Ch.3131. That’s How It Happened

“What does this even mean?”

During the flight, Marquis Riverback uttered those words.

His tone was filled with disbelief and mockery.

He had pursued this man using demonic power for flight.

It was natural to doubt whether flying high and fast like this would be effective in any way.

“Well, it obviously means something.”

However, Darwood shrugged and answered.

Even at this point, he seemed to be hiding something, but Marquis Riverback snorted and raised his hand.

At this rate, he had merely extended his life by a few seconds.

“Well, that means you’re only at that level. Die quiet-!”

He had intended to say “die quietly.”

That would have been the case if the black mist emanating from the core embedded in his chest hadn’t suddenly dissipated.

And it didn’t stop there.

His entire body began to “flow down.”

His outline collapsed, melting like a wax figure placed too close to fire.

“What…!”

Marquis Riverback looked down at his own body with a blank expression.

“Wh-what is this…!”

This was a body fused with the core received from the Luminary. An invincible body that even this cunning man couldn’t control.

Yet, why was this happening?

“Let’s think logically, shall we?”

Darwood spoke to the Marquis Riverback with a smirk, turning off the alarm that had been beeping from his wristwatch.

As if.

As if he had set the alarm knowing exactly when this would happen.

“Isn’t it strange that someone like you, with no real combat ability, could use such powerful abilities indefinitely without restriction?”

“What…?”

“One of the main side effects of demonization is burnout. Your body collapses from overusing demonic power. Didn’t the Luminary explain that when he gave it to you?”

“…What, nonsense, are you-“

In reality, he had never heard anything about such side effects.

He had merely received it as a “token of loyalty,” nothing more.

“If you hadn’t been so complacent right after consuming the core, I would’ve been in real danger. I didn’t have many cards to play.”

Darwood said this while drawing out the cylinder tucked at his waist.

Perhaps just a few minutes ago, he wouldn’t have been able to act so leisurely. In front of the demonized Marquis Riverback, this man had been doing nothing but desperately fleeing.

But now.

Marquis Riverback, whose body was collapsing in real-time, could only watch with wide eyes.

It was simply that he hadn’t done so earlier because he wanted to crush him thoroughly and completely.

As the Marquis silently gaped, Darwood chuckled and immediately operated the case of the cylinder.

Ectoplasm processed for explosion. It was even infused with holy power.

“…”

Seeing this, Marquis Riverback realized.

He would never survive this encounter.

“There were many ways to handle this. Coming with Manitors to break the barrier, or approaching me and Elnore with the intent to ‘kill’ rather than ‘win’ from the start. You could have done that, but you didn’t.”

Indeed, that was true.

If he had charged in from the beginning, he could have certainly killed either this man or the Tristan duchess.

‘If only I had been determined to kill from the very beginning…!’

He gritted his teeth at that thought.

“I planned for that possibility… and it worked out well.”

“Not well, you say?”

“You only died once.”

Darwood said this with a still calm expression.

“What?”

“You could have killed me two or three times if you hadn’t messed up, but you ended it with just one. Well done.”

“…”

Still a calm tone.

As if even if he had succeeded in killing this man two or three times.

The final result would have been the same.

‘This bastard…!’

Suddenly, a cold sweat ran down Marquis Riverback’s spine.

It was a familiar sensation.

The feeling he had experienced all day while facing this man.

All of his actions were being read. Even things he didn’t know were being completely seen through. All possible variables were being controlled.

“You, from the beginning, everything was just to buy time, all of it…!”

Appearing alone with the Tristan duchess to provoke him. Deliberately irritating him with each action.

Even.

Being constantly on the defensive, and his “dying once.”

All actions were calculated from the beginning.

Because he knew from the start that the Marquis would be neutralized like this after just a little time.

From the beginning, all actions and purposes were not about winning, but about buying time.

From the moment he failed to realize this, he had already lost!

“Y-you…!”

He.

Once again.

By this guy, from beginning to end.

He had been played like a puppet!

“I’ll kill you, you bastard!”

Darwood smirked and extended the bomb forward.

It wasn’t for nothing that he had asked Percy to make it close to a “cannon.” It would be troublesome if he got caught in the blast when detonating it at close range.

Even though holy power couldn’t cause significant damage to humans, this was made with the premise of blowing up the entire academy. Safety precautions must be observed.

“Hey.”

Following that sentence.

“Don’t you have any better last words?”

The holy power bomb detonated.

●

“Talion. Well done.”

“…It’s nothing.”

Talion, who had been waiting at the pre-arranged “landing point,” looked up at the sky with an awkward smile.

Due to the holy power bomb I had just detonated, light was scattering around so intensely that it resembled an aurora.

