Chapter 143: Chapter 107: Omen

༺ Omen ༻

Talion Armand was someone who took pride in his own abilities.

It was understandable given that he could even compete with Iliya, who had received the title of Hero, a distinction reserved only for the most promising talent in the continent.

Recently, however, he had been feeling the widening gap between himself and her, almost akin to a difference between heaven and earth.

As such, his confidence has wavered a bit lately.

Dowd Campbell always seemed to attract and become entangled with monstrous individuals. Despite his limited social circle, the capabilities of those around him were so absurd that any concerns about his few interpersonal relationships were virtually meaningless.

For instance, other than Iliya…

First, there was the Saintess of the Church and a terrifying swordsman who could kill a dragon with a single blow; both came as a set. Then, there was Riru Garda, who even Iliya, a fellow freshman, wouldn’t dare to provoke recklessly was included in this terrifying list.

Moreover, those individuals were completely devoted to him.

‘…Devoted?’

Well, at times, their excessive favorability was a little problematic, but anyway…

When standing next to that man, it was inevitable for him to feel that he was such a small person.

“…”

And Talion had realized one more truth.

The fact that it was silly of him to even feel that way.

In the first place, the sense of inferiority born from comparison would only really hit home when one felt that they are ‘similar’ to the person they are compared to.

If the counterpart was a monster, a sky above the sky…

Then the fact that he felt inferior was completely preposterous in the first place.

“I found it!”

They were in a certain frozen land, where mana-powered blizzards raged. In this place, there was a Ruler; A tiger with the size of a house, the Ice Tiger.

Thanks to the blue jewels that adorned its entire body, it possessed defensive capabilities at the level of defensive gear made from rare metals. It was a Demonic Creature that possessed innate elemental magic from birth.

Demonic Creatures titled as Special-Grade were never considered as ‘prey to hunt’ and the Ice Tiger was no exception.

They were more like creatures of legend for the hunters, unbelievable existences used to scare children with sayings such as, ‘Behave well or the Ice Tiger will get you!’.

These Special-Grades were so formidable that even a battalion of official knights, who each could easily face Intermediate-Grade Demonic Creatures, would only have a possibility to subjugate these monsters.

Above them were only the dragon race, beasts from other dimensions, and the Four Cardinal Gods, who were last seen decades ago.

But now…

This Ice Tiger had met an opponent that was able to ‘tear it apart’ in a blink of an eye.

“…”

When he first entered this hunting ground and was requested to eliminate the Ice Tiger with Eleanor in 5 minutes, he thought that was just an exaggeration from that man, a way to tell them to do the deed quickly.

Among the students, it was already well-known that Elfante’s Student Council President was a combatant who possessed historic levels of strength; but even so, wasn’t she still just a student?

Or that was what he thought.

Until Eleanor abruptly let out a punch without moving from where she was standing at upon meeting the Ice Tiger.

“…?”

At first, he thought that she had lost her mind.

After all, she was a swordsman, yet her sword remained unsheathed against such a powerful foe.

Not to mention that what she threw wasn’t even a serious punch, just a casual thrust as if she was pushing something in the air.

The motion she made was bizarre, as if she didn’t have the slightest intention to even hit her opponent.

However…

Alongside that light motion, a ‘grey aura’ burst forth from Eleanor’s body. And at the same time…

-!!

-!!!!

-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The scenery before him was ‘ripped apart’ in its entirety.

And even the Ice Tiger, who was swept away by such an aura, was shredded into pieces without a chance to resist.

Dowd had instructed them to instill ‘fear’ to it, so it didn’t seem like she killed it, but it was definitely one step away from dying.

All that was achieved from this single mind-boggling attack.

Talion could only watch with his mouth agape at the sight.

“…”

This person…

‘…No, wait.’

‘Could she even be called a person anymore?’

As a descendant of a distinguished martial family, Talion could tell that the technique Eleanor unleashed did not fit into any known categories of Special Power such as Fortitude or Divine; It was something he had never seen before.

The only candidates that could wield such power were beings considered as mere fantasy by the academic circles: Existences of the Astral Realm or Devils, the Rulers of Pandemonium.

“…”

‘Devil…’

‘Wait, Devil?’

He narrowed his eyes, gazing towards Eleanor.

The blood of Devils runs in the veins of the Tristan Duchy.

Though a mere whisper, it was a whisper that had always circled around in the Empire’s high society.

Although it sounded absurd…

What if it did not possess a metaphorical meaning?

What if there was actually some connection between the family’s bloodline and Devils?

‘…No, there’s no way.’

It was way too ridiculous to even consider.

