Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Aftermath 2
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At the tip of Prelia's staff, a spell containing her entire lifetime of magic took form.
The moment her talent, sealed away by the Reverser's twist, finally bloomed.
-Gwoooooh...!
Even though it was just mana gathering, the Reverser sensed an ominous aura from the mass of power—as if it held all the malice of the world.
'This is dangerous...'
Prelia's talent was so extraordinary that even the Reverser, who had sealed it, couldn't fully control it.
She was the one who had crafted a spell capable of dragging down even gods. For someone still mortal like the Reverser, she could easily turn him into something less than human.
And there was no escaping her magic.
Even the proposal he'd offered, thinking she'd accept without hesitation because she wanted to see her parents...
"If I revive my parents like you say, then in turn, victims like me will appear among others."
"Th-that's...!"
Prelia rejected it without a moment's hesitation.
The Reverser's fate was sealed.
"I don't want that. A 'perfect world'."
-Boom!!!
From the gem at the tip of Prelia's staff, green mana burst forth like dozens of snakes.
In an instant, the green magic swallowed the Reverser whole.
⚡ SPELL ACTIVATED ⚡ Green Mana Serpents Dozens of venomous snakes erupt and devour the target.
Even as the Reverser was engulfed by the spell, he attempted to reverse it.
"Reverse!!"
-Shaaak!
The green snakes twisted into a purple centipede, lunging at the Reverser with its jaws wide.
"Ugh, uwaaaaaah!"
The magic had only grown more ferocious.
The purple centipede tore into the Reverser's body.
Followed by the green snakes.
"My ambition to overturn the world... Aak! Aaak!"
Devoured by dozens of green snakes and a single purple centipede, the Reverser met a agonizing end.
-Sharak...
The green snakes returned to the staff, their mission complete.
The purple centipede followed a step behind, only for deadly venom to spray from the staff.
"Good job, Gu Poison."
[Gyur!] The purple centipede was none other than Gu Poison.
Prelia gently stroked its head.
[Gyurruk...] Gu Poison basked in Prelia's touch.
Prelia gazed at it with a smile before turning to Is and speaking.
"Is. Thank you so, so much..."
She started her thanks while looking into his eyes, but her face flushed, forcing her to turn away.
'Oh no...!'
The reason she couldn't look at Is was obvious...
'Just looking at him makes my heart pound like crazy...! These feelings are all new to me...'
Seeing Is made her heart race.
For nearly a century, Prelia had been unable to love, forgetting the emotion entirely. Now, with her reversal undone, she'd fallen into a different kind of 'love'—a situation she struggled to accept.
But still.
'Even so... this boy would be perfect.'
Prelia was a mage who acknowledged her flaws but never backed down.
She fixed her wandering gaze on him, taking a few deep breaths to hide her tension.
"...Is."
"Yes, Lady Prelia."
"...Just Prelia."
"...Pardon?"
"Call me Prelia, without the 'Lady'."
"Uh... but—"
"Are you shy?"
"Um..."
Is fell into troubled thought.
Prelia seized the moment, leaning close and whispering.
"Then I'll call you Darling."
"...What?!"
"Compared to me calling you Darling, saying my name shouldn't be embarrassing, right?"
"No, what kind of logic is—"
"Elf logic. No arguments, Darling~"
"Lady Prelia, still..."
"What was that?"
"How could I dare call you—"
"Didn't catch that~"
"...Pre, lia."
"Yes, Darling?"
"Please, no more of that nickname...!"
"Nope. Now that my revenge is done, time to wrap up!"
Prelia burst out laughing and bolted, leaving the flustered Is behind.
"...This isn't right."
Is sensed something was off.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After the Reverser fell to Prelia, many things changed.
First.
"...You're here, gay."
"That's, uh..."
'Got nothing to say.'
Apparently because I'd taken a liking to Ruin in his gender-swapped state, he'd started calling me gay. Fuck.
"...Hero, thank you for saving me."
"...Whatever, kid. It just happened because my talent's too good—even trash like you gets saved."
"Haha... I see."
Still, Ruin's eyes had softened a bit. His mouth was as foul as ever, but his mindset seemed to have shifted.
Second.
