Chapter 79: Short but Impactful
kIMHLFive minutes before the incident.wZI
wNI4BVernell backstage.AtU
0uwM“Huff… huff…”gs1rA4
cY3He breathed heavily.HY1aorI
srRdQHow many times had he left his house to step onto a stage like this?n2RTuC
78xjTAnd how many times had he held expectations like these?MDmmAR
66E‘Of course I did.’AbKbCx
sguHBut had he really expected a day like this to truly come?23LJ
hR5fM7Maybe others did.YTThJ
PHkfNBut not Vernell.a7Z
2cWHis entire life had been ignored, and he had even nearly had his organs taken by loan sharks.cOFT
I8EEverything changed when Perda intervened, but even so, he never imagined himself here.drV7H
yrfOVernell slightly lifted the curtain and looked outside.POGeF0
hFUymkHe could see the wide seats of the opera theater.bUb
jO3JJdHis heart pounded with excitement.fJjjKF
ZD5VBut something even greater dominated him.sz5sE
Oh7Pressure and fear.ad4
pC3i5— Vernell, do you truly believe something like that can become reality?IVVBgQ
qAYcsThe words of Rector Bernard Escolea echoed in his ears, making those emotions grow even stronger.DNVUX
NkaIt had been during the academic conference when he was still a student at Escolea Academy.qEQDqJt
MT0g— Anyone can propose absurd ideals like those. But what do you plan to do if you end up obsessed with them?9CHf2
edvdVwD— Do not think you can destroy every existing law. You are intelligent, but you are not that kind of genius.NsmC
xa5Bernard had tried to break his will.gOZ
StpUXgLBut Vernell did not give up.7IpNBA
PpPSyMSEven so, from that day onward he began feeling uncomfortable around people.hUC
tlEXcEspecially on main stages like this.vcrvWA
Gg3eQj7What if they mocked him again?5Uc9
hhlnPsWhat if useless comments confused him once more?2gtV
pwZWhat if he disappointed the people who had believed in him?DbtHb
C7yThose questions transformed into hands strangling Vernell’s neck.bui
y4w2d‘Even so, I must do it.’pt5GB
zIfjFor Perda, the regent who believed in him.qD4q
Co9XdTo humiliate Bernard, who refused to accept his success and insulted him.zsQP
jr24pvAnd for himself, who had given everything for this.WlWkLU
2tW“Huff…! Why is this damned calming tea not working!?”tYkxt
i9ZKLDHe had already drunk several cups of the tea that supposedly calmed nerves, but the thoughts still clung to his mind.JRLY
0rvJDdHe clasped both hands together and began to pray.reAVaY7
9eqvIpHoping that, unexpectedly, everything would fall apart before it even started.GMPRVYu
LFQwt“Kyaaaaaaak!”Xi7H
o2wtAs though his small wish had been heard, a scream erupted.RrSpD
wX14Vernell snapped awake in shock.3zm
rdVFe“What was that? What happened?”a5y
G8awiThe staff members all began fleeing at the same time.lzQGDt
wyJInstead of escaping with them, Vernell chose to observe the situation.VcngdPu
jw7od9n“Hhk…!”sirIdqU
BRQyoA rift had opened.oVdxhW
XLYSkIn Hallim.Y6x
fdCBvAnd even worse, inside the opera theater.pC815g2
gsoA rift from which monsters were emerging.PqO84e
cEuA‘Is that possible?’P7zeNjO
MbcThere were extremely rare cases where monster gates appeared inside cities.dDAH
OcFjBut right now.L6NpT4n
WsiFHhWith all these people gathered.w6AoNt
M9G1J3While presenting the monster appearance prediction device.HSF
1dY2z0LThe coincidence was too perfect.RDVlD
Ekn‘Should I run?’ixVz6
GwsR1DTThe moment Vernell took a step backward, something grabbed his ankle.ZFRe3
rZwJpteHe saw Perda.IUKi
uyjLFPerda remained standing there.mdCcI
drHoAs if the option of fleeing had never existed for him, he faced the rift with cold and rational eyes.vPBtLSg
euioNoblesse oblige.THaY
KENPerda was fulfilling the duty of a noble.7H6mdrK
C3ovKThat gaze inspired Vernell.Xv9
WyD‘I have to do something too.’X0zV
55OqMaybe he could not risk his life like that time before.YbZUFWt
nw2But he had to be useful.FrYSrn
LUWV8FHe quickly turned his head.ONGLh
6BSDaaThere was the magic engineering rifle he had prepared.LAh
GDq4bVernell picked it up and began activating it.2ISj7K
mpxqRegulate the amount of mana.lkHKYv
4oNPreheat it enough.GwZn
iH3CjsAdjust the selector.Spkw3df
rzIRegulate the power according to the indicators.7yLC05
lsGm2‘Why does this thing have so many steps?’ENMTp1
