Chapter 253
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Dantes figure was no longer visible in sight.
But as Leciel extended her senses, she could distinctly detect movement.
Despite the thorough security of Rosenstark, Leciel hurriedly followed behind just in case any danger arose.
Just then
Cough, cough.
Not long after, she spotted Dante, doubled over and gasping for breath.
They werent far from the starting point.
Even within the range where civilians could easily pick up on transmissions.
Even though he was no stranger to combat, for a member of the Dawn Knights to be in such a state was unusual.
Perplexed, Leciel asked,
Are you alright?
I cough, cough wasnt supposed to be this bad I feel like Im going to die.
Being at the brink of life wasnt just about lifespan.
In a critical condition, overall vitality diminishes rapidly, and the body ages drastically.
It was likely due to expending more life force than anticipated in the previous battle.
Leciel contemplated whether to continue pursuing the unidentified spy or just stay by Dantes side.
Dante wore a embarrassed expression.
This is embarrassing, really.
Its not embarrassing at all. Can you stand?
Grabbing Leciels hand, Dante stood up and brushed off the dirt from his clothes.
I guess its futile to continue the chase now, isnt it?
Yes.
Then lets head back for today. Weve gathered enough sketches and, most importantly, Im exhausted.
Alright, shall I escort you?
Oh, come on, you dont have to treat me like an eighty-year-old.
Leciel, who had been kneeling to help Dante up, stood up again.
Dante chuckled at her bewilderment.
It seems there are unexpected sides to you.
Anyway, be careful. Despite Rosenstark being secure, its still a dangerous era.
Yes, Ill keep that in mind.
After Dante left with those words of caution,
Leciel turned back to head to the dormitory.
Huh?
In the distance, something sparkled in the moonlight from the bushes.
Leciels expression subtly changed upon confirming its identity.
This is
A fist-sized crystal bead.
It seemed to be used for magical training.
.
.
.
Cough, cough.
After running for a while, Ban stopped to catch his breath, exerting all his effort to calm his labored breathing.
As expected of Leciel.
Despite trying to suppress his presence and extend his detection, he was ultimately discovered.
The boy looked back with tense eyes.
Theyre not following.
With that, Ban collapsed to the ground.
But soon, he got up again and brushed off his clothes.
What the heck!
But there was no sign of the crystal bead he had dropped earlier.
It must have been lost.
Ban sighed heavily and ruffled his hair.
Still, he was lucky to have escaped without being caught.
If he had been discovered it would have led to terrible misunderstandings.
Shed probably think I was jealous and sneaking around to spy on her.
As if that would happen.
Ban suppressed a loud laugh.
How nice it would be to have a famous painter visit. Even I would have done the same.
Just.
Just
He had chased after them out of curiosity about why she was so happily chatting and swinging their swords at Rosenstark.
Ah.
Ban smacked his head hard.
What a pathetic thing to do.
He also felt sorry for Leciel.
I shouldnt do this kind of thing again.
In fact, Ban had been trying to start painting a few months ago.
Amidst his busy schedule of swordsmanship and magic, he had tried to practice whenever he could.
Unfortunately, the results werent particularly impressive.
Hmm, seems like I lack talent. No, in this case, should I say I completely lack aesthetic sense?
Yeah, as long as youre talented in swordsmanship and magic.
Ugh.
One after another, it was Gerald, Luke, and Karen.
Ban had no choice but to abandon his plan to attract Leciels attention with a magnificent painting.
And then, just as Leciels idolized painter (who also happened to be quite handsome and well-dressed) appeared, Ban had to endure endless teasing.
I should go get some sleep.
As he was about to take a step forward
Eek!
A pitch-black silhouette swiftly passed by.
There was no sound, so Ban startled and stepped back.
What, what is it!
The unidentified silhouette stopped and looked at him.
The Great Mountain Tribe. I move stealthily. Its a habit from hunting. You, on the other hand, are like a cat burglar. What are you doing?
