Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Epilogue: Aftermath ~Romance Frontline~
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Selbia, the mage from the Crimson Magic Tower, dangled upside down, swaying like a pendulum ensnared by tentacles. She used a passive anti-gravity spell that consumed no mana to keep her skirt from flipping up as she pondered.
"Bennett, pass!"
"Don't shove it off on someone else just because it's a hassle!"
[Bennett, if you're okay with it, could you handle mine too?]
"Leave it to me."
"...You jerk, why's your reaction totally different to Niore?!"
...What the hell are those guys, flying around like that?
She knew the trio was taking lessons from the mad mage. By her count, two weeks had passed since they started, so they'd barely finished two sessions. But putting aside their oddly intense emotional exchanges...
Individually skilled and with flawless teamwork, they stood out in this classroom. Clearing the tentacle labyrinth with just three people already put them in the top ranks. A quick glance to the side explained why.
"Gaaaaah! Aaaah!"
"P-Philip! Damn it, let go of Philip, you tentacle!"
"I haaaate the slimy slimy feeling—!!"
The average students were getting shredded in real time. Those without strength or backing were picked off one by one, subdued by the tentacles. The smarter ones, realizing violent resistance only made the tentacles burrow deeper, hung quietly like Selbia.
But the clueless ones were teetering on the edge of some R-rated territory, squirming perilously close.
"Number 32, 33. Advance."
"Urghhh...!"
"Think about the gold you're getting paid for this. Earn it with faith and diligence!"
The Golden faction, led by the personal disciple of the Golden Tower Master, was steadily dismantling the labyrinth by hurling students forward one by one. In other words, they'd judged it impossible without sacrifices.
"Protect the lady! Don't let a single tentacle get near her!"
"Don't fall back—for our liege, we're ready to die fighting here!!"
"Recall your oaths of loyalty! Recall her ladyship's gracious heart!"
"...Uh, no, you don't need to go that far..."
The Rose Banner faction, led by the Pale Duke's only daughter, huddled tightly together, pooling their strength for defense as they inched forward. Their numbers easily topped dozens, with a high proportion of nobles.
Nobles were generally superior to commoner students. It took that kind of manpower in coordinated defense to break through.
And then...
"Freeze."
A lone snow-white girl casually froze tentacles solid, strolling through the labyrinth. The Azure Magic Tower mage, rumored to have reached the Transcendence realm—Selbia's soul rival... White Snow.
A genius who blossomed Transcendence at a young age, strong enough to give professors a real fight. Only at that level could one solo it.
In a labyrinth this insanely difficult, their harmonious trio clearing it together was bound to stand out. Especially Niore.
Selbia didn't know the other two well, so maybe they had hidden powers or were naturally that good. But Niore? She knew her skills and personality inside out. Roommates, after all. She knew Niore had sharp observation skills too.
But.
Dodging a grotesque tentacle lunging at her face without so much as blinking, just tilting her head aside.
Or unhesitatingly jabbing her finger into the eye of a tentacle shaped like a human head.
That innate fragility—or humanity, whatever you called it—had vanished entirely. To Selbia, Niore now looked like a merciless, cold-blooded killer.
"What the hell happened to make her change like this...?"
And above all.
[Bennett. That last tentacle just grazed my chest, and a few buttons popped off.]
"I don't have sewing tools on me right now."
[I mean, if you look this way, you'll see right down my cleavage.]
"...I'll be careful."
[Not 'be careful'—]
Hasn't her sex appeal shot through the roof? She wasn't this type of character before, was she...?
Transformation.
Change isn't always good, but for those aiming higher, it's essential.
Selbia's goal was to become the Crimson Tower Master's direct disciple to claim her Wish Grant. For that, she needed Transcendence.
The prime suspect for Niore's change: the lecture Otherworld Exploration. It was still open for enrollment, as far as she knew. Selbia steeled herself to dive into the mad mage's class. She needed a catalyst for growth.
...First, though, she had to escape this tentacle hell!
Tara stretched languidly.
"We're out! Ugh, that slimy stuff was gross."
Her saintess robes rode up, fully exposing her underarms. Depending on the angle, even a sideboob peek. Her custom saintess outfit hadn't changed, but her intent in wearing it had.
No longer to spite the church—it was to draw someone's gaze. Tara squinted slyly, checking Bennett's expression. He was staring off at distant mountains.
Yeah, averting his eyes. Tara was satisfied.
Bennett staring blankly would be worse. It'd mean her appeal fell flat.
...Maybe amp it up a notch.
As Tara sidled up to Bennett sneakily, Niore chimed in. Perfect timing.
[Still, it wasn't that hard. Decent for killing time.]
"......"
The altered telepathy spell from the otherworld no longer worked, so Tara had rummaged the church storeroom and gifted Niore a necklace with built-in telepathy.
