NOVEL NEXT Chapter 164
“Did you see that crazy guy?”
The Great Demon, Belial, who had just exited Sellafi Hall, felt an urge to flick his finger and obliterate that entire dormitory right then and there.
Was it because he was the ‘survivor’ who made it out of Mystic Island?
Or perhaps it was the sight of that gray-headed fool that soured his mood.
Of course, he couldn’t let something so trivial crumble the plans he had built so far.
At least, he didn’t want anything to mess up the grand scheme of turning Claris into his domain.
‘I remember your face… I’ll make sure to kill you in the most painful way possible. Let’s see if you can still laugh then?’
Most importantly, they were the ones who contributed to taking down Markosias.
From Belial’s perspective, there was no reason to spare any of them, and he could just play with them until they fell apart, presenting each a customized nightmare.
‘How long has it been since I’ve felt the thrill of bloodshed…’
He calculated the number of war heroes he had slaughtered while flitting between the Imperial family and Claris, folding his fingers.
Naturally, it was a number that couldn’t possibly be contained in his two-handed form.
“Hehe… Heheh!!”
Now, in the Empire, there were only two remaining war heroes left, Dustin and Scarlet.
Including countless war heroes, it was Belial who had killed their companion, Umberto.
“Oh, Scarlet, that nasty girl. I had sworn to gouge her eyes out as decoration…”
The empire, weakened to the core amidst brief peace, was now just waiting for him to exact his judgment on these foolish humans.
*
Equivalent exchange.
The talent and penalty distribution was a system commonly found in character creation in other games.
Simply put, if you pick a stat that benefits you in the game, you must choose a downside to balance it out so that the total sums up to zero.
It’s a form of balance.
Players can start with a little talent matching their tendencies while also accepting fewer penalties, or they can gain outstanding attack stats but suffer dizzying penalties in other areas.
“Penalty added.”
“Penalty added.”
“Penalty added.”
And if someone were to question whether there was such a system in the Closed Beta’s Reincarnated Hero, this one perk would certainly be it.
Through reckless penalty additions, I was able to create a perk that massively increased my power, usable only by me.
Ding!
—————————————————
[Supreme Marksman]
Damage increases proportionally with distance from the target.
(However, effects only activate beyond the specified distance)
(Specified minimum distance: 50m or more)
Added penalties:
(*Changes the minimum distance to over 500km)
(*If the specified minimum distance is not met, no damage can be dealt)
(*There is an increasing hit reduction rate proportional to distance)
(Total damage increase multiplier: 6400%~)
—————————————————
“6400%…”
If I could take down a Great Demon in one shot with just this perk, it wouldn’t look good for Belial’s reputation.
How have I dealt with Great Demons, pissing myself with each and every one till now?
Such a measly amount simply wouldn’t suffice.
‘Penalty added.’
Thus, I kept adding penalties.
Ding!
(*The perk will vanish upon activation once)
“One more to add.”
Ding!
(*If unable to hit, the caster’s stats will drop by half)
“Add more.”
Ding!
[No more penalties can be added]
Blocked.
“Hmm… then I guess I’ll have to raise the activation criteria?”
I set the activation condition of this perk to the worst possible setting.
Then, what appeared before my eyes was…
Ding!
—————————————————
[Supreme Marksman]
Damage increases proportionally with distance from the target.
(However, effects only activate beyond the specified distance)
(Specified minimum distance: 500km or more)
Added penalties:
(*Changes the specified minimum distance to 500km or more)
(*If the specified minimum distance is not met, no damage can be dealt)
(*There is an increasing hit reduction rate proportional to distance)
(*The perk will vanish upon activation once)
(*If unable to hit, the caster’s stats will drop by half)
(Total damage increase multiplier: 6400%~)
—————————————————
“That’s insane.”
They say the distance between Seoul and Busan is 400km, yet the ‘minimum’ condition to use this perk is a whopping 500km.
Moreover, to achieve that astonishing damage ratio of at least 6400%, any attack below that threshold would be a complete waste at 0 damage.
‘I can’t believe how ludicrous this is.’
If someone asked me if there existed an arrow that could fly 500km…
“I would say no.”
With the sniping trait, my hits would be corrected, but physically it’s impossible.
If it were to fly that distance, wind and obstacles would drastically decrease its power; it just doesn’t make sense.
But when it comes to sniping Belial, everything changes.
-Old man Dean will be circling the Magic Tower of the Academy.
-Belial’s goal is to close all dimensional gates without raising any suspicion.
