Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: The Ring (2)
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“...”
“...”
Atalante and I stared at each other in silence.
Our gazes toward one another were filled with an intense sense of pity.
I had a rough idea why she was looking at me like this.
“You look worn out, don’t you?”
“...You seem aware of it yourself.”
“The Chancellor doesn’t look any better than me—maybe even worse.”
“...”
Well, I’ve been putting all my nerves and effort into avoiding Elnor lately, so it’s only natural for me.
But seeing Atalante looking half-dead like this was a first.
“...Anyway, this is the result of your request. Here’s the list of students selected as exchange students this time.”
The selection process for the trials was simple.
In any case, they select and assemble students primarily based on ‘outstanding achievements.’
Whether it’s something incredibly impressive, fighting exceptionally well, or superior strategy—any kind of visibly exceptional ability gets you picked. It’s a truly fair opportunity.
Of course, like everything in the world, there are times when it’s ‘more fair’ for some people.
I skimmed through the list of students Atalante handed over.
All the names I’d recommended to her were on there.
Eliya, Yuria, Lucien, Talion.
‘The exchange student event lasts a total of 10 days...’
Once we arrive at the Crucible of Struggle, we’ll be dragged around everywhere busily, so we won’t be sticking together as a group much. Still, there are certain people who absolutely need to be placed in each ‘section.’
And among them, the key person for clearing the entire chapter is.
“...You actually managed to get Liru on the list?”
When I said that to Atalante, she gave me a translucent smile, like her soul had left her body.
As if that girl was responsible for most of the reason she’d ended up like this.
“...It was a huge deal publicly, really.”
Atalante said that while dryly rubbing her face.
“You know the general situation with the Tribal Alliance, right?”
“...Right after a coup replaced the regime?”
“It’s hardly worth calling it a coup. That kind of thing happens all the time over there.”
Fitting its name of ‘alliance,’ it’s a republican system run by the chieftains of the powerful tribes.
The strongest among the chieftains reigns as Great Chieftain, determined by duels between candidates elected by vote.
“...A country with that much power decides its political leader through duels?”
“Tradition demands it, so there’s no helping it. When it comes to stubbornness and isolationism, no group on the continent is worse.”
Atalante replied with a wry chuckle.
Of course, the reason the country runs smoothly despite that is because all the chieftains are formidable enough to do their part no matter who gets picked.
“...”
This time is an exception.
The current Great Chieftain there is someone who’ll cause chaos across the entire continent if he isn’t ‘dragged down’ soon.
“The one who defeated the former Great Chieftain, Casa Garda, and took the position is Allan Ba-Tor, chieftain of the Black Wolf Tribe.”
Atalante let out a deep sigh just from mentioning the name.
Her reaction made it clear she was sick of even thinking about him.
“...I heard he was originally a gentle, thoughtful man, but lately he’s turned into a completely different person. To get Liru Garda smuggled in from there, I had to pull every connection I had.”
“...You must have had it rough.”
I meant it sincerely. Honestly, if it weren’t for Atalante, convincing that guy ‘now’ would’ve been next to impossible.
Cutting off three of Casa Garda’s limbs, framing Liru Garda and banishing her from the Tribal Alliance along with Casa, wiping out her entire clan—
All of it was that bastard’s doing.
“...”
More precisely, by the ‘mastermind’ manipulating him from behind.
As she said, the Allan from the original story I know wouldn’t do something like that.
He got tangled up with some damn devil worshiper and turned that way.
“More importantly, how are you holding up?”
Atalante sighed as she spoke.
“I heard the Tristan Duchess is preparing a ring—wait, you haven’t said—”
The chancellor shut her mouth upon seeing me drenched in cold sweat.
“...You really don’t need any help? You keep refusing, so I’ve been leaving you alone, but...”
“Helping me would backfire.”
There’s no way to help anyway.
Block her from delivering the ring? An enraged Elnor would go berserk for sure.
“I heard you’ve been dodging the Tristan Duchess these past few days, but that won’t solve—”
“—I know better than anyone that it won’t.”
I definitely need to resolve this somehow.
My current situation is as desperate as it gets.
Even the skill with the same name can’t help me this time.
1. Accept the engagement ring? → Yuria, possessed by the White Devil, will kill me the moment she confirms it, high probability.
2. Refuse the engagement ring? → High probability Elnor goes berserk. My death probability skyrockets anyway.
Hell’s easy choice.
That’s why I’ve just been running—no solution in sight.
‘...Even combining two fragments is a problem.’
Whether the devil’s vessel holds one fragment or two makes a world of difference.
One just causes occasional berserk outbursts in emergencies.
