Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Ricardo Subjugation Battle (3)
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Ricardo stared in the direction where Yeon Je-seong had vanished, then slowly pushed himself to his feet.
"Kuh!"
Pain lanced through his body in every direction, drawing an involuntary groan from his lips, but he forced himself upright.
'Mana... less than half left.'
He felt a pang of regret at the depleted mana, but no real disappointment.
He had pushed his mana to the limit battling that monster from the start.
Instead, it only drove home once more just how dangerous Yeon Je-seong was—to recover half his mana in an instant like that.
'It's not just mana replenishment. Did he boost natural regeneration too?'
This wasn't ordinary recovery.
Super-regeneration, perhaps.
The healing had happened at an astonishing speed.
He had probably held back to only half on purpose.
'My body still bears the damage from before.'
Not enough to immobilize him, but the pain was steadily gnawing at his nerves.
"Hmph!"
Ricardo ignored the pain and stretched exaggeratedly.
'I don't know who the opponent is. But as long as it's not that monster Yeon Je-seong, I have a solid chance of winning!'
He had been one-sidedly overwhelmed only because his foe was that monster. A Four Heavenly Kings executive wasn't someone who could be so easily neutralized.
They were the kind who required top-tier heroes or multiple mid-tier ones even on the front lines!
That was what a demon executive was.
And so Ricardo had confidence.
After three years of infiltration, he had identified everyone who could match him.
'Guidance Department Head and Vice President. Among the students, just watch out for them.'
Those two only had a chance if they went all-out in perfect condition.
There was no way he could handle them in his current state.
'And that new executor who just joined—can't be too optimistic about him either.'
He had heard plenty about the executors.
Soldiers of 'Totenkopf' who had felled numerous demons even on the front lines.
Monsters whose combat prowess rivaled mid-tier heroes, despite not being heroes themselves.
'Fighting that guy would be a hassle.'
His personal strength wasn't a huge concern, but that obsessive fighting style was the problem.
The man specialized in great demons.
True to his moniker, a Totenkopf executor would use any means necessary to kill demons.
If they clashed, Ricardo was sure he'd face some bizarre, unforeseen method aimed at his throat.
'Well, my raw power has the edge, so I wouldn't lose. But an easy win? Doubtful.'
No matter how skilled the executor, Ricardo was a Four Heavenly Kings executive demon.
Rumors said it took the entire Totenkopf unit to barely take down an executive, so one executor alone wouldn't be his equal.
'In the city, those are the only ones I need to watch. The rest are small fry—no need to worry deeply.'
No matter how skilled, talents who could handle him weren't common.
Only a handful in the entire city could manage it.
'Wait, that leaves one more.'
But there was one exception.
Just like Yeon Je-seong, someone he absolutely could not face.
'Overall Director. If that one steps in, it's an instant loss.'
If the Overall Student Council President was the pinnacle of students, the Overall Director was the pinnacle of instructors.
Unlike the presidency, which shifted with martial prowess, the directorship hadn't changed since the city's founding—its authority arguably surpassed even the president's.
'Name was... Adelia, right?'
The Archmage of Time 【Adelia Edelstein】
'If she moves, no chance at all.'
Especially since Adelia was one who had followed 'that' great hero to subjugate the first Demon King.
Even judging purely by strength, she was at least as strong as Yeon Je-seong, if not stronger.
'No, maybe not.'
Having faced Yeon Je-seong firsthand, he felt like a different league altogether.
Hard to believe, but Yeon Je-seong likely matched the Demon King's level.
'Still, the Overall Director is no slouch.'
If she acted, someone like him would be erased in seconds.
Especially in a state where he couldn't unleash full power.
'Not combat-oriented, but overall, she'd fit among the Seven Great Powers without issue. No chance for me as I am.'
Ricardo pondered seriously.
Other instructors or students he could handle easily unless they swarmed en masse.
'No way they'd all come at once.'
If so, that guy truly was a devil.
To lure him with false hope and make him struggle to the end.
But reality was different.
His opponent was the famous Student Council President.
Someone with the spare capacity to toy with him alone wouldn't bother with such hassle.
So what he mentioned must be a select few.
'That means four I need to watch. Ignore the rest.'
Among them, the executor would just make things annoying, but a head-on clash was winnable.
So really, only three to truly beware.
'Guidance Department Head, Vice President, Overall Director. Avoid them, and I can beat anyone!'
Those three could corner him with their own power alone—no need to lend him strength.
Meaning they weren't the opponent!
'That leaves just one.'
Not quite their level, but equal to him.
Only one fit that description.
"The executor!"
Yes, it had to be the executor.
'Handing demon disposal to the experts, huh? Ruthless bastard!'
Grasping Yeon Je-seong's intent, Ricardo shuddered in terror.
