Ch.1313. Double

“Why on earth did you do that?”

“Hm?”

As I was warming up before entering the final stage, Elia threw that question at me.

Judging by her dumbfounded expression, she must be quite shocked herself.

“I understand you’re skilled, but were you really trying to challenge the all-time record…?”

“Yes.”

“…”

My matter-of-fact answer left Elia speechless, her mouth opening and closing in disbelief.

“…Your confidence is impressive. Is there any particular reason for it?”

Of course there is.

First, the artificial dungeon’s monsters have fairly consistent patterns, making it easy for someone of my level to target weak points through memorized timing.

Getting that timing right isn’t even that difficult.

And above all else.

[This is Conrad. Are you ready?]

“I’ve been ready for quite some time.”

[Good. In the final section, you can set the difficulty level. The higher the difficulty, the more bonus points you’ll receive, so-]

This is why I’m confident.

“Please set it to maximum difficulty.”

[…]

After a moment of silence, the person on the other end of the guidance system suddenly changed.

[I’ve been listening, and I get that new students can be spirited, but this is going too far?! There’s no penalty for losing the bet, so why go this far…! The maximum difficulty is practically real combat! You could actually die!]

The voice belonged to Percy.

Despite his angry tone, he was clearly concerned, showing what a true teacher he is.

“Yes. Well. I’m aware of that.”

Right. With that setting, the monsters will clearly be coming at me with the intent to kill.

“But anything less would be meaningless.”

[…Excuse me?]

“Anything easier isn’t worth my effort.”

[…]

I smirk as I watch my opponent fall silent in bewilderment.

That’s exactly why I’m asking for it.

I actually find that level easier.

●

“Do we really need to accommodate this request?”

“Why are you acting surprised? Didn’t we use this difficulty level when we were freshmen too?”

“Not in the Colosseum. People could actually die here.”

Percy said with a sour expression.

The Colosseum, the final section of the artificial dungeon, involves defeating as many endlessly spawning enemies as possible.

In other words, as time passes, more and more monsters spawn, making it genuinely dangerous if the difficulty is carelessly increased.

“He wouldn’t have made such a request without confidence. Let’s just watch.”

“I’m saying this after observing his performance so far. Are you sure we’re not overestimating this student?”

Percy crossed his arms and complained.

“He has no aptitude for abilities, and his combat skills-“

“-are terrible. Yes. You’re being fooled just like everyone else.”

“Excuse me?”

Percy responded in confusion to Conrad’s amused reply.

“Just wait and see. If it gets truly dangerous, we can always go in and save them.”

While they were speaking, the two new students had already entered the Colosseum.

Percy inwardly sighed as he watched artificial monsters pouring in from all directions, surrounding the two in a circle.

True to the highest difficulty, their behavior was fundamentally different from before. The bloodthirsty monsters would terrify any faint-hearted student just by their appearance.

‘I hope they don’t push themselves too hard…’

Percy thought as he sipped his hot tea. Reaching for hot tea whenever he was worried was a long-standing habit.

The record he and Conrad had set was hunting 50 creatures during the time limit—a truly transcendent record for freshmen.

But seeing this bravado made him uneasy, as if the student might try to break that record out of sheer recklessness.

Of course, that uneasiness vanished the moment Darwood Campbell encountered the first monster.

-!

-!!!

Percy’s jaw dropped as he saw a monster “shatter into pieces” from Darwood’s sword strike.

“W-what?!”

Conrad chuckled as Percy jumped to his feet in shock.

If the monster had simply been cut down with a single strike, it wouldn’t have been so surprising. Any skilled combatant could do that.

But to be completely pulverized as if hit by a massive hammer, despite being struck by a sword?

It must have happened because the perfectly timed strike hit a vital point, but how was such a thing even possible?

“See? Everyone gets fooled the first time they see it.”

Normally Percy would have scolded Conrad for his smug comment, but he was too shocked by what he was witnessing.

“No, no, no-! How is this possible?! Someone who showed absolutely nothing until now suddenly-!”

“It’s not that there was nothing there—have you considered that he might have been making it appear that way?”

“…”

Percy collapsed back into his seat, feeling as if he’d been struck on the back of the head.

His gaze shifted to the records of these two students displayed on the panel.

The numbers were unparalleled, not just for this year but for several years of freshman records.

The sentence that student had uttered earlier kept echoing in his mind.

-Anything easier isn’t worth my effort.

So that wasn’t just bravado, but genuine confidence.

Even these records were merely a pastime for that man.

“…He’s certainly worthy of your interest, Conrad. My narrow perspective led me to underestimate him.”