‘Firepower is indeed the best.’

I smile wryly as I look at the scene.

The demonic core itself is such an insane item that if not dealt with using such intense firepower, it could cause serious problems.

Even if Marquis Riverback’s body collapses, the core itself could survive and parasitize another nearby living being.

I wasn’t expecting it to appear, but it’s good that I prepared such extreme firepower from the beginning.

“…”

Whether it’s the demon who can produce such items with just a bit of its power, or Elnore who carries such a demon inside her, or Elia who will eventually grow strong enough to defeat it.

I’m reminded again of what level of monsters they are.

I’ve managed to survive despite being entangled with them, haven’t I?

I turn around with that thought.

“Oh, brother? Where are you going now…!”

“I have somewhere to go!”

I say that and dash off.

My target is the wall on the outskirts of the academy. Where Elnore is embedded.

‘…I need to clean up.’

I had already provided minimal emergency treatment before dragging the Purifier around, but she’s someone who worked so hard for me.

At the very least, I should personally take her to the infirmary.

As I run with that thought, several windows appear before my eyes.

<System Message>

[ You have completed the Main Quest! ]

[ Rewards will be given! ]

[ ‘Evil Core 1’ has been awarded! ]

[ ‘Hero’s Fragment 1’ has been awarded! ]

[ 5,000pt has been awarded! ]

Along with these messages, two gems appeared in my hand with a flash of light.

One emits a pure white glow, while the other emits ominous black smoke.

[ Evil Core ]

[ Item: Story ]

[ This is a material that can interact with Epic items. When fused, something special will happen! ]

[ Hero’s Fragment ]

[ Item: Story ]

[ This is a material that can interact with Epic items. When fused, something special will happen! ]

“…”

I stop running for a moment and stare at them.

‘…They’re giving me all of this?’

These are items that significantly contribute to determining the branches of the overall scenario.

Items labeled as “Epic” mostly play significant roles in the story, matching their powerful effects.

By resonating these items and determining their “alignment,” all sorts of butterfly effects can be triggered in the overall scenario.

Combining the Hero’s Fragment results in various random effects related to “good alignment,” while combining the Evil Core results in the same effects but related to “evil alignment.”

Depending on which item you fuse them with before certain events occur, the outcome can completely change—whether certain characters become stronger, weaker, live, or die.

Even the “Boy King of Ruined Nation,” the boss of Chapter 2, has a difficulty level that varies drastically depending on how you use these items.

To be precise, he’s practically impossible to defeat without these items.

‘But to give me two of them.’

As far as I know, you’re supposed to choose between the Evil Core and the Hero’s Fragment.

The rewards must have been significantly enhanced to match the increased difficulty.

And it’s definitely a reward that covers all the hardships I’ve been through.

Having two items that can twist the scenario when just one is enough is quite something.

I smile wryly and put away the Evil Core for now.

I don’t have an immediate use for it.

But the Hero’s Fragment is different.

[ Do you want to combine ‘Hero’s Fragment’ with the item ‘Soul Linker’? ] [ Y/N ]

Without hesitation, I touch Y, and the white gem immediately seeps into the amulet I’m wearing.

[ Soul Linker ] [ Exclusive Equipment ]

[ Enchant: Epic ] [ ‘Hero’s Fragment’ Fusion ]

[ This is equipment inhabited by a great spirit. You can awaken the spirit’s consciousness by increasing synchronization rate. ]

[ Due to the influence of the great spirit, it always contains magical power. ]

[ Current charged magic rate: 0% ]

[ Current synchronization rate: 9.98% ]

[ The first stage of spirit consciousness awakening is not far away! ]

[ When the spirit’s consciousness is awakened, special effects due to the Hero’s Fragment will also be unlocked! ]

‘Not bad.’

The Hero’s Fragment, when fused with good-aligned equipment, provides all sorts of positive effects.

By consuming the item, the synchronization rate has also significantly increased, so if I consistently improve my abilities as a priest, I’ll be able to awaken it soon.

Then, well.

I’ll be able to clearly experience why the entity sleeping inside is called a “great spirit.”

But the window that appeared next immediately made me frown.

<System Message>

[ Confirming the use of a story item! ]

[ An exclusive quest for ‘Elia Krisanax’ has been created! ]

[ Try to unlock the quest by meeting the conditions! ]

[ The probability of being involved with the ‘Inquisition’ increases! ]

‘…What?’

The “creation” of the protagonist’s exclusive quest immediately catches my attention.

Elnore’s exclusive quest was described as affecting the scenario and “ending” to such an extent that it was groundbreaking. And now a similar quest is opening for the protagonist after the final boss?

