Chapter 262
Victoria's suggestion to prove my innocence by dealing with Balmonga myself.
“Keke... I have no choice. I hate troublesome things, but... it seems I have to show my skills.”
Outwardly, I acted as if I had no choice, but my thoughts were quite the opposite.
Not only would I get through Area 3 without any penalties, but I’d also get to deal with Balmonga and monopolize the experience points.
My appetite was whetted. At the same time, I felt a surge of emotion.
‘After all this suffering, I finally get a break.’
I had been acquiring skills that were practically garbage, rolling around, getting trampled on, beaten up, and even bitten and kicked by the animals I was raising.
The days had been so tough that my tastes had changed(?).
Slurp-
Maybe because it was my first time taking an easy way out, my body found it hard to accept.
My tongue involuntarily slipped out and licked my lips.
“Ooh, that snake-like demeanor and speech. You've finally decided to betray. Yes, go ahead and betray. Let's slaughter those vile humans together!”
Balmonga’s words urging me to backstab.
Victoria gripped her whip tightly, ready to defend herself.
Want me to betray? Fine, I’ll do it as much as you want.
“Gah!!”
At my shout, both Balmonga and Victoria flinched.
Pointing my finger at Balmonga, I continued.
“To attempt to sow discord! Such a vile demon! I, Zero, a pure and innocent young man from the countryside, with no relation to demons, will never forgive you!”
Pure, innocent, and naive.
These three words symbolized me.
They were words that didn’t suit a demon at all, and Balmonga screamed.
“To describe yourself with such horrid words! You weren’t one of us after all!”
“Keke, I’ve told you from the beginning, haven't I?”
“It was my mistake to trust just your appearance. To think you deceived me! Humans are truly an untrustworthy race!”
Was his blood pressure rising? Balmonga clutched the back of his neck.
I flashed a smile at Victoria.
‘Did I do well? Can you trust me now?’ my smile seemed to say.
“...Show me with actions, not words.”
“Keke, I’ll take care of this quickly.”
The event story was sorted out, so now all that was left was to win the battle.
I calmly surveyed the battlefield.
‘Originally, there should have been seven fire bugs...’
Currently, there were only two fire bugs on the battlefield.
‘Holy power is indeed terrifying.’
The battle in Area 3 started at turn 13. Now, turn 18 had just begun.
Five fire bugs disappeared between turns 13 and 17, meaning Victoria eliminated one fire bug per turn.
Just the fact that she could use holy power gave her the destructive power equivalent to a Legendary-grade character.
Even considering the ‘demon’ restriction, it was an utterly broken power.
‘I need to get a cleric for our party too...’
I wasn't sure if it would be possible because of my traits.
The power to not only make demons feel familiar but also to make them mistakenly think I was on their side.
If a cleric didn't jump at me to perform an exorcism, it would be a relief.
‘Focus. Recruiting allies comes later. Taking down that guy is the priority.’
Anyway, all we had to deal with were Balmonga and two fire bugs.
Balmonga would disappear at turn 22.
I had only 5 turns left, including this turn, but that was enough time to take him down.
Shwooo- Boom!
A mana bullet flew from somewhere, and the fire bug in front of me met a tragic end.
‘No need to worry about the fire bugs.’
Rezé would take care of the remaining one.
Grateful that Rezé killed the fire bug instead of me, I moved forward.
“Luna, draw his attention from outside his attack range. I’ll go in and finish him off.”
“Why? Why not fight together?”
“He controls fire. Leave this to me.”
As I said earlier, Balmonga’s gimmick deals 20% of a character's max health.
After battles in Areas 1 and 2, Luna's health had decreased by about 30%.
Balmonga's attack was a problem, but considering the second gimmick, it was a dangerous figure.
‘Even if her health hits 0, she won’t die but will faint... I need to take her to the end. The important one is Mabelga in Area 4.’
Perhaps my thoughts were conveyed well.
Luna, who was rolling her eyes, spoke up.
