Talion found himself a little surprised.

Was killing intent this easy to produce?

‘That bastard…!’

With gritted teeth, he looked around with bloodshot eyes.

In truth, the noble part of Talion understood the current situation to some extent. If the other party was able to play around with him to this extent, he clearly had superior skills under his belt.

Talion knew that he should apologize for his rudeness.

“…”

Marquis Riverback would be disappointed once he caught him doing something like this.

Recalling the one who helped him get admitted to the academy and his family’s benefactor, Talion couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

As someone with the potential and expectations to surpass even the Hero candidate — Iliya, his benefactor would definitely be displeased seeing his current poor state.

But that didn’t mean that he wouldn’t hit back after being provoked 25 fuckin' times.

“Talion?”

That was what he thought.

Until he heard a voice calling him in front.

“…Iliya?”

Talion tilted his head in confusion after seeing a smiling Iliya approach him from the front.

'Why is she here all of a sudden?'

“Long time no see, it has been a while since the last monster subjugation, no?”

Talion hesitated to respond.

He and Iliya had both participated as apprentices in a joint monster subjugation under the command of Marquis Kendride.

‘…She remembered.’

Thinking so, Talion inwardly smiled.

‘It’s been so long, I thought she wouldn’t remember me. Especially since I was someone who suffered a crushing defeat at her hands.’

As peers around the same age and skill, it would’ve been strange if they didn’t spar.

Of course, the result was disastrous for Talion.

Regardless of how many people said that Iliya was only slightly above him in power and skills, he knew better than anyone else that the slight difference between them was akin to an insurmountable wall.

Even so, it was an honor to be recognized by such a brilliant talent.

“Indeed, Iliya. It’s been a while.”

“What were you doing here?”

“…Oh nothing, I was just looking for someone.”

Talion awkwardly coughed and glossed over the issue.

Ever since their first meeting, Iliya was his motivation to train harder and surpass her one day.

He naturally wouldn’t want her to know that he was chasing someone out of anger.

“Is that so? Who were you looking for?”

“Uh, just some annoying guy…”

“What plans do you have once you find him?”

“…”

It was around this time that Talion felt something amiss.

Although Iliya was still smiling, her words were carrying a chilly air to it.

‘Did she always have this image?’

No, she didn’t.

When he met her before, she definitely had a slightly aggressive side. However, she was still a prim and proper model citizen through and through.

What she was showing him now was something else entirely.

But it didn’t feel insidious.

“Tell me. What were you planning on doing?”

“…”

“Were you planning on attacking him?”

Iliya took a step forward, her smile widening.

“…!”

But her eyes were not smiling in the least.

Rather, there was enough hostility within them that he felt like his skin was being torn apart.

Talion involuntarily took a step back when he realized that.

Her expression looked bright, even giggling, but her every word was slowly squeezing the air from his lungs.

It felt like he was facing a giant hungry monster.

“Were you trying to hurt Teach?”

She took another step, while Talion took one back.

“Ah, no, Iliya. Hold on a second…”

Talion tried to say something, anything when he saw Iliya grab the hilt of her sword. And before he could react, the sword was slightly unsheathed.

The very air itself seemed to be on fire due to the intensity she was exuding.

“…!”

Then, the spear he was holding instinctively shot forward.

The tip of the spear fiercely advanced. It was a genuine blow and Talion realized the severity of what he had done far too late.

‘This is dangerous…!’

However...

Just as he blinked...

-!

-!!

His spear suddenly shattered and scattered in all directions.

‘What…!’

His mouth went so wide that it could quite literally fit an egg right now, as he watched the broken spear fall to the ground.

He didn’t see anything.

Despite such a result requiring multiple sword swings to accomplish.

Anyone who had trained weapon techniques at Talion’s level knew exactly what this meant.

That, he was at least a few steps behind his opponent.

He was the one who attacked first, but he couldn’t even see the opponent’s counterattack...

‘She’s even stronger now…!’

Previously, he was still able to withstand her attacks.

And since then, he had gone through rigorous training. His skills were well-known even when placed in the prestigious Elfante Academy.

However, the difference separating them now...

Even if three Talions were attacking at the same time, Iliya would slaughter them all in just a few seconds.

In less than a year, the gap between them had widened to this extent.

‘That can’t be, there’s no way.’

Talent.

An overwhelming gap in talent.

