Chapter 410: Trust is a Two-Sided Road.

Chapter 410: Trust is a Two-Sided Road.

Certain sections of my scale wall were cut down, which should be rather hard to do for the knights, even if Lautrex had some hidden weapon that didnt apply holy damage. But that was when my nose caught the smell of that bitter scent I attributed to those dragonslayers. That uncomfortable skin prickling feeling came from bone daggers the four knights were carrying with their mainhand.

It was then my suspicion became true as I saw Karlst and Falamm slice through some scales with those very dagger, albeit, with some difficulty as they had to hack into a section twice to separate them. Meaning, those daggers were coated with anti-dragon blood poison. Did they get them from the dragonslayers, or were they given to them by the Empire? Question, I couldnt smell those daggers up until now, so whereOh shit!

[Storage Magic]!

I was mostly a trial and error type of person, but goodness, I should have probably thought about checking the students' inventories. One of them probably carried those daggers and kept them hidden.

However, what confused me the most was how the students even betrayed us. I kept my ears sharp and listened to everything, only for my parallel minds to remind me I had told the students to use [Telepathy] if they wanted to speak behind my back. Seeing the four students before me as enemies right now, I activated [Mana Eyes], and to my elation, I was able to read their entire Profiles! Yay!

Although, my mood instantly dropped when I noticed how, well, solidly rank C they were. Well, I shouldnt be too surprised considering Tatsuya and Kyouya werent that much better than them. In any case, I did confirm they all had [Telepathy]. Did they just buy that? Did I actually just give them good advice, only to have it turned on me?

Well, it didnt matter. I tried to get along with them, but I guess their paranoia just got the better of them.

Tatsuya! After my brain assessed the situation, my eyes locked onto Tatsuya as he pulled out his spear from Chifuyas stomach. His throat was bleeding and the pain on his face contorted his expression as he began to cough.

Sorry, Tatsuya-kun! The magic swordswoman grimaced in horror as she tightened her grip over the blade she used to cut Tatsuya, before a flush appeared on her face.

Adrenaline Rush!

Veins appeared on her face as she steeled her resolve, blade ready to attack Tatsuya as his body began to morph, growing in size as he took a step back. However, before that could unfold at all, the heat inside my throat grew to the point I unleashed a white flame breath at them, intending to heal Tatsuya and push Chifuya back, not kill her!

However, my flame breath suddenly avoided them, traveling to the side as I noticed the flames disappearing as they gathered around Natsumeparty Takumas offensive mage. They entered her right hand as she carried a crystalline ball with her leftprobably a catalystbefore it began to glow red and white.

Too much! Too much! Im overflowing! she screamed as her face began to turn purple-blue. It was arcane corruption, and it probably would have surprised me if I hadnt made sure to learn the students unique skills before this.

Savior: Sacrifice 20% of max health to shroud your body with holy mana and obtain savior armor, granting temporary [Sacred Resistance Lv. X], with X = [Savior Lv. X]. Grants a 10% increase in stats and 5% more up per party member you lead, up to 25%. Increases every alliess stats by 10% and amplifies aura-based skills or attacks

Saints Oath: Allows the sharing of all current positive status effects on the owner through an aura skill. Efficiency of the transferred buff is determined by the skills level. While an aura is active, it applies a passive health regeneration on all allies and periodically reduces the effects of status afflictions. Effects boosted with a beneficial aura skill

Enmitys Pain: Activates upon the sensation of pain regardless of the source and can only be maintained by that sensation. Limits abnormal status afflictions to the minor stage. Reduces damage taken by [Enmitys Pain Lv. X] * 5%. Increases strength and intelligence by a percentage according to the owners health or mana, respectively

Elemental Absorption: Allows the absorption of elemental spells and attack, neutralizing the elemental effect or spell entirely, turning it into mana. Excess mana can be channeled into other objects, or released into the air. If the intelligence stat of the absorbed attacks owner is higher than this skills owners intelligence + wisdom, slowly build up arcane corruption. Decrease arcane corruption gained by [Elemental Absorption Lv. X] * 5%

Takumas [Savior], Aikos [Saints Oath], Chifuyas [Enmitys Pain], and Natsumes [Elemental Absorption]. According to Franz, their unique skills evolved during their stay in the Empire, apparently due to a ritual performed by the pope after they performed a major feat. It was used to ask Aurena to evolve their skills, acting as a propaganda piece as the entire Church of Aurena HQ in the Empire was filled up with people.

