Pung! Peopeong!
The signal flares shot up in unison.
As the treasure hunt began,
– “Let’s go starting from the Lint Forest!”
– “Is there a party that needs an A-rank frontliner?”
– “We need a support job! Rank doesn’t matter!”
The students formed parties and started to depart one by one.
And I…
—————————————————
[Yeriel Artina]
▶[Average Status]
: 5.1
▶[Specialization]
Circle Magic (6)
▶[Unique Trait]
Tarchangel Transformation (Lv.??) (Activated) (Stage 1)
Element (Lv.6)
Spirit Magic (Lv.3)
—————————————————
I faced a variable.
‘Tarchangel Transformation, Stage 1…?’
“Lev…?”
There was no visible change in Yeriel. She was still pretty and cute, just as the students admired.
“Hmm…”
In the original game, it was said that one only realized it right before the climax. There likely wouldn’t be an external sign.
And recalling the conditions for Tarchangel Transformation, it was described that it occurred when Yeriel realized her true feelings.
Of course, this information came from the game, not a fanfic… it was just a mere mention.
‘The specific situation must be…’
Yeriel feels guilt from not being able to protect or be with Edwin, the reincarnator who suffered as a hero in the past. And she realizes that the misunderstandings that happened at the academy were merely that—misunderstandings.
Even before she meets Edwin again, Yeriel lives with a lingering sense of remorse for him. This feeling gradually expands into the fondness she has for him.
But at that moment, Edwin already has many other lovers.
In the end, Yeriel thinks about not being worthy to be Edwin’s girlfriend and…
…Tarchangel transformation happens.
‘Wait, then…’
The trigger is simple.
A deep longing for someone and the resulting despair.
In simpler terms… sigh…
But thinking about the relationship between Yeriel and Edwin now, there’s no way she would fall into despair looking at Melissa.
So, that means her approaching me now…
Yeriel smiled at me with a slightly trembling voice.
“Lev, you can comfortably refuse! I’m okay with it!”
“…”
She’s right. If I refuse here, she wouldn’t follow me or bother me.
She’s too kind-hearted; she’d rather internally struggle than impose a burden on others.
It was the same during Tarchangel Transformation.
Even while her spirit was being devoured, she didn’t want to burden Edwin, didn’t want to cause problems for anyone.
– “Goodbye, Edwin…”
She tried to seal herself away.
Perhaps saying she’d team up with me today was her own resolution.
It wasn’t just a simple desire but meant she had something crucial to discuss with me.
‘It is an important timing…’
But today, I must go alone.
There’s something I must do, and above all…
According to the contents of the fanfic, Edwin and Melissa.
The only one who can save those two is…
Yeriel.
“Yeriel, you seem to have something to say.”
“Uh…?”
Yeriel gently grazed her finger.
The gesture she makes when she realizes I’ve seen through her.
“…I’m sorry, but I plan to go alone today.”
“Alone…?”
At my fence rule, Yeriel’s expression momentarily dimmed.
“In exchange, let’s meet after the event, just the two of us.”
In that instant, Yeriel’s eyes widened.
“…Just the two of us?”
I might have created another misunderstanding…
But seeing her expression brighten again, it seemed unnecessary to take it back.
Well, it doesn’t matter.
Time is tight.
“Sorry for saying this so shamelessly, but Yeriel, please keep an eye on Edwin.”
“Edwin…?”
“Yeah, he has such a gullible personality. I’m worried he might get into trouble.”
“Ah… okay…!”
I explained vaguely, but it seemed Yeriel understood.
“Lev…! Let’s meet afterward! I’ll wait!”
“Sure.”
I moved towards the Old Commercial District, leaving behind her smile that makes me feel good just by looking at it.
*
Thump thump.
“Ugh…”
Yeriel’s heart started racing again.
Today, she was truly going to ask something.
She planned to clarify her relationship with Aria and come to terms.
But…
Just the two of us?
That phrase made memories of what happened in Hwangdo replay automatically in her mind.
– “Yeriel… has a more vivid imagination than she appears.”
– “…Lev, that’s scandalous…”
‘S-Stop!’
Yeriel’s face immediately turned red.
It seemed a bit too soon to conclude the relationship between Lev and Aria.
‘But…’
If Lev were in a relationship with Aria and was also treating other girls this way…
-…
“Lev, that’s unacceptable…”
In an instant, her tone and eyes became frigid.
Fortunately, it was just a moment.
“Lev’s not that type of person…!”
Surely it was a misunderstanding borne from jumping to conclusions.
And the best way to clear up this misunderstanding is through conversation.
If they talk tonight, it would surely get resolved in whichever direction it went.
…
Later, Yeriel searched for Edwin as Lev requested.
Finding him among so many students wasn’t easy, but yesterday he had been with her.
– “Edwin…! We’re hanging out together again tomorrow, right?”
Melissa had said that, so he should be with her.
Tap tap.
In Yeriel’s mind, she was thinking not only about Lev but also about Edwin.
Even though she couldn’t form a dungeon exploration party, she had recently brought Edwin into her party because he was diligently training.
Since the rank battle, the number of people approaching him had increased significantly.
On one hand, that could be a good thing, but on the other hand, it worried her.
He had a tendency to trust people too easily.
‘So that’s why Lev wants…’
To keep an eye on Edwin?
“That makes sense…”
It felt a bit embarrassing.
Getting swept up in mere speculation, suddenly making a request, unlike Lev, who had been thinking of Edwin.
– “Lev helped! He’s surprisingly meticulous, you know?”
