Ch.157157. It’s Been a While, Hasn’t It?

“…And so, the rules for the hero selection will proceed as follows.”

As I was reading the documents handed to me, Atalante threw those words at me.

“We’ll start at Elphante Academy, then move to the Crucible of Struggle, and finally to the Grand Temple of the Holy Empire where the holy sword is enshrined. At each academy, candidates will undergo trials prepared by that institution.”

I nod at Atalante’s explanation.

It was certainly the same selection process that I remembered.

“Each country will have two candidates, and each will be accompanied by one attendant. As per tradition.”

The reason such a grand word as “tradition” is attached is probably because no hero in history has ever operated alone.

There was always someone by their side to assist them.

Of course, they weren’t assigned many roles. At most, they only performed secondary activities to support the hero.

In gaming terms, it’s like being the player’s pet.

In the original work, it was a role that someone in the hero’s party had to take on, but now it’s a position I’ve secured.

“The Pope won’t be attending in person… but observers will include the Archbishop of the Holy Empire, one chieftain from the Tribal Union, and from Elphante, His Majesty the Emperor will attend in person.”

“…His Majesty in person?”

No matter how I look at it, the ranks don’t match.

With an Archbishop and a Chieftain, nominally, Chancellor Sullivan should be the one attending from our side to match their rank. But the Emperor coming in person…

“…He’s taking a political risk as well.”

The Chancellor said with a bitter smile.

“He’s essentially acknowledging implicitly in a public setting that his influence is actually below that of the Chancellor.”

“…”

Right. Even thinking about the main storyline, the Emperor was always someone who couldn’t exert much influence, constantly overshadowed by the Chancellor.

But what’s important is why he would endure such public humiliation to attend this event.

“…Is it because of me?”

“I like how quick you are to catch on.”

Atalante nodded, brushing back her hair.

“…I don’t know exactly how, but His Majesty seems to have great expectations for you. Seeing how he’s willing to go to such lengths just to see you in person.”

“…”

The Emperor is, as I’ve mentioned repeatedly, one of the key figures in the main scenario.

Especially in the chapter where Elnore’s personality awakens as the final boss.

The two biggest pillars supporting Elnore’s mental state are Beatrix, whom she’s been friends with since childhood, and the Emperor.

Gideon also reconciles with her after learning the ‘truth’ behind her rejection, but at least for now, that’s not the case.

“…I shouldn’t disappoint him then.”

So it would be best to make a good impression on him.

I’m confident. After all, from what I’ve seen so far, the hero selection process hasn’t deviated much from the flow in the game.

However.

The only thing that bothers me is…

“…What are the chances the Holy Empire will interfere?”

“Absolutely certain.”

I sigh at Atalante’s bitter response.

Just by deploying Serath, it’s clear they’re extremely wary of my ‘growth.’

If my name is involved in a massive event like the hero selection, there’s no way those people won’t try something.

“Do you have any idea what kind of attack they might use?”

“Probably… they’ll question your ‘legitimacy.’ After all, you’re someone I forcibly inserted into this at the last minute. They’ll argue that you haven’t been properly vetted to participate in such a grand event as the hero selection.”

That’s an attack method that’s hard to defend against.

Honestly, I’ve already accomplished several incredible feats at the student level, but ultimately, the Holy Empire holds the highest authority regarding ‘demons’ and ‘heroes.’ If they decide to discredit someone, everyone has to follow suit.

Atalante sighed deeply and continued.

“Moreover, Archbishop Luminol has demonstrated ‘miracles’ multiple times as proof of faith, not just in the Holy Empire but across the entire continent. If someone like him directly questions your legitimacy, it might become quite difficult for you to participate in the selection.”

“…That’s quite troublesome.”

I say that while flipping through the documents.

Archbishop Luminol. Middle-aged man. His appearance seems peaceful, but befitting a subordinate of the Pope, he exudes the aura of a mastermind.

Indeed, as Atalante said, he seems to have reached a high level as a priest, with records of several miracles that would be considered high-level skills even from the perspective of an experienced player.

Among them, the miracle he specializes in…

“…”

As soon as I saw that entry,

A smile spread across my face.

“…What’s with that sinister smile?”

“Looking at this, it would actually be more problematic if this person didn’t come.”

“…Pardon?”

“From my perspective, this person is preferable.”

There’s no rule saying they’re the only ones who can play dirty.

The person they’re sending to cause trouble.

Coincidentally.

I’m also the type of person who’s good at playing dirty.

●

Elphante Academy, befitting its name as the Imperial Academy, is always a bustling place.

But.

Even taking that into account, the commotion currently stirring throughout the academy is extraordinary.

Elia, standing beside me, looked around with an incredulous expression.

With the hero candidates lined up in a row,

A crowd comparable to the Empire’s greatest festivals—the Full Moon Festival and Harvest Festival—was swarming around.

