Ch.1616. Immersion

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I check my objective first.

Looking at the demonic beast drooling yellowish saliva and breathing heavily in front of me, I turn my thoughts inward.

‘I can’t kill it.’

With that in mind, I wave my hand at Elnore, who’s drawing her sword and trying to join from a distance, signaling her not to come closer.

No, that person is too strong. If she comes here, she’d cut down a beast like this in minutes.

‘But…’

I can’t get confused here.

The main quest’s primary objective isn’t “kill the demonic beast” but “reduce casualties.”

Medium-sized demonic beasts typically come with special abilities beyond their basic combat power.

If they have options like “acidic blood” or “rapid decay upon death,” there could be casualties even if we win.

Direct suppression is better left to the regular knights who deploy prepared for such situations.

Besides, it’s actually more beneficial not to kill this one right now.

Because this just appeared before my eyes:

< System Message >

[ !Emergency Mission! ]

[ Currently 0 casualties, what an impressive achievement! ]

[ Since no one has died yet, how about trying not to kill the demonic beast? ]

[ Successfully hand over the demonic beast to the academy’s internal knights! ]

[ Upon successful completion, the tier of the main quest reward ‘exclusive equipment material’ will be increased! ]

“…”

It’s saying we should protect even cancer cells because they’re living things.

But the reward is undeniably attractive.

With exclusive equipment, the materials used in crafting determine more than half of its performance. They essentially set the upper limit of how much it can grow.

‘Well then.’

I’ll just try to hold out.

I smirk as I watch the demonic beast raise its front paws with a ferocious intent.

Each blow would be powerful enough to crush bones if it connected.

But as I’ve already proven in the mock dungeon before, reading the attack patterns of “demonic beasts” is like reading a book for someone like me who’s poured countless hours into games.

Just holding out behind a solid barrier without actually fighting?

‘I could do this with my eyes closed.’

From here on, it’s just “repetitive work.”

Not combat.

●

The Tristan Dukedom is undoubtedly one of the distinguished noble houses that has been with the Empire since its inception. Just the title of duke is enough to intimidate most people.

However, this also means they have many political enemies accumulated over their long history.

Even without considering the Kendrid Margrave who has maintained a relatively equal footing with them, there are countless people who wish for the downfall of the dukedom.

And the priest Darwood brought along was one of the particularly venomous ones among such people.

“Didn’t you say you left the holy relic behind? Did you not hear me?”

While suppressing the urge to strike the bridge of the nose of the middle-aged man who spoke with a sinister smile, Elnore spoke again calmly.

“…I sincerely regret what happened to Marquis Riverback. The Tristan Dukedom will certainly take appropriate measures—”

“I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about?”

At the mocking response, sparks flew from Elnore’s eyes.

He was essentially saying there was no room for negotiation.

The professors who most strongly advocated bringing in live demonic beasts as research materials were all personnel belonging to the Tristan Dukedom faction.

The larger the casualties from such an accident, the wider the scope of accountability becomes.

And this damned priest belongs to the anti-Tristan faction under Marquis Riverback.

‘This trash…!’

In other words, this man, despite wearing clerical robes, is calmly suggesting sacrificing people’s lives for political leverage.

Listening to this makes her blood boil with rage.

-…

Elnore bit her lip and clutched her chest.

Her heart is loud. Again.

The sinister energy that rises whenever negative emotions intensify. A product of the madness that runs through her entire family.

‘…Step back.’

So, she cools her mind and regains her reason.

This is training she has practiced throughout her life.

Maintain discipline. Present yourself as righteous. Always be perfect. Never be swept away by sinister emotions.

Although these principles were taught by a despicable person, they helped when this energy tried to emerge.

Perhaps because of this, her next words flowed with the same coldness as before.

Though they were mixed with an icy anger.

“You, bringing political interests into a situation like this! This is an emergency, people’s lives are at stake!”

“Ha, this is why the Tristan Dukedom…”

“Then give it to me.”

Elnore’s eyes widened at the sentence that cut off the priest’s sneering remark.

