Ch.147147. Practical Exam (4)

●

The path down to the entrance was a gentle slope that stretched along the base of the low mountain.

As they descended, an awkward silence hung between Serath and Faynol.

Strictly speaking, they were barely acquaintances. One might think this was the typical emptiness that forms between such people.

But both of them knew.

That the “current” flowing between them was nothing so soft and harmless.

“…Let’s be honest here.”

Serath was the first to break the silence.

She spoke casually, as if it were nothing.

“You belong to the Heresy Inquisition, don’t you?”

“And you’re from the Holy Empire.”

Serath grabbed her forehead and sighed at the immediate response that came as soon as she finished her sentence.

The Heresy Inquisition and the Holy Empire—hearing just the names, one might think the former was a subordinate organization of the latter, but that wasn’t the case at all.

Rather, they were at each other’s throats.

Their attitudes toward demons were diametrically opposed.

The Heresy Inquisition defined demons as humanity’s mortal enemies, to be rejected at all costs, while the latter argued it was better to “utilize” demons in useful ways.

Particularly, it was an open secret among the hegemonic nations that the Pope invested astronomical sums into demon-related research every year.

“…You recognized me right away.”

“I’ve heard rumors. About the Grand Assassin who assists the Pope.”

And so, as members of such organizations…

“I’ve heard you excel at creating innocent corpses.”

“…”

It was quite natural to spit out such cutting remarks as soon as they identified each other’s affiliations.

Serath’s eyebrow twitched.

It was quite a sophisticated insult.

The Pope using her like a tool to kill people according to his will was one thing.

But she was mocking the very cause to which Serath pledged her loyalty as completely meaningless.

“…I’ve heard things too.”

Serath responded with a sharp voice.

“About the Demonic Vessel that the Heresy Inquisition keeps as a pet.”

“…”

“I heard it comes from humble origins.”

Faynol quietly closed her eyes.

She didn’t seem particularly affected by her words.

“Certainly.”

Perhaps Serath’s decision to go a step further was partly due to the anger that welled up inside her at seeing this.

“I heard it even stabbed its master in the back—the one who took it in at the Demonic Spire where it would never have been allowed to set foot otherwise—”

Before she could finish her sentence, Serath immediately drew her dagger.

She had detected an overwhelming surge of killing intent rising from Faynol’s body.

“…?”

The strange thing was…

Even Faynol, who had emitted such killing intent, seemed extremely bewildered.

“…I felt it.”

Faynol muttered in a dumbfounded voice.

“I felt, it. I felt anger. This is, what, nonsensical—”

“…”

What is this?

Has she gone mad?

Serath looked with disbelief at Faynol, who continued to mutter like someone who had lost her mind.

“…It must be thanks to that man. I’m really, really glad I met him.”

Moreover, when she said such things…

She even seemed relieved.

Seeing Faynol place both hands on her chest with a slightly flushed face, Serath added a comment in an incredulous voice.

“…Are all Heresy Inquisition people this insane?”

“Who knows.”

Faynol shrugged and answered.

“If there’s one thing you’re mistaken about, Grand Assassin, it’s that I don’t have much sense of belonging to the Heresy Inquisition. If I disliked it, I disliked it.”

“…What?”

Then why was she engaging in this battle of nerves with her in the first place?

As Serath glared at her with that thought in mind, Faynol soon continued with a faint smile on her face.

“I can just see it in you.”

“What are you—”

“It’s obvious that you’re one of the people who will be fawning over that man.”

“…”

Serath stared at Faynol with a dumbfounded expression.

Before anger or anything else, the appropriate first reaction was disbelief.

To suggest that she was fawning over that man, what nonsense.

“What ridiculous thing are you—”

She tried to brush it off.

But contrary to her words, her heart throbbed painfully.

“…”

Please.

Just stay quiet, you unknown thing.

As she thought that with a slightly reddened face, Faynol across from her wore a knowing smile.

It was an expression that made Serath’s already uncomfortable mood twice as twisted.

“You can take it as me preemptively checking out my competition. You’re destined to fall hard for him eventually.”

“…Nonsense.”

“You can think that way for now.”

Faynol answered in an even tone.

“It’ll be fun to watch how you fall for him before long.”

At least, so far, not a single vessel had been able to escape that fate.

“…”

So.

Someday, even herself…

As Faynol thought about this and smiled faintly…

“…I feel like I’ve had a useless conversation, really.”

Serath grumbled, running her hand through her hair.

“Anyway, let’s just focus on stopping them properly. Since we’ve come this far, let’s not cause trouble for each other—”

Serath’s sentence was abruptly cut off.

Because they could hear a rhythmic sound—thump, thump—shaking the ground nearby.

