episode_0159

“‘While I hold it back’—what the hell is that?”

Of course, that was El. But right now, I had to play the part of the naive and clueless Eric Gravis, so I deliberately feigned stupidity and asked again.

“The Demon King.”

“What? How do you even know that?”

“Well… that’s a long story. Anyway, you can tell just by looking that thing’s no ordinary being, right?”

He wasn’t wrong. Even though only an arm had emerged so far, the sheer amount of magical energy radiating from El was terrifying. It was hard to believe that the source of that power was my magic. If El had absorbed all of it, I didn’t even want to imagine the devastation that would follow.

“Why is the Demon King…?”

“Even if that thing isn’t the Demon King, it’s still undeniably dangerous. You need to get out of here. If you stay, there’ll just be one more corpse lying around. Go and report everything you just saw to the rest of the student council. If you tell them the Demon King has appeared, they’ll understand.”

“Huh?”

“Also, gather everyone’s support to make Samuel the next Emperor. He’s still young and weak… but he’s got a strong will.”

I knew Samuel well. He was so timid that even the sight of blood made him faint—unlike his warrior siblings, including his elder sister, the current Empress. He had never once set foot on the battlefield, let alone held a sword.

Yet, ironically, he was the one who made the most crucial contributions in the war against the Demon King’s armies.

He was a genius in governance. Though he couldn’t lead from the front, he could hold the empire together while others fought.

Defense was Samuel’s specialty.

When Elleira announced that she would leave Samuel as her regent while she fought as part of the Hero’s Party, the imperial palace was thrown into chaos. People questioned whether Samuel had ulterior motives—and even if he didn’t, how could they possibly entrust the empire’s massive bureaucracy to him?

To the first concern, Elleira simply replied that she’d “deal with him when she got back.” To the second, she just smiled and said, “Wait and see.” And sure enough, Samuel proved himself not through blind ambition but foresight.

He meticulously managed the empire’s administration, finance, and laws within the established framework, allowing Elleira to fight without worry.

That must be why she wants him to succeed her—because right now, she’s planning on making herself a heroic sacrifice.

Well, I won’t let that happen.

Elleira must survive—not just here, but for the rest of her life.

“Then what are you going to do?!”

I didn’t want to say this line—I already knew nothing would actually happen—but acting too calm would raise suspicion.

Damn, I’m gaining a newfound respect for actors.

“Me? Well… it’s my turn now. Sorry, I don’t have time to explain in detail.”

Calmly, Elleira removed the necklace she was wearing and placed it in my hand. It looked utterly ordinary, just a small ring dangling from it.

“It’s only a fragment of what I received from you, but right now, it’s all I have left. You already have Fortress’ Barrier, don’t you? Go.”

“What is this? Stop dodging and give me a proper explanation!”

“There’s no time!”

Elleira snapped and pointed at the jagged tear in the air.

El was now slowly pulling one of its legs through, like some grotesque limbo act. The tension was thick, but it was moving slowly enough that it wouldn’t interrupt our conversation anytime soon.

Perfect. Right on schedule.

“I know you’re far smarter than most give you credit for—but also more foolish than me. So just listen to me now. Understood? This artifact transports its user to the place they deem safest. Like Fortress’ Barrier, it only works once, so I’ve been saving it… but I guess this is where it has to be used.”

I blinked dumbly at the necklace Elleira had just handed me.

Breath of the Wind?

She had this all along?!

It was infamous—an artifact that drastically boosted survival chances, on par with Fortress’ Barrier. I’d searched for it in past loops but never found even a hint of it.

And yet, Elleira had it?

“Come on, hurry.”

My head spun.

The original plan was to stall inside the barrier, dragging out the fight between Elleira and El until, in desperation, El would offer me the contract to survive mutual destruction. Since the terms were essentially buying my life, Elleira would scrutinize it thoroughly—and naturally accept El’s existence.

But now, if I were the one escaping alone… All that setup collapses. Elleira would throw everything she had at El, possibly gravely wounding or even killing El in the process.

What do I do?

Who the hell could’ve predicted an artifact like this would just show up here?

I need a way to both escape with this artifact and stop Elleira from fighting El desperately.

A way to save me, El, and Elleira.

“Why hesitate? You know what happens if the Prophet dies here, right? It’s over!”

Lose me? Game over?

A spark flickered in my mind.

“Come with me, Elleira.”

“Don’t be absurd. I’m holding that thing off.”

“Even if you do, you’ll just be buying time—and not much at that.”

I nodded slowly.

“I know. Of course I noticed. That thing inside… Once it fully manifests, even you—no, even Luciella—won’t be enough. The only way would be if the Goddess herself descended… Haha…”

“You understand well. So what exactly are you suggesting?”

People ready to die still fear death itself. No matter how strong, everyone dreads that inevitable end.

But it’s overcoming that fear that makes resolve—and why I chose to believe in Luciella and the others again.

So I deliberately provoked Elleira.

Casually, like that white-haired captain, I said:

“Want me to swap with you?”

“——!”

Elleira’s breath hitched.

“You… What did you just—”

“I said I can swap with you.”

“D-Don’t joke! Facing that thing is suicide! Why would you—?!”

“You were planning to destroy this barrier anyway, right? Then it shouldn’t matter whether you do it from inside or outside. Actually, wouldn’t it be easier from the outside, without interference from the magic or that thing? How about it?”

Elleira’s breathing faltered. She was clearly stunned.

Of course she was. Here she was, resigned to death—one that wouldn’t even mean anything—when suddenly, I was offering her salvation.

She could live.

Unlike Eric, Elleira was the future of the empire. She had everything ahead of her—a life far brighter and longer than mine.

Even if she accepted this offer, no one would blame her. They’d console her, say she had no choice—for the empire, for the continent.

But Elleira never accepted sacrifices as inevitable. That’s why she became Empress.

Just as I predicted, she shook her head and softly refused.

“No. It’s—it’s settled.”

“Elleira. You will die. No question.”

“I know.”

“The throne?”

“With training, Samuel will be a worthy ruler.”

“The Hero’s Party? The continent’s future?”

“That’s why I’m sending you back alive.”

“Aren’t you scared? Unlike me, you still have so much left to do—so much you want to do.”

“I’ve shouldered too much to fear death now. This… is the least I can do to honor what little remains of him.”

The more she spoke, the calmer and more resolute her expression became.

“You won’t budge, huh?”

I stared at the Breath of the Wind in my hand.

“How do I use this?”

“So you are accepting it? Hold it and picture where you want to go. The default is the student council room, but it’ll take you wherever you feel safest.”

Crack— Crrk—

El was now slowly emerging, its lower half appearing as if doing some grotesque limbo.

Damn, that’s creepy.

Watching it, I subtly loosened the string tying the ring and slipped it onto my finger.

Then—

Flick.

“Huh?”

“One last handshake. For the greatest, most admirable future Empress.”

“…Not bad.”

Though momentarily flustered, Elleira soon smiled faintly and clasped my hand—the one wearing the ring.

“Eric. I—”

“Not listening.”

I didn’t orchestrate all this just to hear apologies or regrets.

“Sorry, Elleira.”

“What—?”

Grinning, I activated the magic within the Breath of the Wind.

Naturally, the one being teleported wasn’t me—but Elleira Perial.