“I don’t blame you. I would have been completely fooled too if I hadn’t seen him beforehand.”

Indeed, even the faculty hadn’t paid any attention to him until they saw his true form during the duel with the hero.

“But still, setting an even higher record is a completely different matter. The Colosseum’s nature means that stronger monsters will appear as time goes on-“

Percy’s sentence was cut off midway.

He had just witnessed the second wave of monsters being shattered by Darwood’s sword, exactly like the first.

‘…Huh?’

He mentally questioned what he was seeing.

What followed continued to shatter not just monsters but everything Percy thought he knew.

The third wave after clearing the second—same result, destroyed in a single blow.

Again, again, again.

Always at the same pace. No matter how strong the opponent became, the result was always the same.

‘…’

Were monsters always this easy to defeat?

Even when Conrad and Percy set the all-time record, they couldn’t do it like this.

Like cutting down weeds.

As if performing a simple, repetitive task rather than fighting.

So effortlessly that it made the hero candidate fighting beside him look insignificant.

Clearly, each wave should be getting progressively stronger, so why was the situation identical to before?

Was there a bug in the system?

‘…No, that’s not it.’

That wasn’t it.

It was something far more significant.

The more he watched the footage, the clearer this feeling became.

‘He’s getting stronger with them.’

As the opponents become faster and stronger, so does Darwood Campbell.

‘How is this even possible…!’

While Percy trembled, the monster death counter on the panel was accumulating at an incredible rate.

Within one minute of starting, more than 10 creatures had been hunted.

By the halfway point of the time limit, Conrad and Percy’s record had long been broken.

Yet Darwood Campbell’s pace didn’t slow.

If anything, it grew faster.

As if the stronger his opponents became, the stronger he became in turn.

And so, when all was said and done.

A silence so profound that even someone’s breathing could be heard clearly filled the room.

[Congratulations! An unbelievable achievement!]

[You have set a new all-time record!]

[The duo of Darwood Campbell & Elia Krisanax has successfully hunted 100 monsters!]

The teacup Percy was holding fell and shattered on the floor.

But no one nearby turned to look.

Everyone was staring at the record with blank expressions.

“Bravo.”

In the silent room, only the sound of Conrad’s applause echoed, his face bearing a fierce smile.

●

“Well, not bad.”

That’s true in many ways.

For one thing, my proficiency with the Tristan-style swordsmanship has improved dramatically, since abilities tend to develop well through practical experience.

“Not bad? Is that all you have to say?”

Elia next to me said, wiping her forehead.

Why are you criticizing me?

“No, this is…”

She stared in disbelief at the document in her hand.

It was given to us by a pleased Conrad and a dazed Percy.

The document stated that we could borrow one item from Elphante’s “Vision Storehouse.”

“Isn’t the Vision Storehouse something that only opens upon imperial request…?”

“That’s why it says they’ll lend it to us here. They can’t outright give it to us or it would cause problems.”

I answer calmly.

Of course, we’re receiving this incredibly quickly.

The opening of the Vision Storehouse itself is an event that happens only twice in the entire game.

Both times it’s only possible after resolving major incidents that happen much later in the scenario. It’s definitely not something a freshman should be able to access.

And on top of that, “one request of anything” from Percy, the head of the magic department…

‘This is actually really good?’

Even by my veteran standards, this is an excellent start.

“…”

As I pondered this, Elia turned to look at me with a curious expression.

“I’ve been noticing this, but you always stay calm no matter what happens, don’t you?”

“Huh?”

“You always give off this vibe like you knew everything in advance, like you planned everything already, like everything is expected. Hmm…”

She said, stroking her chin.

What’s this about?

“Well, alright. Then I should prepare one surprise.”

“…What?”

“I’m saying I have something planned. Actually, I was thinking about it before, but after this mock battle, I’m even more certain. If I don’t stake my claim somehow, you’ll be snatched up from all directions soon.”

“…”

What is she talking about?

As I stared at Elia with a bewildered look, she grinned and held out her fist.

“…What’s this?”

“Oh, a fist bump. Don’t all guys do this with their friends?”

“…”

I’m noticing again.

This person has good social skills like in the original work, but there’s something oddly awkward about her.

Thinking this, I bumped her fist, and she smiled brightly before dashing off.

“See you tomorrow, teacher! I’ll send a letter to your quarters!”

“…”

That makes me a bit uneasy.

Starting with the fact that she said she’d see me tomorrow.

< Gift-Related Person Alert >

▼ Elnore

[Trust Level 5]

[Approaching status change!]

[Important person. Special events will occur upon successful status change!]

