NOVEL NEXT Chapter 112
At the end of vacation, Claris Academy.
Before the hastily arranged travel schedule for dungeon investigation practice,
I managed to obtain two pieces of news about myself.
One was that the disciplinary committee recognized the effectiveness of defeating the [Pitbit Jae] and would not hold me accountable for my actions.
The second was that, considering my contribution to defeating the aforementioned [Pitbit Jae], clearing Trial 3, written exam scores, and recommendations, I would be promoted to Grade A.
Having roughly completed the procedures and finished the course registration for the second semester, I was exiting the hallway of the Administrative Hall.
‘Smooth sailing.’
It’s the start of Chapter 4 from the second semester, but so far, everything was going well, like a sail catching a strong wind.
‘All that’s left is to wrap up with Caeran.’
Just as I was thinking this…
“Lev Denec.”
A cool voice that felt similar to Selena’s.
“…?”
A woman with flowing violet hair, Violet, was calling out to me.
“Congratulations. On your promotion.”
She abruptly congratulated me.
Since Violet wasn’t the type to take an interest in others, there must be a reason for her approach.
I blurted out my thoughts.
“Was it your recommendation? For my promotion.”
“…”
It seemed Violet was indeed the one who recommended my promotion. If it weren’t her, the Claris side would have come to suggest the promotion examination, and I wouldn’t have received the notification so quickly.
“…That’s correct.”
She coolly admitted it.
“That’s not a bad thing, is it? Your skills are quite impressive.”
“…”
“Every student has an appropriate grade suited for them.”
Being praised by the chairperson of the Marksman student council… If the guy who had messed with me, Gale Sharptie, had heard this, he would have gone absolutely crazy.
“So? It seems you have a reason for going this far for me.”
“…You’re quite perceptive. The reason is simple. I hope Lev Denec can join as the representative of the Marksman department and a Hero candidate.”
“…”
Hero candidates are, quite literally, students aiming to become heroes, as Edwin said in Hwangdo.
The reason students aim to become heroes is simple. To catch the demon lord or demon generals.
Because of immense power and fame, certainly.
And, surprisingly, a crucial requirement for this is… connections.
Hero candidates must find party members that suit them best.
After all, the game [Reincarnated Hero] recommends a party of five.
Without a proper combination, progression itself is impossible.
‘Hmm.’
From this, I can speculate that…
This lady, who thinks every moment that she is the perfect candidate for a hero party, actually needs me.
As her party member.
“What do you think? If you join under my nomination, there won’t be any objections from other students. I’m the representative of the Marksman department, after all.”
“…”
As I held my tongue, Violet hesitated to speak, seemingly a bit embarrassed.
“I should mention, during the Pitbit Jae incident, I was just caught off guard.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Of course. I was just surprised, I’m not as incompetent as you might think. If you want, you can join me in observing my mock combat.”
“…”
‘Has she been preparing for this…’
Violet, who had a quiet setting, had said quite a lot.
Well, she had a point.
If there hadn’t been a seal at the right time, my plan would have gone awry.
Since she’s depicted as extremely strong in [Reincarnated Academy]…
But, my answer was already decided.
“I’ll decline.”
“!”
I coolly rejected her.
The reason is obvious.
My goals are to stop the Caeran ending and safely graduate from the academy.
Of course, it would be ideal to assemble my own party to take down the demon lord in order to keep my watch over Caeran until the end.
But that’s not easy.
While I may have gained a chance, I’m not the main character.
For now, it would be better to keep an eye on the situation until I graduate from the academy.
“…”
Violet stood there, slightly open-mouthed, taken aback.
Perhaps she hadn’t expected this situation.
Up to now, only people looking to show their best side had been around her.
“…Would you like to reconsider? If I proposed too quickly, I can give you more time. Or… is there a reason for your refusal?”
“Well, it’s risky, you see?”
“Risky…”
“I can’t handle that. I’m not cut out for it.”
“…?”
“Therefore, I recommend someone else, Selena Windforce.”
I slyly slipped Selena’s name in.
In the true storyline, due to Caeran’s schemes, Violet completely departs from the narrative, unable to impart archery secrets to the Selena she had been keeping an eye on.
‘What a pity it would be…’
But now, I’m here.
If I can change the narrative, the synergy between the two could be incredible.
And this would surely act as great support for Edwin, who is also a hero candidate.
*
Violet was flustered.
After all, she hadn’t prepared for the possibility that he would refuse.
She was only thinking about whether she could recognize Lev Denec as the representative of the Marksman department.
Still, he had stepped up during the [Pitbit Jae] incident, yet thinks being a hero candidate is dangerous…?
No, no.
Considering the unexpected personas he’d shown, this could be the right conclusion to reach.
‘…I underestimated things.’
Feeling the sting of her impatience, Violet said.
“…Alright. I’ll consider Selena Windforce instead.”
Her personality is not one to be petty.
It’s just ugly to forcefully take what isn’t given.
Furthermore, Selena Windforce is one of the students Violet had been aware of.
She was reputed among the professors for being skilled in wind archery.
‘How intriguing.’
The recognized marksman, Selena Windforce.
And the human marksman, Lev Denec, who possesses incredible talent but doesn’t receive much attention…
The two having a connection is quite an interesting dynamic.
‘If you’re willing to recommend someone else, does that mean you’re not rivals…?’
The more I learn, the more intriguing this man becomes.
Having sorted her thoughts, Violet now presented another proposal.
“Though the purpose is complete, I’m actually interested in your archery as well.”
“…”
“So, I was wondering if we could occasionally exchange ideas. Would that be okay?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“Then, since we’re both marksmen and living in the Green House, we can coordinate schedules using this lounge.”
As they say, strike while the iron’s hot. Violet checked schedules, and Lev once again dropped an unexpected statement.
