The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 36: The Will (5)

"How...?"

Astaroth stared at the gray-haired cadet with wide eyes, disbelief written across his face.

As previously mentioned, the "Veil of Illusions" enveloping this area was a barrier that even all the professors of the Magic Department together would struggle to undo.

It wasn't because the professors of the Hero School were incompetent, but because Astaroth's sacrifice to create this barrier was beyond extraordinary.

A barrier woven with the lives of 200 demons as a sacrifice.

Just being near this veil would engulf one in illusions and trap them in endless visions and fantasies.

How could someone break through such a barrier so easily?

"You said it yourself, didn't you? Illusions don't work on me."

"..."

Astaroth recalled a lesson from a few weeks ago.

The illusion magic that had vanished like a bundle of papers thrown into roaring flames.

Even though he had restrained his power considerably since it was just a lesson, the illusion had broken too easily.

Yes.

It was as if...

As if it were imbued with the divine power of the "Seven Eyes" of the Saintess.

Astaroth let out an involuntary chuckle at the thought that crossed his mind.

That couldn't be possible.

How could a mere cadet, and one who had been the bottom-ranked cadet for two years since entering the academy, possess divine power?

"Indeed... while I don't know the exact reason, it seems illusions don't affect you at all."

If even the Veil of Illusions, created with the lives of 200 demons, was pierced so easily, it was safe to assume that the person was immune to illusions altogether.

"This puts you in a bit of a tough spot, doesn't it?"

"Oh? You speak as if you know me well."

"I do know you well."

With a deep voice, I spoke the name of the demon in front of me.

"The Archbishop of Illusions, Astaroth."

"...!"

"Wha... what did you say, Dale?"

Iris exclaimed in shock, her eyes wide open.

She had realized that Professor Morpheus was a demon when he cast the purple veil and used illusion magic to knock out Camilla and the children.

But she had never imagined he was one of the six archbishops, standing at the pinnacle of all demons.

"Hmm? Oh, I see."

Astaroth nodded as if he had just figured something out.

"So, it was you? The one who messed up my plans."

"Who knows? All I did was deal with a few fools who were hammering nails into perfectly good cave walls."

"Haha. Isn't it a bit shameless to say that after slaughtering my precious subordinates?"

"Precious subordinates, you say?"

What nonsense.

"They weren't precious subordinates; they were tools to inject curses into the ley lines."

"Oh? So you knew about that too?"

Astaroth's eyes glinted with interest.

"You're not just any cadet, are you?"

"You're not just any professor either, so let's call it even."

"Hahaha. Alright. It's always more fun when there's an unexpected twist like this."

It was never a perfect plan to begin with.

Releasing demonic beasts into the festival to create chaos and steal the "Seven Eyes."

Compared to the plan he'd been preparing for over several years, this was too bold and reckless.

He had anticipated that things wouldn't go as planned.

He had been prepared to take on this level of risk from the start.

Though he never imagined that the risk would be a cadet, not a professor.

Anyway, the Veil of Illusions had been breached, and an unexpected variable had appeared.

A variable that could be considered a nemesis to Astaroth, who mainly used illusion and mind-control magic.

"An opponent immune to illusions... This is quite troublesome."

Astaroth sighed deeply, shaking his head.

Fighting an opponent immune to illusions was like asking a swordsman who had trained with a sword their whole life to fight barehanded.

"But."

A dark smile spread across Astaroth's face.

The Stigma of the demon god on his left chest glowed, and an ominous purple light spread wide, like wings unfolding.

"That doesn't mean the outcome will change."

Even if his primary weapon, illusions, was sealed, he was still an "Archbishop," ruling over tens of thousands of demons.

Buzzzzzz!

The wide-spread purple light vibrated fiercely.

Waves of purple light surged toward Dale.

"Hold on tight."

"Huh? Kyaa!"

Dale pulled Iris close and urgently stomped his foot.

Berald’s Martial Arts.

Wind Step.

As mana flowed through his entire body, it felt as light as a feather.

By strongly emitting mana from both feet...

Whoosh!

His body lightly floated into the air as if he had stepped on nothingness, moving away.

Crack!

The purple light swept away the spot where they had just stood, and the ground twisted as if clay was being pressed from both sides.

The power from just a mana release was this strong?

I clicked my tongue as I looked at the twisted ground.

Astaroth's attack wasn't even magic; it was a simple release of mana.

It was just a matter of pouring physical force into mana and releasing it as is.

It was a simple spell that even first-year cadets in the Magic Department could do, but the enormous mana—or rather, the demonic energy—Astaroth possessed turned even that simple spell into something as powerful as a siege weapon.

"Stay here."

"Wa-wait, Dale! You're not thinking of fighting the Archbishop, are you?"

"And if I don't?"

"Uh, well... We could call the professors or something."

