Ch.107107. Omen

Talion Armand was a man who took pride in his own abilities.

The fact that he could compete with Elia, who had been awarded the title of Hero bestowed only upon the most promising talents on the continent, could be the source of such confidence.

Of course, lately he had been feeling the gap between them widening to heaven and earth proportions.

Because of that, his confidence had been shaking a bit these days.

Darwood Campbell always attracts monster-like humans around him. Even with his limited social circle, when you examine the abilities of the people gathered around him one by one, they’re all so ridiculous that such concerns seem trivial in comparison.

Starting with Elia whom I just mentioned.

The Saint of the Order. And the terrifying swordsman who was always by her side, who could kill a dragon with a single strike. Even Riru Garda, whom even Elia wouldn’t dare to touch among the freshmen.

Moreover, all these people consistently show goodwill toward Darwood.

‘…Consistently?’

Sometimes the goodwill seems excessive to the point of being problematic, but anyway.

It’s inevitable to feel intimidated just by being near that man.

“…”

And Talion was realizing one more new fact.

That feeling such things might be laughable in itself.

Inferiority based on comparison is an emotion that realistically resonates only when you feel you and the other person are “similar.”

If your opponent is a monster that’s completely out of reach.

Then feeling such things might be nonsensical in itself.

“Found it!”

An extreme frozen wasteland where blizzards full of magical power always rage. And its ruler is a tiger the size of a house. The so-called Ice Tiger.

Thanks to the blue jewels covering its entire body, it constantly receives protection equivalent to armor forged from rare metals, and it’s a magical beast that handles elemental magic at an innate level.

As is typical of magical beasts classified as special-grade, the Ice Tiger is not generally considered a target for “hunting.”

It’s a creature that only appears in hunters’ legends. Something like “If you don’t behave, the Ice Tiger will come and get you,” used only to scare little children—an absurd creature.

Special-grade beasts themselves are creatures that even regular knights, who can handle mid-grade magical beasts without much difficulty in groups of three or four, would need to attack in battalion-sized units to even suggest the possibility of subjugation.

Above these are only the dragon clan, second-dimensional beasts, and the Four Lesser Gods, the last of which was discovered decades ago.

But now, such an Ice Tiger.

Was simply “torn apart” by someone the moment their eyes met.

“…”

From the moment they entered this hunting ground and received a request to catch the Ice Tiger within 5 minutes with Elnore, he thought it was just an exaggerated expression of urgency.

Although it’s already spreading among students that the Elphante Academy’s student council president has historically exceptional combat abilities, still, no matter what, she’s just a student.

That’s what he had been thinking.

Until Elnore suddenly thrust her fist forward from where she stood when confronted with the Ice Tiger.

“…?”

The honest impression would be that she seemed insane.

What is a swordsman doing not even drawing her sword when faced with such an opponent?

Moreover, she didn’t even thrust her fist with any seriousness. She just stood in place and extended it forward as if pushing something invisible in the air.

It would be a bizarre movement that doesn’t even show the intention to hit the opponent.

But.

Along with such a light movement, as a “gray aura” suddenly flared up from Elnore’s body.

-!!

-!!!!

-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The scenery before his eyes was completely “torn apart.”

And the Ice Tiger, caught in that erupting force, was shredded to pieces without even being able to resist.

It seemed Darwood had told her to instill “fear” rather than kill it outright, but it was clearly taken to the brink of death.

With just this ridiculous attack.

Talion stared at the scene with his mouth wide open.

“…”

This person, really.

‘…No, wait.’

Is this even a human to begin with?

As a descendant of a venerable martial arts family, Talion could precisely tell that the technique Elnore just displayed didn’t fall into any category of martial arts, divine power, or other abilities he had ever seen.

The only candidates that came to mind for such capabilities were beings from the Otherworld, which even academics consider fantasy, or demons, the rulers of Pandemonium.

“…”

Demons.

Wait, demons?

He narrowed his eyes and looked at Elnore.

A demon lives in the bloodline of the Tristan Dukedom.

Though everyone tries to keep it quiet, such rumors circulate almost openly in the Empire’s social circles.

It’s an absurd story, but.

What if it wasn’t just a metaphorical meaning?

What if this family’s bloodline really had some connection to that side?

‘…No, that can’t be possible.’

It’s too absurd even so.

That one of the Empire’s greatest noble families would be involved with such things. If that were really true, the entire Empire would have been turned upside down several times over.

