Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: The Princess Escapes the Demon King's Castle to Save the Hero (3)
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Clack, clack.
The pristine white horse and the jet-black horse smoothly swapped positions without hindrance.
Fritz and Yulia.
The young prodigies of the Sing family continued exchanging pieces with somewhat bored expressions.
As everyone around them quietly watched their chess game, a hush fell over the area.
That was when Yulia spoke up.
"God, you're such a jerk. Is teasing your little sister really that fun? You got all excited and jumped into this quest just to mess with me, didn't you?"
Even as she said it, her hand didn't stop moving the pieces.
In response, Fritz moved his piece and replied.
"Yeah, it's fun. Super fun."
"Don't you have time to tease me? Why not help out with the Bluebird stuff instead?"
"I don't have that much time. And I'm not here just to play around today. This is official business."
"You're playing the role of a Demon King's Army grunt in this quest?"
"Grunt? You have no eye for talent. You really think this body of mine would settle for a minor role like that?"
"Yeah, you totally look like a Demon King's Army grunt."
"Not a grunt—a right-hand man to the Demon King."
Clack, clack, clack.
The onlookers shook their heads in amazement at the siblings, who moved pieces at an astonishing speed even while conversing.
But to the pair, this was everyday life—they carried on their conversation nonchalantly.
"Whatever. Fritz, right-hand man of the Demon King? So, did you design this quest, big bro?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You think I don't know? Among the fifth-year graduation requirements, there's one where you plan a quest yourself, right?"
"Yeah, there is. It's not mandatory, though."
"That's why I'm asking. This 'rescue the princess' quest... did you design it?"
"Who knows?"
"Nah, forget it. You don't have to answer. If you had designed it, it wouldn't be this sloppy. You're probably just helping someone else out."
"Haha, sloppy? That friend of mine would be hurt if he heard that."
Fritz's roundabout phrasing confirmed Yulia's prediction.
Clack, clack, clack.
"So, how much did you help out, big bro?"
"Hey, squirt, since when do people in our family beg for answers first? If you're asking for a problem to be solved and graded, that's one thing."
It was a way of telling her not to seek answers from him but to submit her own solution first.
Yulia pouted slightly, then submitted her answer.
"If I'm right, your friend handled the overall design, and you just polished a few minor details?"
"Oh? And how did I polish them?"
Fritz shrugged with a sly grin.
Yulia recalled Fritz's appearance and what he had said, then answered.
"The trials... yeah, you probably set up some weird scenario-based trial gate. This first gate tests those who use their heads, right?"
"Is that so? Sure, let's say it is. If it's the first gate, you think there's more after? What's your guess for the next one?"
"Isn't it obvious? Obviously something physical."
It felt like confirming the answer.
Or dodging it.
Yet they kept lobbing questions at each other in this strange exchange.
"A physical trial... could be, or not. So, who do you think is overseeing the next trial?"
"Obvious again. One of your friends, right? The one who planned this weird quest."
"My friend? Which one?"
As he asked, the black rook moved swiftly.
Clack.
Fritz's rook toppled Yulia's pawn.
Staring at it intently, Yulia impassively picked up the white knight.
She captured the black rook and answered.
"Vangelis Aniston."
Clack.
* * *
"...What do we do?"
Jerry rolled his eyes as he muttered.
He, too, had heard the rumors about Vangelis Aniston standing before them.
The Aniston family, renowned for its matriarchal structure.
Vangelis was the second daughter of the family head, a figure said to possess talents and skills that threatened the eldest daughter's position.
Proving this, she had never once lost the top spot in her cohort of 46.
With such a Vangelis blocking their path, it was only natural for Jerry to panic.
In contrast, Teresa asked in a calm tone.
"If we want to pass through here, does that mean we have to spar with you, Senior?"
Vangelis smiled at the question.
"Simple. If someone steps up and exchanges one bout with me, I'll let one person through per bout."
"Does that mean the challenger can only try once?"
"No, they can challenge as many times as they want—as long as they can withstand it."
Vangelis flashed a relaxed smile.
Seeing it, Teresa stepped forward without hesitation.
"I'll take it—your attack, Senior. I've been wanting to cross spears with you anyway."
As Teresa assumed her stance, a thick aura rose from her body.
Vangelis smiled at her junior's provocative energy.
"Oh?"
Jerry, reading the atmosphere between them in an instant, scurried to the side. Vangelis's aura swelled even further.
"What a coincidence. I've been wanting a proper match with you too, Junior. I was curious about that famed spear art of the Winchester family."
The Winchester family, devoted solely to spear arts.
In contrast, the Aniston family's spear arts were just one among several signature techniques.
Thus, in pure spear arts, the consensus was that Aniston lagged behind Winchester.
Vangelis disliked that evaluation.
She didn't believe Aniston's spear arts were inferior to Winchester's.
No—she was convinced they surpassed them.
'Digging many wells won't go as deep as digging one, but the amount of water you get is far greater.'