It was Darwood Campbell.

Again, this man.

-…

-…!

Her heart grows louder. Much more intense than when she felt anger earlier.

But what envelops her now isn’t so much a sinister emotion as… how should she put it?

Blood rushes to her face. Her body feels light. It’s a sensation she’s never experienced in her life, so she can only be wary of it.

‘Didn’t I say to step back?’

But the action she needed to take right now was the same.

Don’t waver. Never surrender control to such sensations.

Although it’s been getting worse lately whenever she sees that man, instinctively she rebels against giving control to such things.

Emotions were something that should never become excessive for her.

‘…Step back. I won’t lose.’

So, she must suppress it.

Watching Darwood snatch the emergency equipment from the priest and rush toward the demonic beast accelerates such emotions, but she still keeps them locked inside her heart.

Lately, that man’s presence has been growing too rapidly. Sometimes even she is surprised by her own actions.

Being drawn in any further would be dangerous—

“Angel’s protection…! That crazy fellow, how can a student do something like that!”

As the priest muttered those words, Elnore’s gaze quickly turned in that direction.

Protection?

Something that even a formal priest needs long prayer time to use, and a freshman is just using it like that?

‘…No.’

At this point, it’s not even strange that man can use such things.

He’s already shown multiple times that he seems to be hiding dozens of skills.

As she was blankly pondering this, a shocked voice flowed from beside her.

“…He’s fine after using protection? How…!”

Elnore’s eyes widened as she heard the priest’s words.

It’s natural that invoking protection without a holy relic would place a tremendous burden on one’s body and mind.

But somehow, that man is standing there perfectly fine?

“Wow. How do you know about that?”

Turning her head toward another sudden voice, she saw Elia knocking out the priest with a blow to the back of his head.

“…”

“Don’t look at me like that. I just saw this person seemed like trash, so I hit him.”

“…Where have you been?”

“I was unconscious until just now and came up here after regaining consciousness.”

Elia, who answered nonchalantly, then slumped down with a completely drained motion.

“That’s a method combat priests often use. They embed protection inside their bodies in advance and draw it out when needed. It’s a technique that requires at least ten years of study in that field, but how did he know about it?”

If Darwood had heard this, he would have been greatly confused, saying he doesn’t know such complicated methods. He’s just using protection stored in an item.

But in Elnore’s mind, a new hypothesis was forming.

Ten years of study related to protection.

-There’s something I want to learn in the Holy Studies department.

Studying protection for that many years, and wanting to learn more even after entering the academy.

Coincidentally, in the field that provides the most direct means to break the Tristan Dukedom’s curse.

-I’ve always had something I wanted to protect.

Because.

There was something he wanted to protect.

-I’m trying to protect you, so there’s no need to think too hard about it.

And who that target is—

-…

-…!!!!!

Her heart throbs painfully again.

To the point of pain.

“…”

No, no.

She closed her eyes tightly and pressed both hands firmly against her chest.

She must not be devoured. She must push it away.

She knows nothing about that man. She’s not even certain of his intentions in saying such things.

‘Elnore, stay focused—’

Before she could finish her self-affirmation, Elia’s voice interrupted from beside her again.

“You must be happy.”

“…What?”

“Even with embedded protection, it doesn’t mean there’s no burden at all. That person is probably pushing himself to his limits right now.”

Again, if Darwood had heard this, he would have been greatly confused.

The only discomfort he’s feeling is from the biochip in his left arm where he drew the rosary.

But unaware of this fact, Elia continued speaking calmly.

“He’s doing such bizarre things despite the risk because he thinks you might be harmed. Even though he could end this quickly.”

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

Her breath catches. Her heart pounds wildly.

‘Must… control…’

No.

You can’t, Elnore.

She desperately tried to remind herself, but.

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

The heat she couldn’t control, finally.

The feeling of it spreading throughout her body.

She lost it. She lost control.

She was conquered.

‘…’

In that moment, she instinctively realized.

From now on, she would feel this emotion every time she saw that man.

She slumped down on the spot.