She wasn’t just strong enough to be a Hero candidate, but she also had sky-high talent.

But he still didn’t think the gap to be this wide…!

“You know...”

Iliya’s expression didn’t even change after such a display of skill. She simply sheathed the sword back into the scabbard and asked.

“...Who are you even to care about who I’m friends with? What right do you have to infringe on the matters of whom I approach? Just who the hell are you, huh?”

“…”

“Nosy know-it-alls are annoying. And I’ve never seen someone like that with pure intentions…”

Iliya paused for a moment. Her expression suddenly changed, seemingly to have thought of something. Then, she revised her words.

“…I’ve only seen one. The rest were guys who only look out for their own interest, isn’t that so?”

“Iliya, I-uh, I…”

Iliya snapped her fingers and stopped Talion in his tracks.

Then the already fragmented spear crumbled into powder.

This time, Talion didn’t even know what the hell happened.

“I don’t want to hear excuses, understand?”

Talion dryly swallowed his saliva.

It seemed that he was the ignorant idiot here.

If you didn't want to get pummeled then…

'Don’t touch Dowd Campbell. Heck, don’t even go near him.'

That was the meaning she was trying to get across.

“Okay. You seem to have understood, just don’t do it in the future.”

“…Wait.”

“Do you still have something to say?”

Looking at Iliya smiling coolly, Talion flinched, but he was determined to ask this question.

He was dying from curiosity.

“Who is that Dowd Campbell guy exactly?”

Why would such a talented individual behave to such an extent that even her personality changed?

Who the hell was Dowd Campbell?

Iliya responded with a smirk on her face.

“He’s someone who knocked me out, someone with far superior skills than mine.”

“…Wasn’t that a scam?”

“Teach is not the kind of person who would do that. If you continue to think that, you might kiss the lips of death before you know it.”

“…”

But despite the threat, Talion was in no state to respond.

It was actually true that the Hero candidate was defeated with a single blow?

‘...What kind of monster is he?’

At least Iliya’s strength was still within the realms of understanding, but the other person was just completely incomprehensible.

Why wasn't he publicly known if that were to be the case?

“…So it’s fortunate that I’m not dead yet?”

“Yes, now you’re really getting it. I basically saved your life.”

Talion trembled when he saw Iliya answering like that while shaking her head.

Did he unknowingly challenge a monster to a fight?

“What’s your relationship with that person? How did you find out?”

At this point, he couldn’t bear it anymore and asked another question that was bothering him all this while.

But unlike before, there was no immediate response. Rather, Iliya’s expression turned solemn.

Then, after some pondering.

“No, we’re just good friends, right? On the other hand… Yes, that’s probably it.”

“…What?”

“Maybe, for now. Uh. That’s about it… I guess? I mean, it’s not that big of a deal to me personally…”

“…What did you say?”

“Ah, I don’t know! Anyway, we’re friends for now!”

The way she was acting right now was just like the Iliya he knew before.

Maybe she hadn't completely changed as a person.

‘…But what does she mean by friends for now?’

His questions were left unanswered.

“I’m sorry. I won’t ever bother you again.”

Dowd was dumbfounded, as he watched Talion bowing his head and apologize.

Seeing Iliya smiling on the side only made him feel more bewildered.

‘…What did she do to make him so docile?’

As expected of the Hero candidate, her preaching skills were really extraordinary.

After Talion disappeared, Trisha suddenly approached me with a solemn look, as I was on my way to get my items graded.

“Excuse me, Mr. Dowd.”

“Yes?”

“…Please be nice to Iliya. No, but don’t be too nice either.”

“…”

What was she talking about all of a sudden?

Staring at her wide-eyed, Trisha continued with slight tremors in her tone.

“You don’t seem to know it yet, and I also didn’t realize it until now, but there’s something off about Iliya. It could get bad if mishandled.”

“…What do you mean?”

“When I saw her fight Armand’s eldest son earlier, she was on the verge of crossing the line, to the point where one side could have been seriously hurt if things escalated. Normally, Iliya would have just sent him away, she wouldn’t have drawn her sword like that.”

“…”

“I am certain that whenever Mr. Dowd is mentioned, she gets dark… No, she gets extremely angry. Should I say that it’s like she’s losing her sense of judgment?”

“…”

“It could get worse in the future. Mr. Dowd might get implicated if she doesn't like something.”

Thank you for the ominous warning.

‘…Why are there so many dangerous things these days?’

