NOVEL NEXT chapter 37
Chapter 37 – The Abused Faction of the Freiya Advocates. Here…
At the back of the oval-shaped and towering arena, there was a pathway that was rarely accessible to the audience.
Today, the usually desolate area, only opened for maintenance under the pretext of arena management, echoed with the crowd’s cheers. The dark, shadowy place, where the sun rarely reached, was filled with a dampness that permeated the air with a pungent smell.
From the edge where mold had started to grow, a shadow emerged.
Two figures cloaked in robes locked eyes with their blue irises.
The distinct features of the Baneer clan were the sharp wings hidden beneath their robes.
The belated arrival of the clan took the initiative.
“Freiya is still in her position. … And, the bloodkin… Neferna has headed to the arena as planned. … It was a good idea to provoke a commotion and lure the opposing professor in advance.”
“The boy, Allen, ensnared by the Baneer clan’s enchantment, what about him?”
“The enchantment of the Baneer clan. If Freiya intentionally cast it, that enchantment on the boy is the scattered power of enchantment that Freiya unconsciously spread around. It’s not that difficult for us to use it in reverse.”
“… Even Brisingamen couldn’t resist Freiya’s enchantment… “
“For Freiya, it’s nothing short of a blessing bestowed by the goddess upon the Baneer clan.”
“That’s why, for our clan, she is someone we must never overlook. Her worth is beyond measure, even in gold.”
“… Those cunning bloodkin dared to abduct Freiya…! It’s fortunate that we found her now! We have a chance to meet the elders!”
The New Breed clenched their fists tightly and struck the wall forcefully.
“I never imagined we would be staying in such a worn-out school. It makes me realize once again the need for our clan to communicate with the outside world.”
“Endure it. Although our kin are undoubtedly despicable, we must not clash in order to facilitate future transactions. Let’s focus on retrieving Lady Freya for now.”
“We don’t need to worry about those siblings anymore, right? We’ve found Lady Freya.”
“Even if we could pierce through the enchanting gaze of the boy, it was far from enough to withstand the Brisingga Men’s power. Ignore them. We just need to secure Lady Freya.”
Just then, gunshots were heard from outside. The match the two had been waiting for had finally begun.
“Begin. Manipulate the boy with enchantment.”
The wall of the Banir Clan shimmered coldly.
***
– Capture Freya.
“……?”
Allen was bewildered.
He looked around, but no one had spoken to him. It wasn’t a sound that came through his ears. It felt like the blood flow in his head was blocked, causing a buzzing sensation.
His condition hadn’t been good for the past few days.
He was aware of his own physical state to some extent. This morning, his whole body had an unusual, tingling sensation, but he hadn’t heard any strange voices like this.
He initially considered the possibility of auditory hallucinations due to stress, but quickly dismissed it.
Whatever the cause, it didn’t matter now. On the day of the lunar festival, especially on the verge of advancing to the finals, he couldn’t afford to be sidelined due to a poor condition.
– Capture Freya.
“This is driving me crazy.”
Thump! Thump! Allen grimaced and hit his head, then a senior who had been watching him asked what was wrong. Allen hastily brushed it off, claiming there was a bug and nervously bit his lips to conceal his unease.
Bang!
Until the moment the judgment pulled the trigger, Allen could only stand there in a daze.
Amidst the persistent hallucinations, Allen exerted every ounce of effort to regain his composure.
The match had started unnoticed.
Allen, sweating profusely, sought his position while scanning the surroundings.
Simultaneously with the signal flare announcing the beginning of the match, Cecilia advanced, holding an arrow in her mouth.
“『Helpless steps approaching the God of Wind, that fleeting moment, be mine』”
Imperial standard supply-type enhanced magic, Acceleration.
In an instant, Cecilia, who had disappeared in place, was suddenly right in front of Allen.
Skill so proficient that one might suspect it to be a signature fantasy.
The spectacle of struggling to control magic power was nowhere to be found from the last time.
“It’s on.”
With the already swift agility of the fox tribe complemented by the ‘Acceleration’ spell, it was impossible to track with the naked eye.
A flame sphere, of unknown name, erupted from her hand.
“Allen! Fall back and prepare your signature!”
Among Fernandez’s assigned students, a senior with formidable defensive magic cast a spell.
Simultaneously, he countered with a remarkable feat, launching a counter-magic.
But such remnants were easily dismissed by Undine’s fitting performance.
She neither moved from her spot nor arrogantly stood idly like Ignis. Instead, she responded to dangerous attacks, swiftly piercing through the paths of the other two players.
“Lyn, want to join in?”
[Image Link] (if provided in the original text)
“Yes…! 『Beneath the crevice, in the mirage, listen to the whisper!』”
The little one known as Rin seemed to be skilled in magic. At the familiar incantation, Allen reflexively covered his eyes and ears.
– Capture Freiya.
“Allan! To the right!”
“………….”
“Allan? Allan, snap out of it! You can open your eyes now!”
“… Yes?! Oh, yes!”
At the shout of a fourth-grade student, Allan, who had been absent-minded, shook himself back to reality, trembling.
– Capture Freiya.
“Ugh…!”
His head was spinning. Despite trying to suppress the urge to vomit, Allan instinctively cast the Signature Fantasm, but it had been a while since he had been consumed by a serious headache.
– Capture Freiya.
– Capture Freiya.
– Capture Freiya.
– Capture Freiya.
What is this….
“Oh my, it seems like you’re not in the best condition today. That’s regrettable.”
Undine smiled gracefully and spoke briefly.
“It’s showtime. It’s now~.”
“… Ugh?!”
Next to me? Behind me?
No… it’s the sky.