And the probability of being involved with the Inquisition, a group that competes for the 1st or 2nd place in infamy in the Empire, has increased.

“…”

Even though I’m considering briefly entering that Otherworld if necessary, I’d rather avoid the Inquisition.

The “villain” I least want to get involved with in this game is there.

‘Dragon Fang Faynol.’

A half-dragon magician. Genius magical skills and an extremely twisted personality in inverse proportion. He’s also a main character in Chapter 4.

In terms of pure danger, there are even rumors that he’s more dangerous than the “Seeker,” the final boss of Chapter 4.

Meeting him with my passive charm ability triggering?

“…”

I don’t even want to imagine it.

‘But such things…’

All of this came along just from feeding the Hero’s Fragment to this amulet.

It means all these events are related to the awakening of the spirit inside.

‘What’s inside might be a bigger figure than I thought?’

As I continue this thought while looking at the amulet, the academy’s outer wall finally comes into view.

And the position where Elnore was embedded.

“Oh, Darwood. You’re here?”

“…”

However, I couldn’t find Elnore there.

Instead, Principal Atalante was waving her hand while spinning around.

When did she get here?

“I personally took the student council president to the ward. She was badly injured, but she’ll recover quickly. There won’t be any aftereffects. You provided good emergency treatment, didn’t you?”

Atalante said all this while walking towards me with a still smiling face.

Yes, on the surface, it’s a smiling face, but.

“…Are you angry?”

This is genuine anger. Really.

Her eyes aren’t smiling at all.

Cold sweat runs down my back.

“Oh, is it that obvious?”

“…”

She doesn’t even deny it.

It means listen to what she says if you don’t want to die.

“…Since you seem to have gone through a lot.”

Atalante said, looking me up and down.

“Shall we move somewhere more comfortable to talk?”

It seems.

I clearly had no right to refuse.

●

“…Is it okay not to handle the aftermath?”

Sitting in Atalante’s office, I had to ask that first as I looked at the tea being offered to me.

A person who consumed a demonic core caused disturbances both inside and outside the academy.

I dealt with Marquis Riverback, and thanks to that, the Manitors in the city probably disappeared too.

But there must be quite a bit of damage from the chase earlier, and I even caused a massive holy power explosion above the academy just now.

There must still be confusion in various places.

“That’s nothing. It’s fine. After all, a student stepped up and prevented any casualties.”

But Atalante answered with a casual smile.

“Still…”

“Elphante is quite old, Darwood Campbell.”

“…Pardon?”

“A place that has operated for nearly a thousand years, right next to where demons are sealed, filled with all sorts of nobles and privileged people with strong egos. Do you think there haven’t been worse accidents than this?”

“…”

“Such incidents don’t even qualify as needing cleanup.”

Elphante. It really seems to be a crazier place than I thought.

This level of disturbance doesn’t even count as a disturbance.

“Above all, this much was all within the expected range.”

“…Pardon?”

Atalante smiled at me again.

Looking at her for a moment, I realize the meaning between the lines and get goosebumps.

‘…So she’s saying she could have taken care of everything by herself if she wanted to.’

Well, that’s true.

There are very few beings on the continent who could handle Atalante if she decided to use her power.

She’s always described as one of the top-tier powerhouses in the scenario.

“This time, I just watched. Since the student seemed to be planning and preparing for everything from beginning to end, I wanted to accommodate that.”

Atalante said, resting her chin on her desk.

“That’s why I’m angry, student.”

Atalante looked at me with a sigh.

“You got involved with a demon, didn’t you?”

“…”

“I’m asking already knowing the answer. I won’t accept excuses.”

Atalante continued with sharp eyes.

“‘Erosion,’ one of the powers of the Grey Demon, occurred extensively centered on your location. The Inquisition won’t overlook this, and the Holy Empire, which presides over heresy trials, will also take interest.”

She continued with another sigh.

“And this is a fact that only I know. At the time the erosion phenomenon occurred, only the student council president and you were there.”

Cold sweat dripped down.

I was involved.

Very deeply.

I even received a confession and treatment from one of the strongest demons.

“Do you know what kind of situation you’re in right now?”

Atalante closed her eyes with a sigh.

But when she opened them again, the gaze fixed on me was undoubtedly filled with concern, despite her saying she was angry.

“Judging by your actions so far, you must have known what you would be facing. Right?”

“…”

“Then why didn’t you seek help more actively? Don’t you trust me?”

“Well, this time I managed to resolve everything without your help, Principal.”

“What about next time?”

“…”

I close my mouth at Atalante’s sharp words.

“You’re already at the center of all the commotion, Darwood Campbell. You’ve become the eye of the storm.”