I thought as I watched Trisha disappear with quick steps.

Seriously, it felt like the whole world was against me at this point.

I turned my gaze away, sighing.

First off, I needed to check the system prompts that popped up earlier.

< Gift-Related Character Alert >

▼ Iliya Krisanax[ Interest Level 1 ] >>> [ Interest Level 2 ][ Rewards Available! ][ Negative Mark: 1 Stack ][ Rewards Available! ][ Character has partly changed under your influence! ][ She is an important character. Increase the mark stack to get something special! ][ Evil Ruler usable 1 time! ]

▼ Talion Armand[ Negative Mark: 1 Stack ][ Rewards Available! ][ Historically lost sanity under your influence! ][ Evil Ruler usable 1 time! ]

“…”

Opening the system never ceased to amaze me.

I knew that the Negative Mark was from He Who Touches Pitch Shall Be Defiled Therewith. The problem was, aside from Talion, why was Iliya also involved?

Sighing, I tapped the system window.

Received Gift Rewards from Iliya

[ Received 500pts! ]

[ Current Points: 2,500pts ]

[ Received 1 Seed of Evil. ]

Received Gift Rewards from Talion

[ Received 1 Seed of Evil. ]

Seed of Evil?

What was this again?

[ Seed of Evil ]

Type: Special Currency

Description: Can be exchanged for special skills in the Point Store.

[ Skills available for purchase in the store have been updated! ]

My eyes widened.

‘Special skill?’

A special skill was a consumable skill that one could use regardless of job class. It was usually a one-time usage item and could be purchased at the store.

It was basically like an item that one could buy and use.

However, it was not called special for nothing. Simply put, in certain situations, its efficiency was far superior to that of any other item.

‘Let’s check the store…’

Indeed, as the prompt said, there were new things available.

Each of which boasted a powerful effect.

‘…I’ll think about how to get more Seeds of Evil later.’

Negative Marks were morally and practically difficult to obtain just from anyone.

I’d probably have to search for suitable candidates.

There were those who would get corrupted later, like Talion, and there were those who had supposedly good tendencies that were somehow worse than those who were evil. I guess that was a flaw in the system?

With that in mind, I got a handful of items and went back.

Then, there I saw a lying Conrad on the ground, drenched in sweat.

“…”

What was he doing?

“…What are you doing?”

“Aiya, you brought so much stuff…”

The man in question gave a lengthy answer.

“How did you end up like this?”

“That fuckin', the Student Council President kept pushing to go to the forest, so I told her to knock me down first then she could go.”

“…”

I was at a loss for words.

“So did you fight?”

“We fought.”

'What a crazy academy!'

The Student Council President was fighting the Dean just because?

The area literally looked like it was bombed, with craters just about everywhere. It was like the aftermath of a fight between two Kaijus.

“So I knocked her out and gave her to the Student Council. Man, her skills have really improved…”

He was saying this with a proud smile.

‘…Still, the Dean overpowered Eleanor.’

Even if she was the Final Boss, she was still in her growth phase. Looking at it now, it seemed that she hadn't even reached half of her peak strength yet.

“What’s my grade?”

I asked with a bitter smile, while Conrad checked the items inside the bag I brought.

“Perfect score. Just the quantity alone... you’re in the first place.”

“…”

Didn’t he judge it too fast?

Then, as if he knew what I was thinking, Conrad snorted and spoke.

“What you’ve brought are high-quality materials, that are on the same level as the ones procured by experts.”

“…Yes, I guess so.”

Although the intention was to piss Talion off, it was indeed true that they were all high-quality.

“Take that and go see Percy. She’ll like it.”

“Yes?”

“You also have a wish ticket from her anyway, so might as well get some extra points.”

Conrad said with a smile on his face.

“…How so?”

“She’s been complaining to me that she’s missing most of the things you brought. So if you appear with it right now, you’ll look like a savior in her eyes.”

Hmm.

'Is that so?'

“Then can I ask for something a little bigger with the wish ticket using this?”

“What is it? She’ll probably be able to do most things.”

“Uh, so…”

I took a moment to organize my thoughts.

There were many conditions required to capture the Purifier, but the first thing that came to mind…

“I’d like to ask for a bomb with enough power to explode the entire Academy..”

“…”

Conrad immediately shut his mouth.

 

 

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TL NOTE: Please don't skimp on the stars and likes of the translation - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!