NOVEL NEXT Chapter 98
Dark skin, white hair.
Sharp eyes. And ears that are slender and large, signifying an elf…
“…”
Receiving the order from Markosias to ascertain the truth of the 14th division’s annihilation, the dark elf, Dalian, managed to reach the ruins of Seongyeok – the remnants of a fortress.
For a high-ranking demon, being this close to humans could easily compromise her position.
But since she was a dark elf, she could be free from such concerns.
Beside Dalian was a monster that seemed to straddle the line between adulthood and childhood, trailing after her.
Even though she had been expelled from Pandemonium, the small horns on her head seemed to be saying, “I was a third-rate demon too!”
Anyway, this succubus was overly dramatic, acting amazed.
“Did you do this all by yourself…?!”
“……”
In the long silence, Dalian completed a simple black magic circle on the altar of [Pitbit Jae].
‘…I’m looking forward to it.’
*
[ETERNAL FLAME] Floor 1, Departure Waiting Room.
Before the raid, students were greeting the party members assigned to the same team.
The extermination plan for [Pitbit Jae] is simple.
First, the personnel allocation is,
6 people per group,
With a total of 6 groups, making 36 people.
Each party comprises one main tank capable of withstanding [Diving], the direct physical assault of [Pitbit Jae].
This will be handled by an expert drafted from Divine Valhalla, the party leader.
Next, one magician capable of casting [Barrier] magic to block [Flames of Illusion] from [Pitbit Jae].
This role will be taken by a veteran selected from Eternal Flame, but according to the official script from [Hwanseangaka], one personnel is missing, so the one who performed best in protective magic at Claris will take this role.
‘This foreshadowing is bound to cause problems…’
Next, there’s one healing-type student.
The remaining three will fill in with a marksman and a magician capable of ranged attacks, tailored to deal with a flying boss.
[Pitbit Jae] flies around, repeating the patterns of descent and assault.
When it dives, the main tank holding the shield uses [Divine Protection] to counter it, and when it attempts to ascend to dive on another group, a ranged interception strategy is employed.
In other words, the group targeted for aggro will be in tank mode while the other groups will attempt to attack.
This cycle repeats endlessly among the four groups.
Ultimately, trusting only the two assigned Divine Valhalla knights and the magicians from Eternal Flame, if the three ranged dealers just focus on their jobs, they can safely finish the extermination without taking any significant damage.
“Hello there.”
“Hey! Don’t you take the same course as me? We meet here!”
“Oh, that’s right…”
The surrounding conversations were getting louder.
The raiding party is a multitude of teams. Timing is of the essence.
And for proper synchronization, trusting each other becomes the premise.
Thus, an ice-breaking activity was necessary for each team, so those involved, including Teiron, vacated the waiting room, leaving only Claris students behind to engage in simple bonding.
“It’s your first raid, aren’t you nervous?”
“Well, it doesn’t seem like much for a monster.”
“Still!”
The atmosphere was lively with chatter about [Pitbit Jae] and academic life.
The elders from each position consulted each other and began calling out the next team.
“I will call for team 4.”
“…Timon Jigilta, Lev Denec, Violet de Crescent…”
.
.
.
Whether it was a good or bad thing, I ended up in the same group as the senior and marksman committee head, Violet.
According to the official script, I shouldn’t have been participating in this raid at all.
Given my previous visit, could it be because of me?
At that moment.
“Long time no see, Lev.”
“?”
It was the blonde knight, Aveline, whom I hadn’t seen since the practice for the ball.
“Yeah. Long time no see.”
She was smiling at me, but it wasn’t a genuine smile.
In the past,
– Aveline requested an escort.
– Aveline!
– Please dance a song with me!
– Wait a minute!
I had handed her over to an unknown group of men while dancing with her.
It couldn’t get any worse in terms of ball etiquette.
Aveline maintained as much dignity as she could and said to me,
“The memory of that escort will stay with me for a long time.”
“I’m glad to hear you liked it.”
Behind the still-smiling Aveline, a figure appeared who was reminiscing about my past mistakes.
“Aveline, who’s this parasite?”
“Timon, you’ve arrived.”
Fluffy facial hair from sideburns to chin.
“Oh right, it was this guy…?”
Probably a classmate who was quite a bit older than me.
Timon Jigilta.
One of the guys who courted Aveline in the cultural division and a villain of this chapter, he used to troll by saying he couldn’t learn Wind Archery from Selena in [Hwanseangaka].
Eventually, due to his blunders, another student gets injured during the raid.
At which point, Selena, feeling responsible for not being able to protect her, becomes even more obsessed with Wind Archery.
With my intervention slightly changing the narrative, it seems like this is how things have unfolded.
Aveline chuckled softly and introduced me to Timon.
“This is Lev Denec. To introduce him… well, he’s quite an impressive person. Even though he has ‘Grade B,’ he’s participating in this raid on a professor’s recommendation.”
“What? That kid?”
For a moment, Timon’s expression contorted.
What’s more interesting was that Aveline’s tone had shifted subtly to become quite noble.
Though her introduction lacked any insults, it implied a lot.
That I had treated her poorly, disregarding the formalities of the ball, despite being ‘Grade B.’
Timon, whose mind was clouded with infatuation for Aveline, stepped forward as if glaring at me.
“Wow. A~mazing guy, huh?”
“?”
