Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Rest (1)
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When I opened my eyes, the scene I'd witnessed in Arxius's space unfolded right before me.
The original protagonist and supporting characters, all wounded. Professor Ardin, who shouldn't have been there in the first place. And Luberic Keias, who had devoured the blood jade and fully transformed into a demon.
I drew in a deep breath. The contraction and expansion of my muscles. The circulation of blood through my veins. The flow of aura. The mana drifting in the air.
Everything felt vividly clear.
As if the Terminally Ill penalty embedded in my body had temporarily vanished.
There was no pain at all. In fact, the world looked refreshingly vibrant. More so than before my possession. Had I ever faced a sight this magnificent?
My eyes flashed open as I surged with energy. My aura mingled with Arxius's mana, emitting a black glow.
Pzzzt, crackle.
Ink Thunder radiated from my body, spreading outward with enough force to tear the sky asunder.
Reacting to Arxius's mana, Morax let out a guttural roar. It shoved Professor Ardin and Agnes Bayern aside, charging straight toward me.
"Get out of the way!"
Adel shoved me aside and stepped in front. She gritted her teeth, drawing out her holy power. Even her immense reserves had their limits.
Forcing out more holy power made blood trickle from her mouth. She didn't seem to notice.
Once holy power reaches its limit, it draws on life force instead. The irony of trading human lifespan for divine mercy felt strangely poignant.
But regardless.
"You can stop now."
I held her back. There was no need for her to block it.
I took her hand and pulled her aside, then glared at Morax.
Shing.
My hand gripped the hilt as naturally as if I'd done it millions of times before. The feel of my fingers wrapping around it felt strangely unfamiliar.
An art form brought to perfection—drawing the blade with such effortless grace it bordered on the sublime.
I shivered with thrill at this otherworldly sensation I'd never felt in my previous life.
The genius who maximized the efficiency of his efforts, only to lose his lifespan in the process.
Deron Phillasia's sword was now unfolding in my hand.
'This is Deron's sword without the Terminally Ill curse.'
It was captivating. This blade alone could rival the world's greatest masterpieces.
But this wasn't the time to indulge in sentiment. My skin prickled. Morax's demonic energy grazed me as it closed in.
It was sharp enough to wound me long ago if not for Arxius's mana.
"Hiss..."
I inhaled deeply through prayer, filling my lungs, then held my breath.
All of Arxius's mana poured into the sword. Like preparing a final strike, it moved at my command.
Probably Arxius's consideration, thinking I was about to die.
Sorry to disappoint her, but I wasn't going to die. Not when I could savor this feeling longer.
I'd escape this damned Terminally Ill curse.
With that resolve, I swung the sword as my body guided me.
The silent blade moved.
No one in the training grounds could see it.
They only sensed something flash by, something severed, something hit the ground.
Some might have gaped blankly, others widened their eyes in shock.
Morax's head plummeted to the floor.
But I didn't witness it.
"Grrk..."
The price for using Arxius's mana and my fully restored body.
The backlash hit me.
Overwhelmed by excruciating pain, I blacked out.
The message I heard in my unconscious state said my lifespan had one year left.
"Deron!"
[You stupid bastard.]
"Open your eyes! Why'd you suddenly collapse like that?!"
[So that's why you asked if filling you with vitality would let you live.]
Boom!
"Wh-what are you doing here?"
[You're the first to fully wield my power and survive.]
Squirm.
"Still alive, I see."
"...Yes."
"Hm. Looks like all your strength drained and you passed out. No lasting damage to your body."
[What an interesting guy.]
"Please wake up."
"Please get up, Young Master."
Twitch.
'...Why is it so noisy?'
[Lots of people calling for you.]
'Lots of people calling me?'
[Yeah, the unlucky genius burdened with that fleeting fate of Terminally Ill.]
'I want to live.'
[But you are alive?]
'Free from this exhausting Terminally Ill curse.'
[Heh heh heh.]
'Why are you laughing?'
[Coincidentally, lifespan isn't my domain. Even dragons have fixed ones.]
'So I have to keep living like this?'
[Hm... There is one way.]
'What is it?'
[Swordmasters. Those who transcend human limits and become entirely different beings.]
'If I reach the pinnacle, will my fate change?'
[Who knows. It's a gamble. But one worth taking.]
'...'
[The choice is always yours. Time to wake up now, Deron Phillasia.]
When I opened my eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling came into view. It had been described several times in the original story, but this was my first time seeing it.
I propped myself up while staring at the pristine white ceiling, likely painted for the patient's comfort.
"Urgh."
It ached everywhere from my waist to my toes. Fortunately, my upper body hadn't taken much damage.
Stinging sensations drew my gaze to my hands. Red crusted blood. That strike using Arxius's mana must have strained them badly.
My legs barely moved. Mana or blood was flowing, but...
It felt like my lower body was numb.
In that state, I checked below my legs. I felt nothing, but something was clearly there under them.
"Petra?"
My exclusive maid and knight, Petra. She had been at my bedside and was now dozing off with soft breaths.
Her face was terribly wrinkled.
I gently stroked Petra's hair with my uninjured left hand. Soft strands slipped through my fingers.
I didn't want to wake her as she slept with faint breaths. She'd stir on her own later.
I lay back down. No point sitting up when my legs wouldn't move. It just hurt more.
Warm sunlight stabbed my eyes. Someone had drawn back the curtains.
I turned toward the window. A middle-aged man stood there, silently gazing outside.
Or was he really middle-aged?
Something felt off. I forced my stiff mouth open to speak.
"Who are you?"
"..."
The man didn't answer. He seemed to be waiting for something. A magic circle etched itself around him.
"Hm, good enough."
"...?"
Muttering something incomprehensible, he turned to face me. A face impossible to mistake.
My eyes widened as I uttered his name.
"Crepon Iliad Selvein...?"
"Didn't expect you'd blurt out the dean's name like that. Well, you're injured, so I'll let it slide."
Why the hell is the dean here?
A wizard hailed as one of the world's strongest in the original story.
The sole reason someone challenging the 9th circle—beyond the 8th, the threshold of grand wizardry—and serving as dean of Iliad Academy was simple.
'Interest.'
He was more altruistic than he seemed. Rather than secluded cultivation to become a grand wizard, he found joy in watching students grow.
Especially those with talent like his own, capable of shedding their human shell.
"Did you rescue me, Dean?"
"Hm... No. Precisely, you rescued everyone. I merely shattered the demon's barrier."
Though he held the title of dean, most duties fell to other professors.
His near-grand wizard status alone elevated the academy's prestige to the top.
Thus, he rarely appeared before students.
Those who'd seen the dean's face during their time at the academy could be counted on one hand.
He dragged a chair over and sat before me.
As if he had something to say.
"Truth be told, I have some questions. I've cast spells around us, and put your maid to sleep."
"Something that piques the dean's curiosity enough for all this?"
"Yes. Quite a few, honestly. Starting with your body, perhaps."
He paused slightly, scanning my body. Damn it. Now even random people could read my condition.
[Am I some mutt!?]
Ah, one dragon too.
"But what intrigues me enough for this is exactly two things."
Golden light gleamed in the dean's eyes. The eyes that had propelled Crepon toward grand wizardry.
Sage's Gaze.
The Sage's Gaze, capable of wisely piercing all things in the world, turned toward me.
Crepon asked me,
"Why on earth is Black Dragon's Mana dwelling within you? And how did you survive when your lifeline clearly snapped once?"
I clamped my mouth shut.
Among his questions was one that was hardest to answer.
I pondered how to respond before opening my mouth.
"I..."