Ch.8989. Recovery

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“What on earth is this?”

That was the first thing Elnore said after finally regaining her senses.

The flush hadn’t completely faded from her face, but she looked around with much more composure compared to earlier.

Everything around them was still frozen. The world painted in gray showed no signs of resuming its flow.

“It feels like… something ‘connected’ to me.”

Elnore said as she raised her hand and lightly touched the gray energy swirling around them.

“Do you know what this is, Darwood?”

Elnore clenched and unclenched her fist, moving the gray energy back and forth.

“…I’m not sure.”

I gave a vague answer.

“That seems like something we shouldn’t dig too deeply into.”

“…? What do you mean by digging deeply?”

“I just have that feeling, Elnore. Please promise me you won’t try to find out more about what this is.”

“If you say so… I shall. It doesn’t seem to be harming me anyway.”

Though it was a forceful request, Elnore accepted it with just a tilt of her head.

She probably has no idea that the unknown power residing within her is a ‘demon.’

‘…Because the very existence of demons is top secret.’

Very few people know about the mechanism of demonic fragments and vessels.

Probably only the extremely small number of people who know about my ‘constitution’ that makes me almost unconditionally loved by demons, and besides them, at most…

[The Inquisition?]

Yes, them.

I can’t help but smile bitterly at Calivan’s voice coming from inside the amulet. The coldness in his tone was unmistakable.

This person must harbor tremendous hostility toward that organization.

If they had been even slightly more… ‘normal,’ he and his fellow Guardians might have survived the Red Night incident.

‘Anyway.’

For a Demonic Vessel, learning about their true nature would be the worst possible outcome.

There’s a reason I haven’t been honest with them all this time.

‘…It would twist the main scenario.’

The reactions of people who learn they’re ‘vessels’ are quite something to behold.

Learning that you harbor humanity’s enemy within your body can never have a positive impact on your mental state.

Considering that a Demonic Vessel’s rampage depends on their mental state, such a revelation would be nothing more or less than suicide.

Moreover, these vessels harboring demons are all characters who play enormous roles in the scenario.

The Blue Demon residing in Riru will likely show its true value in the ‘Great Duel,’ the highlight of this chapter, while the White Demon in Yuria will probably emerge during the ‘Holy Empire Invasion’ in Chapter 6.

Having these facts revealed to them and twisting the entire scenario would definitely not be good for me.

Especially with the Gray Demon, which is the core axis running through the entire game—there’s no need to tell Elnore exactly what it is.

She’ll find out soon enough anyway. Chapter 5 of the scenario revolves around the third fragment taking root in Elnore, and by then, she won’t be able to remain ignorant about what resides within her.

Until then, it’s best for me to keep quiet.

“…I think I can get used to this quickly.”

While I was lost in these thoughts, Elnore was manipulating the gray magical energy around her, creating complex shapes in the air.

Her proficiency made it seem like she’d been practicing for a long time.

< System Message >

[ Hidden stat of target ‘Elnore’ is unlocked! ]

[ From now on, the target can handle ‘Gray Magical Energy’! ]

This… makes sense.

She did meet the conditions.

It’s only natural for a vessel who has consumed two fragments and experienced a rampage to have some demonic power unlocked.

‘Is this good news?’

Honestly, there’s a high chance she’ll explode like this again if she gets entangled with other demons in the future, but despite that, Elnore is one of my strongest allies.

Especially if she can use the Gray Demon’s energy.

“So, can you do something with that?”

It might be good to test that power.

I ask Elnore as she continues to manipulate the gray magical energy.

“Do something?”

“…Something to fix this situation.”

I look around as I speak.

The Crucible of Struggle, completely split in half and destroyed by Elnore’s rampage, catches my eye.

‘…This is a major setting for Chapter 3, after all.’

There’s no way to proceed with the scenario like this.

I suddenly realize just how incredible what she just did was.

To reduce one of the most famous buildings on the continent to this state in just a few seconds.

“…Fix it, you say.”

Elnore tilted her head at my words.

“I’ll… try. I think there’s something I can do.”

Then, Elnore slowly closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and moved the magical energy.

Simultaneously, the world began to ‘rewind.’