For a prominent major noble household of the Empire to be entangled with such things? If it were true, the Empire would have already been in an uproar multiple times over.

In the first place, no one even knew where such rumors came from.

‘…Father did say he heard that the Imperial Family may have spread it, though.’

But that was even more absurd than the original rumor.

Why would the Imperial Family do that? Especially to the Tristan Duchy household who had been unrivaled in their loyalty to the Imperial Family for generations?

Unless it was to ‘pressure’ them purposely, it made absolutely zero sense.

“…Um, Student Council President.”

Of course, regardless of that…

Right now, the spectacle before him was undeniably insane.

Talion spoke with a trembling voice.

“How did you do that?”

Upon hearing his words, Eleanor simply shrugged her shoulders before responding.

“I just experimented a bit.”

“Experiment?”

“I was testing how far I can interfere with regards to twisting space, even without touching the time axis at all.”

“…”

‘What kind of nonsense was she spouting?’

The most apt ability of twisting space was the highest order of magic, ‘Dimensional Distortion’, that only dragons knew how to use the legendary technique, or ‘Morning Slash’ demonstrated by the first Duke Tristan.

To replicate that with a mere punch was something only Devils or beings from the Astral Realm could possibly—

“…”

‘No. No…’

‘That thought was preposterous.’n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

If this woman was truly related to ‘Devils’, especially one emanating a ‘grey’ aura…

A certain being that belonged in the realm of ancient myths, dating back to the era of the First Hero came to mind.

After all, it was a ‘color’ depicted in the Great War of Gods and Devils, responsible for creating the Void Zone in the center of the Golden Triangle.

And according to those myths…

The Grey Devil’s Vessel was an unprecedented entity titled the ‘Enemy of the Entire Continent’.

In other words…

This woman could potentially become the worst monster in history, capable of taking on the entire continent alone.

‘…No, that’s preposterous.’

While struck with panic, he looked down at the Ice Tiger, who was on the verge of death and breathing with great difficulty.

Seeing that it was breathing feebly, it was certainly not dead.

“Let’s see. He told me I just had to extract its claws…”

Talion approached it while muttering as such.

Or at least he would have if it wasn’t for the tiny being trying to bite his ankle.

“Oh no.”

It was the Ice Tiger’s cub. Although much smaller in size, its features looked copy and pasted from the Ice Tiger.

The cub continued its unthreatening snarling, as if to protect its mother.

Honestly, it was more like a kitten than a tiger. It looked pitiful as it swung its paws, which were basically the size of a claw, in front of the injured Ice Tiger.

“…Mm, this kind of makes me feel like I’m the bad guy. It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m not going to kill, I just need the claws-”

Talion tried to finish his sentence with a bitter smile.

Until he sensed ‘something’ behind him.

“…!”

At the next moment…

He was rolling on the ground, enveloping the Ice Tiger’s cub with his entire body.

Despite fresh blood spurting because he was pierced by the Ice Tiger’s claws, he didn’t seem to care as he shielded the cub.

The cub inside his embrace was squirming. It must have ‘mistaken’ Talion’s actions as an attack.

Or it would have thought that…

If it hadn’t noticed that the spot it was just standing on was now in ruins, shattered by a grey aura.

-…

The cub relaxed, drooping in Talion’s embrace.

It had realized that Talion had actually ‘saved’ it.

“…Student Council President.”

He turned his tense gaze towards Eleanor.

Her red irises shone ominously; they were filled with relentless and ferocious ‘hostility’.

Just now, as if she did not even want to see the cub’s pitiful squirms… She had tried to crush it like a bug.

“Senior Brother didn’t say we needed to harm the cub.”

“…”

As Talion, holding the trembling cub, spoke, Eleanor looked at him blankly.

“Isn’t it unsightly?”

“…Excuse me?”

“The mere existence of such a weak life form, to me, is simply revolt—”

Eleanor, who was about to continue, stopped abruptly.

“…”

Then, she covered her mouth while opening her eyes wide.

It was as if she was shocked by her own words.

“…What…did I…just…”

Simultaneously, the ‘hostility’ in her eyes vanished.

As if something that was ‘enveloping’ her had disappeared.

“…N-No. There is no way. Forget what you have just heard.”

“…”

“Let’s just collect the claws and go back.”

With that, she walked away with quick steps, unlike her usual calm and unhurried manner. Talion’s expression crumpled at this sight.

‘…What was that?’

Although just for a brief moment…

Something had ‘pervaded’ Eleanor.

It was not the usual expressionless Student Council President, which was a mixture of silliness and cool-headed…

But ‘something’ that was filled with a blind hatred for every existence in sight.

