NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 325
In the darkness, Daike’s eyes gleamed.
It was the menacing gaze of a beast, as if he were about to lunge and sink his teeth into my throat.
‘It would be great if Teron could hold him back…’
Was he that shocked by my rejection?
He was staring off into space, his hand still stretched out toward me.
“To reject Sir Teron’s kindness multiple times and then humiliate him on top of it—are you out of your mind?”
“That’s…”
“No, you must be out of your mind. If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have refused his proposal.”
“No, I…”
“There’s no harm in getting rid of at least one lunatic. The Academy probably doesn’t need someone like that anyway. Don’t you agree?”Excuse me? Are you even listening to me?
You’re the one who’s not in your right mind here!
Wanting to kill someone as amazing as me? My death would be a national, no, a worldwide loss!
“Could you at least hear me ou—”
“No need for words! I won’t listen to excuses!”
Daike looked ready to lunge at any moment.
This was a dangerous situation. But I couldn’t use [Absolute Defense].
Revealing such an overpowered skill in front of others—especially potential enemies—would be nothing short of idiotic.
In times like these…
The ‘Friend Shield’ strategy is the best.
“Kreeek?”
Perhaps realizing that I was crouched behind her, clutching tightly onto her, Rezé turned her head and asked,
“W-What are you doing?”
“Keke, didn’t Teacher Caron tell us to make sacrifices for others?”
“T-Then why don’t you make the sacrifice?! W-Why does it have to be me?!”
“I’d love to, but unfortunately, I suffer from a disease where I die if I try to sacrifice myself.”
“L-Liar! A-And anyway, anyone would die if they sacrificed themselves!”
“Keke, is that so? Then today, Miss Rezé, you’ll be the one to make the sacrifice. Next time, it’ll be me.”
“You… you demon!!”
Rezé started struggling, but her Strength stat was only 3. She didn’t stand a chance against me.
“I’ll kill both of you!”
Daike lowered himself, ready to pounce.
Just then, Teron let out a groan.
“Ugh…”
“Sir Teron! Are you alright?”
“What… happened? Was I… unconscious?”
“Well, you see…”
There I was, hiding behind Rezé, who looked like her soul was about to leave her body. In front of us, Daike glared, eyes bloodshot with rage.
And the heavy tension in the air…
Perhaps recalling what had happened, Teron glanced down at his hand and let out a bitter smile.
“I see… I was rejected, wasn’t I?”
He still hadn’t lowered his hand.
That’s how much he wanted me.
‘If this were a game, I’d have recruited him a hundred times over by now.’
I could only lament the fact that this wasn’t a game.
“Zero, you’re serious this time, aren’t you?”
“Keke, I’ve always been serious.”
“…Even if this were your final warning, would your answer remain the same?”
“Of course.”
Perhaps realizing the firmness of my resolve, Teron slowly lowered his hand until it rested by his waist.
A sign that he was giving up on me.
“Keke, well then, if you’ll excuse us…”
Rezé and I started heading toward the rope ladder, but someone blocked our path.
Teron’s hound, Daike.
“Did you really have to humiliate him this much?”
“Keke, rejection and acceptance—you were the one who only offered two choices, weren’t you?”
“Then you should’ve accepted. You can’t leave here like this. At the very least, give me one of those rabbit ears.”
“To think you’d crack a joke in such a heavy atmosphere… Classic Daike.”
“Does it look like I’m joking?”
“Eep!”
Daike unleashed his killing intent. It was so intense that Rezé flattened herself against the ground.
‘This is getting annoying.’
I had never encountered this storyline before, so I wasn’t sure how to handle it properly.
Should I defeat Daike here and now?
But what if this was all part of the developers’ scheme to push Daike into a contract with a demon?
‘I know all about Teron’s demon contract gimmick, so that’s fine. But Daike would be a different story.’
Teron, who appears as the second act’s final boss, blocking the path to the climax.
And Daike, who serves as a mid-boss obstructing the way to Teron.
Daike’s gimmick is “One-Hit Kill.”
If his attack lands, one of my allies dies. A brutally unforgiving mechanic.
He’s difficult enough as it is. If his defeat here led him to make a pact with a demon…
‘A two-person death strike? An area-wide attack? Or maybe…an attack that can’t be dodged or blocked?’
For reference, Daike’s gimmick isn’t ‘Knockout’—it’s ‘Death.’
If his attack connects, my character really dies.
‘He could even transform into an enemy with an even deadlier gimmick.’
That’s why I wanted to avoid pushing Daike any further…
“Draw your sword. I won’t disgrace myself by defeating an unarmed opponent.”
Daike was resolute.
Having rejected Teron’s hand, I could expect no more kindness from him.
‘So we’re really going to have to fight…’
Better to defeat Daike than to suffer injuries or lose an ally in an attempt to avoid it.
Besides, my theory that Daike might change if he loses is just that—a theory. There’s a chance nothing will happen.
And I had another reason to fight.
‘If I can’t overcome the problem in front of me, I can’t move forward.’
Alright, I’ll defeat him once more.
I was about to place my hand on my sword when—
“Daike, stand down.”
“Don’t worry, Sir. I won’t lose twice. This time, I’ll secure victory for you!”
“I know you’ll win if you fight again. But this place is unworthy of being your battlefield.”
The dark, dingy basement was no place to determine the Academy’s strongest.
