NOVEL NEXT Chapter 60
Before long, three of the four artifacts had made their appearances.
A ring, a bracelet, and a necklace.
“Now there’s only one left! The real war begins the moment that artifact is found!”
Clona said while looking at the multitude of screens rising in the center.
“Here’s the hidden element of this tournament! Ta-dah!”
With a loud sound effect, Clona’s explanation continued.
“The moment all four artifacts find their owners! The artifacts will resonate and lead each other to their locations!”
“In other words, the artifacts will act as sort of a guide~.”
It’s a system designed to make the tournament more dramatic.
The artifacts attract each other like magnets, guiding to where other artifacts are located.
In other words,
“Hiding the artifacts is practically impossible~.”
From the moment you possess an artifact.
You have to battle fiercely.
To take or be taken.
“From now on, it’s the highlight! Please focus!”
It was the moment the true nature of the tournament was revealed.
*
“…Hiss!”
Black Lotus, who had been dozing off, suddenly lifted her head.
Seeing her focus intently, flicking her tongue to one side.
‘They’ve all come out.’
It seemed all the artifacts had been discovered now.
“Now, let’s start moving.”
“Finally?”
Elma, who had been tapping a stone with her sword tip, lit up with excitement.
“Yes. All the artifacts have been found.”
“How do you know that?”
“There are ways.”
I gently stroked Black Lotus’s head.
‘The resonance of the artifacts.’
This hidden element of the tournament refers to when all four artifacts have been uncovered and start to lead each other.
As a hidden element, other participants probably aren’t aware of it.
‘But I know.’
Having experienced it multiple times.
I had already instructed Black Lotus to react when she sensed a ‘special magical wave.’
So right now, the fact that Black Lotus had awakened meant.
‘All the artifacts have come out and begun to spread their waves.’
It was time to move.
*
“I never thought you’d be hiding in a place like this.”
Behind a massive waterfall in the central area of the mansion.
There, a golden box glowed softly, hiding away.
Thud!
When Angela opened the box, a crown adorned with red jewels appeared.
“This is… the last artifact.”
She said quietly as she picked up the crown.
Now, they possessed a total of two artifacts.
They had secured a whole half of the artifacts.
“Hmph…”
Pernia surveyed the surroundings.
This was a location where screens were not being transmitted outside.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
It was the perfect spot to relieve the curiosity she had been holding back.
“Who… are you?”
Pernia asked very seriously.
There was a hint of weak hostility on her almost expressionless face.
“What are you talking about? It’s me. Angela.”
“You’re kidding.”
The appearance and voice were undoubtedly Angela.
But that ‘swordsmanship’ she just showed and this atmosphere.
No matter how much she had changed recently.
“You’re not Angela.”
Such upheaval was beyond common sense.
“Who’s inside you?”
“…Sister.”
Angela slowly blinked.
“Are you tired? You’re unusually emotional today.”
“……”
“You should finish the tournament and rest—”
At that moment.
Whip!
Pernia’s whip was swung fiercely.
And at the same moment.
Clang!
Angela’s sword deflected the whip.
Sparks flew, and a sharp sound echoed against the walls.
“…What are you doing right now?”
“That’s what I was going to say.”
Pernia glared at Angela.
No, rather, she glared at ‘someone inside Angela.’
“Did you really think that bug could block my attack with only a few months of training?”
Pernia knew.
About Angela’s ‘constitution.’
“I’ll ask again. Who are you?”
“…Does it matter?”
Angela opened her mouth.
“Whoever I am, is that something for you to worry about?”
“What?”
“All you’re concerned about is that I’m the Second Princess. Not ‘Angela.'”
The blonde hair and silver aura had slightly settled.
Her eyes held intelligence and calmness.
“Even if I say I’m not Angela, your job remains unchanged, right?”
“…You filthy thing.”
“So, mind your own business.”
Shifting the atmosphere once more.
Angela smiled and handed over the crown.
“I think it’s time we prepared.”
Hum hum hum-!
A strong vibration emanated from the crown she held.
She instinctively realized what it meant.
“They’re coming.”
As Angela said that.
Crash!
The waterfall blocking the entrance split apart, and a woman dashed in.
“Wow-! Two have been found!”
“Jane…!”
Pernia’s expression crumpled upon spotting Jane.
“I’m glad I followed the place where the vibrations of the artifacts were getting stronger.”
Jane was wrapped in golden armor.
Blessed by Lienna, her defense and attack power had risen, and she attacked relentlessly.
Clang!
I barely reacted in time, swinging my whip.
