Ch.159159. The First Trial

●

Yuria Greyhaunter’s social circle is extremely limited.

Publicly, she only acknowledges Elia as her friend, and besides her, the only people she talks to are her sister, Lady Ophelia, and Darwood.

One could say she fulfills all the necessary conditions for catastrophically shattered social communication skills.

“…”

“…”

In that respect.

The person before her now was extremely uncomfortable to deal with.

“…U-um, S-Student Council President.”

She desperately fiddled with the new collar Darwood had given her as she spoke.

When facing this person, it was the only thing that gave her any sense of comfort.

“What brings you here…?”

“…”

No answer.

Yuria inwardly made a tearful face.

Why did this person barge in and put such pressure on her?

And why did her sister have to be away at a time like this?

‘…The hero selection is today, right?’

She’d heard that the official “trials” would begin today. Darwood, Elia, and that magician she’d seen before—Faynol—would all be there.

While she was thinking about this, Elnore elegantly set down the teacup she’d been holding to her lips.

‘…Wow.’

Yuria couldn’t help but inwardly exclaim.

Every movement exuded dignity. It reminded her anew that this person was a genuine aristocratic lady.

Though she occasionally engaged in eccentric behavior, she still possessed all the qualities needed to captivate men.

A genius with the sword, and intelligent enough to serve as student council president.

Above all, she was beautiful.

Compared to Yuria herself, who was short and frail for a woman, Elnore was bewitchingly attractive to an incomparable degree.

Yes.

She and Elnore belonged to different “classes” altogether.

Probably, if Darwood were to see Yuria and Elnore side by side, she would look like nothing more than a little kid to him.

He might not even see her as a woman at all.

“…”

With that feeling sinking in, she unconsciously clutched tightly at the collar Darwood had given her.

Still, still.

This was the token of promise that man had given her. The device that made her recognize she was precious to him.

And as she did so.

-Do you really think that’s true?

Whenever she felt this anxiety, the “voice” that unfailingly visited her hissed through her mind.

“…”

This voice again.

What used to sound like simple tinnitus now resonates in her consciousness as a voice with a distinct form.

It feels like having another roommate inside her body.

-Who would like a charmless little kid like you?

And, as always, that voice.

-If you’re just going to do nothing, hand everything over to me. At this rate, you’ll lose him to another ‘color.’ Will you just sit there crying, ignored and abandoned, watching another woman monopolize that man?

“…”

-You’re a loner. You’ve been alone for so long—cold, lonely, and hurting.

Extremely.

-And yet. You’d let someone take away the warmth you’ve finally found after so long?

“…”

-To another woman?

It was saying words that gouged at her heart.

But.

‘…No.’

Yuria pressed her chest firmly and lowered her head.

As soon as she gave that answer, her entire body tingled. A sensation filled with the air of “how dare someone like you defy me” rushed through her body, starting from her heart.

Even so. Absolutely.

‘…I won’t be controlled by you again.’

She mustn’t.

She shouldn’t listen to such words.

Hadn’t she committed the sin of threatening Darwood’s life before because of this?

That man would never betray her. She would believe in that.

As she bit her lip against the pain surging through her body,

Elnore, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.

“I wonder, do you also hear a ‘voice’ of some kind?”

“…Pardon?”

With a sensation like her heart truly dropping, Yuria unconsciously swallowed hard.

It was a miracle she didn’t show any visible reaction.

Perhaps it was thanks to her sister always impressing upon her never to reveal that she carried “something” inside her.

And beyond that.

Her instincts told her that this person must not discover “that.”

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

When Yuria answered while sweating profusely, Elnore’s gaze coolly looked her up and down.

It was as if she already knew Yuria was lying.

“…Hmm, well. I had a feeling you definitely had one, but I suppose not.”

Judging by her response, it seems that wasn’t the case after all.

‘…Ugh…’

Yuria inwardly cried as she picked up her teacup with trembling hands.

Her stomach churned. Just being watched by a woman like this who exuded adult charm was overwhelming for someone like her. It even made her feel inferior.

