Ch.4545. Duel

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Divine power is an ability that everyone possesses, unlike other special abilities.

In other words, it can be considered one of the body’s ‘components.’

So unlike other abilities that simply become unusable for a while when depleted, divine power has severe backlash if you draw out and use all of it.

What phenomenon occurs? Well.

The Saint before my eyes is demonstrating everything from start to finish.

“Ugh…”

Organ damage, muscle rupture, cells in the body dying and regenerating instantaneously, over and over again.

It means she’s draining divine power at a level that would kill an ordinary person immediately. She’s barely holding on because she’s the Saint of the Holy Empire.

Lucien coughed up a lump of blood. Blood dripped onto the holy barrier drawn on the floor.

“…”

And as soon as I confirm the ‘meaning’ of that barrier, a bitter laugh escapes my lips.

‘…She’s supplying divine power to this entire great plain by herself?’

The barrier surrounding this vast area, and the divine power for the protection charms on the necklaces given to all students.

She’s bearing it all by herself.

A crazy level of burden that would require hundreds of ordinary priests.

“…Wait, I’ll help you right away!”

It’s a scene where even a person with common sense can tell something is terribly wrong.

It would be strange for someone who considers saving people their duty not to step in.

Elia drew her sword and focused her breathing.

She’s aiming to destroy the barrier by smashing the entire floor. But…

“Oh my. You shouldn’t do that, student.”

With those words, a heavy blow struck Elia’s sword.

With a ping, the sword flew up and embedded itself in the ceiling.

“…!”

Elia’s eyes widened as she saw her palm was cut where the sword had been knocked away.

To create such a scene, there must be quite a ‘skill gap’ between the two.

Even though she couldn’t have anticipated the enemy’s presence, the victim herself is a hero candidate comparable to a regular knight.

In other words.

This person wearing the full equipment of a Holy Empire ‘combat priest’ is a master whose talent would be hard to match even if you searched an entire nation.

A high-ranking combat priest. A possessor of combat power worthy of being called a human weapon.

“…”

I quickly scan the nameplate on his chest.

Klein Garrison.

‘…He is someone I’m supposed to meet here.’

A villain who appears briefly as a minor character in Chapter 2. And considering his importance, he’s unreasonably strong. In this section, there isn’t even an option to fight and capture him.

As can be seen from Elia being neutralized in one blow, he’s not someone students can face.

I also notice his gaze sweeping over Yuria once before fixing back on Elia.

This is as expected.

The Holy Empire clearly hasn’t figured out Yuria’s ‘identity’ yet. The scapegoat who stole and ran away with the national treasure of the Holy Empire.

Since that itself is the catalyst leading to the highlight of Chapter 2, this much is probably identical to the original work.

“This is a ‘service’ the Saint is voluntarily performing. Wouldn’t it be wrong to interfere with such a noble intention?”

“…You’re saying she volunteered to end up like this? That’s nonsense!”

Despite being neutralized in one blow, Elia retorted to Klein with fire in her eyes, not intimidated at all.

It’s certainly correct, but the Holy Empire I know is full of crazy people who would easily deflect such words.

Just look at what happens next.

“Hmm. Interesting perspective. Shall we ask the Saint directly?”

Klein said this and turned his head toward Lucien with a sinister smile.

“Please tell us, Saint. Did someone force you?”

“…”

Lucien gritted her teeth.

She’s a person suffering from pain equivalent to having her body dismantled alive even now. It’s monstrous to brazenly demand an answer from someone in such a state.

“…N-no.”

But.

The answer that came out was clearly that word.

Lucien answered with a terribly cracked voice.

Blood was still dripping and flowing from around her mouth, but she continued her sentence.

“This is… some…thing… I… want… to do.”

“…”

While Elia was gaping in disbelief, Klein continued speaking with the smile still on his face.

“You see? Even she herself is saying so.”

But the words that followed carried a heavy pressure.

“Or are you saying you’ll go against what the Saint wants to do? That would be going against the will of the entire Holy Empire. Surely a hero candidate like yourself would know that?”

“…You trash…!”

A teeth-grinding sound escaped from Elia’s mouth. She understood what this meant.

Indeed, the Saint officially represents the will of the entire church.

If someone tries to stop something that such a figure has said she will ‘do herself,’ it could become an international issue.

Such logic applies even in obviously forced situations like this.

‘…Absolutely despicable trash.’

Might makes right. The Holy Empire, one of the three hegemonic nations, truly has both the power and the twisted mindset to commit such diplomatic atrocities. No one knows what crazy things they might do using this as an excuse. They’re the kind who might start a war without warning.

The fact that Athalante, which would normally grit its teeth and oppose such acts, ultimately allowed this shows. Whether from the imperial family or elsewhere, there was likely pressure to just let it happen and not get caught up in it.

The fact that the Saint is the Holy Empire’s most valuable ‘consumable’ is an open secret known to all rulers of the hegemonic nations.

“…”

Because of such things, in the original work, the Saint was certainly suffering some harsh treatment forced by the Holy Empire in this place.

But this is strange.

This level of atrocity is beyond anything I’ve seen even in the original work.

“Well, if you’re willing to have a conversation. I might be able to make a ‘request’ to the Saint.”

“…What did you say?”

When Elia responded with a cold voice, Klein answered with a smirk.

