Chapter 73
Chapter 73
Episode 73
“Sob…….”
“…….”
As had been expected, Eleanor was no match for Alexios.
If it had merely been a simple difference in specs, it might have been one thing, but she was no match for him even in terms of swordsmanship.
However, Eleanor, perhaps because she had been aiming for a scholarship or something, had charged in out of sheer stubbornness, and as a result...
“……Congratulations. You received all the attention you had always wanted so much, all at once.”
“This wasn't the kind of attention I particularly wanted either…….”
“Didn't you say you didn't care what kind of attention it was?”
“Even so, I didn't like this…….”
Eleanor, after being thoroughly beaten up, vomited in front of numerous spectators.
It was just as Baekyang had predicted.
Someone who had vomited before was indeed different, no matter what.
“Noah, still, look at this. I sold all the drinks you entrusted to me.”
“U-uhm, really?”
“Of course.”
Baekyang began to console the sniffling Eleanor. Why was she being so nice to Eleanor, to that extent? I couldn't understand it at all.
“Th-then, was this business better than I thought?”
“…….”
The expression of Baekyang, who had been consoling Noah, hardened in an instant.
Indeed, there was no way that incarnation of desire would have been satisfied with having done business just once.
Now that she had already had a taste of money, she would surely try to milk it for all it was worth.
Baekyang, her usually pale face turning even paler, sent me a look pleading for help.
It wasn't really my business, but considering she had tried to accumulate good deeds in her own way, it would probably be alright to help her.
“That kind of thing was a seasonal business, so once this is over, it wouldn't sell anymore.”
“Then, if I don't earn it while I could……!”
“You'd go around looking like that?”
“…….”
Eleanor, who had been about to go buy more drinks, faltered and stopped.
As it was, she had already been beaten up all over and was bruised.
And yet, would she have wanted to solicit customers with a face like that? Especially when she had been so upset that she had even shunned attention?
“Master and Baekyang again…….”
“I absolutely wouldn't do it.”
“…….”
Eleanor, upon hearing my firm statement, turned her head and looked at Baekyang again.
I had done as much as I was going to do for her.
Now, whether Baekyang would accept that was up to her.
“Ah, I have a match, so……”
Yes, Baekyang wasn't just endlessly kind either. She was simply a human-like goblin.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Now, what remained was the comprehensive evaluation. However, the test itself had been slightly postponed.
Even though it had been postponed, it wasn't to the extent that the date would change; it was just that time was needed to rebuild the demolished testing ground.
“Crazy bastard……”
The reason the testing ground had been demolished was entirely due to Alexios, who had become the winner of the intermediate swordsmanship competition.
His basic stats were one thing, but with [All Rivers flow to the Sea (Unprecedented)] added to that, there truly was no student who could beat him in any aspect.
The students corresponding to SR grade were able to continue a somewhat evenly matched fight, but even then, because the difference in stats was severe, they couldn't last long.
Thus, the time came to designate a small scholarship and challenge a professor…….
“He Challenged the Academy Director?”
Alexios fearlessly Challenged Tia. In response, Tia, as if she had completely lost her temper, started the match right there on the spot, a match that originally should have taken place after the comprehensive evaluation had ended.
“Woaaah……. Woaaaaaaah…….”
“Hic.”
Even setting aside Eleanor, who was terrified and fidgeting restlessly, and Baekyang, who seemed startled and was hiccuping, Tia's response was beyond imagination.
Since he was a student, it would have been understandable to go easy on him, but Tia, as if she had judged it as a challenge to her authority, thoroughly crushed Alexios.
She had told me not to cause trouble, but was it okay for her herself?
Or perhaps she had even forced such a show to make a point.
Her authority might have been damaged by recent events, so she probably had judged that it would be better to show her strength at such a time.
Because even if she paid attention to what others thought, her policy of not being looked down upon would have remained the same.
As a result, Alexios received an exemption from the comprehensive evaluation. No, he was made exempt.
Having been beaten to a pulp, how could he possibly participate?
“Hmm……”
Honestly, I didn't have much ambition regarding the comprehensive evaluation. It was because I thought it wouldn't matter if I just did moderately, as I wasn't hoping for grades nor was I hoping for some big prize I didn't even know about.
Moreover, as it was a comprehensive evaluation, competitors like Alexios and Marie, those monsters, would have been positioned there.
Setting Marie aside, honestly, I had no confidence in defeating Alexios in a fair and square fight.
He was the type of opponent against whom underhanded tricks worked the least.
However, that Alexios had self-destructed. Wasn't this pretty good?
It seemed like it might be worth trying, didn't it?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The result of the challenge: As expected, getting to the finals wasn't even an issue.
There were also strong opponents corresponding to SR grade, but even so, they were just first-years.
For me, who had raised [Mana Dominator] to level 3 and whose control over magic had become even more precise, they couldn't pose a significant threat.
“However……”
The target I had been wary of was one person. It was only Marie Sistus, the daughter of the [Death King], who possessed power reaching SSR grade and, although a half-measure, was also a wielder of a Key.
However, the opponent in the finals standing before me was different.