“Oh, I just moved dorms.”
“…Pardon?”
“I’m staying in the Sellafi Black House.”
“…”
This was also something hard for Violet to understand.
‘Wasn’t it closed…?’
The Black House is said to be extremely uncomfortable.
Leaving aside the building’s degradation, students worrying about every single point wouldn’t even consider such a place…
Finally, Violet cautiously probed.
“…If it’s the Sellafi Hall… that means Yeriel is the dormitory supervisor there, right?”
“Yes, you know that?”
Initially, this was also how Violet became aware of Yeriel.
The story of a second-year exemplary magic department student becoming the dorm supervisor of the old dormitory was quite a memorable tale.
Suddenly, the image of Yeriel beside Lev Denec overlapped in Violet’s mind…
She’s staying in the same dorm as her…?
Isn’t that a bit risky at their ages?
“Then, are there only the two of you… living in the Sellafi House?”
“No, there’s one more person.”
Upon hearing that there was one more, Violet weighed whether to feel relieved or not, before swallowing and asking.
“Could it be… the Selena you mentioned?”
“…I don’t know.”
“……”
Things were getting complicated.
What kind of relationship does this guy have with women…?
This place is an academy where the dignity of nobility blends, so it’s only natural that a man who pulls moves would have many whispers about him.
“Well, I’m busy, so.”
“…!”
Leaving the flustered Violet behind, Lev Denec gracefully slipped away.
*
Exiting the Administrative Hall, I was roughly sketching my plans moving forward.
Chapter 4 begins from the second semester…
According to the actual content, the atmosphere of the academy would become somewhat grim, and the curriculum would shift to be more group-oriented and practical than personal.
Therefore, as I’ve been promoted to Grade A, whether I like it or not, I’ll have to interact with these students.
Grade A feels like it’s just around the corner from reaching Grade S, so there were many enthusiastic students gathering.
Anyway, with the story unfolding this way, Violet ends up getting into an accident due to Caeran’s plot.
‘I must stop this, no matter what.’
I’ve managed to grow characters that can assist Edwin, and while Caeran, who has lost his copy, might not be too strong…
Crow Pay, which is gradually turning into a villain guild, will likely have his back, so I have to keep that in mind as well.
I need to create a situation where I can secure at least one ally.
And I must also be aware of the demons from Pandemonium.
At this point, they must have completely registered me, the one who destroyed the 14th generation.
‘How do I breakthrough this…’
I was contemplating if there was a way, as usual, to take advantage of the situation.
‘Demons aren’t fools either… I need a groundbreaking method.’
Such a good card…
“A!”
Then, I suddenly recalled the status window that had been shoved away in that corner.
[Select Reward]
[Choose a Demon Hunting Reward]
‘Wow, I really was a bit out of it.’
I forgot to check what rewards were available and didn’t make a final selection.
In the closed beta patch version,
If you don’t choose a reward and obtain a new one, it gets overwritten, so the trick of waiting to choose later isn’t available.
‘I guess I have no choice but to pick.’
Without delay, I popped open the status window.
–Ding!
—————————————————
[Blessing of the Pitbit Jae] [Lv.1] (Passive) (Basic Skill)
: [Passive] – Permanently increases fire resistance to level 7.
However, if the current resistance is already above level 7, the effect does not apply.
[Active] – The unquenchable flames of the Pitbit Jae signify fire elemental magic. It consumes mana proportional to the caster’s power, adding fire damage to the attack. On/Off skill.
Difficulty to Obtain: Hard
—————————————————
[Prologue of Resurrection] [Lv. None] (General Trait)
: Upon successful resurrection, steals one skill from the one who defeated you at random. (Can be used once)
‘The resurrected soul of [Pitbit Jae]… spreads its fiery wings for a better leap…’
– Hero, Kroon
Difficulty to Obtain: Slightly Hard
—————————————————
[Reward for Defeating Grade A Boss]
: Obtain 500 skill points.
Randomly increases a stat by 0.5.
—————————————————
‘Hmm.’
The reason I couldn’t choose was simple.
It was just too ambiguous.
First of all, on that day, when [Pitbit Jae] was attacked by Melissa, it was likely due to that second skill, [Prologue of Resurrection], that a sudden flame protection shield was formed.
Every quarter, the Eternal Flame has defeated the [Pitbit Jae], so it’s probable that I have obtained a fire wizard’s skill already.
Stealing means it’s a higher version of copying.
Because it means I gain one skill while simultaneously eliminating one from the opponent.
However, the skill dropped by [Pitbit Jae], [Prologue of Resurrection], doesn’t have the core function of resurrection.
It only provides an additional effect to resurrection as a trait.
So in terms of commonality or rarity, the first skill, [Blessing of the Pitbit Jae], would be overwhelming.
Of course, I do possess a resurrection skill obtained after defeating the Great Demon Bunea.
—————————————————
[Well of Souls] [Lv. None] (Passive)
: Upon receiving lethal damage, resurrect at a predefined mana well.
(*The state upon resurrection is determined according to the ‘Vessel’ size left over.)
(*Resurrection locations can only be designated within Pandemonium.)
(*Can be used once)
Difficulty to Obtain: Very Hard
—————————————————
‘Well of Souls.’
That’s why [Prologue of Resurrection] isn’t a totally useless trait either.
The issue is that to see the effect of that skill, I would have to die first.
Not like some skeleton archmage from a certain canyon game…
But the limitation of “once” makes it difficult to decide.
“Wait a minute…”
At that moment, another thought began to bubble up in my mind.
The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place.
‘If I play this right, it could be a game-changer…?’
It’s a ridiculous risk, but…
There might just be a way to catch two rabbits at once.
I made a decision as if enchanted by something.
‘Choice… Prologue of Resurrection.’