“Did you really try to woo Aveline with such mediocre skills?”
Wooing? That’s a harsh way to put it.
I asked with annoyance.
“That’s enough. Why don’t you start by thanking me?”
“What?”
“If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have even had the chance to talk to Aveline. Ever.”
“Did you already finish talking?”
“My mouth’s getting tired.”
“Ha! You bastard who was expelled from your family…”
He started growling at me as he looked at my face.
It felt slightly overwhelming.
It seemed like Aveline had tried to use her family to threaten him, so he probably did some digging on me.
Just when I thought how pathetic that was…
Whoosh!
In classic cliché fashion, that guy’s fist came flying at me.
I didn’t even need to dodge.
Thud!
Wow!
Crunch.
“Ugh… cough… Let… hack!”
Crash!
Selena seized his wrist and sent him crashing down.
“Ah.. Ack! Ack!”
“…”
Timon’s face began to crease with worry.
He desperately pleaded with a flushed face.
“Selena! Why are you doing this? Aren’t we both Royal Class…?”
“No, not right now.”
Selena spoke with an emotionless tone, as if he were not worth engaging.
She must’ve left Royal Class long ago.
And being a Half-Elf… She despises discrimination immensely.
‘She’s definitely grown.’
Most importantly, given that she had learned Wind Archery, her combat ability must be higher than I had thought.
“Okay, okay…!”
As Timon’s pleas shifted to desperation, Selena relaxed her grip.
And as she shook her hand,
Flick!
“You’re done! F-Fuck! Just let me hit you once!!”
!!
He awkwardly lunged at me again.
‘What a madman.’
As I marveled,
“Stop it.”
This time, a woman emanating a noble fragrance appeared before me.
*
“Violet? Didn’t you say you were busy?”
“…”
Professor Diana asked, a note of worry in her voice.
The reason busy Violet applied for this [Pitbit Jae] raid was simple.
Lev Denec.
Because he was participating.
Indeed, the fact that he was Professor Diana’s personal apprentice was not a lie.
She could receive a recommendation form anytime she wanted.
But… only a Grade B?
‘…I can’t wrap my mind around that.’
However, it doesn’t matter. Seeing is believing.
By participating in this [Pitbit Jae] extermination, she would naturally get to glimpse his capabilities.
Ultimately, the composition of Team 4, featuring Lev Denec and Violet, was not merely coincidence, but a result of her influence.
.
.
.
“…?”
Violet’s gaze was fixed on someone threatening Lev Denec.
“You fucking—!!”
And they charged.
!!
Without a moment to think, Violet immediately moved to stand in front of Lev.
Bang!
“Ugh!”
With a heavy sound, Timon’s forehead collided with Violet’s wind protection.
Timon is a protective magic user.
Believing blindly in his protective magic, his physical abilities weren’t impressive.
Thud!
Consequently, his body stumbled back a few steps before finally losing balance and collapsing.
Fortunately, the waiting room for Eternal Flame is always kept clean, so he wouldn’t get his clothes dirty.
“What’s that noise?”
“What’s happening?”
Surprised by the sudden commotion, the attention of the surrounding students began to gather.
Timon, feeling embarrassed, tried to get up right away but,
“Who the hell are you?!”
Realizing the immaculately neat floor he cursed against now belonged to an elder of the committee, he was bound to slip up again.
“…Violet-senpai?”
“I mentioned this was a time for bonding, didn’t I?”
“B-but…!”
“Then should I report this directly to Captain Baek? It seems to me like an act of inciting discord within the team, disrupting morale…”
“……”
With Violet’s sharp comment, Aveline’s expression shifted, and Timon clamped his mouth shut.
“If you remove yourself now, there will be no additional punishment. And Aveline Valantes, return to your group. This is a warning from an elder.”
“What? What’s happening?”
“Don’t you know? That guy suddenly charged in!”
“It’s Timon Jigilta. I heard his temper isn’t great among the girls.”
“What? What are you looking at?!”
As all eyes turned towards him, Timon, ultimately feeling awkward, began searching for allies.
“Uh, uh, where’s Aveline…?”
But Aveline had already returned to her group.
.
.
.
The gray-haired man showed no sign of panic.
He only wore an expression of having expected this.
‘Phew.’
Violet felt relieved that things hadn’t escalated too much.
Honestly, she was unwilling to go through the hassle of writing an incident report.
Of course, Violet’s mediation was not flawless.
Normally, any dispute, no matter how bothersome, should consider both sides’ opinions.
However, she sided entirely with Lev.
If there were any faults on his part that needed addressing…
In the worst-case scenario, he could be expelled from the raid, and that would eliminate the reason she had come to see him.
Violet gazed into Lev’s black pupils and opened her mouth.
“You…”
“…?”
“…”
“Please act carefully.”
She was about to say that but stopped short.
‘But…’
Another question popped into her mind.
‘Why didn’t you dodge?’
Did he know someone would step in for him?
Even considering that, his expression was so nonchalant.
Does he really have some hidden power, or is he just steadfastly brazen…?
Her mind became a whirlwind.
-…
At that moment, an announcement through magical tools began in the waiting room.
“Attention to the Claris Academy raid practice students. A departure ceremony will be held soon, so please follow the elder’s instructions…”
Violet’s curiosity would be answered…
The extermination of [Pitbit Jae] was about to commence.