Ch.236236. Head-on Confrontation

●

After the truly hellish evaluation was over.

I return to my quarters in a daze and stare at the window before me.

< System Log >

[ An important event related to ‘Serath’ will occur soon! ]

[ It is likely to have a significant impact on ‘club operations’! ]

Yeah. I could tell that without being told.

Everyone inside the evaluation hall was saying all sorts of confusing things, but the one who stood out most prominently was Victoria.

‘…It was definitely a vessel.’

It was just a momentary glimpse in her eyes, but the energy I felt there was clearly that of the Violet Demon.

As I’ve mentioned several times, fragments of demons inherently try to gather into vessels.

Eventually, they’re bound to come into contact with each other one way or another.

“…”

I sigh deeply with a furrowed brow.

But why, of all people, is it inside Victoria?

This level of complication is truly exceptional.

[Is that really such a big problem?]

“Excuse me?”

[Wouldn’t that actually make things easier to handle? After all, any demon would be strongly influenced by you.]

“Calivan. Do you know how Elnore became a Demonic Vessel?”

[Hm?]

“Her mother was originally a Demonic Vessel, and when she died, the fragment passed to Elnore.”

[…]

Though I can’t see his face, I can feel Calivan grimacing and falling silent.

It’s not exactly a pleasant story to hear, so that’s understandable.

[…Right. I suspected as much. But why bring that up?]

“In other words, that’s the condition.”

[What?]

“If a fragment is inside a living being, for that fragment to transfer, the original vessel must die.”

[…]

“As I said before, fragments have properties that make them try to merge together. So what happens when vessels containing the same demon fragments meet each other?”

Calivan fell silent with a dumbfounded expression after hearing my words.

He’s no fool, so he must have understood what I was getting at.

His response, which came out like a groan, confirms it.

[…They try to kill each other?]

I rub my forehead, not wanting to affirm it with my own mouth.

“…They’re sisters, Calivan.”

My voice, heavy with fatigue, flows out.

“I can’t let people around me be forced to kill their own family members. Absolutely not.”

[Then what are you going to do?]

“…”

They’ll have to confront each other eventually.

One way or another, now that this has appeared on the system window, their collision is inevitable.

The problem is.

“…That’s not the only issue.”

Elnore, His Majesty the Emperor, Faynol who’s become inexplicably proactive—

There’s no shortage of headaches.

Each one is like a house-sized boulder dropping into this small-town pond of a club.

I can’t just smoothly navigate around them as usual because…

< System Log >

[ Confirming the establishment of the ‘club’! ]

[ Confirming that special level of attention is being focused on this group! ]

[ How you operate the club will determine the progression of the upcoming main quest – Chapter 5, ‘The Great Imperial Turmoil’! ]

…things like this are appearing.

A massive event involving Elnore, Elia, His Majesty the Emperor, Chancellor Sullivan, and broadly speaking, even the Grand Duke Tristan and Margrave Kendrid.

My every action could determine the survival of these individuals. I can’t take this lightly.

“…”

The idea that club management could determine the fate of the continent’s most powerful nation seems absurd, but the system window has never lied to me before. I can’t ignore it.

But having all these people in the club…

[They’re all Demonic Vessels. Isn’t there a way to control them like you did with the White Demon before?]

That would be nice.

In Yuria’s case, I managed to handle it somehow because she had only one fragment, but for those with multiple fragments like Faynol or Elnore, I can’t use the same approach.

There’s not really any way for me to control—

“…”

Wait.

Control?

Control? As in making them follow my every command?

“…”

Thinking about it that way, there seems to be a rather simple solution.

“…Calivan.”

[Hmm?]

“I’m actually quite strong now, aren’t I?”

After going through numerous incidents, I’ve realized:

My specs these days are truly at their peak. Though there’s still room for improvement, I’m starting to feel confident that I won’t die easily anymore.

[…That’s true, but.]

“It really is true, right?”

[…]

“…What is it?”

[I didn’t say anything?]

“How long do you think we’ve been together? I can feel your concern from here.”

[No, it’s just that you have that expression you get when you’re about to do something crazy…]

“…Please stop slandering me.”

I grumble in response.

“Just, well. Thinking about it, as you said, I am quite strong, aren’t I?”

[What are you getting at?]

“Then, I wouldn’t die even if I got lynched by a group, right?”

[…What?]

“Even if they’re Demonic Vessels?”

[…]

Calivan was silent for a long time.

●

At the same time.

While Darwood was coming up with another crazy idea, Elia was staring at an object placed on her bed with a sour expression.

[So, that’s how it is?]

“…”

Her expression soured further at the voice tapping at her ear.

Some might spout nonsense about feeling holiness in that voice, but Elia’s response to hearing it was simply fierce.

“…What is it?”

The source is the holy sword stuck at her waist.

Some tremendous being called a Lightbearer is supposedly sleeping in there or whatever.

From Elia’s perspective, it’s just a nuisance.

Devout believers might foam at the mouth hearing this, but having spent some time with it, she couldn’t possibly say anything nice about it.

[No, I mean, the man you’re after is so popular! Just look at all those impressive figures flocking to his club!]

