Ch.4646. Duel (2)

“…What were you thinking?”

Those words came out in a mumble from Atalante, who was holding her face in her hands. There was anger mixed with what almost felt like lamentation.

I don’t feel like explaining myself.

She must be running around frantically trying to clean up the mess I made.

Even though what I’ve done is a diplomatic and political mega-disaster, this person is the one who’s handling all the procedures needed for the impromptu duel that’s about to take place.

I guess she’s willing to accommodate everything I do, one way or another.

Though it seems even she can’t hold back a few complaints.

“A mere academy student challenging a High Combat Priest to a duel. Were you in your right mind?”

Such words came out in a mumble along with a sigh.

“Yes.”

As soon as I answered in a flat voice, Atalante’s sigh deepened.

“Even with your immunity, you’ve caused too much trouble. You must know this. The Imperial Family and the Tribal Union have started paying attention to this matter.”

Atalante said in a low voice.

“Why did you start this? Knowing your personality, I doubt you did this without a plan.”

I snicker at that question.

Reason, huh.

Of course I have one.

“You told me to seduce Demonic Vessels, right? I found one. This is all part of that plan.”

“…We’ve already confirmed that the ‘fragment’ has manifested in Yuria Greyhaunter.”

Atalante answered in a gloomy voice.

“She was already one of the vessel candidates, but her manifestation was the fastest. This speed is certainly unexpected.”

Indeed.

The “candidate” list this person gave me had various people on it. Considering their environments and conditions, there were probably several people who would have manifested fragments faster than Yuria.

Like Riru Garda, a key character from Chapter 3, and Faynol Leiphec from Chapter 5.

Despite that, if there’s a reason why Yuria awakened as a vessel exceptionally quickly…

“…It’s because she frequently came in contact with me, right?”

“…”

Atalante gave a bitter smile.

My soul’s quality of being loved by all evil.

Either way, it’s certainly a quality that could potentially influence the ‘demonic fragments.’

“Headmaster. Have you heard of the butterfly effect?”

“…Pardon? What’s that?”

What is it? It’s a son of a bitch.

It’s something that has never worked in my favor since I got involved in the main scenario, so I might as well call it that.

Every single choice I’ve made has snowballed, always coming back to bite me in this way.

‘…Though I’m ultimately the cause.’

Honestly, it’s unconscionable to expect everything to flow according to the “original work” when I’ve been meddling with all sorts of things for my own convenience.

Still, I was planning to ignore most things and move on.

I did it all to survive. I tried not to worry too much about who might be affected.

But.

Still.

There’s a limit.

Both Yuria and Lucien.

They’ve been greatly affected by my existence.

Yuria awakened a demonic fragment that she might have carried dormant forever if conditions hadn’t been right, and Lucien endured extreme torture that he wouldn’t have experienced originally.

“…”

The existence of Elnore and Elia also crosses my mind.

That too.

I’ll have to take responsibility someday.

“Well, anyway.”

I say with a bitter smile.

“I don’t think I was wrong to save him. Rescuing someone from torture isn’t a bad thing, is it?”

The “butterfly’s wing flap” that triggered the current situation was, after all, caused by me.

Therefore, I’ll take responsibility.

“…”

Atalante, who had been looking into my eyes for a moment, sighed again.

It was an action deeply imbued with the feeling of “I can’t live because of you.”

“A High Combat Priest is a high-ranking asset for their side. The Pope will certainly react. He might even attend in person.”

“Is that so.”

“This isn’t something you can dismiss with ‘Is that so.'”

Atalante’s gaze sank.

“The Pope is dangerous. I don’t know what you’re planning, but if he gets involved, you should reconsider.”

I fully understand what Atalante is saying.

We’re talking about none other than the Pope. Credo Baor II. The strongest of the priest class and the leader of the Holy Empire.

Even in the game, he was a villain who tormented players until the late stages.

No wonder there were often opinions that he was worse than the Cultists of the Demon, the biggest obstacle in the scenario.

It’s not for nothing that someone of Atalante’s caliber backed down and allowed Lucien to suffer that fate. Charging at him now would be like hitting a rock with an egg.

She’s saying that unnecessarily creating more friction with that side would only bring danger.

But.

I have no choice but to do this now.

I have no options.

‘…This really sucks.’

I find the current situation absurd.

Just failing the main quest means my life is definitely forfeit with game over.

In such a situation, I also have to seduce Demonic Vessels who keep getting entangled with me due to my nature, and manage their mental states. Otherwise, I have no idea how the demons they harbor might go berserk.

“…”

Well, one could argue that it doesn’t matter since demons love me unconditionally thanks to my gift.

But depending on the demon’s nature, they might literally cut off my limbs and lock me in a cell to keep me like livestock.

Their very name is “demon.” How twisted their affection might be is beyond my imagination.

The Grey Demon dwelling in Elnore simply healing me and withdrawing was extremely unusual.

So.

1. Clear the main quest.

2. Seduce Demonic Vessels and manage their mental states.

If I fail to do either of these simultaneously, I die. Talk about an insane difficulty level.