So, when she heard what came next.

She couldn’t help but be startled.

“Well, regardless, I’d like to borrow your talents. Would that be possible?”

“…”

She nearly spat out the tea she was drinking.

“…Excuse me?”

“I’m asking if you’d work with me on something.”

Yuria answered while coughing and sputtering, but Elnore’s voice remained level.

‘…This is strange.’

What could someone who seems this perfect possibly need from her?

While Yuria was thinking this with question marks in her eyes, Elnore’s gaze fixed on the Severance Blade hanging on her back.

“…A sword of immense value, and your manner of handling it is quite familiar. I don’t need to see your skill to know it. It must be as the rumors say.”

“Rumors…?”

“There’s a widespread rumor in the Knight Department about a small slaughter tank in the First Student Corps that cuts down anything that approaches.”

“…”

What kind of bizarre rumor is that? Yuria made a tearful face again.

Slaughter tank? No matter what, she’s still a girl with a maiden’s heart. She’s never done anything to earn such a terrifying nickname…

“…Ordinarily, I would never ask a favor of any woman close to that man.”

Elnore sighed as she spoke.

Yuria also gave a bitter smile at those words.

That’s right.

This person is definitely stalking Darwood, from what she’s heard.

Of course she would know about the man occasionally coming to see her.

“I’ve found someone I want to defeat. Someone I absolutely refuse to lose to.”

“…Someone you want to defeat?”

“A thieving cat with the audacity to try and dislodge a fixed stone despite being nothing but a rolling stone herself.”

“…”

“With an annoyingly golden color, no less. Just looking at her irritates me.”

“…”

Well, from Yuria’s perspective, Elnore looks the same way.

She herself is the one closest to that man. Darwood probably considers his meetings with Elnore as half “playing with fire.”

‘You’ve never even worn a collar and gone for a walk…!’

Feeling a strange sense of pride, she inwardly snorted at Elnore.

Of course, she only did so internally. She didn’t have the courage to express such things outwardly.

Anyway.

“…A thieving cat, you say?”

If it involved keeping someone away from Darwood, she should at least hear what this was about.

“Yes. I’m certain she’s plotting something for this hero selection.”

Considering the nature of someone like Minister Sullivan, it’s unlikely she would show such interest in Darwood without taking action.

Right in the middle of this ongoing “hero selection.”

She must be up to something.

“We just need to make that thieving cat understand her place.”

“…Umm, is it very dangerous?”

“No one will die or be killed. I promise you that.”

Yuria scratched her cheek slightly.

Even so, the fact that she’s being asked for her “sword skills” suggests something dangerous will happen.

If she jumps into something like this without telling her sister, she’ll definitely be scolded later…

“As an advance payment, I’ll give you photos of Darwood.”

“…”

What is this person saying?

“…For an advance payment, wouldn’t money or valuables be more typical…?”

“What are you talking about? What in the world could be more valuable than this man?”

“…”

“Do you think mere money or valuables are more important than this man? I’m personally recruiting talent, so I’m offering something special.”

“…”

Is that… logical?

Well, of course she would appreciate photos of Darwood, but still.

Such thoughts pounded in Yuria’s head, but.

“Photos of him looking sleepy, smiling, exercising, studying, eating…”

As each photo was laid out on the tea table.

Her gaze wandered over them as if enchanted.

“…”

Handsome.

Cute.

Lovable.

Heart-pounding.

She wanted to frame each one and keep them as treasures.

Yuria gulped.

“…They turned out well.”

“I selected only the best from over 300 photos taken each day. I brought these specially because I value you.”

“…”

One thing is certain.

This person is definitely a stalker. And a severe case at that.

“And finally, if you successfully complete the request.”

Saying that, Elnore pulled out one more photo from her bosom.

Only the back of the photo was visible, but.

Strangely, even that blank white space had a magical quality that captured Yuria’s attention.

“I’ll give you this.”

“…W-what is it?”

“A photo of him drying his hair after a bath.”

