Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Conflict
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"Hmm hmm hmm~♪"
Ariana hummed a little tune to herself as she rode in the carriage.
I watched the scene quietly for a moment before asking her.
"Saintess."
"Yes?"
"Does that halo above your head... Does it ever feel uncomfortable or anything?"
It stayed still most of the time, but it would slowly spin when she was in a good mood, and whenever she looked at Ruin, it spun threateningly.
I was worried because this thing, practically a second body part, had appeared on her when it shouldn't have shown up until much later.
"Oh, it's fine. When I lie down or get on my stomach, it moves out of the way on its own so it doesn't get in the way. And ever since it appeared, I've been able to control my holy power much more precisely."
"I... see."
Ariana nodded.
For a moment, her expression turned wistful.
"Besides... the goddess gave it to me so I could save Is."
"...That was a pointless question."
"No, it's okay! It's natural to wonder!"
Right. I shouldn't think so negatively.
Sure, the halo appearing this early was strange, but if Ariana herself was happy about it, what did it matter?
I'd asked Ariana everything I was curious about, so now it was Ruin's turn.
I turned to him.
"Hero."
"What."
Ruin sat there sullenly, wrapped head to toe in bandages.
I asked him.
"How exactly did you take down the dragon? Did you go for the reverse scale, like I told you?"
I'd told him about the reverse scale, but the timing and skill it took for Ruin to kill the dragon was impressive, even for an early-game protagonist.
High-level players could beat the final boss with starter stats, sure, but Ruin wasn't one of them.
I looked at him with admiring eyes, but he snorted in response.
"Hmph. A dragon's nothing to me. I didn't even need to bother looking for that reverse scale or whatever."
"What? You didn't find the reverse scale?"
I stared at him in shock, and he puffed up his shoulders, continuing excitedly.
"No, you said it was under the neck, right? But I looked on its back and couldn't find it no matter what. So I just peeled off the scales around its neck one by one with my sword."
"Wait, why were you looking for the reverse scale on its back?"
"Come on, how was I supposed to get under a dragon?"
"Huh?"
Thinking about it, that made sense.
He didn't have any ranged attacks or double jumps yet.
'But then how did he kill it?'
"So... how did you kill it?"
"I peeled off all the scales and slashed with everything I had."
"...?"
"What."
"Is that even possible?"
"Worked, didn't it? Oh, right!"
He spouted nonsense, then suddenly pointed at me like he'd remembered something.
"You bastard, you stole my holy power again!"
"What? No, what are you even—"
I tried to protest the sudden accusation, but Ariana cut in.
"He's right, Is! When I was captured by the black mage, I saw Is connected to someone in the sky through holy power!"
"What... did you say?"
What was this about?
I shot her a look demanding an explanation, and Ariana smiled softly, pointing to her halo.
"The goddess bestowed a massive amount of holy power on me, so she probably didn't give the same to you. Instead, maybe she let you draw from the hero's holy power again, like last time?"
"So you're saying I really did steal the hero's holy power...?"
Ariana and Ruin both nodded.
Ruin spoke up, his face full of dissatisfaction.
"Still, thanks to that, I didn't die. It's infuriating that you stole mine so brazenly, but because you took some, it balanced things out and let me use my power more stably than usual."
"That's... fortunate."
But that didn't make this any less of a problem.
'Can he really fulfill his role as the protagonist like this...?'
The protagonist's job was to diligently train and master the massive holy power granted to him, growing faster as a result.
But now that I'd taken more of his holy power, could Ruin really grow properly as the protagonist?
'The amount this time was on a whole different level from the first time.'
"Hero, do you have any idea how much was taken?"
"...Combined with what you took before, about twenty percent."
Ruin gritted his teeth as he told me.
"Don't think I'm gonna thank you for taking my holy power, you punk. I'm barely holding back from killing you right now and taking it back."
"Hero! How can you be so rude to Is?!"
Ariana bristled, but this time Ruin didn't back down.
"Ariana, this isn't something we can just let slide."
He explained with a menacing look.
"I'm the hero. The chosen hero. But this damn orphan punk thinks he can steal my holy power just because he's some holy knight? I'm letting him live right now because it helped this time, but normally I'd snap his neck on the spot."
"Hero! I won't tolerate any more rudeness!"
"...Even you can't make me overlook this one."
Ariana and Ruin's gazes clashed in the air, filled with killing intent.
Sparks practically flew between them.
The situation had turned serious, and even I didn't have the leeway to calm them down this time.
'What do I do? Is there a way to give the holy power back? If this keeps up...'
Total disaster.
Ruin was already slacking on training and couldn't control his holy power properly. If he was short on it now, he was done for.
Eighty percent... If he geared up with endgame equipment, he might barely stand a chance against the demon king.
Of course, getting a full set of endgame gear was easier said than done—in reality, it was nearly impossible.
Because the materials for that endgame gear were...
'Fragments of the saintess's halo, the jewel in the princess's crown, the jewel in the archmage's staff, the pendant the knight received as a keepsake, the dragon girl's dragon heart.'
Things you could only get after maxing affection with every heroine.
'But Ruin's hit rock bottom even with Ariana, the easiest one to win over.'
There was zero chance that trash human Ruin could pull it off.
Even if his personality was the absolute worst, the mage was the only one whose affection you could raise anyway.
The problem was that the endgame gear from the mage was the weakest piece: the shoes called "Omnipotent Steps."
Not nearly enough to beat the demon king.
'I have to find a way to give his holy power back somehow.' Otherwise, Ruin could end up as some half-baked gacha character—not even a five-star, just a four-star reject.
'So much to do ahead.'
I needed to rehabilitate Ruin, find a way to return his holy power, and lay the groundwork for endgame gear just in case.
"Hoo..."
My future already looked pitch black.
But I'd make it work somehow.
The moment I steeled myself and looked up.
"Screw it! I don't even need that much holy power—I've got overflowing talent! No cheap trick from that punk can overcome my talent! He couldn't catch up to me if he tried!"
"Take that back! Is is way more amazing than someone like you! If you're gonna say that, quit being the hero!"
"What did you say?!"
"You heard me! With that attitude, hand the hero title over to Is! You trash! Human scum! Pervert! Idiot!"
"Take it back! Take it back right now!"
"You have no right to talk about Is!"
"You little...!"
Loud shouting flew back and forth between Ariana and Ruin.
Ariana's halo spun wildly above her head, while Ruin clenched and unclenched his fists—he looked ready to explode but couldn't bring himself to hit Ariana.
Finally grasping the situation, I stepped in.
"Both of you, calm down for now—"
"Shut up! Who do you think this is all because of?!"
-Whoosh!
But in that instant, a fist came flying from Ruin, and I hurriedly raised my arm to block.
Then.
-Crack!
"Ugh!"
Pain like my arm was breaking surged through me, but luckily, it didn't actually break.
Probably just a bruise.
As I clutched my arm, Ariana jumped in alarm and began healing it, tears welling in her eyes.
"This... can't be the hero...!"
She didn't seem to mean for anyone to hear, but her mutter reached Ruin's ears.
His face filled with bewilderment.
"No, I..."
He tried to make an excuse but couldn't find the words, eventually kicking open the door and storming out.
"Hero..."
This was awkward.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "...Ugh."
'The situation's gotten a bit complicated...'
To chase after the hero who'd bolted, Lib High Priest pulled himself from where he'd been slammed into the wall and quietly slipped out of the room.
'Looks like it'll get smashed three more times.'