Ch.7272. Entrance

#

“…”

When Gideon regained consciousness, the first thing he noticed was that he was lying on an old wooden bed.

It was probably in the Campbell Barony. At least as far as he could remember, it was the only place nearby that could exude such peaceful tranquility.

“Since you seem to be struggling to figure out the situation, let me summarize it briefly for you.”

Before he could fully come to his senses, such a voice came from beside him.

It was Darwood Campbell, sitting with a book spread across his legs, reading it in a relaxed posture.

“The subjugation was completed cleanly, and all other members have disbanded. No casualties. Count Kendrid has returned to his territory.”

The man who spoke without even turning his gaze toward Gideon continued in a calm voice.

“It seems Count Kendrid had a much harder time during this subjugation, so we’ve decided to visit the north during the next pilgrimage return ceremony. You don’t have any objections, do you, Duke?”

“…”

How could he have any objections?

It was fortunate that everything ended without major incident in a situation that could have resulted in catastrophe.

Gideon looked down at his chest.

His last memory was of a demon fragment flying toward and embedding itself there.

“The demon fragment has completed fusion with Elnore. That’s the second one now.”

“…!”

Gideon’s eyes widened as he bolted upright.

“What on earth—”

“Trying to keep it from reaching Elnore would just be covering your eyes and pretending. You know that, don’t you?”

Gideon’s eyes trembled.

“Even if the fragments each take root in different humans, they’ll eventually gather in the one with the highest ‘compatibility.’ And Elnore is historically the most suitable vessel among human vessels, recognized by the Inquisition itself.”

“…”

“…You.”

He spoke with a trembling voice.

“How do you know about such things…?”

“I even know that the Imperial Royal Family is making you work yourself to death under the pretext of preventing such information from spreading.”

Such words came evenly with the sound of pages turning.

These were clearly not topics that should be flowing out so casually.

“And I also know what you’ve been doing to protect Elnore.”

Since the very purpose of eliminating the family’s madness was for his daughter’s sake.

Having heard this far, Gideon could only tremble, unable to even formulate a question.

The words this man was uttering were the nightmares that had eaten away at Gideon throughout his entire life.

“Rather than that, let’s celebrate the fact that we removed a demon fragment from a person without ‘killing’ them. Isn’t that what you’ve been researching all along?”

Even his ‘purpose.’

So casually.

Flowing out as if discussing the weather.

“So, as the person who’s been freely divulging information that absolutely no one but you should know, I’d like to propose something.”

Darwood closed his book with a thud and spoke while yawning.

“I also intend to fully cooperate in protecting Elnore. More precisely, in preventing the ‘catastrophe’ that will inevitably come to her.”

“…”

“However, I’d like you to leave the method entirely to me.”

“…”

“We’ve built a relationship of trust… more or less. I fully intend to help you.”

If he had wanted to do something harmful, he could have succeeded dozens of times already.

That message was likely hidden between the lines.

Hearing those words, Gideon struggled to respond.

“…Are you saying that attaching two fragments to that child is also part of your method?”

Though it was truly hard to believe, not a single word this man had uttered was untrue.

‘How does he know such things?’ didn’t matter. This man wasn’t the type to readily explain such things, and Gideon had no way of finding out at the moment.

However, he needed to know the reason for such actions.

“Even though you know what happens when those three gather—”

“As I said earlier, the gathering of three fragments in Elnore is inevitable. However, if I ‘intervene’ in the entire process, the story becomes quite different.”

“…What?”

“I’m saying I won’t repeat what you experienced before. Having the fragment ‘pass through’ you this time was also part of that process.”

With those words, a scene unfolded in Gideon’s mind.

Summer. A study. Cicadas chirping loudly.

The day his entire life was twisted.

A blood-stained sword. A body collapsed on the floor.

“…”

This man.

Does he even know about that?

How much does he know, how much is he planning, and how far ahead is he looking?

Gideon silently stared at Darwood, who continued to stretch lazily.

“Ah, Darwood. You were here—”

As he was mulling over these thoughts, someone walked into the room.

It was Elnore.

Her gaze rested on Gideon, who was sitting up in bed.

“…”

“…”

After a moment of silence with her head fixed in his direction, she quickly turned away.

“…The heirloom you requested from the Chester County has arrived. The carriage is waiting.”

“Oh, I’ll go see right away. Did the mid-tier artifact come with it?”

“Yes. I’ve verified the certificate as well.”

With just those words, Elnore turned around again and left the room.

To an outsider, it might still seem like they were treating each other as invisible, just as before.

“…”

But Gideon, the person directly involved, felt as if he’d been struck on the back of his head.

Because he noticed that mixed in with the hostility and hatred that had always been present in that child’s gaze was, just a little bit, a ‘different emotion.’

