Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Five-Way Confrontation
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After that.
I lay in the convenience store for three days.
When I finally got up three days later, the first thing I did was review the battle.
"Who would've thought a single ejection would drain all my stamina."
It couldn't be helped. I'd leaped higher than Rudika's body could manage, landed right in front of the throne, and even shoved her aside. I paid the price dearly for it.
So yeah.
I took fall damage, that's all.
With my stamina at 2, dropping to critical from fall damage 1 is par for the course.
What a garbage game...
Anyway.
With time on my hands, maybe I should go over the fight.
"...Hmm."
To be honest, if you asked whether that battle a few days ago was my complete victory, I'd have nothing to say.
Of course, I have my excuses.
I'd never played the game as Wolfram instead of Kelters, and while I'd done a "maggot run" collecting trash characters to see the ending, it wasn't exactly fun.
There were maps where Eve and Kelters absolutely had to deploy, after all.
Anyway, they say it was recognized as my win in the final exam arena. I only heard about it because I was passed out, and Partratu gathered the rumors while flying regular routes.
But I can't puff out my chest.
Even after doing everything a veteran could, I nearly lost.
And above all...
"Rudika Hassan Shadow never showed her true power, except for that final strike."
I knew it, of course.
How many times do you think I deliberately committed evil deeds as Kelters just to face "Professor Rudika"?
Over three thousand times.
The result? I died over three thousand times. In the first year, you "absolutely" can't beat Rudika.
First off, her biggest issue is you can't read her "wind-up."
For example, with an axe overhead smash, you see the wind-up lift; with a sword thrust, you see the pull-back. But Rudika Hassan Shadow's overwhelming agility stat and plain twin daggers make motion reading nearly impossible.
That's how it should be, really. Assassins have no reason for big motions or flashy daggers. Wielding two dirks and going shuk, shuk, shuk—that's a true assassin.
That said, I didn't just take hits lying down.
From the start, I tried countless strategies to block her offense completely. As Kelters, I even analyzed patterns instead of motions and survived over 200 exchanges once.
But in the end, Kelters always dies.
Only one strike where you can read the motion.
In other words, you always die to the boss's "instant kill."
That's Rudika's Tier 3 skill: Zero Back Zero.
She pulls back long, preparing to dash. It takes about two seconds.
Then she launches, slicing you dead. Rudika appears dozens of steps behind your back.
She flicks her dagger, you hear a serk as you crumple and die. Terrifying.
But in the game proper, spotting that Zero Back Zero motion made me question it.
[Why appear dozens of steps back? It's a cool flash, but it feels like she can't control her body. Is that a proper assassin attack?]
And after raising Rudika myself, my hunch was right.
Even she can't control it fully. Pair it with frenzy, and she crashes into walls.
Now that D/Z SAGA is reality, maybe I can exploit it. So I caught the one readable motion, asked Filtia to boost ejection speed, and... well, it was chaos.
Anyway, rambling aside—except for Zero Back Zero, which I could read, she launched zero real offenses.
And even that Zero Back Zero wasn't with frenzy; she charged at agility 21.
I guarantee frenzy mode wouldn't be stopped by a mere ejection.
Well, still. I rin.
No matter how much she held back, a win's a win.
No one cares if the demon general yelling 【Kuhaha! Weak, human!】 gets offed by the protagonist's holy sword awakening buff. A loss is a loss, a win is a win.
"But not a total victory. I need to step it up."
My character traits are set anyway.
Probably an extreme agility build. Not curses. Well, kinda.
"Push any harder, and... my heart might burst?"
"...Huh?"
"Ease up on the effort. Seriously."
At first, I thought it was a curse from the warehouse acting up again, but no.
There stood Aila.
"Aila? How'd you get in?"
"You said the convenience store's open 24 hours, right?"
"...Yeah."
True enough.
Aila walked over with heavy steps and squatted in front of me.
She crossed her arms and stared.
Worried. And... a bit pouty? Sulking?
"Wolfram, do you know how worried I was? I came to the store every day, but you just slept. I even checked your breathing, scared something was wrong."
"..."
I hadn't noticed at all.
Meaning she could choke me anytime. Scary. Aila's actually scary.
"We said we'd laugh about our victories together. But winning like this hurts my heart."
"...You're right."
Aila never scolds usually, but right now, I have no defense.
Actually, I do.
How was I supposed to know a higher jump from ejection would mean fall damage critical?
"You're... okay, right?"
"Yeah. Fine."
But whining more would just get me scolded harder.
What can you do? I'm a trash character.
"It's not just me. Everyone was worried."
"Everyone?"
"Yes. Everyone."
Aila's finger pointed to the real "everyone."
"Oh, senpai. You're awake?"
"...A-Are you okay, Wolfram?"
"S-Senpai, you good?"
Ah.
This is awkward.
So, they came to rub it in that I collapsed pathetically.
The world's so heartless.
Stamina 2, perish!
But I know that's not it.
The "friendship" and "trust" they have for me—maybe I can start believing it now.
