Chapter 60: Chapter 60

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: The Ice Museum

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The fourth floor of the Demon Palace.

The Ice Museum.

Pristine white coldness poured out in all directions, centered on Nikita, who had been swallowed by the Ancient Dragon's magic.

Yet, amidst that cold.

A hot intensity, different from before, mixed in.

Confusion settled within the cold.

Whoosh!

Inside Nikita's body.

The hidden cold bared its fangs at me.

Fear.

The overwhelming biological presence revealed by the Ancient Dragon.

Even I, who had anticipated it, was struck by a rough terror that sent shivers down my spine.

But the heat of the flames forcibly awakened my mind.

This damned Dragon's Remnant finally showed its true nature.

Another reason I had left Nikita alone until she touched the Ancient Dragon's magic was this:

It was because of the bloodline that flowed through the Cynthia Ducal House.

Children born into the Cynthia Ducal House had, for generations, lacked any particular talent.

It was even said that when giving birth, the Cynthia Ducal House should always have at least two children.

The reason was simple.

A long, long time ago.

Even before the Empire's unification wars.

The Cynthia Ducal House was originally a family that served the Ancient Dragon.

This was also why the Ancient Dragon's magic was secretly passed down to them.

However, for some reason, the Cynthia Ducal House betrayed the Ancient Dragon.

The Ancient Dragon, enraged by this, instead of annihilating them, placed a curse upon them.

When the most talented child of a generation was born.

A curse that would plunder that child's talent.

The Dragon's Remnant.

The only talent a child branded with the Dragon's Remnant possessed was one thing:

The ability to wield the Ancient Dragon's magic.

The Cynthia Ducal House had hidden this fact for a long time.

Even Nia Cynthia, the heir, was unaware of this fact.

At present, it was safe to say that only the Duke of Cynthia knew about this curse.

It could not be revealed to outsiders.

If it were, the Ducal House would be branded with the stigma of being cursed and shunned.

Moreover, it was a curse bestowed by an Ancient Dragon.

It was not easy to even find a way to remove it.

So, the Duke of Cynthia thoroughly concealed this fact.

Above all, the Cynthia family had grown accustomed to children being born without talent.

Since talentless children had been used for arranged marriages for generations.

They knew well how to treat children without talent.

And so, the Dragon's Remnant continued to be passed down through the children of the Cynthia Ducal House.

In modern times.

Nikita, the second child of the Cynthia Ducal House, was born without any talent.

Nikita, who should have spread her wings and soared with her talent.

But due to the curse passed down through the Ducal House, her wings were taken, and she was forced to crawl on the ground.

But Nikita never gave up throughout her life.

She wielded her sword, put in arduous effort, and eventually rose to become the Vice-President of Jerion Academy.

However, a great wheel of destiny exists in this world.

Even if it wasn't today, Nikita might have been destined to wield the Ancient Dragon's magic eventually.

At least in the Flame Butterfly Arc that I knew.

Nikita touched the Ancient Dragon's magic through any route.

Of course, it's an unknown story.

If I had prevented Nikita from touching the Ancient Dragon's magic.

Nikita might never have had to touch the Ancient Dragon's magic in her life.

However, I had no certainty about a future I didn't know.

Someone who could barely keep up with the present at their feet.

There was no way I could paint a new future.

Above all.

Even if Nikita didn't touch the Ancient Dragon's magic.

The Dragon's Remnant would continue to reside within her.

And someday, when she had a happy marriage and children.

The Dragon's Remnant could awaken in that child again.

I didn't want to imagine the sad expression Nikita would make, seeing her child, born from her own talentless self, also lacking talent.

So, I prepared.

The Dragon's Remnant is one with Nikita, so there is no way to remove it until it reveals itself directly.

However, as Nikita used the Ancient Dragon's magic, it finally poked its heavy head out.

"Go on, struggle in there for a hundred years."

My desperate measure to drive out the Dragon's Remnant.

