The Academy's Weakest Became A Demon-Limited Hunter

Chapter 323: Winged Heavenly Being Subjugation (11)

Veronica left a will stating that she would follow the stars to cast off falsehood before ending her own life.

And upon reaching the Icy Lake, she found true value in contributing to the defeat of the Evil God.

She had determined that true value lied in helping me.

“I see...”

I bowed my head.

I felt grateful and sorry for Veronica.

However, I didn’t want to waste time consumed by sadness. As the questions about Veronica were resolved, another question arose.

I raised my head and pointed to my face with my index finger.

“Then let me ask this. Why did I transmigrate into this body?”

[The term transmigration is nice. It’s just that the man named Isaac happened to best meet the conditions.]

Stella projected two images into my view.

One was of me studying beside a mountain of books in a goshitel in Sillim-dong.

The other was of a young Isaac studying alone in a solitary room, just as I had in the goshitel.

[To transfer a soul, the form must correspond to the physical frame to a certain extent. You may not fully understand, but placing a soul into another person’s body is a task that requires extremely strict and intricate conditions. Moreover, the target of your transfer needed to have been alive around the time of Nephid’s resurrection.]

Stella pointed at me.

[The body that satisfied both conditions belonged to none other than Isaac. Isaac was a classmate of Ian Fairytale at the academy. Moreover, your soul and Isaac’s body were such a perfect match that, with just a small adjustment, your soul could be adapted to fit into Isaac. The two of you had remarkably similar souls, almost like mirrors of each other.]

The scene projected in my vision quickly changed.

Atop a towering cliff, I saw the back of a boy wearing the Märchen Academy uniform. It was Isaac.

He softly smiled, saying, “Mom...” before falling from a cliff.

I walked to the cliff with Stella and looked down. Isaac had already disappeared into the rough, crashing waves of the sea.

[Even fate didn’t need to intervene. In any case, he was destined to take his own life before long.]

“Then Isaac’s soul now...?”

[I won’t go into specifics, but it’s just as you saw moments ago. Altering a fate voluntarily chosen would be akin to abusing power.]

For a moment, I couldn’t say anything.

As I bowed my head, Stella continued speaking nonchalantly.

[If there was one flaw, it was that he was the weakest at Märchen Academy... But such details are ultimately irrelevant.]

Once again, the view shifted to the center of the universe.

[More importantly... there is one fatal flaw in my plan.]

“A flaw?”

I looked at Stella.

[The issue is that we cannot fully grasp the power of the Evil God Nephid.]

Scenes from the game I had dearly missed, ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, appeared in the air.

They all depicted the final Chapter, the decisive battle against the Evil God Nephid.

“The patterns of the Evil God in the game are fake?”

I wasn’t surprised.

I had already anticipated this after hearing Dorothy’s story in the first loop, so I just asked to confirm.

[Yes. It only reflects the limited information we managed to gather and the predictable attack patterns of the Evil God. And besides, a game is just a game. It’s designed to be beatable. While the existing enemies didn’t need exaggeration, Nephid was a different story. I assure you, Nephid is far stronger.]

The exact attack patterns remained unknown, but the reality was that she was absurdly strong... that was the point. @@novelbin@@

“Why can’t you figure out Nephid’s patterns? Don’t you have the ability to see the future of the world?”

[Because I can’t see the future from the moment Nephid appears.]

“What?”

[Nephid has obscured all future events from the moment she appears. If someone like me tries to interfere with that, we’d be consumed by the Authority of Godslaying. That’s why I can’t do anything about it.]

I hadn’t realized it in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, but the Authority of Godslaying was absurdly broken.

Essentially, Nephid was a munchkin when it came to fighting other gods.

I felt like I truly understood why the gods were desperately using humans as pawns in their game.

However, I still had a lingering question.

“But I’ve already faced Nephid once. You must’ve figured out some of her attack patterns by now, right?”

The gods’ game against the Evil God Nephid was intended to have a second loop from the start.

In other words, Stella should know what happened during the first loop.

[It was difficult to fully understand.]

“Why?”

Stella changed my view to show scenes of my battle against Nephid during the first loop.

