to devour me whole.
“...!”
I flinched, tensing up without thinking, only for the pain—twice as bad as before—to make me groan and slump again.
My whole body was a wreck. At least last time with the Purifier, I’d gotten healed right away.
“You’re awake.”
“...Elnor?”
“That’s right. You haven’t forgotten my face, then.”
Elnor’s chill was several times icier than usual, dripping like frost.
“...Um, Elnor.”
“Hm?”
“Are you mad?”
“Furious.”
“...”
She sure looked it.
Which made this the exact thing I had to ask.
“...If you’re mad, why are you giving me a lap pillow?”
“Because I’m mad. So I’ll do what I want.”
“...”
That’s what she said.
I let out a wry chuckle, breathing quietly for a bit, then arduously scanned my surroundings.
“Quite the sight.”
“It is.”
The alchemy dispersing from Valkasus’s fallen body on the ground was blanketing the sky in a dizzying haze.
It looked like the heavens had parted, spirits ascending en masse beyond the clouds.
And in a real sense, that’s what it was.
Armada, the kingdom, was effectively saved.
The spirits would return to the wheel of reincarnation as souls usually do, taking root in new flesh.
In this world, it was common knowledge that a dead soul rejoins the cycle and inhabits a newborn body.
That’s what Valkasus had fought for over those long years—to grant his people that basic right.
“...”
I laboriously lifted my arm and gazed at the amulet dangling from it.
White and black swirled within, emitting a gray glow from deep inside.
Probably because Kallivan and Valkasus were both slumbering here.
‘...See you later.’
Like Kallivan, Valkasus would likely spend most of his time dormant here until my divine power grew enough to rouse him easily.
I hoped the day I could chat with him smoothly would come soon.
As that thought crossed my mind, messages suddenly unfurled before my eyes.
[You have completed the Main Quest!]
[Rewards granted!]
[1x ‘Essence of Evil’ granted!]
[1x ‘Hero’s Fragment’ granted!]
[10,000pt granted!]
[This quest had an emergency event applied. Additional rewards granted!]
[Special interaction with ‘Heretic Inquisition’ added!]
[The function activates immediately upon contact with ‘Heretic Inquisition’ personnel!]
My eyes paused on one line as I read down.
The last sentence stood out as especially crucial.
‘...Heretic Inquisition.’
When I’d surveyed Sera users, they’d unanimously ranked it #1 in “Ally faction you least want as an enemy.”
For a bunch of reasons, but mostly because of its most standout “ally” character.
‘No reason to go seeking them out.’
We’d cross paths eventually, but putting it off as long as possible couldn’t hurt.
There probably weren’t many humans on the continent more directly tied to demons than me right now—you could count them on one hand.
The Heretic Inquisition, who made “demon hunting” their trade, wouldn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat.
‘Anyway, that’s that.’
One more thing lingered in my mind.
Beating Valkasus via this battle route “unlocked” something specific.
[Hidden event ‘???’ activation condition met 1 time! (1/3)]
Yeah.
Savior Rising was tighter than expected, with solid special rewards for atypical clears outside the main scenario path.
This “hidden event” was one such prize for nailing the main scenario perfectly.
And that was...
“...What’re you staring at?”
I flashed a grin at Elnor, who grumbled with a pout.
“Nothing, just...”
The only known cure for the “madness” plaguing her family line.
And I’d just taken the first step toward it.
“...”
Elnor, who’d been gazing down at me silently, sighed and flicked my nose with her finger.
It looked like kids’ play, but my head snapped back fully from the impact.
How strong is she?
“...What?”
“Don’t flirt. I’m pretty pissed right now.”
“...”
I’d only smiled a little.
“That’s flirting to me.”
“...So why—”
“Because that’s how it feels to me.”
“...”
What am I supposed to do?
As I shut my mouth quietly, Elnor sighed again and hoisted me onto her back.
“For now, you’re in this state, so treatment first.”
“...”
Yeah, fair.
To put it nicely, I was a total mess.
Considering her “personality,” I figured seeing me like this would shatter her mentally on sight, but her reaction was surprisingly subdued.
Subdued enough that I could’ve dragged her along for the Valkasus fight.
‘...What changed?’
I had a guess.
When I’d used possession to pair her with the Flash Tearer fragment, I’d seen a message about her nearly fusing with it.
As far as I knew, that triggered a whole new event chain.
She was probably feeling its effects already—
“And while you’re getting treated, you’ll explain everything slowly.”
“...Pardon?”
“Where’d you say you were going with Eliya Chrisanax?”
“...”
Oh, right.
That was still hanging.
●
“Eliya, come on in! You’re not hurt... What the hell happened to you?!”
Trisha, who’d been anxiously awaiting her roommate’s return in the dorm, shrieked in horror at the sight of Eliya stumbling in.
She hadn’t expected a smooth day after seeing her dragged off somewhere out of the blue, but she never imagined it’d be *this* bad.
Dust all over, assorted scrapes, fine—that was par for the course.
But her face was a disaster.
Puffy red eyes, nose clearly rubbed raw, and a gloom that clung to her expression.
“You were crying? What the hell happened...!”
And above all.
The “color of emotion” around Eliya looked seriously off.
If it was just bad mood black, she wouldn’t freak this much.
But this... even the usual “vitality” she carried was gone.
“...Um, Trisha.”
Eliya spoke in a limp voice.
“...Am I actually useless? Like, completely worthless?”
“...”
The question was so out-of-left-field she didn’t know where to start.
For a girl young enough to call childish, blessed with peak continental talent and the Hero Candidate title? Absurd from the jump.
“...Can I even stay by Teacher’s side? I just keep getting helped and can’t help him properly...”
The girl who’d always been upright, brimming with resolve, energizing everyone around her...
