Ch.8585. Friendly Match

“The Grand Chief Allan Va-Thor’s authority is still valid. While most of the Union’s chiefs are starting to express dissatisfaction, the level of control you desire is still functioning.”

Tatiana’s voice settled softly in the empty private room.

Her position as the Grand Chief’s closest aide meant she had a spacious private room that never interfered with her “regular reports,” but she never let the mask she always wore slip.

Narrowed eyes, smiling face.

The reason was simple. The Luminary had ordered her to present herself this way.

She tended to follow the Luminary’s orders without fail. Even if her life hung in the balance.

[How’s the relic used to brainwash him? Still working properly?]

Steam rose from the masked face as it spoke.

She was likely somewhere in the northern Empire now. The territory ruled by Margrave Kendrid.

Apparently there was something to “set up” over there.

“Yes. It will function effectively for at least as long as you desire.”

[Good. If something goes wrong with it, we might miss all the interesting scenes. You need to manage it properly, understand?]

“I will serve you faithfully.”

[We don’t need it to last long. Just keep it in that state for the 10 days while the exchange students from Elphante are staying.]

If someone were listening, this would sound like a conversation between lunatics.

Just to see an “interesting scene,” and only for a measly 10-day “academy event.”

Brainwashing one of the continental powers’ leaders and using him as they pleased.

[It’s a rare opportunity to have four Demonic Vessels gathered in one place. We can’t just let it pass by.]

“…Did you say four?”

She had already met two of the vessels.

Elnore Erinarise la Tristan. Vessel of the Grey Demon.

Yuria Greyhaunter. Vessel of the White Demon.

Yet there were two more?

[The Blue Demon and… the Red Demon. Both are here right now. I can sense them. We’ll have to find out who the vessels are from now on.]

“…I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll make sure to report satisfactory results—”

[Ah, no no, no need to try so hard. They’ll all come to us anyway.]

The Luminary yawned and waved his hand dismissively.

[We have the world’s most effective ‘trap,’ don’t we?]

“…”

That was certainly true.

There existed a man who was like a magnet, attracting Demonic Vessels even if he just stood still.

But there was something she couldn’t understand.

“…May I ask you one thing?”

[Hmm? You’re usually so obedient, why the sudden question?]

“Why do you only give that man… ‘trials he can overcome’?”

First was Marquis Riverback, second was the Boy King Valkarsus.

Through those battles, that man was growing stronger. His bonds with the Demonic Vessels who could be called his companions were deepening.

Considering the Luminary’s near-omnipotent abilities, the man achieved such results because the Luminary only gave him trials he could overcome. Otherwise, such results wouldn’t be possible—

[I’ve never done that.]

“…Pardon?”

[I genuinely tried to kill him with those. I may not have used my full power, but I set conditions that would require a miracle just to barely survive, didn’t I?]

“…”

[The fact that he always overcomes them with the best possible outcome is purely his own ability. It’s entertaining to watch every time.]

“…”

The Luminary chuckled and continued.

[Well, if I had to give a reason why I don’t use my full power… the stronger he gets, the better it is for us too.]

“What… do you mean?”

[By overcoming trials, that man grows stronger, and his bonds with the Demonic Vessels deepen. That’s good enough. Doesn’t it make achieving our ‘goal’ easier?]

All those facts aligned with the conditions necessary for the Luminary’s own “ultimate goal.”

While their final objectives were certainly different, that man was paradoxically a tremendous help in their primary goal of gathering all the pieces in the Demonic Vessels.

[Besides, I find it endlessly entertaining to watch Darwood struggle desperately to survive.]

Seeing Tatiana’s silence, the Luminary chuckled again.

[Are you jealous?]

“…”

[You look quite upset that I’m praising him.]

Tatiana remained silent for a moment at the Luminary’s playful voice from across the video call.

The Luminary was likely doing this on purpose.

He must know how she would feel hearing such words, given that she would sacrifice both body and soul for him.

[Yes, I’m doing it on purpose.]

“…”

[Try to kill him with everything you’ve got. It won’t be easy. Even that cunning Marquis Riverback couldn’t do it, and neither could the Boy King, the strongest alchemist. I wonder how you’ll fare?]

“…”

[If you prove more entertaining than that man, I might even praise you.]

“…”

[Good luck, Apostle of the Inverted Tide. Near the sea is where you have the advantage, right?]

