I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

98

My heart beats stronger than ever.

If someone were to see my face now, they might say I’m insane.

[You have encountered the final boss of Act 3, the demon ‘Bellaneo’!]

[She is an ancient demon who has lived from the era of the Great War until now!]

[In this ‘room’, she is more ‘omnipotent’ than anything else!]

[Encountered a ‘living demon’!]

[The ‘dignity of lineage’ is more furious than ever!]

The boss is strong.

We are weak.

Especially, unlike others, the ‘me’ at the very front is so weak that I cannot be compared to that demon.

But that’s what makes it all the more enjoyable, isn’t it?

Seeing the horns and tail of the fellow resembling a ‘demon’, it’s hard to maintain sanity.

The ‘blood’ flowing through my body cries out to quickly decapitate that demon.

The intense ‘will’ itself feels like a form of ‘brainwashing’ invading my mind.

And it seems the guy next to me is in the same boat.

“Ad…rian. Ugh, can you hear me?”

“Yeah, I can hear you.”

“Feels like my head’s splitting….”

If you listen closely, you can hear it too.

‘Kill her.’

‘Kill that demon now.’

‘Cut her throat!’

‘What are you waiting for!’

I hear it.

It sounds so vivid.

When I let go of my consciousness, my hand moves on its own as if it’s going to slice the demon right in front of me.

One.

“Shut that mouth of yours.”

[The dignity of lineage is astonishing!]

[The dignity of lineage asks for reasons.]

Reason.

Do we need a reason?

“It’s unpleasant, don’t pop out without permission. Don’t act like a brat. Shut up and follow your master, and I’ll slice the demon in front of us.”

Where did common sense go?

[The dignity of lineage believes in you and shrinks.]

And on your way, take your friends with you.

[The dignity of lineage convinces the ‘equal lineage’ and quiets down!]

“Ah? Adrian… The voice in my head has gone silent, how?”

“Evanis, pull yourself together and focus. This is the heart of the battlefield, and if you slip up, we all die.”

“…I know, I understand.”

While saying that, he summoned the ‘Sacred Sword: Execution’ in his hand.

If he makes a mistake, he dies.

It really is a battlefield like that.

“…Adrian, I’m ready.”

“Seniors, what should we do now?”

“Go, give the orders.”

“Seniors, magic preparation complete. Rel, too.”

No one.

Nobody is afraid.

They all look at me, everyone relies on me.

I see.

It seems like I haven’t led them astray.

[hahahahaha, I don’t know what you’re doing, but just because of that, do you think you can kill me?]

Of course.

If it were just ‘me,’ it would be a little difficult.

But because we are ‘all,’ we can definitely do it.

* * *

We entered the boss battle, and the chaotic battles continued one after another.

“Adrian! It’s time for magic now!”

“Seniors, I’ll switch now!”

The key to the third act boss battle is to effectively utilize the two ‘reflection’ systems that she uses.

If the heart on the altar shines with ‘silvery light,’ it reflects physical attacks, and at that time, only magical attacks should be used.

Also, if the heart on the altar shines with ‘purple light,’ it reflects magical attacks. At that time, only physical attacks should be used.

If even one pattern gets twisted, it’s quite a big blow.

The returning ‘reflection’ damage is always three times as much.

“Hmph, come at me! I’ll kill all of you!”

“I’ll kill you!”

Reyna skillfully maneuvers in and thrusts magic from close range.

The opponent dodges and counterattacks, but Reyna’s magic is even faster.

Then, Milijay’s ‘Ignis Range Field’ supports, and the billowing smoke turns into a fog, through which Supple’s ice spear is thrust like bullets.

“hahahaha, can you really kill me with this? If my arm gets torn off, that’s the end of it!”

But the boss doesn’t fall easily.

The body created by ‘her’ at this altar is almost immortal, but the greater the damage, the longer the regeneration time.

The ‘heart’ cannot be attacked from a distance. The only way to destroy the soul by attacking her heart is to completely destroy this ‘body’ in front of you and put it in a state of paralysis.