pQxUIihMore than twenty processes were required to operate it.STUF1q0
HgLROriginally there had been over a hundred.M0gFX1v
QEFVernell had gradually simplified it because Malcolm was incapable of using it.kESlHs
7baj‘And even so, there are still too many.’O9lmj
1DDU6JtUntil right before the presentation, Vernell had thought that.sF9eIwi
BXnWould this not be enough?DlDH
Nn96People would be able to use it, right?im5ve9
MkT3UVR‘It was not enough.’Dzes
LJrIf it needed to be simple enough for even Malcolm to use, then it had to be something usable in any situation.CGs5r
6EoeXzWith something this complicated, reacting quickly in a critical moment like this was impossible.JLYF
SikCQGqAnd while he hesitated, more victims kept appearing.sHyN8k
KGCh‘Damn it.’6J7T
WmquQwIdiot.JG2RUK
tJfRDThe rector was right.fmBs6bm
XEVQ6I am an idiot.xAa
PNJX1mThe result of obsessing only over increasing that miserable 1% without imagining what was truly necessary was this.dghP3dF
NQ4hMEven so, Vernell kept moving without stopping.GAtIK0C
4KcIDOQAt this moment.6fS
ByWz3rcRight here and now.mfzAA
PrKjHe decided to do the only thing he could.Jqmc
eaGAt last, he finished loading the weapon and pulled the bolt.NsoXt
P6XYlWooooong—!xuDE6N0
YaIxE09The object acceleration magic circle inside the barrel began to vibrate.qL7qR0k
4zLrVernell grabbed the rifle and climbed onto the stage.RRaUc
kFjnQ3The situation was already close to ending.DPMc6
7Xqhx27Only two wolf monsters remained, and both were charging straight at Perda.Pukg
dRAzd4‘They are too fast!’c3YwS
fW0V5Vernell would only have one chance.cGX16Yv
yNid7RJAnd with that single chance, he had to land an effective hit.2Ay0
YoEagBut it was already difficult just to hold the rifle steady.yWf
rSkz2RpHe had no confidence in being able to follow those movements and shoot accurately.ObO
vd2J1gbBooom!MHM6
LrTOLPLightning shot from Perda’s hand.Kczd9
cj8He managed to stop one of them.RNNpR
z0ABut not the other.cj4Z
Z1wThe monster surpassed Zed and lunged directly at Perda.sAM3w
wzUyIt tried to rip out his throat with one bite.o8cF6
1KfmaF7‘No!’gTKlpB
kIYKtVernell stopped hesitating.iUUTV
fifOHe pulled the trigger.17EqlG
JvxW3ofThe magic formula activated, and a sphere of mana formed inside the crystal tube.dj8
xTDoThe sphere traveled through the long barrel and fired out as a flash.AHAH465
gexBang!vpgU
elhIt pierced through the chest of the monster attacking Perda.fE1
viBThe shot penetrated exactly through the heart.HNwwEhc
ChRWHj0The pure mana projectile struck directly, and the wolf monster let out a shriek before going rigid.bIt6C
zk5yYseA single shot.QYcGB
R0wwfCJust one was enough to bring down the monster.AgX
j2MyXdEven Vernell himself was completely shocked.i30i
4UNLhIIHe had adjusted the power far higher than normal, but he never imagined it would kill it in one shot.u7qmcn
SfPHe had only hoped to buy some time.cZFu
QoUWBut his intentions no longer mattered.MWp7Z
YCYolm6The deafening blast.kpQj
Z3O1mAnd the death of the final monster.nnS
NGjVZfAll of it drew everyone’s eyes toward Vernell.wwO
dnMUEveryone stared at him with their mouths hanging open like idiots.KpaL
sOgkW0“What is that?”wr7kiOM
VfGrJ5W“It looked like magic came out of it.”akBrXh
rCLXpp“Then is it a staff? Did he use magic?”YyVQX5
tVKX“Staves do not look like that!”0nL
KBQVLEveryone speculated only about the object Vernell held.Apdi5kh
Q2GGDAfter all, even in the presentation, the main focus had been the mana stones.3sEq4S
AfkiThe magic engineering rifle was only meant to be shown as a derived application.Ovka
l0AG“Ehmm…”O1Ki
6UCbRHe had to say something.w09xzpk
4tR90Vernell felt the pressure to speak, even just a little.fv4Ik
LqOm6FAnd finally, he opened his mouth.wVQ4
lLx3nO“This is… the object I brought this time… the magic engineering rifle…”6qbdvv
tTCThat was all.vch
QqoHe could not continue speaking.tumAYMJ
HWLGhvCBut at the same time, it was enough.jVKS
LxHC8Because that simple introduction was impactful enough to engrave itself into everyone’s minds.XhtrH
NH4***AQo7b
FUtrQWhile the conference hall was plunged into chaos, there were those observing the situation from afar.K57L