Even up to the day before the rank battle, he said he helped Edwin with practice.
During the dungeon practice, it was Lev who had saved Aria when she was almost in trouble with the Hwayeomakgui.
He never showed it outwardly, but he had always acted like that for everyone.
He probably wasn’t just wandering alone today for himself.
‘I wish he’d take care of himself a bit more…’
For some reason, seeing him made her heart swell with affection.
*
Grr!
Crash!
“D-Dailen, over here…! Hurry!”
Raymond Rolenow, the knight with a sword and shield, full of noble pride, was wrestling with a wolf apparition.
“Okay, Raymond. Hold on tight…”
Thump!
Yowl!
Dailen’s sharp lance pierced through the wolf-shaped demon creature.
The one with a bristly mane let out a short dying gasp before turning into apparition powder and disappearing.
“It’s really real, even though it’s an apparition… Did we get something good this time?”
“Hmm…”
The two of them ended up with an utterly ordinary white card, no matter how they looked at it.
“Another one…?”
They had fought against illusions at least five times and out of all those encounters, only once had a green card appeared, the rest were all white cards.
“…”
Rank S. Raymond and Dailen.
Yesterday, they became friends over their commonality of ‘defeating Caeran’ during the rehearsal at the Hall of Culture and now they were doing this schedule together.
But unlike Raymond, who genuinely thought they could become good friends…
Dailen’s thoughts were a bit different.
‘I need to prove that I’m not any less than Caeran.’
Dailen, the most talked-about freshman, had thought that, after Caeran’s departure, the public interest would naturally shift to him, an S-rank who was competing for the top spots in the frontline division.
However, Dailen still remained in the shadows.
He received many offers from small to mid-tier guilds, but the larger guilds remained silent.
What was even more infuriating was that Edwin Gwynn, a rank C, was getting more attention.
Of course, it was quite rare for a C rank to defeat an S rank, so it would attract media buzz, but still, the sight of the Flame Princess Melissa wagging her tail at him was intolerable.
“Why is he gaining attention…?”
“W-Why, Dailen?”
Thud.
Raymond, noticing Dailen’s sudden outburst, grabbed his shoulder in surprise.
“Phew, it’s nothing.”
Dailen shook off Raymond’s hand irritably.
Why didn’t the members of the Royal Class Circle notice him?
He wanted to show he was as strong as Caeran.
But since it was vacation, he simply couldn’t do that.
So, this treasure hunt was crucial.
To acquire a card of higher rank than the others and redefine his worth.
The area where the treasure hunt was progressing is the Old Commercial District, which has four waterway branches, the closed Training Hall, the outdoor Coliseum, and half of the land where the selection test was held in the Lint Forest.
Perhaps the stronger the magic circle, the more deeply it would be hidden.
Dailen adjusted his glasses and spoke to Raymond.
“Raymond, let’s head to the commercial district.”
“Hmm? Why?”
“It’s the closest and it has waterways.”
“Waterways…?”
“Right, demon hunting or whatever, but it’s ‘treasure hunting’ for now. Naturally, high-ranking cards are likely hidden in difficult places.”
“Are you suggesting the underground waterways?”
“Why? Aren’t you a frontliner? An S-rank with sacred power, Raymond Rolenow.”
“Well, that’s true but…”
“We rely on stamina instead of mana, so we’ll win with mobility.”
While Dailen’s words had merit, Raymond cautiously asked, trying not to show his fear.
“What if we step on two at once? Wouldn’t it be a bit risky to face two at once…?”
“Stop worrying. You hold them off, and I’ll finish them. This spear is a famous blacksmith’s work, it’s said to have vanquished demons.”
“V-Vanquish?”
Hearing the word “vanquish” made Raymond feel a bit relieved, and he reluctantly followed Dailen.
…
Currently, the location of the commercial district has shifted to be more accessible to the students residing in the dormitory, so it has long lost its vitality.
However, this place does have underground waterways, occasionally serving to transport trade goods via boat.
Drip. Drip.
The inside of the underground waterway is damp, murky, and stinky…
“Dailen… You don’t think Professor McClone would install a magic circle all the way down here, do you?!!”
“…!!!”
-…Sss…
-Ssssss…
“W-What…”
Raymond’s fearful words were abruptly cut off.
Hiss!
Bang!
A corpse ghoul, with its face indistinguishable, suddenly attacked him.
Bang!
“AHHHH!!!!”
In the midst of the confusion, Raymond blocked it with his shield while Dailen’s spear thrust into the ghoul.
“Phew…”
Drip. Drip.
Then the stinking rotten blood began to flow from the spear tip.
“Ugh!”
Raymond seemed to have lost his stomach and started throwing up into the corner of the waterway.
“This is… an illusion?”
It’s not an illusion.
And as the two got used to the dark, what lay in front of them was—
A stone gate carved as if it were the face of a demon.
Eerie patterns signifying the Pandemonium forces were drawn all over, and it appeared as if a skull were pierced.
For now… the demon kept its mouth shut.
Like the calm before a storm.
Like a venomous snake hiding its fangs.
-…
Dailen and Raymond were frozen at the sight before them, sweat streaming down their faces.
“W-What… is that…?”
“…”
They needed to report this.
Their bodies screamed for it.
“I-I’m sorry. I have to go first! I think it’s better to report this to the school…!”
Just as Raymond prepared to run away before he could get trapped.
Rooooooar!!!
!!!
Hwoooooo…!
The demon’s mouth opened.
The Gate of the Underworld…
Was now ajar.