When I belatedly looked up at the sky, a dazzling ball of fire was already floating there.
“『Swallow the flames, and at the beckoning of a small spirit, incinerate even the tiniest speck of dust!』”
Melina Hamelon’s spirit magic, Chapter 27 of Spring.
Allen had heard of it as it was one of the most famous magics among the spirit magics.
He didn’t have the talent for spirit sensitivity and had never tried casting it, but he could tell that the magic Cecilia was casting now was not the usual ‘Morning Sky’s Sunlight’.
The formation of the margin, as well as the casting method, had been completely altered.
Starting with a small flame, a massive fireball poured down.
The moment Allen was overwhelmed by the overwhelming firepower and staggered,
– Capture Freya.
“……! Ahh! aaahhh!”
“W-why is he suddenly like that?”
“Wait! Allen is acting strange!”
“aaahhh! aaahhhhh!”
As Allen let out a chilling scream, the arena froze in an instant.
But no one had the chance to care about that.
– Capture Freya.
“This is ridiculous… ha…”
– Capture Freya.
“No! Don’t touch my mind… don’t corrupt my mind! I… I…! I am someone unworthy of even holding Lady Freya in my thoughts!”
“Allen! Snap out of it! Judgment! Please suspend the match!”
Freya…?
Capture Professor Freya?
Me? Who? Lady Freya? Damn it! Don’t play around. Even if I’m mad, madness should be graceful!
“…Could it be, I’m paying the price for the sins I’ve committed….”
Allen suddenly gasped for breath, gazing at the blue sky. The sky spread out as clear as someone’s wall. Failing to capture that blueness was true then, and is true now.
Suddenly, foolish days flashed through his mind. A voice mixed with metallic resonance echoed emptily.
“Ah, Master. The roots of my sins are too deep to receive ‘purification.'”
But because of that… he couldn’t be consumed by darkness in a place like this.
Mental magic… No, more like curses or brainwashing.
Like flipping open eyes after taking an unfavorable drug, he realized that his vision was becoming strange.
Among the audience, only she stood out conspicuously.
It felt as if light was pouring down from that spot.
Gradually, the faces of the surrounding spectators faded away, and there, only Freya’s presence began to be engraved in Allen’s mind.
To capture Freya…
Allen couldn’t possibly dream up such delusions on his own.
Another will was clearly involved. Another will… Another will…
Hallucinations and auditory hallucinations. And actions contrary to intent.
Is this all it takes for me to crumble?
Alan questioned himself.
─────Who am I?
“I am…”
His body moved on its own. Alan’s hands and feet began to move beyond Alan’s will.
Magic was also being cast spontaneously. The magic was directed towards the spectator seat where Freya was sitting.
It was evident that if things continued like this, he would lose his sanity and cause harm to Freya.
“…I am, in the name of TNR, a proud member of the Freya Adoration Order, and…”
Taking a step forward, Alan crushed his own foot that was heading towards Freya, spreading his arms wide towards the sky.
“Any mistake that injures Lady Freya… I swear, under the name of TNR, a sinner’s body, that I will never repeat it!”
Confidently, Alan asked, firmly planting himself in place. Blood pooled at the corner of his mouth.
There was only one option left now.
“Adoration! Freya Adoration! Quickly, snipe me!”
He felt the silence engulfing the audience.
“Wait for 5 minutes! I know you are still watching this place!”
Nevertheless, Alan had no choice but to move forward.
“I am… I am the stigmatized member of the Freya Adoration, the remaining leader of the Abuser Faction, the vile trash who dared to use Freya’s name in a maltreated comic to inflict wounds, Codename TNR!”
Alan… TNR resisted with all his might.
“Ugh…! Seems like I’m under a mental magic! If I leave it like this, I’ll attack Lady Freya… Ugh! Stop me before that happens!”
Before he could finish speaking, two members who had shared the round table appeared.
Familiar masks. And the recognizable robes.
Alan expelled a breath, uttering their codenames.
“…….. Mr. Protein! And codename Pedonandes!”
“TNR… How could you…!”
Protein stared at Alan, seemingly bewildered.
“Protein! I’ve been tainted! Ugh…! Back in the Middle Garden… someone…! Me! Oh, it seems my memory is erased! Anyway, if I stay like this… Stop me…! There’s a monster in my head right now! If I stay like this… Freya will be in danger… Kaaah!”
“Pull yourself together, TNR! You must not succumb to the malevolent force!”
“Codename Pedonandes! I’ve already gone wrong… Oh, I’ve shown nothing but a despicable side until the end. My mind, which was nothing more than an abuser’s, couldn’t do anything else. And Mr. Protein, please say hello to ‘Cerberus of the dormitory.’ Thank you for everything… I was really happy when we fed the stray cat together…!”
“Ugh…! TNR! Are you really…!”
“TNR! I can’t give up on you like this! I’ll call the dispenser… Hold on a little longer, TNR!”
Pedonandes began to shed tears below the mask.
Alan grinned. Revealing his true face, his identity in front of the Adoration, was a first for him.
Therefore, he knew he had to be unashamed and confident.
“Oh, wicked devils! That day! I don’t know what you did to me in the Middle Garden. Just remember this clearly!!”
“TNR!!!!!”
“The abusers are dead. Here. Right here, I will bury myself. With this, the last abuser, the final abuser, is dead.”
This is the last chance for repentance given by God.
“I… I am standing here now with my own will…!”
“No, TNR! That path…! Only endless doom awaits!!!”
“For our idols, I will oxidize as a proud Adoration!!!!”
Turning away, Alan placed his hand on his chest.
“Ah-ho! Ah-ho! Ah-ho!”
As soon as the cries echoed,