"Because I'll burn you to ashes."

The Mystery inherited from the Steel Empress, Steel Skin.

The Flame of Fire, a Spirit Monarch with power rivaling the coldness held by the Ancient Dragon's magic.

The Steel Empress desired heat more than anyone.

Steel Skin also perfectly embodied this characteristic.

However, despite that characteristic, the power of the Mystery repels heat.

This was a dilemma.

The Steel Empress desired heat.

But if she accepted the heat as it was, the steel would melt.

So Steel Skin instinctively repelled heat.

Here, the unique characteristic of the Flame of Fire also manifested.

The Flame of Fire is the corpse of a Spirit Monarch born from fire.

To allow its final flame to burn brilliantly.

The Flame of Fire attempts to burn everything that tries to extinguish it.

Currently, the greatest danger to the Flame of Fire was the Dragon's Remnant.

As a result, Steel Skin repelled the Flame of Fire.

And the Flame of Fire began to transfer directly to the Dragon's Remnant.

The more my hand, imbued with the Flame of Fire, clashed with Nikita.

The more the Flame of Fire transferred to the Dragon's Remnant.

Naturally, heat was the worst counter to cold.

With each increase in heat, the power of the Dragon's Remnant rapidly weakened.

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

The coldness swirled, and the Dragon's Remnant expressed its fury.

Nikita's feet retreated.

The Dragon's Remnant, sensing danger, was trying to escape from this place.

Slam!

But there was no way I would let that happen.

I pressed close to Nikita and extended my hand-blade.

Nikita's sword hastily blocked my hand-blade.

The Dragon's Remnant also realized that direct contact with my attack would be dangerous.

The moment it made direct contact even once, a large amount of Flame of Fire would pour in.

Knowing this, the Dragon's Remnant could not ignore me.

"Trying to escape?"

My red eyes gleamed ominously.

"Senior Nikita wouldn't run."

Red lines, like threads, ceaselessly weaved through the cold.

Crash, bang, crash!

My hand-blade, extended with heat, continuously pressed the Dragon's Remnant.

"If you're going to run."

I embedded deep fear into the Dragon's Remnant.

"Run alone."

The Dragon's Remnant convulsed.

At that moment, Nikita's mouth opened, and a pristine white flash surged forth.

Seeing this, I sharply twisted my body.

The flash shot past me.

KABOOM!

The ceiling of the Ice Museum, directly hit by the flash, shattered into pieces.

And then, fragments of ice from the ceiling began to pour down on us.

I moved to avoid the fragments.

Nikita also pulled back to avoid the fragments.

Nikita moved away through the fragments.

The Dragon's Remnant had urged Nikita to flee.

C-c-creak!

My foot pressed down on the floor.

Taking a leaping stance, I pulled my hand-blade back with all my might.

I took a deep breath.

Then, in that fleeting moment when Nikita's figure was obscured by the fragments.

The magic engraving etched beneath my feet activated.

The activated magic was Explosion.

At this moment.

The two effects of the Mystery and the magic engraving intertwined, creating a synergy.

KABOOM!

With an explosion that felt like my foot would rip off, my body shot forward like a cannonball.

My hand-blade extended straight towards the ceiling fragments that obstructed my vision.

Crack!

My hand-blade plunged directly into the ceiling fragments, causing cracks to spread throughout them.

Shatter!

Soon, I burst through the fragments and lunged at Nikita.

But this was a move the Dragon's Remnant had also anticipated.

Nikita gripped her sword, highly condensed with coldness.

Her eyes, now those of a dragon-human, glinted.

I could feel the killing intent, meant to end me, surge.

Watching this.

With my hand-blade still thrust forward, I activated a ring.

Come, Lightning Caller.

Crack-le!

A pristine incandescent flash filled the ground.

Ignoring even the rules of the Demon Palace, the descending lightning swept through everything.

