Ch.2626. Full Moon Festival (3)

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“Rise.”

Elnore Erinarise la Tristan slowly opened her eyes.

She did so because one of the humans surrounding her had spoken those words.

“Follow me. There’s somewhere we need to go.”

“Somewhere we need to go.”

“Yes.”

At the very least, this wasn’t an invitation to move to another table for the next course of a meal.

That much was clear from the way they deliberately displayed their weapons in a threatening manner.

“…”

But instead of responding immediately, Elnore merely furrowed her brow slightly.

“I wonder when was the last time I hoped there might be someone in this world who truly understands me. Someone who would accept everything about me. I can’t even remember anymore.”

When her monotone voice drifted through the air, the expressions of everyone around her simultaneously soured.

It was a natural reaction, given that she was saying such nonsensical things despite being surrounded by humans who were clearly skilled fighters.

“Hope is a dangerous thing, all of you. It makes humans blind. I’ve been deceived many times.”

“Hey. What are you—”

Elnore grabbed a nearby wine bottle and gulped it down in one go.

It was an aggressive action completely unbefitting a duchess, and yet—

Strangely, it didn’t feel out of place.

She gave the impression of someone who had been suppressing something for a very long time.

“But sometimes, such things don’t betray you.”

“…I said get up.”

One of the men who had spoken first approached Elnore with visible irritation.

His intention to force her to stand was obvious.

Compared to this giant who had clearly trained in martial arts for years, Elnore appeared several weight classes smaller, but—

In the next moment.

Elnore snatched the giant’s arm.

“…!”

Blood burst from where she gripped. Muscles tore and bones broke.

While the giant’s eyes widened in shock from sustaining serious injuries just from her touch, Elnore grabbed his head and smashed it into the table.

She then drove the wine bottle she had been drinking from into his head.

Blood splattered and glass fragments scattered in all directions.

“…What the—!”

As the surrounding men drew their swords in panic, Elnore smirked and casually tossed aside the now unconscious man.

The sight of such a massive man flying away like a piece of paper from that simple gesture was almost surreal.

“I’ve been holding back quite a bit lately. Too many eyes watching, you see.”

Her red eyes gleamed ominously.

Her presence was less human and more like that of a wild beast.

“It’s been truly difficult.”

“Don’t kill her. She’s our primary target. Some injuries are acceptable, but capture her alive—”

One of the armed men muttered these words.

A second later, he was embedded in the wall from Elnore’s punch.

“Capture, is it? How interesting.”

The men backed away, unable to even register when she had moved.

Her strength and agility were beyond imagination.

“I have no intention of granting you such mercy.”

Elnore said this while picking up the sword dropped by the man she had just struck.

In her mind, she was replaying several sentences Darwood had told her earlier.

‘These guys are Cultists of the Demon.’

‘You’ve been having a hard time lately, haven’t you?’

‘I don’t know about later, but right now, holding back is actually worse for you.’

She smirked.

Trusting someone’s claim about Demon Cultists without evidence was dangerous. Unless you were the Empire’s notorious Inquisition, it was impossible to smell a demon the moment you encountered one.

But the one who told her this was Darwood Campbell. If she couldn’t trust his words, what could she trust?

‘Besides.’

Let it all out, he said.

He was a man she simply couldn’t dislike.

Occasionally “releasing” this madness was one of the traditional solutions passed down through the Tristan Dukedom.

She had no idea how that man knew about this.

Nor did she understand what he meant by “don’t know about later.”

But.

She agreed that suppressing her madness had recently reached a critical point.

In other words.

“According to Imperial law, Demon Cultists can be summarily executed and reported afterward without much issue. Isn’t that right?”

Her blood-red eyes flickered. A killing intent that seemed to freeze the air descended upon the entire space.

Everyone present immediately sensed it.

“…!”

They had all heard the rumors.

The continent’s greatest swordsmanship family. A duchess known for her exceptional talent since childhood.

They hadn’t expected it to be easy, but they hadn’t thought she would be impossible to handle either.

Everyone here was a warrior who had reason to be confident.

Each one was a steel-tempered talent forged in the furnace of real combat. Elite among elites, raised with all the resources Marquis Riverback could provide.

But.

What stood before them now.

Was not merely a “human skilled with a sword.”

All traces of humanity they had sensed moments ago had been erased, replaced by boundless ferocity and hostility.

This… this “something” in the form of the Tristan duchess.

Was something so pitch-black that it didn’t even feel human!

“So. Come at me with the intent to kill.”

Well, anyway.

This was a gift from that man.

Though her face remained expressionless as usual, if Darwood had seen her now, he would have thought Elnore was “genuinely smiling.”

As if.

Harming someone without consequences was truly enjoyable.

“That’s the only way you’ll last a little longer.”

Then.

Chaos erupted.

●

To cut to the conclusion, it took 3 minutes and 30 seconds.

That’s how long it took Elnore to reach where I was.

“…Impossible…”

Looking at Marquis Riverback muttering in a dazed state, I would normally have chuckled along.

But even so, isn’t this a bit much?

“…Are you alright?”

When I asked in a stiff voice, Elnore pouted and tossed aside two blood-covered humans.

Seeing her drag them in like trophies sent chills down my spine.

“Well, I feel refreshed. I should be fine for a while.”

“…”

I believe Elnore was at the entrance on the first floor of the restaurant, while Marquis Riverback and I were in the special room on the top floor.

And yet, this person just now.

Single-handedly cut down everyone filling the gap between—at least several dozen to a hundred people—and came up here.

The elite forces that Marquis Riverback boasted were “equivalent to a knight order,” all slaughtered by a woman in just a dress.

