“L-Lady Eltima, what are you saying…?”

Herote, standing beside her, seemed even more flustered than Luca.

For Eltima to ask Luca, just a mere first-year student, to travel with her and destroy the Devil’s Idols was an outrageous suggestion—even to Herote, who held her in great respect, it made her question whether Eltima had lost her mind.

“I am not joking. The power of the sky that Luca possesses is lethal to devils. If we use that, cleansing the Devil’s Idols would be far more efficient.”

“Even so…”

“Moreover, some of the continent’s top warriors will help Luca grow. Isn’t that alone valuable enough?”

She did have a point.

Right now might be uncertain, but at least in the original story, Heaven’s Door had gathered many of the continent’s strongest, including the protagonist’s master.

Just being trained by them would be of tremendous value.

‘Plus, there’s one more thing. Cleansing the Devil’s Idols means…’

Luca thought about the lore surrounding the Devil’s Idols and glanced at Eltima with a subtle expression.

Eltima gave a faint smile in response.

“Yes. You know, don’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

Only Herote seemed unaware of what was going on.

So, Eltima explained.

“All Devil’s Idols are created from artifacts, or objects equivalent to them. If you come with us, I’ll concede all artifacts that you are qualified to use among those we purify to you, Luca.”

“!”

At the word ‘artifact’, Herote’s eyes widened.

Artifact.

An item made directly by a god, or a thing imbued with a fragment of divine power.

Like the Dimension Core Milia possessed, these grant special powers to those qualified.

The problem: without qualifications, they are unusable.

‘Still, it’s an interesting offer. I know how to forcibly use artifacts anyway.’

The original protagonist had used several artifacts despite lacking qualifications.

Luca knew the method too, so the qualification requirement wouldn’t be a problem.

It was something else that mattered.

“I have no intention of quitting the academy.”

“Why not?”

At Eltima’s question, Luca replied flatly, as if it were only natural.

“I want to enjoy my school days.”

“Eh.”

It was Herote who was shocked.

She never considered Luca would give such an answer.

‘If power alone were my goal, I’d have already quit the academy and gone hunting for hidden opportunities across the continent.’

If he only cared about efficiency, that would be the better choice.

But to understand the original protagonist’s path and story changes affected by his actions, staying at the academy was better.

‘In the end, the original story made the protagonist the academy’s savior.’

A few villains were defeated because of that, but all of the protagonist’s companions, including the heroines, remained at the academy.

So, staying here was the best long-term decision.

“Hehe, I see.”

At Luca’s response, Eltima chuckled.

“True, if a student can’t enjoy student life, what’s the point of all this?”

“Thank you, but I’ll pass on your offer.”

“It’s alright. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable. Here—”

Eltima took something out of her pocket.

It was candy.

“It’s medicine crafted by a talented member of our group. I heard you were injured. This will restore your body without side effects. It even tastes good.”

Luca’s eyes sparkled.

‘Is this that overpowered candy for bratty kids?’

In the early part of the original, the restoration candy was an outright cheat item.

No matter what injury, it would heal you perfectly without side effects—a universal fix, so overpowered it was called ‘bratty kid’s candy’ and ridiculed.

However, it doesn’t restore lost life force—only physical recovery, and in the later stages, it becomes meaningless as most bodies transcend human limits and regenerate on their own.

“Thank you.”

Luca carefully received it with both hands.

“You’re not going to eat it right away?”

Seeing Luca not eating it immediately, Eltima looked puzzled.

Luca smacked his lips.

“I’m alright for now. I’ll use it later when I need it.”

“Saving it for later is not a bad choice.”

Eltima nodded and smiled wryly.

“I’d like to thank you once again. Thanks to you, we were able to completely wipe out the Demons’ remnants within the academy. If it had been just me, it never would’ve been possible.”

“… Our interests happened to align. They targeted me, and I wasn’t going to just let it happen.”

“Even so, thank you—for protecting this academy.”

Eltima gave her thanks, bowed once, and exited the infirmary.

Luca watched her go, then glanced at Herote.

“You’re not leaving?”

“Me? I haven’t even said what I came here for.”

“Then say it and go. I want to rest.”

Herote pouted at Luca’s bluntness.

“Why are you being so toxic? Do you hate me?”

“It’s not that. You know I’m not in the best shape right now. I just want to rest.”

“And that’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about.”

Herote leaned to the side as she spoke.

“Compared to when I first met you, your life force seems significantly drained. What happened?”

“… I fought those kinds of people. Of course I had to make sacrifices.”

“It was the same the other night. And that maid’s not here—are those two things related?”

At the mention of the maid, Luca’s eyebrow twitched.

“… What are you trying to say?”

“I’ll restore the life force you lost.”

“?”

