Chapter 78: Surprise(?) Attack

[…You know.] Caliban’s voice could be heard from within the amulet. [From now on, if there’s something important that you need to say, let me check it first before you start speaking. You’re usually great at using your brain, but why are you like this in these kinds of situations?] “…” It might be better to do that from now on. Thank you in advance, Caliban. “I see that you’re a child who bears catastrophes at the tip of your tongue.” Kasa Garda clicked her tongue. That was her reaction after hearing my explanation. “I understand what you are trying to say. So this is what you meant by an intimate relationship.” At least this time, it seemed that I had successfully conveyed what I had in mind. “A colleague, is it? You wish to become a fellow disciple with Riru.” Kasa fell silent for a moment. The ‘Fighting Arts – Stance’ that I ripped off from Riru was a style created by her. At the very least, when her body was still ‘intact, ’ Riru would have learned from her. And I had just asked her to teach it to me as well. “…” To be fair, it was an incredibly impolite request. As for the Tribal Alliance, there was another thing that was just as important: their combat techniques. What I was doing was the equivalent of asking someone for their trade secrets. “…Hm.” And… As I watched Kasa put down the smoking pipe with a snort, I took a deep breath. It wouldn’t take a genius to figure out that something would undoubtedly happen if I were to talk about something like this. System Message [ A moment of danger has been detected.] [ Determined the situation as life-threatening. ] [ Skill: Desperation raised to EX-Grade. ] System Message [ ‘Skill: Proof of Faith’ activated. ] [ All stat bonuses are converted to Endurance. ’ ] System Message [ ‘Skill: Guardian Shield’ activated. ] [ Creating 2 simultaneously due to the influence of ‘Mastery: Divine Power Mastery’! ] At the same time, I activated the skills I prepared in advance… -! A blow akin to a flash of light exploded. The speed was so fast that the process of the movement seemed to be completely disregarded and only the beginning and end remained. “…” As I looked at the fist that stopped right in front of my nose, I gulped, almost choking on my spit. Despite converting all the stat bonuses from the EX-Grade buff into Endurance and deploying two shields that had become even tougher due to such changes, I ‘barely’ managed to block the punch that this person had thrown so effortlessly. Such power came from that very body. It was a messy blow without even a properly set center of gravity. “…” However, if I were to put it in a more positive light… Despite the means, I did ‘indeed block it’. A blow of a powerhouse in the world who was even known as the Fist Saint, right in front of my nose. “So you do qualify to utter such arrogance.” While grinning, Kaya pulled back her fist and picked up the smoking pipe. Seeing that, I exhaled a sigh of relief. “I have fulfilled the conditions, Kasa.” The Lion’s Necklace, the proof that I was a promising talent recognized by someone with at least the status of a War Chief. And the competence to withstand the strike of the ‘instructor’ by any means necessary. Those were the criteria that one had to fulfill to be accepted as a disciple in the Tribe Alliance. “…” Kasa, who let out a long plume of smoke, fell silent for a moment. “When you said you’ll go all the way within ten days, I assume that you meant you’ll be learning all of my techniques within that period.” “…” “Child, are there some circumstances that forced you to push yourself this far?” Could she stop reading my mind? To answer that question, yes, that was how it was. The reason I had set that time limit was because Chapter 3 would actually last for ten days starting tomorrow. My goal was to learn all of this person’s Fighting Arts before Chapter 3’s ‘Final Event’ that will take place after those ten days. Otherwise, it was safe to say that the probability of clearing this chapter would drop drastically. Though, apart from that, there was also one more reason why. “I wish to help Riru.” Considering Riru’s immediate ‘goal’, it was true that I had some intention of simply helping her as well. “Help?” “The reason she lives so diligently is because she wishes to reclaim the authority and honor that you have lost, isn’t it? I’m talking about the things that have been taken away by unjust people.” “…” “After all, there’s no one else who can do it besides herself.” It was a truth that was clear just by examining our surroundings. In the Tribal Alliance, the meaning behind a clan was virtually identical to the word commonly known as ‘family’. The number of members was also not much different from such a word. In that sense, the number of burning incense around me implied that… Excluding Riru, the last survivors of this clan were the children Riru just took with her and Kasa herself. “She’s a stubborn and prideful person. She won’t stop until she achieves it.” The fact that she ‘alone’ had built this large building, shabby but capable of sheltering her entire remaining clan, was more than enough