*
A building mainly occupied by second-year students at the academy.
There, Nex Aureus took out a purple Phoenix and confronted the Hero Church.
“Nex, another one is coming!”
Behind him was a black-haired Saintess pressing her back against his.
“…They really are trash.”
Not too long ago, a fanatic pretending to beg for their life had drawn a weapon and injured Schartines’ cheek slightly.
“Is everyone okay now?”
Having the traits of a vampire, she surrounded her fists with divine power and knocked away the approaching opponents.
“Thank you, Schartines…”
“It’s nothing!”
While checking her surroundings and healing any injured classmates, she looked incredibly busy.
“Nex, I’m fine. So don’t act rashly.”
“Got it, Shar. I’m trying my best too.”
He immediately activated Helios Midnight to nullify magic and weapons, trying to protect the students, but…
“Look, it’s Nex Aureus!!”
“Spirit magic against spirit magic! Quickly to your position!”
“We cannot lose according to the prophecy!!”
Had Nex’s techniques been exposed already? A group dressed in white was drawing near with water spirits summoned.
“…So, it’s really the Demon King of All Knowledge. It seems that a simple method won’t work.”
His purple eyes glimmered as he assessed the enemy’s strength before him. Activating the Phoenix’s cradle meant he wouldn’t be able to go save the others.
Based on what he saw from his junior Licht and the Family Head, he knew he would end up immobilized. Just like when he practiced alone.
‘At least until help arrives, activating the cradle is out of the question.’
He had no idea what level of strength was outside. No matter how strong the Spirit Magic used by the heroes’ descendants, it still had weaknesses.
Wouldn’t activating the cradle here be exactly what the enemy was aiming for? That thought flickered through his mind.
The choice lay before Nex: let the second-year students use their strongest defensive technique to bind himself while he attacked elsewhere.
“Lily Sword Technique. Fourth Form. Clear Flow.”
At that moment, like a tidal wave rolling in, water surged into the hallway. A wave of blue water avoidantly coursed around the students, sweeping away half the enemies in one go.
“…Licht!”
Wearing a black knight’s helmet, Licht appeared from somewhere. Seeing the fanatics attacking the students with magic and weapons, he shouted,
“The line’s breaking..! I was going to make Nex use the cradle soon!”
“That black knight’s helmet must be what the Demon King mentioned…!”
He dashed in quickly, cutting down the enemies surrounding Nex and Schartines. Arrows flew right at him, but Licht swatted them away without breaking a sweat.
“What’s up with this? I’ve heard they are weak at long-range attacks─.”
The apostle with the bow gaped at Licht. What the hell was that monster? It didn’t match the level of power he had been told about.
He reached a certain level of skill in swordsmanship.
Calling him a Sword Master would be an accurate expression. As he swung his sword once more, the students were not scratched even once. Only the white-clad members of the Hero Church fell.
“…Nex-senpai. You’re still okay.”
“Still? What do you mean by that?”
After taking down all the enemies, Licht stood before Nex and Schartines. Confused by something strange, Nex raised an eyebrow.
Then, Licht squinted his brown eyes, showing discomfort.
“These guys are probably targeting you and Mardol.”
“Mardol? Don’t tell me they’re planning to…!”
As the second Saintess, Schartines gasped, covering her mouth with her hands, aware of Pina Grancia’s past related to the Magic Hat.
“So that’s why you said ‘still.’ In case they tried to get ahead of us.”
“Yes, you’ve been taken hostage before, right?”
“Those complete bastards. Are they trying to mess with our Shar again?”
The purple-haired man bit his lower lip, expressing his frustration. His previous cool demeanor shattered.
“Nex-senpai. Use the Phoenix’s cradle to cover this entire building.”
“..Is that okay? From what I saw of the Hero Church’s actions, I think they’re aiming for me to use the cradle.”
“I’m here. Destiny, prophecy—it doesn’t matter.”
Seeing this, Licht looked directly at Nex and spoke. His resolute will gave Nex a sense of relief.
“Humans can overcome anything.”
“Yeah, if it’s what our Wise Hero says, then I’ll do it.”
Wally satisfied with his junior’s demeanor, Nex donned a fox-like smile and activated the Phoenix’s cradle.
“Piit─!”
The massive purple Phoenix soared once and then expanded to double its size.
“…I’m not a hero, you know that, senpai.”
With its enormous wings, it enveloped one of the academy’s buildings, creating an invincible barrier. As Licht denied being a hero,
“If we consider the actions you’re taking now, you are a hero.”
“…”
“I believe a hero is someone who acts according to that name.”
“Is that so….”
Nex lightly patted Licht’s shoulder, encouraging him. He hesitated, wanting to say something, but stopped.
“Oh, and… to make sure Nex-senpai doesn’t exhaust himself, please have Schartines-senpai assist.”
“Got it, Licht!”
As Licht offered his guidance, the black-clad Saintess immediately moved beside the purple-haired man, starting her healing.
“You all look great. Senpais.”
“Is this really the time for jokes? Licht-senpai..?”