Iira was looking at him under the moonlight.
Because of her dark skin, she appeared to blend into the darkness completely.
No, shes even using stealth magic, isnt she?
Even Ban, who habitually extended his senses as he moved, couldnt detect her nearby.
That look of disappointment. What are you doing on a night like this?
This is in front of the new student dormitory. What are you doing here, Iira?
You should know. Nothing.
With those words, she disappeared smoothly.
Ban was bewildered, letting out a dry laugh before heading back to the dormitory entrance.
It was the end of a tumultuous day.
Is there anything else?
Seeing Leciel holding the crystal bead at the door, Ban let out a sigh of exasperation.
* * *
Izaro had advised the Hero to meet with a celestial being once a day.
If you continue to meet for about a week, by her divine energy, Dark Impulse will be completely eradicated.
The Hero had anticipated it would be quite challenging but conversing with the celestial being surprisingly went smoothly.
Except for occasional excessive fandom and bringing up embarrassing past moments out of the blue, that is.
As one who had existed for many years, she was observant and boasted a high level of understanding.
She really likes me.
It was hard to believe after just hearing short stories or watching videos.
There were certainly discussions and analyses going on.
At times, it even felt enjoyable.
I am Maktania.
Okay.
Do you know what it means to know my name?
I dont.
It means youve fulfilled the first condition to become my champion. Congratulations!
Champion?
Its like a pact with a demon. The treatment is completely different from the celestial and demonic realms, though.
Whats good about becoming one?
Maktania, seemingly hoping the Hero would become her champion, enthusiastically extolled the benefits of becoming a champion.
A major advantage is being able to deal a lethal blow to beings with demonic energy!
But wouldnt they also be able to deal a lethal blow with demonic energy?
Hmm, thats true too. Were each others polar opposites.
The Hero also had many questions for Maktania.
If you were to restore divine power to humans, how effective would it be?
What do you mean by effective? Specifically?
The effectiveness of healing. How much, how quickly can you heal?
After the disappearance of divine power, human combat tactics changed dramatically.
Evading became the top priority.
No matter how much they reinforced their bodies with mana, fundamentally, human bodies were weak.
Even if they were hit properly just once after being struck ten times, most of their combat ability would be lost.
Naturally, attacks themselves became more passive, which acted as a significant weakness in the Demon War.
However, the intervention of divine power could bring about significant changes.
Can you heal as well as I can recover?
Im not sure about your recovery rate Can I see it once?
Without hesitation, the Hero drew a dagger from the Void and deeply slashed his forearm.
Confirming the skin parting and blood oozing out, then
Smoothly
He swiftly healed with Polymorph.
Maktanias eyes trembled slightly.
Hmm.
What Maktania had just seen was not so much healing or recovery as it was restoration.
It was almost like turning back time as the skin closed up and the blood was absorbed.
She exclaimed in awe.
You see, even during the First Era when faith was abundant, this level of healing was impossible.
Hmm really?
Its closer to the regeneration abilities of demons and monsters. Even the upper echelons of Malekia probably cant regenerate this cleanly, right? Impressive.
Maktania even praised the monstrous aspects of the doppelganger.
The Hero chuckled involuntarily.
Its an ability thats hardly ever useful anyway.
Why not?
Because it would reveal Im not human.
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He didnt die easily from minor injuries.
As long as he had the capacity to heal with Polymorph, even if his throat was cut, his heart pierced, or his limbs severed, he could recover.
But the problem was whether other humans could accept that.
Especially in front of the demon army commanders.
Those who had seen the founder doppelganger in person would immediately recognize his true identity.
So when fighting them, the Hero had no choice but to rely on the significant drawback of consuming mana to use Stellar Lift.
Maktania nodded.
Your recovery ability may not be that great, but you should still be able to heal moderate injuries. If youre an exceptional human with extraordinary faith Yes, you could probably always manifest Divine Gaze-level recovery abilities like Baruns.
Do you know Barun?