XvBThe incident had already ended, and they could see the aftermath being cleaned up.uBglL
7Wzea“Seven wolf monsters.”K0CQiig
Th0j8NA man muttered while crossing his arms.I1MMND
XPsNj5“How many did we think would die from seven wolf monsters?”YsBH
OO4OoThe man beside him answered.bgqz
sfhZ“At least three hundred people. Including Rector Bernard Escolea.”z1nR34
bIob4“And yet there was not a single death. Bernard did not die either.”D1Kvb
ZcnI“The one who planned this will not escape responsibility.”IId
ka4This was not some simple “miscalculation” or “they exceeded expectations.”MnuX
Rw2coIt was a failure impossible to ignore.FTbe4S
ovubZE“What do you think caused the failure?”Zm9Ae
3MD“Do we really need to answer that?”FmRPCwv
g2d“I just wanted to confirm whether we think the same.”UBUz62
wzpVHXThe cause of the defeat could be summarized in a single name.oaKHm
JARcPs“Perda Valdrova.”h6kG
MM9“So it really was him?”uMhbFxl
XUj20mBoth had reached the same conclusion.kgjt6
T6VPerda Valdrova.fPL
YUTYSLLately, that name kept appearing constantly among the demons.d0ZaL10
3n2uEver since he started interfering, everything had begun going wrong.LAJT
I1Nlu6v“I heard he even attacked research facilities using the power of demons. Did we end up like this because we underestimated him?”RY8kdD
tz5h“We did not underestimate him. If anything, we overestimated him.”hFcWnX
Y0DkzThat overestimation came from the testimony of Research Director Linne.Q2ZZ
UChNThe demons believed Linne’s words were merely excuses to justify her defeats.JfsIA
ZdR“And even that overestimation falls short.”dRLzy
Szg77Perda was far beyond anything imaginable.TXtd6Z
ONRea“He knows how to neutralize monsters using first- and second-circle mages who are not even suited for combat.”S0W7f0
DCCR“He also perfectly evaluated and distributed the forces. He took a slight risk, but it seems even that was calculated.”5ZOP8qj
1e9k“He is a cold man. He gives the impression of having real experience in battles like this.”IDPLjln
73ff81“How can a boy barely eighteen years old do something like that?”Fddnmp
TNo8Ma“Maybe he has been on a battlefield before?”4hi
76t“Look at that body. What could he possibly do with such a thin and muscleless body?”3ObTGIM
Z4C“Then… could it be something innate?”9L3lbXe
yTuP“It does not feel like innate talent. There was no improvisation. His level is different.”tPP3O1l
rwQ7There were many speculations about Perda, but no clear answers.J4okmVN
I8Quxj“Perhaps the related factors will give us the answer.”BzCz
NFgRXRa“What do you mean?”Gh9O7jN
EAc“That we should broaden the scope. Look for more factors around him.”4xPwUJw
i9XThe man pointed with his chin toward a brown-haired young man.fGA
ykZYCV“That Zed fellow is strange too. Is it possible to move like that just because of Haste?”LNs
wvUdizh“For a normal human, no. To move that way, he would have had to live his entire life at that speed.”lkfX
NCY“I thought it was strange to accept as a knight a guy whose only talent is seducing women, but I see there was a reason.”500R5
U2pkXThe other man nodded as though he understood.os2Aj0
4e5PmgR“And that Malcolm…”ysp
luGH68Z“He is just an idiot. Even now, after everything is over, he is still diligently kidnapping mages.”COsHCiQ
Ieqn1“…I see.”a4AEiZ
yMDmnMeanwhile, the other man answered thoughtfully.f7Bul
0X9p“We will have to raise the danger level. At least to Alberto level.”5Iuzh8
5iSOHT“You mean Perda Valdrova? That sounds hasty. I still think he remains within expectations.”Jt7
bF7UIUThe man slowly shook his head.IPrd6Q
a7DAY“I am not talking about him.”qfn94A
OmudWhat he pointed to with his chin was the blue-haired man still standing on the stage.RcEPNA8
igKho4zThe man who had killed a wolf monster with a single shot using something that looked more like a work of art.H006ao
EdApVernell Marquis.XjR5fD
cpNmF“That man’s influence will undoubtedly surpass even Perda Valdrova’s.”O6VZn4w
Ov4x***kMOY
HiN6HWith the deaths of the seven wolf monsters, the situation inside the conference hall finally came to an end.BjQB
