“Yuridia.”
“Huff huff… What is it.”
Yuridia glared at me. Well, her eyes were quite fierce.
Not that it was strange.
After all, I had only watched, even as kids were desperately rolling on the ground.
I put on a deliberately firm expression, as if staking my life on it.
Ah, what if Yuridia falls for me because I’m too manly.
“Please, cover my back.”
I handed Silver Flash to Yuridia.
“Is this a mana-shooting artifact? Why are you giving this to me?”
“If two flames appear, don’t hesitate to use it.”
“What? What does that mean…”
“I need to concentrate for a moment. Please, I’m asking you.”
“No, well… It’s not a difficult task, so I don’t mind. But suddenly concentrate? What are you trying to do?”
However, there was no time to chat with Yuridia.
Explaining my plan would likely lead to an argument anyway.
‘Information Window.’
I immediately opened the information window and checked my stats, specifically the magic power section.
[Magic Power: 41(+5)]
Thanks to the title effect of ‘The First Medalist’, an additional 5 was added to achieve 41.
But this was far from enough.
I decided to use stat points on magic power.
[Demon Slave] is a skill that uses all remaining mana, and the more mana it uses, the stronger the damage.
Currently, I have 74pt remaining.
And the points I decided to use…
’74pt. I’ll invest them all.’
Left with only 26pt of potential to gamble with. However, if I die here, it’s all over.
It’s regrettable, but I must use them when necessary.
[Magic Power: 115(+5)]
My total mana increased from 410 to 1,150.
This should be about 1.5 times that of Yuridia.
“Argh!”
“Damn it! Stop bullying the kid!”
Raymon fell again, and Luna went to support him.
As expected, there’s no time to explain.
I can only hope they understand the situation and manage to avoid it.
“O you, darker than the blackest darkness…”
The spell for [Demon Slave] flowed from my mouth.
Though it’s a skill mimicked by [Divine Imitation], [Demon Slave] is a special skill that requires meeting certain conditions to use.
Reciting the spell.
That was the condition needed to use [Demon Slave].
‘I’ve memorized the spell by heart, so there’s no chance of messing it up.’
The problem is time, and…
“Zero? What are you doing right now?”
I couldn’t respond. I was in the middle of reciting the spell.
“Zero! Now’s not the time to be joking around!!”
Perhaps Yuridia’s voice made it through.
The children’s gaze focused on where we were.
Even then, my spellcasting continued.
“Redder than the blood flowing through my veins…”
“Stop joking around already! The magic I used doesn’t work just by reciting a spell…”
“Yuridia! Trust in Zero!!”
Just before Yuridia could lay her hands on me, Rodelin shouted loudly.
To trust me. It seems she realized something from our conversation just a moment ago.
‘Of course, if Rodelin was here, she would have scolded me for doing something so pointless…’
Rodelin was in a place where she couldn’t hear my voice.
Meaning, she couldn’t hear the spell I was currently reciting.
For Yuridia, it must be both frustrating and absurd.
“Everyone trusts in each other! That’s how we can win!”
“I, I’ve been trusting Zero from the start!”
“Hey! I trusted him before you did!”
“Let’s stop fighting and buy some time!”
A smirk slipped out.
Trusting and relying on each other among comrades. Yes, that way.
A path will surely open.
‘The Hero of the Academy’ game, and you guys within it.
You’ve taught me, you fools.
“By the name of yours, forgotten and buried under the flow of time, I swear here in front of everyone.”
Wooong-.
Crimson mana began to gather in my hand little by little.
“This…! What the…!”
Seeing this, Yuridia cursed in shock.
Well, it was an unavoidable situation.
It was surprising enough that I could use magic, let alone a forbidden spell, especially one from her family.
Moreover, the color of the mana, a proof of the Rownter family’s lineage, was crimson.
Right now, Yuridia’s head must be filled with all sorts of thoughts.
-Could he be a hidden bastard of our family?
Or
-Could he have enrolled in the academy for revenge against me, the legitimate lineage!?
Yuridia, forgetting her dignity, clutched her head and groaned.
‘Well, it’s not my concern.’
What’s important now is to kill Bineus.
It was then that I was about to recite the next spell.
“I don’t know what you’re plotting, but this is the end!”
Kukukung!!
The ground burst into flames and split into several paths.
“Oh no!”
The children were unable to approach Bineus, unable to block his [Demon Magic].
Wharak-.
The second flame appeared in the reverse pentagram.
When Rodelin and the others were in disarray.
“Take this!”
“Kuk!”
The flame died down.
Yuridia had fired mana using my Silver Flash.
“You, you brats! It’s not over yet!”
Wharak-.
The first flame lit up in the reverse pentagram.
Bineus, getting used to the Silver Flash, immediately used [Demon Magic].
The children were struggling.
But the situation was rapidly heading for the worst.
‘Why is this casting so slow!’
[Demon Slave] requires a whopping 5 turns of casting time.
It’s naturally slow, but this was excessive.
“To those foolish ones standing in our way.”
Piiiiing-!!
The mana compressed, then compressed again.
The mana gathered in my hand began to scream.
‘The spell is about to be completed. Please, let it be me first…!’
But as if to mock me, the second flame lit up in the reverse pentagram.
There was only one thing this meant.