The Ancient Dragon's magic, caught in the electrical storm, roared.

I raised my hand towards the sky.

The current flowing over Steel Skin was forcibly drawn into my grasp.

Magic Engraving: Lightning Catcher.

The swirling lightning was instantly grasped in my hand.

Wielding a spear of lightning, I stomped on the ground.

Slam!

With an explosion from my elbow, my body sharply twisted.

The lightning spear left my hand.

CRACKLE-CRACKLE-CRACKLE!

The extended lightning spear pierced Nikita.

Nikita and the Dragon's Remnant screamed simultaneously.

The moment her body floated into the air.

I unhesitatingly threw my body forward.

The Flame of Fire was once again clenched in my fist.

I slammed the Flame of Fire into my fist with all my might.

"N-Nikita!"

I cried out Nikita's name, clenching my fist tightly.

"It's time to wake up."

My fist, imbued with full power, struck Nikita.

Nikita's body slammed into the ground, and the Flame of Fire raged madly.

The Dragon's Remnant, not backing down to survive, furiously emitted coldness.

My body felt like it would shatter from their collision.

My clothes were torn, and some of the Veil Bandages even came undone.

Inside the Veil Bandages, my true face was revealed.

My pristine white hair fluttered in the swirling wind, and my amber eyes were exposed.

My skin was haphazardly transforming into Steel Skin.

It seemed the Steel Skin was melting into my interior due to this heat.

'The Spirit Monarch's heat approaches the Flame of Resolve.'

Just like with Lucas, I was absorbing the steel and turning into a body of steel.

Moreover, perhaps because I had been struck by lightning twice.

My body also bore scars from the lightning strikes.

It was a complete mess.

I wondered what expression others would make if they saw me.

But right now, that didn't matter.

I poured all the flames into Nikita, unleashing everything.

The burning flames devoured all the coldness.

Sizzle!

The Dragon's Remnant's scream echoed.

Conversely, my body was losing heat, taking in coldness instead.

However, my eyes did not lose their will in the slightest.

Instead, resolve surged within them, burning more brilliantly than anyone else at this moment.

'You know it too, don't you?'

I spoke to the Dragon's Remnant.

'If you take any more heat, you'll disappear.'

The Dragon's Remnant convulsed madly.

Soon, it understood my meaning.

For the Dragon's Remnant to survive, there was only one way.

To transfer to another host.

Normally, the Flame of Resolve that filled Lucas would not give the Dragon's Remnant such an opening.

So, the Dragon's Remnant would be extinguished along with Nikita, without a chance to transfer.

This was the main reason Lucas couldn't save Nikita.

However, I had only borrowed the Flame of Fire.

There was enough space within me for the Dragon's Remnant to enter.

This was the difference between Lucas and me.

And it was also the only difference that could save Nikita.

Lucas couldn't save Nikita because he was the protagonist.

But I was a third-rate villain, Bikamun Niflheim, who had already exited the main story.

This was something only I could do.

'I never had any talent to begin with.'

Bikamun originally had absolutely no magical talent, which Nikita so desperately desired.

Instead, he had activated magic by engraving it one by one.

Now, even if the talent-devouring Dragon's Remnant entered me.

I had no talent to lose.

This was the real difference between me and Lucas.

Unlike Lucas, who was filled with talent and had no room for the Dragon's Remnant to enter.

I was completely empty!

Within Nikita, the Dragon's Remnant continuously conflicted.

But the conflict didn't last long.

The Dragon's Remnant could no longer endure the Flame of Fire pushing into her.

So, it chose.

To transfer hosts here.

The convulsing Dragon's Remnant surged up my fist, which was touching Nikita.

At that moment, a deep coldness spread into my body.

The scales haphazardly attached to various parts of Nikita's body melted away and vanished.

Her horns and tail also melted away like snow.

Instead, only traces of fangs and eyes remained.

Conversely, some scales began to sprout on my skin.

