Ch.163163. Turning Point

“Is this our destination?”

Elia looked at the massive monolith before her eyes.

It was proof that they had reached the deepest part of the dungeon where the first trial would take place.

The “Mysterious Heart” embedded in the deepest part of every dungeon.

Usually, by touching it, one would summon the ruler of the dungeon to engage in battle.

In other words, it was a device for summoning the boss.

“Ah, so they’ve even implemented this in an artificial dungeon, haven’t they?”

Lana approached the monolith and walked around it in a circle, examining it from various angles.

Her Holy Empire uniform was practically in tatters after enduring all sorts of hardships on the way here.

As I absentmindedly looked in her direction, Elia, who was standing beside me, narrowed her eyes and jabbed me in the ribs.

The powerful blow nearly knocked the wind out of me, making me stagger.

“…What?”

“Nothing. Just felt like you were looking at that girl with lecherous eyes after she got all tattered because of you.”

“…”

Don’t slander me.

“…I wasn’t.”

“Hmm.”

Elia exhaled deeply through her nose and turned toward Lana with narrowed eyes.

Despite having gone through such hardships just moments ago, Lana didn’t seem to care in the slightest. She wasn’t angry or anything.

“Does she not care at all about getting hurt?”

“…I guess not.”

I rubbed my aching side and barely managed to agree.

“Teacher.”

Elia spoke in a weak voice.

It was an atmosphere filled with guilt, unlike her usual self.

“…Let’s make sure to apologize to her later.”

“Huh?”

“Even though she doesn’t show pain and agreed without complaint… it still feels like we’re exploiting her pure goodwill.”

“…”

I suppose I did do something like that.

She clearly wouldn’t mind such things at all.

Thanks to that, we were able to clear the dungeon at a speed incomparable to the other groups.

[Hey.]

Suddenly.

Inside the Soul Linker, Calivan spoke with a sigh.

[You’re acting a bit strange.]

‘What?’

[I joke about you being trash and all, but I feel like you’re getting worse.]

‘No, if we’re talking about consequences, she’s actually the safest—’

[That’s not the issue.]

I paused momentarily at Calivan’s words.

The feeling was completely different from his usual teasing tone.

[Normally, you wouldn’t have tried this method unless it was absolutely necessary. Even if she didn’t mind, the Darwood Campbell I know wouldn’t sacrifice others for his own gain.]

‘…’

[You often get caught up in urgent situations and do harsh things, but you’ve never voluntarily sacrificed others.]

Now that I think about it.

He’s not wrong.

The usual me wouldn’t have resorted to such extreme methods for my own purposes, even if she couldn’t feel pain and said she was fine.

As this person says, my psychological resistance to “hurting others” has significantly decreased.

[I think I know why. And I think you know too.]

He continued with another sigh.

[You changed your very species with your own hands. That’s the side effect, isn’t it?]

‘…’

[It’s affecting not just your body but your mind too, right?]

Indeed.

This is the first symptom shown by humans whose personalities are being eroded by “demons.”

An extreme decrease in resistance to inflicting violence on others.

How do I know?

‘I’ve seen it.’

It’s the first symptom shown by Vessels corrupted by malignancy in the game.

They gradually lose resistance to committing inhumane acts against those around them under the pretext of “necessity.”

Elnore was a prime example.

And that means…

‘…Am I changing in a similar way?’

It’s clear that I’m not immune to the influence of the Fallen Angel’s Seal.

If that’s the case…

“…Yes.”

I nodded seriously in agreement with Elia’s words.

“Let’s definitely apologize.”

“…Hehe. I knew you’d listen if I said something, Teacher.”

As Elia responded with a light laugh, I added something more.

“And one more thing.”

“Yes?”

“From now on, I won’t do things like this except to those who truly deserve it.”

Growing the power of the Fallen Angel’s Seal is essential, especially because of the Luminary’s existence.

Under its influence, I might choose methods I “normally” wouldn’t, like this time.

But that shouldn’t happen.

Change usually comes gradually, like clothes getting wet in a drizzle. If Calivan and Elia hadn’t pointed it out simultaneously, I would have thought using Lana like that was natural since it was most efficient.

In that sense…

“If I seem like I’m about to do something strange again.”

So…

I scratched my cheek awkwardly as I spoke to Elia.

“I want you to keep me balanced.”

“…What?”

“You’re the most trustworthy person for this.”

“…”

At least.

Among the humans I know, she’s the most “human-like.”

She could help keep me from going astray.

“…Teacher.”

Elia responded in a low voice.

Her eyes trembled as if deeply moved by what I had said.

“Why isn’t ‘stop doing trashy things’ an option?”

“…”

“Have you really given up on reforming yourself? Has your way of thinking completely diverged from normal people?”

Maybe it runs in the family.

Both siblings are getting increasingly sharp at scolding me.

“…No, it’s just…”

It’s more like a premonition.

A feeling that I’ll inevitably have to do such things again.

[Inevitably?]

‘…’

[Says the guy who’s hitting on my sister as naturally as breathing?]

Shut up.

This isn’t “hitting on” anyone.