“The recent ‘demon-related incident.’ The Pope has a great interest in it.”

As he said this, his gaze flew straight to me and fixed there.

“I believe you know what I’m talking about.”

“…”

And as soon as I heard those words, the puzzle pieces immediately fit together in my mind.

Demons are a very important element in the ‘great work’ the Pope is establishing. Even in the game, there are continuous descriptions of his interest in demons.

He must be paying close attention to the Gray Demon summoning incident that Elnore caused during the Purifier boss battle recently.

And certainly.

Some of ‘my information’ related to that must have flowed in, whether I like it or not.

‘He’s provoking me.’

The back of my neck feels cold. I mutter curses inwardly.

He’s deliberately threatening me. If you don’t cooperate, we’ll torture the Saint even more cruelly. Listen to what we say while we’re still asking nicely.

And thanks to these guys doing such things, the main quest content and progression I originally remember has been significantly altered.

‘Battle with the rampaging Vessel…’

The main quest says to stop the rampaging Yuria.

That’s basically telling me to commit suicide.

In Marquis Riverback’s case, there was at least some basis, but subduing a Vessel that might manifest fragments of a demon is absolutely impossible here.

‘…Then.’

In other words.

There is only one way.

I need to take a much more aggressive approach.

Avoid the battle with the ‘Vessel.’

And deliver a blow to these trash.

“…”

I walk steadily toward the Saint with a smirk. She’s still coughing up blood and extracting divine power inside the formation.

“Ah, if you approach any further, I will subdue you. I cannot allow anyone to interfere with the Saint’s work-“

Klein’s voice flowed out in a relaxed tone, but.

“Try it.”

I answer expressionlessly.

And simultaneously.

“…”

Yuria, who had been in a daze, opens her eyes wide.

“…What?”

“I said try it. I don’t care what nonsense you pull.”

“…”

“I’m going to save this person. Try to stop me.”

Klein’s expression hardened for the first time.

“…This will escalate into an international issue. Are you prepared to handle that?”

He mutters something, but I ignore him and approach the Saint.

What I was waiting for came when I was about three steps away.

[Crisis situation detected.]

[Determining this could result in serious injury.]

[Applying ‘Skill: Desperate Situation’ at A-rank.]

As that window appears, I activate the skill.

[‘Skill: Swordsman’s Focus’ activated!]

[Reaction speed and precision increased!]

The world slows down again. With the overlap with Desperate Situation, Klein’s attack becomes clearly visible despite the overwhelming difference in our specs.

So I draw my sword from my waist and meet his attack.

-!

Klein’s face wore that sinister smile again.

Even imperial knights of the same rank are reluctant to directly engage with high-ranking combat priests.

While they might not have superior swordsmanship or physical strength, combat priests can apply all kinds of buff skills to their weapons.

It’s simply impossible to deal with just by exchanging blows.

He must be mocking me as foolish for trying to receive his attack at a student level.

But.

If I get the timing right, I have a skill that can ‘nullify’ any damage.

At the exact moment I ‘deflect’ that attack.

[Perfect Deflection!]

[‘Trait: Heterodox Style’ activated!]

[Reflecting part of the opponent’s attack damage!]

All the ‘offensive blessings’ applied to that sword strike were reflected back at Klein.

-!

His body bounces back at a terrifying speed. Enough to crash into a wall, raising dust.

“…”

Of course, there’s no major damage. Just looking at Desperate Situation appearing as A-rank shows that, and it wasn’t an attack launched with full seriousness to begin with. A high-ranking combat priest wouldn’t be taken down by having a little of his own attack returned to him.

But.

What’s on his face is a stupid expression of not understanding what just happened.

A high-ranking combat priest. One of the top combatants in the country.

Allowed a single strike from a mere academy student.

He looks shocked by that fact itself.

“You’ve been saying strange things all this time.”

I support Lucien, who keeps coughing, and help her up. As we walk outside the formation on the floor, Lucien finally stops coughing. She stops vomiting blood as well.

And immediately, Yuria, whose white aura has begun to subside, approaches Lucien with tearful eyes.

Yes. This side is safe for now.

I put Lucien down, take out a parchment from my pocket, and approach Klein, who is still embedded in the wall with a blank expression.

“You said an international issue would arise. So what?”

“…?”

I grin at the dazed Klein.

It’s an understandable reaction.

This isn’t something a mere student should speak so lightly about. It’s an issue that could turn the entire continent upside down.

But.

What do I care?

I throw the parchment, hitting Klein in the face.

“What is this…!”

I answer with an even broader smile as his expression sours.

“I don’t have a glove. This is a substitute.”

“…”

His sour expression turns blank again.

He can’t possibly not know what throwing a glove in someone’s face means.

Yes, that’s it.

A duel challenge.

I silently apologize to Gideon.

Please endure some hardship later, Grand Duke.

I’m going to make this a big deal.

“It’s a special exemption document. Everything I do from now on will be the responsibility of the Imperial Family and the Tristan Dukedom.”

If they keep throwing their weight around with international power, we’ll just summon power that matches it.

Yes, Holy Empire?

On our side are the Grand Duke of Tristan and the Imperial Family. What are you going to do about it?

And having used such authority, what I’m going to do.

From now on.

I’m going to clean up the trash.

“You, let’s fight.”

Starting with this guy.

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