Completely, yes. It was a person I hadn't even thought of in the first place.
“This was a bit unexpected……”
The person standing before me was the head of the disciplinary committee, with her pure white hair let down, wearing a gentle smile.
“Hello, Oz-nim. Are you feeling a little better now?”
[SSR Saintess of Hope]
Arietta Domine
“……Ah, yes. I have no problems at all. Arietta.”
It was Arietta, the ultimate boss of the support class, not even a combat class.
How had she made it this far?
No, well, it wasn't like I had no idea at all.
Divine Power also had techniques for attack. Of course, compared to magic, their attack power for the same resource cost would be far lower, but who was the opponent?
Arietta was a [Saintess].
There was no one superior to her in terms of divine power.
Unlike Oz, who had not just become a has-been but a laughingstock, or Alexios, who was only employed as a substitute when essential characters were lacking, she was, in name and reality, an active, top-tier essential character.
Furthermore, there was an overwhelming compatibility issue.
“……Marie must have seen hell.”
“It wasn't quite to that extent.”
Arietta, who used Divine Power, was the natural enemy of Marie, who used Demonic Energy.
Perhaps right about now, Marie was thoroughly scorched and letting smoke drift from her body? Please, I just hoped she hadn't been completely purified just like that…….
“Shall we begin? Oz-nim.”
“Yes, Arietta, anytime…….”
『Faith will eventually become light.』
And then, a short song was heard.
Before my words had even finished, the world was dyed in white light, and my body was pushed back.
As expected, she had clearly overwhelmed her previous opponents with overpowering firepower.
Probably, the other students had been pushed back without being able to mount any particular response to the sudden attack.
[Contemplation - Activated]
Even when I surveyed the entire stadium broadly, there was no place the light didn't reach.
Intermediate Magic
[Stone Wall]
This wasn't the kind of attack that could be dodged. I had to block it.
Fortunately, its power was low, but…….
“Could this be?”
Arietta's wide-range attack showed no signs of ending at all.
There was a limit to hiding.
Due to Arietta's Divine Power, which was meant for pushing rather than attacking, I began to be pushed back, wall and all.
Even if I used additional defensive magic, the result of being pushed back wouldn't change.
If so, I had to turn to the offensive.
Beginner Magic
[Dig]
Arietta's outwardly apparent weakness was that she couldn't see.
Targeting that part felt a bit awkward, but anyway, if I attacked her feet, I would be able to beat her.
“Fufu.”
However, Arietta's gentle smile didn't fade. The smile that used to make me feel at ease just by looking at it now even felt frightening.
The magic I had deployed was purified by overwhelming divine power before it could even reach Arietta's location.
Beginner level was out of the question. Intermediate level probably wouldn't have much effect either.
“Isn't this a bit unfair?”
All my means had been sealed off.
“I decided to try hard too, you know. I have to do my best.”
Arietta, for a moment, erased her gentle smile and giggled with a mischievous face.
This really wasn't the time for this.
Seeing that mischievous smile as cute, I must have had it pretty bad. Or perhaps Oz had it bad.
Anyway, if things continued like this, I would lose without a doubt. I didn't particularly mind losing, but losing to Arietta, that was something I hated.
This was a matter of a man's pride.
“Hmm……”
Simply with beginner or intermediate magic, I couldn't break through Arietta's divine power.
Beginner magic wouldn't even get close, and intermediate magic wouldn't be able to pierce the barrier she had set up beforehand.
If so, there were only two ways to reach Arietta in my current state.
An attack that could resist purification by divine power, or an attack that could surpass her purification.
In that case, what I could use were [Another Savior] and [Pinaka].
[Another Savior] wasn't certain, but since it possessed the characteristics of divine power, it might have been okay.
[Pinaka], in terms of rank, was advanced, but since it was composed of a combination of beginner and intermediate magic, one could argue it was intermediate.
『Even if the past is longed for, light continues from the future.』
Arietta's chant was increasingly imbued with its divinity.
If this continued, I would fall out of bounds.
“Hoo……”
Advanced Magic
[Pinaka]
In the end, the magic I chose was not [Another Savior] but [Pinaka].
Magic possessing the properties of divine power, compared to creating advanced magic-level power by mixing beginner and intermediate magic, its ripple effect itself was different.
Moreover, in the case of [Pinaka], it would soon be revealed by Professor Aira anyway, so it probably wouldn't matter.
“Hoo……”
Hiding behind the [Stone Wall] that had begun to crumble bit by bit, I drew the bowstring.
I had to be careful.
To an extent that Arietta wouldn't get hurt, just enough to break her concentration.
I released the bowstring.
The arrow, imbued with mana, flew, leaving a blue trajectory, and pierced Arietta's barrier.
“Huh?”
The moment Arietta was flustered, the chant that had been sounding so clear and pure was cut off.
If it was now, it was possible.
“As expected of Oz-nim.”
“……?!”
As I closed the distance, I saw Arietta smiling gently again.
That wasn't a smile of someone admitting her defeat or thinking I was amazing.
“Then I too, with all my strength.”
That was composure.
Arietta drew a sword, the hiding place of which I didn't know.