“Now, let’s start again!”

The heart on the altar glows purple.

“Switching!”

The mages step back, and this time, others step forward.

Relvrian swiftly thrusts the triple sword, while Rejelirias and Evenis wield their swords.

Kalren, this time, joins with a shield on his back, gripping a sword with both hands.

“Ugh, at least hit me!”

“hahahahaha, do you think you can kill me with such a slow sword?”

However.

The burden on the physical damage dealers from Rejelirias is too great. Evenis is only a first-year student at best, and Relvrian, while using both swordsmanship and magic, lacks in pure damage output.

Here…

“Relvrian, please sing the ‘Ode to the Queen’.”

“Adrian, you…”

“It’s okay. I’ve somewhat recovered.”

The reason I couldn’t actively engage in battle is that I exactly consumed ‘half’ of my health in the battle with the Chimera.

My health is my biggest weakness. However, now that I’ve somewhat recovered, I can provide support for at least 20 minutes.

The party members’ condition is not good. Not only are they in a state of fear, but their HP is also low, and their mana consumption is severe.

Yeah.

I should step up at a time like this.

“Everyone, fall back.”

“You… You were going to kill me for sure!”

The opponent rushes at me.

Is it still a physical timing?

I put away my staff and drew a dagger made of ‘Basilisk’s Tooth’.

Both left and right hands hold daggers.

It’s been a while for this too.

Let’s play a little.

I shrugged, and struck the ground.

As he charges, I quickly draw two lines on his eyes faster than his enlarged hand, making him unable to see.

[Krrr!]

Make me enjoy a little.

* * *

Everyone.

So, as instructed by that person, everyone who was drinking the potion and stepping back looked at the man who was fighting alone in front of them.

It’s unbelievable.

With just two short swords, he was completely toying with the demons they had to approach so difficultly.

“It’s unbelievable.”

At someone’s muttering, everyone could only agree in silence.

He’s not human.

He’s a person who has lost all fear.

When everyone actually saw the existence called ‘demon’ that eats and kills humans in history books, they were all terrified.

They didn’t say anything, but they felt the urge to run away.

But what about that person… did he feel the same?

“Adrian… while we were overcoming our fear, he was smiling.”

He laughed.

He’s still laughing.

With a smile, he swings his short swords. Although the demons resist desperately, he somehow manages to scrape off their flesh, pierce their eyes, break their necks, and tear them apart.

It doesn’t seem like he’s dealing a tremendous amount of damage… but everything is executed ‘effectively’.

“Ephynis, what on earth is Adrian hiding from us?”

“…I don’t know either. He wasn’t that kind of person… He changed so much as soon as he stepped down from the position of successor.”

Everyone silently watched the battle.

Someone prayed.

“Reyna, what are you doing?”

“Oh, I can transfer my magic power to Adrian with my bracelet. So I was trying to transfer my magic power to him.”

At her words.

“Can I do it too?”

“I’m not sure, I have a bracelet with that function, but I’m not sure about all of you…”

“I want to try too. I don’t know if it will work, but I’ll try pushing my magic power towards Senior Adrian.”

“Me too.”

“Me too.”

“I’ll try too.”

“…Hmph.”

Like that.

Magic power began to gather.

* * *

Hmm.

The heart on the altar turned purple.

Then, it should only be filled with magic dealers.

I stepped forward and swung my short sword.

“Adrian! Wait a moment!”

“Are you crazy? It’s a physical reflection right now!”

Amidst everyone’s astonishment, he slightly let go of the dagger after it made contact, then grabbed it again.

Here’s the problem.

What would happen if, while ‘carrying out an attack,’ the weapon is ‘let go’ and then the attack is executed while the weapon is still ‘let go’?

The answer is.

The attack would be canceled, and damage would be inflicted.

In other words.

[Wha… Whyyyy? How is it possible that the dagger can touch me ‘now’ when it clearly shouldn’t be able to!]

A bug that bypasses immunity.

“It’s reality, yet it works.”

