Full-Scale War
Within the ruins bordering the shore, shouts, screams, metallic clashes, explosions—all manner of sounds ran rampant.
That was how fiercely the two camps, Hunters and villains, were clashing without either side giving an inch.
The Battle Demon Seo Jeongjin and the heads of the Ten Great Families, as well as Tacheon and two of the Six Demons, were no exception to that tide.
As representatives of their respective camps, they collided violently without interference from anyone.
Then Tacheon spoke.
“Shall we end the battle of wits here?”
“…”
“From what I can see, you cannot go all out for fear of causing damage to the surroundings. How about we change the battlefield?”
“…Where are you suggesting we go?”
Cracking Tacheon’s barrier, Seo Jeongjin asked as if humoring him.
Tacheon rolled his red eyes.
“There is the sea right beside us, is there not? There, both you and we should be able to fight at ease.”
“…What are you scheming?”
“Scheming…? I merely wish, in all seriousness, to bring you all down. Only then will I save face before my subordinates below, and above all, before the people of the world.”
“…”
“Or are you afraid? Afraid that, by some chance, you will suffer what I suffered in the last war. Back then, deceived by you and your predecessors’ tricks, I was trapped inside a Gate hidden beneath the sea. I was drowned just like that.”
So perhaps I might be holding a grudge, and attempt to retaliate against you in the same way.
I can see why you hesitate!
They say a thief sees thieves everywhere…
Tacheon sneered mockingly.
Seo Jeongjin answered.
“Fine, let’s go. But…”
Not on your own feet.
Swallowing the rest of his words, Seo Jeongjin immediately twisted his body to the side.
At that moment.
───!!
Min Hwiseong, who had been hiding within the smoke he had been puffing up with his pipe all this time, unleashed the magic he had prepared.
Tacheon hurriedly tried to defend, but Oh Jinhyeok and Yong Suhwan interfered.
The Double-Axe Chu Jonghyeon and Moonshadow Sword Mo Hwidam, who had recently been selected as Six Demons, tried to protect him, but it was no use.
Do Yeik, Kwon Haeil, and Ham Seokgyo blocked them.
And so.
“Keuhuk!”
Struck by the magic, Tacheon’s feet lifted off the ground, and he flew toward the sea.
He rolled across the surface of the water.
Soon, standing upon the water, he spat out thick blood.
By then, Seo Jeongjin, the heads of the Ten Great Families, Chu Jonghyeon, and Mo Hwidam had gathered.
“We saved you the trouble of coming this far, so be grateful to us.”
“You could have sent me a little more politely…”
“Are you all right?”
Wiping the blood flowing from the corner of his mouth,
Tacheon was so dumbfounded that he burst into a hollow laugh.
He revealed his aura.
His red eyes shone.
“You were not the only ones holding back.”
From that moment on,
those who had made the water’s surface their battlefield no longer held back their strength.
Ripples and spray rose endlessly, and columns of water shot high into the air.
The scattered droplets rained down, soaking their bodies and occasionally blocking their vision.
Aiming for that very instant.
“My apologies.”
Eun Homin, head of the Snow Spear Eun family, thrust his spear toward Kwon Haeil.
Feeling the killing intent and turning back, Kwon Haeil’s face was soaked in bewilderment.
However.
“So it was you after all.”
“…!”
Muyeong, head of the Hidden Shadow Yu family.
He, who had remained hidden until now without taking part in the full-scale war, deflected the spear’s trajectory with his twin swords.
Startled, Eun Homin doubted his eyes.
Before he knew it, Do Yeik, Cha Seoyun, and Nam Sieon had surrounded him.
Only then did he realize.
“You had already noticed. Since when?”
“We became certain after the Future Festival.”
“I see.”
At Muyeong’s answer,
Eun Homin let out a bitter laugh.
Do Yeik asked as if lamenting.
“You were always an upright man. So why did a man like you turn traitor? For what reason?”
“That is precisely why I turned traitor. Because I wanted to grow endlessly stronger.”
“…”
“But with a human body, there is inevitably a limit. That is why…”
“You chose to abandon your humanity? By betraying us and becoming a demonic human? Just when did Tacheon win you over!”
“It was after the incident in which the Demon King descended upon the Oh family, when we became aware of Tacheon’s resurrection and convened a meeting. At that meeting, did Tacheon not appear and invite us to change sides?”
“It was from then?”
“Yes. Thanks to that, through him, I was transformed into a demonic human…”
Eun Homin released a dense killing intent.
At the same time that his eyes turned red, he began to transform into a demonic human.
“And was able to be reborn as one of the Six Demons. I am the last of the Six Demons, the one who has remained unknown until now.”
“You fool… What do you intend to do about your family…?”
“To me, no longer human, my family has no meaning anymore. Nor do I feel any guilt. And what is there to worry about? If we win, my family will benefit anyway. Should they not be grateful to me instead?”
His skin charred black and his body grown younger, Eun Homin jeered.
Immediately after, he charged at Do Yeik.
