Eleanor thought that she had worked as hard as anyone else.

Actually it was. It showed up in her grades as well as her outstanding skills.

she tried

as much as others. No, more than others.

But even that wasn’t enough.

‘I’m still weak for a while.’

she has no talent They say they have a special power that others don’t have, but they’re rotting it.

she had to try

I should have worked harder as I lacked talent. Because what she wanted was there.

‘decomposition… … .’

Her teacher, Oz, eventually left her alone and moved on.

Three things allowed him to stand next to him.

Sheep and Alexios. and cry

Two of them followed Oz, and one stayed.

Excluding emotions with people, it was organized only for efficiency.

‘Too broken… … .’

So I couldn’t protest.

I know how special Oz thinks of Arietta. Even so, I left her.

How would she protest?

What she can do, Alexios can do.

But she can’t do what Alexios does.

It’s clear who to take.

“I am weak… … .”

Eleanor thought as she watched the waves of tree monsters approaching.

Arrieta was doing what she had to do without giving in to being called a burden.

It spread the sanctuary and energized everyone.

Marie was not heartbroken by Oz’s words and became a wall.

A group of undead constantly standing up drew a line on the battlefield.

Ula saved people through sniping, and a shaman who came from the federation used magic to disintegrate the enemies.

then what is she doing

At most, he swung his greatsword at the hard bark.

That was the limit of her own abilities.

‘This isn’t it. This wasn’t what I was hoping for.’

she is becoming a burden No, not even Jim. She’s just an extra now.

Her teacher said something might happen that only she could do.

But her pride won’t allow her to just wait for it.

She must stand out.

You have to imprint your presence on everyone. I wanted to be the one who stands in front of them and leads them, not the one who shows up when they need it.

Didn’t I tell Justitia that I would become the sun instead of the moon?

“Be open.”

Eleanor’s specialness could not be very useful in this situation.

Her power exerts absolute compatibility with enemies who protect her body by spreading her power to the surroundings.

Because you can dye the spread power itself with your own power and use it as power. That means she can neutralize defenses, but at the same time, it means that she can handle the power itself.

And the stronger the force, the more this tendency increases.

The stronger you are, the greater the repulsive force will be, so preparing the power to protect yourself is fundamental.

Eleanor can become stronger as the opponent becomes stronger.

“The warmth of kindness!”

However, in the current situation, it is of no use.

The opponent is a monster that moves only by instinct. He doesn’t even know how to pour out the power he has, and he just bumps into his wooden body.

In front of such an opponent, Eleanor’s power is of little use.

“no… … . no… … .”

But is it really so?

Is it only that much that it is a power that even her teacher acknowledged?

It can’t be. Nor should it be.

So what she lacks is herself. It is the ignorance of not thinking deeply and rushing recklessly.

-What do you want to do?

Eleanor seemed to hear someone’s voice. At the voice that resembled her own, Eleanor spoke with her resentment.

“to everyone.”

Eleanor tightly gripped the greatsword, which began to emit a golden glow due to the [Understander’s Key].

“Who am I?”

Mana, morale, yogi and divine power drifting around the battlefield. Numerous forces collided and the scattered remnants were wrapped around the sword.

lack. It’s sorely lacking.

The holy woman’s sanctuary, the shrine maiden’s fog, and the spirits of the dead.

It would be enough if I took all of that and let it dwell in the sword.

“I want to imprint it.”

I didn’t want to do that.

She wanted to become a hero that would attract everyone’s attention, but more than that, she wanted to become a reliable person who led the way.

“therefore.”

A feeble force that remains dispersed in the air.

Eleanor began to understand the nature of that little force.

“For that!”

A golden glow soon enveloped her whole body.

There is a limit to strengthening oneself using mana.

There is a limit to what the body can accept. At her current level, she is infinitely weak.

That’s why Eleanor eroded.

By incorporating the characteristics of fraud into his body, he forcibly broke through the limits.

“It’s only natural to be sick!”

Eleanor stepped into an area that was impossible until now.

My body felt like it would tear from the oversupply of mana, but that was only for a moment.

Confusion began to set in over the sensation of pain she had felt.

As if to add to it, the divinity began to purify her body periodically so that she would not collapse.

mana and fraud. divine power and yogi.

Eleanor, who began to use that power organically, swung her sword.

“Even if we split up now, this will be my driving force!”

Snap!

Her sword cut through the body of the tree monster.

It was not broken with force and weight.

[Key of the Understanding]

in a way that is understood and used.

“next time… … . certainly.”