-He plans to slowly go around the Magic Tower, casting delayed spells on dimensional gates, and then shut them all at once, isolating Claris from the outside…
‘For him, 500km, no? Even more is possible…’
According to Yellody, that guy had just showed me a huge weakness.
The perfect shot is assured.
Exhale.
I sighed, looking at the ceiling to calm my tired mind.
“Alright, if it comes down to it… I’ll make it work.”
Andras, Bunea, Markosias…
I’ve faced countless monsters before.
As long as I can handle Belial this time, it’ll work out.
The method to break the curse on Yeriel, revealing the identity of the Author…
Finding the Demon King and putting an end to this…
“Honestly. There seems to be no end.”
But I know very well I can’t stop.
As the story accelerates compared to the reality, to protect what I hold dear, I must keep running without a pause.
-…
…So does that mean there will come a day when I can return?
Of course, the game exit button is active, so even now I could go back to my original world.
But what should I say to Yeriel and Aria…?
“Oh?”
In an instant, I felt my mind drifting away.
My body felt heavy like a ton of bricks.
‘When was the last time I properly rested…’
The world flipped upside down.
My body refused to listen.
*
Yeriel’s current main concern was…
It had to be Lev Denec.
Following the Dean’s visit,
“Dean! Would you like to stay over at my room?!”
His unusual behavior had her a bit worried, and sure enough, she heard a loud bang from his room.
“Lev!!!”
The moment Yeriel went to find Lev, he was collapsed next to the bed.
…
“Lev, are you okay…?”
Yeriel carefully placed a fresh, wet cloth on his forehead.
How many hours had passed… With Aria still absent, it fell on Yeriel to nurse him.
His body was burning with fever.
“Really… why were you pretending to be fine lately…”
Yeriel couldn’t have missed his change.
Ever since he shockingly returned as a baby fox, Lev appeared to be in a state of obsession.
At mealtimes, during class, even while moving… he looked as if he was constantly deep in thought.
“Not sleeping…? Lev?”
“Yeah, Lily is deep asleep today, and I was waiting to sleep until I saw Aria come in…”
“Wasn’t it said that we’d run late because of practice today…”
“Yeah, that’s true…”
When the day ended, he was always the one guarding the dormitory until all four of Sellafi Hall returned.
In a way, it seemed the opposite.
If the four women of Sellafi Hall were watching to ensure he didn’t disappear again, he, too, felt relief each time he saw them.
Like a child who keeps checking a small box containing something precious.
“Lev, I still don’t know you…”
Clearly, once again, it was because of the demon that hadn’t shown its face.
He didn’t seem interested in honor or wealth.
The credit for defeating the demons was publicly attributed to Yeriel, Edwin, and Aria, and he had mostly donated any rewards or accolades.
So, what was it… why was he going to such lengths for others?
Why, even though they weren’t yet lovers, did he treat someone cursed like her with such kindness and warmth?
She recalled their first meeting.
He had been a bit colder than he was now…
That said, he was never a bad person.
His actions… and the slowly changing environment proved that.
Every time he faced a hurdle, despite everyone else worrying about him, he always ended with a smile.
He even comforted Yeriel and Aria.
In the end, what he sought to protect had always been one and the same.
“Lev. Do you like me?”
“…Yeah.”
“And what about Aria?”
“I like her.”
Thus, she felt she could understand him a bit better now.
Lev Denec…
Had the temperament that would compel him to pick up the stones on the roadside himself, no matter how many there were.
He was someone who was more accustomed to giving than receiving.
Always caring for Yeriel and Aria…
“…!”
When Yeriel’s eyes glistened slightly, Lev suddenly seemed to have snapped back to reality and was staring directly at her.
“Yeriel… why are you crying?”
“I… I don’t know… I really don’t know…”
She wanted to persuade him a little.
She couldn’t bear to watch someone she liked continually push themselves toward the cliff’s edge.
Just how much longer would he have to keep sacrificing?
Lev was definitely a first-year at Claris like her.
He shouldn’t have to bear the responsibility of stopping every demon.
“What? Is it because Aria declared she’s dating me?”
“……”
His voice wavered a bit.
Even amidst this, forcing a smile as if to say “don’t worry” made it all the more agonizing for Yeriel.
“Yeriel?”
“…”
Finally, she made her decision.
“Lev.”
“Yeah?”
“If you resolve things with Aria… I promised I’d give you an answer about my confession, right?”
“Uh… that’s true?”
“Do you still like me, Lev…?”
“Of course…”
“Then… please go out with me. Lev Denec.”
“……”
With those final words, the bond between Yeriel and Lev completely merged.