This is a perfect example.

Usually quiet, it spews out nerve-grating noise whenever there’s something to gossip about.

[If you gather all of them together, even setting aside the demon fragments inside them, wouldn’t the material world tremble? For an ordinary girl like you with hardly any distinguishing features, it must be quite a difficult competition—]

“…If you’re done talking, I’m going to sleep. I have a bunch of people to evaluate tomorrow—”

[What I’m saying is, are you just going to sit there sucking your thumb?]

“…”

Elia, who was about to cover herself with the blanket, frowned even more deeply at the suddenly serious voice of the Lightbearer and covered her face with both hands.

“…I’ve been coming on so strongly because you told me to be aggressive. But he keeps avoiding me, so what more can I do…”

With a reddened face, Elia kept muttering.

Even by her own assessment, she’s been charging at him like an armored tank, putting aside all pride and dignity. Sometimes she feels dejected when he rejects her despite going this far.

Wouldn’t pushing any further likely backfire at this point?

[No, from what I see, you haven’t been aggressive enough yet?]

“…”

What nonsense is this?

Being any more aggressive would make her nothing more than a stalker or sexual harasser.

She glared at the holy sword with that thought in mind, but the Lightbearer inside responded without caring.

[You should do that thing, that thing.]

“…”

Elia’s movements froze.

“…That thing? You really want me to do that?”

[If not now, when will you get the chance? Once everyone else comes in and starts jostling, do you think your turn will ever come?]

“…”

[That man, you already lost his ‘first time’ to another woman without even knowing it?]

“…”

[Then shouldn’t you at least take something else—]

Elia threw the holy sword with a reddened face.

It was a gesture meant to tell it to shut up.

But.

“…”

The words themselves clearly couldn’t be ignored.

A lingering uneasiness remained on her face.

●

That was the reason she came to Darwood Campbell’s private room this late at night.

“What’s the matter?”

A voice full of wariness came back from Darwood sitting across from her.

‘…That’s too much.’

Elia couldn’t help but grumble to herself.

She may have come on a bit strong recently, but being this guarded hurts.

“…”

The first thing she checks is whether that amulet is on Darwood’s hand or not.

This man seemed particularly conscious of it when meeting with Elia.

As far as she knows, it’s natural since her brother is inside it.

“…”

She would like to speak with her brother inside right away.

But.

[It feels like he’s refusing to meet you?]

Thinking back, the Lightbearer in the holy sword had yawned widely and said something like that.

She felt like giving it a good smack on the bridge of its nose out of annoyance, but each piece of information it provided couldn’t be ignored.

“…He refuses to meet me? Me?”

[Yes. From what I sense, it’s not that he dislikes you… it feels more like he’s not doing it because ‘he shouldn’t.’]

“I’m his family! What reason would he have to…!”

[I~don’t~know?]

“…”

That was the first time she had slammed the holy sword on the floor since meeting the Lightbearer.

Of course, regardless of the sentiment, if those words were true, she could understand why he hadn’t approached her or said a word to her until now.

It would also explain why Darwood hasn’t mentioned anything related to her.

But still.

This time, she needed to speak clearly.

“Excuse me, teacher.”

“Yes?”

“Could you put that away for a moment? I have something to tell you.”

Darwood looked blankly back and forth between the amulet and Elia.

It’s a reasonable reaction since this is the first time Elia has openly mentioned Calivan’s existence. Until now, her basic stance had been to treat it ambiguously, as if it both existed and didn’t.

“…Why?”

“Quickly, please.”

Seeing her serious demeanor, Darwood eventually tilted his head but complied with her request.

As he removed the amulet from his arm and put it in his pocket, Elia bit her lip and bowed her head deeply.

She seemed to be contemplating until the very last moment whether what she was about to say was right.

“…”

Darwood couldn’t help but feel anxious at the sight.

What on earth was she going to say that required such hesitation?

Elia stared at Darwood for a long time before resting her chin on her hand.

She looked like she was caught between self-loathing for having to go this far and a sense of urgency that it might be too late if she didn’t.

Somehow, she seemed to be contemplating even more because of Darwood’s wary appearance earlier.

“…Hey.”

Finally, Darwood had to sigh and break the silence first.

“Just say it.”

“…No, but…”

“I don’t know what your business is, or why you’re hesitating so much. But when you’re ready, I’d appreciate it if you could tell me without feeling too burdened.”

Such an answer flowed out in a calm voice.

“Despite everything, I consider you one of my people. Someone important.”

“…”

“I’ll help you with whatever I can. You’ve done the same for me, so I think I should do at least that much for you.”

Elia stared at him with wide eyes.

“…”

Right.

This person has always been like this.

No matter what she does or how she does it, in the end, he accepts everything.

In that case.

Wouldn’t it be okay to rely on that kindness a little more?

That was the motivation behind what followed.

Then.

“Teacher.”

The voice flowed from her lips as if entranced.

“Hmm?”

As Darwood shrugged and picked up the teacup in front of him, Elia continued her sentence in a calm voice.

“Will you go out with me?”

Darwood spat out all the tea he was drinking.

●