“…Sigh. I know what kind of person you are, so I can’t help it…”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing at all, you blockhead.”

Elia said that and then bonked me on the head.

Why are you hitting me?

“…Still.”

Then, she continued with a broad smile.

“Thank you for trusting me, Teacher.”

Undoubtedly.

“I’ll protect you no matter what happens.”

It was a sentence filled with unmistakable emotion.

As if she was truly, truly happy.

[You know what?]

‘…What now?’

[On second thought, you really are trash.]

‘…’

[Just die already, please.]

I thought you were just joking when you called me trash.

Why does your voice sound so sincere?

!! Butterfly Effect !!

[ Target ‘Elia’s’ affection check successful! ]

[ Checking current status of ‘Demonic Vessels’! ]

[ All conditions met! Butterfly Effect occurs! ]

[ As a result of all your actions, the ‘First Divergence Point’ will occur soon! ]

[ If you successfully resolve this event, part of the ‘Ending’ will change! ]

“…”

I blinked blankly at the window that suddenly appeared.

What is this now?

Did Calivan’s words jinx me or something?

What’s this divergence point, and what’s this special event?

Above all…

‘…Ending?’

I frowned at the word that suddenly appeared as I scanned the message.

It seemed too random to make sense, but it definitely gave the impression that something big was about to happen.

“Oh?”

And before I could think deeply about it,

Lana’s perplexed voice dropped.

Then,

The monolith she had been examining began to vibrate violently.

Judging by the threatening black magical energy swirling around, she had clearly touched something she shouldn’t have.

“…What did you do?”

“There was something that looked like a ‘Press Me’ button sticking out, so I pressed it!”

“…”

Ah, that.

That’s the boss summon button.

“…Why did you press it?”

“…Was I not supposed to?”

“…”

“And it was stiff, so I pressed it three or four times!”

“…”

“…Was I not supposed to press it multiple times?”

As far as I know, pressing that multiple times…

[ Confirming the challenger’s provocative will. ]

[ Summoning the highest difficulty ‘Dungeon Guardian’. Good luck! ]

…increases the difficulty dramatically like this.

“…”

“…Teacher.”

Elia quietly brushed back her hair.

She looked furious.

“…I think the apology can wait for a bit.”

“…”

I agree.

●

“Interesting.”

Elnore narrowed her eyes as she watched “it” being summoned, coalescing from black magical energy.

Thanks to getting permission from Lucien to enter the dungeon in advance, she had already reached the deepest part and was waiting.

According to her, since Darwood would definitely arrive first, all she had to do was wait here.

-…Um, couldn’t Darwood fail to come in first?

-That’s impossible.

Elnore had nodded firmly in response.

-If not, I’ll make it happen.

-…How would you do that?

-That’s a secret. But I’d risk my life to help that man get what he wants.

-…You’d go that far for cheating?!

They’re a match made in heaven when it comes to committing trashy acts.

Even for a continental-scale event, she’s willing to risk her life to cheat for the man she’s fallen for.

Anyway.

“They really put a ‘spirit entity’ in an artificial dungeon?”

Elnore muttered in disbelief as she watched the entity taking shape, rippling with black energy.

“…Are spirit entities that threatening?”

“Indeed. It’s not so much threatening as it is ‘impossible to defeat.'”

Generally, beings from dimensions other than the material world are evaluated as one level higher in combat power compared to ordinary magical beasts, but among them, thought-forms like spirits are treated as half-disasters just by existing.

At least in terms of being “difficult to catch,” they’re in a completely different league.

First of all, being entities from an entirely different world, they aren’t subject to most laws of the material plane.

There’s only one way to defeat them.

In the material world, one must “endure” all attacks unleashed by the spirit entity, then enter the “mental world” contained within the spirit through sophisticated use of either magical or divine power, and defeat it in the battle that unfolds there.

In a way, they might be the most suitable opponents for the hero selection process, as they comprehensively test combat skills, ability utilization, and mental strength all at once.

“…I wonder if he can handle it properly.”

Elnore narrowed her eyes and muttered.

Even with Darwood’s excellent skills, spirit entities carry high risks due to their direct connection to the “mind.”

If something happens, she might need to jump in and help directly.

“…Well, isn’t it Elia who’s supposed to face that as the hero candidate?”

“That’s true, but do you think she’s stronger than Darwood?”

“…”

There’s no way to refute that.

As Yuria awkwardly smiled at that thought, Elnore nodded as if she had expected such a response and continued.

“Let’s get a bit closer. We need to react immediately if something happens.”

“Y-yes…”

As Elnore rose, Yuria also got up from the ground where she had been lying prone.

The view opened up considerably. She could clearly see Darwood’s tense expression as he faced the spirit entity.

“…”

Yes, without a doubt.

She could see clearly.

“…Miss Yuria?”

Elnore voiced her confusion at Yuria’s sudden stillness.

But Yuria’s gaze remained fixed on one spot without the slightest movement.

On Darwood’s “bare face” without his mask.

“…Ah.”

A gasp of admiration and joy escaped Yuria’s lips involuntarily.

Then.

“[I found you.]”

She uttered those excited words.

With a “white breath.”

●