As an Easter egg in the game, if this ‘immunity’ is bypassed, the damage receives a ‘reflection’ that results in six times the damage.

So, if you forcefully bypass the immunity and attack, the damage becomes six times greater.

But I am weak. I am so weak that I can’t deliver a proper attack.

If I bypass the immunity and deal 1 damage, it only becomes 6 due to the six-fold increase.

So what should I do?

If one is not enough, then ten; if ten is not enough, then a hundred.

If a hundred is not enough, then a thousand; if a thousand is not enough, then ten thousand.

Even if it falls short at ten thousand, then a hundred thousand; if a hundred thousand is not enough, then swing a million times.

The demon screamed and collapsed.

But I paid no attention and continued to swing the dagger.

Even though ‘blood’ interfered, I allowed it.

Ten times more, a hundred times more, a thousand times more.

Slash, slash, and slash again, stab, scratch, and cut.

Completely absorbed, I focused only on stabbing, scratching, and cutting.

My arm twitched, and my senses disappeared.

My stamina rapidly declined. Even without taking a single hit, I couldn’t sustain my stamina just by swinging the dagger.

[You… you damn human!]

Unable to endure any longer, he screamed and crawled towards the altar, clutching his heart.

[Really… I’ll finish you!]

He struck me directly.

…Hmm.

This is a sight I’ve never seen before.

This boss doesn’t have a second phase.

Originally, that heart should have been ‘outside,’ and in the original work, the third act ended with destroying that entity and stabbing the heart.

But suddenly, a variable emerged.

However.

Now, the variable is familiar.

And.

“There are variables on this side too.”

Since a while ago, I’ve been sensing the accumulation of numerous magical powers on this side.

And, a collection of such magic naturally creates ‘variables’.

In the game, ‘mana’ may be just a skill value cost, but in reality… it contains the desires of the owner.

[Everyone’s wishes have gathered into one!]

The body of the one who embedded a heart into me is swelling up like a balloon.

[The favorability level of all ‘party members’, including ‘guest party members’, is friendly or above!]

[The favorability average level of the ‘strategy group’ is above 5!]

[The number of ‘party members’ is more than 3!]

[Requirements met!]

Continuing.

Before my eyes, where mana had gathered.

A shining azure longsword appeared.

[Unlocking ‘Fateful Technique: Crescendo’!]

“Ha-ha, ahahahaha….”

Fateful Technique.

To think it’s already being unlocked.

By setting, a secret technique that can only be used when the mana infused with the wishes of all party members for the ‘party leader’ gathers.

And now, it has unfolded here.

I reach out and grasp the longsword.

Oddly, it is weightless to the point of being light. Of course, it is not a weapon with physical substance.

Then, I run.

Towards the one who embedded a heart into their body and inflated themselves immensely.

“What, what is that disgusting and nauseating black sword! Get out of the way, move aside!”

Looking at the repulsed individual.

I raise the rainbow-colored longsword.

Only one step remains now.

Only one step remains now.

With the sword in hand, I solemnly chant.

“【Mystery of the Divine Sword】.”

And.

“【Fateful Technique: Crescendo】.”

Just like that, I thrust it into the chest of the demon.

The clean sensation of a precise hit. It would have shattered even the heart of this black demon.

[Gyaaah!]

As evidence.

Light burst forth.

[N-nooo, this can’t be happening!]

The demon’s body crumbles apart, turning into dust and scattering in all directions.

“Adrian!”

“Senpai!”

I heard a voice calling me from behind.

Though I had no strength to turn my head or stand, I managed to look back with a smile.

[Boss of Act 3, demon Belanio has been executed!]

[Congratulations! You have cleared Act 3!]

[You are one step closer to your ‘ending’!]

Yes.

It’s not just me, it’s us.

No matter what happens, we will never be defeated.

That’s how it always has been.

That’s how it will always be.

[Warning! Warning!]

[Health is less than 1!]

Please take a break!

“Sir, Senior!”

“Adrian! Pull yourself together! Adrian! Adrian!”

Sorry.

A bit more gently…