The communication ended there.

After sitting silently for a while, Tatiana nodded and stood up.

“…”

She briefly looked at the necklace she always wore.

A jewel emitting an eerie green light gleamed at its center.

When she closed her eyes, she could hear ‘it’ calling to her from within. The ‘massive entity’ near this crucible of struggle.

The Apostle of the Inverted Tide. The last survivor of a forgotten clan that worshipped an ancient entity buried beneath the sea.

Using all that power.

To kill Darwood Campbell.

Within 10 days, by any means necessary.

“…I will serve you.”

She murmured quietly as she clutched her necklace with both hands.

●

There was one piece of good news and one piece of bad news.

< System Info >

[ The effects of consistent exercise are showing! ]

[ Your ‘Strength’ stat rank has increased! ]

[ Your ‘Agility’ stat rank has increased! ]

< Status Info >

「Darwood Campbell」

[Normal]

Strength: E (10% until rank up)

Agility: E (10% until rank up)

Endurance: F

Luck: F

Authority: D

The good news was this.

Darwood Campbell, finally achieving his first rank up.

No matter how much farm work I helped with back at the estate, my rank wouldn’t increase, but after months of hellish training wearing the lion’s necklace, the results were finally bearing fruit.

With this, my Desperate Efficiency would be twice as effective as before. I’d definitely see the benefits when using Tristan-style swordsmanship or martial arts.

And the bad news was this:

“Gah, hnngh, aaaagh, ack, aaah—”

Even with my increased stats, I still couldn’t keep up with the training regimen Kasa had prepared.

“…”

Seeing me making sounds more like screams than breathing, Riru narrowed her eyes.

Today was the first day of the “training” Kasa had instructed me to do. Starting with the most basic physical conditioning.

‘…Normally, it would be perfectly reasonable to protest this madness.’

Basic physical fitness doesn’t improve overnight, and there’s no way stats that were garbage until yesterday could increase so quickly.

It would be more efficient to first learn all of this person’s “techniques” instead.

That’s what I wanted to argue with Kasa, but.

‘So you’re saying your goal of mastering my decades of martial arts experience in 10 days makes sense?’

‘…’

‘You must have your methods to make such a claim, child. I have my reasons for assigning this. Any objections?’

How could I have any?

After all, I had declared to Kasa that I would master her life’s work of martial arts in 10 days.

After hearing such a claim, I had no choice but to follow whatever she asked without complaint.

“…Hey, stop. There’s no point in running anymore.”

Riru, who had been pacing alongside me, clicked her tongue and stopped me.

“Sorry, aaah, I’ll keep goingaaagh—”

“…Stop talking and catch your breath.”

Riru sighed deeply and approached me as I was gasping for air like I was about to vomit.

“Stand up straight.”

“…What?”

“…”

Riru glared at me with a slightly reddened face.

Her expression said not to make her explain.

“…I’ll massage you. Stand up straight. If you stop exercising now, you won’t even be able to stand.”

“…What?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself. Want me to kill you?”

At her fierce words, I instinctively straightened up, and Riru began kneading my arms and legs.

Perhaps due to embarrassment, she applied quite a bit of force which hurt a little, but the effect was clear. The tearing pain in my limbs began to dull.

“…”

What’s going on?

Why is she being so kind?

Considering her character in the original work, she should normally be looking at me with cold contempt, asking if I can’t even handle this much.

Even accounting for her affection level, this behavior is definitely unusual for her personality.

“…The old lady has high expectations for you.”

As if reading my thoughts, Riru mumbled.

“She told me to treat you well too. That’s why I’m doing this. I’d never normally do this kind of nonsense for someone like you.”

“…I see.”

That doesn’t explain why she’s putting in so much effort herself.

As I stood there with a wry smile at her words.

A chill ran down my spine. An ominous sensation coursed through my entire body.

“…”

Come to think of it, there was one more piece of bad news.

“Hey, Riru.”

I mouthed the words. The person I was wary of could hear even the faintest sound.

“What?”

Showing her perceptiveness, she matched my lip-reading despite frowning at my behavior.

“Is she still there?”

Riru silently touched her forehead.

She must have felt the same sensation I just did.

“She is.”

“…”

“It’s incredible tracking skill. I absolutely can’t find her.”

“…How do you know she’s there if you can’t find her?”

“Killing intent was pouring out in waves. It spiked like crazy just now when I was massaging you.”