Accept the resentment and promise the following. The next one next to Oz will be her, not Alexios.

I will try to make it happen.

-If you want to.

The voice that came from inside her was getting clearer.

* * *

I thought Alexios would be enough to clear the road, but with the addition of the guardian, the white sheep, I felt that it was definitely easier.

No, it wouldn’t have been possible without it.

Because the waves were rougher and more intense than I expected.

If only the 2nd wave is like this, it will start to get out of hand in the 3rd wave, and in the 4th wave there will be a lot of victims.

fairy magic

[Will-O’-The-Wisp]

Install [Goblin’s Fire] in the center of the tree monsters that come again.

Exploding from the inside is more efficient than you think.

intermediate magic

[Fire Wall]

At my level, it is still the limit to connect intermediate level magic.

That’s enough for now.

“Whoa… … .”

It really runs endlessly.

There is room for mana, but the spirit is hard.

Due to the fact that the surrounding environment is a forest, I do not know when the tree next to me will turn into a monster, so my senses are on edge.

After all, going against the wave and crossing the forest is suicidal.

But the reward will be sweet.

If you can save Tia, who will be with the boss of ‘Outside Beings’, victory will be solidified with that alone.

Leaving aside the ＜Parade＞ and Janus issue, the situation will be dozens of times better than I knew.

“Oz.”

“Well?”

Alexios, who had been smashing wood monsters like chopping firewood with his bare hands, approached with a displeased expression.

“that.”

“white poplar?”

“Yeah, that one.”

Alexios pointed at the smiling white sheep at me from a little distance away.

“Was it really okay if I brought you?”

“Don’t you feel that you are helping your strength too?”

“Yes, it is.”

We were able to advance without a single wound thanks to Baekyang’s [Strong Step], which shielded our allies.

Even if the attack was allowed, it would have been only a scratch, but thanks to that, there was no consumption itself until now.

“Still, I’m judging that the situation is as dangerous as you asked me to be. But I’m asking if it was okay to bring him.”

“… … .”

Alexios’ argument is valid.

As a white sheep, it may be dangerous. No, it’s definitely not enough for her.

In the first place, it was something I could not guarantee. That’s why I decided to borrow Alexios’ power.

Considering the power of the enemies that appeared in the second half of the wave, the power of the World Tree itself is probably so threatening that you have to dodge all attacks.

Yes, avoidance is everything. It would be unreasonable for a white sheep to know if it was only the SSR-class guardians who followed.

“I am not stupid. Alexios. Do not worry about it. If you see the world tree, Baekyang will wait for you in a distant place.”

It is, after all, a matter of efficiency.

Even if there is some risk, I really wanted to succeed in this job.

“worry… … . Oz, I’m not worried about you. Because you are strong.”

“It’s out of the blue.”

I didn’t expect those words to come out of this child’s mouth.

“But is that guy like that too?”

“… … What are you talking about?”

“Because you’re strong, because you’re wise, because you’ve foreseen everything and planned that way.”

Alexios, who had been looking suspiciously at Baekyang, soon turned to look at me like a bird of prey.

“People’s worries don’t go away on the basis of such trivial things.”

“… … .”

“He’s the guy who followed me to this dangerous place for you.”

I move my gaze slightly and examine the figure of Baekyang.

I see her smiling lightly at me as our eyes meet.

It’s a very awkward sight when I think about it a while ago.

“If you are in danger. It could be him, not you, who will die.”

She stepped towards this limb for me. She must have hated me more than anyone else.

took a risk for me

“Be careful not to regret it. If you only look ahead, you won’t know what happened to the person following you.”

It was self-deprecating.

Those were words of Alexios’ regret. I’m talking about Lena’s work.

As before, Alexios feels responsible for Lena’s work. It is his self-help that abandoned his family due to his resistance to Oz.

“… … Because you tend to look too far.”

I know.

But I can’t help but see

Only my eyes can clearly see that this world is quietly heading towards destruction.

Turning your eyes there… … .

It seems impossible.

* * *

The night came after the second wave. We took advantage of that short break to take a break.

“Ugh. It might be a bit cold… … . What do you think?”

After sitting in front of a small bonfire, Baekyang quietly sits down next to him.

There was a smirk on his face, but with the addition of his unique purple eyes, it felt even bewitching. Are you thinking of playing a joke?

“Should I light the fire if it’s cold? There is so much firewood that it fills and overflows.”

“How about some other way? For example… … .”

Baekyang, who sneaked up on me, made a mischievous expression and then burst into my arms.

