Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 057
Chapter Title: You Should Work Hard Yourself
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Reality, back when I was Yi Young-jin.
In other words, the days when I was learning computers at the orphanage.
As I mentioned before, the specs were crap, so it was always classic games running on it.
That's why, even when I started living in a cheap rez room, the first thing I did was splurge on a high-end PC and pour my life into D/Z SAGA.
Anyway.
Among the games I could play there, there was one with a blue hedgehog.
That legendary classic hailed as a god-tier game since forever. Sonic 3, they called it. While playing, this red-headed mole-looking jerk named Knuckles shows up.
Later he becomes a companion, but in 3, Knuckles du Uganda or whatever acts like an annoying villain.
Steals your super special gems, messes with you every chance he gets, knocks the protagonist Sonic flat on the ground—total chaos. Then he runs off laughing his ass off clutching his belly. Kid me wanted to beat the crap out of him so bad.
So, whenever I see this "invincibly fleeing prankster genius boss," my first instinct is always to wanna smack him. He's just that infuriating.
So.
I did smack him. No big reason.
Just curious, that's all.
Sorry about that. Bear with me.
"Grrrrrr!"
"Kyaeeeeek?!"
Anyway, at my command, Part rashu charged and bit down on the guy.
A shrill scream echoed out, and the jerk staggered back two steps. Bam! A defensive spell smacked Part rashu, and with a yelp, it went flying off.
"He shouldn't have gone down that easily... Must be my mana shortage."
Still, that was enough.
Part rashu did its job.
This one moment's opening.
Because the most talented, level-headed, heaven-sent genius here grasped the situation, adjusted her trajectory, reformed her strategy, and finished prepping to smack the jerk.
I'd clearly told Eve, "Hit him with your biggest spell in one shot."
And Eve followed my orders to the letter.
Weeeeeing. Whoooosh.
Mana shifted into light. Every will around her bowed in the face of that holy power.
Mana filled the air, but only strong mana and high willpower could wield it.
So how strong was Eve right now?
I grabbed some popcorn I'd secretly stashed in the cart and focused on that strike.
Mana stats.
18 surpasses human limits,
19 is plenty to call heaven-sent genius,
20 is monster territory,
and 21 grand mages make history books.
Eve von Loengrin.
A mage with 22 mana—the greatest talent since the founding emperor.
Above her right hand, she casually condensed mana. Swapped it to light. Morphing it into a spear, ready to launch.
Holy Light Spear, infused with divinity over the light spear.
A focused single shot. Maxed power, guaranteed clean hit with stun mez.
"Die!"
Oh. Cool line too.
Right after, Eve's Holy Light Spear flew straight at "that guy" and nailed him dead-on.
"Kyaeeeeek?!"
He somehow blocked it with defensive magic.
How much mana did that jerk have? Whatever, less than Eve's. That robe was a Tier 6 magic tool, but it couldn't fully stop her all-out blast.
"Hm. No penetration or vital pierce."
Aila would've casually added penetration and shot right through a person.
The light spear didn't pierce him—instead, it smashed him flat. Boom! His body blasted through the cabin wall, ricocheting back and crashing! into the rear mountain.
Crunch. A few trees splintered. Resin and dust billowed from the crushed trunks.
The sounds that followed pelted my ears like a broken music box, repeating endlessly.
Something slamming into trees, bouncing, flying again. Like a cannon variation symphony—orchestra of smacks, collapses, embeds, pierces, more smacks, and crumples.
Using man and audience as percussion in a raucous performance, the light spear finally went quiet.
How many trees got pulverized like that? His screams weren't even audible anymore.
"...Hoo. Hurry and snap out of it! He took my strike—we gotta chase now!"
"Y-Yes!"
At Eve's order, the other student council members dashed after him. Eve exhaled sharply, caught her breath, and looked my way.
"I said full power, one-shot smackdown, right?"
"Yeah."
"See that? That's my max output within chant time."
8-second cast, five verses maybe.
"Got it."
I nodded, and Eve planted hands on hips, snorted triumphantly, and grinned all cocky. Not bad. A tad slower than Aila, but raw power definitely outdid her.
One thing bugged me, though.
"Got a question."
"What?"
"Holy Light Spear. Single. Max Power. Sure Hit. All solid intent. Perfect combo for one-shot takedown. But"
"...But?"
"Why no vital pierce at the end? Need the stun?"
"You devil? That'd pierce clean through and kill him!"
"He won't die?"
"...Probably not? I made sure it wouldn't kill."
Eve went pale staring at me as she said it.
Yep.
Growth-wise, not bad at all. But she's just too damn pure—lacks killing intent.
Rinder if she'll make it past that hellish Act 5 like this.
In canon, she shatters zombie Wolfram's skull with Holy Light Spear there.
"Got it. Understood. But... nah. We'll talk after checking the perp."
"Can't we take it slow? Used too much mana..."
"Hm. Student council execs alone might not handle it, or he slips away. You gotta join quick."
"Slips? After that hit? No way. With stun on top!"
"...We'll see."
Doesn't seem like the type to go down easy.
