Chapter 85

Imperial Capital Fracture (3)

Katya Heinkel Craven was absolutely fuming.

And clearly, so was Reaver, who was carrying her.

“Hey, puppy.”

[I’m not a puppy.]

“My friend and Lionhearted went out on another date again, puppy.”

[…I told you, I’m not a puppy.]

While the two exchanged this bizarre conversation, neither paying the slightest attention to what the other was saying, Reaver vaulted across the ceilings of buildings with terrifying agility, carrying Katya on his back.

In fact, it was more fitting to admire the fact that they could even hold such a casual conversation under these circumstances. Considering the level of monsters attacking them right now, that was no small feat.

There were so many that they completely filled the field of vision. Claws and beaks slashed, pecked, and dug into their bodies in real time.

Yet even as her entire body was being destroyed and regenerated over and over, Katya’s attention was clearly fixed on something else entirely.

“It’s just too much. He’s never once asked me to go out like that.”

She didn’t know what that meant exactly, nor why it bothered her so much, but the fact that he left her behind to spend time alone with Lionhearted irritated her to no end.

The divine power radiating from her hands made that sentiment all too clear.

Catastrophes formed at her fingertips and exploded outward.

Reaver may have deflected attacks like these in the past, but the problem was that Katya herself was practically a bundle of divine power. Every single one of her strikes was powerful enough to be considered a natural disaster. And each time she unleashed them in all directions, dozens to hundreds of enemies were reduced to ashes as if she’d set a swarm of insects on fire.

The number of monsters she and Reaver were incinerating in mere moments was staggering. Noel and Aiden—who originally wouldn’t have dared to move—were probably using this chance, while all eyes were drawn to her, to make their way to the Central Spire.

But Katya didn’t look pleased.

‘…There are way too many of them.’

She had no idea how many she’d already taken down, but they just kept coming, endlessly. What Aiden had asked of her—sure, she could handle that much. But if the goal was to get Aiden inside the Spire, this wasn’t nearly enough.

She had to burn brighter. Stronger. More fiercely.

[Katya, just hang in there a little longer!]

…But when she heard that voice from the communication stone hanging over her chest, her expression stiffened.

Because the person saying that wasn’t with her—he was with Lionhearted.

“…That doesn’t help.”

[Sorry?]

A puzzled response came back, but to Katya, it was only natural.

‘…I can help. I could be helping right now.’

But still… it just stung.

It just felt like she was always the one stuck with the hard work.

“Anyway, isn’t Lionhearted more important to you than I am? I’m always just a burden, never anything precious to you—”

She knew this wasn’t the right moment to be saying things like this, but even so, she couldn’t stop the words from spilling out.

Because, to her, her relationship with Aiden Kellermain was always the highest priority.

Nothing else really mattered.

In that sense—

[I’ve always believed in you, Katya.]

“……”

The fact that her mood softened the instant he said something like that—she had to wonder if maybe she was just too easy of a person.

[Have I ever said that my friend isn’t important to me?]

The stiff corners of Katya’s mouth crumbled in an instant.

Well, that was…

If he was going to say something like that, it’d be weird to keep sulking—

‘…No, wait. Wait a second.’

Katya widened her eyes and forced her softening lips back into place.

No more melting just because of a few sweet words. It was about time this man showed some proof that he could back up what he said.

Something, at least one thing, that he shared with her—not with Lionhearted.

[More importantly, I’ll help you right now.]

“…Huh?”

[I’m asking you because it’s you, Katya. This is a technique I’ve never even tried on Dame Noel.]

“……”

Well… that’s fair.

Katya, now past the point of just softening, her lips trembling slightly, cleared her throat to mask it.

“Well, I guess I don’t have a choice. I’ll give it my best.”

[…How disgraceful.]

“You wanna shut it, puppy?”

[…]

“We’re just two friends sharing a wholesome moment of friendship, so what’s your problem?”

As Katya said this, something flowed directly into her body. It wasn’t visible, but she felt it instinctively.

She didn’t know what it was or how it flowed into her.

But since he said he was the one who did it, she simply chose to trust him.

Aiden Kellermain’s words and actions were always right—no matter what they were.

That was the unwavering belief Katya held.

“…Oh.”

And then, she immediately sensed, on instinct, just what kind of thing had entered her body.

She tested it by releasing a small amount of divine power outside her body and what came out was…

A flame mixed with both color and brilliance.

Normally, divine power was a colorless flame, devoid of hue. Its power was defined solely by its temperature.

But now, it was as if her original divine power had been infused with other supernatural elements.

“……”

She grinned.

She didn’t know exactly what it was, but she could feel it—power.

Power far beyond what she was originally capable of wielding. A gift, bestowed upon her by that man.

“If that’s the case—”

Then.

“—I’ll have to live up to it.”

Her job now was simply to use it as effectively as possible.

And with that—

A brilliant flame swept through the sky from the center of the heavens.

▣

Come to think of it, with how busy everything had been, he hadn’t even had a chance to properly check the skills he’d gained by raising Noel’s affection.

Starting with the one tied to the Warden of the Realm—his most critical target at the moment…

-Skill Info

◆ Remnant: Warden of the Realm – Resolve

The will that reached the heavens is a material from which miracles can be made. A great being is watching over you.

▶ Materialize the target’s “essence” into a skill and use it.

▶ Use with caution.

…Honestly, he had no idea what that meant.

