Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: So, Yeah - 3
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People have different ideas of what makes for a good rest.
Some folks recharge by lounging in bed all day without getting up, while others do it by indulging in a delicious meal.
That’s why Cecile was grateful for her own particular taste in downtime.
“Does how we choose to rest and recover here affect the Sage’s suffering? Like, say, if we go for something extravagant...”
“Nothing like that, so please don’t feel burdened and just relax. As I said, we can provide anything you need for rest and recovery. Though, of course, you’ll have to use it all here.”
Leiya spoke with genuine sincerity, and Cecile let out a smirk.
She’d been waiting for those words.
“Really? In that case, can you get me some spellbooks? I recover by studying.”
“Spellbooks... You mean...”
“The highest-grade ones.”
The Duchy was far more advanced in magic than other nations, with access to rare spells that were relatively easy to learn.
Even so, developing top-tier magic was no different from anywhere else—it was a massive undertaking.
Cecile, who had already mastered most of the highest-grade spells available in the Duchy thanks to her exceptional talent, decided to seize this opportunity.
“Bring every highest-grade spellbook you have here right now. Oh, and all the mana recovery items too. Ah, and some food would be nice. Darjeeling tea for the red tea...”
Leiya fell silent for a moment at Cecile’s lengthy demands, then raised her hand. The door opened, and several spellbooks arrived along with the requested items.
As soon as they were set down, Cecile began scanning the spellbooks.
This one I’ve learned.
This one I know.
This one I’ve already mastered.
Cecile quickly skimmed the titles and spotted two she’d been searching for ages—and one that was perfect for the current situation.
“These two. Take the rest back.”
“Understood.”
The ones Cecile selected were Phantasmal Realization, the pinnacle of illusion magic.
It created a kind of barrier where the caster could construct their own illusions inside.
Anyone with mental resistance below a certain level would mistake the illusions for reality, rendering them combat-ineffective. It was an incredibly potent spell, especially useful in wars where you needed to inflict casualties on large groups.
And the other one...
‘Thousands of Virtues.’
Unlike Phantasmal Realization, this was a single-target spell. It dealt massive damage to those with malevolent alignments while buffing those with benevolent ones—like a holy power.
When fighting malevolent foes like demons, ‘Thousands of Virtues’ would undoubtedly outshine any spell she already knew.
Cecile casually tucked the two spellbooks away, sat at the ornate desk, placed a mana recovery crystal orb beside her, and turned her head.
“Hey, Cardinal...”
Unlike her, Veronica didn’t seem to want anything from this place.
She’d already set up an altar in one corner of the room and was deep in prayer.
What a woman without greed. Or maybe one with way too much of it?
Cecile could guess why Veronica had switched from wailing in agony to this calm demeanor in an instant.
‘For the Sage.’
If this place provided anything for healing, then maybe the place the Sage entered offered anything for torment.
From what she’d seen so far, the Sage always followed through on what he said he could do.
And he’d chosen this trial of asceticism for himself.
Why?
Because he enjoyed suffering?
No way.
That left only one answer.
The Sage had a way to endure the trial of asceticism.
But you could never prepare too much for the what-ifs.
There was always the chance he’d emerge half-dead when it ended.
That’s why Veronica had realized she needed to stockpile as much holy power as possible.
‘She’s no pushover.’
Cecile glanced at the two spellbooks she’d chosen.
As ruler of a nation, she had to be ready for war at any moment—it was only natural.
So, spells useful in battle.
Phantasmal Realization, a top-tier spell unavailable even in the Duchy, was something she absolutely had to prioritize.
No one knew when this trial of healing would end, so as Archduke, she needed to learn Phantasmal Realization right now.
Even for her, mastering a highest-grade spell could take ages.
And hadn’t the Sage said it?
That they could take down the demon with just him and Veronica.
Which meant she was extra baggage, so it was right for her to learn Phantasmal Realization here.
Cecile smirked.
And then.
Without hesitation, she opened ‘Thousands of Virtues.’
How much time passed? In the deathly silent space where even the flow of time was imperceptible, Cecile finally mastered Thousands of Virtues and raised her hand to test the spell.
A soft glow resembling holy power gathered in her palm.
It looked utterly pure, just like what the Sage or Veronica could produce.
Cecile glanced at Leiya, who hadn’t shifted her posture once since appearing.
If that woman was the demon’s subordinate, Thousands of Virtues would work on her.
Maybe she should try blasting her with it and see if she could escape?
As she debated whether to unleash the light in her hand...
“It’s over.”
Did Leiya notice her thoughts? She opened the door. Inside was a shimmering ripple.
The exit signaling the end of the trial.
-Tadak!
Veronica, who’d been praying with her hands clasped like a statue, shot to her feet. As she bolted out of the trial like a bullet, Cecile stared longingly at the untested Phantasmal Realization spellbook.
Was it a shame? Of course it was.
But.
“Not exactly for that reason.”
Cecile walked toward the trial’s exit and said to Leiya,
“Tell the demon to brace himself. The price of toying with people won’t be light.”
Leiya’s face remained expressionless, even at Cecile’s near-threat.
As if to say, bring it on.
Veronica, emerging from the trial, hurriedly scanned her surroundings and froze.
She’d spotted one person standing before the fading trial of asceticism.
Looking utterly drained, he stood ramrod straight with arms crossed, his face impassive.
“Hyunwoo!!”
After suffering through the trial and coming out looking that wrecked, why wasn’t he lying down?
Veronica frantically showered him with heals as she shouted.
“What... What the hell happened in there?!”
Tears threatened to spill.
While she’d been resting easy, Hyunwoo had...
Cecile, appearing behind the sniffling Veronica, was just as shocked.
“Hey. Sage. Spill it. What happened?”
