Chapter 31.2

Chapter 31.2

EP - 031.2 - That's What Happened

I momentarily stopped running and just stared.

‘...You're giving me all of this?’

These are items that could literally change the the entire scenario.

Most items that had the word 'epic' attached to them were as important to the story as their powerful effects.

By influencing these items and determining their "alignment," various butterfly effects can occur throughout the entire scenario.

Fusing the Hero Fragment gives random effects related to the "good alignment", while fusing the Evil Essence results the same but related to the "evil alignment" instead.

Depending on which item you fused until a specific event occurs, the outcome of certain individuals becoming stronger, weaker, dying, or surviving can completely change.

Even for the boss of Chapter 2, the "Ruined Boy King," the clear difficulty can vary greatly depending on how these items are utilized.

{T/N: "Boy King of the Ruined Kingdom" simply changed to "Ruined Boy King"}

To be precise, it's practically impossible to clear the boss without them.

‘But to give me both.’

Originally, you would only get one; either the Evil Essence or the Hero Fragment.

Perhaps, it's because the difficulty of the quest went up and so the reward increased to match it.

In fact, to have these as a reward was more than enough to cover all the hardships I’ve experienced.

Just one alone could already greatly change the scenario, and I now have two.

With a smile, I put away the Evil Essence for now.

I have no immediate use for it at the moment.

The Hero Fragment on the other hand...

[ Do you want to fuse the ‘Hero Fragment’ with the item ‘Soul Linker’? ] [ Y/N ]

I chose 'Y' without hesitation, and the white gem melted into the amulet I'm wearing.

[ Soul Linker ] [ Exclusive Equipment ]

[ Enchantment: Epic ] [ ‘Hero Fragment’ Fusion ]

[ An item imbued with a great spirit that can awaken by increasing synchronization rate. ]

[ Always retain magic power due to the influence of the great spirit. ]

[ Current Charged Magic Power Rate: 0%]

[ Current Synchronization Rate: 9.98% ]

[ First Stage Spirit Awakening is imminent! ]

[ Upon the awakening of the spirit, special effects from the Hero Fragment will also be unlocked! ]

‘Nice.’

The Hero Fragment is an epic item that, when fused with a positive inclination item, grants various positive effects.

The synchronization rate also increased significantly as I feed it items, so as long as I steadily improve my priest skills abilities, it should awaken quickly.

By then, we'll see what this dormant ‘great spirit’ really is.

However, my eyebrows suddenly furrowed as another message appeared before me.

<System Message>

[ Confirming the use of a story item! ]

[ A dedicated quest for 'Elijah Krisanax' will be created! ]

[ Meet the conditions to start the quest! ]

[ The probability of getting involved with the ‘Heretic Inquisition’ increases! ]

‘...What?’

The sudden 'creation' of the main character’s dedicated quest immediately caught my eye.

Elijah's dedicated quest holds such significance that it even affects the scenario and the 'ending.' And yet, it's already appeared now?

On top of that, the probability of me getting involved with the Heretic Inquisition, which is one of the two top notorious organizations in the Empire, increased?

“...”

When necessary, I even briefly delved into the underworld, but even then, I would prefer to avoid the Heretic Inquisition.

They are the last thing I want to get entangled with among the "villains" in the game.

‘Dragon Fang, Feinol.’

A Half Dragon Mage with exceptional magical abilities but an inversely proportional extreme temperament, and a key character in Chapter 4.

In terms of simple risk, many would even say that this person was worse than the final boss of Chapter 4, ‘The Investigator.’

What would happen if I met this person and my Fatal Charm passive triggers?

“...”

I don’t even want to imagine.

‘But this...’

I just fed the amulet the Hero Fragment, and this all came with it.

Which means these events are related to the awakening of the spirit inside.

‘Could it be that what's inside this amulet is possibly larger than I thought?’

As I pondered such thoughts while looking at the amulet, the outer walls of the Academy soon came into view within my sight.

I could see where Elnore was stuck.

“Oh, Dowd. You're here?”

“...”

However, there was no sign of Elnore.

Rather, I was greeted by a waving President Atallante.

When did she get here?

