Chapter 194: Lilith Eradication Operation (6)

“Haha. That’s……”

Dayle, who is in front of me, scratches the back of his head with an awkward expression.

Then he looks behind him.

‘……Rachel.’

She was there.

“Ra-Rachel?”

“Huh? Is it really her?”

“Where have you been, you idiot!”

The kids, who had spotted Rachel, ran over in a group.

“Kyahaha. Sorry, guys. I had to go out for a bit. Did you miss me?”

Rachel exchanged greetings with the kids, acting out her usual ditzy laugh.

However.

“What are you talking about? The Academy is in an uproar right now!”

“Why were you out? Was it because of your sister? Huh? Was it?”

“It’s okay. This Karina Zain will solve it for you! Just trust me.”

“……”

At the kids’ worry and comfort, which were full of sincerity, her frivolous laugh and fake cadet act were gradually hardening and about to crack.

Just as I thought I could see a hint of red in her eyes.

Her gaze moved to me.

At the same time, a melodious voice rang in my head.

[I have something to tell you separately.]

Hmm.

It seems she recognized me right away, even though I’m wearing a face mask.

‘How kindly must he have explained on the way here.’

Dayle, who received my gaze, flinches and hurriedly blurts out an excuse.

“Ahem. W-well, you see. Boss. I couldn’t help it.”

“What about?”

“She said her only sister in the world was dying. When I heard that, I couldn’t just ignore it, could I? We’ve received a lot of help from her, so we can grant her one request.”

He was right.

Because that’s the loyalty we emphasize.

However.

“What was my order, Dayle?”

“Um. Th-that is.”

“To be on standby and, when people come from inside, to open the barrier and let them escape. But? What did you just do? Is her request more of a priority than my order?”

Dayle bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, boss. It’s my fault. I was wrong.”

I had no intention of blaming him too much, so I left it at that and turned my body.

More importantly, things have gotten a bit complicated.

In that case, what happens to the Vice-Dean and Rodrig, who left first?

Since Dayle is here, they must be wandering around, unable to leave the barrier.

‘Damn it. I’m about to become a liar out of nowhere.’

It was too late to go back.

Sending Dayle back now was also dangerous because of the risk of them crossing paths.

‘It can’t be helped. I have no choice but to proceed as is.’

In any case, nothing changes.

Because the fact that Lilith must be dealt with quickly does not change.

Jabak-

It was then.

I felt the presence of someone approaching from behind me.

I knew without having to check.

“Did you say your goodbyes to your friends?”

“I did.”

Rachel, who had walked up to me before I knew it, lifted her head and met my gaze.

“I’ll be direct. My sister. Save her.”

I had already expected it, so I shook my head.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t grant such a request.”

“It’s not a request. It’s a commission.”

“A commission?”

“Right. The payment is the information about the cult that I’ve gathered so far. And the secret I held for the assassination of Bishop Lutus.”

It was a good offer.

Especially that secret.

Even I, a veteran of ‘Heroes of Frey’, still had no clue about that information, so I was just as curious.

“Actually, there was something missing, so I was out for the past few days to supplement it. And now it’s with Luis. I gave it all to him.”

“……”

So that’s what it was.

However.

‘Assassinating Bishop Lutus and saving her sister are clearly different problems.’

Because saving her sister is the same as saving a demon.

So my answer had to be the same.

“I’m sorry, but still──.”

“Keep listening! There’s more.”

“……”

“My life.”

Hmm?

“Are you joking?”

“Do I look like it?”

Rachel takes a step closer.

Clenched lips and unwavering pupils.

I could feel a firm resolve and desperation in her face.

‘Her life. Does she mean she’ll die in my place?’

From the atmosphere, it seemed she meant it that way.

Right.

I fully understand her sincerity.

I do, but.

“Even so, there’s no way.”

“Really? The person I’ve watched so far is a person who makes the impossible possible. And I have no doubt that you’ll do the same this time.”

“……”

“You have a way. Don’t you?”

Hmm.

I’m grateful that she sees me that way, but.

At this point, it was more than just pestering, it was a plea.

In fact, her eyes were bloodshot, as if they would spill tears at any moment.

She’s holding it back for now, but if I keep refusing the request, those eyes will pour out tears like a dam with its floodgates opened.

“……”

And in fact.

It’s not like there’s no way at all.

I hadn’t expected this situation.

I had just borrowed a holy sword, so I had wanted to borrow (steal) a vision as well.

At that time, that was simply my feeling.

‘If there’s a problem, it’s whether I can handle that power well.’

The vision I had borrowed (stolen) from Roland was [Judgment].

The very power of Uriel.

* * *

Angel.

As the representatives of the Lord, Max Obje, they are the beings who manage the current dimension we live in.

There are four angels in this world, and the setting book says that Uriel has the most ruthless and merciless nature among them.

Also, she is very interested in beautiful things, and is so obsessive that if she gets fixated on something, she must have it.

So I did borrow [Judgment].

But I doubt she would allow me to use her power, and even if she did, I thought she might demand something in return.

‘She’ll probably allow it. Since I’m dealing with a demon.’

The problem is the price.

According to the setting book, and judging from Roland’s case, she would surely want something in return for allowing me her power.

The problem is that I have no information, not even a hunch, about what that price is.

‘It wouldn’t matter if the price is something I can easily obtain. But it doesn’t seem like it will be.’