proof. In the Tribal Alliance, the space where the clan members lived had to be within the buildings that they had constructed. It was their tradition. Furthermore, in the Tribal Alliance’s tradition, the elderly and children were excluded from the ‘labor force. ’ Even after being driven out of the Tribal Alliance, Riru Garda still stubbornly maintained that tradition. A building this big meant there was a tremendous amount of labor involved. That didn’t factor in the fact that she didn’t know anything about construction. Yet, she managed to build it by herself. Only using her bare fist and perseverance. So, as I said when I first came here… There was no reason to mock this place as shabby. After all, it was a space imbued with pride and effort of such an extent. “However, the current method is too slow. And there’s no one to help her either.” The method Riru had chosen was to prove her worth at the ‘Empire’s academy’. She intended to build influence in the Empire and then seek revenge on those who put her clan in this state. After all, if you think about it, she had always participated in ‘events where she could be noticed’. It was the same during Observation class and the midterms. If she was a hooligan who didn’t care about the school rules as her reputation suggested, then there was no reason for her to do so. She could’ve just done whatever she wanted, being a nuisance everywhere. However, just like I had mentioned before… That method was way too slow. There was no telling how long it would take to see the results of such an endeavor. That was why… “…Child, are you saying you would take care of all of that?” “I will be able to achieve all of it in ten days, at the very least.” If Riru passed the selection test tomorrow, gained the qualifications of an Exchange Student, and went to the Tribal Alliance’s academy with Kasa… It wouldn’t be impossible at all. “…” Kasa stared at my face for a while before smiling faintly. “You’re sincere. You didn’t say such things with wicked schemes in mind.” At times like this, her keen sense, akin to mind reading, was quite useful. After all, there was no need to prove my intentions with this and that. “However, I have to at least ask the reason for your actions. Why go to such lengths?” “…” “This kind of help is not something that one would normally offer to someone who was merely a stranger until just yesterday.” I sighed. She was right… That was why I had to answer her properly. “All I’ll say is that this is an important matter for me.” “An important matter, you say.” “Yes. Helping Riru is an important matter for me.” Currently, Riru’s list of ‘targets for revenge’ coincided with the bastards I needed to fuck up while progressing through Chapter 3. If her revenge was successful, there would only be gains. On the other hand, if her revenge failed or its process went awry and angered her… The Blue Devil would immediately become unleashed. Basically, in my perspective, I had no other choice but to help her to the best of my abilities. “…” And Kasa, who had been staring at my face for a while… Soon burst into hearty laughter. It was a resounding laughter that one would never expect to come out from someone her age and with that body condition. System Message [ The favorability level of target ‘Kasa Garda’ has been elevated to ‘Interest Level 1’! ] [ Reward has been reduced due to the Good disposition of the target! ] “…” It was certainly better than reacting angrily or coldly to my words, but… This was an unexpected reaction to me as well. Why were you like this? “Child, you said you want to have an intimate relationship with Riru, right?” Kasa continued with an even bigger smile. “Your words weren’t incorrect.” “…Excuse me?” “Although you probably didn’t mean to say it in that way at all, when you’ve lived as long as I have, there are certain things that you’d be able to see. From your words and your actions, I can feel what would roughly transpire later in the future.” There was a change in a smile. If her previous smile exuded warmth and kindness, this time, it was… A smile one would let out when they found out about the other party’s mistake. “You have to be prepared to take responsibility for the words you spit out, Child. I told you that the tip of your tongue bears catastrophes, didn’t I?” “What does that mean?” “It means that even if you never intended to, your words will end up coming true.” “…” “Whether you like it or not, those words you spoke will become your fate. Speaking of, Riru has had a hard time finding a suitable partner until now.” “…” “It won’t be hard for your words to become the truth. After all, you’ll only grow closer to her from now on. Don’t you think so?” While it was great that you ended up liking me and were willing to cooperate with me right away, but… Your reason for doing so was a little strange, wasn’t it? One thing I had realized was that the Tribal Alliance’s ointment was remarkably effective. Thanks to the medicine Riru applied all over my body, my wounds were healing incredibly fast. It was almost as if someone had cast a spell on me. ‘…For now, everything has been resolved fairly well.’ It didn’t seem to be for nothing that Kasa’s favorability level had started at Interest Level 1 despite not being a Devil’s Vessel, as she smoothly cooperated with everything I had asked of her. She agreed to send Riru to the upcoming selection test, to accept me as her new disciple and to convey this fact to Riiru, and even to head to the Tribal Alliance herself with Riru. It was honestly bewildering how all my requests were accepted in one cue. “…” Whatever, good things were good. She did say a lot of unsettling things, but the good things were good. With such thoughts, I arrived at the academic district and headed to my dormitory. At that moment, the system window flashed before my eyes. System Message [ There are 24 unread important messages! ] ‘What’s this?’ ‘Twenty-four messages?’ I blinked as I fiddled with the window. System Log #1 [ The madness of target ‘Eleanor’ has alleviated! ] [ Corruption decreased! ] #2 [ The madness of target ‘Eleanor’ has alleviated! ] [ Corruption decreased! ] #3 [ The madness of target ‘Eleanor’ has alleviated! ] [ Corruption decreased! ] . . . “…?” ‘The fuck is this?’ Looking at the date and times, these had occurred during the past week when I had been running away while trying not to stand out to Eleanor. All twenty-four messages were the same. Eleanor’s madness was alleviated, and her corruption decreased. ‘…I haven’t done anything, though?’ I didn’t know what it was, but for now, it seemed like a good thing for me. Honestly, considering Eleanor’s nature, I was pretty sure that she would go fucking insane as soon as I started evading her. As such, I was planning to pacify her sometime soon, but it seemed that both the symptoms I was worried about had been decreasing without me knowing. “There you are.” Holy fu—. I turned around in surprise at the sudden voice nearby. It was someone I knew. Vizsla. Although he looked like a disgustingly ordinary man, his real identity was an exorcist, an elite agent of the Holy Land. I had received his help before, during the Valkasus Boss Battle. Seeing that he was still inside the school, it seemed he was maintaining his undercover identity well. “…Why did you suddenly come see me?” “I came because I have a message to convey to you. After all, your safety is important in a lot of ways for the Holy Land as well.” With that, Vizsla let out a reluctant sigh. “…There’s intelligence from various sources that there is a large-scale operation targeting you. Be prepared for it.” “…” It was about time it happened. Well, I could guess what it was. As I had repeatedly mentioned, the Chapter 3 boss, [Apostle of the Reversed Sea], was an extremely cunning bastard. Considering that bastard’s nature, there was a high possibility that they found my existence highly irritating. As such, it wouldn’t be strange for the bastard to try various schemes on me. “…Was a famous assassin hired?” “Bail of the Four Leaves. Do you know the name? I heard he’s quite famous in the underworld.” Of course, I knew. He was a member of the assassination organization ‘Vagabond’, operated by the Apostle of the Reversed Sea. A quite formidable enemy. “…Got it. Thanks for the information.” “Be careful. He’s no ordinary guy. Although you handled the previous two attacks well…” “…?” Wait. “Two attacks?” “That’s right. I heard that more than 20 assassins were dispatched. Your abilities are formidable, so it seems that you have handled them safely. However, the one being sent this time is on a whole different level, so I wanted to personally convey the informa—” “I haven’t been attacked, though?” ‘The fuck is he even saying?’ “…” “…” Vizsla and I awkwardly made eye contact. “No, wait, is the information from your side trustworthy?” “…The Holy Land is the best at gathering intelligence even among the superpowers. There is no doubt that it’s accurate.” “I already said I haven’t been attacked, though?” “Anyway, I have delivered the necessary information.” “…” “Always be prepared, Dowd Campbell. He’s no ordinary assassin.” As Vizsla disappeared with such words, I looked at him incredulously. ‘…Well, anyway.’ I didn’t understand what the fuck he meant by two attacks when there was more than twenty assassins involved, but… Considering he came to personally deliver such information, it was highly likely that it was not a lie. The expected time for the surprise attack was probably tomorrow. It was highly likely to happen before the start of the ‘selection test’. ‘…I don’t want to face him.’ Even within Vagabond, Bail was a particularly difficult opponent for me. He was the type where strategies did not work on him, and he simply crushed everything with brute force. However, it wasn’t like he was going to willingly retreat just because I didn’t like it. I had to fight, even if I didn’t want to. I needed to prepare thoroughly and repay in kind. Next day. The selection test had begun… In the end, the assassins had not even shown a hint of themselves. “…” ‘Why aren’t they coming?’ System Message [ The madness of target ‘Eleanor’ has alleviated! ] [ Corruption decreased! ] ‘And why the fuck are you suddenly appearing again?’