Ch.7777. Ra?id

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[“You, I mean.”]

Calivan’s voice comes from inside the amulet.

[“From now on, if you have something important to say, check with me first before saying it. You’re usually so sharp, but why only at times like these…”]

“…”

Maybe that really would be better from now on.

I’m counting on you, Calivan.

“…A child who carries calamity on the tip of his tongue.”

Kasa Garda clicked her tongue as she spoke.

This was her reaction after listening to my full explanation.

“I understand what you mean. So that’s what a deep relationship means.”

At least this time I seem to have successfully conveyed what I was thinking.

“A fellow disciple. You want to become Riru’s fellow student.”

After saying that, Kasa fell silent for a moment.

The trait I extracted from Riru, “Fighting Technique – Standing Style,” is a martial art created by Kasa. At least while this person’s body was “intact,” Riru would have been learning it from her.

And now I’ve just asked this person to teach it to me as well.

“…”

Come to think of it, it’s an extremely rude request. The two things the Tribal Union values most are honor and combat techniques.

It’s basically like asking someone to freely share their trade secrets, isn’t it?

“…Hmm.”

And.

I take a deep breath as I watch Kasa put down her pipe with a snort.

After saying something like this, there’s definitely something coming.

< System Message >

[ Crisis situation detected. ]

[ Judged to be a direct threat to life. ]

[ ‘Skill: Desperate Situation’ is applied at EX grade. ]

[ ‘Skill: Proof of Faith’ is activated. ]

[ All stat bonuses are temporarily converted to ‘Endurance’ stat! ]

[ ‘Skill: Divine Shield’ is activated. ]

[ Due to the effect of ‘Trait: Holy Power Operation’, 2 are created simultaneously! ]

As I activate the skills I had prepared in succession.

-!

A lightning-fast strike exploded.

It was a speed that seemed to eliminate the process of movement, leaving only the beginning and end.

“…”

I barely resist swallowing dry saliva as I look at the fist stopped right in front of my face.

Even with all the EX-grade stat bonuses converted to endurance, and two shields deployed that became even stronger as a result, I “barely” blocked this casual punch thrown by this person from a sitting position.

With that body. Even with such a sloppy strike where the center of gravity wasn’t even properly balanced, it had this much power.

“…”

But, in other words.

I “did manage to block it” somehow.

A strike from one of the world’s top powerhouses, known as Authority, right in front of my face.

“So you have enough ability to speak with such swollen guts.”

Kasa grinned as she withdrew her fist and picked up her pipe again.

I breathe a sigh of relief at the sight.

“…I’ve fulfilled the conditions, Kasa.”

The lion’s necklace, proof of being a promising talent recognized at the chieftain level.

And proof of the ability to withstand a strike from the “teacher” by any means necessary.

I’ve met all the criteria for requesting to be accepted as a disciple in the Tribal Union.

“…”

Kasa blew out a long stream of smoke from her tobacco and remained silent for a moment.

“When you say you want to finish within 10 days, I understand that to mean you want to master all my techniques.”

“…”

“Is there some circumstance that makes this necessary, child?”

I wish she’d stop using mind reading.

Actually, that’s true. Chapter 3 itself starts tomorrow and wraps up within 10 days.

My goal is to master this person’s fighting techniques completely by the “final event” of Chapter 3 that will happen after those 10 days.

If I don’t, my chances of clearing it drop dramatically.

There’s one more reason, though.

“…I want to help Riru.”

That’s somewhat true when I think about that person’s immediate “purpose.”

“Help her?”

“The reason she works so hard is to reclaim the rights and honor you lost, isn’t it? The things taken by unjust people.”

“…”

“Because there’s no one else who can do it.”

It’s a fact clearly visible when looking around.

In the Tribal Union, a clan is exactly the same as what’s commonly called a “family.” The number of members isn’t much different from that term either.

In that sense, the number of incense sticks lit around here means…

Excluding Riru, the last survivors of this clan are the children Riru just took inside and Kasa.

“She’s stubborn and proud. She definitely won’t stop until she achieves it.”

The fact that she “alone” built this shabby but large building where the entire remaining clan can live proves this.

In the Tribal Union, clan members can only live in buildings constructed by themselves. That’s the tradition.