“A rapier? No……”
It was shorter than that. A fencing sword? No, was it correct to call it a small sword?
“Could it be?”
I had already thrown my body forward at a speed that made stopping impossible.
Arietta's response to that would surely be a swordsmanship style that utilized the speed of a small sword.
Arietta took a stance, facing me as I rushed in.
“You mustn't! Saintess!”
At that moment, Olivia's voice, which sounded urgent, came from the audience seats.
No way, really?
Arietta had been hiding such an amazing secret technique that it would even fluster Olivia?
It was a side of her that hadn't appeared even in the game, and one I hadn't been able to confirm in everyday life either.
However, Arietta's stance was too unusual to simply dismiss.
If this continued, I would be done for.
“Haap!”
And so, Arietta, with a short shout, rushed towards me, and...
“Ack?!”
She missed her step and fell right over.
It didn't seem like she had rolled over very hard, but Arietta staggered and couldn't get up from the floor.
What on earth had that been? Her stance had definitely been proper, so why had it turned out like that? No matter how I thought about it, it was strange, wasn't it?
“Uh, dizzy……”
It was a very pitiful sight.
I hadn't even been the one who rolled, but it felt like tears were about to come out. Wouldn't today's 'Most Pitiful' award be a joint victory for Eleanor and Arietta?
No, since she hadn't vomited yet, it was Eleanor's win by decision.
“Arietta, please take my hand.”
“Ah, thank…… Ack, ughm.”
Arietta, who had tried to get up by grabbing my hand, still seemed unable to shake off her dizziness and staggered, unable to rise.
Things having come to this, there was nothing that could be done.
“……I will help you.”
“Ack! Kyaa, aaht! Aheuu……”
I embraced Arietta and stood up.
My hands and feet cringed, but it wasn't as if I could carry Arietta, a Saintess, slung over my shoulder like prey, the way I might have Eleanor, was it?
Arietta would understand.
“Would this be about right?”
“Yes, yees……”
I set Arietta, who was fidgeting with her fingers in my arms, down on the ground.
It wasn't particularly that Arietta was heavy, but the gazes of the people were quite burdensome, so this was the limit.
“Th-then, shall we compete in a fair and square match again?”
Arietta said, forcing a gentle smile as if trying to somehow dispel the awkwardness.
Even so, seeing that her face had turned red and the corners of her mouth were twitching, it was just pitiful.
“……Let's do it later if there's another chance, Arietta.”
“Yes?”
“You're out of bounds.”
The place where I had set Arietta down was out of bounds. It was right in front of Olivia, who had been eagerly waiting for Arietta right in front of the stadium.
“Uh, uh……. Did I lose?”
“Yes, you worked hard.”
“Un-unfair, that's unfair of you.”
You were saying that, after you had sealed off most of my attack methods?
“……My apologies.”
Normally, I would have said something like that, but for the sake of Arietta's honor, who was blushing for a different reason than before, I decided I had to stop.
I didn't know if Saintesses also kicked their blankets, but Arietta really should have kicked hers a bit that night.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Ptui!”
“……Noah, that looked rude.”
Eleanor, who had been watching Oz's match, suddenly spat.
Baekyang gave a warning to Eleanor, who was acting as if she was annoyed.
Of course, Eleanor wasn't such a good kid that she would listen to such words.
“Baekyang, isn't it ridiculous?”
Baekyang couldn't laugh even 1min.
“If anyone saw this, huh? They'd think the sacred comprehensive evaluation was kids' make-believe.”
There wasn't even a hint of weight in the words of Eleanor, who habitually engaged in pranks that even a goblin would have to concede to.
“Goodness……. Ha……! Goodness!! The more I think about it, the more absurd it is, isn't it?”
Baekyang refrained from speaking as much as possible.
The only way to calm Eleanor down here was to badmouth Arietta, the Saintess, along with her.
“Anyway, both Master and the Saintess, if you look at them sometimes, they do strange things, you know?”
Eleanor's cruel tongue seemed to be attacking both Oz and Arietta, but one shouldn't have believed that at face value.
That was a trap.
If she had chimed in with Eleanor's badmouthing of Oz here, Baekyang could have unnecessarily gotten dragged into it too.
“Baekyang! What do you think?”
“……I wasn't really sure.”
However, since it also felt awkward to curse at the Saintess whom she didn't even know well, Baekyang chose to keep her mouth shut.
“That Oz fellow. In the time I haven't seen him, his combat style has changed into a considerably foolish and inefficient one.”
“What did you say?!”
Eleanor, who had been badmouthing Oz for a while, sharply turned her head at the slander about Oz that she happened to hear just then.
Even if he was to be badmouthed, only she could badmouth him.
“Hmm?”
“…….”
However, Eleanor, who had actually turned her head, couldn't help but be at a loss for words.
A man with a strange impression, who looked like both an old man and a middle-aged man.
It wasn't that she was speechless because the man was scary, or because a sense of respect for the elderly had suddenly welled up in her.
“Do you have some business with me? Student.”
It was because the man's eyes bore an astonishing resemblance to Oz's.