“…!”

Holy shit.

My mouth falls open.

During the Purifier boss battle when I manifested the Gray Demon fragment, it repaired my punctured chest by ‘rewinding time’—like rewinding a video.

What’s happening now is exactly the same phenomenon.

The difference is that instead of affecting just one spot like before, the entire visible range is being rewound.

The dome that had been split in half reconnects. People who had fallen from the building into the sea defy gravity and return inside. All the explosions, falling exterior materials, and objects—everything.

Our bodies also float up, positioning us where we were just before everything went to hell.

Me standing in front of Tatiana making my request, Elnore watching from among the crowd.

It took less than a minute for the Crucible of Struggle to return to its pristine state, as if nothing had happened.

While my mind is flooded with questions about whether one person should be allowed to wield such power, a window appears before me.

< System Message >

[ Target ‘Elnore’ has used ‘Gray Magical Energy’! ]

[ The fusion rate of the second fragment increases dramatically! ]

…What?

Alarmed, I activate Insight on Elnore.

[ Using ‘Insight’. ]

[ Loading target information. ]

[ 24-hour cooldown applies for the same target. ]

< Character Info >

[ Elnore Erinarise la Tristan ]

[ Trait: Vessel – Gray Demon ]

< Status Info >

[Normal]

Strength: S+

Agility: S+

Endurance: S+

Luck: C

Authority: A+

[Supernatural]

Magical Power: B

Law Power: F

Divine Power: F

Gray Magical Energy: EX

< Misc. >

-Current number of ‘Demon Fragments’ fused: 2

-Stage 2 fusion progress: 55%

-Corruption progress: 0%

“Elnore, stop, stop!”

“…Hmm?”

At my desperate cry, Elnore finally opened her eyes. She looks around, confused by our changed positions, trying to find me.

“…Please make one more promise with me, Elnore.”

As soon as our eyes meet, I urgently say this.

“What is it?”

“Promise me you will never, ever, ever use this power again, even if it kills you.”

“…”

Elnore’s face showed an expression that seemed to say “you just asked me to use it and now what are you saying?”, but for me, this was truly urgent.

Since I’d never seen such an ability in the original game, I couldn’t have imagined it would have this effect.

“You’re making me promise quite a lot today.”

Elnore sighed as she replied.

“…You might find this unpleasant, but—”

“Not particularly. Rather, I like the feeling that you and I share many secrets.”

“…”

I’m glad she’s listening.

“Then… I’ll remove all this energy now.”

Elnore sighed as she spoke.

“Time will start flowing again from that moment. I haven’t done this before, but that’s what it feels like.”

“…Alright. I’ll try to find a way to silence the people here so what just happened doesn’t spread.”

No matter what, if word got out that a single human wielded this kind of power, the repercussions would be unimaginable.

So to prevent that—

“…No, that doesn’t seem necessary.”

“Pardon?”

“…?”

“I’ll remove all the energy now. You’ll see.”

With those words, Elnore snapped her fingers.

As the gray energy completely disappeared, time began to flow again.

“…”

“…”

But.

There was none of the chaos or pandemonium I had expected.

It’s quiet.

Everyone around us looks calm. As if the building being split apart never happened.

“…Why is he just standing there?”

“Hey, didn’t you ask the High Priestess what you wanted? Speak up!”

As I stood there dazed, angry shouts came from the crowd.

“…Is everyone alright?”

“…? What’s he talking about?”

“Why wouldn’t we be…?”

When I addressed them in a slightly dumbfounded voice, that’s how they responded.

And then I realized.

When Elnore rewound time, everyone here ‘lost their memories’ of what had just happened.

As if it never happened at all.

[…That’s an impossible power.]

Calivan groaned inside the amulet.

[It seems like the time axis itself was distorted. Anyone without resistance to demonic energy probably doesn’t even remember what just happened.]

…Indeed.

The Gray Demon’s power only briefly appeared in the final boss battle in the original game, so I had no idea it could have this level of effect.

‘But…’

Not everyone was affected.

I check all the people around with confused expressions.

Tatiana. Riru.

And.

‘…Elia?’

Why is she included?

She’s not a Demonic Vessel, nor a demon worshipper like Tatiana?