That was what Teron was saying.
“And though we call it a meeting, it’s practically a kidnapping. If you harm them in this situation, my honor will be tarnished.”
“But…”
“That’s an order.”
Daike grudgingly stepped aside.
But his predatory glare remained. He looked ready to kill with his eyes alone.
Of course, he couldn’t pierce my [Mental Defense].
“Keke, then we’ll be on our way.”
“…Wait for it. I’ll make you kneel in front of everyone one day.”
“I look forward to it.”
I passed by Daike, who was shooting me a murderous glare.
Rezé, not wanting to draw any attention, crawled along the ground like a rabbit to follow me.
Just as I placed my hand on the rope ladder, Teron waved at us with his usual smile.
“Zero, this is my last act of kindness toward you. Don’t expect it again.”
“Keke, to think I’ll have to go up against someone as considerate as you, Teron. It’s a shame.”
“…The feeling is mutual.”
The ladder shook as Rezé scrambled up ahead of me.
Wearing a skirt and climbing first? What a foolish rabbit.
Well, at least I’ve confirmed that Rezé is a fan of carrots. Not that this is new information.
As I climbed up after Rezé, a voice called from below.
“Daike, follow them up. Just in case any of those idiots try something.”
“They’re our enemies now. I don’t see why I need to go that far…”
“That’s an order.”
Daike’s response didn’t reach my ears. Instead, the ladder started shaking violently.
Meaning he was following close behind.
‘To think Teron would even protect us from the ambush waiting above… How thoughtful.’
The more I got to know Teron, the more I liked him. I almost wanted to climb back down and shake his hand.
But since that was impossible, I could only apologize silently in my heart.
I’m sorry, Teron, for rejecting your kindness again and again.
I’m sorry I can’t take your hand.
And I’m sorry for looking away, knowing the hardship you’ll face.
I’m sorry. Truly, I am.
There’s only one promise I can make to Teron.
If I clear this game—if I return to reality and start the game again—
I promise, I’ll take your hand that time.
Promise.
“Th-The light!”
And so, we became enemies.
A week passed, and no fight broke out.
The Yuridia faction, the Victoria faction, and the Teron faction.
Before the power struggle could begin in earnest, everyone was busy shoring up their own ranks.
‘And distributing rewards, too.’
We weren’t the only ones who got our midterm scores.
Other students also received theirs, and the heads of each faction had to reward them according to their ranks.
“They’re saying the top-ranking students will be appointed as team leaders.”
“What about the top-ranked transfer students?”
“Well, if it’s based on grades, then naturally…”
“But couldn’t they be spies?”
“So now that there are more people, original members have no value? I’m disappointed. If that’s the case, I’ll take my talents elsewhere.”
“W-Wait! I’ll convey your opinions! Please just hold on!”
Managing all that would be difficult enough on its own, but with the large-scale defections and transfers after the midterms, things were even more chaotic.
With everyone busy solidifying their factions, skirmishes hadn’t broken out yet. They were also being cautious.
‘From now on, any fight would mean the elimination of one faction.’
For now, people were recruiting and poaching members, engaging in an intense game of cat-and-mouse.
And who was benefiting the most from this situation?
That would be us—the Zero faction.
“I-I… can’t… go on anymore…”
Rezé collapsed, having exhausted her stamina in training. It looked like she was done for the day.
“Rezé, how can you call yourself the Academy’s fourth rank if you’re already giving up?”
“I… I’m not really fourth! It was just… just luck!”
“Fourth place! Everyone, look over here! The glorious fourth place of Annwood Academy is right here!”
Rezé’s face turned crimson, while Luna spun around her, teasing her mercilessly.
This had been the dynamic since the day the results were announced.
Luna was overjoyed by her friend’s high rank, and though embarrassed, Rezé didn’t seem to hate it.
“Keke, the top-ranked student celebrating the fourth-ranked student. When someone with the top score says things like that, it can easily be misunderstood.”
“Ugh! F-Fourth place really is impressive, okay? B-But so is 18th place! Congrats on 18th, Zero!”
- Eighteen.
Hearing it out loud… somehow it didn’t feel great.
Could this be part of Caron’s grand scheme, too?
“Sorry… have we been too excited lately? I’m sorry. You’re really the one who should’ve been at the top…”
Maybe Luna thought I was upset, because she approached me, fidgeting awkwardly.
Actually, the truth was quite the opposite.
If I’d taken the top spot, I’d never have gotten my hands on [Frederick’s Ring].
Increases [Swordsmanship] skill proficiency rapidly, raises all sword-related skill levels by one, and boosts damage dealt by sword skills by 10%.
Where on earth does Caron get these endgame items? Did he kill Swordmaster Frederick’s disciple or something?
It’s a ridiculous thought, but with Caron, anything feels possible.
‘Honestly, if I asked Luna to lend me the ring, she’d probably hand it over gladly…’
But then my head would be on the chopping block—by none other than Caron, that scoundrel.
So even the thought of borrowing it was off-limits.
Messing around with the Bad Ending Maker is about the dumbest thing one could do.
“Hm…”
Noticing me eyeing the ring, Luna took it off and held it out to me.
“Here, take it. I haven’t had it appraised yet, so I don’t know what effects it has, but it must be something useful. Your big sis is being generous!”
Yes, Luna, it does have an effect.
The effect of ‘Death.’
–TL Notes–
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