In the broken remains of the golem, someone cleared the debris and rose.
“Phew…”
It was Evan.
Stumbling forward with an exhausted expression, Evan approached Dannes who was collapsed on the ground and reached out a hand.
“Are you okay?”
At Evan’s question, Dannes slightly lifted his head to check and replied.
“…I’m fine. Thank you.”
Then he grasped the outstretched hand and got to his feet.
“What about the Saint…?”
“Aria probably flew off that way a while ago.”
She had been struck directly by that massive hand, so it was possible she had fainted. It was clear from the fact that she hadn’t shown up until now. Evan moved towards the direction where Aria had flown and smashed into the wall.
“Aria…!”
The girl wearing tattered Academy attire stained red with blood was stuck in a perfect position against the wall. Evan carefully pulled her out and laid her down gently.
Dannes approached, bent down, and placed a hand on Aria’s wrist, injecting divine power into her. After confirming her condition for a moment, Dannes spoke with a solemn expression.
“She has regenerated, but… it seems she fainted from the shock.”
“How are her injuries…?”
“Even I can’t say for certain, but… if she were an ordinary person, she would have been crushed beyond recognition.”
Hearing those words, Evan felt a pain in his head. The fact that he couldn’t prevent another death made him bow his head and cover his face with one hand.
If only he had noticed the golem’s presence before Aria… If only they had evaded the attack together, this wouldn’t have happened.
“I’ll carry her.”
Filled with guilt, Evan stepped in and prevented Dannes from picking up Aria and instead took her onto his back himself.
She was so small it was hard to believe they were similar ages.
‘This little body saved me last time… and again this time.’
Even now, Evan felt that Aria was truly amazing. No matter how many times she revived, she still felt pain when injured; yet, she didn’t hesitate to put her own body on the line to save others.
However, the times Aria threw herself into danger were mostly to minimize damage.
When the high-level demon attacked, she had no choice but to throw her body to create a barrier in time, and during the countless deaths at the half-assigned trial, she threw herself to return Albert to his original form.
This time as well, it was too late to say anything, so she had no choice but to throw her body to block the attack.
‘From now on, I won’t hesitate.’
If the opportunity arises, he would seize it.
He had lost too much due to a moment of panic.
He swore inwardly that he would never do that again.
As he walked towards the edge of the room while making that vow, a voice pierced into his mind.
[You have successfully overcome the Trial of Power.]
Startled by the voice, Evan looked up and glanced around.
At that moment, the dark room lit up, and candles lined the path before him.
The ground rose from below, revealing a hidden altar.
[Step onto the altar.]
Evan nodded his head in a daze at the voice.
“Dannes, I’ll…”
“…”
He then handed Aria over to Dannes and made his way towards the altar.
[The ceremonial inheritance will now begin.]
As those words were spoken, blue flames erupted from the candles on the altar, moving towards the enormous candle at the front of the altar.
Soon, a necklace hanging from the altar plunged into the roaring blue flames.
“This is…?”
What is this?
It was a type of flame he had never seen before, both in shape and color.
Yet, he could tell that these flames were extraordinary.
‘This feels like a power beyond comprehension…’
He sensed an unfathomable force radiating from those flames.
Whatever it was, he was certain that possessing it would grant him immense power.
And,
‘It’s moving…?’
As the flames gradually dwindled, that mysterious, colossal power seeped into the necklace.
Finally, as the flames extinguished completely, the necklace, now filled with power, emitted a blue light and floated above the altar.
[Complete the inheritance.]
Evan, still entranced by the voice, reached out towards the floating necklace.
As he did, the light emanating from the necklace completely vanished, and the intangible power that had been floating dissipated and fell below.
Evan easily grabbed the necklace and looked down at it.
After examining it for a moment, Evan adorned it around his neck.
“…?”
Nothing particularly changed.
He could still feel an incredible power emanating from the necklace, but even that started to fade gradually.
However, the voice stated that he had completed the inheritance and instructed him to exit the dungeon, and a massive light appeared right before him.
‘Whatever it is…’
It seemed he had successfully completed the Trial for now.
Evan turned his head towards Dannes, who was looking up from behind.
“Let’s go.”
It seemed wise to get out of here quickly.
“….”
Having moved outside the dungeon and on their way back to the Academy.
‘Why am I being carried by Evan…?’
Although she had fainted briefly from a strong impact, she had recovered quickly.
If she simply fainted from such a strong attack, how would her ability to revive shine in battle?
It seemed that even when taking a strong hit, she would only briefly faint, but wake up soon after.
However…
‘I couldn’t pretend to be awake given the situation…’
She had ended up pretending to be asleep by accident.
She intended to take a moment to wake up before Evan realized and kept fighting without her, but when she opened her eyes, she found herself being carried after he had already dropped the golem much sooner than she had anticipated.
Moreover, he was performing the ritual to inherit the necklace on the altar, so it felt a bit awkward to reveal that she was awake…
As a result, even now, she hadn’t been able to let them know that she was conscious.
‘It feels strange to keep pretending to sleep…’
She seriously contemplated whether to give even the slightest hint that she was awake.
Maybe she could mutter in her sleep or something?
After all, it wasn’t that she couldn’t speak; she simply hadn’t learned the common language of the continent due to her inability to acquire language skills…
She could probably just babble a few times…
‘How embarrassing…’
That was absolutely unacceptable.
She couldn’t do it out of embarrassment.
Damn it.
Who knew she would feel embarrassed over something like this?
Ugh!
“Do you know what that necklace is…?”
Huh.
While I was unconscious, was there no conversation at all between them? It seemed like they hadn’t completely ignored the idea of talking either.
“To be honest, when I first saw it, I thought putting it on would grant immense power right away… but it appears that isn’t the case.”
“What do you mean?”
“The power I felt the moment I put it on completely vanished, and now it’s just an ordinary necklace.”
“That’s… certainly strange.”
It was unavoidable.
That necklace is said to hold the spirit of a past Hero…
Since they hadn’t awakened their power as a Hero yet, the spirits remained dormant, causing no power to be felt.
If the spirits inside the necklace were to awaken from her awakening or an event significant enough to trigger her awakening, those spirits would assist her, making it easier for her to awaken.
In the game, that translated into an increase in experience gain.
Anyway, if she obtained that necklace now, she would awaken as a Hero much faster.
From now on, she would have to provide as much support as possible to ensure that happened.
Sigh…*
After a long time, she finally felt a sense of excitement.
Having been crushed under such a massive, overwhelming weight was something common in the realm… but it was a type of thrill she had forgotten while staying at the Academy for so long.
Evan had made a necklace for her, and she had found happiness again after such a long time, so it was a win-win situation.
As for Dannes… let’s just say it’s a sacrifice for the greater good.
She felt sorry for Dannes, but this was a necessary thing to do.
The difference between having that item or not as a Hero was immense…
As for her desire to raise Evan into a Hero as quickly as possible, this was unavoidable.
Haha…
‘When I get back, I should get some rest…’
Having enjoyed the thrill, she should get some good sleep once they return.
At that moment…
“I found you!!”
From somewhere, she felt a very familiar spirit and form approaching.
…
Huh?
“Huh?”
Had Evan also heard the voice? He turned his head toward the direction the sound came from, revealing his curiosity.
In the direction he looked, there was…
“Aria!!”
Stella, holding a staff in her hand, was flying through the air toward them.
…
Wait, why are you here…?
