Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Midnight Circus (1)
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Boom! Kaboom!
Explosions echoed through the forest.
I raced along the outer edges of the woods, searching for traces of the demon.
Thud-thud-!
Aura concentrated in my legs, I broke into a run.
The world sliced through like parting wind, the surrounding scenery stretching out in smears.
'...It's unreal.'
The injuries from my fight with Darian.
The fatigue piled up from always pushing to my limits.
All of it felt washed away by a single dose of Karin's healing.
Crunch...!
Clenching my fist, I felt a grip strength even fiercer than before.
Not just healing—she'd layered on buffs through holy power, too.
"Over there! Someone's coming!"
These were survivors who'd made it to the game's late stages, now banding together.
Huddled in a neat formation, they seemed to be pooling their coins.
"Battle stations! It's just one opponent!"
"I'll back you up!"
"Hah!"
Clumsy, sure, but their movements showed some practiced coordination.
Normally, they'd be threatening enough to make me run.
But right now, with energy surging beyond full, I felt absolute certainty of an overwhelming victory.
Shing!
Drawing my sword from its sheath and cloaking it in aura—all in one breath.
Thud-thud-thud!
Maintaining my charge, I closed in on the frontliner's face.
Craaack!
Splitting him shield and all—that made two breaths.
"Wh-what?!"
Dropping low for leverage, I launched myself with enough force to shatter the ground.
Bam!
As he panicked and hastily chanted a spell, I pierced the mage's throat.
Whoosh!
Using the recoil, I beheaded the remaining scout—that was three breaths.
...Whew.
Whoosh...
Every sword stroke flowed like a dance.
The students' mana barriers shattered; in a flash of light, they vanished from the exam grounds.
'...It actually works.'
Low-rank students or not, they were prepared.
Yet my body moved so fluidly, victory came easy.
All stats up by 5 across the board.
And below that, a new line gleamed into view.
Just a single line: stats increase.
I knew the brutal power in that simple effect, and I couldn't hide my awe.
'Way stronger than I thought...'
In the game, I'd chalked it up to raw stat boosts.
But experiencing it myself? My movements felt on another level entirely.
Then again, a total +20 across the board?
No way I wouldn't feel it.
Clink-clink-clink!
Coins from the eliminated students poured toward me.
...Kinda feel bad.
I'd have won without the Saintess's help, sure...
But it felt like I was cheating solo with buffs and heals.
Ding, ding!
A notification pinged, rankings floating before my eyes.
'...They racked up a ton.'
Over 30 coins in a flash—my rank skyrocketed.
Arien, predictably first.
Darian... way more than expected.
I figured he'd play it safe after eating my big hit.
Guess he scraped them together somehow.
The Saintess from S-Class, not fighting directly?
She languished near the bottom.
'Lea... 4th?'
That line stood out sharpest.
In the game, midterms had Estelle and Darian swapping 2nd and 3rd.
4th was usually Lucas.
But thanks to my influence, Lea had regained her edge faster, shining through.
"Not bad."
Good score was nice, but Lea reclaiming her confidence? That hit deeper.
-7:02 PM
Quick situational check, glance at the time—I bolted.
'When... does it show?'
Thud-thud-thud!
After dusting the group, I ramped up speed, circling the cliffs.
But the 7 PM spawn's aura? Nowhere.
Fwoooosh!
Far off, opposite side—a radiant pillar pierced the sky.
Spearing the dimming dusk, bathing the area in daylight.
Then fading, power spent.
'...No way.'
Avillon Academy: only Estelle wields light magic.
Too far from the forest keeper for that.
If I'm seeing right, midterm's first mark: Estelle.
'This is bad...'
Demon of Deception doesn't stop at illusions.
Reads prey's buried memories, prods traumas relentlessly.
Slowly corners them in panic.
Estelle, who's hiding her deep pains? Perfect prey.
Darian at peak ego, maybe a half-mad optimist Lucas.
Or mentally tough Lian—they could last.
Lea, unhealed trauma; Estelle, fragile heart—they tapped out fast against it.
"Haa... damn it."
I'd hoped it's not Estelle.
This cruel world won't grant me that.
Kaboom!
Time tighter than thought—I poured power into my feet, kicked off.
To arrive ASAP, no holding back; craters marked every step.
Full throttle toward Estelle's trail.
"..."
Trailing the faint light, I arrived.
Sticky demon aura clung amid a razed forest.
Drip, drip.
Trees vaporized, stumps remained.
Cliff face: massive hole from Estelle's direct hit, rocks tumbling.
Step, step.
Through the dome barrier.
Stygian darkness, demonic-charged cards littered the ground.
Whoosh...
Estelle's trace flickered faintly—she'd vanished recently.
'...Back to its lair.'
It has a vicious hobby.
Plays weak on purpose, plants overconfidence.
Then subtle illusions, unnoticed.
Of slaying the demon, claiming victory.
Swish,
"..."
Estelle's headpiece, dulled luster, on the floor.
Estelle must've thought she had to end it before others got hurt.
Chased what she saw as a fleeing cornered foe.
Crunch...
I pocketed the hairpin, clenched my fist hard.
Plan was to finish it off before it retreated.
Now? Track its cave, save Estelle.
Just as I turned to scour cliffs again.
Twinkle...!
A white thread glowed, lighting the dark path.
"Estelle...!"
Even mid-chase, she'd left a trail.
In its vile illusion, she'd kept her wits for that judgment call.
Thud-thud-thud!
Trapped in its scheme? No time to waste.
Hoping her trail held, I kicked off again.
Braaap-braaap...
Trumpet blasts filled the space.
Chasing the shady clown demon led here—an incomprehensible scene.
Stepped into a cave; red curtains blocked view.
Curtains parted soon after: bizarre venue.
"..."
Magic props, garish decor.
Stage trimmings seemed a normal troupe at a glance.
But objects ruling out "fun circus" crammed everywhere.
Monkeys banging cymbals, spewing fire.
Bloody saw blades.
Ceiling choked with hooks.
"...Vicious."
"Kee-hee-hee, thanks for the compliment!"
Matched its grotesque, clownish form perfectly.
"How was the show so far? Kee-hee-hee!"
"..."
It oozed creepy glee at the situation.
"The effort to lure you here! Kee-hee-hee, you followed clueless—hilarious!"
Shedding tight clothes, dark aura enveloped it.
Unleashed, its horrific form differed greatly.
"Now, the performance begins... Kee-hee-hee!"
No black suit—checkered red-and-yellow rags.
Blood-red cape.
Telltale clown nose; massive demon horns and wings sprouted.
"Kee-hee-hee, welcome, everyone!"
Spotlit center stage, arms wide.
Bampa-rabam!
Trumpets heralded the start from nowhere.
"Tonight's guest: a lady from the Academy. Kee-hee-hee!"
Spotlight hit Estelle at stage edge.
Clown props and tools screeched, marching in sync.
"Please enjoy our circus. Kee-hee-hee!"
Its ominous power dwarfed before.
Countless cards, freakish monsters closed on Estelle.
'...Rowen, help me.'
Before that viscous darkness, the girl's radiant light dimmed.