Chapter 235
Chapter 235
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 235
Chapter Title: Lanterns, Gears, and the Power of Friendship -2
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How do you beat a city wall?
Boom, boom, boom──!!
"How long are you going to keep running away, Bennett?!"
"What idiot charges head-on at a hunk of metal? If dodging annoys you that much, ditch that heavy armor and catch me."
Bennett lightly flung his chain sickle at the charging Nouvel. The blade slithered like a snake, scraping across the shield.
Shhh, shh, clang!
Of course, not even a scratch.
Petty attacks don't faze a massive shield over two meters tall. No matter how much you poke at a wall with a toothpick sword or spear, it's not going to crumble. He needed a different approach.
What if he wrapped the chain around it and tried a tug-of-war?
"Raaah──!!"
Boom!!
Nouvel slammed his shield into the ground, the sheer weight cratering the arena floor and shaking the earth. A strength contest would just turn Bennett into a human chain-sickle. Not a great plan.
City walls fall to siege weapons. Could he pull off a powerful strike using the chain sickle?
Tough.
He'd trained with it in the Mad Wizard's dimensional magic 'Chamber of Time and Mind,' but it was still a stopgap. Without resorting to black magic now, it was impossible.
Besides, the Mad Wizard had warned him sternly: she had no qualms with soul-using black magic, but never use it inside the holy city.
The goddess might have planted an if-then clause there.
"We can fight all day until sunset. Can you?!"
"Nah, I'll end it quicker. Got training scheduled after this."
That left only one option: open the gates.
He had the key.
The Mad Wizard said this arena had bad luck triggered by specific actions, like the goddess punishing the irreverent. Rule-breakers faced penalties.
One condition Mimi uncovered through mad grinding:
'Stomping the ground hard with your left foot triggers misfortune.'
Why that clause? Still unknown. But if it worked, he could use it. Bennett calmly maneuvered his chain like a snake stalking prey.
"Hup!"
The shield closed in.
It felt like a wall with a mind of its own, flying at him with terrifying pressure. But Bennett had faced the evil god's terror unflinching. No shake in his stance.
Dodge when it's close—no need sooner. He lowered his posture, flicking his wrist to send the chain undulating in unpredictable waves.
A far cry from Jenny's style. Not spinning slashes maximizing rotation, but binding-focused combat doctrine using the chain.
Bennett had learned it from Yuri Lancaster.
Whirr──!!
Screeech!
"...Hm?"
The chain snaked across the ground like a hunting serpent, suddenly wrapping Nouvel's left ankle and yanking it up. On a normal body, it'd snap the bone. But...
Nouvel's plate armor was tough. The chain groaned, lifting his foot a few centimeters, but that was it.
"Trying to throw off my balance? You didn't think this through. The weight of this armor and shield."
"...Damn, it's ridiculously heavy!"
"I'll stomp this chain flat right now. Lose your weapon, and even a runner like you will surrender!"
Holy Knight Nouvel planted his full weight and stomped viciously.
And in that instant, the gears turned by the rules.
Boom──!!
"Wha...?!"
"The ground caved in! Holy Knight Nouvel's mighty stomp sank him up to his shin! Intentional? Or a flaw from the previous match that wasn't fully repaired?!"
"Bennett... You planned this from the start..."
"Yup. Though not quite how you think."
Armor weight was both merit and flaw. Fine if your feet were planted firm, but lose balance and tip over?
That heavy plate became a cumbersome anchor.
Whirr──!!
The chain coiled around Nouvel's neck, knees, waist, yanking him down. The wobbling walking wall couldn't bear its own mass and finally toppled.
Thud──!!
Bennett mounted the prone knight's back, channeling mana to add more weight. Nouvel thrashed to rise but soon gave up.
"...Overwhelming weight was the poison, huh."
"Good strategy, poor execution. Train until you can handle that armor lightly."
"The match is decided! Winner: Bennett of the chain sickle──!!"
He won. Bennett thrust his hand high, waving to the roaring crowd. More precisely, to Tara and Niore cheering from the stands.
And to the Mad Wizard swinging glowsticks (procured from who-knows-where) amid the seats. He waved thanks to her too.
Those glowsticks? She'd explained them as covert signaling disguised as cheering.
But she cheered so enthusiastically, maybe she just made them for fun. Nah, probably not.
The Mad Wizard's plan worked perfectly. No misfortune against Redburn folks, and cardinal faction foes fell easily. Who else mastered metaphors like her?
Ironic she couldn't use them herself.
At this rate, victory was in reach. Plenty of threats left, but she brimmed with custom counters.
No variables, smooth sailing.
Happy ending in sight.
Feels like being a star sports team manager.
Every strategy lands perfectly, so I couldn't contain my excitement, bouncing everywhere. Bennett fought well, sure, but I contributed too, right?
So I bragged. To Evil God-chan.
"See that? Didja see?!"
