I’m the Slit-Eyed Character at the Academy, but I’m not the Mastermind

Chapter 263

The [One Flash] that swallowed up the surrounding light struck Balmonga.

Crack-!

Along with the sharp sound of wind, a blinding flash burst forth. It was so intense that I had to close my eyes.

"Arghhh!!"

A huge scream emerged from within the flash.

It was a terrible scream. The pain conveyed through his voice indicated just how much Balmonga was suffering.

It was unimaginable.

When I opened my eyes a moment later, I saw Balmonga lying on the ground, groaning heavily.

Ah, and Luna and Victoria were there too, mouths agape and showing no intention of closing.

"My goodness... I knew you were strong, but this is beyond imagination."

"Keke, thank you for the compliment."

"Such an amazing technique. Where did you learn it? From a demon, I suppose?"

"Not at all. I learned it from a human. A very remarkable human."

"Hmph~ If that's true, I'd love to meet this person someday. Someone who can create such a technique would be a great help in my quest for the throne... I mean, they might teach me something valuable. Oh~ Hohoho!"

Ignoring Victoria's desperate excuses, I glanced at Luna.

Maybe because her mother, Renia, was well-regarded, or perhaps she was reminded of her mother.

She was smiling slightly.

"Hmph! It’s certainly impressive. Though, only a bit better than me."

Luna let out a pleased hum, covering her mouth with her fist.

"Huff... huff... damn brats."

Come to think of it, I had forgotten about Balmonga. Of course, there was no need to worry.

‘He’s critically wounded.’

The rough breathing that shook his whole body, the cold sweat streaming all over him, and the numerous minor wounds indicated that.

The wound on his chest was the most decisive. Black blood was flowing continuously from the cracked chest.

I wasn't sure, but it seemed clear his HP had dropped below 20%.

‘As expected... killing him in one shot was too much.’

Using [Darkness], which doubles the final damage, would have allowed me to kill him in one shot.

But.

‘Suspicious, so suspicious, way too suspicious.’

Victoria, who was watching suspiciously from behind, essentially sealed off [Darkness].

When I first showcased [Darkness] against the demon Amonga in Area 1, Rezé's reaction was extremely negative.

‘I knew about the penalty of the [Darkness] skill, but the reaction was harsher than I thought.’

In this world, ‘black’ symbolizes ominousness.

Just emitting the darker light of darkness was surprising enough, but a slit-eyed person like me using it?

I’d be perfect for getting burned at the stake.

Especially here, with a group of clerics including Victoria.

Using [Darkness] would lead to an uncontrollable situation.

‘On the flip side, the reaction from black mages and demons would be fantastic.’

Narrow eyes and ominous aura. Just that alone earned me enthusiastic support, and if I showcased [Darkness]?

They might worship me as a god.

No joke.

‘Just look at Balmonga’s reaction.’

Not only did he act friendly, but he even thought we were on the same side.

Had I truly chosen to betray, I might have teamed up with Balmonga to fight Victoria’s faction.

This is that kind of game. And I planned to take full advantage of it.

Good and evil.

The key was to walk the fine line between them and reap the benefits. That’s how you play a ‘slit-eyed character.’

Anyway, using [Darkness] just to save one turn is something only a fool would do.

I had plenty of turns left, so there was no need to push it.

"Ugh..."

Balmonga, igniting his hand, moved it towards his chest. Then.

Sizzle!

"Arghhh!"

"Oh my..."

Victoria covered her mouth with her hand.

He cauterized his wound with fire to stop the bleeding.

"Huff... huff... to cause me such pain! I’ll kill you!"

Balmonga was extremely angry.

It was all because of Victoria.

"Victoria, you should take responsibility."

"Excuse me? What are you..."

"Isn’t it because you tormented the demon that he ended up like this?"

"...It was you who inflicted that wound."

"Keke, the wounds on the body are less significant than those on the heart."

Hmm, I said it, but it was a good line. Wouldn’t even a demon be moved by this?

"You traitorous scum! Not only did you wound my heart, but you also scarred my body! You’re the worst human I've ever met!"

Sure, whatever. Wait... He's talking about me?

This world is really harsh only to me.

Above all, it was unfair. I had rushed here to help Balmonga.

"Keke, it pains me too. How could you be so ungrateful to someone who came to help you?"

"...Really? Then was all that just an act? Betrayal is most deadly at the decisive moment. So, is it now? I’m ready."

Balmonga whispered in a low voice.

Yes, I certainly came to help Balmonga.

"I’ll free you from the pain of holy power."

"How?"

"By dying."

"Huh?"

"Virtue, temptation, competition, pain, holy power. You can be freed from all this pain by dying. I’ll help you."

"..."

Balmonga’s eyes turned cold.

I was offering to free him from pain, so why was he looking at me like that?

Balmonga opened his mouth wide and shouted.

"Are you mocking me? I’ll kill you right now!"

But despite his words, Balmonga couldn’t do anything to me.

Because turn 19 hadn’t ended yet.

And it was still our side's turn.

Boom!