But two... strengthens the ‘connection’ a bit.
Meaning Elnor can now faintly contact the Gray Devil’s ‘will.’
And how that manifests? I don’t know.
‘...She’s always been kind, though.’
The Gray Devil has always shown me consistent goodwill.
But whether she’d accept me outright rejecting it.
Or even forgive me for ‘cheating’ on top of that? Who knows.
“...I just need a little time. A few days of thinking and maybe a good idea will—”
!!!!!!!!!!!Demon Alert!!!!!!!!!!!
[ ‘Demon-related’ Emergency Event Occurs! ]
[ This is a Critical Event! ]
[ Fail to act correctly within the time limit, and you will die! ]
[ Event related to Target ‘Elnor’! ]
[ Return to the dormitory immediately and prepare! ]
“...”
What the hell is this?
●
Elnor widened her eyes and checked her appearance.
She had prepared with utmost perfection.
Checked multiple times by Beatrix, refined by herself nearly all day, and even the ‘token of promise’ custom-made by the most famous designer in the capital Cagenov with a fortune poured in.
Preparation was flawless. She strode confidently into the dormitory.
“Oh my, President—? What brings you to the freshman dorm—?”
“I’m here to meet someone, Ophelia Knight.”
Ophelia tilted her head at Elnor’s voice full of resolve.
“Dawood again—? He’s inside since there are no classes today, but he looks like he shouldn’t be bothered—?”
“Is there a reason?”
“No, just... he looks absolutely awful today—earlier he was pale and sweating buckets—”
“...”
He’d always had a huge gap between his perceptive and oblivious sides.
He must have guessed what she’d resolved to do this time.
“...Thank you, Ophelia Knight.”
Elnor nodded solemnly.
“But today, I must see him.”
Her subsequent actions clearly stemmed from that determination.
Striding forward, she reached Dawood’s door in an instant, then took a deep breath.
“...”
Her heart pounded. Her whole body felt like a fireball.
From the moment she could remember her actions, she’d excelled in most areas, but right now, she had no way to suppress the anxiety crushing her entire body.
“...”
She raised her hand to knock.
But in a way that belied the will that had brought her this far, she hesitated.
What if, just what if.
For whatever reason, what if.
Dawood refused this ring.
“...No.”
A dampened voice leaked out faintly.
Just imagining it felt like a huge hole had been punched through her chest. Her nose stung. Tears welled in her eyes.
“...”
That thought made her hand, raised to knock, refuse to fall.
She wanted to run. This could be the catalyst to upend their entire relationship.
Wasn’t she happy as is? Just watching that man by her side—wasn’t that enough happiness?
Maybe this was her greed. Unilaterally burdening him with too much.
At the very least, his constant dodging showed he didn’t welcome her actions.
Rather than that.
Rather than doing what he hated.
Better to just stay like this.
From now on, forever, just like—
[Are you satisfied with that?]
Her body froze.
A voice rang chillingly clear in her mind.
It felt like the ‘sinister energy’ previously trapped in her heart had risen to her head.
As if what was once ‘one’ had become ‘two.’
Was this her own inner voice? Or something ‘else’ speaking in her head? She couldn’t tell.
She’d never experienced this before.
But one thing was certain.
Those words carried an atmosphere impossible to refuse.
[Even if that man ends up in another woman’s arms—not yours—can you bear it?]
[You can’t, right?]
[Then do it.]
[Make that man yours.]
[And if he won’t become yours—]
At that voice.
“...”
Elnor knocked on the door as if entranced.
Knock knock knock.
“You there.”
“...”
No response.
Knock knock knock again.
She swallowed dryly and continued.
She’d knocked as if pushed by something, but she was still tense.
“You there. Are you listening?”
Still no response.
But Ophelia Knight wouldn’t lie to her. Dawood was definitely inside.
“I already know you’re in there. It’d be wise to open the door quietly.”
“...”
“I already asked Ophelia Knight, the dormitory supervisor. You have no classes today.”
“...”
Still no response.
Elnor gritted her teeth.
“Fine. You plan to ignore me to the end, huh.”
No backing down now.
She gripped her longsword.
“Then I’ll cut my way in.”
One flash.
The dormitory door split entirely.
Inside sat Dawood with a stunned expression.
“...Isn’t this a violation of school rules?”
“The student council enforces penalties for rule violations. And coincidentally, I’m currently the Student Council President.”
Elnor sheathed her longsword casually.
“I came because I have something to say. You’ve been avoiding me lately, haven’t you?”
“...”
“Roughly... 32 times, was it?”
“...Why are you counting every single one?”
Why count every one?
Her time, her heart, her body—all were pledged to this man.
