Ch.7474. Intersection (2)

“Lucien took a deep breath and continued.

“…Yes, if you change the order of the prayer slightly, the blessing’s power becomes much more effective. It might be a bit difficult, but after practicing a few times, you’ll get the feel-“

“Like this?”

“…”

Lucien fell silent as she saw the dual-colored divine barrier that appeared before Darwood’s eyes.

Inwardly, she was barely suppressing a scream.

Anyone would feel the same way watching Darwood immediately implement what she had just taught him.

‘He said this was his first time…’

She looked at him with an internal grimace.

She had certainly been confident when she first started teaching him. She thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to correct this man’s ‘attitude.’

She didn’t even expect him to treat her with the reverence befitting a saint, like others did.

She just wanted him to stop suddenly appearing, ordering her and Yuria around, and then disappearing. That’s not how you treat a saint—it’s how you treat a servant!

‘This is supposed to be difficult…’

Among all abilities, divine power is something everyone possesses, but it’s also the most variable and capricious.

Easy to start, difficult to master—that would be the best way to describe it.

That’s why when this man said he would develop his divine power to one-third of her level within a month, she had just scoffed.

For the first two days, her prediction seemed accurate.

He couldn’t memorize the prayers properly, and he couldn’t even manifest the most basic blessings correctly. She had secretly rejoiced.

‘So he’s not perfect after all!’

She had finally found this person’s weakness!

If she could help him with that weakness, she could make him realize how important she was to him, stop him from abandoning Yuria and running off with other women, and make him depend on her for future matters…

She had been indulging in such fantasies.

All those hopes had vanished by today, however.

“…”

He was fast.

Too fast at learning.

To be precise, he was undoubtedly a beginner in the very basics of ‘handling’ divine power itself, but once she showed him the method, he absorbed all knowledge like a sponge.

She wasn’t sure how much he had learned today in less than half a day, from lunch until evening.

It had taken her at least a week to master the ‘cross prayer’ she had just taught him!

‘So that’s why he made such an absurd condition…’

A sudden realization came to her.

The goal he had set when they started training.

He must have genuinely believed it ‘would work’!

‘This is what it feels like.’

While Lucien was looking at him as if he were a monster, Darwood himself was casually manipulating divine power without much thought.

He knew the skill system in Savior Rising inside and out. Simply ‘utilizing’ it was something he had done hundreds of times in the game.

The only challenge had been learning how to ‘handle’ divine power itself, which he had overcome after struggling with Lucien for a few days.

It was like having a game he knew by heart from beginning to end, but not having the controller plugged in.

“And next I’ll teach you-“

She half-sobbed as she shuffled through the papers she had prepared.

She had been so excited to finally take the lead after always being pushed around by this man.

It was only a few days into the lessons, and already more than half of the month-long curriculum she had prepared was disappearing.

“Multiple blessings, that is, activating them in combination…”

“Oh, I think it would feel like this.”

With a whoosh, several divine shields materialized around Darwood.

“…”

Lucien put down her papers, trembling.

“Just do it yourself.”

“…Pardon?”

“You’re doing fine without my teaching! I even prepared several tips for beginners…! You, you idiot, ugh, uuugh…”

“…”

She was now beyond whimpering, even sniffling.

As Darwood kept his mouth shut, the door to the classroom, which had only contained the two of them, slid open.

It was Yuria, rubbing her eyes as she entered.

After quickly surveying the awkward atmosphere in the classroom, she spoke in a sleepy voice.

“Mr. Darwood, are you bullying my sister again?”

“I haven’t bullied her at all.”

“My sister is much more sensitive than she looks, so please be considerate. She really wants to play the big sister role, so at least pretend to depend on her.”

“…”

That’s not something you should say in front of the person herself.

While pondering this, Yuria yawned again and continued.

“You should probably stop for today. Lady Ophelia asked me to tell you that.”

After saying this, Yuria slipped out of the classroom, and Darwood spoke in a monotone voice.

“Hasn’t her condition improved a lot lately?”

When they first met, she couldn’t even speak properly and had to communicate by floating letters in the air.

But these days, she can speak like that quite often, even when Lucien isn’t nearby.

Almost to the point where it doesn’t seem to affect her daily life.

“Recently, even the curse rising from the Severed has been progressing much more slowly. It’s all thanks to you. Thank you.”

Lucien offered her thanks while still sniffling.

As expected of a saint. Even in such a situation, she doesn’t forget her ingrained manners.

However, instead of responding in kind, Darwood narrowed his eyes.

“You should keep a close eye on yourself for a while. Be careful.”

“Pardon?”

Darwood only gave a bitter smile instead of explaining.

Well.

He had experienced this kind of dramatic improvement in a Vessel’s abilities before.