The fact that it literally warned him to use it with caution clearly suggested it wasn’t some run-of-the-mill effect. But what exactly it did or how it worked—was a complete mystery.

Still, there was one reassuring point.

The skill that acted as the condition for unlocking this one had its own effect:

-Skill Info

■ Omnipotence [Stage 1]

.

.

.

■ Origin [Stage 1]

Interact more deeply with targets influenced by the “Weaver of Fate.”

▶ This skill is at Stage 1. You may transfer one skill to a target. Cooldown time is one day.

▶ Targets with whom you have an affection relationship may awaken new skills under your influence.

■ Divine Descent [Locked]

To view information, you must advance both “Omnipotence” and “Origin” to Stage 2.

…Unbelievable.

Given the situation, he didn’t have the luxury of dwelling on that shock, but even at a glance, he could tell how efficient this skill was.

Even if he ignored the second effect for now, just the first one alone was absurd.

“You can transfer skills?”

Considering the kinds of people he could copy skills from—each with their own extraordinary status—being able to make those skills interchangeable with this unique ability was beyond valuable.

It would be an incredible asset in navigating the challenges ahead.

Take what was happening right now, for example.

“…Whoa.”

Aiden’s jaw dropped instinctively at the scene unfolding before him.

The pillars of fire Katya was still raising throughout the capital were already powerful enough to be overwhelming on their own—

But now?

It was like…

A sun.

That was the only fitting comparison.

Exaggerating just a little, it honestly felt like a volcano had erupted for real—the level of heat was unreal.

The skill Aiden had transferred to Katya—Guardian’s Flame—was optimized for firepower, but now that it had been mixed with her original divine power, its potency was downright insane.

‘Good.’

Thanks to that, he could reasonably conclude that they could now approach the Central Spire—even the area that had the thickest swarm of monsters around it—without much trouble.

“Dame Noel, let’s go now!”

At those words, Noel—still carrying him on her back—quietly nodded and began to move. It was absurd how they both now seemed to prefer moving like this.

“……”

“……”

…Though something felt a little off.

“Dame Noel.”

“……”

“…Dame Noel?”

“……”

Aiden squinted suspiciously at Noel, who wasn’t responding even when he called out to her.

“Your Highness, are you sulking?”

“……”

“I had to say that much to cheer her up.”

“……If you’d let me, I could’ve done just as well.”

“……”

“…Whatever it is, why are you doing it without me?”

…What was he supposed to do if this person got upset like this?

▣

It didn’t take very long to reach the Central Spire. Honestly, that was to be expected, given how monstrously athletic Noel was.

“…This is pissing me off.”

The problem was, there was one more massive obstacle that even made Noel blurt that out.

Her expression twisted violently when she saw the two massive giants wielding slabs of meat blocking the Spire’s entrance.

They’d just gotten past something similar, and now there were two more giant beasts waiting. Not even the most paranoid maniac would set up this much security.

“…What are those?!”

“Extra-large beasts. This just got complicated.”

They weren’t at the level of Reaver, who was a top-tier monster, but running into creatures like this when time was short was never good.

And when it came to extra-large beasts, they were almost always nasty but this one was particularly bad.

⊙ Flesh Tearer [Extra-Large Beast]

A giant of flesh who enjoys cannibalism. Possesses powerful regeneration.

Weakness: Slow movement.

…Yeah.

Sure, they were slow, but there were two of them. They were so massive that simply barging through wasn’t an option—the space was too tight.

So, they'd have to fight through but their regenerative powers were the real issue. It would be a major time sink.

Aiden frowned and activated his communication stone.

“Duke, I’d like to ask your opinion on something.”

[What is it? Are you stuck already?]

“We’ve encountered two Flesh Tearers at the Central Spire. I was hoping you could advise us on how to take them down.”

[……Two extra-large beasts? Just how much did that damn prince prepare—]

[I’ll come help you right now, Aiden!]

Before Duke Aslan could finish his sentence, a different voice cut in.

It was Liza Aslan.

Her voice was strangely high-pitched.

Like a teenage fangirl meeting her favorite celebrity…

“……”

The situation was quite urgent, but there was something that had to be addressed regardless—this odd way she was addressing him.

So Aiden cautiously asked,

“…Did you just call me ‘Sir Aiden,’ Your Highness?”

[Yes, I did! It’s a title that expresses my heartfelt feelings!]

“……”

Next to him, Noel’s expression visibly cracked. Aiden broke into a cold sweat and asked again.

“Why exactly are you calling me that…?”

[Because Sir Aiden Kellermain is my savior!]

“…Aha.”

[You may ask for anything in return. I’m fully prepared to repay you in any way possible!]

“…………Aha.”

[I-If it’s alright, I’d like to invite you back to my territory sometime! I’ll do everything I can to welcome you! I-I’m confident I can treat you even better than Lionhearted can—!]

“……………………Mm.”

Aiden trailed off awkwardly as he continued the call.

Because the gloomy aura now radiating from sulking Noel’s face had turned outright menacing.

And just as he stared at her—

A system window suddenly popped up before his eyes.

-System Message

▶ Target “Noel Astrea Simus” is experiencing extreme anger beyond her limit.

▶ Unique Trait “Origin” activates.

▶ “Noel Astrea Simus” awakens the skill “Twisted Wrath.”

▶ The more furious the target is with you, the stronger they become!

“……”

Ah.

So this is how it triggers, too.