To visualize, it was apparently as large as the Vaticans main cathedral, although still smaller than the faiths capital in Aureolis. The Emperor, many noble families, and even dignitaries attended the session, so it was a pretty big deal. It really was good advertising material, even if I knew the demonkins probably influenced the skills somewhat, although I wasnt sure how.

[Dont kill them!] I reminded VifiYok, since I couldnt speak with me breathing fire.

Yeah, yeah, Ill beat them an inch before death. Start healHuh!?

The demonkin suddenly fell back, barely stopping herself by planting her foot down, but her body still fell down the stairs, looking like she was being pulled away by an invisible hand. She struggled, even digging my glaive into the wall to stop herself, but it was useless. This relentless forces source only became clear when I saw Hayato fly past her, up the stairs towards me.

Switcheroo: Using mana, switch position with a target. The process cannot be stopped until the positions have been switched or the user or the target perished mid-way through the activation process. The usable distance increases per level. Mana cost is determined by the distance

All their unique skills are so unbelievably broken!

Downing three health potions like some alcoholic, Hayatos beat-up and broken body was healed up, as if VifiYok hadnt just given her a traumatic experience. He pulled out two bone daggers from an opening in the air[Storage Magic]and attempted to slash me with them.

Seeing how my flames werent doing anything with another anti-mage around, I closed my mouth and snapped my body around. Although my scales couldnt defend me properly from those anti-dragon weapons, I could use them to deflect his attacks, allowing me to use this opening to use Siss martial training to disarm in.

I can play this game, too! I shouted before grabbing his daggers and stuffing them into my own storage, before taking out a holy flame grenade.

I pushed Hayato out of the way to gain the space to throw my grenade, but the latter used his unique skill again to switch positions with me. He caught the grenade as it just left my hand, but I was already prepared for this. I blew him away with [Wind Blast] and snapped my fingers as I began singing [Dragon Fire]. The scale-dust I left on his body from disarming him blew up as I performed a simple spark fire, causing the grenade to blow up in a hail of white flames.

[Music Resonation (Minor)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]

Although he couldnt get hurt by the flames, he was still vulnerable to the explosion itself. He was blown away as my white flames healed him, Tatsuya, and Chifuya. Natsume was already absorbing the fire, but this still gave everybody enough time to react.

Tatsuya transformed into his vampire bat form, frightening the students as he spread his leather membrane arms. He challenged Chifuya with his spear, prompting the girl to pull out a needle to stick into her finger, activating her unique skill before she engaged her classmate in a clash of magic and steel. Although still a newbie, Tatsuyas elemental armguard allowed him to perform some simple magical attacks, but he was mostly overpowering her with his spear techniques he honed through Yorshkas training.

I also wanted to check on Kyouya and Franzs side, but my [Danger Perception] warned me as Lautrex charged in. I ducked under his blade, finally feeling some threat from his attacks. I thought he was hopeless without his gauntlets, so where did he get this sword from?

I cast [Panzer] over my body like armor before pulling the dragon daggers I just stole from Hayato to parry his blade, only for me to lose one of them as it instantly broke apart the moment it touched his weapon.

Dammit! This isnt Grimnir-sanctioned equipment! Ahhhhhh! Useless!

So, instead, I formed purple flames around my arm and hardened them into an obsidian spear, using it to shove Laturex back. The weapon splintered, but it didnt matter as I could just continuously produce more throw-away weapons. I saved the last dragon dagger and released my body heat while singing [The Heir of Hope].

[The Shield of [The Light]] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]

Your paranoia really got to you, huh? I snarled, exposing my fangs as I considered him a bit of a nuisance at this point. You could have had me swear to Kramps to not scam you. Here I thought my promise would do the trick.