“Well, fine. But I’m taking down the next one.”
“Keke, I’ll be counting on you, Luna.”
“Be careful! Fire is dangerous for you too!”
With those words, Luna dashed forward.
To be precise, in the direction opposite me. Quite a distance from Balmonga.
“Hey, you! The one who looks just like Zero!”
“Calling me by such a compliment. There are indeed good humans...”
Balmonga grinned happily.
To think I looked just like a guy with tentacles on his face.
I was genuinely curious about how people in this world saw my face.
It was then Balmonga turned around and made eye contact with me.
“You think I’d let you go? You vile human! Take this!”
Whoosh-!
Balmonga’s gimmick and skill, [Fire Field], activated.
Luna wasn’t the only one with reduced health from the previous battles. I was in the same boat.
“Zero!”
“Damn it...! Get out! It’s dangerous!”
Flames engulfed me, showing no signs of extinguishing.
But.
“Keke...”
I only chuckled pleasantly.
Balmonga was horrified seeing this.
“Wh-what! How...!”
What do you mean how? Haven’t you ever seen someone laugh in flames?
‘Well, it could be the first time.’
Balmonga’s [Fire Field] was a fire-type spell.
This meant that magic resistance or elemental resistance could reduce its damage.
But now, it was just early-mid in the second chapter.
The available skills, mysteries, and titles for magic resistance or elemental resistance were very few.
Not to mention, there was none available at the Academy.
I wouldn’t have obtained any either. If it wasn’t for ‘that guy.’
[Scorching Alert]
Fire Attribute Resistance +30
The demon who attacked the Academy.
The title obtained by killing the Fourth-grade demon Bineus.
‘Scorching Alert’ is one of the top-tier resistance titles available in the fourth chapter.
So a lower-level demon’s flames like Balmonga’s? They wouldn’t hurt.
[You have taken damage from ‘Fire Field.’]
[Your fire resistance is high.]
[2% of your max health is depleted.]
[Turn 19]
[Demon of Water, Mabelga, has appeared in Area 4.]
“Keke...”
I walked towards Balmonga, my body engulfed in flames.
Balmonga’s eyes filled with terror. How did he see me now?
As a human? A strange guy? Or.
A Great Demon?
“Th-that’s impossible...!”
What’s so impossible?
I have places to be, so let’s end this quickly.
Lester Family Style, First Secret Skill.
One Flash.
*
“I've acquired the Oath Stone! Everyone, great job! With this, Luna’s love will be eternal!”
“We’ve defeated the villainess! Hooray!”
“Hooray for the Love Aid Club! Hooray for Luna!”
The girls belonging to the Yuridia faction gathered and cheered.
“Cough, cough!”
Someone crawled out from their feet.
It was Yuridia, the leader of one of the major factions of the Advanced Class and a girl known as a genius of magic.
“To think the Love Aid Club would be so merciless against anyone threatening love, even the president... I’m truly amazed, even though I founded it myself.”
Caught up in the absurd accusation that she was trying to take Luna’s place next to Zero, Yuridia was only released after writing a pledge not to date Zero.
“It’s quite humiliating to be briefly misunderstood as a villainess, but... it’s fine. The important thing is Luna’s love.”
Yuridia was willing to endure such humiliation if it meant protecting Luna’s love.
In the distance, she saw the backs of Luna and Zero.
Holding hands and moving forward, they always looked like a perfect couple.
Well, Zero was slightly annoying, though.
“The crisis of love seems to have been overcome by my power... but the problem is the demon.”
Yuridia stood on tiptoes to survey the battlefield.
Seeing the clash of holy power and flames, it seemed a demon had appeared in Area 3.
But there was no need to worry about that place. Not only because it was filled with clerics who were the nemesis of demons...
‘Zero is heading there.’
Moreover, Zero had Luna and Rezé with him. Each of them was a top-tier combatant.
There was no need to worry. So then.
Swish-.