Shes one of the few believers I know.
The Hero thought of the old woman who was still immersed in treating patients in the darkest corners of the capital.
Barun would probably be one of the happiest people when divine power returned to the world.
Convincing this celestial being of human goodness.
That might be the task at hand.
Maktania grinned as if she had read the Heros mind.
Anyway, for my divine power to manifest in this world, I need a champion.
What are the conditions for a champion?
Many besides faith. Courage and kindness that will not yield to any evil Since you rejected me who would prefer it? Should I go around the world looking for someone else?
The Hero could confidently answer.
The most suitable candidate would be at Rosenstark.
Haha, is that a way of saying come to Rosenstark following you?
Surprisingly, the Hero didnt deny it.
Well then I can rest easy.
Maktania noticed the Heros expression sink.
Youre worried about betrayal.
Thump-
She got up from the bed and approached the Hero.
The Hero also felt a strange headache.
Whats this?
Had they been talking for too long?
It could also be unexpected pain during the process of burning Theos curse, where Maktanias divinity took place within him.
Are you okay?
Im fine.
The Hero replied, pressing their temple.
Yeah betrayal. Betrayal is the problem.
Maktania brought her face right in front of the Heros.
So, do you have any guesses about who the betrayer might be?
I dont know.
Let me list a few.
Maktania spoke as if humming a song.
What about Felson?
The Hero responded promptly.
The probability is low.
Whys that?
Considering everything, it was so.
The past loss of his wife.
The achievement of tracking down Eitrobin, an accomplice of Enoch, himself.
His track record.
Moreover, his son, Ban, also relied on Rosenstark.
Hmm, but youre not completely denying the possibility?
Ivar betrayed his entire tribe by acting as their lapdog for the demons.
Isnt what humans lost over time not very important? Its more about what they gain or dont lose, isnt it?
Exactly, what to gain and what not to lose is more of a concern.
Maktania smiled with interest.
Thats enough of an answer. Then what about Iira?
Iira
The Hero fell silent for a moment.
In fact, the members of the Dawn Knights who were transferred to the academy this time were not individuals the Hero had seen and experienced firsthand, making it difficult to speak with certainty.
Of course, their actions and backgrounds were all without issues.
Her tribe successfully settled in the empire, unlike Ivars tribe.
Oh, really? How was that possible?
Thanks to Euphemias extensive support.
Ah, I see. So if her betrayal is exposed.
Yeah, then Euphemias cruel vengeance awaits.
Would she risk endangering her entire tribe like that?
Moreover, unlike Ivars tribe, which was destroyed whole, Iiras tribe settled successfully in the empire.
So she doesnt have direct resentment towards the demons? If anything, wouldnt the resentment be towards humans? She must have lived miserably until Ted rescued her. You know very well how cruel humans can be to each other.
I cant deny that. But after that, Iira fought hard for humanity.
Maktania grinned.
Not for humanity, but for Ted, perhaps?
It was an unanswerable question, so the Hero fell silent.
The next question followed.
What about Dante?
Hes somewhat suspicious.
Whys that?
Blood and flesh alone. Hes an individual who doesnt bind himself anywhere. The risk of betrayal is the lowest.
[PR/N: Blood and flesh alone is used to describe someone who is completely alone and has no family or friends.]
However, it didnt satisfy the two conditions inferred from Laplaces prophecy.
A certain level of military strength.
The ability to move from the east to the west in an instant.
He didnt meet both of these criteria.
He said himself that biological teleportation is impossible.
Only the owner knows the exact capabilities of the artifact. Whats the chance that statement itself is a lie?
The Hero hesitated before answering.
Its uncertain.
Of course, he didnt completely trust Dantes words.
However, over the past decade of military service.
Dante, in any crisis situation, even when his own life was at risk, never used teleportation.
Same this time too.
When their comrades were trapped in a demon ambush during this campaign.
Dante summoned a large castle and field with various aquatic artifacts to their location.