Also, in the Tribal Union’s tradition, the elderly and children are excluded from the “labor force.”

Riru Garda has stubbornly adhered to this even now after being expelled from the Tribal Union.

Despite the enormous labor it must have required for this size, despite knowing nothing about construction.

She built it alone with bare fists and sheer determination.

So, as I said when I first entered here.

There’s no reason to mock this place for being shabby. It’s a space imbued with that level of pride and effort.

“But the current method is too slow. And there’s no one to help.”

Riru’s chosen method is to prove her worth at the “Empire’s Academy.” To build a power base in the Empire and take revenge on those who reduced her clan to this state in the Tribal Union.

Come to think of it, this person has always diligently participated in every “event where she could stand out.”

It was like that during the observation classes, and during the midterm exams too.

If she were truly the rule-breaking delinquent student her reputation suggests, there would be no reason for that. She would have just gone around doing whatever she wanted.

But, as I just said.

That method is too slow. There’s no telling how long it will take to see results.

So.

“…So you’re saying you’ll take care of all of it, child.”

“At least make it all possible within 10 days.”

If Riru passes the selection test tomorrow and gains exchange student qualification, and then heads to the Tribal Union’s academy with Kasa.

It’s not impossible.

“…”

After staring at my face for a long time, Kasa laughed softly.

“You’re speaking sincerely. You’re not harboring any schemes.”

At times like this, this person’s mind-reading-like perceptiveness is actually helpful.

I don’t need to do various things to prove my intentions.

“But I should at least ask for a reason. Why go to such lengths?”

“…”

“The help you mentioned is not something one would offer to someone who was a stranger until yesterday.”

I sigh.

Still.

I should obviously answer this much.

“…I’ll just say that it’s important to me too.”

“Important to you.”

“Yes. Helping Riru is important to me too.”

It’s immediately obvious that the list of people Riru is grinding her teeth to take revenge on overlaps with the bastards I need to kill as I progress through Chapter 3.

If successful, there’s nothing but gain.

Conversely, if the revenge fails or if the “process” goes awry and Riru becomes angry.

The Blue Demon will be unleashed. I have no choice in the matter.

“…”

And, after staring at my face for a long time, Kasa.

Eventually burst into hearty laughter.

It was a resounding laugh that was hard to believe coming from someone of that age and physical condition.

< System Message >

[ Target ‘Kasa Garda’s’ affection level has risen to ‘Interest Level 1’! ]

[ This is a character with a good alignment. Rewards are reduced! ]

“…”

It’s certainly better than getting angry or cold at my words.

But this is a reaction I didn’t expect either.

Why is she acting like this?

“About what you said earlier about becoming close with Riru, child.”

Kasa answered with an even bigger smile.

“It seems like it wasn’t such a wrong thing to say after all.”

“…Pardon?”

“You definitely didn’t mean it that way… but when you get to my age, you start to see things. Just by watching how someone speaks and acts, you can often get a ‘feeling’ about ‘how things will turn out.'”

The shape of her smile changed slightly.

If earlier it was consistently warm and benevolent, this smile is, how should I put it.

It feels like “you’ve walked right into it.”

“You’re destined to be bound by the words you’ve spoken, child. Didn’t I say you carry calamity on the tip of your tongue?”

“…What do you mean?”

“It means that whether you intended it or not, you’ll certainly fulfill what you said.”

“…”

“Because there clearly exists a destiny that will make it so, whether you like it or not. Riru has had a hard time finding suitable companions until now.”

“…”

“It won’t be difficult to grant your request. You’ll be forming an even stronger bond in the future, won’t you?”

I’m glad you like me and are willing to cooperate right away, but.

The reason is a bit strange?

●

One thing I’ve realized is that the Tribal Union’s ointment is extremely effective.

Thanks to the medicine Riru slathered all over my body, my wounds were healing remarkably fast. Almost as if some kind of magic had been used.

‘…Things have worked out well so far.’

Perhaps it’s not for nothing that her affection level jumped to Interest Level 1 despite me not being a Demonic Vessel. Kasa readily cooperated with everything I told her.

Sending Riru to the selection test tomorrow, accepting me as a new disciple, conveying everything well to the other side, and even agreeing to head to the Tribal Union with Riru herself.