To begin with, it’s not even clear who spread that rumor.

‘…Though I did hear that my father said it was spread by the Imperial Family.’

That’s even more absurd than the rumor itself.

Why on earth would the Imperial Family do such a thing? Against the Tristan Grand Duke family, who have sworn loyalty to the Imperial Family longer than anyone else?

Unless they were deliberately trying to “pressure” them. It makes no sense.

“…Um, Student Council President.”

Of course, that’s one thing.

But there’s no doubt that the scene before his eyes right now is insane.

Talion opened his mouth with a trembling voice.

“How did you do that?”

To his question, Elnore just shrugged slightly and answered.

“I was just conducting a little experiment.”

“An experiment?”

“How far I can interfere with space-warping without necessarily touching the time axis.”

“…”

What kind of crazy talk is this?

The most fitting description for warping space would be the highest-tier magic “Dimension Warping” that only dragon clans are said to be able to handle, or legendary techniques like “Morning Cut” that the First Grand Duke Tristan was said to have demonstrated with just a sword.

To recreate that with just a thrust of the fist while standing in place, that’s something only demons or beings from the Otherworld could possibly—

“…”

No. I mean.

It’s impossible. Certainly.

If this woman is really related to something “demonic.” Moreover, if the aura she emits is “gray.”

That belongs to the realm of ancient myths dating back to the era of the First Hero.

It’s a “color” described only in the Divine-Demonic War that created the void zone in the center of the Golden Triangle.

And according to that.

The Demonic Vessel of the Grey Demon is an entity that received the unprecedented title of “Continental Public Enemy.”

This means, in other words.

This woman is destined to grow into the worst monster who can single-handedly face the entire continent in the future.

‘…No, of course that can’t be true.’

He looked down at the Ice Tiger lying on the ground, barely breathing as if on the verge of death.

Seeing it exhale thin breaths with a wheezing sound, it was clear it wasn’t dead.

“Let’s see, we were told to just extract some claws from here…”

Talion said as he approached.

He would have done so if he hadn’t discovered a tiny being trying to bite his ankle.

“Oops.”

Undoubtedly, it’s the Ice Tiger’s cub. It looks exactly the same but much smaller, so it must be.

It kept making not-very-threatening snarls as if trying to protect its mother.

Honestly, it’s closer to a cat than a tiger. The pitiful sight of it wildly swinging its front paws—which could barely be called claws—while standing in front of the severely injured Ice Tiger was almost heartbreaking.

“…Well, this makes me feel like the bad guy. It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m not trying to kill it, just the claws—”

Talion was about to complete that sentence with a bitter smile.

Until he sensed “something” behind him.

“…!”

The next moment.

Talion was rolling on the ground, embracing the Ice Tiger’s cub with his entire body.

The Ice Tiger’s claws dug into his body and blood splattered, but he paid no attention and wrapped the cub in his arms.

The cub wrapped in his embrace struggled. It probably “mistook” this for Talion’s attack.

Probably.

If only he hadn’t discovered that the place where he had been standing just moments ago was now crushed to pieces by the gray aura.

-…

The Ice Tiger’s cub went limp.

It seemed to realize that what Talion had just done was to “save” it.

“…Student Council President.”

He looked at Elnore with an extremely tense expression.

Red irises glowed ominously. They were filled with boundless ferocious “hostility.”

Just now, this woman tried to crush this cub as if she couldn’t stand to see even its pitiful struggle. Like stepping on and killing an insect.

“Your brother didn’t say anything about harming the cubs.”

“…”

At Talion’s words as he embraced the trembling cub, Elnore stared at him blankly.

“Isn’t it unsightly?”

“…Pardon?”

“Such a weak life form, the very fact that it’s alive, to me is disgusting—”

Elnore, who was about to continue speaking, suddenly closed her mouth.

“…”

Then she covered her mouth with wide eyes.

She looked as if she was shocked by her own words.

“…What, did I, just.”

At the same time, the “hostility” that had resided in her eyes disappeared.

As if something that had been “overlaid” on this woman had vanished.

“…Ah, no. Never mind. Pretend you didn’t hear that.”

“…”

“Just collect the claws and let’s go back.”

Saying that, Elnore walked away with unusually hurried steps, unlike her usual self, and Talion’s expression crumpled as he watched her.

‘…What was that?’

It was momentary, but.

Something had “possessed” Elnore.