For a moment, a dizzying coldness overflowed, enough to make me lose consciousness.

It was such a dreadful cold that it felt like even my brain would freeze.

Nikita had endured this coldness and wielded the Ancient Dragon's magic.

Grind-grind!

However, some of the Flame of Fire still remained in my body.

Heat and cold clashed, neutralizing each other.

The Dragon's Remnant, having transferred hosts, struggled to take over my body.

But I had no intention of letting it.

The Dragon's Remnant was already endlessly weakened from being repeatedly struck by the Flame of Fire.

In this state, it couldn't exert enough power to take over my body.

Hiss-

In the end, the weakened Dragon's Remnant was finally cornered into one side.

The scales that had sprouted on my face fell off.

Instead, my right eye momentarily transformed, reminiscent of a lizard.

The Dragon's Remnant seemed utterly exhausted and fell asleep in one of my eyes.

Thanks to this, my eye quickly returned to normal.

The heat from the Flame of Fire also gradually began to fade.

The coldness and heat receded, leaving only a warm warmth.

Drip-drip-

The melted snow from the sky fell as a light rain.

Thanks to the warm rain, I felt a little more at ease.

My head dropped downwards.

I had no strength left to move even a little.

Barely breathing was all I could manage.

But not yet.

Nikita must be presumed dead here.

'To preserve the main story and save Nikita.'

Nikita also had to be excluded from the main story.

It was through Nikita's death that the scenario moved forward.

So, I extended a trembling hand.

Slowly, I cradled the unconscious Nikita's head and lifted her legs into my arms.

My body staggered as I stood up.

As the Dragon's Remnant fell asleep, everything around us melted away.

I walked aimlessly.

The direction I was heading was the fifth floor of the Demon Palace.

There was a passage here that most people didn't know about.

A secret passage that allowed immediate return to the surface.

It was essentially a passage prepared for the convenience of players.

But it was also a passage that Lucas coincidentally discovered.

I headed towards it.

I descended the stairs leading to the fifth floor.

My body nearly stumbled several times, but I somehow maintained my balance.

My leg was broken at some point.

It seemed to have broken from the impact of the earlier clash.

If I fell here, I wouldn't be able to get up again.

Knowing this, I desperately endured.

"S-Senior."

At that moment, Nikita's voice reached me.

She was slowly beginning to regain consciousness.

This was bad.

I hadn't managed to adjust my Veil Bandages, so my appearance was Bikamun's.

It was a mistake born from having no presence of mind to tidy up.

Having no choice, I pulled Nikita closer and embraced her.

I held her face against my chest.

Fortunately, Bikamun had a better physique than Hanun.

If I covered her like this, my face wouldn't be visible.

Anyway, Nikita would surely be disoriented from the Dragon's Remnant.

She'd be too confused to recognize me, for sure.

Perhaps because I hugged her a little too tightly.

I felt Nikita flinch in my arms.

Holding her like this, I realized anew how small Nikita was.

With such a small body, she had struggled alone until now.

But things would be different from now on.

The Dragon's Remnant that had devoured her talent, and the Cynthia Ducal House that had suppressed her, would be gone.

"Senior Nikita."

As I descended the stairs, I continued speaking.

"As I've always said, I respect you."

I, too, once had a time when I strove.

I had worked and worked, enough to be called a promising talent.

But one mistake led to an injury, and I retired from sports then and there.

I had dedicated everything to sports, so when sports were gone, nothing was left.

That's how I fell into gaming.

And there, I saw Nikita.

Nikita, who never gave in to any situation, who stuck to her convictions and strived.

Watching her, I found some unknown comfort.

No matter how much others disparaged her efforts, she was always steadfast.

She was destined for an arranged marriage, so everything would eventually become meaningless.

I rejoiced watching her not succumb to her fate.

But Nikita ultimately died, unable to defy her fate.

Every time I saw this, I swallowed my indignation countless times.

But now.

