At Selena’s remark,
Melissa looked a bit bewildered and asked back.
“Selena… what do you mean by that?”
“Well, you know.”
“Are you saying we’re… bats or traitors…?”
“…”
Silence was a yes.
“But that’s! Aren’t you, Lady Selena, the same? Being in this Royal Class Circle means…”
“Yeah! Selena, you’re the same! What are you saying, are you spitting on your own face?”
At those words, Selena let out a small sigh.
“Well, I suppose that’s true.”
“…!”
Her acceptance of the situation brought about another wave of silence.
-…
A more weighed-down feeling than before.
In fact, Selena entering the Royal Class at Caeran’s urging was due to seeing Lev Denec’s Wind Archery and suspecting he might be connected to demons.
So, she was curious as to what others thought about him and if they were interested in him.
He could potentially be a dangerous being, after all.
“Isn’t this the first time Caeran has lost…?”
Melissa calmly expressed her opinion.
“Of course, I think Edwin’s side is impressive as well, but Caeran might have been careless. So, saying he was swapped over, that feels a bit unpleasant to say?”
“Right. Even if Edwin won, know that we have no intention of betraying Lord Caeran…”
“Agreed, I apologize.”
“……”
Selena didn’t want to ignite any further disputes.
The reason she was testing the waters with Melissa and Aveline was simple.
In the conversation just now, Melissa was showing a tendency to suspect Lev Denec instead of Edwin, as the top student anticipated to be the next sage.
Clearly… Lev Denec was not revealing all of his cards.
If people like Aveline or Melissa find out this fact, they would likely try to use him.
Temptation can be quite scary.
Even Dark Elves were born that way.
‘Until his true intentions are revealed… it’s better to keep my mouth shut.’
That’s why she shifted the topic.
– ding… ding…
As the bells of the clock tower rang to announce the dormitory curfew, Melissa wrapped up the situation.
She also harbored some unresolved feelings towards Caeran… but the circle is related to the academy.
In other words, personal and professional matters must be distinguished.
“For now… until Caeran expresses his stance, I think it’s right to maintain the Royal Class Circle as it is.”
“Understood, I also have to return to the guild tomorrow, so it seems best for each of us to do our own things for now.”
“…And, um…”
Melissa felt as if she had forgotten something she was thinking about, but
she didn’t have the time to worry about such things.
In order to contribute even a little to the Principality,
Sigh…
Right now, she just had to hope for Caeran to rise again.
*
“Ugh…”
I arrived late last night at the academy and slept like a log all the way until the afternoon.
Fortunately, I managed to avoid demerit points.
I feel a bit sorry for Yeriel, but since I moved to the Green House, the travel time has really decreased.
After the written test, like a college curriculum, the academy was slowly heading towards a break.
Probably tomorrow, I’ll be going to Hwangdo for a reward for having defeated the Flame Demon in the dungeon exploration practical, in the capacity of a student.
I got out of bed to fill my grumbling stomach.
“Oh.”
But first, there’s something I should do.
With the author’s intervention gone, the system has changed.
The ‘Supporting Role’ trait has disappeared, and I can now earn skill points just like in the original game.
Let’s check the rewards right away.
——————————————————
▶[Guaranteed Reward]
▶[Choice Reward]
——————————————————
‘Guaranteed reward, and skill window.’
– ding!
[You have gained 100 SP]
[Available SP: 100]
——————————————————
▶[Curse Resistance] [Lv.4]
: Permanently increases curse resistance by 1 level. However, if the current level is above 5, you will not receive any effect.
——————————————————
——————————————————
▶Status
[Strength]: 3.3
[Health]: 3.35
[Dexterity]: 3.3 (4.29)
[Magic Power]: 2.1 (2.31)
[Mana]: 2.6
[Mental Strength]: 2.5
[Sense]: 2.2
[Luck]: 3.45
[Specialization]
Circle Magic (1)
Crossbow – Proficiency (7)
Curse Resistance (4)
Flame Resistance (3)
Physical Resistance (4)
——————————————————
“Hmm…!”
After defeating the Pleasure Lord yesterday and gaining experience, my stats have also risen.
With a slight overall increase in stats, my curse resistance has increased by one level.
Let’s first check the choice rewards and allocate the skill points.
‘Choice Reward.’