Bineus’s [Demon Magic] would activate first.
‘The ultimate magic Meteor Shower is an area-wide spell. No one can escape it…!’
The sight of Bineus smiling in victory caught my eye.
Damn, if only I had one more turn.
If someone would give me another chance, I would cherish it with love.
“Kuk!?”
At that moment, Bineus groaned.
At the same time, the two flames burning in the reverse pentagram disappeared.
His [Demon Magic] was reset.
Looking closely, something was embedded in Bineus’s left eye.
A small twig… no, an arrow.
“Who the hell is that!”
Bineus turned his head sharply. There was.
“Hi, hiik!”
Rezé, trembling and holding a bow inside a box, was there.
Yes, it was Rezé who reset Bineus’s [Demon Magic].
“Hiieeek! So, sorryyy!”
Rezé, who had entered the box, disappeared into the woods.
Where she had been, a single carrot lay abandoned.
Her cowardly trait had activated, causing her to flee the battlefield.
Wharak-.
Bineus hurriedly tried to use [Demon Magic] again, but it was too late.
I could sense, almost intuitively, that the casting of [Demon Slave] was nearing completion.
“Together with your power and mine, we shall show the great power of despair!”
I spread my hands wide toward Bineus.
Eat this and die!
Demon Slave!
Kukwakwakwakwa-!!
A crimson flame storm burst forth from my palms.
So much mana was put in that I had to keep my palms extended for a long time.
“Kraaaaaak!!”
[Demon Slave] hit Bineus directly.
A moment later, all that was left in his place was something blackened.
Of course, that something was Bineus.
It was hard to recognize him since he was completely burned and parts of his body were missing.
‘Even after taking a direct hit from this magic he leaves a trace behind when dying. Indeed, he’s a 4th grade demon.’
Well, it’s all over now.
As I lay sprawled out, a shadow fell over me.
It was Yuridia’s shadow.
“How did you do that!? Using my family’s forbidden arcane technique! And it’s much stronger than the Demon Slave I used!”
Ah, I had forgotten about that.
A way out of this situation, that is.
Let’s see… a suitable excuse… Right, this should be enough.
“Keke, it’s magic anyone can do. Didn’t you attend the same illegal academy as me?”
“That’s impossible!!”
Yuridia screamed at the top of her lungs.
Ah, so that didn’t work?
I covered my ears with my hands as Yuridia’s questioning continued.
It seemed I would be tormented for a while.
‘Well, I had anticipated such a situation.’
The reason I used the Rownter family’s secret technique.
It was also the most powerful technique when all pt were used.
‘Yuridia saw me use One Flash.’
From her perspective, I’m a mysterious figure of unknown identity.
Adding [Demon Slave] to that, not much changes.
From a mysterious figure to a suspiciously mysterious figure?
That’s not a bad deal.
‘It’s much better than using One Flash or Sky Splitter. Otherwise, I’d be tormented by several people.’
Better to be tormented by just Yuridia than by Luna, Rodelin, and Yuridia.
That’s why I made this choice.
“…”
But what is it? This strange feeling I’ve had for a while.
“Explain! Explain properly and quickly!”
I pinched Yuridia’s quacking mouth shut with my forefinger and thumb.
“Mmph! What are you doing! So uncultured…!”
“Quiet, please, just for a moment.”
Yuridia nodded cautiously.
She realized I was serious.
I’ve been feeling a strange premonition since a while ago.
No, not a premonition, but a feeling that something is missing.
What is it?
And then I realized.
‘…The quest clear alert hasn’t popped up, has it?’
Yes, the hidden quest to kill Bineus.
Not even an alert for success, let alone a reward, had appeared. That means…!
“Everyone, get back!”
“Excuse me?”
“He’s not dead! That guy, he’s not dead…!”
Thump!
Raymon was launched into the air.
“Kuhuk!”
He seemed to have reacted instantly, raising his sword, but couldn’t fully block it.
Raymon struggled to get up but couldn’t stand properly.
This is bad. Our party’s only tank is incapacitated.
Click-. Click-click-.
“You arrogant… hu, humans…”
Bineus’s body slowly moved.
His whole body was blackened, his left eye blinded by the arrow.
His left arm was completely burned away, and his left leg dragged.
Literally, his left side was a total wreck.
Yet, this oppressive feeling…!
“It doesn’t make sense…”
Yuridia fell into despair.
Yes, this doesn’t make sense.
[Demon Slave], Rank A when used by [Divine Imitation].
A forbidden secret spell used by consuming a whopping 1,150 mana.
Especially since the 200% damage effect should have occurred due to Rezé’s interference with [Demon Magic] casting at two flame stacks.
‘And he can still move after all that?’
This goes beyond first, second, third verses to absolute nonsense.
No one likes this kind of thing!
He should have died there to be a cool demon!
If this were a novel or game, it would be immediately discontinued, right?
A development that would make readers or gamers run away!
“I’ll kill… I’ll kill you all!”
Yeah, even if you don’t say it, it looks like we’re all going to die.
Readers, gamers, veterans.
A development where everyone drops out.
Whether he knows my feelings or not.
“Kraaaaaaah!!”
With demonic energy bursting from Bineus’s body.
The fight began anew.
–TL Notes–
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