Finally, I could prevent her from facing the same fate.

"And it will be the same in the future."

No matter what path Nikita chose to take later.

I would respect Nikita and support her.

This was my repayment for the comfort I had gained watching her in the game.

"Your brother, Senior Nikita, will be waiting outside. I apologize for hiding him until now."

I had contacted Nia separately today.

It was a promise I had made with him when I saved Nia before.

Since it concerned Nikita, he would surely have rushed over.

I didn't know how Nikita would react upon seeing Nia alive.

I couldn't confirm it.

As Nikita was involved with the Ancient Dragon's magic, she couldn't show herself to the world.

Nia would surely take care of this part on his own.

"You disliked the life where you were used for arranged marriages and received no expectations, didn't you?"

I carefully cradled Nikita's head.

Bad Ending: 'Ancient Dragon.'

The words she had cried out countless times there.

"'I hated my life, my life bound to the Cynthia Ducal House, enough to throw it away so easily.'"

Now, she didn't have to throw away that life.

"Let's live freely and do everything you want to do, starting now."

My feet had stopped at the secret location on the fifth floor.

As I pushed open the thick stone with my body, a strange passage appeared.

Seeing this, I slowly pushed Nikita inside the passage.

This passage led to a different place than the Demon Palace entrance.

I had called Nia to that side, so he would be waiting there.

This was my last time with Nikita.

The moment I opened my mouth to bid her farewell.

Clutch!

Nikita's hand grabbed me.

Had she fully regained consciousness in that time?

I didn't know what kind of willpower she possessed.

More importantly, this was a problem.

I hadn't managed to adjust my Veil Bandages yet.

"Senior, no."

Nikita's hand, gripping my arm, trembled.

"Bikamun."

…Had she already found out?

I had no presence of mind or time to hide it.

As I gave a wry smile, Nikita looked up at me, her lips pressed together tightly.

Her face showed she had much to say, her lips parting.

But her expression was one of not knowing what to say.

Only, as if she couldn't control her emotions.

Tears even welled in her eyes.

"I always ignored your feelings, but…"

Only then did I realize why Nikita was reacting this way.

Bikamun loved Nikita.

Nikita also wasn't unaware of this.

She just had no intention of accepting it.

She was a body to be used for an arranged marriage anyway.

She would never date anyone.

So, she didn't love anyone either.

Bikamun also knew this and never confessed.

"Why would you do so much for me…?"

As if everything I had done until now fit perfectly.

Nikita poured out her emotions.

"It's alright."

It was true that Bikamun loved Nikita.

Now, I was Bikamun.

I couldn't deny it.

"It's enough that Nikita is safe."

It was a pity that I could no longer call her senior.

"Nikita."

I smiled brightly at her.

"Be happy."

A miserable end didn't suit her steadfastness.

So, I released her hand and pushed her into the passage.

"Bikamun, wait!"

It seemed Nikita had something last to say, but I couldn't listen anymore.

Monsters and Apostles, who had noticed me, were approaching from afar.

"No…!"

With Nikita's last cry, she departed into the passage.

Thud!

Soon, the passage completely closed.

I couldn't leave through this passage.

If I did, there would be no way to explain my disappearance from the Demon Palace.

I stumbled as I got to my feet.

Then, I somehow pulled the Veil Bandages up and roughly wrapped them around myself.

Soon, my appearance returned to Haniel's.

Avoiding the pursuing monsters, I moved towards the stairs of the fourth floor.

Monsters wouldn't pursue me into the stairwell.

So, as I entered the passage to ascend the stairs, I stumbled.

Thud!

I collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath.

Damn it, I'm really at my limit.

'Just a little.'

Just a little rest.

As consciousness faded, I slowly closed my eyes.

[Act 3, Chapter 6: 'The Dragon Maiden of Disaster']

[CLEAR]

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[Act 3 ends.]

[Act 3 Side Story will begin shortly.]