“What the...!”
At their questions.
The Sage replied flatly, without uncrossing his arms, his face haggard.
“Nothing... happened.”
With that, the Sage lost consciousness.
***
How long had he been out?
When he opened his eyes, something soft and fluffy cushioned the back of his head, and a large mass loomed before him.
He knew instantly. Veronica was letting him use her lap as a pillow.
“You’re awake?”
Brushing aside the silver hair tickling his face, he sat up. The stamina and mental strength depleted by enduring the trial had already recovered.
Looking down, he saw empty top-grade healing potion bottles and several vials of mental stabilizers scattered on the floor.
He’d used a ton. A simple heal would’ve sufficed. Mental strength could be replenished with the shaman skill Meditation anyway.
“You idiot...!!”
“Ow...”
Veronica grabbed his cheek and twisted—not enough to hurt, but enough to annoy.
It told him just how worried she’d been.
“Why do you always put yourself through that crap on your own! It hurts my heart!”
“This much is fine.”
“This much? Do you have any idea what your face looked like?”
“Probably on the verge of death.”
That’s how it was in the game too. The trial of asceticism tormented entrants right up to the brink of death before spitting them out.
It never actually killed. This wasn’t a trial designed to slay challengers—it was the trial of discord.
The core idea was, ‘I suffered like hell, but you guys got to slack off—how nice for you!’ to sow discord in the party.
If it killed anyone, it’d only strengthen party bonds.
“Thanks for the healing work.”
“Sigh... You’re impossible. Remember the promise you made before going in? You’re in for it.”
Veronica puffed her cheeks, slowly released his face, and gently stroked it.
Anyway, now that these annoying trials were done, time to move on?
First, though.
“Hey. Cecile. Why’d you learn Thousands of Virtues? Phantasmal Realization would’ve been better, right?”
“...You really saw.”
“Didn’t they explain over there? So, answer?”
“I’m strong enough without Phantasmal Realization. Once the dragon’s curse lifts, I’ll be even stronger.”
“Yeah?”
“I didn’t learn it for you, so don’t worry about it.”
Cecile turned away sharply after her curt, icy response.
Guess that was that.
Satisfied, he met Cecile’s dissatisfied glare as she asked,
“So? What happened in the trial of asceticism? You can tell us now, right?”
What happened?
Explaining would just piss off Veronica and Cecile for no reason.
No need to raise stress over nothing.
He decided on an answer right away.
No matter that he’d chosen the trial of asceticism himself, they’d both feel guilty—and no point making it worse.
“Come on! Let’s go! Let’s go!”
“Hey! Answer!”
One final stage remained to end all this.
Snapping out of it at his words, the two nodded and looked at the path that appeared.
Heading down there would pit them against this event’s boss, the demon Eurier.
“What’s the plan for the demon?”
Veronica asked, drawing her holy relic and mace. Her spirit was high—she looked ready to charge the second she saw it.
Makes sense. She’d been stockpiling holy power the whole time he was in the trial, so she was itching to use it.
With blue veins bulging on her pale forehead and a grin, she asked. He recalled the game and explained.
Phase 1 was straightforward—just fight.
The issue was Phase 2.
“About halfway through, it’ll try to seduce you. Mental attack. Just endure that, and you’re good. I’ll handle it, so until I signal, don’t draw its attention—stay put.”
“Got it.”
“Oh, and Cecile. Hit it with Thousands of Virtues the moment I attack.”
“Got it.”
He gave a few more tips and strategies.
He’d synced well with Veronica before, but not Cecile, so precautions were necessary.
Chatting as they went, they reached a massive door.
The iron door looked ominous, engraved with horrific monsters and screaming people.
Veronica grimaced openly at the sight.
“Evil energy’s pouring out from inside.”
“It’s a demon. What’d you expect, purity? Come on. Here goes!!”
-Bang!!
Kicking the door open revealed a pitch-black space lit only by faint, flickering glimmers.
The moment they stepped in, eerie wails and screams of agony echoed like a choir’s hymn.
Veronica gritted her teeth at the sound.
She’d realized it was a hymn.
Sung with screams and sobs—a blasphemy against the gods.
She knew it well.
“...How insolent.”
The cries seemed to scream, go back, run away.
Churning mana spread as a sticky red liquid like blood pooled on the floor.
And then.
-Squelch!!
Squelch. Squelch. Squelch. Squelch. Squelch. Squelch. Squelch. Squelch. Squelch. Squelch. Squelch. Squelch. Squelch. Squelch. Squelch. Squelch. Squelch. Squelch.
Amid the profane hymn, the sound of something massive shuffling forward.
A colossal shape glimpsed intermittently in the dim light.
Two irises floated in the darkness.
Eyes.
Dreadful, curse-laden eyes.
Those clinging to the six-armed behemoth—its owner—were the ones chanting the blasphemous hymn spreading through the chamber.
Sacrifices to the demon?
The shapeless forms writhed and wailed as the monster leered at them with a wolf-like face.
“...Grrr...”
The beast chuckled gleefully, opening its massive maw to roar and declare battle.
But he didn’t let it.
-Grraa...Grahhh?!
He transformed Moonlight into a gauntlet and launched a flying kick at the massive monster emerging from the dark.
The event’s boss, demon Eurier—silencing its roar.
-Kaboom!!
As the giant tumbled, he tossed a magic orb into the air to light up the area.
Veronica and Cecile, tense in the glow, looked baffled.
Catching their eyes, he winked and shrugged.
Skipping the entrance scene? Party rule.
Author's Note (Afterword)
Hello, it’s Malmulmalmul!
Ugh... Second vaccine shot’s hitting hard.
Dizzy since evening...
Hoping tomorrow’s better.
See you then! Bye!!