“Well, if I don’t crack a joke now, it’s kind of sad, right?”
As Licht shared this short quip while looking at the purple-haired man, who was blushing from their physical contact, the blood on his hands and helmet began to dry.
“Licht-senpai, we’re going to save Mardol, right?”
“You figured it out. How did you know?”
“…If not, there’s no way we’d make Nex use the cradle.”
Her red irises glowed subtly like a vampire’s as she targeted his weakness. Faced with a direct hit, he hung his head, unable to argue.
“I said it before, but Mardol… please take care of her.”
“…”
Licht lifted his head again. Unlike his past self, something mature shone in his gaze.
“Even if you don’t say that, I’ll definitely protect her.”
Upon hearing Licht’s answer, Schartines gasped, unable to hide her surprise. However, unlike before, he showed no signs of denying it.
*
Finishing that brief encounter, I teleported back to Dennis and moved to the location where Mardol was.
“…Licht?”
“Mardol, you’re safe… thank goodness.”
As soon as I spotted the glass knight in medium armor, a sigh of relief escaped me. Kainel and Ariel were also nearby.
It appeared they hadn’t encountered the Demon King yet. But where exactly were we?
“…The playground?”
The Grand Hertz Academy’s playground was enclosed by a huge dome-like glass wall, with dozens of magic circles drawn on the floor, resembling a bomb shelter.
“Tada, I drew all of this! Helmet guy!”
As I stared at the floor with suspicion, the red-haired mage approached me with her pigtails swaying.
“Hehe, I copied what I saw at the Swordsmanship Training Hall! With this, those guys can’t come in!”
“Ariel… you’re a bit too excited. We haven’t defeated the Hero Church yet.”
Kainel reproached her from the side. Our oblivious mutt and tsundere cat seemed alright too. I thought they’d flee if they met the Demon King.
“Kainel.”
“What is it, Licht?”
“…Honestly, I thought you’d run away. I’m sorry for not believing in you.”
I apologized while looking at the blonde-haired hero. If the hero faced the Demon King and ran away as in the sequel, it would be an incredibly unfavorable situation.
I didn’t trust my friends enough. I had no more of those cheat items or the top-level party members composed of the Ten Heroes now.
“Licht, you really are clueless. Do you think ‘Kainel, the Hero of Light’ is going to run?”
“I’d rather not hear that from you…”
“So believe in your friends more, Licht.”
I had experiences and the path I’d walked until now.
I felt like I was having those previous words thrown back at me. Kainel was becoming more sly, resembling Ariel more and more.
“Licht, it’s bleeding.”
As we conversed, a buzzing voice interrupted us.
“I’m fine. Mardol. I’m actually unhurt.”
It wasn’t even my blood. Looking at the bloodstains on his helmet and hands, she showed concern.
“…It’s true. I’m so relieved. Licht.”
Mardol truly was a warm person. She seemed to have a profound depth within her.
I couldn’t allow myself to let the Demon King have her in his grasp like this.
“I’ve been trying to care since you fear fire.”
While wanting to tell her to stop fidgeting around me, I let it slide. In the past, I would have mistaken her for the Crown Prince and fled in surprise.
“I’ve really changed a lot. Lee Soo-hyun.”
I had now genuinely entered a game and made friends. I’d met characters beyond the screen and shared friendships with them.
I’d formed ties with Dennis and Drake, as well as the warrior and mage couple, Kainel and Ariel.
“Licht, I was surprised when you suddenly disappeared.”
“I’m sorry. I was late because I had to protect Schartines-senpai and Nex-senpai.”
“…I see. I figured it was something like that. Licht, you’re always the same.”
And I’d gotten close to Mardol Grancia too. What kind of life would she have lived if I hadn’t been around? She probably wouldn’t have interacted much with the hero couple either.
She was a sharp person, cold and averse to others’ approach.
They say that’s how friendships work, but now I have no idea how we became so close.
“Mardol. I’m fine; can you stop touching me now?”
“This is revenge. Perv Licht.”
“…”
I felt slightly dissatisfied with our Nameless Saintess’s absence, but maybe it was fine to be happy like this. At that moment…
‘What’s that?’
I spotted something odd in my view.
“…Apostle of Gluttony?”
A toad-like man appeared from afar, spreading black smoke. It grew dark outside, contrary to when I used Shadow Fang.
─Taaang.
The world turned black to the point I couldn’t verify the external situation, and immediately, a third gunshot rang out. The glass wall shattered, and the smoke the toad man released began to engulf the playground. It shouldn’t have been fast if it was smoke, yet it moved unreasonably quickly.
“Everyone hold your breath!!”
I attempted to generate wind with Void Slash to counter the Apostle’s attack, but it was a pointless endeavor. The pressure couldn’t push away the transparent black smoke.
‘Passing through illusions. This sensation is….’
It had the ability to recreate a person’s trauma and strengthen itself by feeding on the resulting fear. Only Metus, the Apostle of Gluttony, could do that.
I collapsed onto the gritty sand, losing consciousness much like when I faced Servi, the Apostle of Lust.
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