“…”

“His upper body is exposed.”

“…Let’s hear about this request.”

Elnore nodded.

She had the air of someone who knew Yuria would take the bait.

●

< System Message >

[Targets ‘Yuria’ and ‘Elnore’ have formed a party!]

!! Butterfly Effect !!

[The formation of this party greatly increases the possibility of affecting other vessels!]

[The actions of targets ‘Serath’, ‘Riru’, and ‘Sullivan’ are likely to change!]

[Interactions between targets will intensify!]

[There is a very high possibility of impact on the main quest!]

“…”

What is this?

‘…What’s this butterfly effect?’

It seems that now problems aren’t just arising from my actions—things are exploding externally even when I’m just sitting here doing nothing.

I wish they’d stop tormenting me.

‘Just let me get through the main quest…’

I think this while looking around.

The first process of the hero trial is extremely intuitive.

They’ve created a simulated dungeon close to real combat conditions, and points will be awarded primarily to those who reach the center first.

‘…This is genuinely dangerous.’

I can’t help thinking this as I watch Elia stretching at the starting line with a slightly tense expression.

For me, having recently vanquished even ancient god-level magical beasts, dungeon conquests honestly don’t excite me much anymore.

But honestly, making students do something like this doesn’t make sense in the first place.

They could actually die if something goes wrong.

“…”

Well, it should be fine.

The hero candidates, including Elia, are all monsters that defy common sense.

Just look at this guy, for instance.

“Yo.”

I turn my head at the sensation of someone tapping my shoulder.

There stood Talker.

The Linguamancer.

A monster who has flowed through countless ages, with a record of leading Valkarsus’s kingdom to destruction.

“…”

“…”

Why is this guy acting friendly with me?

As I scowl at him, he raises both hands, sticks out his tongue, and backs away.

“Whoa, are you going to hit me?”

“…”

Instead of answering, I just sigh deeply.

It’s fortunate that Valkarsus is asleep.

If he were awake, it wouldn’t have been strange if Soul Linker had gone berserk right then.

Previously, when I “mutated” due to the effect of the Fallen Sky Seal, there wasn’t much opportunity for communication.

But that’s no reason for this guy to casually talk to me like this.

“…What’s this about? We’re not on such friendly terms.”

Honestly, it’s absurd.

I knew there was some connection between the Holy Empire and the Luminary, but he’s just brazenly infiltrated the hero selection and is playing the role of a hero “candidate.”

“…”

However, I’m the only one who knows this fact.

Considering this guy’s combat power, it’s better to ignore him as much as possible.

Telling others, including Atalante, would likely be like poking a hornet’s nest. There’s no one in Elphante right now who can “handle” this guy.

It makes me cautious about confronting him first.

I don’t know what his intention is in approaching me so brazenly, but if he’s quiet for now, there’s no need to escalate things.

“No. I just wanted to ask a few things.”

Saying that, Talker stared at my chest and spoke.

“How’s the Apostle doing?”

“…”

He must be referring to Tatiana.

This guy seems to know that her soul is now “bound” to me.

He must have heard something about my “seal” from the Luminary.

“…”

“Whoa, whoa. Don’t glare at me like that. Let’s try to get along for now.”

“…I have no obligation to get along with the Luminary’s lackey.”

He chuckled and said.

“That’s a bit hurtful.”

What followed was completely incomprehensible.

“Our boss sent me here to protect you, you know?”

“…?”

What?

“What kind of nonsense—”

[All hero candidates to your positions!]

As that announcement boomed, Talker grinned.

“Well, see you later. The other hero candidates aren’t pushovers either, so do your best not to fall behind.”

“…Wait. I wasn’t finished—”

“See you later~”

With those flippant words, Talker vanished.

His movement was so decisive that I couldn’t even respond.

I frown as I look in his direction.

‘…He came here to “protect” me.’

Setting aside whatever intention the Luminary had in sending him with such orders.

“…”

Just what.

What is he supposed to be protecting me from?

●