It’s the same phenomenon as with Elnore after the Purifier incident. The fusion rate between the fragment and the vessel increases, dramatically boosting the subject’s physical specs.

And there’s one more event that follows.

“…”

Actually, there’s nothing to say to Lucien. The one who really needs to be careful is Darwood himself.

When the fusion rate of the first vessel, Elnore, increased, the second vessel, Yuria, appeared not long after.

And now the fusion rate of the second vessel, Yuria, is increasing.

In other words, this is…

A sign that another ‘Vessel’ is about to appear.

●

< System Log >

[ You have successfully utilized divine power! ]

[ Proficiency in ‘Trait: Divine Power Manipulation’ has increased. ]

[ Your proficiency has improved dramatically! ]

[ The trait has been upgraded from ‘Basic’ to ‘General’! ]

< Mastery Info >

[ Trait: Divine Power Manipulation ] [ Rank: General ]

[ Current Proficiency: 0% ]

[ Manifest various blessings using divine power. This is the foundation of all techniques used by priests. ]

[ ■ You can deploy up to 2 identical blessings. ]

[ ■ You can use all blessings derived from ‘Basic Prayers’! ]

Not bad.

I nod as I look at the results of taking lessons from the Saint for several days.

With this, I can now activate several buffs with my own hands, beyond just the blessings built into Ultima.

Of course, since they’re basic prayers, the effects are simple and straightforward.

‘Red Blessing’ that increases attack power, ‘Blue Blessing’ that increases defense, ‘Yellow Blessing’ that increases agility… mostly that kind of thing. Just primary stat boosts.

The effects themselves might not seem impressive, but for someone like me who has skills like ‘Do or Die’ or ‘Mental World’ that can multiply the efficiency of such buffs, they’re more than welcome.

Now, let me check once more.

< Status Info >

「Darwood Campbell」

[Normal]

Strength: F (98% until rank up)

Agility: F (98% until rank up)

Endurance: F

Luck: F

Authority: D

After suffering from excruciating full-body muscle pain for days while exercising day and night with Talion, I’m now on the verge of ranking up with just one day left until the exchange student selection exam.

‘This is a lot of progress for just a week.’

It would normally take at least a month to achieve this much growth.

Thanks to the Lion’s Necklace, my training speed is faster, and my body keeps recovering even when I’m on the brink of death.

‘…This should be just enough.’

Since I’ll be heading straight to the ‘Crucible of Struggle’ right after the exam, with the stat rank-up and buffs combined, I’ve just barely met the ‘cut line.’

If my memory serves me right, there are plenty of events waiting there that will push my body to the limit.

“…”

I silently scroll through the system window that appears before me.

[ Main Quest ]〖 Chapter 3 – Apostle of the Inverted Tide 〗

[ Related event will occur soon! ] [ D-2 ]

This is it.

Unlike Chapter 2, where Valkarsus, the stage’s main character, kindly warns you to prepare for his attack, Chapter 3 is filled with breathless progression that dumps all sorts of hardships on the player from the start.

I need to prepare in advance.

“-That concludes today’s lesson. Enjoy your lunch.”

While I was lost in thought, the professor descended from the podium with those words.

Around me, students scatter in groups of three or five, heading toward the cafeteria with noisy chatter. This is probably the happiest time of day for students.

Not applicable to me, though.

First, I look for an escape route.

The side door I noticed when I first entered the classroom looks best.

I don’t have much time. I turn toward it, pretending to be as natural as possible.

“Dar-“

Fortunately, I manage to escape the classroom before hearing the rest of that call.

I blend naturally with the crowd and walk through the corridor until I reach a place with no signs of people.

“…”

I breathe a sigh of relief.

This time too, I survived…!

“…Are you okay?”

I jump in surprise at the voice coming from right beside me.

Turning to the side, I see Elia crouching awkwardly with a smile.

“Are you following me too?”

“I usually eat my packed lunch around here. The cafeterias in this area don’t taste very good.”

“…You have the luxury to eat?”

I’m envious…!

“…Professor, what exactly have you been suffering from lately?”

“…”

What else could it be?

< Gift-Related Person Alert >

♥ Elnore Erinarise la Tristan

[ Affection Level 2 ]

[ Related event is pending! ]

This is it.

Unlike other events that show “days remaining,” this one is terrifyingly marked as “pending.”

It feels like she might shove a ring into my hand the moment I run into her.

And if I were to accept it…

“…”

I don’t even want to imagine.

I can’t begin to fathom how the White Demon rampaging inside Yuria would chew, tear, taste, and enjoy me.

“…Why are you sweating so much?”

“It’s complicated.”

“…”

Elia gave me a strange look before clearing her throat and holding something out to me.