Even with the slightest wave of its fingers, the Evil God left me utterly powerless, unable to do anything but be at her mercy.

[You were defeated miserably. Surviving was the best you could do. Knowing that would happen, we had planned from the start to use the first attempt as a stepping stone.]

The first loop was merely a catalyst for the second.

“...Then what about the mid-bosses or minions?”

[They were at a level similar to what we expected in the game. The issue was the Evil god.]

“...”

[Ultimately, time was reversed to the past through the power of Lucifer, the demon who governs the Icy Lake. The souls of the dead, the fairies, Ozma, and even past fates were all returned, except for the Icy Lake itself, which Lucifer controls. At that time, I stayed here and had many conversations with Dorothy Heartnova.]

It was Dorothy’s story from the first loop. I had already realized this after listening to her story.

In any case, Dorothy from the first loop stayed at the Icy Lake and became exempt from the regression, making her a separate entity from the current Dorothy.

So even if I had died, time would’ve been reversed.

When I thought the Status Window was just a Status Window, I assumed survival was a condition for regression.

The misunderstanding was cleared. During the first loop, Ozma merely counted down to when Lucifer’s regression ability would activate.

It was probably to convince me to begin the second loop.

[Yes. But opportunities aren’t infinite. No... this is practically the last chance.]

“Why?”

[If we fail this time, the situation will revert to how it was during the first loop. Actually, no, if it were just that, it would be fine.]

Stella let out a quiet sigh.

[The biggest problem is that Nephid is highly likely to recognize Lucifer’s power. If Nephid learns the timing of Lucifer’s power activation, she can overcome it with the Authority of Godslaying. Essentially, the chances of defeating Nephid in a third attempt approach zero.]

In other words, if we failed to defeat Nephid this time, there would be no more chances.

“I see...”

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and then voiced a sudden question that came to mind.

“What would’ve happened if Ozma had taken my body during the first loop?”

[It wouldn’t have mattered. Time would’ve reversed, and you would’ve regained your body anyway. But if it were taken this time, the consequences would’ve been disastrous.]

“That makes sense...”

Ozma probably didn’t display [Divinity] in the Status Window during the first loop.

Because even if I couldn’t recall much of the first loop, she would have heard in advance from Stella that I would recognize the second loop.

She must have been cautious to avoid any circumstances that might arouse even the slightest suspicion.

Not to mention, it was only after encountering something like Daikan did I realized it was the second loop.

In the first loop, the Status Window must’ve simply fulfilled its role.

The more I think about it, the more astonishing it was. I somehow managed not to trust the Status Window.

Without Dorothy’s warning in the first loop, I might’ve already had my body taken over by Ozma.

Of course, sending a message to me through Dorothy and stopping Ozma was all part of Stella’s plan.

As long as I kept my reasoning intact, it was only a matter of time before I stopped trusting the Status Window.

“So, in the end, it’s impossible to face Nephid using only game knowledge, right?”

Stella nodded.

It all came down to me.

“...Stella. Did you know I would make it this far?”

[No, I can’t see the future here.]

“No, let me rephrase that. Did you trust me?”

[...To be honest, it was highly risky, and the chances of failure were very high, so I couldn’t be certain it would work out. That’s why I want to thank you repeatedly. Thank you for surpassing the impossible.]

Stella bowed her head to me, but I had no intention of accepting her thanks.

“The Creator you mentioned.”

Stella raised her head and looked at me.

I met her gaze once more.

“Is that your Higgs representative, ‘Dante’?”

Stella answered with a smile.

So it was true. Just as I had expected.

I voiced the question that had weighed on my mind the most.

I was just an ordinary person.

Stella held a gentle smile at my question.

[There’s no complex reason. Among those who played ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ diligently, you stood out as someone who wouldn’t break. I can discern such things. While secondary factors like good nature were considered, the most important trait was unwavering determination. That’s why you caught my eye more than anyone else.]

“...I see.”

The reason was so simple that it left me feeling deflated.

My vision shifted again, and the scenery of the Icy Lake came into view.

It signaled that all the necessary conversations had concluded.

Stella turned her back.