Every moment spent with him was a precious memory she could never waste.
“...”
She slowly drew the ring from her bosom.
“You know why I came this far.”
She approached him step by step.
She barely suppressed her trembling body. Had she ever been this afraid of anything since birth?
“I’ll ask you, Dawood Campbell.”
She steadied her choking throat and continued.
“Will you marry me?”
“...”
And so.
The die was cast.
Elnor, uncharacteristically, bowed her head and squeezed her eyes shut.
She couldn’t even look straight at this man’s face.
Silence stretched on.
Continuously, endlessly.
“Elnor.”
The stillness, which felt eternal to her, broke.
Finally, Dawood slowly opened his mouth.
“This doesn’t feel right.”
-...
Cold seeped into her chest.
“How can you suddenly give me something like this without a word?”
“...”
It tore.
With just that one phrase.
Her heart felt shattered into a thousand pieces.
Her legs buckled; she could hardly stand. Her temples throbbed. Tears filled her eyes.
“You should at least give me a chance to choose.”
“I, I, I—”
She didn’t know what to say.
Her head spun.
‘It hurts.’
It hurts so much it feels like dying. Can’t breathe.
Her chest hurts so bad.
“...”
Even amid the sensation of her body tearing apart, that recent sentence slashed through her mind.
A choice? What choice?
Another woman besides her?
[And if he won’t become yours—]
That voice echoed in her head.
The one from moments ago.
But stronger now.
So strong it felt like her reason was being devoured entirely.
Really, if she fell for those words, and this man wouldn’t become hers, then rather—
“The size doesn’t fit.”
“...?”
Elnor’s eyes snapped open.
This man.
What did he just say?
“See? It won’t go in.”
She hurriedly looked up at Dawood, who was grunting while forcing the ring onto his finger.
“These are supposed to be sized together, right? How could you guess the size alone?”
“...”
Her mouth fell open.
She still didn’t know what to say.
But for an entirely different reason now.
“Let’s go pick one out together later, Elnor.”
Dawood smiled brightly.
“Something this important should be chosen by the engaged couple together.”
“...”
Ah.
This man.
Really.
“...Dawood.”
She slapped Dawood hard.
He tumbled to the floor with a choke, but instead of apologizing, she flushed and huffed.
“Don’t tease me, don’t tease!”
“...”
“I, I, this time, really, you, really, really—!”
By the last word, she was grabbing the wriggling Dawood on the floor and swinging him around in the air.
And on Elnor’s face as she did so was the first ‘genuinely radiant smile’ she’d ever worn.
Not the faint, subtle one from before.
Because she was feeling a happiness that brightly transformed her entire life.
“Come on, then we’ll go! I’ll go anywhere you say! Just tell me!”
“...H-Hey, Elnor, please put me down, I’ll die if we go like this—”
“I’ll inform the main family too! Lots to handle, so see you soon!”
With that, she tossed Dawood back into a corner of the room.
She really did have much to handle.
An unstoppable smile kept spilling from her lips.
“Oh my, Elnor—you’re out early...?”
Even Ophelia Knight at the entrance gaped in shock at her sight.
“E-Elnor? W-Why’s your face like that? What happened—?”
“Ophelia Knight, the world is truly beautiful.”
“...”
“Life is worth living!”
Having said that, Elnor bolted out of the dormitory at tremendous speed.
Really, life was worth living.
To think a person could be this happy!
“...Has she finally lost it?”
She even ignored the mutter from behind.
●
Drenched in cold sweat, I glared at the window in front of me.
[ Remaining Time Limit ]
[ 00: 00: 03 ]
[ Target ‘Elnor’’s Corruption Level drops from 122% → 0%! ]
[ Successfully resolved the ‘Elnor’-related event before the time limit! ]
[ Death is canceled! ]
Dawood Campbell.
Miraculously survived at the 3-second mark till death.
I racked my brain over what the hell ‘correct action’ meant.
Looks like what I did at the end was right.
If I hadn’t taken the ring just now, I’d have died right there.
It was a sudden event, but I somehow cleared it...!
“...”
But that doesn’t mean I can just rejoice.
Why?
!!!!!!!!!!!Demon Alert!!!!!!!!!!!
[ ‘Demon-related’ Emergency Event Occurs! ]
[ This is a Critical Event! ]
[ Fail to act correctly within the time limit, and you will die! ]
[ Event related to Target ‘Yuria’! ]
[ Find a way to survive! ]
[ Remaining Time Limit ]
[ 12: 00: 00 ]
Dawood Campbell.
Lifespan extended from 3 seconds to 12 hours.
“...”
I’m screwed.
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