My duty is to serve the Holy Emperor of Mankind. If protecting the Heroes of Aurena is the only way for me to bring peace to this endless struggle with the demonkins, then I will give up my life! Even if we knights die, if we get that key to the Heroes, we will have served our role! Lautrexs formerly lackadaisical expression hardened as he scowled at me. If you have fought Sir Larent before, then I shall not dishonor you once again, my lady. I will show you what a real Hand of Heaven can do!

He raised his free hand, revealing three magic rings he was wearing. The Emperor sent me here for a false mission. I was sent here to slay an evil dragon, but I see how that was aUrgk!

Woah! I snapped my head as I noticed a signal coming at me, pushing me aside before jumping up and slamming his axe onto Lautrex.

Dont need a casus belli any longer; the fact the other has to die for the other to survive makes this a war!

Whether Kargryx is neutral to its princesss suffering or not, that is a casus belli in my book, youngling. Bladdarg, and shes my guest, idiot! It was the Ankoran King, and he didnt sound happy. I heard even the lowest Hand of Heaven can take on a whole party of rank Bs, maybe even duel two As. How about two As and four Bs?

King My aura stopped a bit as I noticed four dwarves move past methree earthshakers and one samurai. I wanted to respond to them, but King Fugnarus did not allow it.

He kicked Laturex back before swinging his axe over his shoulder before pulling out the data chip I told you this already, Princess. My word is my honor, and if I commit myself to a cause, I will fight with it till the bitter end. Shake up; Im here to rescue you, so sit back and watch. Come on, knight, you need one of these, right?

We dwarves honor our debts and oaths. If we become allies, I will muster my people to fight in your name if you need to, Princess Hestia

Those were his words to me when I first arrived in Inkoran-Tazul and had my meeting with him and King Drangleic. They repeated in my head as he walked forward with his dwarven guards. Behind me, I felt unnerved as the silent steps of the elven rangers were barely audible, only for me to watch in horror as they pulled out their arrows. Incapacitate, I told them, but their weak We will try did not inspire much confidence.

But that was when I heard Franz shout Eyes! before I saw a rock ball being thrown at the ceiling of the building. It exploded, releasing a blinding light like a flashbang, catching everybody surprised.

[Switcheroo]. Weakness: The target needs to be within eyesight to perform the switch! Franzs words pierced through the combined groans inside the room, following the war cries of the dwarves, probably saved from the blinding light due to their helmets protecting their eyes.

As I opened mine, I saw the four knights were quickly assaulted, with the king taking on Lautrex by his lonesome while the samurai took on Royce. The three fully armored shieldbearers ganged up on the remaining knights, quickly overwhelming them and pushing them back.

Franz, Kyouya, and Tatsuya, on the other hand, took on the students. Franzmaybe he had suspected this ambushwas taking out multiple tools and items from his storage, using them against his classmates to neutralize their powers.

Kyouya, donning his black armor, pushed back Takuma, tanking whatever attack the other threw at him while keeping him at bay with the help of [The Heir of Hope] boosting his stats. Meanwhile, Tatsuya used his druid form to knock out the shouting Hayato, stopping him from using his unique skill, again.

Seeing them all fight without even needing my help, I had to admit I wasnt needed here. In fact, all I needed to do was sing.

All buffs up.

[Various Spell Buffs] [Music Resonation (Moderate)] [Sanctified Blaze] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]

L-Light?! Chifuya was next after she saw one of her comrades blacking out.

You're the ones that provoked us. [Enmitys Pain]. Weakness: Dull nerves, anything to prevent physical and mental sensations. Answer: Laughing gas, sleeping poison. Franz pulled out a glass bottle with a lid with a hole just large enough for the dagger he pulled out. He placed the bottle back in his storage before rushing at the girl.

Back off! Natsume, though, reacted just in time, shooting out a fire ball at him and forcing him to dodge back.

However, in one swift motion, he opened his storage again, pulled out what looked like a wooden pipe and threw his dagger at Natsume, instead. It barely glanced at her cheeks, but blood was drawn. He then blew into the pipe, shooting out what looked like a needle at Chifuya, who swiftly cut it down.

