Ch.4242. Midterm Exams

●

The day of the exam.

“…So.”

Elia looked at me and Yuria alternately with disbelieving eyes.

“I have quite a few questions.”

“Ask them later.”

“…”

He narrowed his eyes and closed his mouth.

Well, I understand why the atmosphere is like this. There are plenty of reasons.

For one, a person who was perfectly normal until yesterday is now wearing a mask.

And the person I brought as a companion doesn’t speak a word but communicates by floating text in the air, plus I strictly warned him not to come within three steps of her.

And worst of all.

“Was this your preference?”

“No.”

“…”

“I said no.”

Elia looked at the “leash” in my hand with an expression that seemed to ask what this was all about.

Since the leash was connected directly to Yuria’s neck, I understand why he’s looking at me with half-contemptuous eyes.

“…There are circumstances.”

“What circumstances could possibly lead to putting a leash on a grown woman and dragging her around? I’m really curious too.”

“…”

No, there really are circumstances.

This wasn’t even my suggestion to begin with.

[I, I suggested, that we go around, like this, first…]

As Yuria floated those holy power letters, Elia’s bewilderment intensified.

But this is still a force majeure situation.

‘If we don’t do this, she keeps having worse episodes…’

I managed to calm her down when she was completely out of it, mindlessly approaching me under the influence of the demon fragment. But since then, she’s developed an almost pathological fear of being separated from me even slightly.

She even went so far as to suggest the leash herself, saying “you can drag me around as long as we don’t separate.”

“…”

Yeah. I’m scared too.

Going around like this feels like my dignity as a human being is diminishing.

But as you can tell from the conditions for awakening the Grey Demon inside Elnore, there’s a very close connection between a vessel’s mental state and manifesting the fragment inside.

And right now, Yuria’s mental state is pushed to the extreme. If I make even the slightest mistake here, the demon fragment could manifest immediately.

I wouldn’t be harmed thanks to my fatal charm skill, but considering the “authority” of the White Demon, even a single manifestation could have a devastating impact on the entire Chapter 2.

And if the main quest of Chapter 2 fails, that’s game over. A death sentence.

“…”

Which means I’ll have to endure this uncomfortable feeling and maintain this appearance for a while.

‘…I’ll have to go around like this at least until we meet the Saint.’

If I can somehow get the Saint, who should be at this midterm exam venue, to make contact with us, these symptoms should ease somewhat.

Considering the “relationship” between Yuria and Lucien, that’s inevitable.

Getting the Curse of Severance within 5 days starts from there.

“…Why on earth did you ask to do this?”

While I was thinking, Elia directed that question toward Yuria.

Well, I have an excuse prepared for times like this.

I’ll just explain the effect of the Curse of Severance that’s on her, omitting “how” it happened. Anyway, you’ll die if you come within three steps.

This leash is made precisely to maintain that distance. If I just explain that it’s to control that, it should be fine.

[…Um.]

With a thoroughly reddened face, Yuria fiddled with the leash for a while before slowly forming letters in the air.

[When I’m like this, it feels much more reassuring, so we agreed to go around like this.]

“…”

[Certainly, being like this. Makes me feel much more comfortable and secure…]

Sweat drips down my face as Elia looks at me with a dumbfounded expression.

Don’t phrase it like that…!

“…That’s not what I meant. Could you, um, explain a bit?”

“…”

Elia closed his mouth for a while, looking back and forth between me and Yuria.

For me, it was a terrifyingly awkward moment.

“Won’t the Tristan Duchess have a fit if she sees this?”

“…I don’t think so.”

She’s probably waiting at the “Sanctuary,” the final destination of this exam, because of my request.

There’s a high probability she won’t see this until this event is over.

“…Really?”

Elia folded his arms and looked alternately at me and Yuria, seemingly contemplating something.

“…She won’t see it, right?”

He continues to think, showing strange signs. Constantly shaking his leg. His face turning red and blue.

He mutters strange things to himself. Things like “Even so, that’s…” or “But I need to do something to get attention…”

“…Are you busy?”