‘…Senior Brother, what kind of woman are you under the mercy of?’

Thinking as such, Talion let out a deep sigh.

[I have finished, Senior Brother.]

I nodded at Talion’s report, who seemed to have lost his soul.

It seemed like this reaction was due to seeing Eleanor pulling off some accomplishment again.

“…”

It was understandable.

After consuming two Fragments, the range of actions a Vessel could do would start to become similar to or exceed that of named NPCs in the game.

I wasn’t too sure about this assumption, but she would probably even start to become stronger than Gideon.

‘…Which means I’ll have a hard time later.’

This was not a desirable phenomenon, you see.

At the very least, for future chapters, it was better to always make sure Gideon’s combat power was above Eleanor’s.

‘After this chapter ends, it seems like it is necessary to also go check on our Duke’s progress.’

System Message

[ Target ‘Eleanor’ is becoming more accustomed to the Devil’s Power. ]

[ The fusion of the second Fragment accelerates. The Vessel starts to become affected! ]

After all, I had to in order to deal with this.

As I had mentioned before…

I couldn’t stand to see Eleanor becoming a murderer, even if I became blinded.

While I was frowning at such a window, the pager in my hands emitted a ringtone.

It was a call from Iliya.

[Ah, Teach. This side—]

“Is the Imprint also finished over there?”

[…]

Iliya paused for a moment at my question.

[…No, so like. About that. We did finish, but…]

On the other side of the screen, Iliya turned to look behind.

Behind her, the body of the Ruler of the Jungle Zone, the Horned Demon, was visible. And so was Yuria, who was looking down at it with her sword drawn.

[Teach, didn’t you say this thing won’t die?]

“…? That’s a mana life form, so it won’t die, probably.”

Just like the Ice Tiger, the Flame Demon, and the Unicorn.

Mana life forms connected to the elements didn’t die easily. This was the most significant trait that allowed them to break through all the competition from the formidable Demonic Creatures nearby and occupy the position of a Ruler.

Even the Flame Demon, didn’t I even after I blew its head apart in one strike.

[This thing’s dead, though?]

“…What?”

[It’s not resurrecting. Since it’s like that, was the Imprint or whatever properly engraved?]

“…”

At her words, I took a closer look at the screen.

White aura was rising from Yuria’s sword. Nearby, the Unicorn was completely bisected from head to toe, lying motionless.

It was not even showing signs of returning to its elemental form for resurrection, like the Flame Demon I killed.

‘…She actually killed it?’

‘How did she do that?’

‘You can’t even attempt that in game unless you use a glitch…’

Fortunately…

The answer to ‘how’ such a thing was possible soon appeared before my eyes.

System Message

[ Target ‘Yuria’ is becoming more adept at utilizing the Devil’s Power. ]

[ A new curse in the ‘Severer’ is unlocked. ]

[ The target’s Stage 1 Fusion Rate has reached 99%. ]

[ The second Fragment of the ‘White Devil’ will soon appear. Related events are updated! ]

“…”

‘Hey, you fucker.’

‘I’m busy enough already’

‘Please, spare me.’

[…She seemed a bit mentally unstable ever since she came here. Is that really okay, Teach…?]

I scrutinized Yuria, who was reflected on the screen.

Her eyes were out of focus. Standing there without moving, she looked down at the corpse with dead eyes.

Even at a first glance, her state didn’t seem normal.

“…”

I wasn’t sure what she was thinking since the last time I saw her was when she was changing her clothes.

She looked very upset, though, similar to how she was after the recent gaslighting I did.

[…If we leave her like this, she might cause an accident soon.]

“…I’m sure she will. Just let her be.”

[…]

As Iliya looked at me speechlessly, I just scratched my head instead of following up with some sort of explanation.

At the very least, based on my experiences so far…

Omens of ominous things that seemed would happen to me had never missed their mark. If there was even the slightest hint, bad things would definitely happen.

So, what did I need to do in such a situation?

Instead of thinking about ‘fixing’ it, it was better to use it as a ‘momentum’.

First, I had already triggered Riru’s temper to explode…

And this was the second.

[…What?]

“Iliya.”

As Iliya questioned with suspicion, I let out a sigh.

“Do you perhaps know the saying ‘curing poison with poison’?”

Poison could be managed with poison.

If only one poison was released, it was just a deadly poison, but…

If two were released…

That could be used as ‘medicine’.

‘…This will be quite interesting.’

Honestly speaking…

I was curious about tomorrow.

After all, I couldn’t help but look forward to how Tatiana would react to what I was going to do, you know?

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