“I've personally escorted the Student Council President to the ward, then came back. She's badly injured, but she will recover soon. She won't experience any lasting effects thanks to your first aid.”

Atallante rapid fire said to me those words one after another, as she walked towards me with a smile on her face.

Her lips were arched into a smile.

“...Are you angry?”

Yup, she's really mad.

Her eyes aren’t smiling at all.

I could feel cold sweat run down my back.

“Oh, is it obvious?”

“...”

She's not even trying to deny it.

If I don’t want to die here, I need to carefully listen as to what she has to say.

“...It looks like you've been through quite a trouble.”

She burst into cheerful laughter that echoed throughout the office.

‘...Why is she suddenly like this?’

It is such a sudden drastic emotional change and caught me off guard.

“...Looking at it from a President's perspective, I can't help but be ashamed of putting such a heavy burden on a student.”

“Yes?”

“The plan itself had been completed long ago. However, I couldn't just bring myself to impose such a heavy load on a student. I was delaying it till the final confirmation.”

“...So, what exactly.”

“I didn't intervene in your activities to assess your capabilities. If you fell short even slightly, I was prepared to give up immediately... But you have proven yourself flawlessly. Yes.”

She started saying mysterious words, which made my eyes roll.

What?

Uh.

What is going on really?

“And I have also witnessed your determination to overcome any obstacles that come your way. Thus, I am now confident that I can reveal it.”

Having said that, Atalanta sighed and straightened her back.

Dignity dwells in the eyes. It was the look in the eyes that felt the dignified presence of a perpetuator that had passed through it for over a thousand years.

“Dowd Campbell.”

The solemn voice made me stand upright.

what the heck What are you talking about?

“I’m sure you’ve noticed beforehand that the academy is plotting something around you.”

“Ye, yeah.”

That's right.

Is she going to talk about that now?

“What I'm about to tell you is a secret that no one else should know about. The only involved parties are the imperial family, the War Chiefs and Warrior Chiefs of the Tribal Union, and the Pope and Archbishops of the Holy Kingdom. Only a very select few know the whole story.”

“Uh, what, yes?”

“After all, this matter concerns the survival of the world.”

Uh, uh?

It's that serious?

What on earth...!

“First, let me tell you about the ultimate goal of the plan.”

Atallante continued in her solemn voice.

“The fate of the entire continent is at stake.”

Her eyes carried an overwhelming charisma, even commanding the air around her.

A plan with the "ultimate goal" that determines the fate of the continent, spoken by an immortal being that has lived through over a thousand years.

“I want you to have several wives.”

“...”

“...”

“...”

I tried cleaning my ears.

Maybe I head it wrong.

I coughed in confusion.

Then after a few blank blinks, I finally gave a response to Atallante.

“Yes?”

“Yes?”

“No, yes?”

“What are you curious about?”

Atallante's confident questioning gave me a splitting headache.

Ugh.

No, what the heII is going on?

“Was the sentence not understandable? I mean, um. Harem, you know? Harem. Polygamy. I want you to do that...”

“Hold on. Wait just a moment.”

I weakly grabbed my head and stopped Atallante on her tracks.

“Let me get this straight.”

Ya. No.

But no matter how you look at it.

“There is a plan that only a minuscule fraction of the most influential and powerful individuals on the continent knows about, and it's so important that it determines the world's survival, right?”

“Yes.”

“And the ultimate goal of that plan is for me to have a harem?”

“To be precise, you must seduce a few people.”

Atallante shrugged and said.

“The Student Council President, whom you'd risk your life, is among those people. This is also the most important part.”

“...”

“All the necessary means to accomplish that will be supported by the continent's nations, be it overtly or covertly.”

“...”

I could barely catch my breath.

“So, in other words.”

With a constricted feeling, I somehow managed to say the last sentence.

Without any understanding of the reasons or the omitted middle processes, if I were to summarize what this person has been saying so far...

The conclusion.

“If I don’t have a harem, the world will end?”

“Yes.”

“...”

This is insane.

I couldn't come up with any other reaction.

“...Why, could you please explain the reason?”

In sharp contrast to my dying voice, Atallante bursts into laughter.