▶[Choice Reward]
[Choose your Demon Hunting Reward]
——————————————————
▶[Blessing of the Pleasure Lord] (Passive) (Basic Skill)
: [Passive] – Permanently increases curse resistance by 3 levels.
However, if your current resistance is above level 5, the amount of increase is halved.
Acquisition difficulty: Slightly difficult
——————————————————
▶[Pleasure] [Lv.1] (Active) (Ultimate Skill)
: Casts a level 3 curse of pleasure on the opponent, causing them to fall into delusion.
Acquisition difficulty: Difficult
——————————————————
▶[B-Rank Boss Defeat Reward]
: Gain 200 skill points.
Stats randomly increase by 0.3.
——————————————————
‘… There isn’t much.’
Maybe it’s because I dropped a lot of loot or my expectations have gotten high, but the skills aren’t much to write home about.
‘For the third option…’
I chose the ‘B-Rank Boss Defeat Reward’ and poured all the skill points into luck.
– ding!
——————————————————
[Magic Power 2.1(2.32) → 2.4(2.64)]
[Available SP: 300]
[220 Skill Points used!]
[Remaining SP: 80]
[Luck: 3.45 → 4.0]
(*From Luck 4.0 onward, it requires 100 SP per 0.1)
——————————————————
“Nice…”
I’m getting close to max luck of 5.0.
Since there’s a significant change at every 0.5 unit, it should feel tangible.
– ding!
——————————————————
[Achievement Cleared!]
[Luck Index 4.0]
[The Goddess of Luck is with you]
[Randomly chosen stat increases by 0.1]
[Magic Power 2.4(2.64) → 2.5(2.75)]
——————————————————
I’ve even cleared a small achievement.
From now on, I can gain skill points by defeating named grade monsters without having to complete supporting quests.
In other words, I can grow just by overwhelming them with numbers.
With the end of the first semester, Chapter 3 has already begun.
The big event happening in Chapter 3 is the [Homunculus-Parasite Worm] and the appearance of [The Great Demonic Beast – Gate of the Underworld] at the end of the Academy Festival.
Among these, the parasite worm was something I had already planted in Caeran, so it should be an event that has disappeared.
In the end, it means I can focus only on the Gate of the Underworld.
The boss-level guy appearing here is one of the 72 Great Demons.
——————————————————
▶[Hierarchical Conflict] [Lv. None] (Passive)
: While possessing this skill, defeating a Great Demon of rank 72 allows you to inherit their abilities.
(As long as this skill is active, [Destruction] is conferred) (1-time usable)
——————————————————
This skill of mine finally has a use, too.
If I successfully absorb the abilities of a Great Demon…
It’s not that the author didn’t restrict the ability absorption of Andras as a bug for no reason.
I’d become stronger by a much larger margin than I had until now.
Of course, considering the difficulty set by the author, defeating a Great Demon would be a tremendously tough task.
I’d have to fight keeping in mind that all enemies can rage, enter a second phase, or evolve.
Since the Black Armor, which is one rank below the Great Demon, was caught while weakened, and the Pleasure Lord was defeated in an incomplete form,
it’s hard to truly consider those as my combat power.
Ultimately, right now, what I need to do is,
‘Take advantage of the Tarchangel transformation.’
——————————————————
[??? : Ring of Induction]
[Rarity: Unknown Item]
[It seems like a ring that could connect something.]
[Can be equipped]
(*You cannot receive the effect until it is identified)
——————————————————
I need to go to Hwangdo,
and bind this unidentified legendary item that Rezilus was savoring sweetly…
To my name.
*
The journey from Claris Academy to Hwangdo can be confidently claimed to be ‘sufficiently quick due to the presence of the Magic Tower.’
However, due to distance, cost, and the sheer number of people,
it ultimately became a privilege limited to grade S students and academy officials.
In this context, Aveline was also able to easily move to Hwangdo – Guild Special District.
The first place she visited was the Crow Pay headquarters.
She had heard from a member of her family guild, [Divine Valhalla], that she saw Caeran entering this guild’s headquarters.
“I’m sorry. Lady Aveline, it seems no one wants to meet…”
But, the Crow Pay side refused her meeting.
From what she heard, it seemed Caeran was the one rejecting.
‘Caeran…’
Eventually, after being turned away and returning to her [Divine Valhalla], Aveline had no choice but to lament.
“Why… has it come to this…?!”
When she fought him during the entrance exam, Aveline had tasted defeat in her first sword duel.