But I received a sharp shock in my hand.
“Cough!”
“Useless, Chairperson!”
Jane noticed the ring on Pernia’s finger.
One side was a blessing, the other a curse.
When their strengths might be equal, the one blessed would naturally be the victor.
‘Distributing the energy is tough!’
Engraved on the ring Pernia wore was the ‘Curse of Blockade.’
A curse that completely blocks the accumulation of energy, fatal for a knight.
While trying to utilize the remaining energy as efficiently as possible to fend off attacks.
Crack!
“Cough…!”
Meanwhile, Jane was in a position to receive endless vitality.
The power disparity was grimly uneven.
Of course.
“You can’t forget about me.”
Although there were two of us.
Swoosh!
Moonlight sparkled and split between Pernia and Jane.
“…Oh? What’s this?”
Jane seemed surprised and widened her eyes.
“Are you hurt? Sister.”
“You should have helped me sooner!”
“I thought you didn’t need my help.”
Click!
Pernia gritted her teeth.
As if she didn’t care about that, Angela concentrated moonlight on her sword.
「Moonlight Strike」
A silver blade sliced toward Jane.
“This is going to hurt…!”
Instead of blocking, Jane chose to evade and pulled back.
“Whoa.”
At that moment, Angela struck the ground with her sword, eliminating the ground beneath her feet.
Boom!
“Eh.”
Angela fell with a dumbfounded expression.
But she would bounce back up shortly.
She bought just a moment of time.
“We’re switching artifacts.”
Angela took off the crown she had been wearing.
“You wear the crown, sister. I’ll wear the ring.”
In a situation where both were empowered, it was better to carry the burdens separately rather than one taking on all the curses.
Moreover.
“I’m unaffected by the ‘Curse of Blockade.'”
“…Then why did you give me the ring?”
“You know there’s no time to debate such things right now.”
“……”
Angela’s upper body opening constitution cannot be blocked by mere curses.
If that were possible, she wouldn’t have needed to go outside the palace to eliminate the energy.
“Tsk!”
Pernia clicked her tongue and handed over the ring.
“They also have artifacts. Seeing that the Head of the Student Council lacks cursed signs, that hidden one must have it.”
Wearing the crown that was accepted on her head.
The curse inscribed on the crown was the ‘Curse of Pain.’
A curse that amplifies all pain twofold, but was a far better kind than the Curse of Blockade.
At least it wouldn’t hinder her in battle.
“You go and find it. I’ll hold them off.”
Angela nodded silently.
Once the task was set, there was no space for hesitation.
Thud!
Angela immediately leaped outside and widened her senses.
Malicious magical energies felt throughout the mansion.
Among them, she focused her senses on the location where a strange energy was detected.
‘Divine Power.’
A warm energy approached from not far away.
“…That’s the spot.”
Behind a rock right next to the waterfall.
She spotted the pink-haired saint in the midst of offering prayers for a blessing.
Buzzing!
A swarm of moonlight gathered around her sword.
Slash!
A beam of moonlight shot from Angela’s blade.
Rapidly thrusting toward her.
“…Oh.”
The hands of Lienna, who had been clasped together in prayer, unfurled.
“Yet another… intruder.”
The face wearing a black eye patch turned towards Angela.
Her line of sight was certainly blocked.
‘…What is this?’
Angela sensed it.
The gaze beyond that eye patch.
The eyes that contemplate all things.
Swish!
In an instant.
The moonlight strike shattered like glass.
“I’m… not feeling so great right now.”
Her pink hair fluttered in the wind.
“What is the divine wind? Who follows the divine will… Now, who is the divine one, I wonder?”
Muttering incomprehensible words.
Angela gulped.
“What are you…?”
“Ah…! Humans are so weak! Without something to rely on, they can’t survive! What should I believe in now?”
Lienna shouted as she shook her head.
Angela genuinely thought.
‘Is she crazy?’
It was a quite severe disrespect toward the Saint of Prophecy.
But right now, she seemed mad to anyone who looked.
“I still don’t quite understand. So I wish you would give me the answer.”
“What?”
“Princess of Prophecy. Please tell me.”
Lienna clasped her hands again.
“The word from the divine that says to kill you… Is it truly the truth?”
Then she chanted in a voice infused with divine power.
“Holy One, Creator, grant us the Guardian to protect Your creation.”
“O sacred Eye that records all, look upon the world.”
“Swing the sword that judges foolish enemies.”
“Wise giant, trample upon ignorance.”
Four blessings.
Were woven together as one.