Boom!

Rezé’s attack vaporized the fire bug.

‘Her accuracy is amazing.’

Still, the fact that the critical hits weren’t happening was the same, but eliminating all the fire bugs was significant.

"I’ll heal you!"

With Victoria’s shout, a holy light enveloped my body.

The representative healing skill of this game, [Healing].

The wounds I’d gotten from rolling around and the burns healed.

The HP I’d lost in Areas 1 to 3 was restored all at once.

Crackle-!

Luna was faithfully executing my orders. She pressured Balmonga from behind.

Of course, she stayed out of the [Fire Field] range.

"You, you insolent brats! Die!"

As we all finished our actions, Balmonga’s gimmick, [Fire Field], activated.

Whoosh-!!

"What’s with this fire...!"

"Zero! It’s dangerous!"

The flames were much stronger than before.

This was due to the second gimmick that activated when HP was below 50%.

The damage of [Fire Field], which had reduced total health by 20%, increased to 40%.

If the health is completely depleted, it results in the ‘stunned’ status and exiting the battlefield, a tricky gimmick for players who can’t afford to waste a turn.

Many players actually failed to manage their health and had their characters faint from this second gimmick, restarting the game even before fighting Mabelga.

"Kekeke, disappeared without a trace..."

"Phew~ It’s hot. This is what a sauna should feel like."

"This, this can’t be...!"

Balmonga was horrified. The flames were much stronger.

Yet I was casually strolling through them, approaching him.

[You have taken damage from ‘Fire Field.’]

[Your fire resistance is high.]

[4% of your total health is depleted.]

[Turn 20]

Hmm, my health decreased by 4%.

What an enormous(?) damage.

"This, this can’t be... How can you withstand my flames!"

That? Just fight Bineus head-on.

Of course.

"That’s impossible now that he’s dead."

"So it was you! You’re the enemy of our brotherhood...!"

No more words were necessary.

I lifted the sword I held with both hands high into the air.

Lucid Family Style, Fourth Secret Skill.

Sky Splitter.

Slash-!

A thin line appeared on Balmonga’s body.

And as I sheathed my sword.

Boom-!

His body split into two and fell to the ground, shaking the earth.

[You have defeated the Fire Demon Balmonga.]

[You have acquired the ‘Fire Essence.’]

[You currently possess the ‘Earth Essence,’ ‘Wind Essence,’ and ‘Fire Essence.’]

[Final damage +30% until the end of the Carpathia Defense Battle.]

After kneeling to pick up the Fire Essence, I pointed towards Area 4 and shouted.

"Ah! Over there is an incredibly handsome guy as good-looking as me!"

Victoria’s head whipped towards Area 4.

Confirming this, I placed my hand on Balmonga’s body.

‘Predation.’

Upon using the skill, a black energy seeped into my body.

[You have acquired the skill ‘Blessing of Fire’ through Predation. The grade is lowered to F.]

[Blessing of Fire: F]

When using fire-type skills, additional damage is inflicted.

When using fire-type skills, there is a chance to inflict the ‘Burn’ status on the enemy.

[Blessing of Fire].

A skill that adds damage to fire-type skills and can inflict the ‘Burn’ status, causing continuous damage.

It’s quite a good skill. Tier 2, if categorized.

However, there’s one small problem...

‘I don’t have any fire-type skills, do I?’

That’s right. I didn’t have a single fire-type skill.

The closest thing I had was [Demon Slave], but that was only usable when mimicked through Divine Imitation.

‘That’s a significant problem, not a small one. I’ve obtained a skill that’s practically useless.’

Though it might be useful in the long term, right now I was investing everything in the “Mabelga Strategy.”

It didn’t feel good.

Thud, thud-.

I extinguished the flames on my uniform one by one with my hand.

"Where’s the handsome guy you mentioned?"

"Keke, isn't he right in front of you?"

"Ugh! Cough, cough!"

As I pushed my face closer, Victoria coughed up blood. Hastily wiping her mouth with a handkerchief, she spoke.

"Sorry. I have a condition where I cough up blood when I see something harmful."

So my face is harmful, huh?

What’s wrong with my face! Narrow eyes are still human, you know!

"Hmm..."

Victoria muttered, looking at Balmonga’s neatly bisected corpse.

"The more I see, the more impressive your skills are. As expected... Lord Adonis has an eye for talent."

"Keke, I was just lucky."

"Calling that clean strike lucky... do you think that makes sense?"

"The important thing is that my innocence is proven, right?"

"Innocence... Yes, slaying the demon certainly increases that possibility. But of course..."

Victoria's eyes, cold behind her handkerchief-covered nose and mouth, glinted chillingly.

"The possibility remains that you killed an ally to continue your spy activities."

[Victoria's favorability towards you has increased.]

[Simultaneously, Victoria has begun to suspect you.]

[Victoria holds the title of ‘Inquisitor.’ If suspicion levels rise, corresponding actions will be taken.]

[Current suspicion level from Victoria: 7%]

...Why does this keep happening?

--TL Notes--

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