"Tower Master, say ahh~"
"Belinda? My arm's fine, though—"
"Trying to sacrifice yourself again? Right in front of me?"
"...Sorry, Belinda. Ahaha..."
Because Belinda had seen Blind about to sacrifice himself to stop the Black Knight, she'd seized control, leaving him helpless.
In the original story, Blind's sacrifice prevented this scene, so it was a good change.
"Never leave my side."
...Her eyes looked a bit off, but whatever. It'll be fine.
Anyway, third.
"Hello, Grand Senior Prelia!"
"Hey, you two."
Prelia had grown much calmer than before.
From the first time I'd seen her, she'd been a 24/7 hyper puppy, but with the reversal undone, her original shy personality mixed in, keeping her at a balanced energy.
The one issue...
"Ah, Darling's awake?"
Calling me Darling?
Of course, a half-elf archmage beauty like Prelia wouldn't see me romantically—it was just affection.
'Still... being Darling to a half-elf archmage beauty is bad for my heart...'
Even knowing she felt nothing, hearing that from her looks made it impossible not to get flustered.
'Think of Stella Nun. Calm... calm...'
"Phew! Good."
Thinking of motherly Stella Nun calmed me down.
Soothing, even.
In that moment of carelessness, I let her ambush me.
"Morning hug~"
"?!?!"
Even in armor, the embrace packed a punch.
And Prelia, smaller than Ariana but still busty, offered a grand view looking down.
"Uh, um, Pre, Prelia..."
"Hm?"
"Sorry, but could you please let go? I'm asking permission to request consideration for approval."
"Pfft, what even is that~?"
Prelia looked up with a sly smile.
The destructive power was immense.
Silky golden hair, emerald green eyes.
And the grand valley below.
'Ah, the heroines are too pretty.'
My head was starting to fog.
As if telling me to focus on the sight, my other senses began shutting down one by one.
But I had to endure...
Heroines weren't for the likes of me...
"Darling, does Darling like anyone?"
"!! Cough!"
Just as my senses blurred, her surprise question snapped me back.
"You mean someone you like?!"
I naturally pulled back and continued the topic.
Thinking it'd be casual chat.
"...Huh?"
For some reason, bedridden Ruin, Lib High Priest beside him, Blind, Belinda, Ariana descending the stairs, passing mages—even Gu Poison—were all staring.
"Everyone...?"
"Ahem!"
"Hm! Cough!"
"...Ahem."
"Lu, lululululu!"
They all averted their gazes when I looked.
Whatever.
"No."
"!! Really?"
"No way!"
"Fuck!"
"...Oh, brother."
"Sir Is... is so oblivious. Right, Belinda?"
"..."
"...Belinda?"
No, why the reactions?
"Then Darling, what's your type?"
"My type... you say."
Well, I'd have to think about that.
Type, type...
"Saintess and Prelia are out, for starters."
"Eh...?"
"Eh...?"
"Oh fuck, you dense..."
"Hero, even I can't heal that..."
"Belinda, am I wrong not just about my eyes, but my ears too?"
"...You're not, and that's the problem."
No, why?
"Two such amazing people need partners on their level, not a holy knight like me."
"Eh...?"
"Is...?"
Isn't it true?
"The Saintess wakes early every morning for diligent prayer, always keeping herself neat. She eats balanced meals, asks who she can help today, and smiles more divinely and lovingly the more people she saves. After the Monster Wave most dismissed as mere accidents, she even came to thank me personally. How pure and noble is that? Plus, her beauty is the pinnacle, sculpted by the goddess herself—no place for someone like me."
"Ah, auuuh...?"
"Wow... Darling, no mercy?"
"Same for Prelia."
"Eh, wha...?"
"She devoted her life to avenging her parents, pushing endlessly without giving up. She finally triumphed over the Reverser, and her lifelong magic was as grand and beautiful as her life itself. Now, with the reversal gone, she's striving to be kinder to more people—a heart I could never touch. Wisdom, virtue, beauty unmatched—a woman like that is a national treasure."
"D-Darling, that's... auu, I dunno...!"
Pouring out my honest feelings, they turned away, embarrassed by the praise, and fled.
"...?"
What the hell.
"Ugh, you fucking oblivious virgin dense-headed gay bastard..."
Ruin, watch the language.