[If you have no more questions, our conversation ends here. Naturally, if you succeed in defeating the Evil God, I promise to reward you generously for your efforts. Well then...]

“Wait. I still have something to say.”

Using [Ice Generation], I created an ice chair and sat down.

I wanted to smack this god who used me, but I barely managed to hold back the urge.

“Let me ask you something. If Ian uses Domain Expansion on Nephid, what would happen? If you’re not sure, a prediction is fine. Be specific.”

[...Why do you ask such a thing?]

“I have a favor to ask.”

For a while, I explained my thoughts and conveyed my request to Stella.

After hearing my story, Stella stared blankly for a moment before bursting into laughter.

[Kuhuhu... Hahaha! Kekeuk, Hahaha!!]

Stella burst into laughter as if she genuinely found it amusing.

[Ah, what an amusing thought...! Only a weak, fragile human, one who lives by clinging to a group could come up with such an idea! Even the power you seized with every ounce of strength you had is nothing more than a mere tool to you!]

Stella shouted, spreading her arms wide in excitement.

[Human, I salute you!]

With a smiling face, Stella approached me and placed her hand on my head.

After softly flowing a small amount of mana into my head, Stella withdrew her hand.

[I will fulfill that request, even at the cost of my life. I am truly glad I chose you.]

“I don’t think I need to say it, but I don’t like you.”

[I understand your anger toward me. If it means succeeding in defeating the Evil God and protecting everyone, I’ll gladly accept that anger.]

Stella closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against my head.

[Mr. Han Seong Ho, may the blessing of the stars be with you.]

As soon as I blinked, Stella disappeared.

I stood up from the ice chair. Now that the conversation was over, it was time to return.

I raised my head and looked at the massive demon bound atop the distant altar.

I spoke to him.

[Lucifer. Let me ask you something. I already knew you’d turn back time when the destruction of everything began. You seem like a traitor to the demons, so why did you stop following the Evil God, even after things reached that point?]

I was curious.

Why did Lucifer, a demon, rebel against the Evil God?

Lucifer’s many eyes stared at me, and his will was conveyed into my mind.

To become virtuous.

[Virtuous... What does that even mean?]

Even in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, the reason the treacherous heavenly being Vuel sought to overthrow the heavenly gods was to become virtuous.

However, the virtue Lucifer spoke of was likely different from the kind Vuel pursued.

Virtue is purity. Something sublime. Thus, it is to prevent destruction.

[You’re a demon. You must have the instinct to slaughter, so what made you adopt such a mindset?]

The act of following instinct is inherently meaningless. This body before thee is the evidence of mass slaughter. This one fought against the Evil God, not because of instinct, but to pay for the sins this body has committed and recieve eternal punishment. Fret not, one day, this body will be born as a virtuous being, and in the midst of this body's torment, this one shall constantly mediate and uncover the sublime truth.

Lucifer’s resolute will came through to me.

He had abandoned his instincts and chosen to be sublime.

Thus, he was atoning for his sins and opposing the will of the Evil God Nephid.

[I see. I understand now.]

Bearing Lucifer’s will, I spread three pairs of cold wings and soared.

***In front of the elevator leading to the Icy Lake.

Hades, the Nether King, who had been waiting for news of Isaac, suddenly felt a chilling mana and assumed a battle stance.

Something was rising from beneath the ground.

Booom!!!

Breaking through the immensely thick ground, a man with silver-blue hair soared into the air, unfolding three pairs of icy wings.

Hades narrowed his eyes. The man before him was grasping a fragment of omnipotence.

Isaac.

He floated in the air, surrounded by a cluster of stars, staring coldly and cynically at the Nether King.

[This one hath been waiting for thee, Ice King.]

From the golden halo trailing behind the Nether King, dozens of massive arms extended.

The absolute divine arm, [Heaven’s Hand]. This was the King’s ultimate authority.

The Nether King’s sharp eyes gleamed with intent, targeting Isaac.

“...I appreciate it.”

In response, several transcendent light blue halos appeared behind Isaac.

A half-moon of ice, cradling starlight, was formed above his head.

Isaac’s eyes were dyed with a mystical blue light.