"Ugh, shut up. Ack, seriously, no more."
Evil God-chan threw a massive fit. She was thrilled, but I loved this most—tormenting her with my genius.
I started breaking down my strategy's brilliance, second by second...
"Stop bullying the kid and come here."
"Yes'm."
Pingbalrez called, so I scampered over. She patted the sofa beside her like 'sit,' and I plopped down.
Evil God-chan gave Pingbalrez a weird look. Hesitated forever, then...
"...You just called me a kid?"
"Yes."
Evil God-chan half-exploded.
"Sorry, but I'm a monster who's lived centuries. You know that? Treating me like a kid, you half-breed lab rat──"
"Ever wondered what happens if I toss you, sensitivity cranked 3000x, into a succubus's bedroom, Evil God-chan?"
"...Birds of a feather."
"I'll take it as praise."
Instant invisible hierarchy sort. Reconfirmed she's bottom caste. Figured she'd rage-grind from fury, but...
"......"
Her reaction's subtler than expected. Likes being called a kid? Deep down?
Is the kid a masochist? Reward good deeds with wooden horse and whips now? That's intense.
"Nooo?!"
Guess not.
Anyway, everything's going great. Second Prince and Northern Grand Duke quietly aiding, and I'm pumping out three or four ways daily to screw Redburn and cardinals.
Friendship collab makes it easy. How's that, cheat metaphor flex? Your powers? We'll smash 'em together.
"...It's a mega-faction conspiracy."
...Power of friendship!
Deep in the church.
Flies buzzing around the boy pope shrieked in unprecedented crisis.
The tournament veered off-script.
"...Why's it gone wrong? We rigged the bracket so factions clash—should've been smooth."
"Heard Second Prince and Northern Grand Duke hate each other... Secret talks? They're queuing up, cooperating without clashing..."
"Redburn's no pushover. They have untouchable power too. Didn't one priest drop?"
"Damn! Reform heretics using Discipline now! Look at that demon Bennett fight. What the hell?!"
Everything's messed up. All of it!
Cardinals clawed wrinkles, tore hair in rage and frustration. Their stage, goddess power used. Yet crisis?
"If this continues..."
"...That wastrel Benjamin drops..."
All plans crumble.
They'd stacked Discipline layers to prevent natural heroes: Must be from a house, must train sword...
Hero birth blocked perfectly.
Now they want one, Discipline hinders. Only extreme qualifiers eligible.
Hence pushing reputation-poor, unskilled Benjamin. No other options.
Can't go on.
Courage tourney: Weirdos, assassinations, joke matches crowned Pin the klutz.
Faithfulness: Northern warrior crushed all. They aimed for last spot, blocked by Redburn.
Two tourneys left. Benjamin must qualify.
Cornered, they all-inned on Immutability.
Redburn hit misfortune, Reform exploited it to topple cardinals!
"More Discipline! More!"
"But His Holiness worries. Red lights flashing. If something happens..."
"Goddess is perfect! The weak brat's just scared. Alternatives?"
"...Right. For victory, true faith, we beseech."
More. A bit more.
Shh. Shhh.
Cardinals swarmed like cockroaches. Wrinkled hands clung, yanked throne. Greedy flies whispered in boy pope's ear.
"Your Holiness, make another Discipline. Outsiders as hero candidates? Absurd."
"Your Holiness, drop the unworthy. Beseech the goddess..."
Boy pope hesitated, fear-faced.
Red warnings blinked loud even for unlearned kid. Escalating flashes, alarms. Goddess angry—he dimly grasped.
Instinct screamed 'stop.'
Cardinals didn't wait. Hands reached. Pinched, clawed tender skin. Pope writhed in pain, but grips held...
Tears streaming, boy pope touched divinity again.
Red warnings lit.
[Warning: This Discipline conflicts with 128 existing ones.]
[Warning: Executing will raise damage to 27%.]
[Advice: Detected Pope administrator's sorrow/pain. If externally pressured and unfree, board the Cocoon for emergency mode.]
[Execute?]
But he'd never learned those divine words. Cardinals blindfolded eyes, plugged ears—puppet only.
Another Discipline born. Gears turned.
"Redburn Mage Ogneel falls to Church Knight Benjamin──!!"
Cheers, shouts, festival vibe.
In shadows, Duke Redburn sipping wine frowned. Knew church tricks.
Even accounting, he expected win.
Goddess and evil god same. Evil god's 'Divine Toolbox' needs souls—humans moving goddess need fuel too.
Church schemes limited. Mutual constraints? Finer operator wins.
But miscalculated.
"...Pushing hard? If they go aggressive, we can't back down. Faceless."
"Yes, Father."
"Execute Partial Mutation."
"Got it. Use trash to snipe the gem."
Faceless vanished into shadows. Duke drained wine, smashed glass. Terrified servants swept shards barehanded...
In the massive hero-candidate gamble.
Duke Redburn raised the stakes.