Ch.204204. Red Night (4)
by fnovelpia
“…What an unpleasant night.”
Talion Armand muttered as he narrowed his eyes.
Normally, this would be a time to toast the birth of a new hero and have a grand celebration with Elia. He had come all this way to support her.
But since yesterday evening, something was off. The trial results hadn’t been announced, and time kept dragging on without resolution.
And now.
Everyone had lost their minds and was attacking each other.
He exhaled deeply as he retrieved his spear.
Around him lay numerous people he had knocked unconscious.
All ordinary humans. People who had trained neither magical nor divine power.
In an instant, they had lost their reason and begun displaying extreme violence. As if they had been brainwashed by something.
Probably because of that.
As he glanced aside, he could see a pillar of fire rising magnificently in the distance, its scorching heat reaching him even from afar.
A sight no citizen of the Empire could fail to recognize.
The Red Night Incident.
The worst disaster when several cities burned to the ground in a single night.
Exactly the same as back then.
‘…Just looking at it is enough to drive this many people completely mad.’
“…Your skill is impressive.”
Hearing those words from beside him, he turned his head, resting his spear on his shoulder.
Warrior Luca. Mage Falco. Archer Grid. Priestess Trisha.
Familiar faces. Elia’s friends, commonly known as the “Hero’s Party.”
“Did you subdue this many people by yourself?”
“Yes.”
“…That’s quite a straightforward admission.”
Falco pushed up his glasses and looked around in disbelief.
There were dozens of people sprawled around them.
Even though these were ordinary people without trained abilities, they were now in a state of frenzy due to the demonic energy permeating the area.
Their physical abilities would have been amplified several times over, yet he subdued this many alone?
“…I’ve experienced far more absurd things than this.”
Talion replied with a bitter smile.
Honestly, following that man around, he’d witnessed everything from mines to ancient gods.
At this point, it would be natural to think of countermeasures before panicking, even if a second Red Night Incident were occurring.
“Thanks to you, we found a method too. We should express our gratitude.”
“What method?”
Talion tilted his head at Luca’s words.
“A way to resist the demonic energy. You’re using it around your body right now, aren’t you?”
“…”
Undoubtedly, it was something Darwood had taught him once, saying “it might come in handy someday.”
And they just copied it by looking at him and applied it to themselves?
“…You’re not ordinary monsters either.”
He could understand why Darwood always kept an eye on them along with Elia.
Though their true power wasn’t extraordinary yet, their potential was something even Darwood watched carefully.
But still.
“No, we’re not worthy of being called that…”
Falco’s gaze shifted toward the distance.
Where a “dimensional gate” was opening due to the demonic energy.
The area was thick with demonic energy, and ominous creatures were pouring out from inside, visible even from afar.
“…I think that would be more appropriate.”
And.
There were people effortlessly holding back what could be called an army, reducing their numbers to a handful.
Actually, “holding back” might not be the right expression. I’m not sure.
Watching how everything that emerged from the dimensional gate was instantly pulverized made one almost feel sympathy.
“Who are those people anyway? Are they students like us?”
“…Probably.”
“Huh?”
“They’re students, but I’m not sure if they’re human.”
“…”
Hmm.
That’s actually quite harsh, but looking at what’s happening over there, it seems understandable.
‘…So those are the kind of people surrounding my senior.’
It occurs to me again that if I were in that position, I probably wouldn’t last a month.
If such people were clinging to me alone, honestly, how many could bear that pressure?
“Still, things have calmed down somewhat thanks to them, right?”
Grid, with his perpetually languid eyes, made such a comment.
“…Grid. Stop with the ominous remarks. Please.”
“No, but I actually feel the demonic energy decreasing—”
-!!
-!!!!!
“…”
“…”
Before Grid could finish, the pillar of fire grew even larger, as if letting out a tearing scream.
Everyone narrowed their eyes and glared at Grid.
“…That’s why I told you to stop.”
Falco said, holding his head.
Meanwhile, the red pillar expanded its force more fiercely. Demonic energy as red as blood covered the sky.
Seeing this, Talion involuntarily let out a groan.
“…Good heavens.”
A cursed, incomprehensible, terrible energy was flowing from there, making all the demonic energy released so far seem like a joke.
The night was gradually.
Being dyed blood red.
As if this was just the beginning.
“244.”
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
Serath and Riru exchanged these words while standing back-to-back.
This friendly atmosphere wasn’t because they had suddenly become close.
It was because the number of “enemies” emerging around them had become so overwhelming that they had no choice.
“…Let me ask again.”
Riru said, rubbing her increasingly sore shoulder.
She couldn’t even tell how much she’d been fighting. It was natural for even a body as rigorously trained as hers to tire after fighting this much.
The fact that she was having a friendly conversation with this woman she had fought with her life on the line not long ago was probably influenced by that.
After all, fighting together creates both love and hate.