“This worked out well. I was about to go looking for you anyway.”

“Why? What do you want…!”

“…What kind of life has this person been living lately?”

As I felt a chill run down my spine and asked that, Elia narrowed her eyes and held out something.

It was a neatly wrapped lunch box.

“…Please eat. You always eat poorly, don’t you, Professor?”

“Huh?”

“Even without considering recent events, I’ve heard you’re always so busy that you skip meals more often than not. I made this, so please eat it.”

“…”

I accept the lunch box, dumbfounded.

Well, it’s true that I often skip meals because I’m busy with various things.

“…Thank you.”

When I blinked and said that, Elia smiled broadly.

“Hmm, I was a bit reluctant when it was called homework, but I’m glad I listened.”

“Homework?”

“It’s something like that~”

Elia hummed a tune as she opened her own lunch box beside me.

She seems much happier just from giving me a lunch box.

“…”

I silently sit down next to her and open the lunch box.

Looking inside, it’s better than I expected.

Meat, noodles, and vegetables are neatly arranged.

I try a few bites, and it tastes good.

She’s quite skilled, isn’t she?

“Hey, this is delicious. Are you good at cooking?”

“…”

Elia smiled brightly again.

It’s a radiant smile, like a flower blooming.

“Eh, eheh. Ehehehe. R-really?”

“…”

The way she squirms while smiling like that is a bit creepy, though.

After fidgeting by herself for a while, Elia cleared her throat and continued.

“…Actually, there’s one more thing I’d like to ask. Since there are two homework assignments.”

She seemed to have contemplated for a long time before finally bringing it up.

“What is it?”

“…If you’re too busy to eat properly these days, I could take responsibility for making things like this-“

Before Elia could finish her sentence, a sudden loud noise shook the building nearby.

The end of her sentence was drowned out by the sound and the screams of students.

“…”

Elia’s eyes narrowed, but I also stand up.

I have a rough idea of what event might be happening at this timing, but I should check with my own eyes.

Looking through the window at the landing, I can see what happened in the plaza outside the building.

‘…Just as I expected.’

The person I anticipated comes into view.

“What did you just say?”

Riru Garda with a demonic expression. And in front of her, a male student who has turned pale.

The vibration just now must have been from Riru stomping her foot in front of that student. The ground beneath her foot has shattered into pieces, creating a crater.

“Wow… it’s that person again.”

Elia, standing next to me, clicked her tongue as she saw the scene.

“I heard she’s beaten up more than ten people who provoked her like that. She never gets tired of it, does she?”

“…”

Instead of answering, I just smirk.

No, she’s not the one picking fights.

Riru doesn’t pick fights unless she sees a worthy opponent. She simply doesn’t care.

The reason for her terrible reputation is that when she beats up someone who doesn’t show her proper respect, she doesn’t consider their status or background and goes all out without regret.

Because of this, people of lower status think she’s aristocratic and arrogant, while those of higher status think she’s vulgar and disrespectful—completely contradictory evaluations.

“…”

This is ridiculous.

Can’t she just tone down her temper a bit?

“I asked what you just said. What did you say about my family just now?”

“I-I didn’t say anything-“

Well. He probably did.

Considering the game’s progression, this male student must have acted arrogantly toward Riru and been severely beaten once before. He must have held a personal grudge and now irritated her nerves once more.

Riru’s eyes narrowed.

Her fist rises. She’s probably planning to beat that student to a pulp.

For a brief moment, a triumphant expression crosses the male student’s face.

That’s probably because he’s set a “trap.”

Someone grabs Riru’s raised arm from behind.

“That’s enough.”

I know this person too.

The one who grabbed her arm is Luca, the barbarian warrior.

Behind him are his companions, who were preparing to eat, now with wide eyes.

Falco the archer. Grid the mage. Trisha the priest.

The entire “Hero Party” except for Elia.

That male student probably knew someone would step in to stop her if she used force against him, which is why he provoked her.

Given Riru’s current reputation, the Hero Party would be the ones who absolutely wouldn’t tolerate such “injustice.”

“…Huh? What are they doing there?”

While Elia was speaking with a bewildered expression, Riru frowned and shook off Luca’s arm.

“Get lost.”

“I said that’s enough. I don’t know what you heard, but resorting to violence first doesn’t look good.”

Actually, from my perspective knowing everything, this is justified violence. Setting aside the law, that male student deserves a severe beating.

He… severely insulted Riru’s family.

Especially considering the condition of the “family” members currently living with her.

“…”

Riru sighed and turned toward Luca.

Killing intent boils in her eyes.

“I said get lost.”

“I can’t do that. I don’t know how many times you’ve beaten up your classmates in the department, but this is going too far-“

Riru’s fist struck Luca’s face directly as he tried to continue speaking.