Not the usual student council president with that half-dazed, half-calm expressionless face.

But “something” that seemed to blindly hate every being in front of it.

‘…Brother, what kind of woman have you gotten yourself involved with?’

Talion thought sincerely as he let out a sigh.

●

[We’ve finished, brother.]

I nod at the report coming from Talion, who sounds like his soul has left his body.

I guess he’s reacting like this after seeing Elnore show off her skills again.

“…”

I understand.

The range of actions a Vessel with two fragments can perform is starting to reach or exceed the level of named NPCs in the game.

I’m guessing she’s probably starting to become stronger than Gideon by now.

‘…That’s going to be troublesome later.’

That’s not a desirable development.

For the sake of future chapters, it’s better to keep Gideon’s combat power always above Elnore’s.

After this chapter ends, our Grand Duke will need a check-up too.

< System Message >

[ Target ‘Elnore’ is becoming accustomed to the demon’s power. ]

[ The fusion of the second fragment is accelerating. The Vessel is beginning to be affected! ]

That way, I’ll be able to deal with this too.

As I said before.

I can’t bear to see Elnore become a murderous fiend, not even if I have dirt in my eyes.

As I frown while looking at that window, the pager in my pocket emits a signal.

It’s a message from Elia.

[Ah, teacher. This side also—]

“Did you finish the imprinting on that side too?”

[…]

Elia fell silent for a moment at my question.

[…No, well. We did finish, but.]

Elia on the video screen looked back behind her, hesitating.

Beyond her, the body of the Horned Demon, the ruler of the jungle area, was visible. Next to it was Yuria, who had drawn her sword and was looking down at it.

[Teacher, didn’t you say this wouldn’t die?]

“…? It’s a magical life form, so it shouldn’t die?”

Whether it’s the Ice Tiger, the Flame Demon, or the Unicorn.

Elemental magical life forms don’t usually die. That characteristic is the biggest reason they occupy the position of ruler, surpassing all the formidable magical beasts in the area.

Even the Flame Demon didn’t die when I shattered its head with one blow.

[But this one is dead?]

“…What?”

[It’s not reviving. Was that imprint or whatever properly engraved?]

“…”

At those words, I examine the screen carefully.

White energy is billowing from Yuria’s sword. And the unicorn nearby has been bisected from head to toe, not moving an inch.

It shows no signs of preparing to revive by returning to its original element, like the Flame Demon I killed.

‘…She really killed it?’

How did she do that?

Even in the game, this is something unheard of unless it’s some kind of bug exploit…?

Fortunately.

The answer to “how” such a thing was possible soon appeared before my eyes.

< System Message >

[ Target ‘Yuria’ is becoming increasingly proficient with the demon’s power. ]

[ A new curse embedded in ‘The Severer’ is being unlocked. ]

[ The target’s Stage 1 fusion rate has reached 99%. ]

[ The second fragment of the ‘White Demon’ will appear soon. Related events are being updated! ]

“…”

Hey.

I have a lot to do in one day.

Give me a break, please.

[…She seemed a bit mentally unstable from the start. Is this really okay, teacher…?]

At those words, I examine Yuria’s appearance on the screen.

Her eyes are vacant. She’s standing there, staring at the corpse with dead eyes, not moving a muscle.

At a glance, she’s clearly not in a normal state.

“…”

Since the last time I saw her was when we ran into each other while changing clothes, I can’t really guess what she’s thinking now.

She did look extremely upset after the gaslighting incident earlier.

[…If we leave her like this, she might cause some kind of accident soon.]

“…She probably will. Leave her be.”

[…]

Instead of continuing with an explanation to Elia, who is at a loss for words looking at me, I just scratch my head.

At least from my experience so far.

Signs of ominous events have never passed me by. If there are such indications, bad things will definitely happen.

So, what I should do in such situations is.

Not to think about “cleaning up” the situation, but to aim to use it as “momentum.”

First of all, I’ve already triggered Riru’s temper.

And this is the second.

[…Excuse me?]

“Elia.”

I sigh and speak to Elia, who is asking with confusion.

“Do you know the saying ‘fight poison with poison’?”

Treating poison with poison.

If you release just one poison, it’s just extreme poison.

But if you release two.

Then it can be used as “medicine.”

‘…That would be interesting.’

To be honest.

I’m curious about tomorrow.

I can’t help but look forward to seeing how Tatiana will react to what I’m going to do.