“Just leave me alone for about 5 minutes. I need to think about something.”

“…”

Alright.

I’ll take care of what I need to during those 5 minutes.

< Gift-Related Person Alert >

♥ Elnore Erinarise la Tristan

[ Affection Level 1 ] >>> [ Affection Level 2 ]

[ Rewards available! ]

▼ Yuria Greyhaunter

[ Interest Level 1 ] >>> [ Interest Level 4 ]

[ Rewards available! ]

I tap to receive the rewards.

[ Receiving gift reward from ‘Elnore’. ]

[ You obtain ‘Trait: Triumphant Wind’. ]

< Mastery Info >

[ Trait: Triumphant Wind ] [ Grade: Basic ]

[ Current Proficiency: 0% ]

[ You can return some damage to your opponent by blocking their attack with precise timing. ]

[ !Information! ]

[ Confirmed possession of ‘Trait: Dancing Blade’ and ‘Trait: Triumphant Wind’. ]

[ Confirmed ‘Trait: Tristan-style Swordsmanship’ proficiency is above Common level. ]

[ If you raise the proficiency of ‘Trait: Dancing Blade’ and ‘Trait: Triumphant Wind’ to Common level, they will be integrated into ‘Trait: Inner Gale’. ]

↓↓↓↓

[ Trait: Inner Gale ] [ Grade: Basic ]

[ Unowned Trait ]

[ If you block an opponent’s attack with precise timing using ‘Deflection’, you can return a significant portion of the damage to your opponent. ]

‘…This is another one.’

This makes my mouth water.

There’s a reason veteran players say you should definitely get Tristan-style Swordsmanship if you can.

Because it hides juicy traits like this.

If I parry an opponent’s attack with precise timing, I can reduce the damage I take to 0 and return part of their attack back to them. The performance can’t be bad.

If I combine it with the “Swordsman’s Focus” skill I received from Yuria, it will be much easier to get the timing right.

And the other one is…

[ Receiving gift reward from ‘Yuria’. ]

[ You receive 1 ‘Skill Copy Token’. ]

…This one.

I received the same reward when Elnore’s affection skyrocketed in a short period before. This must be similar.

‘I’ll keep this for now too.’

Just like before, it’s much more valuable to save this than to use it right away.

‘…Though I don’t want to use it like I did before.’

While I extracted skills from Elnore by manifesting the Grey Demon, I don’t want to use that method with the White Demon.

She’s just, well.

She becomes troublesome the moment she manifests.

There’s a reason she’s called the “Demon of Obsession.”

“…Okay. I’ve decided.”

As I was thinking about this, Elia, who seemed to have finally organized his thoughts, approached me while patting his cheeks.

Then.

“Yap.”

He grabbed my hands firmly with both of his.

“…This is my limit. I’ll compromise this much. Let’s go around like this until the exam is over.”

“…”

He says this while continuing to hold my hands.

Looking at his face, even his ears have turned red.

“…Teacher, why don’t you say something?”

No.

What exactly am I supposed to say?

“…E-even if you look at me like that, I won’t wear a leash?!”

And before I can answer.

What exactly do you think I am…?

“…Do as you please.”

Too annoyed to answer properly, I ignore him and take out the map.

‘The objective is…’

First, to enter the Sanctuary. The Saint is most likely there. If I can safely bring Yuria in there, the “essential event” will trigger.

And second.

“…”

I smile as I look at my status window.

The trait I just obtained and the other trait I’ll get when I develop it were shining brightly.

‘This is what I’m after.’

Normally, all trait-related work requires time and dedication.

However, as I rapidly increased proficiency using Yuria before, there are several ways to “shorten” that process.

And one of the most representative of those is this “midterm exam” period.

“…”

And considering my “current situation.”

The opportunity to use it will definitely come.

Not only am I aiming for first place.

As a veteran player, I can’t miss such a burning event.

“Ah, but get ready.”

I tell Elia.

“Huh? Ready for what?”

What else?

“Ready to kill everyone except us.”