“…?”

“…?”

Faynol and Serath raised their heads simultaneously.

“…What’s that sound?”

“It’s not like a large magical beast would suddenly appear…”

Despite such conversation, they could quickly find the source of the sound.

The entrance to the test site took the form of a ravine that narrowed as it went upward. This could be seen as a minimal advantage given to the defense team with fewer members.

And, as if…

“Abbreviating” such terrain all at once, there was a human leaping over their heads as if flying.

The source of the thumping sound was the ground shattering each time this person kicked off.

“…”

“…”

Serath and Faynol fell silent simultaneously.

Of course, stopping ordinary students wouldn’t be difficult for people of their caliber, but…

What on earth was that?

“…Were we supposed to stop that too?”

“…”

Unfortunately.

Even two Demonic Vessels clearly weren’t monsters enough to stop something like that.

●

[So, what are you going to do?]

“…”

No, what do you mean what am I going to do?

I look at Elnore and the Chancellor on the distant podium with an incredulous expression.

Is this person causing such an incident at an event hosting national dignitaries?

[…No, he must have known.]

Calivan said with a bitter smile.

Right.

I agree one hundred percent.

Sullivan’s character as shown in the game is that of a typical strategist who keeps dozens of snake pits in his belly. There’s no way he wouldn’t recognize such an obvious disguise.

In other words.

Even he must have “approved” of what’s happening here.

“Well, here I go.”

With those words…

[ A crisis situation has been detected. ]

[ It is judged to be a direct threat to life. ]

[ Skill: Desperate Situation will be applied at EX rank. ]

Naturally, Desperate Situation is immediately cranked up to EX rank.

I mean, this person probably doesn’t actually intend to kill me.

But the difference in specs between us is at an absurdly incomparable level.

Even though I’ve recently been working out and improving my physical abilities, when it comes to physical capabilities in this world, this person is among the strongest!

“…!”

I jerk my head back in alarm, and Elnore’s lightly thrown punch brushes past me.

Of course, “lightly” is just a manner of speaking—this is a punch from someone who can change the landscape with a single sword stroke.

“I could die if I get hit by that, Elnore?!”

“…Don’t worry. I’ve specially adjusted it to just knock you unconscious.”

Elnore shot back with a sulky expression, then pouted and replied.

“…And didn’t I tell you not to call me Elnore?”

You’re still maintaining that concept?

Why on earth are you doing this…!

[What else? You’ve been surrounding yourself with so many women lately that she’s feeling threatened and trying to establish facts.]

“…”

[Why not just let her squeeze you thoroughly? As a man, you wouldn’t mind, right?]

You’re talking nonsense because it’s not happening to you, seriously.

As I’ve said before, my goal is ultimately to keep all six demons who will approach me.

If I did something like that with Elnore now, I can’t even imagine where that plan would start to fall apart.

I can’t just let myself be squeezed…!

[…Still, you’re not saying you completely dislike it.]

Well, honestly, I don’t dislike it. I’m a healthy man too.

Is Elnore pretty? Honestly, yes. Normally, someone like me wouldn’t even be able to consider such things, let alone hold her hand once.

[…]

“…”

[…This is why I don’t hate you despite all your stupid antics. At least you’re honest.]

‘Shut up.’

Anyway.

So I can’t just surrender meekly right now.

Setting aside such plans, if my test scores come out low, I don’t know what Chancellor Sullivan might do. There’s no need to create unnecessary problems.

I use all my abilities to avoid Elnore’s overwhelmingly aggressive attacks.

[ ‘Skill: Swordsman’s Focus’ has been activated! ]

[ Reaction speed and precision have increased! ]

Fortunately, with Desperate Situation plus this, I can somehow manage to respond.

Even as the surrounding landscape changes moment by moment under Elnore’s attacks, I can somehow take care of my body.

I’ve previously had experience running away while dribbling from Yuria who was seriously trying to split me in half. I failed and got split at the end, but the sense I developed then is still valid.

The problem is that I don’t have any decent means of attack…

[Hey, didn’t you defeat an ancient god-level magical beast before? If you use those spells or whatever you brought back then—]

‘I still can’t win even with those!’

Of course, the power of martial arts combined with spells is formidable, but that’s only when the opponent allows themselves to be hit.

Not only is there waiting time to gather and circulate the spells, but to hit someone moving as fast as her, I’d have to rely purely on my combat sense.

And in that area, my capabilities don’t even reach average level, not even as a white lie.

In other words.

I have absolutely no means to win this “confrontation” with her right now.

[Then what are you going to do?]

There’s only one way.

To overturn the board completely.

‘…The answer is in what you said earlier.’

After all, the reason Elnore is doing this now is because she’s feeling anxious about me being around other women so much.