Atalante continued in a strict voice.

“Demon cultists are persistent. If they find out that you and the student council president have some connection to demons, they’ll follow you to the ends of hell. This disturbance is likely just the beginning.”

“…”

That’s right.

It’s a fact I’ve been aware of countless times, but I’m already deeply involved in the main scenario.

Given how entangled I am with Elia and Elnore, it’s practically confirmed.

For a long time now, I’ve given up on living as an extra.

I sigh and respond.

“…Probably, even if something happens next time, it will be difficult to expect significant direct help from you, Principal.”

That’s actually true.

Atalante, who has reached the realm of eternity, is undoubtedly a monster who can handle most situations alone, but only a very small number of people who are “designated to do so” can directly confront demons and those related to them.

Elia and the hero’s party are such types, and there are a few more… but at the very least, Atalante is not one of them.

It’s just systemically determined that way. As a resident of this world, she can’t break that rule no matter what.

“Then, no matter what happens next. Do you plan to solve everything by yourself again?”

“I’ll request support to some extent.”

Constantly crossing the line between life and death, extremely difficult, extremely painful, extremely distressing, but.

It can’t be helped. My fate is already determined.

Then all that remains is to do my best to survive.

Atalante pursed her lips at my answer.

Then.

“Hahaha-!”

She burst into a cheerful laugh that echoed throughout the office.

‘…Why is she suddenly like this?’

It’s such a drastic emotional change that it’s bewildering from my side.

“…From a principal’s perspective, placing such a burden on a single student might be somewhat shameful.”

“Pardon?”

“The plan itself has been completed for a long time. But because it’s too much of a burden to place on you, I’ve been postponing finalizing it until the very end.”

“…So, what exactly…”

“Even leaving you to handle this situation without intervening was to confirm your abilities. If your abilities were even slightly inadequate, I was ready to give up immediately… but you’ve perfectly proven your worth. Yes.”

I roll my eyes at the words flowing out suddenly.

What is it?

Uh.

What is it really?

“And I’ve confirmed your determination to overcome whatever comes your way. Now I’m confident I can reveal it.”

Atalante straightened her back with a sigh.

Dignity fills her eyes. It’s a gaze that reflects the dignity of an eternal being who has flowed through more than a thousand years.

“Darwood Campbell.”

My posture straightens at her solemn voice.

What is it? What is she trying to say?

“You must have noticed that something was being planned around you at the academy.”

“Yes, yes.”

That’s true.

Is she going to tell me about that now?

“What I’m about to tell you is confidential and must not be known by anyone else. The involved groups include the Empire’s imperial family, the tribal union’s great chieftains and war chiefs, and the Holy Empire’s pope and archbishops. But only a very small number among them know the full details.”

“Uh, yes, yes?”

“It’s a matter of world survival. This much is natural.”

Uh, what?

To that extent?

What on earth…!

“First, I’ll tell you the final goal of the plan.”

Atalante continued in a still solemn voice.

“Betting on the fate of the entire continent.”

With charisma in her eyes that overwhelmed even the air.

The eternal being of over a thousand years uttered the “final goal” of a plan that she said had the fate of the world at stake.

“We would like you to take multiple wives.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

I rub my ears for a moment.

I also clear my throat.

After blinking my eyes several times, I question Atalante.

“Pardon?”

“Pardon?”

“No, pardon?”

“What exactly are you curious about?”

A headache that feels like my head is about to split assaults me at the sight of Atalante boldly asking back.

What on earth.

No, what on earth is that.

“Was the sentence too difficult? So, you know, harem. Harem. Polygamy. We want you to do that…”

“Wait. Just a moment.”

I grab my head and stop Atalante.

“Let me clarify.”

Hey. No.

Even so.

“There’s a plan that only a very small number of the most influential and powerful people on the continent know about, and this plan is important enough to have the world’s survival at stake?”

“Yes.”

“And the final goal of this plan is for me to build a harem?”

“Specifically, you need to seduce several people.”

Atalante shrugged and said.

“That includes the student council president, whom you seem willing to risk your life for now. She’s actually the most important part.”

“…”

“All means necessary to carry out this process will be supported materially and spiritually by the continent’s hegemonic nations.”

“…”

I barely catch my breath.

“So, in other words.”

My breathing is choked, but I somehow manage to utter the final sentence.

Although I don’t know the reason at all, and all the intermediate processes are completely omitted, if I summarize what this person has said so far.

The conclusion is.

“If I don’t build a harem, the world will end?”

“Yes.”

“…”

This is insane.

I couldn’t express any other sentiment.

“…Would you explain the reason?”

Atalante smiled broadly at my dying voice.