After that, we all hustled toward the debris trail together.
Clearing shattered tree remnants, we reached where the Holy Light Spear's path ended. Student council execs who'd arrived first were searching the area.
"...How's it look?"
Eve approached Sylvia and asked. She knelt on one knee, bowing apologetically.
"Sorry... He got away."
"...Huh? F-For real?"
"Vanished without a trace. Looks like spatial transfer magic."
"...Probability he couldn't tank Eve's attack and got blasted to bits?"
"What the hell, you— Never mind. Hm. Yeah."
Sylvia bristled reflexively at my question, then pondered. Eve paled, glancing my way.
Short deliberation later, Sylvia shook her head and voiced her reasoning.
"No chance. If he'd shattered mid-flight, boom!"
"Eek."
Eve let out a startled whimper, and Sylvia bowed deeply in apology.
"Sorry, Eve. Point is, even shattering, he'd spew guts or whatever inside. But not a drop of blood."
"Sound reasoning. So he bolted?"
Even at 45kg body weight, 70% fluids. Most of that's blood. Least 30kg spraying as he flew—that'd be normal.
Gruesome. Good thing we didn't see it.
"Had a perfect defense artifact. Or status immunity, shock absorption, multi-layered anti-teleport wards on one."
I nodded at Sylvia's words.
So skipping penetration led to this.
In games, armor pen or ignore is king, but reality—with kids around—seemed to limit enhancement spells.
And Sylvia's logic checked out.
She's a bit dumb, sure, but sharp at deductions. Stubborn personality's an issue, but maybe solid as Eve's guardian knight.
"...We lost him."
Eve hung her head.
She took this hardest.
Thinking her strike failed?
"...If I'd gone vital pierce over stun, no escape. My miscalculation wasted everyone's time."
"Eve."
Eve smiled bitterly, and I scoffed at her.
"Might've straight-up killed him. You a demon?"
"You're the one who pointed it out, Wolfram! Said add penetration!"
"Yeah. But your line cracked me up."
"What's so funny? I'm serious."
Who wouldn't laugh?
"Sorry we didn't catch him, should've aimed to kill? That's your style? Got a kill list?"
"...Ugh."
Eve sighed.
After deep thought, she met my eyes straight.
Steady, good eyes.
"You're right. I'm not ready to kill anyone. Just slipped out 'cause it sucked."
"Clean admission."
"Yeah. Spouted nonsense there. Truth is, I don't wanna kill. Don't wanna stain my hands already. I love Jefrin. No deaths on my watch. Went for subdue only—lacked the skill, failed. ...That cool?"
"Yeah. That's enough."
"Next time, subduing Holy Light Spear variant."
For the first time in ages—on this expedition—I grinned seeing her.
Yeah. That's Eve von Loengrin.
Frequent mistakes, hot-tempered, fragile mentality, can't resist sweets, stubborn with first impressions.
But when she realizes a screw-up, she reflects on the spot and instantly plans fixes.
That's why she's the main heroine, sky-high status even if not popularity poll #1, and Eve fans always swore loyalty.
Kelters points out her errors by her side, grows together, supports her imperial race, becomes great holy warrior.
Even here, Eve snaps to thanks to Kelters, gets recruited to council.
Yeah. This expedition—2-1 probably—was the trigger.
"Wolfram... Wolfram von Loengrin."
"What."
"Straight up, you're annoying as hell, creepy, and having your name right above mine in the family tree pisses me off."
"Picking a fight?"
"Hear me out. But your vision on this expedition? Coldest, sharpest, most accurate here—twice over."
"So."
"Bluntly: Wanna join my student council this term?"
"Eve?!"
"My offer. I'll be your shield. Point out when I'm wrong."
"......"
Sylvia went silent. Everyone's eyes bugged out.
No strong backlash, though.
"Hm. Current Wolfram... maybe."
"Super suspicious, honestly."
"Can we trust him?"
"...This expedition succeeded thanks to him, though."
"......Mm."
Not one here opposed Wolfram von Loengrin joining.
Not 'cause Eve propped me. I encouraged, led, backed them—earned it fair.
Life under Eve von Loengrin'd be fun.
Teasing fodder Sylvia, watching Eve grow—rewarding.
Gotta ditch the convenience store, but mainstream society awaits.
Hm. Student council, huh.
No need overthinking.
Eve smiled waiting for my answer. I smiled back at her.
"Haha. Even bullshit's top-tier at that level, sis. Why the hell should I serve under you?"
"...Knew it'd be no."
We laughed and flipped each other off.
Ahem.
Not all, though.
Good big-bro advice for sis...
Hm.
"Oh. And."
"What?"
"If you stray wrong, wouldn't big bro up the line pick a fight just to check? Even later, no need to say—I'll drop by."
"...Wolfram."
I clapped her shoulder and beamed.
"In short: I'll chill sucking honey at the store, you lead your 100k Jefrin. Why join council now? You nuts?"
"...You're getting a tax audit at that store later. Clean your neck. One lin embezzled, you're expelled!"
Oh my.
Such scary threat to big bro advising from the heart?