Unlike those two, she doesn’t even have the minimum basis for having such abilities?

“…”

That’s something to confirm later.

More importantly, I need to somehow naturally move past this situation right now.

That’s the best course of action for now.

“High Priestess. I’ll state my request now.”

“…”

I address the dazed Tatiana.

As if nothing had happened.

“I request permission to enter the tribal territory with Riru—”

As I continued speaking, Calivan spoke again from inside the amulet.

[By the way, let me ask you something.]

Ask what?

[If she can handle such an incredible power, why did you desperately try to stop her from using it earlier?]

Oh, that?

That’s because if she uses this power frequently, the ‘side effects’ would be far more terrifying than any benefits she might gain.

[…What?]

No, really.

‘If the fusion rate of the second fragment rises that quickly…!’

The higher the fusion rate, the more the fragment enhances Elnore’s dark side.

The probability of her corruption level jumping around unpredictably becomes extremely high.

After seeing what happened when she rampaged once, that must be avoided at all costs.

“…”

And while I’ve temporarily contained it with shock therapy this time.

If she were to rampage once more.

‘Then I’d really have to marry her…!’

In my opinion, if Elnore rampages again, the only ‘means’ to suppress it would be that.

Being caught by her and having to spend a married life with a future I can’t even imagine.

[…So, to summarize.]

Calivan’s voice, accompanied by a chuckle, flowed from the amulet.

[You’re saying she shouldn’t use that power because the more she uses it, the higher the probability of marriage?]

“…”

[You know what I’m going to say, right?]

I know I’m trash.

Honestly, after everything that’s happened, resisting marriage might seem a bit much, but that’s the one thing I absolutely cannot do.

Because of the existence of other demons, the moment my means of avoiding death narrows down to that, I’m already as good as dead…!

[Well. I don’t want to stop you from trying.]

Calivan continued indifferently.

[But everything you try to avoid eventually happens anyway.]

“…”

[You getting hooked by that lady seems like a confirmed future, just a matter of when?]

“…”

[Maybe in the not-too-distant future?]

Please.

Please be quiet.

●

“…Yuria?”

Lucien looked with puzzlement at Yuria, who was lying with her head on his lap.

Normally, this would be the time when she would quietly feel his warmth until she fell asleep in his arms.

That had been their routine since the consecration work to delay the curse coming from the Isolator. It remained valid even now that they had moved to the Crucible of Struggle and shared a room.

But, right now.

Yuria’s ‘demeanor’ was somewhat unusual.

“…Sister, didn’t you feel that just now?”

Yuria spoke with slightly narrowed eyes, unlike the sleepy eyes she usually had at this time.

“…What?”

“Something… rewound. Just now.”

“…?”

What is she talking about?

Rewound? What?

As he was thinking this.

Someone knocked on their door.

Lucien’s expression darkened.

“…Who is it? I don’t have any appointments.”

Even in a foreign country, she was a saint receiving VIP treatment from the Holy Empire. It wasn’t normal for someone to visit without an appointment.

But the person on the other side of the door spoke without caring.

“You felt it too, didn’t you?”

A woman’s voice. A sentence imbued with gentle courtesy.

At those words.

Yuria flinched.

There was no specific address, but the atmosphere clearly indicated that the sentence was directed at her.

“…I asked who—”

As Lucien’s expression hardened and she tried to ask, another sentence flew in with a 180-degree change in atmosphere from the previous gentle voice.

“You keep your mouth shut. I don’t remember giving permission for a lower being to speak.”

It was a voice filled with genuine contempt.

As if even conversing with Lucien made her feel nauseous.

“…”

Lucien gaped in shock.

What, what is wrong with this crazy person?

“L-lower being?! Who do you think—!”

“I came to see you. Yuria Greyhaunter.”

Ignoring Lucien’s protest, the other party spoke again in a gentle voice.

“I am Faynol Leiphec. A court magician affiliated with the Inquisition.”

“…”

While Yuria expressionlessly looked beyond the door.

“…I have something I urgently wish to discuss.”

The sentence continued.

Undoubtedly.

“About a man named Darwood Campbell.”

It was a sentence laced with venom.

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