How vicious could a human be?
To deliberately empower him just to mock him to the end.
'Of all people, an executor...!'
Of course, it was all Ricardo's delusion, but lost in his own thoughts, he embraced it as ironclad truth.
"Hahaha! Fine! Executor or whatever, come at me! Try and take my life!"
Sharpened demonic energy scattered in all directions, shattering the building that absorbed it.
No place to run now.
Only kill or be killed!
'Come on...!'
He would survive this battlefield and report Yeon Je-seong's danger to his superiors!
With resolve hardened, Ricardo fixed his gaze in one direction.
At that moment, a golden flash burst from the rising dust.
"Ha!"
With a short kiai, Ricardo gathered demonic energy in one hand and hurled it.
The black-tainted energy met the golden flash, birthing blue ice that froze it solid.
"Melt! With this much...!"
But Ricardo couldn't finish.
A student burst through the dust, swinging a blade at him.
"Chaat!"
"Kuh!"
The lily-like white-uniformed student unleashed dazzling sword energy, relentlessly pushing Ricardo back.
"Not a chance!"
"Haat!"
"Weak! Far too weak!"
But the defensive stance didn't last.
The aggressive student soon faltered as initiative slipped away, barely parrying attacks.
"Kuhahat! You're no executor...?!"
"Kyaak!"
Having gauged his opponent's strength, a smile crept across Ricardo's lips.
To think it wasn't an executor—a delightful miscalculation.
Ricardo channeled mana to his back, sprouting wings.
"Behold! This is the power of a great demon!"
Demonic energy extended from the wings, gleaming black as it rained down.
The student dodged nimbly, weaving through like raindrops.
But he couldn't evade every strike—scorch marks began etching his armor.
"Kuhahaha! Pathetic! For the president to send fodder like you!"
This was free experience!
Against such an easy mark, Ricardo's grin widened.
Now with mental leeway, he calmly continued the fight, observing his foe.
Platinum hair fluttering, a stern expression on the student's face.
'Heavy consumption. Already fought a battle.'
From Ricardo's eyes, the student looked fine externally but wrecked inside.
Mana long depleted, body under severe strain—some method forcibly moving it.
Probably rushed here after slaying a beast.
'Lucky break!'
Either way, a boon for Ricardo.
'Kill him quick, escape. Don't trust the president's vow, but once out, I can contact outside and flee.'
Thought done, he pulled back slightly, hovering midair to buy time.
"You there—what's your name?"
"Kuh... Noah!"
"Right, Noah. Curse the president who brought you here as you die!"
Plan set.
Now just execute and finish the enemy!
The moment Ricardo began gathering mana at his fingertips,
"Hm?!"
"......"
The aura shifted.
Ricardo instinctively looked down, deploying a barrier.
──Sss.
──Huu.
A faint breath sounded deafeningly loud. He turned and...
"...Kuhk?!"
Regaining senses, his barrier lay in ruins.
"Cough!"
'Impossible...!'
Coughing blood, Ricardo glanced at his torn flank.
He had taken a hit somehow.
'What the hell happened?'
Suddenly Noah's aura changed, stats surging abnormally.
Mana and body perfectly restored—improved even.
His very existence elevated. Ricardo's eyes trembled.
"Kuhuk! With this much...!"
Desperately forming a spear, he hurled it. A hexagonal barrier appeared, blocking.
"Chaat!"
The foe leaped off the barrier, slashing at his wing with his sword.
"Kaaaak!"
"Take this!"
"D...don't get cocky!"
Blocking the follow-up swing with his hand, Ricardo conjured a spear in the other, halting the advance.
'Wing damaged. No air combat. Ground it is—crush him there!'
Thought done, he eyed Noah.
Mid-guard stance, tense face.
Then Ricardo's eyes gleamed, charging ferociously.
"...!"
"......!"
Sword and spear clashed rapidly, sonic booms erupting around.
Sword blocked spear's path; spear swept sword aside with force.
"Haat!"
Mid-exchange, Noah swung his scabbard with his off-hand.
"Futile!"
"Kuh!"
Headbutting the incoming scabbard, he snaked his spear toward the exposed thigh.
Noah recoiled in pain, balance breaking, defense crumbling.
"Hahaha! More! Move faster!"
"Ugh...!"
Spear accelerating, sword barely keeping up.
Opposing expressions—one thrilled, one strained—victory tilting one way.
But beneath excitement, Ricardo never dropped vigilance, scrutinizing Noah's every move.
'He's plotting something. Avoid overcommitting—respond to surprises.'
Cornered rats were the most dangerous.
A rat that might bite anytime warranted caution.
Having faced the natural disaster 'Yeon Je-seong,' Ricardo had long discarded complacency.
With unprecedented focus, he dueled Noah.