“…”

●

If asked what kind of person Darwood Campbell is, Talion would always answer “a frightening person.”

At least from his few encounters with that person, there couldn’t be a more appropriate assessment.

With combat power that could blow away a Hero Candidate in one hit, and that meticulous planning ability. It’s hard to believe he’s a freshman like himself.

However, it seemed not everyone shared that sentiment.

That is, “frightening person” was right, but the category was completely off.

“Oh, Darwood Campbell? Isn’t he that extremely dangerous human trash? I heard you should never get involved with him?”

“…”

Talion stopped polishing his spear and looked at his friend.

“…What’s that supposed to mean all of a sudden?”

“Well, you know. I think most other students probably think the same.”

The male student scratched his head as he continued.

“The student council president and the Hero Candidate are both friendly with that guy, right?”

“…That’s true?”

“But there’s absolutely no reason for those two to be friendly with him. Don’t you think?”

“…”

Talion agreed with that opinion.

On the surface, those two would never get involved with that person. Absolutely not.

Anyone who knew even a little of his true worth wouldn’t find it strange at all if such people were drawn to him.

Unlike Talion, who knew his abilities firsthand, ordinary students whose information was controlled might reasonably feel that way.

‘…It feels like the academy is blocking information.’

From what he sensed, that was clearly the case.

Otherwise, someone of that caliber wouldn’t be bearing such false accusations.

As he was mulling over these thoughts, his companion continued.

“So there’s a widespread rumor that he’s got some dirt on them, you know?”

“…Dirt?”

“Yeah. It doesn’t make sense unless the Hero Candidate and Tristan Duchess are being forced to hang around him. And, what’s more, that guy hardly has any friends, yet he’s always busy running around somewhere and frequently meets with people like the Dean or Chancellor. Doesn’t that just look suspicious?”

The male student poured out these sentences.

For Talion, they could only elicit a bitter smile.

“…Are those two the kind of people who would be easily blackmailed? Isn’t that too far-fetched?”

“That’s~why he must be extremely dangerous. I’m saying if it’s not something like that, it doesn’t make sense!”

As Talion sighed and rubbed his forehead, the male student continued his passionate speech.

“And above all, you know Professor Griever Ranfeldt? I heard he said something disrespectful to that guy during class and then just disappeared. Even when I asked the Holy Department students, no one knew what happened?”

Talion’s hand paused.

He judged this to be a story with sufficient plausibility.

Considering the example of Marquis Riverback, that person is quite merciless to his “enemies.” The probability that he personally destroyed him is quite high.

“There must have been circumstances.”

Still, well.

He’s not the type to do that without reason.

“What’s with you, why are you taking his side? I’m telling you, you might also suffer at his hands if you’re not careful? Everyone’s preparing for that, you know?”

“…Preparing?”

“You know the rules for this midterm exam, right?”

Of course he was well aware of that.

The highest points go to those who arrive first at the “Sanctuary” in the center of the great plains within two days.

On the way to the Sanctuary, various beasts and magical creatures are placed, so you need to wisely navigate through them to reach the Sanctuary.

The problem is.

“…Are you saying they’re planning to ‘ambush’ him?”

During this process, if you defeat other students and steal the “necklaces” distributed to everyone, you get additional points.

It’s a test method that could be considered cruel, but under the ideology that the law of the battlefield is survival of the fittest, it’s a method that hasn’t changed since the establishment.

And such a test method sometimes leads to “concentrated attacks” on someone, as in this case.

“Well, most of them seem to be personal fans of the student council president or the Hero Candidate. There were quite a few guys who kept looking at him with distaste, wondering why he’s hanging around there, right?”

“…”

He was one of them too.

Talion picked up his spear with a bitter smile.

“…Do you know when and where they’re planning to ambush?”

“Huh? Why? You want to join?”

And as someone who has gone through such an experience before, he can say with certainty.

“No. I’m going to avoid that place at all costs.”

Talion answered with a smirk.

‘Good luck, you poor souls.’

I can’t even begin to imagine how badly you’ll be crushed.

He quietly prayed for the “ambush team.”

●