To resolve this situation, I need to approach it from that angle.

“…”

I look around.

Because of the Chancellor, this test has unusually many “watching eyes.”

Judging from Elnore’s reaction when I kissed her before…

Elnore, with high probability, is extremely conscious of this point.

[…You’re plotting some womanizing scheme again, aren’t you?]

Sir.

Please use more refined language, I beg you.

[You’re not denying it.]

“…”

[I told you I like your honesty, didn’t I?]

Shut up.

●

“…”

The thoughts of high-ranking individuals are generally unfathomable.

But in the case of Chancellor Sullivan right now, that’s especially true.

Conrad looked at him with an expression of incomprehension.

The friendly smile he always wore was still on his face.

Even watching Elphante’s student council president pulling such a prank with obvious personal motives, he maintained that expression.

‘…Well, I understand to some extent.’

Such pranks between seniors and juniors had occurred a few times before.

The problem was that a power figure comparable to the Emperor was attending this event in disguise.

“…I apologize, Your Excellency. The test seems a bit disorderly.”

“No, it’s fine. It looks lively, which is good.”

“…”

It’s too lively, that’s the problem.

Conrad looked at Elnore, who was sweeping through the surroundings like a human typhoon, with an awkward smile.

Well, she always showed signs of being extraordinary, but right now she’s just a walking biological weapon.

Among knights on the front lines, only someone like Margrave Kendrid or the Sword Saint in the imperial palace could handle, let alone face, someone at that level.

That Darwood fellow is holding up well for a student, which is incredible, but it’s clear even from here that he’s barely avoiding death by a paper-thin margin.

In fact, there was one person who was delighted to see such a scene.

“Ha, haha-!”

A male student who had been watching Darwood Campbell running away in a defensive position let out a laugh full of joy.

He seemed extremely pleased to see that man in distress.

“Look at him scurrying away! Is that what you call a man, you idiot!”

Seeing the man who said that, the Chancellor tilted his head and asked Conrad.

“Sir Conrad. Who is that man?”

“That must be… Brix Chester. The eldest son of Count Chester. He’s the leader of the attack team for this test.”

“Ah, the one near Cornwall? I had forgotten that such a powerful count family had an heir, as they’re not among the most influential.”

“…”

Right. Someone of his stature could afford to forget the very existence of a family like the Chesters.

I don’t understand why such a person would show so much interest in the son of a baron, though.

“Well. The atmosphere seems a bit… frivolous. I should inform Count Chester later.”

As Sullivan said this, a chill briefly flashed in his golden eyes.

“…”

Conrad silently looked at him.

Of course, that fellow’s behavior objectively doesn’t look good.

But what I’ve been feeling is…

This woman seems to be overtly taking Darwood Campbell’s side, which seems excessive for someone who came to “evaluate” him.

What exactly did she come here for?

While thinking this, Conrad could see Darwood Campbell being pushed further into a defensive position.

He had barely been running around near the flag, but now he was being driven away, and in the meantime, Brix was approaching to capture it.

If that fellow, the attack team leader, captured the flag, the test would end immediately. The defense team would receive severe penalty points.

“That’s it! Crush him completely! You’re useful after all, freshman! When you suddenly came and asked to join the attack team, I thought you were just crazy!”

However.

As Brix reached the vicinity and was saying this…

“Hey.”

His body was sent flying.

It was probably because Darwood, who had somehow approached him closely, had punched him right in the jaw.

“…”

Conrad couldn’t help but let out a chuckle watching this.

Right now, that guy…

Doesn’t it feel like he “waited” for such words before striking?

It seems like he could have done this much earlier if he wanted to.

As Conrad was thinking this and inwardly sighing…

“If you talk like that about my woman, I’ll kill you next time. Got it?”

Those words followed.

For Conrad, who roughly knew how that guy usually behaved, it was laughably poor acting.

But the student council president’s fierce attacks had frozen stiff upon hearing it.

“…Darwood?”

“Yes.”

“What do you mean ‘my woman,’ t-talking like that in front of everyone—”

Seeing such a conversation unfold, Conrad inwardly lamented.

‘…Was that his aim?’

Did he leave Brix alone until now to set up the optimal stage for showing his teeth?

What a slick fellow. How did he prepare for something like this in such a situation?

He was inwardly chuckling at that thought.

But.

“…Sir Conrad.”

A voice that sent chills down his spine came from beside him.

The warm smile that had been on Sullivan’s face until now…

Had completely disappeared.

“What does he mean by ‘my woman’?”

A low, sinking voice flowed from between her lips.

“…”

And as soon as he heard it, Conrad sensed it.

Ah.

This situation has become seriously complicated.