Ch.247247. The Taste of Blue (3)

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Let me think positively first.

The reason I’m engaging in this match in the first place is to charge the seal with demonic energy.

In that sense, it’s actually fortunate that Riru Garda is rushing at me surrounded by demonic energy. Regardless, blue demonic energy is continuously flowing into the seal even as we fight.

The downside is…

“Why are you so serious about this?!”

…that I could actually die if I make one wrong move.

I gasp as I barely dodge a vicious hook coming from the side by a paper-thin margin.

The Blue Demon’s power is “pulverization,” which can grind opponents to dust with just the slightest touch.

Of course, I have resistance from my King of Pandemonium skill, and my opponent knows this, which is why she’s swinging so freely. But it’s clear that I could still be seriously injured if I get hit!

However, Riru opened her mouth in a quiet voice after hearing me.

“Hey.”

Her relentless barrage of attacks continued unabated.

…It was a bit scary to see her speaking with such dead eyes in this situation.

“Yes?”

“You patted that Serath guy’s head before, didn’t you?”

“…What?”

“He completely lost his mind just from you patting his head. He was ready to give you his heart and soul, rolling over like some pet dog.”

“…”

I did demonstrate that in front of Professor Walter.

But why is she bringing this up now?

“And I heard you’ve been going around kissing that Faynol Leiphec guy all the time?”

“…”

“Don’t look surprised about how I know. He’s been desperate to brag about it whenever he gets the chance.”

Faynol…!

‘They say the axe you trust is the one that cuts your foot…’

I can’t believe what he’s been doing behind my back with that innocent-looking face…!

“And to top it all off.”

Riru continued, her gaze now beyond dead—practically dripping with icy coldness.

“What did you do to the Holy Maiden and her sister?”

“…”

“The guy attached to my back gave me a rough idea—”

“…Please spare me that.”

Stop.

Stop…!

If she mentions that here, my social reputation will cross a river of no return…!

“…Wow…”

“Seriously, wow…”

I can already see the students in the audience looking at me like I’m beyond garbage—like they’re staring at something indescribable.

Why is she suddenly acting like this?!

“You know what?”

As I was thinking this, Riru continued with ice still flowing from her eyes.

“Everyone else has something like that.”

“…”

“Don’t I get anything?”

“…”

“Am I really the only one without anything sticky and intimate?”

“…”

No.

I’m sure she doesn’t actually envy being walked on a leash or forgetting all dignity and clinging to me in front of others.

“I want to experience something—anything—from you too.”

“…”

Riru, Riru.

What are you even saying?

“—No, wait, Riru, first calm down—”

“Do I look calm? Do you have any idea how miserable it is to only be intimately entangled with you in my dreams every night?!”

“…”

She dreams about that every night? What kind of situation is this?

And why is she confessing all this in front of everyone? Is she a crazy woman?

But I clearly couldn’t point that out in this situation.

The more she spoke, the more ferocious her attacks became.

“So stop making excuses! I’m really desperate here!”

I can see that without being told.

Compared to her “warm-up” earlier, her movements are noticeably faster now.

-!

-!!

-!!!!

Gradually, people in the audience were turning pale as debris from our collisions flew in their direction.

With each exchange of blows, my bones resonated. I could clearly feel the entire building creaking.

But.

‘…Still, I can handle this level.’

It’s fierce, but I can manage to deflect everything at this intensity.

Enough to achieve my original goal of making her give up from exhaustion.

[…Sorry to interrupt during the fight, but is there a reason?]

‘What?’

[It’s just a sparring match. No one would blame you if you attacked a little, right?]

‘…That’s true.’

But instinctively, I feel resistance.

The idea of “attacking” people around me.

“…”

At least, I…

Never…

Want to become someone who raises a hand against people nearby.

That’s what I was thinking.

Until blue flames appeared in Riru’s eyes.

“—You’re just going to keep defending until the end.”

She snorted as she said this.

“Then I’ll go all out too.”

Following those words.

I watched the energy enveloping Riru’s fist.

Blue demonic energy. But not just that.

“-!”

The moment I saw it, an incomparable sense of danger ran down my spine.

If what I’m thinking is correct…!

‘Valkarsus, come out right now!’

[Huh, w-what?]

His voice flowed from the Soul Linker, sounding confused as if he’d been sleeping.

‘Bring all the alchemy you can use, now! For defense!’

While saying that, I quickly brought out everything I could prepare.

The holy barrier generated from Ultima, the nullification formula I could use with the alchemy lines in my body, and my durability boosted by the Iron Man trait and Desperate Situation—I checked everything.

Meanwhile.

Riru raised her fist.

In this brief moment of calm amid our intense exchanges, I could hear the audience murmuring.

“…Huh, what’s going on?”

“They both suddenly stopped—”

But before those words could fully leave the audience.

Riru extended her arm.

A strike like lightning, even in my state where skills made me perceive the world in slow motion.

And.

-…

-…

-…!!

Everything tears apart.

The scenery, the phenomena, everything between Riru’s fist and me is thoroughly “pulverized.”

‘…Holy sh—!’

I can’t help but curse at the power that’s clearly visible.