He protected their comrades until the reinforcements arrived.
And for achieving such large-scale miracles, he paid the price of losing decades of his life.
The Hero muttered.
If teleportation were possible, wouldnt it have been much cheaper?
Hmm, I suppose so.
Above all, Dante no longer had any threatening vitality left to do anything.
The physical condition of the Dawn Knights had already been verified after a thorough examination, and it was confirmed that Dantes lifespan had been drastically reduced.
His physical abilities were as low as those of an old man.
That was a symptom that appeared when life force was really hitting rock bottom.
Iira said he summoned an ice cooler and spilled some coffee.
Maktania nodded as if convinced.
Hmm, if Dante was really a traitor, he wouldnt have endured such sacrifices.
Summoning a castle and field to save comrades is all within the realm of choice.
No one knows exactly what can be done with artifacts.
If Dante were a betrayer, the probability of him hiding would be higher.
I might as well prefer Dante to be the betrayer.
It shouldnt be too difficult to handle.
Maktania narrowed her eyes.
Then what about Taylor?
She lost her husband to the demons.
But she was once a pirate. A ruthless and cruel pirate who made a name for herself across the southern seas.
The Hero recalled the orange-haired woman with a fierce gaze.
Maktania expressed doubt.
Once tainted by evil, humans are vulnerable. Just one mistake, just one temptation, and they can return to that place. You know that very well.
Yeah, and Taylor is one of the strongest among the members transferred this time, along with Felson.
Hmm, what if we dont know who it is and just kill them all?
Stop talking nonsense.
The Hero sighed deeply.
He knew that such questions and answers wouldnt reveal the truth.
But the frustration was inevitable.
What if Ivar had lied to the very end?
Or perhaps the traitor was still in the east.
The surveillance is working properly.
While he was away, Mother Ghost took over the supervision.
If something suspicious came up, she would contact him immediately through the communication bead.
If he learned something new, he could share it with Maktania.
The Hero was continuing their thoughts when it happened.
Why?
Huh? Whats wrong?
The Hero looked straight ahead with a sinking gaze.
Why am I not harboring any doubts and revealing all this confidential information?
Ah.
Maktania grinned widely before returning to a blank expression.
Thats why.
Crack-
Simultaneously, the Heros vision began to distort like shattered glass.
Faint voices flowed through the cracks.
[Brother! Wake up! Damn it, what has happened here!?]
[It wasnt a Dark Impulse. It was a disguise! Oh, if only I wasnt in a sealed state]
[This ominous aura, could it be that they detached a part of the main body and planted it in him?]
[Theres resistance from within! The hero has noticed!]
[For now, lets prevent Theos will from escaping this place at all costs] [If you want that, then at least break the seal first!]
But Hana the hero couldnt focus on the urgent voices searching for him.
Bubble bubble-
The girls form melted away.
A decrepit old mans figure emerged atop the red, mushy flesh.
It was a familiar face.
With a face twisted in deep regret, he shook his head.
Its a shame.
What is?
That I cannot share this incredible truth.
The old mans wrinkled eyes turned towards the hero.
Anyway, it was nice to meet you, monster.
Before the hero could even respond,
BOOMMMMMMMMMMMM-
A bright light pierced through the cracks in the shattered world.
The dark and gloomy world was instantly illuminated, and warmth enveloped the hero.
.
.
.
At the same time, on the opposite side of the continent, a cough erupted as if piercing the lungs.
Cough!
After coughing for a while, Theo, with blood dripping from his lips, glared to the west.
A avatar.
The avatar planted by him suddenly disappeared unexpectedly.
It was quite unexpected, as he had only intended to keep it hidden without any activity.
Moreover, intentionally all connections were blocked to not be discovered, so he didnt even know what had happened.
How did he get caught?
In a world without divine power, there couldnt be a being sensitive enough to track his hidden avatar with demonic energy.
A variable.
Unexpected variables often became reasons to hurry plans.
Theo called the betrayer.
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