If he reacted casually, it would be what he wanted, so he didn’t show it.

I’ve already learned how to deal with trolls through Noah. If you react, you climb up.

“Actually, after seeing Noah doing this, I wanted to try it too.”

Baek Yang, who quickly returned to her normal smile, probably because she didn’t get the reaction she wanted, said with a wink in her eyes.

“Noah and you are in a slightly different situation.”

“Where are you going?”

That… … .

Will you get angry if I say volume?

“… … weight.”

Even so, I couldn’t speak frankly, so when I spoke in a fairly gentle manner, Baekyang started glaring at me with mischievous eyes.

It’s unfair because even if I just said it honestly, it wouldn’t have made much of a difference.

“… … I can understand why Oz-nim has never had a girlfriend.”

A phrase you hear often.

really… … . heard too often Anyway, am I that good enough?

“It could have been before, though. Aren’t you being too presumptuous?”

“Sure, I checked everything.”

When I said it in anger, Baek Yang took out a document from her bosom and fluttered it off as if it were funny.

Did you bring this kid again?

What good does it do to read it, which is full of malicious edits?

No, wait.

“… … Is there any record of my whereabouts before I entered Skientia?”

“Of course there is. I’ve scraped all the materials called data.”

“Give me.”

If that’s true, you’ll get more information than you think.

I was avoiding it because I thought it would be too suspicious if I asked ＜Tenebris＞, but it just worked out.

“I don’t like it. Are you trying to secretly burn it?”

“Do I look like that person?”

“Yeah.”

I saw people correctly.

I was going to burn it after seeing it, but it got caught.

well, that’s it Actually, I didn’t even expect it.

Even if I were to investigate the whereabouts of Oz anyway, there wouldn’t be any information I want there.

Since he’s thorough, he’s probably hiding everything that’s really important.

“Uh-huh, put your hands up.”

“Chit… … .”

I was lost in thought for a while, and then I put my hand on the button on my clothes.

No matter how goblin he is, how does he do the same thing as Noah?

The problem is that if what Noah does is cute, what this guy does is that even his hand gestures feel weird. It’s just more burdensome.

“I’m annoyed because I’m thinking of my sister-in-law because I’m looking at her complaints.”

You’re talking back here?

Are you that serious? The red hawk even cooperated in creating fairy magic to help you?

“… … When did you say the next wave would be?”

“Maybe tomorrow evening.”

“Did you say you were going to attack then?”

“yes.”

The World Tree has already been found. In the first place, we are camped near it.

I’m just choosing the timing.

As the wave progresses, the power of the World Tree will weaken.

And the bottom line is when the third wave begins.

The 4th wave can cause serious damage to allies, so if possible, you should hit it before that.

So if you start right after the 3rd wave starts.

After the trees near the World Tree jumped out of the vicinity due to Yogi and Will that colored the World Tree.

“Since Oz-sama is my benefactor, I will make sure to protect him. It’s a promise. Well, Kwon-nim, look at the situation.”

“… … yes.”

Baekyang giggles and leans more towards me.

I pretended to pat the sheep on the shoulder and deployed my magic.

fairy magic

[Lullaby]

Baekyang seems to be unaware of the fact that I am deploying magic, and is just wandering about like she likes it.

So, step by step, I put her to sleep, who doesn’t even have the slightest doubt because she trusts me.

“… … .”

I am her benefactor

He is the one who showed proof that humans and youkai can understand each other, which she has been working hard all her life for.

Even if I tried to deny it, I couldn’t deny it anymore.

If it wasn’t for her trusting me, there’s no way she would have been affected by this level of fairy magic.

“I am ready. Alexios.”

As Alexios said.

That when I’m in danger, she might die for me.

“… … It might betray trust.”

“Still, this is also the fastest and surest way. Hate to hate. I don’t care.”

So she leaves here.

The will of the monsters that would flock to the wave anyway would be to get away from the World Tree. It just destroys what it touches in the process.

So it will be fine here.

There are no trees around here, and considering the location of the World Tree, there are no monsters to pass through this area.

It would be okay if you put a blackout curtain so that your eyes don’t reach it and put a magic shield over it.

By the time she wakes up, the work will be over.

“Then shall we depart soon? The third wave will probably be around 7 in the morning. You have to prepare.”

“You are so good at lying. … … It’s so terrifying.”

“I can’t help it because I’m used to it.”

Yes, I’m used to lying.

Because in the first place, my existence was built up with lies.

So a little bit.

no, maybe all.

It might be a lie.