What Should I Call a Weekend Date?
From the perspective of someone who'd just been dealing with a bunch of thugs moments ago, the atmosphere felt entirely different.
"That item's too good for the likes of you."
The man at the front of the seven-strong group glanced at Dorothy and muttered slyly.
"It might be too good for me, but it's not going to you guys."
"Pathetic last-ditch struggles."
"I'm more surprised you lot are even working together."
As she said, these seven weren't from the same faction. Imperial forces, the Church, and even demon worshippers all banded together over a single heart.
Groups that would normally tear each other apart were joining hands because of one organ.
"I'm not handing it over to any of you. Take it if you can."
Dorothy's light purple eyes began to glow sharply.
"You think you can handle all of us alone?"
As he said, Dorothy was surrounded by seven people. Fewer than the ten who'd ambushed me and Belloa earlier, but fundamentally different in quality.
In mage terms, each one was a 6th Circle practitioner.
"Dante... isn't that the guy who won the bid earlier?"
"Yeah."
"Should we help...?"
Like Belloa was agonizing, it was better not to get involved here. We were outnumbered to begin with.
"Master. Wouldn't it be best to sit this one out?"
"No. I'm helping."
"...Why? Don't tell me that girl's caught your eye or something?"
"Not for that reason."
In the original story, the Pure White Heart ended up in the hands of the demon worshippers. And naturally, what they did with that mythic-grade item was summon a great demon.
That damn bastard had raid difficulty levels that were straight-up bullshit, so blocking its descent now would mean...
'I won't have to deal with that fucking demon showing up.'
The returns far outweighed the risks of taking on these guys. Plus, the one surrounded wasn't just anyone—it was Dorothy.
"Belloa."
"Y-yeah?"
"Stay here."
"W-where are you going!?"
"To help her."
I handed my stuff to Belloa and bolted toward Dorothy.
"W-what... who are you...?"
"Someone here to help."
"Tch... One more doesn't change anything."
Dorothy seemed thrown by my sudden appearance, but she quickly steadied herself.
"...I'll accept the help for now."
"Good. That's all I need."
From her perspective, this was an unexpected intrusion, so full trust wasn't on the table. All I needed was her word that we'd fight together. That one word was enough.
[Talent: Heavenly Martial Body is assisting you]
[Talent: Mana Affinity is assisting you]
[Talent: Manifestation of Miracles is assisting you]
[Trait: Seal of Original Sin drools at the sight of demonic energy]
Blue windows popped up one after another, and I could feel powerful buffs layering onto my body in real time. Sensations sharper than usual, muscles moving with fluid ease.
Now was the time. I could handle these seven alongside Dorothy.
"Tch...! What are you all doing? Take it!"
"Don't nag. We'll handle it our way."
"This is why the Church old-timers are..."
The priests wrapped themselves in holy power, the demon worshippers summoned demonic energy. The imperial forces channeled mana and aura, radiating killing intent.
"...You, wouldn't it be better to run now?"
"A guy backing out now would lose face."
"Pfft... Fair enough."
In an instant, countless circles began drawing themselves behind Dorothy's back. The moment a spell activated from one circle, a new one formed in its place.
An endless chain of seven circles, as long as her mana held out. The ultimate technique born from absolute talent and relentless effort—Dorothy's signature move.
So this was Dorothy's Illusion.
—Whoooong!!!!
Dorothy thrust out her hand, and a bolt of lightning shot from behind her. The cocky aura user's feet froze in place.
I didn't miss the opening and charged right in.
"What the—!"
"One down."
Recalling the sword demon's teachings, my body flowed naturally into ingrained motions. Like water, I sliced through the man's aura and bisected him with absolute sword ki.
I hadn't realized it before, but close combat really favored aura users.
"W-what the hell is that guy!?"
"Aura user! At least 5-star!!"
In that split second, a few who'd been focused on Dorothy's magic turned toward me. True to demon worshippers, they tried binding my feet with demonic energy...
[Trait: Seal of Original Sin savors the pouring demonic energy]
Too bad—it wasn't from a real demon, just worshipper-level stuff. It wasn't poison to me at all. If anything, my stamina was constantly refilling.
"W-what the hell is this guy!? Your Grace! The demonic energy isn't working!!!"
"Impossible!"
Grinning at the furious man's words, I moved my feet swiftly. My target: the enemy leaders barking orders. Take them out, and this wraps up clean...
"No idea who you are, but this ends here."
"E-even against an imperial knight?"
"......No clue what you mean."
The man before me was from one of the Empire's proud knight orders—the vice-captain of the Silver Radiance Knights. I remembered him from the game: one-eyed, covered in scars.
A top-tier 6-star knight, befitting his role overseeing an imperial knight order. Undeniably stronger than me in aura.
"I'm just serving the greater good."
"Same here."
The man raised his sword. A fierce momentum different from Reynolt's. Not like that sword-obsessed geezer—this felt purely knightly. Steadfast and solid.
However.
That didn't mean he could win.
"Hup...!!"
The man swung his greatsword—larger than mine—in a straight line. A diagonal slash, clean and precise, aimed right at me. Even Reynolt would nod in approval.
—Fwoooong!!!
"What in the...!!!"
But.
No matter how fast his sword.
No matter how strong.
That blade would never touch me.
[Talent: Heavenly Martial Body completely reads the target's attack]
With that level of skill, he couldn't overcome my talents.
"Why won't it hit!?"
"Too predictable, Vice-Captain."
"You worm!!!"
Stronger and faster than before. Technique traded for raw power and speed.
—Drip.
"...Huh?"
He might've put up the best fight among the aura users I'd faced so far.
Dragon Slayer Style.
1st Form: Modified - Piercing Overlapping Scales.
Normally a slash for overlapping scales, but against armored foes, slashing is stupid.
Just smash inward from inside the armor, layer by layer.
—Craaaaaack!!!!!!!
From my palm striking his abdomen, aura drilled in repeatedly. Like hammering a nail—strike one spot relentlessly with aura, and even dragon scales would pierce.
"Gahk...!!!!"
The fierce knight was gone. Left was a man with a circular hole punched through his gut, collapsing uselessly.
"W-what the hell was that...!!"
"The Vice-Captain... lost?"
I could feel the remaining five losing momentum.
Few against many. Skill mattered, but morale was key.
"Gaaaaah!!!!"
An imperial mage—watching from behind—went berserk and deployed circles toward me. High-level offensive magic at 6th Circle level. He probably thought I was off-guard...
[Talent: Insight completely analyzes the target's magic]
"Lilia. Reverse it for me."
"Yes, Master."
Without using my own mana, Lilia deployed the counter-magic in my stead.
The spell hurtling toward me fizzled out—then pierced the mage's heart perfectly.
An absurd sight: an aura user wielding magic.
"You... what the hell are you...?"
Even Dorothy, who'd been watching silently from behind, was stunned. That said it all.
"Here to help. I've taken out three of seven—want more?"
I'd handled nearly half solo, all imperial side. Dorothy had blocked the interlopers, but that was expected.
She could've wrapped it up alone by now.
"...Thanks anyway. I got it from here."
In that instant, Dorothy's body lifted into the air, her momentum surging. A glimpse of the grand mage from the rumors.
Now it was Dorothy's time for real.
'Alright, time for me to head back...'
Yeah. If this was Dorothy's moment...
"Huh? You're just leaving?"
Dorothy said something from behind, but...
We were on a tight schedule to get back to the academy fast.
"Belloa!!"
"Y-yeah!?"
"Run!!! We're gonna get penalty points if we're late!!!"
"Gaaaaah!!!"