Depth doesn't guarantee more water.
You need to dig many wells to the depth where water flows to get more.
'Our spear arts might not match Winchester in depth...'
A fierce light flickered in Vangelis's eyes.
She kicked off the ground hard and charged at Teresa.
'...but in sheer power, we never fall short!'
Boom!
A massive explosion rang out.
Vangelis reached Teresa's front in an instant.
The spear half-resting on her shoulder whipped out like lightning.
Whoosh.
With the momentum of her charge.
Empowered by her immense strength, the spear Vangelis swung stirred a ferocious wind as it flew at Teresa.
From above.
Straight down in a perfect vertical thrust.
Seeing the spear plunging toward her, Teresa's eyes widened.
'This is...?!'
What flew at her wasn't the spear tip, but the shaft.
Of course, spear arts didn't mandate using only the tip.
Shaft strikes were perfectly valid.
Yet Teresa sensed something alien in Vangelis's technique.
It was as if the oncoming spear felt like a massive sword.
She wanted to analyze that odd sensation further, but the approaching attack's power was no joke.
The moment she sensed danger, Teresa's mana surged like raging rapids through her mana circuits.
And then.
Swoosh.
Vangelis's spear swept through the space where Teresa had stood.
But no impact sounded.
Teresa's form shimmered like a heat haze.
Soon, she erupted from an empty spot to the right, like a shadow taking shape.
At that instant, Vangelis's vertically descending spear halted precisely one centimeter from the ground.
Crack!
A powerful shockwave erupted from where the spear stopped.
Crunch.
The ground where Teresa had stood moments ago caved in.
A mere shockwave had cratered part of the earth.
Truly staggering power.
"Hmm..."
Vangelis's eyes sparkled with interest as she watched Teresa effortlessly evade her strike.
"Is that the famous Winchester family's Spring Shade Step?"
Impressed, she withdrew her spear and pointed behind her.
"You handled one bout splendidly, so I'll let one through. Who's going?"
From Vangelis's confident expression, Teresa instinctively realized.
If that strike wasn't her full power.
If the next ones were faster, stronger.
No one in the following 49th cohort could withstand Vangelis's bout.
So Teresa said to Jerry.
"I'll stay."
"What're you gonna do?"
"If we have to endure one bout to pass, no one coming after from our cohort can make it through here."
"...Then?"
"I'll stay and get the others through."
It meant Teresa would take responsibility for this gate entirely.
Just like Yulia was playing chess with Fritz at the first gate to send others ahead.
Teresa's eyes shone with resolve.
"Even though she could gather everyone at the first gate and send them up at once, Yulia sent us as the vanguard—probably anticipating something like this."
It made sense for Yulia Sing, so Jerry nodded.
"Maybe... yeah."
"Then this is where I belong."
"......"
"So go on ahead. I'll send the others up and follow after."
At Teresa's firm voice, Jerry nodded helplessly and began ascending the path the Black Spear Soldier had cleared.
As Jerry departed.
Having overheard their talk, Vangelis lit up at the sight of Teresa left alone.
"This is great! Means I get to keep fighting you, right?"
"......"
"You felt it too—that was just a light greeting. Now that greetings are over, shall we get serious? You okay on your own?"
Seeing Vangelis's deepening smile, Teresa's lips curved slyly.
"The best fun is always solo."
Teresa's smile carried a strangely provocative edge.
It bore an uncanny resemblance to Yuri's.
* * *
Jerry's expression was a bit odd as he raced alone through the forest path after passing the second gate.
Somehow complex, troubled.
But he didn't stop running.
Two signposts halted his ascent.
"Th-this...?!"
Jerry's eyes shook violently, like an earthquake, as he read the signs.
* * *
Jerry and Teresa.
Not much time had passed since the two vanguard members set out, yet the number of people left in the clearing had dwindled significantly.
Yulia had been capturing and sending off black pieces.
Accordingly, several white and black pieces were missing from both sides of the board.
Ten black.
Eight white.
Despite trailing in captured pieces, Fritz remained relaxed.
Clack.
"Not bad. You've improved a lot."
It might have been praise for her chess skills.
Or for accurately reading this quest.
Fritz picked up the black bishop and asked.
"So, assuming you're right about a head trial and a body trial, how many do you think will make it to the Demon King's Castle?"
Clack.
Fritz placed the bishop on a diagonal threatening the white king.
Check.
Yulia shot him an exasperated look at the bishop aiming for her king.
"Wow, look at this sneaky bastard."
"Sneaky? Me? Who in this world is as pure as I am?"
"Shameless too. You think I haven't fallen for this a time or two? Even if the quest is sloppy, with your touch, there can't be just two gates. There's definitely one more."
"Oh? What do you think it is?"
"If the previous ones tested the mind and body... the next one's obvious."
Yulia lightly lifted the white king.
"A trial of the heart."
Clack.
The white king moved one square aside, easily escaping the bishop's check.