Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Versus Cedric
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I accepted Cedric's challenge.
Soon after, we moved to a new location and faced each other.
While moving, I took a moment to check the Holy Sword's status.
Like Esterize's beloved sword, the Holy Sword could also be stored in and retrieved from a subspace.
That fact had significant implications in many ways.
For instance, I could be harassing the Demon King's army with the Holy Sword in Area A.
Then hand it over to the princess in Area B, allowing for tactical flexibility.
Of course, it was better for us to move together if possible.
The best-case scenario was me devising the strategies and Esterize taking the lead in battle.
I didn't know if I'd be stronger later, but right now, she was far more powerful. Also...
[Performance is proportional to the user's will. Max 200%]
[Current: +57%]
As you can see, my will was being undervalued.
Argh, this is so unfair! I did my best, I swear!
In truth, it couldn't be helped.
My goal was to deal with the Demon King's army, but I didn't feel a desperate urgency for it.
That's because I'd had no contact with them so far.
I had intellectually labeled them as the bad guys, but my heart wasn't fully on board.
I hadn't lost my parents and become the young head of a household like our little cutie.
Or suffered through the fall of my kingdom like the princess. One would need such experiences to develop that kind of willpower.
Looking at it objectively, I was currently unqualified.
Circumstantially, I'd have to say I was caught up in the system window's shenanigans.
In contrast, what about Esterize?
I hadn't checked yet, but I was sure she'd easily surpass 100%.
I value efficiency above all else.
I'll entrust the Holy Sword to her, and we can share the authority of the Hero amicably.
A win-win situation.
Since the princess needed to rebuild her kingdom, she would gladly accept my proposal...
“I will expose your filthy true nature, right here and now!”
“…”
Cedric suddenly shouted.
He might as well have cursed at me. What was this nonsense?
The original Jace was the very definition of a model citizen.
After I possessed him… there were a few questionable things, but I'd generally adhered to a moral code.
Ah, perhaps he was talking about when I was a scoundrel?
He seemed to believe the disgraceful acts I committed back then were my true nature.
Well, he could think whatever he wanted. I wasn't the type to be swayed by it.
“Let me give you a piece of advice.”
“What?”
“I have never been defeated by anyone. And it seems this time will be no different.”
“—!!”
His body trembled.
Not just enraged, he was radiating pure hatred.
What’s with you?
I didn't expect him to get so worked up over a single taunt.
He was supposed to be cunning and cold-hearted. How did he change so much?
It seemed he had a lot of pent-up frustration.
At this rate, even if I won decisively, he'd probably just become more resentful.
If nothing's going to change either way, would you mind being a sacrifice to make me look good?
As if to say he had absolutely no intention of doing so.
He unleashed his full power from the very beginning.
A powerful fighter who used both swordsmanship and magic simultaneously.
Cedric's true skill was far beyond my expectations.
“—??”
His movements were too easy to read.
His assault looked heavy, but when I actually received it, it felt light.
No, why is this so easy?
A powerful attack accompanied by black magic with outstanding destructive force.
No matter how I looked at it, this wasn't a probing attack.
He was clearly more serious than ever before.
And yet, it wasn't threatening at all.
It felt like I was facing an opponent of a much lower skill level.
It seemed like there was a one… no, a two-tier difference.
I was so relaxed I could afford to have idle thoughts.
I unconsciously swung the Holy Sword, lost in thought.
Cedric is a formidable opponent.
His skills were befitting a Hero candidate.
He was definitely a cut above the graduate and Largo I'd recently faced.
That premise hadn't changed. It's just that I had become even stronger...
Thanks to the Holy Sword's effects, I had now surpassed the prime Jace.
[Its true potential is unleashed against stronger opponents. Max 200%]
[Current: 44%]
It might be the effect of a powerful item, but who cares?
What's good is good, and I was feeling fantastic.
[Contempt for the Weak]
[Lv 10/10 All stats +30% & Damage taken -30%]
With Contempt for the Weak activating on top of Contempt for the Strong.
As a result, the skill gap between us widened immensely.
I could probably win even if I faced two Hero candidates at once.
Hmm, so the former weakest is now the strongest?
And even this wasn't my final form.
As I gained more fame, more of the Holy Sword's skills would unlock.
I could become even stronger depending on my future efforts.
“Alright, let's get serious now.”
“—!!”
I corrected my stance.
There was no reason to drag this out. I'll finish this in just one minute.
It might feel anticlimactic for him, but my time was more precious.
Becoming the Hero meant I was going to be incredibly busy.
A lot of people would be looking for me from now on.
I also had things to take care of at my family's estate, and I should probably visit my in-laws while I'm at it.
Was this the influence of the Holy Sword, Duplexion?
The form of my Sword Aura seemed to have become sharper and more powerful.
Soon, a sacred light shot out, completely surrounding Cedric.
The one-sided flow of the battle continued.
The power of a Hero was just that absolute.
***
Where did it all go wrong?
Cedric couldn't suppress his burning hatred.
Jace Crodain.
At first, he'd merely considered him a nuisance.
But at some point, his annoyance had turned into a loathing so intense he wanted to eliminate him.
Why? For what reason?
It was something that couldn't be explained by simple inferiority alone.
He was aware that something was wrong with him.
But he couldn't muster the will to fix it.
Chloe Venice.
No matter how he thought about it, he seemed to have lost half his reason due to her whims.
The fact that she had sided with Jace, of all people.
He could never forgive that, but he couldn't bring himself to hate her either…
So, all his hatred became focused on Jace.
He had tried to control himself with his last shred of reason, but now it was far too late.
The Holy Sword had emitted its glow on Jace's turn.
The moment he saw that, Cedric felt a murderous intent.