-I don’t want to believe Balentes is this strong…
-…!!
Being insulted as a family is a knight’s shame.
This was a whipping remark for Aveline, who was trying to chase after her older brothers who were far ahead.
Yet even after several rematches, nothing changed.
The result was always Caeran’s victory.
-‘Is this all I can do…?’
She wondered if, like the other daughters of knight families, she was to hit her limits and live a life serving a husband.
As Aveline’s beliefs about swords began to waver, Caeran whispered to her.
-Become my sword, Aveline. I’ll be aiming for higher places.
-Wha…?
-I need you. Stay by my side.
With those words, she was saved.
Aveline decided to join him.
Even within her belief that strength is supreme, the woman’s feelings she had hidden deep in her heart were all fulfilled by the ideal being that was Caeran.
That’s why Aveline chose Caeran.
She thought well of him entering Crow Pay.
How could one see the future covenant drawn between major guilds as anything but auspicious?
But then,
“Edwin… Gwinski.”
A variable appeared.
A truly comet-like existence.
She didn’t think he posed any threat when they fought before, believing he merely had growth potential.
“…… to think he could grow so rapidly…”
Aveline’s feelings for Edwin were not romantic; they were compassion.
Compassion felt towards someone walking the same path of the sword and facing obstacles.
But he overcame it.
The wall known as Caeran.
Differently from her.
That thought poked at Aveline’s heart.
Somehow, it felt like her beliefs were being tested.
‘… Edwin… indeed, the nobleman is….’
Whether it was pure sympathy or perhaps mixed with other emotions, she had almost forgotten.
It was then.
“Captain Baek! It’s real! A guy my age defeated the Pleasure Lord all by himself…!”
“Hey, come on, you’re not scaring us again with made-up stories without even checking, are you?”
Voices of the new recruit, Raymon Loganz, and Captain Baek echoed in the guild’s main hall.
‘Raymon, huh.’
A boy dreaming of becoming a Paladin with his blonde hair.
He didn’t catch my interest due to his relatively unremarkable skills, but
“Aveline! Congrats on entering the academy!”
When Aveline entered the academy, he graduated in the second year and joined the guild, so they weren’t complete strangers.
Raymon spoke in such an indignant tone.
“There’s no lie! You can ask the adventurers’ guild!”
“Sure, so you’re saying the middle-to-low level monster, the Pleasure Lord, was actually hiding its complete form?”
“Yes.”
“And everyone ran away or died, and you were one of those who fled.”
“Yes, yes.”
“Okay, that makes sense so far. But… are you saying this unknown man stopped the boss in its complete form all by himself?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then they must at least be at the Sword Expert level, if not beyond.”
“Right…?”
“Why is someone of that skill level with a mercenary there? Are they a rogue or something?”
Despite Captain Baek’s joking comment that made no sense, Raymon replied cluelessly.
“Well… I don’t think he’s a thief… that person was a marksman…”
“A marksman?”
“Yes, because he used a crossbow, so that’s not common. I can assure you.”
“A crossbow???”
In the end, Captain Baek of Divine Valhalla regarded Raymon with a much softer expression.
“Raymon.”
“Yes! Finally, you believe me…”
“Do you know there’s a clinic on the second floor?”
“Y-Yes, but it’s really true!”
“Go there quickly.”
As Aveline unintentionally overheard this conversation, something began to form in her mind.
“A crossbow…”
Come to think of it, there was only one student in the academy who used a crossbow.
In the beginning of the semester, notorious for being a troublemaker, Lev… Denec.
Even though he’s rank B, he had a high attendance rate at the training facility, and
“Aveline! Do you know that person? I didn’t realize before, but he’s actually quite handsome~.”
“Please don’t disturb me while I’m training.”
“Oh, okay…”
She had seen a few instances of female students giggling behind him.
‘And Caeran had fought against him in a class ranking match…’
The outcome, of course, was Caeran’s victory.
But why did Caeran select him as an opponent?
The content of the match was also a bit odd.
It felt like Caeran had lost his rationality.
It was around that time when he stopped showing up in the circle room, too…
“…!”
Thinking back, the last time she saw Edwin train was with that man.
‘Could it be he’s actually incredibly strong…?’
Like that mysterious man who defeated the Pleasure Lord.
‘I’m imagining things again…’
In that moment, a new thought about an unfamiliar presence imprinted itself in Aveline’s mind.
