Chapter 239

Chapter 239

That afternoon, at the training ground.

As I watched Luna and Rezé playing together, I couldn't help but fall deep into thought.

'The midterms are coming up soon. The real episode is about to start.'

Alex, Raymon, Rodelin, Yuridia, Victoria.

This is the very first episode where the main characters all come together, marking the beginning of the game's serious phase.

'Assignment to Carpathia.'

Suddenly, all over the Empire, black magicians and demons began their rampages.

The Empire sent troops to handle them, and with Carpathia left defenseless, Lizbeth appeared, allowing 'Erosion' to take root.

If the 'host' is not eliminated before the roots take hold, Erosion can never be eradicated.

The core lands of the Empire might turn into lands of death.

Though the Empire redirected troops to Carpathia, they needed 'something' to buy them time until then.

Eventually, the Empire pulled out their 'trump card.'

'Sending students from Annwood Academy' was that trump card.

'Only second and third-year students are deployed to the battlefield. The first-years are assigned to reconnaissance and supplying resources,' that was the plan.

But, as plans often do, it did not proceed exactly as intended.

Lesser demons appeared and attacked the students, scattering blood across the battlefield.

Just when the children were in dire straits, the main group came together to confront and fight them.

That's the gist of the 'Invasion of Carpathia' episode.

For the record, no boss monster appears. This is a mid-chapter episode, not the end of chapter two.

However, there were named monsters. Four of them.

A battlefield where four creatures capable of receiving 'Predation' existed.

An opportunity to gain four skills for free!

'Of course, what I'm really aiming for is something else.'

Yes, what I am targeting is a named monster that the main group misses and that players have never defeated before, a legendary demon.

A sixth-grade demon, Mabelga.

- To kill that. That was my real goal.

'I've set up the plan perfectly. The problem is...'

Firepower. Firepower was the issue.

The reason players had never defeated Mabelga before was simple.

Firepower, in other words 'attack power,' was lacking.

When Mabelga was near death, it would fly into the sky to escape, and a shield would form.

The value was a staggering 10,000.

The problem is that this must be broken in one turn.

At this midpoint in chapter two, the main characters' special move damage is merely 300-400.

And you're telling them to deal 10,000 damage in one turn, with only long-range attacks? It was impossible.

Of course.

'That doesn't apply to me now.'

Titles that boost attack power, the use of the overpowering skill 'Divine Imitation,' and stat increases due to training in the 'Fleur Family Style.'

And a sacred sword that is poison to demons, plus a final damage calculation of double damage with 'Darkness.'

'If a critical hit occurs as well?'

At the very least, it could deal about 5,000 damage.

So, the problem is how to inflict the remaining 5,000 damage...

"Squeak!"

"Rezé, why are you acting like that all of a sudden?"

"So, someone seems to be hatching a terrible plan..."

Rezé immediately went on alert.

She seemed ready to flee at any moment.

'That's why I hate quick-witted kids.'

Yes, the one to handle the remaining 5,000 damage.

None other than Rezé.

'A powerful long-range single target DPS. There's no character to match Spear Rezé.'

However, Rezé's current specs were short by 2,000 to 3,000.

So, the only thing left for me to do before the dispatch was one thing.

'Turn that pufferfish rabbit into a super cannon rabbit!'

Of course, it wasn't going to be easy.

'Not just the power, but also fixing the weak heart that can't kill a living being.'

Rezé, since the 'Magic Gun' became prominent, was once a character researched by countless players.

With hundreds of posts being made daily, it's clear how vibrant that research was and how much interest it garnered among players.

That was why Rezé was ultimately abandoned.

Though Rezé's departure from the battlefield when an area attack was activated was a factor, there was an even more significant reason.

‘Her critical hits never triggered.’

A build for Rezé, the Spear, that made everyone equally vulnerable to a single hit.

For this, ‘criticals’ were essential.

As with any game, a critical hit would deal 1.5 to 2 times the damage.

But no matter how much she improved her stats, aimed at weak points, or used items and mystical powers to set her critical chance to 100%, Rezé’s attacks never resulted in a critical. Not even once.

-Not a bug?

What if Adonis realizes Luna is the last survivor of the Lester family?

That would be quite a problem.

‘Who knows what variables might arise.’

Luna’s story might unfold with me getting dragged into it, or she might leave my party to seek vengeance.

It’s unlikely, but there’s a chance Adonis might present Luna to the Emperor.

A character I’ve carefully raised from the start of the game leaving the party or dying?

There could be no greater disaster.

"Hmm... Zero, you're really courting danger. Raising a loyal retainer is one thing, but training an assassin too? Are you dreaming of assassination?"

"...Assassin?"

"Right there. A truly fearsome assassin!"

Adonis was pointing at a rabbit.

He was referring to Rezé, who was struggling and tumbling with her magic gun.

‘That... an assassin?’

Indeed, according to Adonis, a most fearsome assassin.

She might be the only assassin in the world who could get killed by her own gun!

"Keke, you misunderstand. That’s just a decorative rabbit."

"Decorative? Why would you keep such a thing?"

"If I don’t, a certain child will bite me."

Adonis nodded towards Luna.

"Then is Luna dreaming of making this child become an assassin? She’s more formidable than she looks."

...Where exactly did Adonis’s thoughts go wrong?

First, I must prove that Rezé is safe. Otherwise, this could become a real hassle.

"Keke, it's nonsensical to say Rezé is an assassin. Look at her frailty!"

Rezé was no different from a meadow rabbit.

Her muscles weak enough to be crushed by her own gun.

Her stamina too poor to run for even a minute.

A rabbit raised organically(?).

In summary, she was 100% harmless.

"Could such a child possibly be an assassin? It's absolutely impossible."

"Certainly... It seems I was mistaken. My apologies."

"Keke, no worries. It's enough that the misunderstanding is cleared."

"But a magic gun... What a fascinating invention. The progress of technology is always surprising. I’d like to see it in action, if that’s alright?"

"By all means."

Just then, Rezé had finished preparing to shoot.

Her gun aimed at a wooden dummy.

"Ah... Indeed. Her presence is so faint. Even being so close. Truly a mysterious child."

"So you thought she was an assassin. Rest assured, as you can see, she struggles even to fire a single shot."

"Isn't that weapon too heavy for her? I wonder if she can shoot it properly."

Now, after Rezé fires her gun and Adonis witnesses its power and leaves the training ground, Luna will train vigorously while I wield the whip, training Rezé.

‘Everyone will have a happy day,’ I thought.

At that moment.

Luna whispered something indiscernible into Rezé’s ear.

Rezé nodded and pulled a lever.

It was the lever for the [Overcharge] skill attached to the magic gun.

Mana whirled inside the magic gun.

A small storm formed of blue mana.

‘Guys...?’

Thump!

The mana bullet was fired, and the shockwave pushed mine and Adonis’s hair back.

Througthththth!!

Crackle-!!

The wooden dummy hit by the mana bullet vanished.

Not shattered. Evaporated.

One of Rezé’s skills, [Concentration S], resulted in an overwhelming density of mana.

Enough to evaporate a wooden dummy.

"..."

Adonis, his hair blown back, wore a stunned expression.

Luna raised her thumb to her neck and then tilted it sideways. Then...

She drew it across her neck—a gesture suggesting she’d slit his throat.

Adonis looked at me. His eyes said it all.

‘If that’s not an assassin, then what is?’

- He seemed to say.

--TL Notes--

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /MattReading

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