“…Wow, this is no joke.”

“Nervous?”

“How could I not be with this many people?”

It really does feel like a massive event.

It’s truly impressive how they’ve quickly installed all sorts of facilities throughout this huge academy to be used for the ‘trials’ in just a few days.

‘…Everyone seems excited.’

I think as I look around.

Since they can’t openly reveal the fact that traces of demons are being discovered everywhere, this event is being promoted externally as something like a national competition to determine the ‘number one’ among hero candidates.

To others, it probably feels almost like a sporting event.

As I was thinking this and looking around,

A warmth suddenly grips my hand.

I flinch and turn to see Elia.

With her eyes drooping downward, she’s overlapping both her hands on mine.

“I’m nervous, so please hold my hand.”

“…What?”

“I feel reassured when I hold your hand, teacher.”

“…”

Come to think of it.

During the Full Moon Festival before, did I hold Elnore’s hand like this because there were too many people?

The difference is that back then, I was the one who took Elnore’s hand first.

And now, this kid has grabbed my hand almost like snatching it.

Compared to that, this one is much more aggressive.

‘…Everything contrasts, huh.’

As if they’re destined rivals, it shows even in such small details.

“…Is it not allowed?”

When I silently looked at her, Elia asked that.

Though her face is smiling brightly,

The slightly tense voice that follows suggests she mustered quite a bit of courage to do this.

“…Only until we go in front of people.”

“…Ehehe.”

She let out a silly laugh and completely hugged one of my arms.

I didn’t tell her to go that far, but since I’ve already given permission, I let it be.

[…Kill…me…]

“…”

What’s wrong with this person now?

[Having to directly witness my little sister acting coy with another man, this damn…]

‘…Are you in pain because you think Elia is too precious?’

[I just feel physically sick…]

‘…’

I don’t understand what this bodiless gentleman is saying.

Actually, from a brother’s perspective, I can sympathize with seeing his little sister acting like this.

It’s almost like watching a pet mudskipper dressing up and acting cute, wiggling its body—

“…You’re not thinking something strange, are you, teacher?”

“…”

She’s also quite perceptive.

To deliberately divert her attention, I change the subject.

“By the way, didn’t you say your reason for wanting to become a hero was because of your brother?”

“I did, didn’t I? Why bring that up suddenly?”

“Well, I was thinking that compared to your goal, the means seem incredibly excessive.”

If you just want to find your brother, wouldn’t it be more normal to collect information rather than becoming a hero?

“…Well, I’ve already tried everything I could.”

Elia smiled faintly.

However.

Unlike her usual refreshing smile that blooms like a flower, this one had a tinge of self-mockery mixed in.

“…I couldn’t do it with the means available to me. No matter what.”

“…”

“I even enrolled at Elphante because my brother attended here, hoping to find at least some traces of him, but there were no results…”

Her voice carried deep fatigue and shallow despair.

While I was busy running around everywhere, this kid probably had many hardships too. She likely invested almost all her free time searching for traces of her brother.

“So, I have no choice but to rely on external means now.”

“External means?”

“A hero is famous, right? Famous enough to be known across the entire continent. Even if I don’t actively search, if my brother can find me, or at least I might be able to get some news about him—that’s what I thought.”

I silently look at her smiling face.

Honestly, it’s a far-fetched idea.

There probably aren’t many people who would risk their lives in a dangerous event like the hero selection for such a personal reason.

Most would participate with a grand mission, belief, or at least national interests at stake.

“…”

But in other words,

It means she’s that desperate.

Desperate enough to commit such an absurd act with such an absurd motive.

She must be achingly missing her only remaining blood relative.

I can hear Calivan’s silence within the Soul Linker.

This person, despite pretending otherwise, always falls silent when Elia talks like this.

Because what she’ll eventually discover is, after all, his death.

“…”

But eventually, she’ll find out anyway.

What I’m doing is making sure she doesn’t collapse when that time comes.

Therefore.

“…You might achieve that sooner than you think.”

It’s always the same routine.

My specialty is ‘compression’—bringing forward results that would normally take much longer to achieve.

So.

“Pardon?”

“You’re going to become famous. Right after today.”

The progression is better when it’s faster.

At least after this ‘opening ceremony,’ Elia will become a celebrity known throughout the continent.

At least to the extent that she can carry out what she wants without hindrance.

“…?”

With a huge question mark plastered on her face, I smile at Elia and move towards the platform.

[Empire, Elphante Academy, Hero Candidate Number 1 entering!]

It really is like a sporting event. They even have something like an announcer.

As I listen to the announcement that feels like introducing a player entering from the blue corner, I step onto the platform.

‘…This is incredible.’

Representatives from each country who have come to observe this event are sitting in veiled seats arranged in all four directions.