Once again on tiptoes, Yuridia placed her hand on her forehead like a visor and looked toward Area 4.
People were just dots from this distance, but it seemed calm.
It didn’t look like a demon attack. However.
‘I should head to Area 4.’
Area 4 housed students who were part of the Teron faction, the Yuridia faction, the Victoria faction, or were unaffiliated.
They were essentially the neutral faction within the Advanced Class.
‘It’s a good opportunity to leave a positive impression on the neutral faction, as well as providing protection.’
Having made up her mind, Yuridia lowered her tiptoes.
“Alfonso, pick five uninjured people.”
“Huh? Is something wrong?”
“We need to go support Area 4.”
“But... it’s dangerous to leave our assigned area without a commander. There's also the possibility of another demon attack.”
Alfonso was right. Leaving the assigned area without a commander’s orders was like desertion.
It could even be punishable under military law.
Moreover, this defense battle was tied to their midterm scores.
“There could be issues with the scores, but their lives are more important. Besides, it’s a good chance to make a positive impression on the neutral faction.”
“Th-that’s true, but...”
“Most importantly, we have you, Alfonso. I trust you can handle things if a demon shows up.”
Alfonso couldn’t help but be moved.
As Yuridia’s right-hand man, he was often compared to Daike, Teron’s right-hand man.
‘To think she trusted me this much...’
Alfonso, wiping away his tears, spoke.
“Don’t worry about here and go. I’ll protect it no matter what.”
Alfonso quickly selected five excellent magicians, and Yuridia headed to Area 4 with them.
“Yuridia?”
“Th-the Crimson Witch!”
“Who dares call me a witch!”
As soon as they arrived in Area 4, Alex and Raymon greeted them.
No, Raymon insulted her rather than greeting...
‘That’s just how he is. Don’t bother reacting, reacting means losing...’
Yuridia responded by pulling both of Raymon’s cheeks.
“So, why are you here?”
“To help. It seems a demon might show up.”
“Thanks. It’s kind of you to help out despite the risk. You’re really nice, Yuridia.”
“Hmph! Such praise means nothing. I’m just doing my duty as a noble.”
Yuridia turned her head and scoffed.
Alex. He was an oddly charming boy.
Just talking to him made her feel at ease.
‘Could this be... love?’
Yuridia, who had read many romance novels but never experienced love, often felt confused when she met Alex.
But lately, she wasn’t as confused.
‘No, it can’t be love. Look at Luna.’
Always together, holding hands, smiling at each other, and being all lovey-dovey(?).
In reality, they were biting each other, but to Yuridia, with rose-colored glasses, it looked like that.
‘I’ll experience such love one day too, right?’
Yuridia was dreaming of a prince on a white horse.
Bang!!
Something fell from the sky, creating a large crater.
A huge demon with wings.
“Still alive? Seems my brothers are struggling more than expected.”
Boom!
At the same time, the demon struck the ground with both hands. Then.
Rumble-!
“Th-the ground is flooding!”
“To perform such a water spell without water!”
Area 4 was quickly flooded.
Yuridia realized this demon wasn’t ordinary.
“Prepare for battle! We’ll handle the demon. Protect the students!”
“Yes, ma’am. Be careful, Yuridia!”
“Alex and Raymon, assist me!”
“Okay.”
“I-I hate water.”
Alex and Raymon were top-notch fighters even within the Advanced Class.
They wouldn’t fall easily. The problem was.
‘Me.’
She was severely lacking in mana. The aftermath of using ‘Demon Slave’ in Area 2.
Though some mana had recovered while moving.
‘Enough for about three... no, two simple spells?’
Moreover, dealing with a water-type demon wasn’t a good match for her.
Yuridia had no choice but to make a decision.
“I have no choice. I’ll have to use ‘that.’”
Yes. It was a situation where she had to use ‘that.’
The second forbidden magic of the Rownter family.
‘Ragnarok Blade.’
--TL Notes--
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