Chapter 73
Elisha let out a heavy sigh.
“The apocalypse?”
“Yes, the apocalypse.”
“…That sounds like something the Humanity Preservation Agency would say.”
“Think about why that agency exists.”
The Humanity Preservation Agency was a global organization established after the fall of the Cosmos Empire, tasked with preventing disasters that threaten humanity’s survival.
Though under the Imperium Empire, it was practically a public good for humanity.
The important thing was that the entire continent constantly poured massive investments into the Humanity Preservation Agency.
Disasters were approaching in real time.
“Dr. Keren, Cadet Helaine, Marquis Vistavern. All of them are nothing compared to what’s coming.”
“….”
Elisha was bewildered.
We were talking about Gilbert, and now the topic had shifted to the apocalypse.
“Cadet Elisha.”
“….”
“Remember this. My dislike for you isn’t that important. Focus on the fact that our goals are somewhat aligned.”
“….”
“Apologies, reconciliation—there’s no time or inclination for such childish games. That’s what I’m saying.”
After speaking, I sat cross-legged and began meditating.
I needed to recover my spent Mana too.
This also signaled a refusal to continue the conversation.
“….”
I heard Elisha moving silently.
It seemed she was sitting a short distance away.
Wild Instinct (Lv 3) predicted an attack trajectory! There’s a high chance it’s an attack that could kill Elisha!
‘What?!’
My eyes widened as if they’d tear.
My head snapped around.
The attack trajectory drawn by Wild Instinct was aimed at the back of Elisha’s head as she moved away from the throne.
Perhaps sensing my intense will, I felt Elisha’s confusion.
“Ma-Martin Cadet?”
‘Flash!’
When my vision flashed, I was behind Elisha.
I raised my gun horizontally to block.
A black beam shot from the far end of the corridor, passing the hall’s entrance and striking my gun.
To me, the Flash and the impact were perceived almost simultaneously.
A black arrow lodged in my left shoulder.
The gun, unable to fully block the arrow, broke.
If the gun hadn’t absorbed some of the impact, my sacrifice would’ve been in vain, and the attack would’ve reached Elisha.
“Ugh!”
The pain hit belatedly.
The Rosary of Grace reacted.
Why was it…?!
No, could it be… him?
At this timing?
“Cadet Martin!”
Elisha grabbed me as I started to collapse.
She pulled us behind the throne for cover.
Good judgment.
Even if it was spent, it was the emperor’s throne.
It would provide some defense.
Meanwhile, Elisha’s face hardened as she examined the arrow in my shoulder.
“This… this arrow…”
When Elisha touched the arrow, it reacted with her Mana.
This wasn’t human power.
It was demonic power, Maki.
Know-It-All (Lv 3) was certain the prey had ambushed us.
The prey.
Right.
The enemy approaching now was the one I’d been preparing to hunt.
The villain of EP4.
The one I’d targeted after the Desert Hierophant.
‘Damn it, at this timing.’
My head hurt.
My thoughts weren’t flowing properly.
It was painful.
My shoulder felt like it was being torn off.
Because of the Maki.
“Cadet Martin! Stay with me!”
Elisha grabbed the black arrow in my shoulder with both hands.
A strong rejection reaction brought pain to both of us.
“Ugh!”
“Uht!”
After about five seconds, Elisha’s hands were repelled.
Know-It-All (Lv 3) analyzed that thanks to Elisha, the Maki weakened. It can now be erased with Stellar Force!
But that was enough.
The arrow’s power had weakened significantly.
I wrapped Stellar Force around my hand.
When I gripped the demonic arrow, the Stellar Force overwhelmed the Maki, erasing the arrow’s existence.
‘Ugh…!’
I didn’t stop there and focused Stellar Force on the darkened wound.
With a sizzling sound, the Maki escaped like smoke.
‘Did I stop the corruption?’
In the setting, areas corrupted by Maki lost control, and if Maki reached the heart, accumulated abilities would be tainted.
If it reached the brain, the mind would fall, becoming a demon’s minion.
Carelessness could cost everything in an instant.
I looked up at Elisha.
She was shocked, watching me heal a Maki-inflicted wound on my own.
“Don’t space out, stay sharp. The enemy is a demon.”
“R-Right. That’s your specialty, isn’t it?”
“…?”
…Why was that my specialty…?
“You’re a Peacemaker. You don’t have to hide it in a situation like this.”
“…If I told you how many times I’ve heard that misunderstanding and given the same explanation, it’d be a long story, so let’s move on.”
We hid behind the throne, our makeshift cover, and watched the corridor.
‘I’ll have to use this.’
I hesitated to use it as Martin, but I had no choice and pulled out the shotgun exclusive to the Princess' Black Knight.
I scanned ahead, but the enemy was still out of sight.
How far away had they shot from?
Elisha asked me.
“Do you know who it is?”
It’d be a hassle if she asked how I knew… but it was better than her panicking upon seeing the culprit.
“Probably Nelson of the Quesharow family.”
“…What?”
Elisha’s hands, gripping her bow, trembled.
“The club leader Nelson?”
“Believe it or not, that’s up to you.”
“I believe you. I didn’t mean I don’t trust you.”
That response was a bit unexpected.