Franz landed on his feet and conjured up his spectral sword, again. [Elemental Absorption]. Weakness: Mana paths blockage. Close up mana entrances into the body, preventing mana from exiting or entering the owners body. Very, very hard to do thats why we use arcane corruption poison to make it hard for the mage to cast in the first place. Words are the same.

Just like he said, Natsumes skin around her cheek turned purple. Despite the healing aura coming from a cowering Aiko, Natsume coughed, looking ill as the poison spread through her body.

Speaking of Aiko, she was hiding herself from the battle by staying in the corner of the room. She had her staff raised, but her eyes darted around the room, unsure what exactly to do. It didnt even seem like she had ever seen a real battle with how she acted.

Hestia, camera! Record this! my cousin ordered me to, only for him to interpret my hesitation that he had to elaborate on his plan. Nagata, Ishigami, and I have this! Stand there and record everything. Sensei needs to know what exactly is happening! You also need proof for the other students in the basement.

Basement!

The dwarven king did not care of Folschreck, nor did a representative of the Holy Emperor of Folschreck care about the dwarven king. That was the statement both sides gave.

I then turned to the students. All of them looked down on the floor, unwilling to answer. In fact, seeing each other having difficulty answering only made the other side more anxious, even eyeing the other as if they couldnt believe you wouldnt choose me?! Whoever answered first would probably have the others contempt.

As such, Ryuji took the fall. Mine and Lights, so, Hestia-sans party.

Ryuji! The students from Yuukos party shouted out.

Seeing this, Takuma couldnt help but jump onto the bandwagon. See! I told you guys that bastard Light will probably show his ugly facade. The child of that demon lawyer! His attempts to make Folschreck better in his image, and what exactly is that, huh? Always sneaking away to meet people, never telling us. Of course the bastards party would abandon us! The heroes!

R-right! We will choose Aiko-sans and our party then! If you want to leave us to die, then so be it! Ichijo shouted due to being cajoled by Takuma, supported by the rest of his party. However, for some reason, Takuma didnt take it too well, looking irritated for some reason.

When Ichijo turned the question onto him on who he would choose, Takuma grinded his teeth as he looked over at Aikonon-responsive and still staring at me like a broken puppet. Takuma let out a deep sigh, before his mood did a 180 and he began to smile brightly like some celebrity. Of course. Whatever. Who else should we choose but you guys? Sir Laturex, thank you very much for your trust in us!

However, Lautrex could only stare at the obviously faking Takuma. A charismatic person could identify when another had their mask on.

Surprisingly, though, Ichijo didnt believe Takuma either. Instead, he gulped and turned to me. I-I Can we trust you to save us all? Bring us all out of here? If If you really can then please.

Ichijo? Are you serious? Once again, Takumas eyes widened, staring at Yuukos party as if they had gone crazy.

With all the answers placed on the table, I nodded before casting [Warp Point: Exit] on the ground.

Well, then all of you have to trust me then because I will get all of us out of this place. Nobody will die under my watch. I closed my fist with one of the keys, while holding the other out, offering it to somebody. Trust only works when it goes both ways. Can everybody put their trust and faith in me?

A note from AbyssRaven

One step at a time for trust.

If you guys want to support me, Hestia and "A Dragon Idol's Reincarnation Tale" (or just read up to 20 advance chapters + any Patreon-only chapters) please check out my Patreon: Rawr!

For two dollars, for the cost of a coffee, you can read up to four chapters! You will have my eternal gratitude for any support you can give me! Please.

Thank you for reading this chapter.

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Friday, June 23, 2023 3:15:48 AM Germany [Member of Zard Skwad]

Bio: Hey there, AbyssRaven here. I'm just an avid Light Novel and Fantasy story reader who randomly thought of a story and began writing about it.

I eventually found out that I've been spending a bit too much time with building, planning, and researching for the story, that I've decided to just share it with others.

Writing is mostly a hobby for me, but I would still love any kind of criticism to improve on it.

I'm also german, so please excuse anything that sounds a bit weird...I wouldn't mind you pointing it out though.

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