All the people here are representatives who have come from each country. With just one word, the balance of power across the continent could shift.

“…”

Among them, I glance at the seat placed at the very center.

The current Emperor of the Empire, Cecilia Arc Bailey Diedonné.

Though she remains silent and sits quietly in her seat,

I can feel her gaze briefly fixing on me before dropping away.

“…”

And.

I can clearly feel that although brief, it was a deep connection.

One thing I can clearly sense:

This person truly came to this place for ‘no other reason than to see me.’

“Welcome, Elia Krisanax. Darwood Campbell.”

At the familiar voice, I turn to the right.

It’s from the chieftain sent by the Tribal Union.

Utad Han-Chai. The father of Luca Han-Chai, a member of the hero’s party.

It seems he’s been dispatched as a representative.

“The other candidates will be entering soon, so if you could wait a moment—”

“I’m sorry, Chieftain, but I don’t think we can keep them waiting here.”

Right, it wouldn’t be complete without someone throwing a wrench in the works.

With an internal bitter smile, I turn towards the source of those words.

Archbishop Luminol.

The representative from the Holy Empire.

From within his veil, he’s looking directly at me while caressing his sacred artifact.

“…What do you mean, Archbishop? Are you expressing dissatisfaction with the hero candidate selected by the Empire?”

“Ah, please don’t misunderstand. There’s no issue with the candidate. However.”

With those words, Archbishop Luminol stood up.

“I sense an unholy aura from that ‘attendant’.”

“…What are you saying, Archbishop Luminol? Please refrain from unfounded suspicions.”

“This is not an unfounded suspicion.”

Then,

The Archbishop’s sacred artifact emitted a holy light.

A massive amount of divine power. Enough to make the watching audience murmur.

“Right now, ‘this person’ will testify as to why I sensed such an aura.”

As he said that,

A portal tearing through space opened in front of me.

It’s not just for spatial movement.

It’s creating a ‘gap’ between dimensions, even if just for a moment.

Then,

From inside, ‘something’ with an overwhelming presence walks out.

“…”

“…”

And at that sight,

The surroundings instantly…

Despite the circular audience seats being filled with countless people, everyone is holding their breath, staring at the portal.

A portal connecting directly from the Otherworld to here. And what walked out from inside is undoubtedly an ‘angel’ with a halo and sacred wings.

“…An angel?”

“Impossible, those only exist in myths and records…!”

Indeed.

The specialty of this person that I read about in the documents is:

‘Angel Summoning.’

“This one who represents the will of heaven”

Indeed, that’s right.

The Holy Empire must know that I’ve been in deep contact with demons. If they summon an angel to ‘testify’ to that fact, my position would truly be in the gutter. It wouldn’t be difficult to even reach a death sentence.

Yet they deliberately waited until the event started and I was exposed to the public, rather than eliminating me from the selection process earlier. This shows they wanted to wait for a dramatic moment to inflict a deeper wound on me.

What a twisted taste.

“O faithful one who serves the will of heaven.”

The angel’s voice resonated heavily around.

A voice with such an overwhelming presence that most listeners were speechless, and some even involuntarily gasped in awe.

The proof of myth has descended to this place.

“I have come to this place at your summon—”

The angel’s voice, which was continuing,

Cut off abruptly upon seeing me.

“…”

The expression becomes blank.

A look that asks why on earth you are here.

As if this person and I are acquaintances.

“…O agent of God?”

Archbishop Luminol uttered those words, but

The angel remains motionless. The complexion even turns slightly pale while looking at me.

“…”

That’s not it.

Considering various circumstances,

The hierarchy this person can summon is probably just that of a fallen angel.

And,

If a ‘fallen angel’ is summoned at this Elphante,

There’s only one angel that would appear.

A familiar, extremely rare ‘female’ angel from the Otherworld.

< System Log >

[Target ‘Fallen Angel A1101’ recognizes you as trash not worth associating with!]

[Negative influence is imprinted!]

[Receivable reward is given!]

[Skill: Dominion of Evil is activated. You gain 1 command right that can be used on the target!]

This person.

Clearly, I’ve had something like this imprinted on me before.

I still vividly remember threatening this person through the White Demon and extracting star iron.

And the point to note here is that I have a ‘command right’ that can be used on this person.

“Fallen Angel.”

At my words,

The Fallen Angel flinched.

Those eyes tremble. A stark contrast to the dignified appearance just moments ago when she was about to continue speaking.

Seeing that expression, I add another word with a grin.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Between us.”

“…”

Watching the angel’s expression crumble,

I activate the skill.

[‘Skill: Dominion of Evil’ is activated.]

[Exercising command right on target ‘Fallen Angel A1101’!]

[The target will absolutely obey your words!]

Right.

Absolute obedience, huh.

That’s fortunate.

What I’m about to make her do is something she would never do without that level of compulsion.

●