Thinking that tickles under my nose.
We're... friends even after graduation!
Grateful for my comrades' bonds, I shrugged.
"Don't worry. It wasn't serious—just a bit wobbly."
"Someone wobbly sleeps three days straight?"
"Wolfram..."
Aila still stared, face a mix of dissatisfaction and worry. The others nodded too, especially Rudika looking grave.
No, really, stop worrying so much.
Why are your faces flushing like that while staring?
"I'll shake it off quick. Especially Rudika—no need to feel bad; it wasn't your fault."
"Uh, yeah. Got it. Heh. Right. That's the man who beat Rudika."
A slight blush on Rudika's cheeks. Cold? Weather's fine.
Ah... maybe the status effect I inflicted lingers. It hit her dead-on as she flew.
"Rudika, thanks for humoring my reckless fight. Allow me to offer my respects."
"...Heh. No need. Rudika had fun too. Just knowing there's a man in this Jefrin I can't best is enough. Coming here, it was my first thrill."
Saying that without going all-out.
Good kid.
As Rudika and I smiled at each other, a voice slipped in from the side.
"A-Ahem. Anyway, senpai. Congrats on the final exam win."
"Thanks, Milmyu. How'd you do?"
"I-I rin too. Everyone... did."
"Nice."
That's impressive.
First-year finals for Kelters means beating 2nd through 6th place in a row; clear all five, next semester's tuition is free. Top of the year.
Plus gear perks, items galore.
Life changer, honestly.
That's why newbie guides always say maintain top spot as Kelters.
"Good work."
"...Thanks, senpai. So, um... you remember the promise?"
"Promise? ...Ah, yeah. Of course. Just us two out for a stroll, right."
"...Yes!"
Sure, whatever.
Can't deny a junior's request to hit Jefrin's scenic spots or hang out.
"Senpai and Milmyu junior... touring Jefrin alone?"
"...Wolfram. What's going on?"
"If Milmyu stayed top, we'd tour Jefrin together."
"...Never heard."
"No reason to broadcast it."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The three excluding Milmyu iced over. Did I do something wrong?
...Nah. Nothing comes to mind.
"Wh-What. I've adventured with Wolfram senpai and Rudika senpai plenty too."
"Ah... yeah. Eastern Forest, Sleeping Mountains... and the sea too."
Nefti and Rudika's words turned Milmyu and Aila icy.
"Well... Rudika and Wolfram overcame the Dragon's Trial just the two of us. We're the strongest, crossing life and death together? My magic hit 20 thanks to him. We're the most fitting pair."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Finally, Aila stepped up, cleared her throat, hand on her chest, proud.
Dunno what's so proud about, or why the mood's so frosty.
"Then I'll go savor Jefrin alone with Wolfram senpai."
"'Explore,' not 'savor.' Poor word choice, Milmyu junior."
"Yes, Nepthelian senpai."
"Wolfram. Gonna adventure with Rudika and Nefti again?"
"Sounds good."
"I'm in! Wolfram senpai!"
"Wolfram. Any other defiant challenges besides the Dragon's Trial?"
"Plenty. The world's vast, adventures abound."
"Indeed!"
Rudika, Nefti, Aila, Milmyu's gazes crossed in midair.
Suddenly chilly, but why?
Ah.
That must be it.
Haha. Knew you'd pull this, you stones.
Sheesh. Not kids anymore.
"I get your frustrations. Academy life's boring, I understand."
"Huh?"
"Pardon?"
"Eh?"
"Wolfram?"
These kids are dense.
All of them, even Milmyu now, have specs to show off anywhere.
'Black Crystal' 'Abyss Dagger' 'Conviction' 'Iron Fist'
Holding their titles, they're craving bigger adventures.
Ah, I get it. Really do.
I was the same—honestly, with your specs, I'd rush the Act 5 boss for loot right now.
"Sure, I led, so you could step into new worlds and have all those adventures."
"...Wolfram, what are you saying?"
"W-Was that it?"
"...Senpai?"
"But competing over who adventured more with me, turning unknown to known—doesn't that feel like kids aged five or six vying over who's closest? As Jefrin students, such childish rivalry doesn't suit."
"........."
"Snowfields with snowfield picks, Sleeping Mountains with mountain picks, Dragon's Trial with trial picks. That's all. So no competing over adventure counts."
Oh my, look at those eyes.
Why glare so coldly?
Like movie serial killers from my childhood.
"Fine. Here's the plan. Finals over, just a few pre-ceremony mixers, then summer break."
"...Right?"
"Why bring that up, Wolfram?"
"So, right here, a proposal for those who haven't seen it all."
"...What?"
"What else? Everyone together to the paradise heights. See that beautiful sea."
Classes done, bonding time. Activities.
Great, right?
"Excellent, senpai. I've been, so I'll protect you 'again.'"
"Nice, Rudika agrees."
"Yup. Sounds good. Let's go, Wolfram."
"Heh. Yes. Indeed. There..."
But why are you still smiling like that?