Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Anxiety (3)
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[ "......Huh?" ]
Roel woke from sleep, her face full of confusion.
She stared at the sunlight streaming through the window, then touched her forehead—no cold sweat.
Suddenly, she started glaring at empty air.
[ "I don't need your help." ]
Her gaze was fixed somewhere stern, but those words were clearly for me.
Well, as the 'protagonist,' she was supposed to reject a demon's aid anyway.
Still, where exactly had she been looking lately? I had no idea.
I was in the inner world, and she knew that full well...
Why did she keep staring off in the wrong direction?
......Could she sense my gaze or something?
"Too awkward to even ask."
I scratched my head and decided to ignore it.
It wasn't a big deal anyway.
"Training today too."
After breakfast, Roel headed straight to the training grounds as soon as her food settled.
Even on break, she wasn't slacking—commendable.
I smiled faintly at the screen.
A warm feeling swelled inside.
"You've improved a lot."
She probably felt it herself.
Her clumsy swordplay had turned precise and efficient, with no wasted power in her swings.
Compared to the start of term, she'd grown undeniably.
Roel was a proper powerhouse now.
So...
[ "Hey, loser." ]
[ "......Sion?" ]
[ "Spar with me." ]
She shouldn't pick fights so recklessly.
Sion, who had brought his sword, locked the training ground door.
Click. The sound echoed sharply.
[ "A spar out of nowhere?" ]
[ "Suspicious, isn't it? You as top cadet? No way." ]
He still couldn't accept Roel as top cadet.
Inferiority was a scary thing.
It narrowed your vision, dulled your reason.
Nothing more exhausting than someone convinced they're always right.
[ "Once I beat you down, that top cadet lie crumbles. I'll report to Father: Roel's a liar unworthy of the Griffith name!" ]
Or maybe he was just narrow-minded from the start.
But hadn't the Griffith name tanked already?
Honestly, Roel seemed the real waste...
"Hmm."
I held back the harsh words.
She'd handle it fine.
I wanted her to prove she was different from the Sera incident.
[ "Sigh......" ]
Roel let out a deep breath.
She set down her real sword, picked up a wooden one.
Swung it a few times, then eyed Sion.
[ "Fine, I'll humor you." ]
[ "......With a wooden sword?" ]
[ "Don't want to kill my precious little brother." ]
Sion trembled with rage.
He charged at Roel.
Clang!
Claaang!
Fights with a big skill gap follow similar patterns.
[ "Ha! That's all you got?! As expected, top cadet is──" ]
The weaker side unleashes a furious barrage...
Boom!
...and gets crushed.
[ "Guh, ugh......!" ]
Sion hit the floor, groaning in pain.
An utter defeat beyond rebuttal.
[ "Still think I'm weak?" ]
[ "......" ]
[ "I get it. Before the academy, you were way stronger. Hard to accept." ]
Roel returned her wooden sword.
She walked past Sion toward the exit, as if done.
[ "Sorry to you, but no more indulging your tantrums. Don't bother me." ]
She unlocked the door and left.
Sion stayed put.
[ "Such a pain......" ]
Her irritated mutter carried.
Already stressed, this had piled on.
[ 'Maybe head back to the dorm.' ]
[ '......No, can't train there.' ]
[ 'Gotta get stronger fast, suppress that demon.' ]
So that's why the hard work—for me.
Still far off, but having a goal was good.
I'll cheer her on.
"Time for my work too."
I bought a new avatar from the shop.
The old one had about three minutes left.
Too good to waste, so emergency backup...
Time to head out.
Avatar used.
I opened my eyes atop a tall tower.
Summon spot set to 'Mage Tower summit'—here it was.
Hoped for inside, but this made sense.
"Can't be helped."
Avatar summons limited to 'known' places.
Cities or regions via maps, fine—but unknown building layouts like the top floor? No dice.
Regrettable, but I'd find another way.
I hopped down from the mage tower.
Not true flight, of course.
Compress mana to max, craft temporary footholds.
The trick I'd used pounding Sitla—lets you hover briefly.
Scan for windows or vents.
I stepped through air, scanning the tower wall.
"......"
Nothing.
No windows, not even vents.
No ventilation?
"Mages, honestly..."
Maybe magic handled it.
They dropped meteors from the sky—air purification shouldn't be impossible.
Either way, my oversight.
"Gotta smash in."
Not like it had to be today.
Once inside, summon condition met—sneak in later quietly.
"No other choice."
Demon sword felt iffy, so I clenched my fist.
Slammed the ground.
Second hit caved it; I plunged into the top floor fast.
Skill: Disguise
Didn't forget to change my face.
New look: vampire demon from the dungeon crawl.
"Where's the Archmage at?"
Wander casually; bolt if too many show.
Then try again.
No way an Archmage abandons his tower—solid plan.
For now...
Ask directions.
"Excuse me. Know where the Archmage is?"
"Tch, intruder!!"
The mage tower's Archmage.
Only living figure from history books.
Over a thousand years old.
Rumor: already an old man when the kingdom formed.
"Hmm."
No name.
No one knows his spells either.
Common saying:
"The Archmage siding with humanity is history's greatest fortune."
"How's it been lately?"
"Doing well... better than expected."
"Good to hear."
The Archmage brought steaming black tea.
Set one down, offered the other to the brown-haired girl.
"Dillon was a fine mage."
"......"
Her name: Helen Forest.
Poor girl who recently lost her brother.
"Always took the dangerous missions, inspiration to all. How'd such a guy end up like that......"
Somber mood settled.
The Archmage paused, studied Helen's face.
'Still mired in grief.'
He wore a pitying look.
Genuine sorrow, even small sighs.
Then smirked inwardly.
'Perfect for using.'
Dillon had been a damn fool.
Told him to stay low, yet he charged in openly and died.
Hypnosis's sole flaw: can't alter innate personality or smarts.
'Oh well, this girl's here now.'
Observing Helen, her magic talent matched Dillon's.
Perfect replacement rolling in—great luck.
"Chin up. For Dillon's sake, I'll look after you."
"......Me?"
"Why else call you here? I'll raise you myself from now."
This Hero must be a mage.
Remove pesky knights first.
That Roel brat: top priority.
'Hero chosen, Demon King dies inevitably.'
Set laws never break.
Demon King falls to Hero—unchanging fate.
Destiny works that way.
"Dillon said your talent surpasses his."
Magic's revival.
World where magic rules, like a millennium ago.
First 'ingredient.'
"Helen, you're magic's future."
The Archmage smiled.
Time for firmer hypnosis—unbreakable brainwashing.
'Helen Forest, don't disappoint me.'
His wrinkled hand reached out.
And.
Boom!!
The wall crumbled.
"Oh, found you."