Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Crossroads
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“Um, Trisha.”
“What.”
“...Can’t you stop scolding me now?”
Eliya said that with a teary face.
Her hand, held up in the air as she braced herself, was trembling faintly.
The moment she returned to the dorm room and reported her ‘progress’ during the break to her glaring friend, this had happened.
“No, it was the perfect opportunity! You should’ve at least gotten a promise for a one-on-one date, anytime, anywhere!”
“B-but, the teacher said he’d come to the margrave’s territory during the next break too...”
“That’s no excuse to drag Kendrid Margrave all the way there just for empty words! There was nothing about him wanting to hang out with you!”
“...”
She’s scary.
Even though they were the same age, Trisha exuded an almost tiger-like aura most of the time when giving advice on youth matters like this.
“...Put your hand down and sit first.”
Trisha sighed and patted the bed next to her.
At least she wasn’t just going to keep scolding. The dark energy that had filled her chest before sending Eliya off felt much lighter now.
“Can you tell me exactly what happened there?”
“...Sure.”
Eliya rubbed her arms and pondered her memories.
-Leave Eliya entirely to me. I’ll make sure you won’t regret it.
The first thing that came to mind was that.
“...I’m not entirely sure, but he did say he thinks I’m really... important.”
“...”
Trisha’s eyes sharpened again as she watched Eliya’s face melt into a goofy smile.
To waver this much over vague words—Eliya was in serious condition.
Eliya hurriedly added more, seeing her reaction.
“J-just listen! I’m serious! It’s vague, but definitely not a bad thing!”
With that, Eliya explained everything that happened during the break in detail to Trisha.
Of course, she skipped the parts with potential issues, like amicably turning a viscounty and a county upside down, or fighting the unidentified entity-possessed Tristan Archduke.
“...”
But after hearing the whole story, Trisha clutched her head in disbelief.
‘...That’s totally player-level stuff, isn’t it?’
Honestly, sending Eliya with the Tristan Duchess had partly been to gauge the man’s attitude.
Even confirming he had no feelings for Eliya would’ve given her grounds to tell her friend to snap out of it.
But instead, things got even more ambiguous. Eliya’s condition worsened, and there was no sign of tension between him and the Tristan Duchess.
She couldn’t even guess how he’d navigated that.
‘How can both the hero candidate and the duchess be head over heels for one guy...’
She groaned, pressing her forehead against the oncoming headache.
It was obvious what would happen if this continued. Eliya bouncing between heaven and hell daily over Dawood’s reactions was crystal clear.
‘But leaving her alone won’t improve the outlook either...’
Frankly, Eliya had almost no ‘advantages’ over the Tristan Duchess.
Eliya wasn’t someone to be ignored anywhere, but the duchess’s specs were overwhelmingly superior in every way.
So, the only edge they had was offense. Total offense.
Appeal, appeal, more aggressive appeals!
“Eliya. Listen carefully.”
She launched into a speech along those lines.
“H-how could I say that...”
“Won’t the teacher feel burdened? If someone like me pushes too hard...”
No dice.
Watching Eliya shrink back just from imagining it made her chest boil.
The girl who never panicked in life-or-death combat couldn’t handle this!
You’ll cry rivers later if you don’t!
‘...No choice.’
Then the top priority was increasing the time Eliya spent with that Dawood guy.
A few academy schedules came to mind.
Among them, something Dawood would definitely be involved in...
“Eliya. I’m giving you two assignments.”
“...Assignments?”
“Yeah. One to do by today, the other within a week.”
“No, even the professors don’t give me homework—what—”
Trisha glared.
“Do it.”
“...”
Her tone allowed no compromise.
●
Let’s talk about the Tribal Union.
One of the three nations influencing the entire continent. A coalition run by the Grand Chieftain and the chieftains of the tribes under him.
As the name suggests, it fits the ‘barbarian warrior’ image best.
‘...The problem is, it’s just the image.’
They just uphold that tradition.