It was a dejected posture with her knees drawn up and arms wrapped around them.

“…What are you doing?”

“Keep your mouth shut. Don’t make me talk.”

“…”

Elia was looking at her with an expression that seemed to say “what kind of crazy person is this,” but Elnore couldn’t even think of looking back at her.

A piece of glass that had flown out from the surrounding chaos was reflecting her face.

It showed her own image with an expression she had never seen before, her entire face turned bright red.

Almost to the point where she felt like she was looking at a stranger.

“…”

Elnore silently stared at that image.

Even as the sounds of the regular knights who had finally arrived could be heard around her, and noisy commotion erupted from all directions.

She continued to gaze at her own face as if entranced.

●

<System Message>

[ You have successfully completed the emergency mission! ]

[ The reward tier for the main quest has been increased! ]

This is a pleasant message that appeared after somehow finishing the battle and successfully handing over the demonic beast to the regular knights.

But the reason I can’t simply smile at this is because of the log attached next to it.

[ Skill: Fatal Charm activates! ]

[ The villain resists! ]

[ Resistance is lowered due to ‘Pheromone’ option! ]

[ Resistance failed! ]

[ The villain cannot control herself! ]

[ The villain falls head over heels for you! ]

“…”

Cold sweat streams down my face.

[ Target ‘Elnore Erinarise la Tristan’s affection level changes! ]

[ Affection level upgraded from ‘Trust’ to ‘Affection’! ]

[ Additional rewards are now available! ]

[ Important character. Changes occur in the main scenario! ]

[ The opening of the second Gift is imminent! ]

[ Target ‘???’ becomes interested in you! ]

“…”

A feeling of desperation flows through me, more intense than when I was facing off against the medium-sized demonic beast.

I don’t know how it manages to so concisely show me that I’m in big trouble.

Following Elia, there’s another note saying changes will occur in the main scenario, and something called a Gift will open soon.

Additionally, an unidentified target has taken interest in me.

‘I’m screwed…!’

That’s the only sentiment I can express.

Somehow misinterpreting my expression, one of the knights approached me and handed me a water bottle.

“Good work. You look a bit tired?”

He’s one of the knights who responded to this demonic beast suppression.

‘…They were monsters.’

The sight of just three people cleanly handling a medium-sized demonic beast in mere seconds was truly terrifying.

It clearly showed why regular knights are objects of admiration among students.

“Student, I can’t praise you enough this time. If it weren’t for you, who knows how many casualties there might have been.”

Saying this while patting my shoulder, he seems to be treating me quite favorably.

It’s a big deal for a regular knight to commend a student to this extent.

“With skills like that, people must be eager to recruit you? Are you aiming for the Holy Studies department?”

“…Yes. And as an aspiring Holy Studies student, I have a request.”

I answer while pointing to one side.

It was the location where the hero and final boss were strongly arguing that they would cut off the head of the priest who had refused to deploy protection earlier.

“Could you stop them over there? If left alone, they might actually kill him.”

“…Well, he does deserve to die, but I guess talented people have good character too?”

No. That’s not my pure intention.

If my thoughts are correct, that priest will definitely be useful somewhere.

Yes.

For a purpose that would make him think death would be better.

“Oh, I almost forgot. Take this.”

The knight said, handing me a letter.

“Well. I don’t know why, but he said you should open it alone.”

After saying that, the knight quickly disappeared, saying he needed to help with the cleanup.

I sigh.

Another letter?

As I was pondering this, another window appeared before my eyes.

[ Main Quest Complete! ]

[ Move to the designated location to receive your reward! ]

[ Location: Atalante Swansong’s office ]

Atalante Swansong is a name I know.

She’s the current headmaster of Elphante Academy.

An immortal rumored to have lived for over a thousand years. She’s a figure who exerts core influence on the main scenario.

“…?”

Wait a minute.

The headmaster?

My eyes widen as I open the letter I received.

Reading the contents, this is definitely from Atalante.

It’s more of an “invitation” than a letter.

This person.

She wants a private meeting with me right now.

“…”

What.

What is this about?

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