Do Yeik could not avoid a bitter struggle.
Meanwhile, Eun Homin’s betrayal made the battlefield even more complicated.
For Tacheon, it was an opportunity.
“Did I not say so earlier? That perhaps…”
I might be holding a grudge.
Tacheon’s lips split wide.
At that very moment.
Swaaaak, swaaaak!
The surface of the water heaved violently.
Seo Jeongjin and the heads of the Ten Great Families, whose attention had been occupied by Tacheon and the Six Demons, only then realized it.
An ominous aura was rapidly rising from beneath the sea.
Before they knew it.
Whhhhiiiieeeeeaaaooooo!!!
“…!”
A Rank 6 monster, Demon Grampus, leapt above the surface of the sea.
Turning a somersault in the air, the creature held an artificial Gate in its mouth.
One that shone an ominous black.
“It is the very Gate with which you trapped me!”
As shock spread across Seo Jeongjin and the heads of the Ten Great Families,
Tacheon shouted in ecstasy.
“This time, let us suffer it together!”
Before Seo Jeongjin and the heads of the Ten Great Families had any chance to respond,
the whale with the artificial Gate in its mouth crashed down upon those standing atop the water.
Black light swallowed them.
[You have entered a Gate.]
[Black: Cradle of Calamity]
[The攻略 conditions are as follows.]
[Subjugate all monsters.]
* * *
At that time, Geumgang Academy.
Tacheon had raided the grounds together with the Child-Skin Song Yejun and the villains of the Villain Alliance.
Their objective was to infiltrate the spirit veins with specially modified Soul Seekers.
“The Springlight, Silverlight, and Azurlight Lakes, known as scenic spots of Geumgang Academy. The centers of these three lakes are precisely where the flow of spirit veins is most active.”
Looking up at the pillar planted in the ground, where the Soul Seeker eggs were stored,
Tacheon chuckled.
“If this pillar digs into the bedrock and reaches the spirit vein…”
The pillar that touched the spirit vein would vanish, and the Soul Seeker eggs stored within would mingle with the flow of the spirit veins.
And the Soul Seekers born from the eggs would spread throughout every spirit vein in the academy city and draw the magic circle.
The foundation of the magic that would realize his long-cherished wish, using the entire academy city as a sacrifice, would be complete.
Tacheon could not help but look forward to it.
He eagerly awaited that moment.
But contrary to his wishes.
“Hoho… Sealing magic, is it?”
“That’s right. Sealing magic that stops time in this area.”
The pillar could not dig into the bedrock.
It had been halted by So Hyeyul, the chairwoman of Geumgang Academy.
By her, known as the Star Witch.
Furthermore, Hunters, instructors, and students were also revealing their presences on all sides.
Taking his eyes off the pillar, Tacheon muttered in displeasure.
“I felt this before as well, but… how intriguing. Do you have someone with prophetic abilities? It seems you knew we would appear and prepared in advance.”
In order to accomplish his objective,
it seemed he would have to defeat the intruders who had appeared far earlier than expected.
Tacheon furrowed his brow.
Meanwhile, the people surrounding Tacheon and the Villain Alliance were burning with fighting spirit.
“I thought it might happen, but they really did come. How on earth did that kid know…?”
“I know. It’s fascinating. How could he have known their movements in more detail than even I did?”
“What does that matter? Thanks to him, we were able to respond at just the right time. I’m glad we’re not late this time. At last, I’ll be able to play an active role.”
“Everyone, do not let your guard down. The enemies are villains who do not hesitate to kill.”
The Seven-Colored Witch Hong Yena, sighing as she prepared for battle.
Yu Noeul, gripping two daggers in a reverse grip.
The Punishment Sword, Su Hoguk, raising the corners of his mouth.
Oh Seungah, chief secretary to the chairwoman, summoning a contracted demon above her arm.
With them at the forefront, the instructors and Hunters stepped forward to subdue the villains.
Meanwhile, the students also moved.
“Move strictly according to instructions! Third-years, forward! Second-years, protect the first-years, and first-years, support the battlefield from the rear!”
“I’m glad my stomach isn’t showing yet. To think they dared invade our academy—I’ll show a side of myself my baby won’t be ashamed of.”
“My blood is boiling. I’ll make every last one of those bastards kneel at my feet. Those in the swordsmanship track, follow me!”
“We’ll be getting scout offers once we advance to third year anyway, so this is a good chance to earn some merit.”
“Eunsol told me not to go home and to just stay behind, so I stayed… and it was because of this. Just my luck…”
Eun Suhyeok, now the former student council president, commanded the students.
Seong Dasom cast buffs on them while personally stepping onto the battlefield herself.
No Hyowon of the Crimson No family charged aggressively at the enemies.
Oh Junsik of the Black Demon Oh family struck at the enemies’ blind spots from behind.
And Cha Eunseo of the Circulation Cha family, though grumbling, did her utmost as a spirit master.