In fact, the Tribal Union is the most ‘technologically advanced’ place in the Sera world. Items that are near science fiction in the Empire or Holy Kingdom are commercialized there.
Less than the Tower of Magic, the hub of all tech, but the Tribal Union still occasionally shows off tech that shatters the medieval fantasy setting.
Overall, individual combat power-wise, Tribal Union warriors are the strongest. Their training is solid compared to other nations, and above all, their equipment tech is on another level.
The fatal flaw is their ‘numbers’—pitifully lacking compared to the Empire or Holy Kingdom.
‘Balancing, that’s it.’
The Sera devs balanced nations with pros and cons.
Just comparing main forces—‘knights’, ‘warriors’, and ‘battle priests’—shows it.
Knights are all-around strong with the most numbers, but no standout specialties.
Warriors have the highest individual combat power but few in number—elite few.
Battle priests are weakest in raw power but cover with special abilities—specialized type.
It changes at top-tier fights, but averages follow that pattern.
‘Anyway.’
Following that, the Tribal Union places huge value on individual warrior strength. With few numbers, they must be elites.
Conversely, they disdain the weak severely.
It’s inevitable the incompetent get ignored, but there it’s extreme. Weaklings aren’t even treated as people.
To avoid disdain there, I need at least baseline strength without Desperate Situation.
That’s why I’m suffering now.
“Pwah... Puha...”
“...”
My ragged breaths sounded like vomiting. Talion, my running partner, looked at me in confusion.
He hadn’t expected someone to collapse after just 10 minutes.
“Brother, you okay? Want to take a break?”
“N-no, it’s f-fine.”
I collapsed to the ground.
Every muscle screamed. Pathetic to be this wrecked from so little, but unavoidable.
[Status Info]
「Dawood Campbell」
[Physical]
Strength: F (3% to rank up)
Agility: F (3% to rank up)
Endurance: F
Luck: F
Influence: D
[Supernatural]
Mana: E (Corrected by ‘Soul Linker’ effect)
Spellpower: F
Divinity: E
[Misc.]
[Current alchemy applications on body: 1]
[Stage 1 mutation in progress due to ‘Seal of the Heavens’: 1%]
Some escaped F from before, but overall stats are still disastrous.
Pushing to near-faint from this exercise is natural.
No choice. Gotta raise stats.
Even ignoring avoiding disdain there, for Chapter 3 progress, after half-freeloading, physical stat growth is essential, not optional.
Lots of physical demands ahead.
‘Gonna die for real...’
I sighed, covering my eyes with my hand as my vision spun.
That’s why I’d delayed despite knowing I needed to raise stats.
Unlike other growth with loopholes, stats require pure repetitive labor.
Corrections have limits. Basics like stamina—low stats mean low efficiency no matter what.
Even Desperate Situation, which absurdly inflates stats, squares base values.
‘...At least I have this.’
I glanced at the necklace I wore.
[ Lion’s Necklace ] [ Accessory ]
[ Grade: Rare ]
[ Necklace awarded to promising warriors in the Tribal Union. Increases bodily vitality when worn. Also boosts efficiency of physical training through exercise. ]
Got it from Hatam of the Tribal Union before dueling the Pontiff.
Low grade, but one of the few items aiding stat growth in the game. Invaluable.
Story-relevant too.
-...
As I thought that, light poured from the Lion’s Necklace, enveloping me.
Then a liquid sprayed on my bunched muscles and swollen joints.
Pain eased.
“...”
Auto-detects exercise breaks, scans body, heals.
That’s the training efficiency boost. Insanely advanced tech.
“That’s Tribal Union stuff? Impressive.”
Talion smirked, having seen it.
“They say they have all sorts of wonders. Looks true.”
“First time seeing it?”
“Just heard. Always wanted to see for myself.”
Talion smiled as he spoke.
“So, I need to push harder for this weekend’s exam. Tons I want to check out there myself.”
“Hm?”
“Exchange student applications usually start from 2nd years, but this time freshmen too. No idea why.”
