Lunar Eclipse (1)
Lunar Eclipse (1)
I finally intervene in the situation.
Towards the soldiers standing side by side, I lightly swing a pitch-black scythe.
"Activation. Thorns."
Chwaaaak-!
Soon, Kkumteuli stretches out in dozens of branches and tears the cards to shreds.
The nightmare lingers and seems to squirm, but eventually loses power and smoothly disperses.
I brush off the shadows on my sleeve and speak.
"As expected... it seems difficult to control once it exceeds ten sheets."
"S-sorry, Viktor-nim... I lost control of the power again..."
"There's nothing to be sorry about. It's only the third day of training. You're doing well enough."
"Th-thank you..."
Even with the words of reassurance, Alice ends up disheartened.
I smiled with a pitying heart.
'It's not a power that can be handled in a day or two.'
While the Class E students were finding their own paths and training, Alice was receiving nightmare control training alone with me.
In Alice's case. Since her ability must not leak outside, we conducted training in the secluded center of the forest.
In a way where she tries handling the nightmares on her own to get a feel, and if signs of rampage appear, I step in to deal with it.
It was also the process of taming the nightmare, as promised with her earlier.
I lightly tidy up the surroundings.
"Shall we end today's training here?"
"Ah, yes..."
"You worked hard again today."
The girl nods her head.
We step on the path heading side by side towards the Dormitory.
Beside Alice, who is strangely dispirited, I subtly stick close and throw a question.
"How have you been lately? Do you still have nightmares at night or something?"
"Th-that, no... Since Viktor-nim, s-solved it for me, not yet..."
"Then that's a relief."
"Th-thank you..."
"It wasn't particularly said to show off, you know."
Huhu.
A lightly bursting laugh.
I slightly raise my hand and stroke her black hair.
"Alice-yang is doing well enough. It's okay not to be too impatient."
"......"
"Really? You're doing well, and you'll continue to do well."
"......I also want to be helpful to Viktor-nim."
Alice mutters without confidence.
As with the previous rampage, and as with now watching over the training.
It seems her heart is uncomfortable, wondering if she's only receiving from me.
"Viktor-nim is incredibly, strong, strong... For me to be of any help, I, I feel like I have to do something..."
Quite an admirable thing to say.
I stroked the cowering girl with even more affection.
"It's already enough. Alice-yang."
You're already like a confirmed lottery ticket, aren't you?
A real treasure, a treasure.
"It's okay just that you live so hard."
"Again, only such words..."
As if losing energy, Alice mumbles with her lips.
On her white cheeks, heat seemed to spread faintly.
Is it that frustrating that she can't help me?
I tilt my head, then soon think of something and smirk.
"If it bothers you that much, then."
"......?"
"One thing. There's something I'd like you to help with."
"Something to help with...? To me...? Wh-what is it? I'll do it! I, I want to do it!"
As expected, she must have been very concerned, as she desperately reacts even to a lightly thrown remark.
Calming down the uncharacteristically excited Alice, I continue.
"It's nothing else, but I plan to go somewhere tonight."
"Night...?"
"I was wondering if you could accompany me."
The girl's eyes shine brightly.
It was also about time to gradually draw her into our organization.
A worldwide secret purging organization that protects the peace of the continent and safeguards tranquility.
"By any chance... have you heard of the Slayers?"
A newly prepared black mask.
I asked while fidgeting with it inside the robe.
Afterwards.
A half-day passed idly, and it was time to welcome the night.
I was walking out of the academy as usual.
"Hmm hmm."
By now, a fairly familiar routine.
Through the wall-piercing bug, I moved to a vacant lot quite far from the academy.
"Viktor."
"Ah... Princess-nim."
Similarly, as if now accustomed, Princess-nim walking beside me.
Gloomy dawn. The girl's silver hair shimmered under the moon shining through the clouds.
She had a red mask covering her face.
"Where are we going this time?"
"As always, moving to protect the love and peace of the world."
"I see."
Princess-nim seriously nods her head even at my nonsense.