“…Ah. That’s how.”

I had sensed “something” too.

If even someone as insensitive to such things as me could vaguely feel it, it must have been incredibly intense.

“Just how beloved are you by that one?”

I don’t know either, human.

That’s Elnore.

She’s been following me since this morning. If Riru hadn’t told me, I probably wouldn’t have known she was there.

‘…Why is she doing this?’

I don’t know what suddenly prompted this behavior.

But it’s terrifying.

Truly terrifying.

Even now, whenever Riru and I get even slightly closer, I can feel a tingling sensation throughout my body.

“…Anyway, we should get moving soon.”

I sighed as I checked the time and stretched.

Though I’d spent my energy exercising with Riru since early morning, I couldn’t just collapse and rest.

The first exchange student event, the “Friendly Sparring,” was scheduled soon.

‘…Friendly in name only.’

I’d heard it was an event where injuries and even serious wounds were common, reflecting each academy’s unwillingness to lose to the other country.

But more importantly to me:

‘…A chance to raise my Endurance stat.’

If I perform well in this event, I’ll have the opportunity to acquire a decent item using the “Token of Promise” that Riru got from Luca.

For that reason alone, I can’t take this event lightly.

“…But, will you be okay?”

As I was thinking this, Riru mouthed those words to me.

“…What?”

“To be honest, with your skill level, finding a sparring partner will be quite difficult.”

That… might be true.

Without Desperate Efficiency, I’m nothing but a weakling. How many times have I been dismissed for appearing weak?

“And if you can’t find one, you’ll probably have to stand alone in an empty waiting room corridor, right?”

“…”

The chill from earlier ran down my spine again.

“Can you guarantee that woman won’t do anything to you when you’re alone like that?”

“…”

Ah.

●

The arena where the exchange students from the Empire were scheduled to compete with each other was filled with excitement.

Most of the enthusiasm came from the Tribal Union side, while the Empire’s personnel stood in the waiting line like half-corpses.

This friendly sparring at the Crucible of Struggle was, with few exceptions, more like an execution ceremony for Elphante students.

While other fields might differ, the Tribal Union warriors’ combat prowess against humans was truly renowned.

And Badel Gup-ta, who had volunteered for this event, was looking at the Empire students with a sneer.

‘Weak Empire scum.’

He looked at the Empire students with contempt as he shouldered a greatsword nearly as tall as himself.

Still, they were all unimpressive. Nothing had changed compared to a year ago.

It was ridiculous that these people were considered equals as members of the “Three Great Powers.” He had volunteered for this event last year with the same thought.

Ah, what a pleasant memory.

The sensation of beating down an Empire student who begged him to stop, until he had smashed out all his teeth so he couldn’t even speak properly, still remained exquisitely on his knuckles.

‘Now, who shall I thrash this time…’

In keeping with the friendly nature of the event, this sparring was arranged by students from the Crucible of Struggle and Elphante freely finding and pairing up with each other.

In this regard, Badel particularly focused on finding weaker opponents.

While he had confidence in his own skills, his preference was to torment slowly, with controlled strength.

A suitable “prey” soon caught his eye.

‘…What an unmanly fellow.’

A man with a pale face constantly looking around.

He kept anxiously scanning his surroundings. He was actively approaching other students, desperately begging them to spar with him.

But the Crucible of Struggle students kept frowning and shaking their heads. Their attitude clearly said he seemed “too weak.”

Each time, despair settled on the man’s face.

‘…Strange fellow.’

With such skill, he’d obviously get thoroughly beaten in a sparring match.

This was, how should he put it?

An attitude that seemed to say he “must find an opponent no matter what.”

As if he were being chased by someone.

Nevertheless.

His apparent weakness and lack of confidence were definitely to Badel’s “taste.”

He examined the name tag.

Darwood Campbell.

“Hey. You’ll fight me.”

“Oh, really?!”

As Badel approached and said this, he inwardly sneered seeing the man’s face immediately brighten.

As the man grabbed and shook his hand without hesitation, Badel leaned in and whispered with a wicked expression.

He wanted to see this fellow’s face freeze in terror.

“Stupid to be so happy. You should prepare yourself. It’s already too late now that you’ve agreed to face me. From the moment we start until the event ends, I’ll torment you—”

“Thank you…!”

“…”

At this genuinely heartfelt response that anyone could hear, Badel was left speechless.