Was wobbling. The color in her heart had gone beyond murky black to sticky soot.
And that darkness was only deepening.
“...”
Trisha blinked vacantly, mouth agape, then snapped to and clapped her cheeks.
No time for that now. Eliya’s state was genuinely alarming.
‘...If I don’t pull her together here!’
As someone who could see others’ emotional colors, she knew this was a real “danger signal.”
Botch this, and Eliya might change completely. No way she’d let that happen to her friend!
‘First...’
She didn’t know the details.
But she could tell “that guy” was involved again.
So, start with the obvious.
“Eliya, what exactly do you feel for that guy?”
“That guy? Who...?”
“Dawood Campbell. What do you think of him? Role model you respect? Friend?”
“T-That’s, I’m not entirely sure...”
“Or do you like him?”
Eliya froze at the blunt question.
Even the darkening of her inner color paused for a moment.
“...”
Trisha sighed inwardly at the sight.
She wasn’t a love guru, but observing people had honed her knack for reading relationship vibes.
This was textbook.
Halfway fallen, no experience to confirm it, doubting her own feelings—yet the moment “like him?” hit, a spark of light flickered in her heart.
Clear as day.
“...Eliya. You said you have some kind of wish ticket for him, right?”
“Y-Yeah.”
“Then use it. No choice.”
“Huh? Use it? For what?”
What else?
“Pilgrimage Homecoming event.”
Trisha shot to her feet as she said it.
Meanwhile, Eliya’s face had flushed beet red in seconds.
Just imagining it had her squirming tensely.
“B-But, is that okay? W-What if he says no?”
“It’s a wish ticket. Make him honor it. You planned to use it on him from the start—why get cold feet now?”
Eliya clamped her mouth shut at Trisha’s firm tone.
Somehow, her friend looked several times more mature today.
Dignified, even.
‘...But this alone won’t cut it.’
Matching that vibe, Trisha’s mind raced coolly.
She didn’t always notice, but Elpante’s Student Council President had an insane fixation on Dawood Campbell.
Especially considering what “Pilgrimage Homecoming” meant to Elpante students—she’d never let this slip.
To gain an edge there, they needed a bold play.
“And write a letter.”
“...Huh? What? Wait?”
Trisha shoved a pen into Eliya’s dazed, spinning eyes and set paper before her, eyes blazing.
“Write exactly what I say.”
She took a deep breath.
“To: Kendrid Margrave.”
Eliya’s jaw dropped.
●
“You look unwell, Dawood.”
Atalante spoke from across the desk, concern lacing her voice.
“I heard you were badly hurt recently. If you can’t focus, rest would do you good.”
“...No. I’m fine.”
Physically, yeah—no real damage.
This was the issue. I swept a hand over my paled face.
Lately, my improv skills were skyrocketing.
Stuff kept exploding outside my awareness, forcing me to read and adapt constantly.
Sudden crap unrelated to my will popping up? Piecing together responses was routine now.
[System Message]
[Target ‘Kendrid Margrave’ has begun taking interest in you.]
[Related event will generate soon!]
At least give me a breather.
Please.
“...”
Kendrid Margrave.
Eliya’s adoptive father. Gideon of Tristan’s eternal rival among great nobles. Strongest holy knight of the era.
What did *he* want with me?
“You’ve been through a lot this time.”
Oblivious to my thoughts, Atalante sighed and continued.
“Empire, Holy Kingdom, tribal alliance... All three powers fixating on your whereabouts at once, and then a massive terrorist attack on Elpante right after? I can’t recall consecutive incidents like this in my memory.”
The Chancellor pushed up her glasses as she spoke.
“Still, don’t let your guard down yet.”
Her words were deadly serious.
“As I said before, demon worshippers will keep targeting you. I believe this incident was part of that.”
“...”
“All events will start revolving around you now. Assume something else is coming and stay vigilant.”
“...Agreed.”
Plenty of incidents so far, but we’d barely cleared Chapter 2.
Scenario was far from over, demon vessels unresolved.
No stopping the power grind to survive.
Especially since...
That one was trouble.
The woman who’d appeared and vanished suddenly. The Forerunner. Head demon worshipper.
‘...Was that guy originally a woman?’
Not in my memory.
Of all scenario elements I recalled, she alone slipped my “knowledge.”
Everything else followed my intel in this game-built world—except her.
The unpredictable one.
No clue what schemes or intents she held toward me.
“But!”
Spotting my darkening face lost in thought, Atalante brightened with a grin.
“No matter what, you can’t skip rest entirely. You’ll break.”
“...Pardon?”
“Vacation’s usually post-midsems, but the recent attack halted academy functions. No classes possible, so we’re sending everyone on early break.”
Rest up too, she added with a wink.
But.
“...I’d love to rest.”
That’s what breaks are for.
Yeah.
But my odds of enjoying one? Slim to none.
“And?”
“Pilgrimage Homecoming event. You know it, Chancellor?”
“I do... know of it?”
She tilted her head.
Prime “romance” event in-game.
Students pair up during break to visit each other’s hometowns.
Among Empire nobles, it was...
Basically treated as a student date trip.
Not official academy fare, but a longstanding tradition treated quasi-officially, complete with staff oversight.
“...”
I handed her the event paperwork from those staffers.
The content? Exactly what I’d die before doing.
Couldn’t flat-out refuse either side without risking murder or suicide vibes, so...
This happened.
“...This is a joke, right?”
Atalante gave a wry smile.
“Eliya Chrisanax. Elnor Erinarije la Tristan.”
“...”
“Hero Candidate. Tristan Duchess. Either one alone could flip a territory upside down.”
“...”
“...You’re going home to the Campbell ‘Barony’ with *both* of them?”
“...”
I wished it was a joke.
From the bottom of my heart.
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