In just a few minutes.

‘Isn’t this truly a monster…?’

I guarantee that even I couldn’t do this insane feat with my EX-level Dire Emergency boost.

With an EX-level stat boost, I might handle five to ten people at most, given how ridiculous the boost is. But dozens to a hundred elite-trained soldiers?

I’d be lucky to last even a few seconds.

It’s understandable that Marquis Riverback, who had somewhat regained his confidence until just now, instantly lost his mental composure.

After all, the tower he had meticulously built over years was shattered in minutes by this one person.

As I closed my mouth, at a loss for words, Elnore’s eyebrows curved as if suddenly remembering something.

“Ah, right.”

With a thud, she tossed aside the two bloodied humans and approached me, speaking calmly.

“On second thought, I’m not fine at all.”

“…Pardon?”

“It was difficult. I almost got hurt. How could you make me do something like this?”

“…”

“You must take responsibility.”

That’s clearly a blatant lie.

She doesn’t have a single scratch and looks perfectly fine.

Didn’t she just enjoy herself immensely and relieve all her stress…?

“I enjoyed it, of course, but this isn’t exactly a da—, I mean, well, you know what I mean.”

“…”

“You’ll have to go out with me again sometime. Understood?”

“…I suppose so?”

The atmosphere makes it impossible to refuse.

“Good. You’ll have to take responsibility for other things later too.”

What other things?

What responsibility?

As I sighed at her incomprehensible words, a window suddenly appeared before me.

<System Message>

[Checking current conditions of target ‘Elnore’.]

[Current affection level: ‘Beloved’ or higher. Unique debuff ‘Madness’ has improved under your influence.]

[You have met the conditions for an exclusive quest.]

<Exclusive Quest Activated!>

[‘Elnore Erinarise la Tristan’s exclusive quest has been added to your Gift tab.]

[Upon completion, affection levels ‘Beloved’ and higher will be unlocked.]

[Upon completion, substantial benefits will be granted to the main scenario.]

[Upon completion, will affect the ending.]

[Target ‘Gideon Gaelstard La Tristan’ has taken interest in you!]

“…?”

Wait a minute.

What is this now?

Exclusive quests weren’t even in the original game. This is a system I’ve never seen before?

There are various eye-catching rewards listed, but the most notable is.

‘Gideon?’

If we’re talking about Gideon, it’s that guy.

The current Grand Duke Tristan. The Empire’s core figure with power second only to the Emperor, known as the Lone Legion and the strongest knight. Elnore’s father.

And a villain who greatly contributes to Elnore’s fall into becoming the final boss.

“…”

He’s definitely not someone who should be taking an interest in me during Chapter 1.

What the hell is this?

‘…Whatever.’

I shake my head and close the window.

I can look into this later.

More importantly:

<System Message>

[You have completed the Main Quest!]

[Quest completion time under 5 minutes! A historic achievement!]

[Highest grade rewards will be issued!]

“My… everything I’ve built…”

The quest completion message appears alongside Marquis Riverback, whose mental state has completely crumbled.

“…”

Well, it’s understandable if the tower you’ve spent years meticulously building gets destroyed in under 5 minutes.

“You should give up, Marquis Riverback.”

Elnore continued calmly.

“If your connection to the Demon Cultists is exposed, you’re finished. Considering the social view of such people, summary execution is the only option. You might as well surrender now and meet a merciful end.”

“…”

Her voice may be calm, but the content is brutal.

Apparently, the option of letting him live isn’t even on the table.

‘If the recruitment event is destroyed this thoroughly, the branch must…’

The branches that would normally follow here after refusing recruitment would be either “escape” or “combat” from our side.

But now Elnore has destroyed all enemies, so there’s no need for either.

“…Ha.”

Marquis Riverback laughed dejectedly.

“I never thought I’d have to use this.”

I watch as Riverback, his mental state broken, fumbles to pull something from his breast pocket.

What he’s about to take out is probably a cursed device. Something that allows a person to temporarily borrow corrupted power.

‘What follows this is…’

After activating it, Riverback would awaken as The Purifier, and then we’d immediately enter a boss battle.

Since we cleared this so easily, there’s a high probability that a branch will be added where the boss battle can also be ended without much difficulty…

[Entering a new branch.]

[Branch: Essence Appearance]

[Difficulty greatly increased!]

[The ending-related item ‘Demon’s Essence’ has been added to the rewards.]

[Target ‘???’ has taken even more interest in you!]

“…”

What the fuck?

As I’m stunned by the message that appeared before me, Marquis Riverback finally pulls something out from his pocket.

Normally, it would be a cursed device issued to Demon Cultists, but.

What he’s holding now is “something” that writhes like a living heart.

However.

At its center, there seems to be an unfathomably sticky darkness.

A chill runs down my spine just looking at it.

A feeling that the situation has gone seriously wrong tingles throughout my body.

‘Demon’s Essence…!’

Stop this bullshit.

No, seriously, stop this bullshit.

That is absolutely not something that should appear in Chapter 1.

There’s a world of difference between a human temporarily using corrupted power and eating that thing to become a “Demonic Human”!

“Elnore, cut off his arm! Don’t let him eat it!”

“…?”

Elnore draws her sword in confusion at my intense reaction to something she’s presumably never seen before. Her blade immediately lunges toward Marquis Riverback, but.

“May I receive the blessing of the divine.”

Riverback had already pushed the essence into his mouth.

And in the next moment.

-!

-!!!!

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

The entire Twilight Eyes building.

Was crushed by the darkness that surged forth.

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