Surviving as the Third-rate Extra: I Can Plunder Talents

The second-year finalist from Class Mu was truly an unexpected participant, whose prowess was displayed beautifully through magical projections.

Yet, as Delkira showed incredible skills that would not lead to her being a demonkind—the nemesis of humanity—the interest in her background was increasing, especially in the eyes of the powerful [Guilds] and nobles, who opened for individual vassalization as the desire to know and be acquainted with her was increasing every passing second.

"Delkira of Kang, huh? So she's from a fallen noble family."

"Historically, the Kang family name isn't unique. Many inhabitants of the Eastern Empire possessed such a name. Her skills, whether or not she's from a fallen noble family, are what matter."

"You could say that the Adania Empire has such talented individuals in its arsenal, perhaps young ones even that they haven't yet discovered. Don't you think it would be better if she chooses to stay in the Holy Empire as its asset..."

The increasing yearning for her was becoming evident as conspicuous murmurs from renowned figures echoed in every direction. Being known to be someone from a fallen noble family, many thought that it would be a walk in the park to bring her to their side even before she graduated from the Hero Academy.

"It seems the new batch of Class Mu is incomparably talented and competitive compared to... You know."

I scoffed as I received Beatrice's mocking gaze. Though it was merely the truth that the new Class Mu that replaced the old one, in terms of talent and overall ability, was comparable to the other higher classes.

In other words, one could find it difficult to believe that Delkira was from the class of misfits or extras.

'You'd be surprised... and certainly be terrified if you came to know her true identity.' I inwardly mumbled.

After some time, as the sun was retreating, welcoming the cold and lively evening under the gaze of the serene moon, the Hero Tournament was finally reaching its end with the two remaining participants—Delkira and Alana.

*

In the illusory world, depicting that of a medium-sized island with its own ecosystem.

"Senior, it's nice to see you." Delkira waved her hand, facing Alana from a distance as her lips curved into an innocent smile.

Even though they were from the same year, Delkira often referred to any respectable individuals as 'seniors' just because they were admitted to the academy first, apart from being older—superficially so.

"..."

Seeing Alana's seemingly blank yet scrutinizing expression, Delkira added, "You probably weren't expecting me, but here we are, senior. Exciting, isn't it? Shall we begin then?"

"..."

Delkira only received a persistent silence. She was not visibly showing it, but the soon-to-be Apostle of the Demon God was feeling irritation with the late True Hero's young sister's demeanor of nonchalance.

'This bitch. She probably speaks less than a hundred words a day if there's no academic activity. I can't even risk using True Devil's Eye to scan her information since she's a direct blood, and not just any blood from the Hero Bloodline but from Astraea too...'

"..."

"Ah... I get it now. Truly exciting, don't you think so? Hahaha!"

'How could I miss it? Seriously. There's certainty that the Primordial Light had mumbled about my real identity and disguise to this girl...'

"...?"

"This is... pissing me off. Senior... You are... pissing me off."

It was at that moment that Delkira vanished from where she was standing, suddenly appearing behind Alana, who was tightly grasping Seraphmire.

On the other hand, Delkira, from using aura blades due to her intense mana control as she drew power from her soul, now held an unusual crimson staff containing nothing but an ornament atop it that was shaped like a slumbering eye as though it refused to see what was in front of it.

That being said, a miniature blood-red magic circle manifested in front of Delkira as her figure was eventually detected by Alana, who prepared her entire being to dodge whatever kind of attack was coming.

"Crimson Missile!"

"...?"

It was a spell, one could say to be among the basics with blood properties. However... as Alana waited for a second or two, she felt that something was amiss.

Seeing her reaction, Delkira chuckled.

"It's a bluff, senior."

"...?!"

That's when Alana sensed something, albeit too late. What happened next caused awe to spread among the audience. It's because of an attack that even someone who dominated the entire Hero Tournament couldn't see coming, suddenly struck her body...

An invisible slash.

"Keuk–!"

But the problem, apart from being cut from one shoulder down to her waist, was her perception that seemed to have deceived her. After all, what Delkira held was not in any way a blade, but a crimson staff.

Even the audience couldn't figure out what had happened in that span of time. If there's one thing, however, what was certain was that Alana, of all people, was hit while being in full alert.

"Surprising, isn't it? Should I tell you about it, senior?" Delkira smiled as she fidgeted with the staff in her grasp.

But behind her playfulness, there's malice that only Alana—and Lugh—could possibly explain.

However, instead of meeting her with a verbal response, Alana, whose body was bloodied as she suppressed the bleeding and wounds, lunged forward without hesitation.

Unfortunately, Delkira swiftly dodged her attacks and even successfully landed counterattacks during some moments.

Whoosh!

Clang!

Slash!

Spurt!

"What are you doing, senior? Do you think you are at the top of the world or something?" Delkira said. But this time, there was no hint of playfulness in her voice... Only hatred and wary of someone who seemed to be her fated enemy in the coming months.

"..."

Alana used the divine weapon in her grasp to support her body from falling as she genuflected. Her breathing was ragged, and her vision was teetering toward oblivion.

Even if this was a simulated and illusory world, the pain was a hundred percent real. One could even say that the Hero Tournament was a form of physical and mental training in disguise.

Meanwhile, the audience... The entire arena was silent, watching every second in the magical projections with expectations and wonder. Even the commentator was momentarily speechless.

"I-Is Alana going to lose? From someone who was just admitted to the academy basically as an extra?"

"But Delkira... Her skills... It's beyond your average. What did she even do? I thought she cast a spell or something, but the next thing we witnessed... Alana's been cut? In the beginning, she used aura blade... Hah... What a deceptive girl."

"Does it mean... There's someone better than her, who is supposed to be likely the True Hero in the next two months? This doesn't make sense, does it? Would it be better to appoint Delkira? Haha."

Whispers and mockeries began to fly around, some were even to the point of crossing the line by questioning the traditions of the Hero Bloodline.

But if there's one thing, if Alana didn't manage to salvage the expectations people had of her, it's highly likely that her becoming the True Hero would be compromised.

...

'At this point, or even from the moment Alana saw Delkira for the first time, she already was aware that the latter is a demonkind—an unusually monstrous one at that...' I thought as my eyes were glued to the scene, something that was still aligned in the original story.

Even after what Adelle had done based on her emotions, which she didn't even care about at this point for the sake of the Imperial Princess, it's still miraculous that some things continued perfectly based on the predictable route.

However, it wouldn't last.

After doing the 'deed' with the Imperial Princess, I already secured the clue to fulfill the mission assigned to me—it was also something that's going to flip the Churches...

Nonetheless, I should enjoy the spectacle while it lasted.

I murmured as the magical projections showed the scenery of the unprecedented. However, if there's one thing that caused Alana to seem off... Or not with her usual self, it's because of Delkira herself.

It was not because she was a demonkind... But rather with the fact that Delkira was living among the humans in the normal way possible for reasons unknown.

But agenda aside, it was a first for Alana, the daughter of the late True Hero, Ryeon Sol Astraea, to feel confused... After all, even if Delkira refused to admit it, there was a genuine emotion in her heart while living or pretending to be human.

And it's something that's baffling Alana, who seemed to believe all her life that demonkind must die...

Demonkind must die...

Demonkind must be exterminated from the continent...

Demonkind...

It was like an endless repetition of a mantra inserted in the doctrines and souls of everyone from the direct blood of the Hero Bloodlines.

And that principle was being shaken by the very entity that could threaten humanity, even with her small arsenal... Even without the new Demon King.

Demonkind...

What exactly is its true history?

That's a question that now lingered in Alana's subconscious.