“...”
A wry smile escaped me.
The golden triangle academies’ exchange student event is ‘competition’ in disguise, pride on the line.
Pick the absolute best to prove our students outshine theirs.
Hence the ridiculous academy-wide exams just for selecting exchange students.
“Heard selected ones get huge career boosts. For House Armand, I have to pass.”
“...Yeah. Good luck.”
I gave Talion a wry smile back.
Nothing else to say.
Because.
‘You’re already in.’
Couldn’t tell that to someone burning so purely with passion.
I’d requested the headmaster allow freshmen exams. Helping all I could wasn’t empty talk.
Result: A few are ‘guaranteed’ spots.
Essential for Chapter 3.
‘Problem is...’
Among those we need, one will refuse even if selected.
[Gift-Related Character Alert]
▼ Liru Garda
[ Curiosity Stage 1 ]
[ ‘Fatal Charm’ skill conditionally implanted! ]
[ Next skill activation grants double effect! ]
[ Related event: D-5 ]
Liru Garda is crucial for Chapter 3.
Evil alignment, but not a scenario villain. Actually, the ‘key figure’ for clearing Chapter 3.
‘...Using her is a headache though.’
Clearing Chapter 3 hinges on ‘reforming’ her bad side, not exaggeration.
Unlike Elnor or Yuria—where evil alignment feels unfair—Liru’s traits justify it.
Loves beating people, wildly violent, battle maniac, scorns the weak...
“Hm?”
Lost in thought, I spotted someone sprinting toward us from afar.
Early dawn with dew just forming, but drenched in sweat—clearly running long.
Flowing purple hair, lean muscle without an ounce of fat, covered in scars.
I know her.
I wiped sweat and looked at Liru Garda.
Not exactly respectable.
“...”
Her gaze lingered on me briefly.
Not strangers—we met once in observer class.
Probably considered greeting.
But her eyes locked on my necklace. Widened slightly.
Frowned. Lips moved like she wanted to say something.
“...”
But after hesitating, glancing between my face and necklace.
She averted her gaze, passed Talion and me.
Like convincing herself it was none of her business.
“...”
I wryly watched Liru speed away.
Given her personality, picking a fight wouldn’t be odd.
She dives into fun fights headfirst, ignoring context. Our prior meeting? I fit the bill.
But.
Liru Garda is the Grand Chieftain’s daughter, studying at the Empire’s academy.
That odd phrasing hints at her massively complicated ties to the Tribal Union.
From her side, anything reminding her of home makes her bolt.
“...Better not get involved with her.”
Talion said seriously.
“She’s known academy-wide as a mad dog. Heard she’s broken rules over ten times—all assaults.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. Rumors swirl why she hasn’t been expelled despite the chaos.”
Talion grumbled, then wryly smiled.
“But... I think she’s diligent in her way. Can’t keep up.”
His voice turned deflated.
“Training freak. I wake earliest among peers for practice, but she’s always running or exercising. No clue what time she starts today.”
“She’s always like that.”
“...Pardon?”
Unseen, but Liru Garda works harder than anyone.
“She’s not as bad as she seems.”
One of her ‘good sides’ hidden under the brutality.
Plenty more if you dig.
▼ Liru Garda
[ Curiosity Stage 1 ]
[ ‘Fatal Charm’ skill conditionally implanted! ]
[ Next skill activation grants double effect! ]
[ Related event: D-5 ]
If I’m right.
That’ll show unfiltered in the ‘related event’ overlapping the exchange exam.
Pondering the system window.
Talion hummed, stroking his chin.
“You know, brother.”
“Hm?”
“You’ve got some brutal rumors in the faculty too.”
“...Like what?”
“Apparently a massive trash juggling multiple untouchable women.”
“...”
“Eliya, Student Council President—midterms, taming a ghost who slices anything near with a leash. Even the Saintess spotted with you often...”
“...”
“New prey this time?”
Shut up.
Please shut up.
●