She was one who meekly accepts the touch even when I reach out to stroke her.
Yes. She was Carmilla, infinitely lenient when it came to matters related to me, but...
"......Viktor."
"Yes, Princess-nim."
"Why is that child accompanying us?"
Now, she was showing signs of being quite irritated.
In the direction her finger pointed, a black-haired girl was standing cowering.
It was Alice.
"She's a new member of the Slayers. Shall we use the code name Onion?"
"So why, I asked why you brought that child."
"I requested her help. I asked if she could accompany us."
"Mmm..."
"Since we happened to make acquaintance with Princess-nim last time, I thought it was perfect."
"Mmm..."
Carmilla lets out a groan.
A timid finger pokes my side repeatedly.
"Help... was I insufficient?"
"That can't be. It's just that the matter to handle this time is large in scale, so I thought it would be good to have extra hands."
"Mmm..."
"Moreover, it's a field perfectly suited for Alice-yang. I called her to also give her training and accumulate practical experience."
"......"
Was it bothersome that I had another partner?
Carmilla seemed quite dissatisfied with Alice.
Because she had quite a possessive desire in this regard.
Still, since I called her, she probably couldn't bring herself to scold her to her face.
"Viktor..."
Princess-nim whispered in my ear while pouting.
"Viktor is my only subject. You must not fall for other women who flirt with you..."
"You know that I'm not such a person, right?"
"Of course, but..."
Carmilla lacking confidence. I could understand that feeling.
Because she lost her family, friends, and kingdom overnight.
Since the only connection left around her was me, she seemed to attach severe obsession to the relationship.
I reassure her with kind words.
"If I weren't by Princess-nim's side, where would I stay?"
"......"
"This outing is truly important, so please also set aside your anger, Princess-nim."
"......When did I say I was angry? I merely had a question and asked."
"Huhu, of course."
Only then does Princess-nim seem to have her mood eased and steps back.
I speak to the two people on both sides.
"Then... Sir Maneur, Sir Onion. Shall we go?"
Captain Garurik.
Member Maneur.
Member Onion.
They were the elites of a worldwide secret organization.
"By the way... what business have we come out for this time?"
Princess-nim peeking and asking.
I answer while tapping the mask.
"Because it's about time."
New Kingdom.
The peace treaty between humans and vampires is broken, and it's time for them to formally declare war.
Starting from this incident, signs of war will begin to spread across the entire continent.
Probably humans will also realize that vampires are no longer allies.
"The starting point of war."
Red Night.
The incident that becomes its root.
If left unattended, enormous casualties will occur.
"We will jump into the center of it and suppress the occurring casualties to a minimum."
Now that I think about it.
"For Princess-nim... there might be a somewhat familiar face."
"Familiar face? To me...?"
"You'll know when we go and see."
I answer while glancing at the status window displayed before my eyes.
[Main Quest]
-Title: The Water Knows the Answer!
-Content: Secure the vampire 'Jersian' belonging to the New Kingdom. Subdue him through various methods of persuasion.
-Failure Penalty: Accelerate the progress of the fourth disaster, 'Red Night'.
-Success Reward: ???
[Time Limit: 129 days]
Jersian.
The key person causing this incident [Lunar Eclipse].
At the same time, he was one of the close associates who betrayed the Blandir Dynasty.
It also becomes an important starting point for Carmilla's personal revenge.
"Hundreds of casualties... I can never let such a thing happen."
I fluttered my robe and walked ahead.
In my hand, the brightly shining Absolute Balloon Sword was already held.
――――
[Status Window]
Name: Viktor
Title: Saint
Equipped Items: Mask of the Evil God, Robe of the Evil God
Active Set Effect: The World as Seen by ■■■.
.
.
[Saint]
-> Good Deed Points accumulate as much as you save others' lives.
-> Good Deed Points can be used to improve the user's Basic Stats.
(The special ability of this title takes precedence over other constraints within the system.)
――――
Colorful lights brighten the surroundings.
I was laughing inside the mask.
"I have to save them all."
Now, then.
Shall we go farm some Saint points?