“You’re saying there are 244 newly created dimensional gates, not counting the monsters coming out of them?”
“Yes, you muscle-brained woman.”
“…”
Correction.
I have a feeling I won’t be able to get along with this woman until the end.
“Hey, can’t we just sweep through all of this and leave?”
Riru said, shaking off the black flesh fragments stuck to her hands.
The sticky feeling wasn’t particularly pleasant. The creatures from Pandemonium were all difficult to damage and wouldn’t die easily, requiring them to be completely pulverized before they stopped moving.
She could grind them all down by releasing all the “blue” energy inside her body, but.
Whenever they tried to release the colors within their bodies, there was someone who sharply stopped them.
“Honestly, I’m reaching my limit! I’ve been following your commands with this ragtag group, but we can’t hold out like this!”
When Riru complained to Elnore almost screaming, Elnore sighed quietly and brushed back her hair.
Then, in a calm voice, she spoke.
“…You.”
Elnore’s eyes flashed sharply. A red glow shone eerily.
“Did you put on makeup?”
“…What?”
“I’m asking if you’re wearing makeup. Your face seems a bit more radiant than usual.”
“…”
By any standard, this wasn’t a question appropriate for the situation.
However, Riru’s face turned crimson at those words.
As if she’d been hit right on target.
“T-that, what does that have to do with anything right now…!”
“…Wait, you really did put on makeup?”
Even Serath turned to look at her with an incredulous expression at Elnore’s question.
“Really? Seriously? A warrior from the Tribal Union? For battle?”
“…”
“Are you crazy…?”
Good heavens.
A female warrior from the Tribal Union delicately applying makeup for battle.
For someone from a place that treats fighting almost like a religious ritual, this is extremely unusual.
It’s practically declaring from the start that her interest isn’t in battle but in “something else.”
“You’re expressing your excitement with your whole body. Why not just admit that your goal isn’t fighting, but getting your hands on Darwood tonight after receiving the right of first night?”
“…”
Riru pursed her lips and trembled.
With a blush reaching to her ears and tears of embarrassment in her darting eyes, she clearly couldn’t deny it.
“Be honest. It’s not that you’re reaching your limit, but that you want to go ahead alone.”
“…”
“You seem to think you have some secret weapon. How impressive.”
“…”
“Besides.”
Elnore continued with a sigh.
“This isn’t entirely our battlefield right now.”
“…”
“I heard from that ghost. If we use these… ‘powers’ too frequently around here, it could be dangerous. That man wouldn’t like it at all.”
Hearing this, Serath, who had been listening quietly, ran her fingers through her hair and sighed.
“…Even if not using them puts our lives at risk?”
“Of course.”
“…”
At the answer that came without a moment’s hesitation, Serath clicked her tongue with a disgusted expression.
This man’s obsessive “possessiveness” toward that side is frighteningly intense.
Sometimes to the point where it feels twisted.
‘…Well, I’m not exactly free myself, being out here.’
While Serath’s own feelings toward that man aren’t clearly positive.
At least, she feels uncomfortable enough when that man loses something like the “right of first night” to another woman—
“For someone saying such things, you seem to be wearing quite impressive underwear yourself.”
“…”
“Frills, lace, and, hmm. A design too embarrassing to describe in words.”
“…”
“The daughter of the Great Chief is in no position to criticize others. What lewd thoughts made you wear such clothes?”
Serath’s mouth also clamped shut.
A blush immediately rose to her face.
“…”
I can’t believe this was discovered.
With that thought, she stammered out:
“Y-you too! You didn’t come out with purely innocent intentions to help that man…!”
“That’s right. I didn’t.”
“…”
“My makeup is flawless and I’m wearing my battle underwear. I’m also moving as efficiently as possible to deal with enemies because I don’t want to ruin my appearance.”
“…”
“To be honest, I came with the intention of draining that man completely tonight.”
“…”
She’s insane.
Or perhaps “perverted maniac” would be more fitting.
While Serath and Riru simultaneously stared at Elnore in shock,
However.
‘Please hurry, Darwood.’
Elnore muttered inwardly as she adjusted her grip on her sword.
‘It’s clear we won’t be able to hold out for long.’
Though they’re casually exchanging banter now.
The number of dimensional gates opening around them is alarming. It’s clear they will summon more and stronger creatures in the future.
Perhaps, if Darwood and Elia take too long.
“…”
This “thing” inside her body.
She might have to use it.
No matter the cost.
As she was thinking this.
-!
-!!
Not far away, a brilliant “radiance” of pure white shot up.
It was not far from the red pillar of fire dyeing the sky.
“…Huh?”
“That’s…!”
Amidst voices mixed with surprise and admiration, Elnore’s whispered words slipped in as she narrowed her eyes.
“The Holy Sword?”
Someone.
Had been chosen as the owner of the Holy Sword.
Undoubtedly, this phenomenon was proof of that.
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