[D-1 until related event occurs]

▼ Elia

[Curiosity Level 5]

[Rewards cannot be claimed yet!]

[Approaching status change!]

[Important person. Special events will occur upon successful status change!]

[D-1 until related event occurs]

Tomorrow is that day.

The day when the main quest and character events overlap.

‘If I remember the original correctly, nothing major happens at this point…’

The main quest for the welcome party that I remember is just a “monster disturbance” at most.

But with two character events tied to it, I can’t help but feel tense.

“What are you thinking about so intently?”

A question flew at me while I was lost in thought.

When I turned my head in that direction.

There stood Elnore, emanating a terrifying aura.

“…”

“…”

What’s going on?

What’s wrong with her?

Her expression is still blank, but the slight wrinkle between her eyebrows and the trembling at the corners of her eyes show she’s extremely angry.

“You two seemed to have a lovely time together. Do you like that freshman, Elia?”

“…”

So, what is this?

The fact that “Mortal Peril” isn’t activating suggests she doesn’t intend to harm me, but I still feel like I need to appease her somehow or something terrible will happen.

I need to say something…!

“Um, what is it, Student Council President?”

“What.”

“I missed you.”

“…”

As Elnore fell silent, a non-existent entry from an imaginary dictionary flashed through my mind.

Absolutely clueless – synonym for “like Darwood Campbell.”

There’s no way such words would work on the intimidating student council president.

“…Is that so.”

But her voice was much softer than before.

I think her expression has relaxed too, unless I’m imagining it.

‘…Huh?’

It worked?

This?

This jumbled mess of a sentence I blurted out?

While I was bewildered, Elnore crossed her arms and said with a sulky air:

“So you’re saying you still missed me even while you were with that freshman?”

“…”

That’s not exactly what I meant.

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. I don’t mean it in a romantic sense… Hmm. I meant it in terms of friendship. We’re not at that kind of relationship yet.”

“…”

I didn’t even say anything.

“…Yes, well.”

“Good. Just remember your priorities correctly.”

“…”

What priorities?

What does that even mean?

“Well, since I’m here, I’ll give you this now. I was planning to give it to you tomorrow originally.”

Saying that, Elnore handed me a letter.

What’s this now?

“…Make sure to open it somewhere private. Well then.”

With those words, Elnore vanished with a whoosh.

She seemed quite embarrassed about giving me the letter.

“…”

What is this about?

First Elia, now Elnore—I don’t understand why they’re suddenly giving me letters.

I should go open them quickly.

●

“I wish I hadn’t opened them.”

I mutter like a dying old man.

On the desk lay the opened letters from Elia and Elnore.

And the content was identical.

Both asking me to be their “partner” at tomorrow’s freshman welcome party.

“…”

Being someone’s partner itself isn’t a big deal.

It just means going around together during the event and having fun. Essentially, a date.

Looking at the words alone, it seems like an innocent romantic exchange, but this was an event in the original game too.

Rejecting one causes a massive drop in their affection, and later when progressing related scenarios, severe penalties are applied. It’s practically a death sentence when trying to progress that content.

That’s why in the original game, players usually choose one of two characters they can “bypass.” At least they give you options you can handle.

“…”

But in my case, the related characters are the protagonist and the final boss.

No matter which one I choose, only hell awaits. If either one turns against me, my life will be like a candle in the wind.

I can’t avoid the event either. As I mentioned before, this is a place with a “main quest” attached. Not attending likely means game over. Straight to death.

Reject both? Then I’ll just accumulate penalties from both sides. Also straight to death.

A dilemma. Surrounded on all sides.

The crisis of Darwood Campbell’s lifetime.

No, if it were really just a date, I wouldn’t feel so unjustly threatened by this binary choice.

In the current situation, there’s no way these two would seriously put in something like this to ask for a date. The trust levels are just “Curiosity” and “Trust.” Nothing like affection.

It’s more likely just out of interest.

‘But I can’t just sit back and die.’

I rack my brains desperately.

Think, Darwood Campbell.

Some way to avoid hurting either side while also saving my life, anything…!

“…Oh.”

Then.

A plan formed in my mind.

A plan that would definitely kill me if it failed, but might get me through this situation if successful.

“…”

It’s a bit trashy, but.

This is essentially my only way out. My life is at stake, and I have no choice…!

I close my eyes and spin my head. I extract every bit of detailed information about the event to formulate my plan.

“…This might work?”

Huh.

It doesn’t seem impossible?

“…”

Come to think of it, I’m practically dead no matter which one I choose.

So, well.

“…What if I meet both?”

As long as they don’t catch me, it should work, right?

●