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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: A Hero is Born
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BOOM!
A massive explosion erupted.
“Kyaaah! Lady Daphne!”
Just as she'd planned, the explosion sent the debris blocking the sky flying, clearing a path outside.
But this wasn't the end. Daphne's goal was to absorb the deathly energy spewing out after the explosion.
“Be consumed.”
“Be consumed.”
“Be consumed.”
Fwoosh-!
Pitch-black mana poured from Daphne's fingertips. Splitting into tendrils like plant stems, the mana formed massive vines that enveloped the deathly energy flowing from the bomb.
KABOOM!
But such a condensed aura of death, like the one from the bomb, was not easy to swallow.
It would have surely been impossible without Teiti's doping potion. The side effects were trash, but its performance was top-notch, making it a necessary choice.
‘I'll use my original power to absorb the black magic and make it my own mana.’
Then my total mana will increase.
Of course, it'll hurt like hell afterward, but what can you do? It's the price of becoming stronger.
“Kyaaaaah!”
“G-Good heavens!”
“Aack! Lady! What are you doing over there!”
A somewhat familiar voice reached her, but Daphne didn't even glance in its direction.
Hoo, hoo. She steadied her breathing and focused her mind.
She had to seize the deathly energy that was trying to break through her vines and spread in all directions...!
“Wh-What is that?”
“My goodness...”
The jet-black aura of death soared high into the sky.
But it did not disperse.
Daphne's magic was holding it fast, forcing it down.
“Lady!”
Daphne absorbed the condensed energy directly into her body.
Keuk! A black fluid burst from her mouth and nose.
But she didn't back down.
Even as her skin festered, her breath caught in her throat, and a twisting agony wracked her body, she was determined to absorb this deathly energy.
[Absorbing mana.]
Daphne's eyes shot wide open.
‘Almost... there...’
Damn it. My strength is failing.
Daphne desperately clung to her fading consciousness and clenched her teeth, but unfortunately, the potion's effects were wearing off.
‘This can't continue...!’
Should I give up on absorbing it and just release it? No, if I do a half-assed job like that, this body won't be able to handle it.
Besides, it wouldn't just be me who dies; everyone here would perish. I can't just let them die after I went to the trouble of saving them.
Before, I couldn't properly help people because I was a 'calamity,' but not anymore.
The chain of cause and effect is broken, so I can show them my true goodwill. Therefore, I can't give up here. I must save them. I can save them!
So I have to do this, no matter what.
Because I'm the only one here who can solve this!
“Be consumed!”
“Be consumed!”
“Be consumed!”
Once more, the reformed vines tightly bound the deathly energy.
“Ugh, ah...!”
But it was still not enough. She could feel Teiti's potion wearing off and the side effects kicking in. Her consciousness flickered and faded. Daphne bit the inside of her cheek, enduring and enduring.
‘I can do this alone.’
She bit down so hard that red blood trickled out. But, just a little longer, if I can just hold on a little longer...!
BOOM!
Ah.
A portion of the deathly energy, beyond Daphne's reach, began to surge upward. If it were to fall back down, every human here would be consumed by it.
“No...!”
Just as Daphne's despairing cry echoed pitifully.
Swoosh-!
The deathly energy pouring down like a liquid was sliced in half. That half was sliced in half again, and that half-of-a-half was sliced again. Then, the surroundings began to purify. A golden sword aura, so bright it was sacred, spread in all directions.
Daphne blankly watched the shower of golden starlight fall upon her as she slowly lowered her hands. Then, she felt a force supporting her back.
“Daphne.”
A familiar voice.
And at the same time, a voice she vehemently despised.
“You can stop now.”
But for some reason, her heart felt calm at the sound of this voice now. It didn't seem so hateful.
“You've struggled enough on your own.”
Daphne could feel the deathly energy churning inside her body gradually subsiding. As her strength drained away, her eyes closed.
But before she fell asleep, Daphne squeezed out the last of her strength to cast an analysis spell.
[Daphne Akion] Mana: 50
[Daphne Akion]
Mana: 50
Awesome, for real...
After confirming her mana had increased, Daphne broke into a wide smile and fainted.
***
“Wh-What in the...”
They say you're left speechless when you witness something beyond comprehension.
All the evacuated people stood with their mouths agape, at a loss for words. What had just happened? A terrorist attack? A fire? And... a bomb?
No one could properly define the situation. It was then.
“Mother! I'm over here!”
A hoarse voice rang out. It was Brysa, the last one to escape thanks to Daphne.
“Oh, my goodness. Brysa! My daughter!”
The marchioness, who had been running through the crowd searching for Brysa with no regard for her dignity, staggered in relief upon seeing her daughter's face, but ultimately forced herself to approach her.
“Thank heavens you're alive. Oh, God, thank you!”
The marchioness sobbed, pulling Brysa into a tight embrace.
Finally feeling safe, Brysa also couldn't hold back her tears.
She had truly been on the verge of death and might never have seen her mother again.
“No, Mother. You should be thanking Lady Daphne, not God. If it weren't for her, I would have died... I really would have.”
The people who had been warmly watching the mother and daughter's reunion began to listen intently.
Seizing the moment, Count Millan, who had tried to carry Daphne out earlier, raised his voice.
“That's right. I was about to escort Lady Daphne out when she suddenly said she heard crying and ran back inside. It seems she went to save Lady Brysa.”
“Yes, that's right! I'd injured my leg and couldn't move. Lady Daphne saved me. And she blocked a magic bomb with her own body, saying she had to get me out.”
“W-Wait a moment. Are you saying that Daphne Akion really saved you? And what's this about a magic bomb?”
The murmuring among the people who had heard both Count Millan and Brysa grew louder.
Most were as bewildered and confused as the marchioness, but a few among them had managed to keep their wits about them.
“Th-That's right! That's what we saw earlier! It was a bomb!”
“It didn't seem like an ordinary bomb...”
“Wasn't that a deathly energy?”
A deathly energy!
Black magic!
As if all the pieces were finally fitting together, the people gasped and shouted.
“Yes! That's it! A black magic bomb went off! We were all about to die!”
“So you're saying Lady Daphne blocked that bomb?”
It was an unbelievable story, but recalling the events from moments ago, the hypothesis fit.
The surging aura of death.
The young Daphne, gathering it and absorbing it into her body.
Having seen it clearly with their own two eyes, they could not deny it.
And for that very reason, the people were even more astonished.
Not because of the sudden terrorist attack, not because of the collapsing, burning manor, not because of the unexpected black magic bomb, but because of Daphne Akion, who had struggled so desperately to resolve it all!
As soon as the building began to collapse, Daphne Akion, despite being only a five-year-old child herself, had evacuated the other children first.
And that wasn't all. She had taken a black magic bomb—one they hadn't even known existed—with her own body. A feat even a high priestess couldn't perform!
“Wh-Where is Lady Daphne?”
“I thought I saw her collapse earlier... Or was I mistaken?”
A stir went through the crowd, as the surging deathly energy had prevented them from clearly seeing Heros supporting Daphne. Just then, a sharp cry came from the back of the group.
“Your Excellency! Your Excellency!”
It was Heros's aide, Pollin.
He had seen everything from the moment Heros rushed to Daphne's side, and now he ran toward Heros, his face pale.
“The young lady?! Is she dead?!”
“She's not dead.”
“Phew. Thank goodness.”
Pollin wiped the cold sweat from his brow with a handkerchief and took Daphne from Heros.
Daphne's face was deathly pale and her breathing was ragged; it was obvious she was not okay.
“But she looks like she's about to die. Her condition is terrible.”
Pollin's blunt words caused a stir among the onlookers.
“Is Lady Daphne in danger?”
“Should I call for a priestess? No, I'll go get one! If it's black magic, holy power should be the answer!”
“To think she'd sacrifice herself to save us...”
Where were the people who had sneered at her, calling her a hellion? Now, everyone gathered here was genuinely worried and anxious for Daphne.
Some peeked over at the collapsed Daphne in Pollin's arms. They were divided into two groups: those who clutched their chests in sorrow at her obviously pained complexion, and those who clenched their fists with expressions of grim resolve.
“We'll have a priestess called to the mansion. Let's return—”
“Your Excellency. A word to clarify the situation, if you would.”
Heros, who had been trying to leave as quickly as possible, paused at Pollin's words.
Everyone gathered was staring at him with wide eyes.
They were desperate to know what had just happened and if their speculations were correct.
Haa. Heros let out a deep sigh and touched his forehead.
“Anyone with eyes could see what Daphne just did.”
“She took in all of the deathly energy, didn't she? Is that right?”
“Yes.”
Heros nodded in response to Pollin's summarizing question. Immediately, a clamor arose from the crowd.
“She... saved us.”
“A hero, she's a hero! Daphne Akion is a hero!”
A hero? What nonsense.
Such praise is useless if you're dead.
Heros grabbed the back of Pollin's neck, who was holding Daphne, and walked briskly toward the carriage.
“We will never forget this debt!”
“We will honor the sacrifice of the hero, Lady Daphne!”
“Hey. She's not dead yet.”
“Ah! We will honor the achievements of the hero, Lady Daphne!”
They each shouted their determined pledges, and as a result, the story of how Daphne saved people from a black magic terrorist attack spread throughout the entire empire in less than two days.
***
It was a time when a sliver of a new moon, no bigger than a fingernail, hung in the sky.
Thanks to a thick blanket of clouds, not even the starlight could illuminate the heavens.
For this reason, the world was pitch-black, a darkness where shadows could not be distinguished from the night.
If not for the occasional cry of a beast, it would have felt as if one were being crushed by the blackness.
This darkness grew even deeper toward the forest.
The leaves, deprived of light, all bowed their heads toward the ground, and strangely, not even the glow-bugs that would normally luminesce were to be seen. Only the gleaming eyes of wild animals out hunting for prey darted about.
In such a place, there was a man wearing a robe.
His entire body, save for two bright yellow eyes, was wrapped in black bandages.
The man tapped the bandages that covered him to his fingertips before finally raising his head.
And he opened his mouth to speak to those kneeling behind him on one knee.
“...So.”
The man's voice was so terrible and grotesque that anyone hearing it unexpectedly would have covered their ears. It was like the screech of metal scraping against metal.
But the figures who appeared to be his subordinates showed no change in expression, as if accustomed to it. They kept their heads bowed, focusing on the man's words.
“Are you telling me you failed?”
