Chapter 270

Chapter 270

"Follow Zero's orders? What a boring joke. Don’t you all agree?"

Victoria immediately voiced her opposition.

It was natural for Victoria, the leader of her faction, to oppose my intent to lead the party.

However.

"Huh? Why? I have no complaints."

"Receiving orders from Zero is the greatest honor."

"Not as great as mine, but I’ll give you a chance this time because we’re friends."

"Hmm... While voicing opinions is good, it’s also important to listen to juniors. It was clearly stated in last month’s bestseller, '100 Ways to Be a Good Senior.'"

"...?"

As each kid supported me, Victoria wore a look of disbelief.

"Oh, look over there. There’s a star in the sky."

Even Yuridia, the leader of another faction, was busy looking up at the sky, feigning disinterest.

"Why are you all accepting this as a matter of course?! Senior Rodelin should be the one leading! Or me, for that matter!"

Hmm, her true intentions came out at the end.FiNd updates on n(o)/velbin(.)com

It was typical of Victoria, who aspired to the throne.

On a normal day, Victoria might have taken the position of commander.

But there was one unfortunate thing for Victoria.

Her opponent was ‘me.’

"Hmm, it’s not that I don’t understand your thoughts. But Zero is an exception."

"An... exception?"

"Zero’s strategies are quite brilliant. Even I have to admit that."

"There must be a limit to humility! That can’t be true!"

"It’s not humility. It’s the truth."

Victoria's reaction was understandable.

Dreaming of becoming an emperor, Victoria had gathered information not only on the first-year students but also on the second and third years, including Rodelin.

‘A jack-of-all-trades talent.’

That was Rodelin, and it included her strategic abilities.

But for Rodelin to praise me? No wonder Victoria was shocked.

"Of course, there’s a slightly odd aspect to his strategies. A bit... creative, I’d say?"

She must be referring to the [Clean] skill I used against the demon's shard.

It was indeed creative. Who would have thought a mop could remove demonic infestation?

"That ‘slightly creative’ expression feels unsettling. Like you're trying to wrap it up nicely... Am I imagining things?"

"U-Um! But he does take responsibility. To the point of risking his own life..."

Rodelin glanced at me.

She was referring to my choice when we were about to lose to Bineus.

I had tried to save the main characters through a contract with a demon. The price was my soul.

‘Why did I do that?’

It’s still a mystery to me.

Was it madness? Overwhelming defeat? Sympathy from seeing the kids in pain? Because Luna was cute... absolutely not.

Most importantly, I possess the [Mental Defense] skill.

I’m always objective, rational, and capable of making logical decisions. To choose a path that led to my death instead of saving the kids?

Impossible.

"Zero, are you listening?"

Was I too deep in thought? I didn’t even notice Rodelin approaching.

"No such strategies this time. Understood?"

Rodelin’s gaze was intense. She was determined to prevent what happened last time.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’

There’s no need to ponder why I did that.

What mattered was that I could still continue the game and tease Rodelin.

Let’s just say I was mentally unstable at the time.

"Keke, are you worried about me? This must be love."

"L-Love! A senior simply cares for a junior! Don’t twist it!"

That I had infiltrated the academy on a mission.

The same lie I told Bineus.

"I see. A special mission... So we’re on the same side. No wonder I felt a connection."

"Keke, I felt the same. It was like meeting family."

Mabelga smirked, seemingly pleased with the word 'family.'

"But... why did you attack me earlier?"

"I apologize for that. As you can see, I’m on an infiltration mission... I had to attack you, Mabelga. I deeply apologize."

"Is that so. It’s fine. That level of attack is nothing to me."

As I built trust with Mabelga, I heard murmurs behind me.

"He’s having quite the conversation... Is it okay?"

"I told you. Zero’s strategies are a bit odd."

"It’s not the strategy that’s odd, it’s him, isn’t it?"

Whisper, whisper-.

Guys, I can hear you.

Seems like the event scene is over. Time to wrap things up.

"What mission were you on here, Mabelga?"

"Hmm? Of course, to infest. The response was quicker than expected, causing some issues... but eventually, it will fall into our hands."

It was true. The plan of the Four Heavenly Kings was perfect, with immense time and resources poured in.

Carpathia was bound to fall into their hands.

The problem was the unforeseen natural disaster they hadn’t anticipated.

‘Adonis.’

A nine-star knight, Douglas, in the form of a child.

Despite being alone, his power could be described as a natural disaster.

"We attacked the outskirts because of that. Even if the knights come, they’ll be divided."

"Indeed. A brilliant plan. As expected of the great demon Mabelga!"

"Hahaha! Great demon? You flatter me too much!"

I wondered if I could gain any new information, but it was all stuff I already knew.

I had thought it was a hidden piece that would reveal new information. Was I wrong?

‘If this wasn’t a multi-playthrough, I would have been pleased with this information...’

It was merely a different expression of known information.

I clicked my tongue in disappointment.

"By the way, could you find those guys if you have time later?"

"Those guys?"

"Actually... the black mages disappeared. We brought them as sacrifices, but they vanished."

He must mean low-ranking black mages. Sacrifices for summoning demons.

Regular people could be used as sacrifices, but offering black mages often resulted in higher quality demons.

As a result, many black mages tried to escape, and there were events in the game where you encountered hiding black mages.

Becoming an unwelcome existence on both the human and demon sides?

‘But why tell me this...?’

At that moment, a blue screen appeared before me.

[Sub Quest#1]

-Find the escaped black mages.

The black mages brought as sacrifices have disappeared.

Demon Mabelga wants to tell them to follow your example of self-sacrifice.

Reward: 100exp, 10 gold, 1 Demon Contract

Penalty: None

* The reward will be given automatically even without Mabelga.

...I received a quest.

From a demon.

--TL Notes--

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