“…”

So, if there’s a method to overcome both…

I have to do it, even if it’s dangerous. Whether the Pope comes or his grandfather comes.

What else can I do?

“The Greyhaunter sisters. Artificial beings created by the Holy Empire.”

Atalante flinched at my muttered words and looked at me.

This is originally one of the Holy Empire’s top secrets.

The Homunculus Project. An ugly byproduct of the “great work” that the Pope has been pursuing as his lifelong ambition.

“You know what those two are like, right, Headmaster? If we want to prevent Yuria, who has awakened as a vessel, from deteriorating further, we must keep the two together. Otherwise, her mind will truly collapse.”

“…”

“For that, this duel is absolutely necessary. We need to remove the Holy Empire’s interference.”

“…Can you create such an impact? With just one duel?”

“Yes. Definitely.”

Not yet.

But I plan to create it ‘during’ the duel.

An impact that will force the Holy Empire to retreat.

“…”

I have the means.

I didn’t prepare it for this situation, but if my prediction is correct, I definitely possess a “combination” with the value and power to overcome this situation.

“…What exactly are you thinking?”

I smile at Atalante, whose voice is slightly trembling, and continue.

“You said the Pope might come, right?”

What am I thinking?

Ultimately, all problem stems from that side.

To prevent more such incidents, I need to confront them directly.

“Make sure he comes. It would be inconvenient if he didn’t.”

Yeah.

Let’s see his face while we have the chance.

●

The duel venue was a small circular arena in the academy’s basement.

The judge was Headmaster Atalante. The observers included several personnel from the Holy Empire, butler Hermann representing the Campbell family, and a few officials clearly dispatched from the Imperial Family.

Though not many in number, they were certainly individuals capable of asserting their presence.

“…”

However, there was one person who stood out more than any of these dignitaries.

Klein looked to the side with a slightly tense expression.

Under an ornate canopy sat the “communication projection” of a young man wrapped in gold from head to toe.

The Pope himself was watching this duel.

His body was probably inside the headquarters of the Holy Empire’s order, but he had sent a projection of himself to attend in that sense.

Then he narrowed his eyes to look at the impudent fellow in front of him.

‘Outwardly, he seems like nothing.’

There’s no need to deeply gauge his abilities.

He seems to have learned some swordsmanship, but his overall ability is at the level of an insect. So obvious that it’s plain to see.

How he managed to land a hit on him during the previous encounter remains a mystery.

“The rules are as follows.”

With both parties having drawn their swords, Atalante’s voice dropped.

“As this is an impromptu duel, fights to the death are prohibited. If anyone suffers what is clearly a serious injury, the duel will be immediately stopped and a winner declared. Otherwise, the duel continues until one side declares surrender. Do both parties understand?”

“I understand.”

“I understand.”

Even in a situation where he was facing a High Combat Priest, his face showed no concern whatsoever.

Klein’s forehead veins bulged at the nonchalant voice.

Normally, not just students but even most academy professors would not dare to look him in the eye.

But this guy, what is he?

‘I’ll crush him completely.’

Whatever his reasons might be, the other party was the one who challenged him to a duel first. That means he can legally beat him without any restrictions.

“…It’s too late to beg for forgiveness now.”

He said with a sinister smile.

As he spoke, various blessings were being generated around his body.

Divine power in the form of sacred characters materialized and began to swirl around him.

Each character carried tremendous effects.

Regenerative ability, physical defense, enhancement of agility and technique…

The simultaneous generation of blessings that would normally require an ordinary priest to pray for tens of minutes while holding sacred objects was enough to draw admiration from others watching nearby.

‘…How foolish.’

Klein smiled as he looked at Darwood, who was standing still with his sword drawn, after summoning these blessings in an instant.

The Combat Priests of the Holy Empire are considered one of the four major forces, alongside the Empire’s “Knights,” the Tribal Union’s “Warrior Chiefs,” and the Demonic Spire’s “Mages.”

While Knights excel in versatility for almost all situations, and Warrior Chiefs possess close combat abilities akin to humanoid magical beasts, the Combat Priest’s competitive edge comes entirely from these blessings.

The longer the battle, the more blessings accumulate, and Combat Priests gain nearly infinite vitality and defense. The enhancement of their physical specs is just a bonus.

The very brief moment before these blessings were generated would have been the last opportunity given to that Darwood Campbell.

And he wasted it by just standing there.

‘Well, even if he knew, it would have been difficult to strike.’

How quickly one can stack these blessings is the measure of a Combat Priest’s skill. For someone classified as “High,” the only humans who can penetrate this in actual combat are Knights or Warrior Chiefs of the same rank.

No matter how skilled, it’s impossible at a student level.

“-!”

He launches forward quietly, without a battle cry.

But the stone floor he steps on crumbles as if an explosive had detonated. This is the power with just one blessing stacked.

‘I won’t let my guard down.’

He had done so before and allowed a hit.

But now the Pope is watching directly. Such a disgrace cannot be tolerated.

-!