Yes, that’s the problem with her temperament.

She could just explain a little, but she always hits people before talking.

The male student who provoked her probably knew this and set the trap.

“Th-that! Isn’t she crazy?!”

Elia screamed, but Luca only grimaced and stepped back a few steps from the blow, without seeming to take much damage.

A divine shield the size of a fist had been erected in front of his face. It was set up by Trisha, who was holding her sacred implement with a tense expression.

“S-stop it! Why are you being so violent?!”

At Trisha’s scream, Grid and Falco, who had been watching the situation silently until now, also hardened their expressions and drew their weapons.

They probably decided they couldn’t just stand by when their friend was hit.

“…Want to try me?”

Seeing this, Riru smiled even more fiercely.

4:1, and they’re rumored to be among the strongest of the freshmen. Yet she shows no sign of backing down.

“Fine. Come at me.”

“…”

Luca, who had been watching silently, sighed and opened his mouth.

“…How long are you going to live like this?”

Riru paused.

“…What?”

“Even in a place far from home, there are usually one or two people from the same region.”

Luca continued in a calm voice.

“I am Luca Han-Chai from the Hyrule Mountains. I know about the Tribal Union’s situation, and I know who you are. The daughter of the Great Chief. The last bloodline of the great leader.”

Riru’s eyes widened slightly.

“I heard you were exiled here because of that violence. Haven’t you shamed the Great Chief’s face enough already?”

“…”

Riru was silent for a moment.

But it wasn’t because she was hit where it hurt.

A snickering laugh escapes from her mouth.

However, the emotion in her eyes is completely opposite to that.

That is Riru’s sore spot.

The faces of all the students around turned pale.

A murderous intent that seemed to burn all the surrounding air was seeping from Riru.

“Luca Han-Chai of the Hyrule Mountains.”

An ice-cold voice, devoid of any emotion, flowed from Riru.

“I’ll remember that. I will definitely kill you.”

“…I think we’re past the point of resolving this amicably?”

Seeing Riru’s expression as she said this, Grid and Falco sighed.

“I-I’ll go help them too!”

“Leave them be.”

“…Pardon?”

I stop Elia as she tries to rush out.

“They’re not weak either. With 4:1, they should be able to handle this.”

If we set Elnore’s combat power after absorbing two fragments at 10, and Elia’s combat power at 5, then the combat power of those four working together would be about 7.5.

Even for Riru, that’s not a level she can handle alone.

‘…She’ll get thoroughly beaten here.’

After that, Riru will undergo some change of heart, recognize her own shortcomings, and become friends with the Hero Party members.

That’s how the story progressed, if I remember correctly.

So I should just let things unfold according to the original work and focus on what I need to take care of.

With Riru’s temper subdued, it wouldn’t be too difficult to persuade her to return to her “homeland” through this exchange student event.

Probably.

< System Message >

[ Demonic energy detected. ]

[ ‘Seal of Fallen Heaven’ is responding! ]

If only this hadn’t popped up in front of me.

“…”

A chill runs down my spine.

Looking at Riru, ‘blue energy’ was billowing from her body.

It’s familiar. I’ve already seen ‘something similar’ twice.

Demonic energy.

“…”

You’ve got to be kidding me.

I noticed signs of a new vessel emerging from Yuria, but this quickly?

My spine feels even colder.

Riru Garda was a major candidate for being a vessel in the original work, but if she’s harboring the ‘Blue Demon’ like this…

Hero Party or not, they can’t withstand this in combat. No joke, it wouldn’t be strange if all four of them died right here.

“…”

And, of course.

That can’t happen.

The Hero Party, while not as crucial as Elia, is still one of the core parts of the story. If even one of them dies, the entire scenario goes to hell.

So, what should I do here?

“…”

My thoughts were quick, and my decision was even quicker.

I open the window and take a deep breath.

“…Professor?”

And despite hearing Elia’s puzzled voice beside me…

I immediately throw myself out the window.

It’s quite high, but I need to get there as quickly as possible.

“…! You crazy b…!”

I could hear Elia cursing behind me, but my body was already falling outside the window.

Bang. I land on the ground with a loud noise, completely crushing everything nearby.

“…”

One of my legs is also crushed. Seems like a severe fracture.

But by now, I don’t even scream from this level of injury. It feels like just a scratch.

I get up nonchalantly and limp between Riru and the Hero Party.

Everyone in sight is staring at me with wide eyes. Their faces say, “What is wrong with this madman?”

In that situation.

“You guys.”

I stand in front of Riru, as if shielding her.

Then, I speak to the Hero Party.

“You’ll die if you continue.”

“…”

Riru’s eyes widened.