"Even if we call them, they won't be able to get in because of that veil."

While I could break through the Veil of Illusions easily because illusions didn't affect him, the other professors were different.

It was impossible to escape with Iris outside the veil.

Astaroth wouldn't just sit by and watch them escape, and there was no way I could leave Camilla and the orphanage children who were lying unconscious here.

That left only one choice.

To defeat Astaroth here.

"I'll take care of him, so create a barrier to protect Camilla and the kids."

"But..."

Iris tried to argue, but when she looked at Camilla and the children, who were lying unconscious with dazed eyes, she bit her lip.

"...Please, Dale."

"Leave it to me."

I took a step toward Astaroth.

With his arms leisurely crossed, Astaroth looked at me, letting out a sneering laugh.

“Done playing the hero?”

“Not quite.”

I pulled out a glass bottle filled with a blue liquid from my pocket and gulped it down.

My heart pounded wildly as if it were malfunctioning, and a fierce surge of mana coursed through my entire body.

Clink.

The sound of the empty glass bottle shattering as it hit the ground echoed.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

“Now, the real fight begins.”

Boom!

A deafening explosion shook the air.

As the surroundings seemed to stretch and warp, I shot forward.

“Tch…!”

Astaroth quickly retreated, alarmed by the sudden acceleration.

I chased after him, swinging my sword fiercely.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

A purple aura spread out like a spider's web, blocking his path.

Boom!

As the sword, wrapped in a radiant white light, clashed with the purple aura, the earth quaked with a thunderous roar.

‘As expected, the sheer increase in mana is on a different level.’

Unlike the half-baked Stigma Amplifier I used at the demons' hideout before, the one made from the Seven-Star Herb and infused with mana was on a completely different scale.

‘I wish I had more of it.’

Unfortunately, the only Stigma Amplifier I had left was the one I just drank.

‘I have no choice.’

The duration of the Stigma Amplifier was only 5 minutes.

I must defeat Astaroth within that time.

‘Sun Sword, Sixth Form.’

White Light.

Bzzz!

A brilliant white light surged from the sword, slicing through the purple aura.

“Tch!”

The white light shot through, grazing Astaroth's cheek.

Blood trickled down from the cut flesh.

“…Ha.”

Astaroth let out a low chuckle as he caressed his bleeding cheek.

“So, you had a hidden trump card.”

After drinking the blue liquid from the bottle, Astaroth could feel Dale's previously meager mana explode in intensity.

“This is turning out to be more fun than I expected.”

With a deep smile, Astaroth summoned his demonic power.

The purple light from his Stigma surged forward, aiming at Dale with ferocious intent.

“Hmph!”

Boom! Crack! Rumble!

The clashing sword and magic created a massive shockwave as the white light and purple aura intertwined.

“Ugh…!”

Iris hastily created a protective barrier to shield Camilla and the children from the shockwave.

“Dale!”

The battle was so fast and intense that it was impossible to follow with the naked eye, making it unthinkable for anyone to intervene.

Despite facing off against an Archbhishop, Dale was holding his ground, continuing the fierce battle.

‘Incredible.’

She had a vague sense that Dale was strong, but to think he could fight an Archbhishop without being overwhelmed.

‘If it’s Dale, maybe…’

Just as she thought he might actually defeat the Archbhishop.

Crack!

A chilling sound of something breaking, and a hole the size of a human head appeared in Dale's chest.

“…Ah?”

Blood poured from the gaping wound in his chest.

It was as if time had stopped.

Dale’s figure, collapsing like a puppet with its strings cut, was seared into her mind.

“D-Dale…?”

She called out his name in a trembling voice, but there was no way someone with a hole the size of a head in their chest could respond.

“No, no….”

Iris’s legs gave out, and she crumpled to the ground.

“No, no, noooo!!!”

Seeing Dale lying lifeless on the ground, her mind went blank, and a soul-wrenching scream filled the air.

“Haah, haah. You exceeded my expectations.”

Astaroth panted heavily, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.

He had suspected from the beginning that Dale wasn't an ordinary candidate, but he never imagined he would be strong enough to inflict a wound on him.

‘A candidate who could put most professors to shame.’

At this point, he thought it would have been easier to face a bloodthirsty beast or the descendant of a grand sage.

“Phew. But I managed to deal with him.”

The plan he had prepared to obtain the ‘Seven Eyes.’

Although unexpected variables had deviated the plan from its original course, the destination remained unchanged.

“Well then.”

He turned his head toward Iris, who was sobbing on the ground.

“Shall I savor the sweet fruits of victory?”

Every time he looked into Iris's tearful eyes, he had a burning desire to obtain the ‘Seven Eyes’.

As he indulged in his desire and took a step forward.

“Hm?”

Out of nowhere, gray ashes brushed against his cheek and scattered.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]