“What do you think mere students like you can do? Your courage is commendable, but that is all. If you don’t want to die, you had better step back. This is a real battle.”
Song Yejun snorted.
He aimed his staff at Eun Suhyeok and No Hyowon.
A spark flared.
At that very moment, without warning.
Kuo-o-o-o!
“…!”
With a fierce roar reminiscent of a lion,
blue lightning came flying in.
Immediately canceling his casting and letting the lightning graze past him, Song Yejun turned his head toward the forest.
There.
“You seem to be the one who doesn’t know this is a real battle. Running your mouth so leisurely.”
The Lightning Flower of the Divine Sword Do family, Do Sieun.
Wearing the uniform of the Regulus Clan, she revealed herself.
Song Yejun narrowed his eyes.
“…Seeing as you fired a Blue Thunder, you must be from the Divine Sword Do family. I heard one woman who graduated from the academy this year possessed considerable skill. Her alias was, if I recall, Lightni…!”
As if she would not even give him time to speak,
Do Sieun immediately moved through space and approached Song Yejun.
She swung the Suyeon Sword.
“How on earth…!”
“What good would knowing do? You’re going to die here today anyway.”
Song Yejun shouted in astonishment.
The answer came from somewhere else.
“My alma mater is in danger. As a graduate, I can hardly stand by and watch.”
The Fifth Prince of the Grace Empire, Mikhail Grace.
Having received word from Do Gyeonu in advance and secretly entered the academy city, he snapped his fingers.
Each time he did, Do Sieun crossed in and out of subspace, threatening Song Yejun.
In that manner,
battle unfolded with Geumgang Academy as its stage.
Meanwhile.
“By the way, I do not see the Thunder Cat. I had been waiting for his answer, no less… I doubt that child would have grown frightened and run away… Just where is he?”
“My, are you looking elsewhere right now? You should save those thoughts for after you defeat me.”
Facing So Hyeyul in battle, Tacheon could not help but feel puzzled.
* * *
By now,
Tacheon, Song Yejun, and the villains would have attacked the academy.
Even so, I was not worried.
‘I’ve taken every measure I can. The chairwoman and the others will hold them off. As for Haemong-dong… In the game, it was only mentioned in passing, so I don’t know the details, but there’s probably no need to pay it much attention. In any case, the result of the full-scale war is decided by the result of clearing the final episode…’
Because I trusted them,
my friends and I, along with Kwon Boram, Baek Jimin, and the members of Shield and Sword, were able to head to Heartland.
Because, according to the game’s progression.
‘After completing his objective at the academy, Tacheon activates the magic to fulfill his long-cherished wish at Heartland.’
In the game, regardless of the outcome of the battle that unfolded at the academy,
Kang Hanbyeol’s party unfortunately fails to stop Tacheon’s plan to spread the Soul Seekers through the spirit veins.
What’s more.
「Tacheon」
―Oh… The Platinum Grace, is it? And yet, unlike the Platinum Grace I know, it exerts a mighty power. To interfere with space and time to this extent… It is an ability I greatly covet for the fulfillment of my long-cherished wish. Princess of the Grace Empire. It seems you are different from the royals whose blood has thinned over generations.
Taking an interest in Lisa’s Gift, Tacheon kidnaps her.
And in doing so, he provokes Kang Hanbyeol.
「Tacheon」
―Young Battle Demon. You can never defeat me. You and I have lived through different spans of time. If you had grown a little more, the outcome might have been different.
「Tacheon」
―Even so. If you truly wish to stop me, if you wish to save this child, I shall grant you one more chance. I intend to fulfill my long-cherished wish from the highest point of Heartland. So come, if you dare. But when you do, you must be prepared to die.
And so.
The true decisive battle of the final episode takes place not at the academy, but in Heartland.
‘That’s why we’re heading to Heartland without them knowing. To disrupt the ritual Tacheon must have prepared there to fulfill his long-cherished wish.’
Does Tacheon know?
That his main base is now exposed to the risk of being raided?
I raised the corners of my mouth.
At that moment, Lisa furrowed her brow.
“Gyeonu, what are you thinking about that makes you smile so wickedly? I get nervous every time you do that…”
“Are you saying you don’t trust me? You really shouldn’t be like that… If anything, you should be thanking me.”
“What? Why should I?”
“There’s just something.”
“Why are you stopping there? Now I’m curious…”
“You don’t need to know.”
“Boo. Is that how you’re going to be?”
“Yep!”
Actually, if it weren’t for me, you were destined to be kidnapped by Tacheon.
No, not just this once—many times before now!
As Lisa puffed out her cheeks, I firmly held back what I wanted to say.
‘What am I supposed to do with her…? Even after the game’s story ends, it feels like she’ll get kidnapped often… Maybe I should kidnap her first before someone else does?’
Thinking something utterly absurd,
we ran through the streets of the academy city, which felt especially dark today.
Before long, Heartland came into view.
The decisive battlefield of the final episode.
I Became the Childhood Friend of the Mid-Boss