According to Whistle, the life force Luca spent was innate—essentially, his lifespan.

And she’s saying she can restore that?

“You mean you’ll extend my lifespan?”

“You could see it that way.”

“It’s not a normal method, is it?”

Luca was calm.

Anything concerning life force was a divine taboo; if there was a way around that, it certainly wasn’t normal.

“I could restore it in my own way, but something new arrived recently. It looks interesting.”

“Something new? Ah…”

Luca looked confused, then realized what she meant.

It seemed to be about Miros and Donovan.

“There was a secret experiment in the past called Hyperhemia. They claimed it could miraculously expand a human’s maximum life force—something previously impossible. Not just in magic, it was a hot research topic in alchemy too.”

“Oh?”

“But when the experiment was exposed, most of those involved were executed. The survivors are all wanted fugitives now.”

At her words, Luca’s expression grew curious.

‘Could this be…?’

It sounded vaguely familiar.

‘What a coincidence. For this to align so perfectly with my plans…’

As Luca inwardly rejoiced, Herote continued, her voice becoming subtly enticing.

“So, would you help with my experiment? If it’s me, I can perfect it within the month the academy is closed. And I could achieve more than just restoring your life force.”

“It is an appealing offer, but I refuse.”

“You’re playing hard to get. Eltima’s proposal I can understand, but this should be a good deal for you too.”

Seeing Luca refuse again, Herote puffed out her cheeks.

“The result of that experiment was that giant, right?”

“Correct.”

Herote nodded as Luca half-closed his eyes.

“I don’t want to end up like that.”

Herote pictured Donovan for a moment, then nodded.

“True.”

It was honestly rather gruesome.

“But if I research more, I could develop it in a different form, right?”

“If you’re not sure, don’t bring it up.”

“Alright.”

Herote licked her lips.

‘Yeah. Turning such a cute kid into something that horrific is a crime.’

On second thought, it wasn’t a good suggestion.

Herote shuddered and said,

“If I use it well, I might be able to restore your expended life force. Is that not good enough for you?”

“Don’t worry about my life force. I have a solution.”

“Oh? Do you?”

At hearing there was a solution, Herote’s face lit up with curiosity—then she smirked.

“Heh. You always surpass my expectations. I guess you’ll manage just fine.”

“So, are we done talking now?”

“Eager to kick me out, aren’t you? I’m hurt.”

Luca was nearly issuing a dismissal.

Herote puffed out her cheeks again.

Seeing her, Luca made a sullen face.

“Is there something else?”

“Not really, but…”

“Then what’s the problem?”

If you have nothing to say—leave.

Logically, it isn’t wrong.

Still, Herote fidgeted.

“I just wanted to make small talk, that’s all.”

“Small talk? Why?”

Luca’s brow furrowed, as if he didn’t understand her at all.

Herote pouted at his response.

“Are you pretending not to know, or do you really not get it…?”

“Just go. I need to rest.”

“Hmph. What are you going to do alone?”

Shooting back as if sulking, Luca replied in his usual tone.

“Meditate.”

“… Fine. I’m leaving.”

At last, Herote stood.

As she was about to leave, Luca suddenly seemed to remember something.

“Can I ask you one thing before you go?”

“… What is it?”

Herote looked at him with some anticipation; Luca hesitated, then looked aside.

“If… If there was someone else inside your head, and that person had exhausted most of their strength, what would you do?”

“Someone else…?”

“Never mind. Forget it.”

When Luca cut off the question, Herote’s expression turned odd.

“Don’t tell me, that time… That wasn’t you, was it?”

“….”

Luca kept silent at her question.

Since he was quiet, Herote chose not to pry.

“Well, if it’s just an academic curiosity, having another person in your head would mean two minds in one body, right? In that case, it would probably be an independent mental entity. If it wasn’t sharing your mental strength originally, you’d have to wait until it recovers on its own. If two independent entities begin to share mental strength with distinguishing characteristics, the odds of merging increase between the two…”

Herote began explaining as if she were Ottbo himself.

Perhaps all mages explained things like that.

Luca cut her off.

“Wait. Can you say it simply so even a first-year in the Swordsmanship Department could understand?”

“I’m not sure I can make it any simpler than this.”

Herote rolled her eyes, then crossed her arms.

“There are two immediate options. Either share mental power—though it might result in merging—or wait for the mind to recover on its own.”

“… What if that mind is too weakened to recover by itself?”

“Then choose the first option, or else use an abnormal method.”

At the mention of an ‘abnormal method,’ Luca squinted.

“Like what?”

Herote elegantly waved her hand in the air.

A small glass ampoule materialized in her palm.

“This is pure, refined ego—a crystallization of pride created by those who once tried to forge a transcendent mind.”

————-= Clacky’s Corner ————-=

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep