NOVEL NEXT Chapter 157
[Unique Ability: Soul Collector Activated! Collected the souls of defeated enemies.]
[By defeating the demon, your erosion level has increased to its maximum!]
[You can obtain hidden rewards!]
“Well, I’ve certainly gotten stronger.”
“Could it be because I’ve absorbed three Great Demons already?”
“Now, I can manage demonization without even releasing dark magic most of the time.”
“Of course, it’s thanks to the absorption abilities of the Gray Ashen Bolt and Black Dragon.”
“The output of the wind arrows has long since reached the level of a typical master archer.”
“Having inherited from Dalian as well, my growth will be endless.”
“I immediately chose the two core skills I needed from Reikan and Maclead.”
Ding!
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[Dodge] (General Trait)
: Twists the natural order, negating damage from normal attacks. A skill with adjusted hit rate; damage can still be taken from skills that do not target a specified subject, but the critical damage taken will be reduced by a certain amount. The chance of the enemy discovering you is slightly decreased.
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“First up is Dodge.”
“Just like in [Reincarnated Hero], it seems that simple-named traits often have the best performance.”
“It’s intuitive and effectively certain without much condition.”
“I need to increase my trait slots with skill points.”
[Stealth – Sniping – Dodge] The overlap of these three unique traits will create a high aggro reduction effect, and I believe they’ll synergize well with my Great Magic Shield, significantly boosting my lacking survivability.
“Next is…”
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[Haisman Family Secret – Extract/Create] [Lv.Max] (Active) (Ultimate Skill)
: Creates a paper scroll that casts ‘Dimensional Gate spell connecting to Pandemonium.’ The scroll created can be activated by the user tearing it.
(1-time use only)
(Important) Nicolseta’s brother, Maclead, possesses extraordinary talent.
If utilized this way…
-Lev’s Memo
Exp: (0/0)
Difficulty Level: Very Hard
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“Like Nicolseta, it’s a one-time use, but with the overwhelming effect of Maclead’s skill.”
“Normally, one would have to embark on a long journey to reach the demon’s territory, but with this skill, I can move to Pandemonium in an instant whenever I want.”
“Still, since it’s enemy territory, it would be best to use it cautiously.”
“By the way, I’ve let my guard down.”
“I never thought Psyche would stare at me so openly.”
“Following the canon of [Reincarnated Academy], Psyche, having retained her full strength, would return to Hwangdo after doing some work here for about a week and then transfer to Claris Academy.”
“It was a mistake to assume that any incidents would only happen after that.”
“Caeran, Haisman, Crow Pay, Yellody…”
“I’ve already eliminated all the trouble points, so unless the Demon King’s army directly attacks, we should be safe for a while…”
“I’m acquiring more and more heroines to protect…”
“Thinking back to when I was playing [Reincarnated Hero], I remember the troubles I faced due to my desire to keep all the characters alive.”
“Plus, I ended up getting resurrected myself.”
“I originally wanted to be looked after by Psyche, but unlike the original work, my power is split about halfway with Aria… Can’t be helped.”
“First, I need to address the current situation.”
“I snuck out after putting the completely exhausted Yeriel to sleep, so she might have woken up by now.”
*
“Psyche was supporting Aria, asking in a calm voice.”
“Aria, can you walk?”
“Psyche…”
“She smiled faintly.”
“…So hurry and go. Leave the rest to me.”
“Psyche called her knight squad and Edwin, while Aria poured all her strength into walking toward the train.”
“The goal was one place.”
“Where the gray man was confirmed with surveillance magic, the temple.”
…
“Lev…”
“Is it because it was deep in the dawn? A dreamy, ecstatic feeling engulfed Aria.”
“Her legs trembled.”
“It didn’t matter.”
“If I could hear his voice just one more time, I could endure any pain.”
“But on the other hand, she felt uneasy.”
“What if it was really a dream?”
“What if his voice, everything, was just an illusion of the magic she’d created…?”
As she stepped inside the temple,
-!
In the corridor fountain stood the gray man, turning his back.
Aria’s new form froze in place.
“Ah…”
“It was a sight she couldn’t even dream of seeing.”
“Reuniting with him was something far more lavish than any riches she could think of, so she had forced it deep within her heart.”
“She wanted to be used perfectly until she could find her own worth, as someone who only brought misfortune to those around her…”
“But what is this?”
“The Saint saved her, and the pains of dark magic that had tormented her vanished, and the man she loved rescued her.”
“Happiness had only happened, positioned opposite to the burdens she had to bear, and the punishments she had to receive.”
“……It must be a dream.”
“Because it all felt like a mirage.”
“As she took a step closer, fearing it would disappear like the water streams extending from the fountain, she couldn’t bring herself to take that step.”
“But Aria’s thoughts were soon completely erased.”
“The man turned to face her.”
“!”
“Aria, long time no see…”
“He approached gently and took Aria’s hand.”
“It was warm.”
“It felt as though he were truly alive.”
“And he spoke with his usual awkwardness.”
“I made you wait a long time.”
“Aria fixed her gaze firmly on Lev, moving her lips.”
“I thought Lev was… dead…”
“It was a kind of doubt and denial of reality.”
“Lev, seemingly at a loss for words, immediately apologized.”
“I should’ve told you I would return; I’m sorry I couldn’t.”
“…”
“I wasn’t sure…it was more hectic than I thought. I’m really sorry…”
“…”
“Umm… Aria? Can you forgive me…?”
This man… What is he saying?
“Instead of blaming herself, he’s apologizing.”
“His tone is so gentle.”
“Just like that last moment of that day.”
-It’s okay. Aria.
-I’m sorry…
-I know.
“His soft and warm words were so painful… I felt like I could faint at any moment.”
“Moreover, memories of Aria started to resurface painfully.”
-Kill! Kill him! What are you doing! Kill! Kill! Don’t hesitate, just kill him! Now!
‘…That’s right.’
Aria squeezed every ounce of strength to calmly spit out single words.
“Is it really you, Lev…?”
Half-doubt, Lev answered briefly, his gaze toward Aria whose pupils had seemed to have died.
“Yes. It’s me. Your confessor, the scoundrel Lev Denec.”
Still, it was a stable and pleasant resonance.
“Y-yes… I’m glad…”
“In that moment, Aria recalled that she was carrying a blade.”
“The dagger she received from Liris.”
“The cursed sword that took his life.”
“That’s right. Aria knew she had to die.”
“As long as she was alive, Lev Denec would be in danger again, and if it became that way…”
“She’d rather die in Lev’s embrace.”
“Death is one of the best forms of atonement a human can undertake.”
“Is it not okay to end this while in his arms, even if it’s just in a dream?”
-Swish.
“Aria gently moved into his embrace, slipping her hand into her inner pocket.”
“I’m sorry…”
“…”
“I’m sorry for falling in love with someone like me, Lev…”
Thus, Aria chose her own end.
*
-Swooosh…
“The fountain, resembling a moon sculpture, still sparkled with flowing water.”
“And it wasn’t just water that flowed.”
-Drip.
“Crimson blood flowed pathetically from my hand.”
“…Lev, Lev, Lev, Lev?!”
“As Aria’s eyes regained focus, her face turned pale.”
“Because I had tightly gripped her cursed sword.”
“I’m sorry. It must have been so hard for you.”
“I… I have to die…!”
“No. This is my fault.”
“When Aria tried to move the dagger, I tightened my grip.”
“I’ve placed too harsh a burden on you.”
“Ah… ah…”
“To my surprise, Aria’s mind was more fragmented than I thought.”
“Why… why would you… Ugh!”
“Finally tears began to flow from Aria’s eyes.”
“I like you.”
“…!!”
“My embarrassing confession flowed warmly and softly like the blood that was running.”
“Aria’s gaze trembled with surprise.”
“Lev likes me…?”
“Still in shock, I sat her on a bench, kneeling and kissing her.”
“Aria’s eyes widened for a moment.”
“To calm her down, there was no other way.”
-…
“Only tasting her moist lips and gently rubbing noses…”
“I opened my mouth while resting my forehead on hers.”
“I like you, Aria.”
“Please don’t treat me kindly…”
“Do you remember? Even when the Fire Demon attacked, and at the circulation train platform… every time I almost became a demon, you took on my dark magic, right?”
“If it weren’t for her, I could have never grown this strong or reached this far.”
“…That’s…!”
“You saved me so many times, Aria. So if you try to do something bad like just now again, I won’t stand for it. Without you, I have no reason to be here.”
“I… I just… ugh!”
“Aria attempted to say something, but I wouldn’t give her the chance and placed my hand on the back of her neck.”
-Squid…
“This time it was a proper kiss, our faces crossing.”
“Sticky, hot, sweet… a kiss.”
-!
“To cover her negative emotions with pleasure, I bit her bottom lip and stroked her neck, pushing my tongue in with such force that my head tilted back.”
-!
“Even when Aria shot me shocked looks, I ignored them.”
“I disregarded her hands that were adrift, lost.”
“Making her unable to think of anything else, right now she can only think of me.”
“I won’t let her go until Aria is completely dazed.”
…
“As the passionate skinship passed, a strangely heated atmosphere filled the air.”
“When I saw Aria’s legs trembling pitifully, I knew that my kiss had set in quite well.”
“And she didn’t let go of my blood-stained hand.”
“Hic…! I made you hurt, again and again…”
“It’s fine, I mean it.”
“Thank you for coming back… Hic… I’m grateful…”
“Yeah. It’s alright, Aria.”
“I feel like I’ve heard this gratitude over twenty times already.”
“Every time, I would gently embrace Aria and give her a kiss.”
“Aria, too, couldn’t escape from my embrace, fidgeting closer.”
“Even though I maxed the affection meter with Aria in [Reincarnated Hero], I don’t think there was ever a scene like this.”
“Still, that’s fine. Because it’s the side of that stoic Aria that she shows only to me.”
“The little, little fox was Lev all along…”
“As Aria seemed a bit calmer, wiping her tears, she finally changed the subject.”
“Kling.”
“…?”
“When I imitated the sound of a fox with no change in tone, Aria looked up at me blankly.”
-Poof.
“And then suddenly giggled, burying her face in my chest.”
“You laughed.”
“……No, I didn’t.”
“In the place I lived, there was a saying that if you cry and then laugh, horns grow from your backside.”
“!”
“At those words, Aria looked up at me once more.”
“Horns from my backside…?”
“How cute and funny that Aria was taking my words seriously.”
“Yeah, that’s a big problem, Aria.”
“…”
“Just then, while I was petting Aria’s head, who had sunk deep into thought.”
“Lev.”
“What?”
“Aria asked innocently, with a straight face.”
“What… were you doing with Yeriel?”