These were all things that I was surprised to have accepted in one go.

“…”

Well, good is good.

She did say a lot of unsettling things, but anyway, good is good.

Thinking this, I arrive at the dormitory building and head to my room.

At that moment, a system window flashed before my eyes.

< System Message >

[ You have 24 unread important messages! ]

What’s this now?

24 messages?

I blink and operate the window.

< System Log >

#1

[ Target ‘Elnore’s’ madness is alleviated! ]

[ Corruption value decreases! ]

#2

[ Target ‘Elnore’s’ madness is alleviated! ]

[ Corruption value decreases! ]

#3

[ Target ‘Elnore’s’ madness is alleviated! ]

[ Corruption value decreases! ]

.

.

.

“…?”

What is this?

Checking the timestamps, these appeared during the past week when I was trying to avoid being noticed by Elnore.

All 24 messages have exactly the same content. Messages saying Elnore’s madness has been alleviated and her corruption value has decreased.

‘…But I didn’t do anything?’

Whatever it is, it’s good news for me.

Honestly, considering Elnore’s temperament, she would have definitely started going crazy the moment I began avoiding her like this.

So I was thinking I’d need to appease her somehow soon, but it seems both symptoms I was worried about have been continuously decreasing without my knowledge.

“There you are.”

Yikes!

I turn around, startled by the sudden voice from close by.

It’s someone I know.

Bizla. An incredibly ordinary-looking man, but in reality, he’s an elite exorcist agent from the Holy Empire.

I received help from him during the Valkarsus boss fight before.

Seeing that he’s still in the academy, it seems he’s maintaining his cover identity well.

“…What brings you here so suddenly?”

“I came to deliver a message. Your safety is important to the Holy Empire in many ways.”

Saying that, Bizla let out a reluctant sigh.

“…There’s intelligence coming in from various sources about a major operation targeting you. You’d better be prepared.”

“…”

It was about time for this.

I can guess what it is.

The boss of Chapter 3, [Apostle of the Inverted Tide], is, as I’ve mentioned repeatedly, an extremely insidious character.

Considering his nature, my existence is likely to be highly irritating to him.

It wouldn’t be strange at all if he started making moves against me even before the chapter begins.

“…Have they hired a famous assassin?”

“Quadruple Wings Veil. Do you know the name? Quite famous in the underworld.”

I certainly do.

He’s a member of the “Vagabond” assassination organization serving the Apostle of the Inverted Tide. Quite a formidable opponent.

“…I understand. Thanks for the information.”

“Be careful. He’s no ordinary man. You handled the previous two attacks well, but…”

“…?”

Wait a minute.

“Two attacks?”

“Yes. I heard more than 20 assassins were deployed. Given your abilities, it seems you handled them safely. But the one being deployed this time is on a different level, so I came to directly inform-“

“I haven’t been attacked.”

What are you talking about?

“…”

“…”

Bizla and I awkwardly made eye contact.

“No, are your sources reliable?”

“…The Holy Empire’s intelligence gathering is the best among the hegemonic nations. It must be correct.”

“I’m telling you I haven’t been attacked.”

“Anyway, I’ve delivered the information I came to share.”

“…”

“Make sure you prepare, Darwood Campbell. He’s no ordinary man.”

I watch with an incredulous face as Bizla disappears after leaving only those words.

‘…Well, anyway.’

I don’t know what he meant by two attacks with more than 20 assassins deployed.

But if he came to deliver this in person, it’s likely not a lie.

The expected time of attack is probably tomorrow.

It’s likely to come before the “selection test” begins.

‘…I’d rather not face that guy.’

Veil is one of the Vagabonds who has particularly bad compatibility with me. He’s the type whose strategies don’t work against him and who simply overwhelms with brute specs.

But what can I do when he won’t back down just because I don’t like it? I have to fight even if I don’t want to.

I need to prepare thoroughly and pay him back.

●

The next day.

The selection test began.

With no sign of any assassins.

“…”

Why aren’t they coming?

< System Message >

[ Target ‘Elnore’s’ madness is alleviated! ]

[ Corruption value decreases! ]

And why are you suddenly appearing again?

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