It was low-value enough for Tara to snag without issue, so performance was meh. Limited daily use and short range.
Due to the constraints, Niore still carried her whiteboard and pen, but it sufficed for casual trio chats.
But who knew the gift would backfire.
Tara's suspicions had been growing at Niore's suspiciously timed interventions. Is she doing this on purpose?
"True... the difficulty wasn't that high. Getting hit didn't blow off limbs or anything."
Bennett spoke, eyes fixed on the empty space between Tara and Niore. Her custom saintess robes and the gaping blouse buttons had emboldened him.
The trio exited the classroom, chatting idly, leaving the pitiful screams echoing from within.
One dip in the session had dulled their sense of difficulty forever.
On the way back, Bennett casually dropped a bombshell to the pair. Light tone, heavy words.
"I'm telling the professor. About the black mages' plans and the coming threat."
Niore startled, tugging his sleeve. When he turned, her eyes brimmed with worry as she looked up.
[Does that mean... revealing you were a black mage too?]
"Have to. Without the source, they won't take it seriously."
[It's dangerous. They might attack you. Worst case, prison and execution...]
"Gotta risk it. Though I doubt it'll go that far. Double agents are useful. The academy would rather use me than kill me."
Niore dashed three steps ahead, blocking him arms outstretched, resolved he'd have to trample her to pass. She hated him taking risks.
There were countless ways to anonymously warn the academy. Why expose his sins?
[Don't.]
"Niore."
[You saved the world, soul be damned. Bennett. No one here knows, but we do... it was great. So.]
If it's belated guilt, don't you have enough merit to bury it?
"Not that. I just... want no loose ends. The black mages must have proof. Of me taking their orders in battle."
[......]
"Once my betrayal leaks, they'll expose me somehow. It's gonna blow eventually. Better tie it off now."
[Bennett...]
Blink. Blink.
Niore read the concern in Bennett's clear eyes—not for himself. He worried about her and Tara.
When his black mage past surfaced, the two nearby might get dragged down. Innocent harm just for associating with him.
He wanted every potential backlash cleared away.
"Do whatever you want."
[Tara...?!]
Niore whipped around at Tara's indifferent tone. But Tara's eyes blazed with resolve.
"But Bennett, you keep treating 'saintess' like a joke... I'll drag you out somehow. If they nab you as a black mage, I'll stake my title, scream you're no black mage even if you die. Got it?"
"No need to go that far."
"Doesn't matter what you want, Bennett. I will!"
"......"
Tara glared fiercely for a while, then grabbed his collar and shook him vigorously. Unable to contain her rising fury gauge. How dare he dive into danger alone.
Bennett endured silently, and after about three minutes, quietly said,
"...Dizzy."
"I'm dizzy too!"
Tara sighed, then mumbled wetly. Resentful of Bennett ignoring her feelings.
"...You really don't get why I'm like this? How I feel about you...?"
"I know."
"...Huh?"
"I said I know."
While Tara floundered, Bennett gently pried her hand from his collar and straightened his clothes.
"No one that dense would miss it. Both of you, please restrain yourselves from now on. It's hard to hold back."
"...You?!"
[......!!]
"Not saying I'll nobly take punishment and die. I'm not that saintly. If the academy tries killing me, I'll escape with everything I've got. I have dreams to chase, missions unfinished. Just..."
Bennett paused, bashfully dropping his gaze.
"I wanted to shed my past and face you two properly."
"......"
[......]
Bennett's ambush left Tara and Niore's minds blank white.
The mad mage tailing them in stealth clapped silently in admiration, while the Tower Master smacked her back amid sugar-overload hysterics exceeding daily limits.
Bennett neutralized them with one line and strolled off.
Tara and Niore stood frozen at ground zero, rebooting only after ages. Awkward tension lingered.
"...He says."
[...Yeah.]
Niore hesitated, then offered Tara a handshake. Tara blinked at the sudden gesture but took it.
Niore smiled brightly.
[Shall we compete fairly from now on?]
"Uh, yeah... For Bennett, right?"
[No interfering.]
"Sure, and whatever the result, gracefully accept... Nah, can't do that."
[Me neither. I'd be super bummed.]
Then ahead lay war. No holds barred for love's conquest—the romance frontline was about to open.
Yet a sturdy friendship forged through deathlines and pain bound Tara and Niore. They gripped hands tight and shook.
"Still, we're friends."
[Of course. Shall we call it?]
"......"
Tara pondered a nagging unease stuck in her mind. What? What am I missing?
"...Huh?"
'From now on' fairly meant before wasn't fair. And pulling out 'no interfering' from myriad clauses...
Implies past interference?
"You were doing it on purpose too—!!"
[Friends forgive, right?]
"Get over here, you—!"
The fallen saintess chased after Niore fleeing over the fence. It was the season of blooming youth.