“But… Cadet Nelson is a senior in his graduating year. He’s been at the Academy for three years, an exemplary student with excellent grades.”
“Demons are like an assassin’s blade hidden under a sleeve. No one knows until it’s revealed.”
At that moment, the corridor flashed with dark light, and another black arrow shot toward us.
The arrow hit the throne.
With a boom, it exploded, and the withered emperor seated on the throne collapsed with it, futilely.
‘Incredible destructive power.’
Elisha and I hid behind the throne’s wreckage, holding our breath.
The demon announced its presence with sound.
A dragging noise, like something being pulled.
The sound of footsteps was an added bonus.
‘No way.’
I peeked over the collapsed cover to secure my line of sight.
‘As expected.’
A handsome blond youth was dragging another blond man by the hair.
A trail of blood marked the path of the man being dragged, lifeless.
Nelson had done this to his brother, Faris.
Elisha clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.
“Cadet Martin, Cadet Elisha. You’re here…?”
Nelson’s eyes were closed.
He stood silently at the hall’s entrance, then opened his mouth.
His tongue and teeth were black, as if coated in tar.
“I know you’re here. Come out. Don’t make this tedious…”
Maki dripped like venom from his gaping mouth.
Faris, who seemed dead, let out a faint voice.
“Kid… run…”
Nelson’s eyes snapped open.
Instead of beautiful eyes, irregular black masses were embedded.
The hand gripping Faris' hair slammed down to the floor.
“Brother! Shut up!”
Faris, bleeding as he was dragged, had his head smashed into the ground.
The floor cracked with a snap.
Alive or dead, I couldn’t tell this time.
I raised my hand to stop her.
Elisha, about to rush out, hesitated.
Then she waited for my signal.
‘Nice.’
It felt like a disobedient dog had become a tame puppy.
I pulled out a recording orb from my bag and activated it.
Everything from now on would be recorded.
“…Cadet Nelson.”
“Martin! Call me Senior!”
A black flash shook the throne with an impact.
But I was no longer there.
“Why are you targeting me?”
“Because you don’t know your place…”
My place, huh.
“Not knowing my place… Senior, why don’t you teach your junior a lesson?”
“Our Quesharow County is a prestigious family incomparable to the likes of your Ulvhadin! And you dare try to surpass me?!”
…Huh? Did I ever do that?
Come to think of it, I hadn’t even spoken to Nelson.
…Oh, wait, there was one time.
“Is it because I took first place in the shooting demonstration?”
I dodged and moved to another cover as I answered.
“No!”
A shockwave swept through where I’d been.
“It’s invalid! A cheat! You must’ve used some trick, you filthy Martin! The scum of high society, notorious in social circles, humiliating me like this!”
Huh, so it really was because of that.
Peeking through the cover, I saw Elisha hiding behind another cover far away.
She was still waiting for my signal.
“Why is Cadet Elisha guilty? Let her go.”
“She chose you, not me.”
At that, Elisha gave a puzzled look.
Oh, she’d be shocked when she realized.
“…Do you like Cadet Elisha?”
Elisha’s face turned bright red.
At the same time, Nelson radiated Maki from his entire body.
“Shut up!”
What an easy enemy to provoke.
When you gave your body to a demon, your intelligence temporarily dropped until full corruption.
This was great.
“The second son of a count loving the eldest daughter of a duke… isn’t it you who doesn’t know your place, Senior?”
“You!”
‘Oh, dangerous.’
A black shockwave began relentlessly sweeping my position.
I’d already dodged, but the cover vanished without a trace.
“I saw Princess Elisha ride a wagon alone with you! Sharing drinks! Cooking together! Eating dinner together!”
This getting recorded as evidence was a bit awkward.
It could cause misunderstandings.
‘I’ll have to delete it later.’
I understood Nelson’s feelings.
It was natural to feel jealous.
Human emotions were endlessly complex.
I, too, was a fiend of jealousy, envying others’ talents, so I couldn’t say I didn’t get it.
But.
People called someone consumed by jealousy and inferiority this.
Being jealous meant wearing this yoke.
I was used to it, but what about the lofty young master of Quesharow?
“Have you ever heard the term ‘pathetic,’ Senior?”
“Arghhh!”
As Nelson was about to explode with shame, Elisha’s voice came from behind her cover.
“Stop it, Senior Nelson!”
“Gah!”
Nelson, about to lose it, froze.
Of course, Elisha was here too.
Nelson, temporarily dulled by accepting Maki, seemed to have forgotten.
Nelson looked around frantically.
“C-Cadet Elisha! You were here?! Why with someone like Martin…!”
“I can say clearly, right here.”
Elisha, who’d been hiding, slowly revealed herself.
The Harmadun gripping the red bow stood proudly.
“I reject your feelings, Senior. I can’t stand demons.”
“Y-You, ugh!”
Nelson’s face turned as red as gochujang.
‘Now’s the time.’
Following the optimal timing indicated by Know-It-All and Wild Instinct, I swiftly moved.
I dashed to the distracted Nelson’s side and pulled Faris away.
I couldn’t use Stellar Force Flash, as it might give me away.
While I was retrieving Faris, Nelson, flustered, kept staring at Elisha.