Jc4yd1There were many injured, but the fact that the battle ended without a single death carried enormous significance.LFIs
LWwNormally, even the appearance of one monster meant at least three people dead.njv
Ljly0And when the number of monsters increased, the death toll grew exponentially.bCWS6a
zeJpQBut this time, even though seven monsters had stormed the place, not a single person died.hrW
M59Everything ended before Hallim’s reinforcements even arrived.huUVV5
UCWHIt was something so incredible that the word “impressive” was not enough to describe it.gxmMr
ZnOrxMAAnd the person who had led that extraordinary situation was Perda.rD4BE5I
zxaV“Thank you for saving our lives, Regent.”DmgX
XBIf“We sincerely admire Your Excellency’s brilliant nobility. We are deeply grateful.”L4Sn
7xw27rBoth those who fought alongside him and those who fled and later returned began showering him with praise.RvO
bqTPerda did not retreat or abandon the front lines.TXus1
aCzycsMHe fought until the very end.kNpO
NDuThat was noblesse oblige in its purest form.E2giKci
n3D5gOf course, the praise was not directed solely at Perda.KnY
YgdThere was another person who left an equally strong impression.0xnW
PqJ“Do you know who that man is?”hkBbh
AF0Qc8N“They say his name is Vernell Marquis. Apparently he was participating in this conference.”iY7E
IvtbrwIt was Vernell.6umIFu
WnIn2hBecause he appeared at the end of the monster attack and concluded the battle in spectacular fashion, his name naturally began spreading from mouth to mouth.dPV8MVk
9Hc“Ah, now I remember. Weren’t they saying it was something so impressive that Rector Bernard personally pushed for it?”OoM4
vOjH3R“Could that thing be it?”nOz4
u2K“I do not think so. If it were a magic stone, the name would not fit. If it is a magic stone, then it should be a stone, right?”wUu1o
8GY4t“Then what the hell is that thing?”26U7Ae
oee98ynSince the concept of magitech did not exist, no one truly understood what that object was.ZF3pe
SdkxABut there was no need to explain the concept in elaborate detail.tKlyBqO
eTVMagitech was a technique capable of killing monsters with a single shot.hEw
xaXssmXAnd that alone was enough to awaken anyone’s interest.uZyN6ji
oxpPLVernell felt the gazes directed at him had changed and discreetly approached Perda.DaWjs3O
eMSMs“Uh, Regent… there is something I need to tell you…”MfwW
cBf“Speak.”5F1l
QU0z“I killed the monster, yes… but it actually should not have died.”whKG
RaNbBsPerda turned his head.Gt8
ao8“What do you mean?”XGimB
YR0nN“Well, I thought about it carefully. Comparing the measured output during the rifle demonstration, the muscle density of that wolf monster, and the projectile’s trajectory, the shot should never have reached the heart.”tiV1A
lgspb“You did not shoot to kill it?”Yjp
e3wqC0Q“I was only trying to buy some time. So I quickly examined the monster after it fell…”gGq
GFhr“I see.”pCevvh
TiBONUk“Do you remember where I shot it? In that area, the muscle was barely separated. The projectile passed exactly through the gap between the muscles, so it barely lost any force and reached the heart, where it exploded.”No2k
r4QHKPerda summarized Vernell’s explanation.5i5w
imh2n“So you are saying everything happened because of one coincidence after another.”sxSw
pz8“Yes, exactly.”eG7fAlM
CoORBaDPerda stared at him.fDj9
s33R5“And telling people that benefits us how?”n8WpAx
Jr1“Uh… no, I suppose it does not.”Syg
uWSbk“Then stop ruining the mood and enjoy it.”1tAth
z4sVtPerda patted him on the shoulder and kept walking.RJ6B8Z
ZR5KOThe moment he moved away, numerous scholars and merchants immediately began approaching Vernell.MgWxMD
aI6All of them introduced themselves politely and showed him respect.cfwi
rr5r3Vernell smiled awkwardly at them.vsyrYvJ
cfFIt did not feel so bad.m5C
eJv3neAfter all, that opportunity had been born thanks to the object he himself created.HhT
oXEMeanwhile, Penelope grabbed onto Zed and jumped excitedly.h0STK
svLvZv“Ze-Ze, Ze-Ze! Look at that, look! Look at those stares from those females!”bK1lp
wSdf0“……”n5Tj8p
zo8“My god. I already feel full just from looking at them. Can I cry?”iY2byZ
zpsTbEp“…Shut the hell up.”jKqM