‘It blatantly ignored me and chose Jace?’
A prank by the goddess. The cruelty of fate…
It was the one thing he had never wanted, yet his misfortune had materialized in the worst possible way.
He felt as if everything had been stolen from him.
To make matters worse, everyone around him seemed to accept it.
He wanted to draw his sword and swing it right then and there, but Cedric gritted his teeth and endured.
Since it had come to this, he had to make a decisive move now.
If he utterly destroyed Jace, perhaps the Holy Sword's choice would change.
“This is utterly absurd… I cannot accept this!”
He shouted with all his might, but no one agreed with him.
Instead, they looked at him as if he were strange.
Luciel took it a step further.
Wiping the benevolent expression she usually wore, she showered him with criticism.
“This is all the goddess's providence. Are you saying you'll deny it? You are truly beyond saving. Stop this disgraceful behavior at once. If you don't…”
A cold voice. A threatening warning.
She drew her weapon, as if ready to stop him if necessary.
Cedric felt like he was going insane.
Why were they all so protective of Jace?
It wasn't just one or two of them.
Aruru, Esterize, Ilensia, Luciel… and even Chloe.
The more he thought about it, the more his guts twisted.
His defiance soared in proportion.
Just as his patience reached its limit, Jace spoke.
“If that's what you truly think… I accept.”
He readily accepted the duel.
Cedric's anger flared up again at his nonchalance.
What on earth was he relying on to be so confident?
He might have gotten quite strong, but there was still a significant gap between them.
‘He might have something up his sleeve…’
And just as he suspected.
He received the Holy Sword from Esterize.
He planned to bridge the skill gap with the advantage of a better weapon…
He's going to use a sword he's not accustomed to?
Is he already trying to play the part of the Hero?
Even that was nothing but unpleasant in Cedric's eyes.
A being where everything about him was disagreeable.
His resolve to be ruthless hardened.
And so, the duel began.
Cedric went all out from the start.
He drew upon his mana to the point of overloading his magic circuits.
His condition was surprisingly not bad.
He had seized the initiative, so if he just pushed on like this…
“…”
Why?
Despite his merciless assault, Jace was unharmed.
Even his ultimate-level black magic spells were easily blocked.
He had squeezed out all his power, creating a force that should have surpassed Sword Aura.
It was a completely incomprehensible situation.
Could it be that he was already wielding the Holy Sword proficiently?
It was too fast.
He seemed to truly possess the qualifications of a Hero.
When that thought crossed his mind, Cedric's rage amplified as if to pierce the heavens.
In the midst of that, Jace spoke.
He even smiled, as if he had all the time in the world.
“Alright, let's get serious now.”
“—!!”
In that instant, sparks flew from Cedric's eyes.
For someone who had hit rock bottom, his arrogance was sky-high.
His dark emotions intensified.
His murderous intent began to creep up.
Now that it had come to this, he had no choice but to see it through to the end.
Cedric swung his sword desperately.
He poured his mana unstintingly to increase its lethality, but nothing worked.
The more he struggled, the more it was returned with even greater force.
Was this truly a wall that could not be overcome, no matter how hard he tried?
As his hatred turned into endless despair.
His mana ran rampant, and his circuits twisted violently.
“—!!”
All he could do was suppress the groan that burst from his lips.
In the end, Cedric was forced to his knees before Jace.
He lost consciousness soon after, but the misery was of a kind he would never forget.
Meanwhile, the seed of evil, feeding on its host's despair, grew vigorously.
***
Jace… no, the Hero's duel with Cedric began.
Luciel clasped her hands as if in prayer, her eyes glued to the scene.
She felt no anxiety whatsoever.
Now that he had been chosen by the Holy Sword, what could possibly go wrong?
He would defeat the likes of Cedric with ease.
Aside from that, this duel was incredibly important.
It was the first stage for the Hero to showcase his skills.
As the Saintess, it was her duty to burn that image into her memory.
‘This will make it certain.’
That Jace is qualified to be the Hero.
He might even reveal an unprecedented level of potential.
Indeed, he was clearly different from before.
The flow of the battle continued, with him effortlessly overwhelming Cedric.
Even Jace in his prime wasn't this strong.
He had held a stable advantage, but it was never as one-sided as this.
He must be drawing out the Holy Sword's power.
Seeing him handle it so proficiently already, even her slightest worries vanished completely.
He might still be a little rough around the edges, but it was clear he would become more complete over time.
The ideal Hero she had dreamed of.
The young girl's heart couldn't help but flutter.
What was this feeling?
The thrill was so exquisite it could be described as ecstasy.
“…”
Everything was perfect, but there was a small variable.
That this generation's Hero was not a single person.
Esterize had once been Jace's equal.
She always ranked at the top and had a very bright personality.
Luciel had no particular complaints, but she wasn't exactly pleased by this fact.
Would she have to take care of her as well?
In her heart, she wanted to focus solely on Jace.
After a moment's thought, Luciel decided on her future course of action.
I only have one body.
I'll have to neglect one of them.
The one to be neglected would, of course, be Esterize.
She had a reasonably valid reason.
Jace was chosen first.
Still, she couldn't ignore her completely, so a 9-to-1 ratio of attention seemed appropriate.
I'm sorry, but it can't be helped. You understand, right?
With that thought, Luciel checked on the second Hero's condition.
“—??”
Why?
Esterize was staring endlessly at Jace.
What on earth did that mesmerized expression of hers mean?
A sudden sense of unease washed over her.
Luciel hardened her resolve even more.
If she wasn't careful, she might lose her spot by Jace's side.
The Hero's partner was, and always would be, the Saintess. That truth, at least, had to be protected at all costs.