Thanks to even the “air” being completely pulverized in the space where Riru extended her fist, a vacuum is created for a split second.

And before I could even finish taking a breath.

That fist exploded toward my face.

-!!!

-!!!!!!!!!!

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

“Waaaaaah!”

“What is this—!”

The entire building shakes as if hit by a bomb from the impact of her fist colliding with the barrier I created.

Spider web-like cracks appear on the walls and ceiling. Dust and stone fragments fall. The aftershock alone has half-destroyed the entire building.

And I…

Stare blankly at the fist that stopped right in front of my face.

“…”

This.

This is the power she unleashed just standing in place and extending her arm.

If in a real combat situation…

If Riru had done her best to drive this into me, my head might have actually exploded.

“…Hehe.”

Riru grinned as she withdrew her fist.

“Judging by your expression, I feel a bit proud. Surprised?”

Indeed, truly.

“…Yes. I’m surprised.”

At the end, I really brought out every technique I could use.

A barrier created with holy power boosted by stats amplified through Desperate Situation, a single strike through sorcery, and even nullification through alchemy.

I threw everything at it, but it was still a close call.

I knew the Blue Demon’s power could pulverize anything it touches, but I didn’t expect it to erase “everything” in the space, including the air, creating a vacuum.

I’m certain that even those who have reached the level of Saints would be at death’s door if they took this head-on.

“Did you mix demonic energy with sorcery?”

“Yes. I trained hard.”

Riru smiled shyly instead of answering.

Her expression seemed to say, “You noticed?”

“…But you still blocked it.”

Well, I’ve seen something like it before.

Kasa Garda. The Grand Chief of the Tribal Union and a Saint of Fist.

That person showed me something similar to this.

With just a fist infused with sorcery power, he distorted the phenomena that make up the world.

If his strike was refined, polished, and in a way sublime…

Riru’s strike was much more violent and simple, but…

Its “destructive power” alone is comparable.

‘…She used demonic energy to fill in the gaps in her technique.’

Of course.

She utilized the demonic energy only she can use, somehow “imitating” it in the right places.

In her own way.

“…I’m learning from you, Riru. You’re really amazing.”

This way of “fusing” energies from completely different categories is an idea I’ve never thought of before.

From my perspective, as someone trying to improve my specs, realizing this is possible is an enormous gain.

Thanks to her showing me this, I’ve gained a new weapon.

The fact that demonic energy can be mixed with other energies means the power I can use, as someone who can “collect” all demonic energy, is limitless.

“…Save the flattery. Ah, really. Even pulling this out wasn’t enough to win.”

“Didn’t you slow down at the end?”

It’s true.

If she hadn’t held back a bit, I might have allowed the attack through despite all my defensive formulas.

I wouldn’t have died, but I certainly would have been injured.

“Idiot.”

Riru grinned as she heard my words.

“Do you think I want to see you get hurt?”

“…”

“It’s not just you who feels that way about me. You’re precious to me too.”

“…”

I close my mouth tight, not knowing how to respond.

It feels like my heart has been pierced.

This makes my heart ache more painfully than that terrifying strike just now.

“I didn’t come here to win anyway. So I’m not disappointed.”

“What?”

“I came knowing I would lose, stupid.”

Riru said with a smile so clear it hurt my eyes.

For a moment, it took my breath away.

“…I just thought you seemed unusually rushed. Like you were being chased by something.”

“…”

That was… true.

With the Count Nicholas situation, and the Grey Demon urging me to become stronger.

It’s true that I was trying to keep a tight schedule since something was definitely going to happen.

But I don’t think I showed it. How did she notice?

“So, well, you know…”

Riru scratched her head with a reddened face.

“…You don’t have to worry alone, I’ve worked this hard too. I can be your strength too… I just wanted to show you that…”

“…”

“Because you are, to me, that kind of person, so…”

Riru, who had been mumbling, continued haltingly.

“L-lik… I mean, that kind of person, you know. Why. I really… lik…”

“…What?”

“…Nothing! Got a problem with that?!”

Though she ended up speaking sharply out of embarrassment.

This time, I’m in no position to point it out.

Her feelings came across so earnestly that I couldn’t smoothly brush it off like usual.

As I awkwardly scratched my cheek, voices came from inside the Soul Linker.

[Do you see this, Boy King? This bastard is actually feeling embarrassed…!]

[My goodness, he still had a human heart! This is surprising…!]

[He wasn’t a complete psychopath after all! He still has enough humanity to feel shy at someone’s warm kindness…!]

“…”

You guys are just doing this because it’s fun, aren’t you?

You’re just enjoying making fun of me, right?

As I glared at the Soul Linker thinking that.

Suddenly, before my eyes.

A window I hadn’t seen in a long time appeared.

< System Message >

[ Skill: Fatal Charm has activated! ]

[ A villain feels extremely strong interest in you! ]

[ Target ‘Nicholas Alte Graver’ just watched your sparring match! ]

[ Target’s affection has been elevated to ‘Interest Level 1’! ]

[ A reward has been added to the Gift tab! ]

[ An event related to the target will occur soon! ]

“…”

…Somehow.

It seems the person I least wanted to meet right now has set his sights on me.

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