c4eZed pushed Penelope’s head aside with his hand.2yDA
WNwwyiThen he quietly walked away with a complicated expression.ZJhq
w63Penelope followed after him like a little child.dXY8F
NPt5“What is it? Are you doing the tortured man concept now? Not bad! But do not overdo the character too much! Tonight we are going to feast!”tYP
LFHrvWhile everyone was receiving burning gazes, Malcolm was the only one unable to enjoy it.H5F0ER
1iBgSl“Are you insane?! You threw me into the middle of the battlefield?!”Ty32eit
5l7Tp3“I’m sorry! I thought she was a witch…!”S2nl1K
PN90r1“What the hell does that mean?! Do I look like a witch?!”H8FOJj
5unE“N-no, that is not what I meant! I really thought you could use magic!”h3H
l5C5cEven five minutes after everything had ended, Malcolm was still diligently kidnapping mages.OPrl
EWkFThe problem was that he had mistaken an elderly wrinkled noblewoman for a witch and dragged her there, earning a shower of insults and spit.eRV
soBIn less than a minute, his parents and his lower parts had verbally disappeared, along with many other things.EEwR
rKHIn the end, Perda had to personally intervene and stand in front of the noblewoman.hCKJM
5GwThe situation calmed down in barely ten seconds.BeJ
hCasMalcolm lowered his head while sweating coldly.gCtXqqj
G9u2“I’m sorry, Regent. I made a mistake.”dfpZz
5M6xGZM“No. Raise your head. Did you commit some crime?”mdcSP
SUz8J“You ordered me to bring mages, but I brought a noblewoman and caused trouble…”Ddh
wRv1A7Z“That was inevitable. You fulfilled your duty. You acted according to my orders as a knight of the ducal territory, and you did well.”2G6EWK
SfmEYm0Perda was genuinely grateful to him.YMq2Kbt
YiAwc9What would have happened if Malcolm had tried persuading the mages instead of kidnapping them?Qj8ei
E2vkc2MNone of them would have come.ncvd4
2qCWho in their right mind would voluntarily step into a place where death was lurking?mViU
SXt1If he had not brought them by force, the plan would have fallen apart.vWFh
kbsUmuJThe operation succeeded precisely because Malcolm did what was within his abilities.MAcm
BXZ“Thank you, guh…!”EkvMdjc
Nzq4WgMalcolm burst into tears from emotion.jkbksK
cSDM2TJWhen everything finally calmed down, someone approached Perda.PiIS
OaPGApfNo one remained near the place where that man walked, making it obvious he was someone of high status.Ztr3m
N5mZ“I greet the great fire strength, Valdrova’s fiancé. I am Ahmad, lord of Hallim, the land of pleasure.”3Aat94D
AmQIt was the lord of Hallim.ryE4q3x
JKzecBefore Perda could respond to the greeting, Ahmad fell to his knees.bc7X
gI5aLJ“On behalf of Hallim, I sincerely thank you for stopping this catastrophe.”lbKc8
Gm6bVrEveryone was stunned by Ahmad’s actions.8Xr
1jiY“My god… the lord of Hallim knelt…”agNTWD
g3aaq“That man they said would not even bend his back before the emperor…”Qyf
cW5bmThe lords of the south had the custom of not kneeling easily even before kings.MJQpWz
Iqk2Rx2The fact that Ahmad knelt in front of everyone raised Perda’s reputation even further.oq8xhj
36U2l2It was not a bad outcome.FWjU
WEmdz“I merely fulfilled my duty as a noble.”Ecm4j
jY7q“Who would risk their life to solve a problem that happened in another land? We should not remain here. Allow me to escort you to the castle. There we can treat your wounds and speak more calmly.”XXbYrPm
auwhIt was then that Perda remembered his neck had been pierced.K3RMxkU
H0ECSThe bleeding had already stopped, but the pain throbbed intensely.djhZn
n0XudIP‘It will definitely leave a scar.’2pLo
DAjcctvHe needed a topic of conversation with Hallim, but he did not want to begin that conversation carrying such a scar.FokD
Zkzy“Can you heal it completely?”OCr
GgTefdy“Of course. I will summon the very best so not even a single mark remains.”Ii2Ew
XTKThus, Perda departed alongside Ahmad toward the lord’s castle.KawhQ
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Kevotrix
Mortalat first i thought thid would just be a time-passing slop filled with romance but damn i was wrong everything about this is peak
Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationMalcolm my boy you did great 👍