If she demands my eyes, like in Roland’s case, that’s a bit difficult.

Even so, the reason I borrowed [Judgment] among Roland’s visions is because it guarantees a certain performance.

In the unlikely event that the Lilith battle goes wrong, there is no more certain card of victory than this.

To put it simply, [Judgment] is a sure card of victory, but at the same time, it is also a final card whose risks are hard to gauge.

‘So I wanted to avoid using it if possible.’

Also, even if I use [Judgment], I can’t be sure if Reina can be saved.

The setting book did say that the flame of judgment, Uriel’s power, gives death to demons and life to humans.

But honestly, I don’t know.

If Reina can really be saved from that flame.

I’ve cleared ‘Heroes of Frey’ over dozens of times, but this was an experience I had never had before.

‘To grant Rachel’s request, I must use [Judgment]. But I don’t know what risks will arise, and I don’t know if Reina can be saved.’

I even thought of it as a gamble.

‘I’ve never received a request with an unknown outcome like this before.’

Looking at this, I have no choice but to admit that I have also grown fond of this Rachel without realizing it.

‘I shouldn’t have said anything to Dayle.’

I glance at Rachel, and she is still on the verge of tears, waiting for my answer.

‘I guess I have no choice.’

In the end, I made a decision.

I closed my eyes and let out a sigh, ‘huu-‘.

But did she think that was a refusal?

Starting with a single tear falling from Rachel’s eyes, she grabbed my sleeve and collapsed.

“Wait. A misunderstanding……”

So I was about to say that’s not it.

But──,

“Grant it!”

Yuria, who had popped out of nowhere, stood next to her and glared at me.

And not just her.

“Grant it!”

Karina Zain.

And even Ivan and Gwyn Gaiard.

I knew they were hiding behind the trees and peeking here.

But it seems Rachel didn’t know.

“G-guys?”

She looks up at the kids in surprise.

Looking at her, Karina’s eyes flash.

“Hey! Get up right now! A proud Academy hero cadet, kneeling to a thief, what are you doing!?”

“K-Karina……?”

“I said get up! Are you going to embarrass me too?”

Yuria helps her up, and Karina, who saw that, comes up to me and looks me straight in the face.

“How much is it?”

“What?”

“How much do you need to grant my friend’s request? I’ll pay. How much is it? Huh?”

Karina asked challengingly with an angry face.

“I’m Karina Zain. I have more than enough money. That’s what you want, isn’t it? Huh?”

“……What on earth are you talking about right now?”

“Ha! Playing innocent, are you? After trying to make a deal with someone’s life!”

What are you talking about?

“Didn’t Rachel ask you to save her sister?”

At Yuria’s question, I nodded my head.

“But you demanded money in return! How could you do that?”

“You chivalry-less cold-blooded bastard!”

“As expected. You were a villain.”

No, wait a minute.

The situation was so absurd that the fuse in my head blew out for a moment.

……So, to sum it up.

Are these kids misunderstanding that I’m refusing Rachel’s request because of money?

Did it look that way from a distance?

No matter how much I like money, I’m not that low.

I frowned and said.

“I think there’s some misunderstanding. I did not demand money.”

“What? Don’t be ridiculous! We saw it!”

“You saw it, but you didn’t hear it, did you?”

“That is……”

Karina hesitates, as if at a loss for words for a moment.

The other kids also seem to have noticed that something was strange and are observing the situation.

“……It’s the same thing! Don’t lie!”

“You’re the one who’s being stubborn. Hey, did I demand money?”

When I asked, looking at Rachel, Rachel, who was being held by Yuria, shook her head.

“N-nooo……”

Only then do the cadets, with a look of realization, blame themselves for their rashness.

I looked at them, especially at Karina, who had been the most impulsive, and opened my mouth.

“You’re acting like a scatterbrain without even knowing what’s going on. Do you have that much money at home?”

“Ugh.”

“Apologize to Rachel. Because of your actions, I almost changed my mind.”

“That’s not it, we…… huh?”

Karina, who was about to hurriedly make an excuse at my words, realized something was strange and tilted her head.

“I didn’t mishear that, did I?”

“I heard it too. He said he almost changed his mind.”

“In that case……”

The gazes of the five cadets turn to me at the same time.

“It might fail. Because it’s an uncertain method, that’s why I hesitated. Is that still okay?”

I looked at Rachel.

With her face a mess of hazy moisture and tears, she vigorously nods her head up and down.

“Alright. I’ll try my best.”

At the same time, tears burst out again.

“Thank you. Really…… really.”

Soon, the cadets, who were hugging each other and congratulating and comforting each other, saying it was alright, that it would be alright.

Leaving them be, I returned to where the professors were, and someone said.

“Thank you.”

It was Section Chief Baron.

……Right.

This old man was watching too.

“There’s nothing to thank me for. It’s not like I’m doing it for free.”

“There are those in the world who, despite having the power to help, use that power in bad places instead of where it’s needed.”

“……”

“I think of those people as villains.”

Was it a question that didn’t want an answer?

Section Chief Baron, after finishing what he had to say, immediately turned around and walked in the opposite direction.

“The plan must have changed. I’ll go and gather the professors.”

Staring at Section Chief Baron’s retreating back, I tried to decipher the meaning of the words he had just left behind.

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