The child who had considered him only as an enemy since that day had begun to see him a little differently, he could feel it.

“…I know that you treat her like she’s invisible because of your guilt.”

Darwood, who was about to leave to follow Elnore, spoke with a bitter smile.

“It might be easier to resolve than you think.”

Even when losing her mind to madness.

Even when her remaining thread of reason was manipulated by the demon fragment.

Because she’s someone you never want to harm.

Until Darwood left after delivering that meaningful sentence, Gideon was blankly reflecting on the gaze Elnore had just given him.

#

“…That was long…”

I stagger into my room and collapse onto the bed.

Seriously, it’s supposed to be a vacation, but I can’t even rest. What is this?

“…”

But I still need to check some things.

Lying on the bed, I call up the system window.

<System Message>

[ You have completed the side quest ‘Disturbance’! ]

[ Rewards will be distributed! ]

[ 1 mid-tier artifact will be awarded! ]

I nod as I scan through the contents.

The artifact I received has been sent to my dormitory room at Elphante along with their family heirloom.

Since it’s optimized for ‘training,’ I can start using it as soon as I arrive there and unpack.

And something much more important.

< System Message >

[ Confirming ‘deal’ with ‘Grey Demon’! ]

[ First stage restriction of ‘Seal of Fallen Heaven’ is released. ]

[ Your attribute is gradually changing from ‘Human’ to ‘·̶̛͈̪͚̹̺͖͉̪̇̎̃̏̃̎̚͡ͅ ̷̥͉̞͎̯̥̫̳̻͆͊̉̀̾͘͞·̴̵̢̢̥̱̝̘̟͎̯̥̟͖̞͊͐͌̿̎̋̔̈́̃̕̚͘͜͟͝͞͞·̶̛͈̪͚̹̺͖͉̪̇̎̃̏̃̎̚͡ͅ ̷̥͉̞͎̯̥̫̳̻͆͊̉̀̾͘͞·̴̵̢̢̥̱̝̘̟͎̯̥̟͖̞͊͐͌̿̎̋̔̈́̃̕̚͘͜͟͝͞͞’. ]

[ The attribute change will accelerate as you form closer relationships with ‘demons’. ]

I dismiss the system window with a bitter smile.

I mean, this was done at my request, but seeing it confirmed in writing like this makes it a bit bitter.

“…”

I stroke the Seal of Fallen Heaven that’s writhing on my chest as if it were alive.

I’ve been feeling this sensation of it moving on its own for a while now.

This phenomenon has been present since I summoned this thing into ‘my body’ during the duel before the Pope.

And now, after making a deal with the Grey Demon, that feeling is transmitted much more vividly.

As stated in the message, this thing will slowly transform me into ‘something not human.’

Since it accelerates as I form closer relationships with demons, I suppose the speed will increase as I conquer more demonic vessels.

‘…Now it’s really do or die.’

Normally, I would never touch this.

This is one of the most extreme ‘gambles’ a human in the Serath world can make.

A deal with a demon. When entangled with demons in any way, the end is usually not good.

If I don’t ‘resolve’ this seal at the right time, I might transform into something worse than death.

‘Fortunately, there is a way to survive.’

I already have insurance planned out in my head.

It’s incredibly difficult, but definitely possible. A way to preserve my humanity and ‘survive’ without any aftereffects.

That’s why I’m doing this.

“…Sigh.”

Of course, I’ll have to go through a lot of hardship to achieve that.

I get up from the bed with a sigh.

Of course, the effect is absolutely mind-blowing, proportional to the risk it eliminates.

‘Chapter 3 progression is definitely…’

While Chapters 1 and 2 focused on conquering powerful single bosses, Chapter 3 focuses more on overcoming simultaneous ‘crises’ rather than bosses.

There will be many more situations where I’ll face multiple less powerful enemies rather than one strong one.

And in such situations, if this ‘unrestricted Seal of Fallen Heaven’ has the ability I think it does.

It will demonstrate terrifying efficiency.

It was originally a skill not permitted to players. It’s obvious that having something like this would make progression too easy.

“…”

And there was a reason I needed to acquire such a powerful ability despite the risk.

‘Being dragged along by someone else’s intentions isn’t my style.’

This is what I’ve been thinking about since overcoming the boss battle with Valkarsus.

As I continue with the main scenario, there’s a high probability that the Luminary will intervene at will and create variables beyond my perception, just like in Chapter 2.

This is a counterpunch I’ve prepared for such times.

He probably didn’t expect that I would prepare ‘something like this.’

So, this will be an appropriate countermeasure against his future schemes.

With that thought, I scan the next window that appears.

< System Message >

[ ‘Grey Demon Fragment’ fuses with target ‘Elnore’. ]

[ Target ‘Elnore’s’ rank as a vessel increases! ]

[ Can handle demonic energy more skillfully! ]

[ Changes occur in personality! ]

[ Emotional fluctuations occur toward certain targets! ]

I scan through the windows that appear one after another.

The sentence at the end is particularly noteworthy.

It’s flashing as if there’s something more to check, so I tap to confirm.

< System Message >

#1

[ Target ‘Elnore’ develops confused feelings toward target ‘Gideon’. ]

[ Hatred toward the target is mitigated! ]

[ Some changes occur in the main scenario branch! ]

[ Meets the conditions for a hidden event! ]

[ You have met the conditions for the hidden event ‘???’ once! (2/3) ]

That’s right.

This is what I’ve been working so hard for. It’s that important.

But why is it labeled #1?

Is there something else?

#2

[ Target ‘Elnore’ has realized that target ‘Darwood’ is much more popular than expected! ]

[ Her possessiveness grows stronger! ]

[ Due to this possessiveness, she accelerates what she was preparing! ]

[ The production schedule for the ‘engagement ring’ is moved up! ]

“…”

Wait.

Hold on.

What is she preparing?

#

“…What on earth did you do during the break to end up in that state? You look like a walking corpse.”

“I was recognized as quite useful by the Margrave of the Northern Border, improved the family relationship of a Grand Duke who doesn’t get along with his daughter, and additionally, they’re planning to bestow a viscount title on me.”

“…”

“And apparently, the Tristan Princess is in the process of making an engagement ring for me.”

The Chancellor Atalante’s face showed an expression that seemed to ask what on earth I had been doing when I was supposed to be resting.

I feel the same way.

The one fortunate thing is that due to all the eventful happenings, the question of choosing between Elnore and Elia has faded away.

Honestly, choosing either one would have resulted in hellish consequences for me, but due to the accident in between, it was settled that I would first ‘interact’ with Margrave Kendrid.

“…Let me start with what I’ve already heard.”

The Chancellor sighed and began speaking.

“Having your title suddenly elevated while still a student is actually quite significant. The academy will have to treat you differently from now on.”

“…Wait a moment. Is it okay to acknowledge that so readily?”

When Elnore arbitrarily cut off a piece of land and threw it to me, I thought it would be a headache to process everything, but from what the Chancellor is saying, it seems like it’s already a decided matter regardless.

Is it okay for the Empire to decide on territory succession issues so arbitrarily?

“First, all the lands near the Campbell Barony are the outskirts of the outskirts. Honestly, the Imperial Family probably doesn’t care at all what happens to that land.”

“…”

That’s a bit harsh.

It’s not like it’s cursed land or anything.

“It has no special resources, nothing else noteworthy, and it’s not particularly rugged. That’s probably why you don’t seem particularly interested in managing the territory, right?”

“…”

That’s true.

Well, honestly, obtaining the territory was more significant as a pass for dungeon subjugation and artifact exploration. I just dumped the management on my father and fled straight to the academy.

I’ll probably go check on it once in a while during breaks.

“And secondly.”

Atalante pushed up her monocle and continued.

“It’s because it’s you that this is possible.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re a hot potato across the Tribal Union, the Holy Empire, and the Imperial Royal Family. You haven’t forgotten how spectacularly you made yourself known before the Pope last time, have you?”

“…”

“The Imperial Family won’t interfere because they don’t want to antagonize such a valuable resource. If they did, the Holy Empire or Tribal Union would seize the opportunity to try to recruit you into their countries.”

That’s… true.

I didn’t realize I was such a hot potato.

However, I’m curious about one thing.

“…Why has your expression been so grim from earlier?”

“It’s all connected, Darwood.”

Atalante rummaged through her desk and pulled out a document.

“Students whose titles are elevated during their studies must necessarily be promoted. It means we can’t keep you as a freshman anymore.”

“…But I haven’t done anything?”

“If others say so, then that’s how it is. There are things we can’t ask freshmen to do.”

I receive the document from Atalante and read it.

It contains rules to follow when advancing from freshman to second-year military academy.

“…”

And as soon as I see it, my face instantly hardens.

“When you become a second-year student, the range of events and activities you can participate in both inside and outside the academy becomes tremendously wide. That includes exchanges with other academies. So the hegemonic countries have probably been waiting eagerly to see when you’ll enter the second year.”

I scan the item written at the very end of the document.

Invitation. At the Crucible of Struggle. One week later.

“…And it seems the Tribal Union in particular has been especially interested in you.”

I know what this is about.

The ‘Academy Exchange Student’ event.

This is practically the signal flare announcing the start of Chapter 3.