The sound of clashing and the first exchange took place.

Considering the difference in skill between the two, it was certainly a bizarre situation, but Klein wasn’t greatly surprised.

Having experienced it once before, he knew that what this guy showed wasn’t everything, and he had also been briefed beforehand.

‘Don’t try to kill him.’

‘…What do you mean, Your Holiness?’

He recalled the advice the Pope had given him directly before entering the duel.

‘The more aggressively you attack, the stronger he will become to match. That’s the kind of ability he has.’

The Pope had said in a gentle voice.

It’s an absurd ability.

Without any special power or conditions, he simply becomes stronger when someone tries to kill him.

‘I’ve seen something similar once before. I didn’t expect to see it again.’

‘…Are you saying there are others with such an irrational ability?’

‘Yes. Yes, there were.’

The Pope had only answered with a subtle smile to that question.

‘Though whether they should be called human is a bit ambiguous.’

He never revealed who it was, but Klein was grateful just to have been given such information.

Just by watching Darwood continue to respond to his attacks, he could tell.

An ability that bridges the gap between heaven and earth—between an academy student and a High Combat Priest. It’s ridiculous.

If he had charged in at full power without knowing anything, he might have been defeated.

‘But.’

The opponent’s ability responds not only to the power gap between them but also, more importantly, to how much “hostility” is held.

If so, all he needs to do is make the movements without imbuing them with “killing intent.”

No human could perfectly control their mental state to that degree, but even this much has clearly reduced the power compared to before. And for now, that’s enough.

Darwood, who had easily countered his attacks before, was now unable to deflect all of them. Far from counterattacking, he was either taking light hits or barely defending.

And now.

‘Blessing stack.’

The light emitted by the characters swirling around him grew stronger. The Combat Priest’s unique characteristic of growing stronger as time passes began to show its true value.

His already formidable physical abilities were further amplified, making his momentum even more ferocious.

The gap between the two, which had been narrow until now, widened further.

Attacks that couldn’t be deflected or blocked began to occur one by one, and wounds started to appear on Darwood’s body.

The gap would only widen further from now on. This guy’s defeat was already certain. A sinister smile returned to Klein’s face.

The subsequent development was exactly that.

More blessings stacked, he grew stronger, and Darwood’s wounds increased.

“…”

The only displeasing point was.

Despite everything, the opponent’s face remained expressionless.

As if even this desperate situation, which he could never overturn, was within his calculations.

The next action was probably born from such displeasure.

“Hey.”

After one exchange, Klein, who had left a long cut on Darwood’s arm, stepped back slightly and spoke.

“Why don’t you try begging for your life? Then I won’t leave too deep a wound.”

“…”

Still, an expressionless face. Not even an answer.

This made Klein’s anger rise even more, and he spoke again.

“It may not be a duel to the death, but any injury that doesn’t lead to death is fine. Do you want to experience being cut into pieces while still alive? You might wish I had killed you instead, given the pain.”

He deliberately used such words to threaten the opponent, but.

The opponent remained expressionless. Still composed.

“Oh. What a coincidence.”

Just.

“That’s exactly what I’m about to do to you.”

That was the only answer that came back.

●

As I uttered those words, Klein’s face filled with bewilderment.

“…What did you say?”

“Well, as you said, it’s not a duel to the death.”

I reply while scanning the window that appears before my eyes.

“I need to be sure you won’t die. You’d die instantly without the blessing stacks.”

“…”

Klein’s expression momentarily went blank.

He probably didn’t understand the meaning of what I said.

Soon, anger like an erupting volcano appeared on his face.

“…Are you saying you’ve been deliberately letting my blessings stack?”

“So you’re not completely stupid?”

Blood immediately rushed to the opponent’s eyes.

“You must still have some leeway to make such meaningless provocations.”

“Perhaps.”

First of all.

I’m not that composed either.

I’m busy calculating in my head.

What the implications are of what I’m about to do. What aftermath it will bring.

Secondly.

This isn’t a meaningless provocation. It’s a calm statement of fact.

If the blessings aren’t sufficiently stacked, this guy would really die in seconds against me.

“…I almost wish it were just a provocation. Me too.”

The time I can probably use is at most a few tens of seconds.

But that’s enough.

“Ha. Let’s see how long that arrogant mouth of yours can—”

“Hey.”

I cut him off with a sigh.

Come to think of it, the Holy Empire’s interest in me ultimately stems from their interest in the “power of demons.”

Because it’s essential for the final stage of the Pope’s lifelong ambition, his “great work.”

The power of transcendents that can twist even the laws of the world.

“I’m giving you serious advice here.”

So.

You know what.

I’ll show you directly.

“If you don’t want to die immediately, shut your mouth and concentrate.”

Simultaneously with the end of those words.

[ Using ‘Skill: Enlightenment’. ]

〓 Currently Available Functions

▶ Divine Possession – Wrath { Elnore }

<System Message>

[ Detecting demonic energy. ]

[ ‘Seal of the Fallen Heaven’ is responding. ]

The world.

Turned gray.

●